[Patrick Murtha]

Dear Eratospherians,

The Flint Hills Shakespeare Festival will be hosting its third annual sonnet contest. (This year's production is The Merchant of Venice if one is interested in coming to my neck of the woods.)

Here is a link to website for the rules and submissions.

http://www.flinthillsshakespearefest...test-2018.html

Here is a link to the previous winners.

http://www.flinthillsshakespearefest...s-winners.html

Sincerely,
PM

[Patrick Murtha]

Only about two months until the deadline for the Flint Hills Shakespeare Sonnet Contest. It offers $500 for the champion, with a $50-prize for second place and third place winners.

http://www.flinthillsshakespearefest...test-2018.html

Sincerely,
PM

[Matt Q]

Thanks Patrick,

This seems to be an in-the-style-of-Shakespeare sonnet competition (although Petrarchan sonnets are allowed). Last year's winner opens:

When golden autumn into winter fades,
And wretched heart with sorrow ne’er to end

and the previous year's winner contains the lines:

Nay, it lay buried, deep in eternity,
And proof of this in your sweet face does lie;

So I'm guessing it's not a place to send a modern sonnet.

Matt

[Patrick Murtha]

Mark,

Good question. As this is only the third year running this competition, the decision has been to keep the guidelines rather precise with the two types of sonnets (Shakespearian and Petrarchan).

If your question is more about the language, I simply say, be yourself in the sonnet form. The criteria is what you see. It is not "speech-like-Shakespeare," but rather write a sonnet in one of these forms.

Right now, the contest is a foundling, in the fawn-stage--staggering about on legs like twigs. It looks to mature more every year.

Sincerely,
PM

[Julie Steiner]

Well the price is right--five bucks, for up to five sonnets.

The Wikipedia entry for this year's judge is certainly eye-opening.

Thanks, Patrick.

[John Isbell]

Hmm. It's always good to be reminded how judges are people in the middle of living their personal lives, and with a distinct POV. Thanks Julie.

Cheers,
John

[Michael F]

Holy cow. That is an eye-popping read.

Thanks, Julie.

[Jayne Osborn]

Originally Posted by Michael Ferris

Holy cow. That is an eye-popping read.

Thanks, Julie.

It sure is, Mike. It's one of the biggest changes of heart I've ever come across!

Jayne

[Michael Cantor]

Between reading the judge's biography, and the winning poems posted, I started the day by saving $5.00

[Patrick Murtha]

I am sorry that people doubt conversion. Can a criminal become a good citizen? President Obama thought so, so he pardoned over 1,000 felons. Did not Frank Abagnale become a stalwart citizen? Kevin Mitnick? Ellis Mathis? Danny Trejo?

Remember Robert E. Lee, the notorious Confederate general. After the war, he became a defender of law and order and the United States. In the end of his life, he would expel students from his university for cruel acts against African Americans. He raised money for the education the African Americans. (Did he come as far as many of us would like? No. But the point is, he made drastic changes.) George Wallace, Alabama's Democratic governor, once an advocate of segregation and Jim Crow laws, did an about-face and fought for equality of all races.

Which one of us has not made drastic changes in both body and opinions from your childhood to adulthood? Is it so hard to believe someone might be see the foolishness of his adolescence and even young adult life to make so significant a change? All of our pasts carry dirt--some more than others; our future is whether we can shake it off.

I understand if there is doubt about the "validity" or the competency of the competition. And I understand if it is hard to believe that a racist might see the errors of his ways. In both cases, I simply ask you, before you judge and condemn: be patient and let both prove themselves.

Sincerely,
PM