[Chris Childers]

I'd like to say quickly, as I think the number is 10 (not 12 or 13), so this should be all the sonnets, that, while the range of subject matter may not be as great as it could be, the range of styles *is* pretty great, and the judges have shown themselves open to a much wider variety of approaches to the sonnet form than much of the membership. I think all of the poems have something to commend them, and I've enjoyed reading and thinking about the poems, both where I have and haven't commented. What I haven't enjoyed as much is all the schoolmarmish niggling about what is or is not a sonnet.

C

[Tim Murphy]

Dana Gioia once wrote or said "There are only four great themes in poetry: love, death, faith, or the lack of it." Now, that's a typical Dana pronouncement from his neighborhood on Parnassus, but on the whole, I think he's got it right, and I look forward to the judges' decision. I have enjoyed every poem in this contest.

[Catherine Chandler]

Nevermind.

[Paul Connolly]

Originally Posted by Tim Murphy

Dana Gioia once wrote or said "There are only four great themes in poetry: love, death, faith, or the lack of it."

Canadian poet Al Purdy had them narrowed down to sex and death.

[S. A. Wyatt]

Originally Posted by Paul Connolly

Canadian poet Al Purdy had them narrowed down to sex and death.

And there are only 10 kinds of people: those who understand binary, and those who don't.

Why limit anything? Poetry is about life, and yes, all of those things are included in it - everything under the sun, and beyond. The part that interests me about poetry is the redefining of limits, which is a limitless process.

[Gail White]

Originally Posted by Paul Connolly

Canadian poet Al Purdy had them narrowed down to sex and death.

I remember once reading an interview with a poet whose name I've forgotten, but I remember this much: the interviewer asked him, "Now that you're over eighty, do you think about death?"

And the poet replied, "I've never not thought about it. There aren't that many subjects for poetry."

[W.F. Lantry]

Originally Posted by Chris Bullard

Until "formalist" poets, including those who write sonnets, use form to address post-modernist (or even modernist) issues, "formalism" will remain a niche market for poetry.

Chris,

You have my sympathies, but I'm not sure about this particular point. Of course, anything that sells itself as a niche stays a niche. Separatism just leads to more separatism. But I'm not convinced there was ever a division between form and free. You hear people talking about the 90's as a downtime for form, but that was precisely the time two mostly formal poets were given Nobels. Some downtime...

And nobody likes the post-modern stuff more than me (I worked on Barthelme, after all), but is that really the key? I personally think if there's one thing we need more of, it's passion. Raw, naked, honest passion. Enough of all these clever things: give me a poem lovers will read to each other in bed! Give me something they'll quote in love notes to each other. And when they're skyping, and run out of things to say, give me poems they'll read to each other, because they want to hear each other's voices. Give me a poem that will cause a young woman to undo the top button on her blouse, that will make a young man touch her shoulder.

That's what formal poetry needs. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think that's how sonnets started out...

Thanks,

Bill

[Mary McLean]

I just wanted to add that I've enjoyed this immensely and think the judges have done a great job. Thanks!

[Paul Connolly]

Originally Posted by Mary McLean

the judges have done a great job. Thanks!

My thanks as well. I'm guessing their job isn't over. There's the picking of winners from among the 10 winners. I do not envy them!

[Nigel Mace]

Just a brief note in support of Bill's post. That is exactly what I have missed in this latest exercise - and it does seem a fairly central lack.