[Michael F]

Patrick,

I don't doubt his sincerity; absent evidence to the contrary, I think I must assume it. Something about there being more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents springs to mind.

The general poetry point remains that it's often a good idea when entering a contest to know something about the tastes of the judge. Different horses for different courses, as they say.

M

[Patrick Murtha]

Michael,

I agree wholeheartedly on getting to know the judge. "Different horses for different courses!" Absolutely.

PM

[Mark McDonnell]

For his biography of Oscar Wilde, Pearce chose to focus on the Irish playwright's deeply rooted shame over his homosexuality, his lifelong attraction to Roman Catholicism, and his ultimate deathbed conversion to the Catholic Faith. Pearce's biography has caused some Gay, Lesbian, and Transgender activists to cease using Wilde as an iconic figure. (from Wikipedia)

Seems to me there was no conversion*, he just swapped one flavour of dogma-sanctioned bigotry for another. I guess it takes more than a pint with the lead singer of Stiff Little Fingers...

* Pearce's conversion I mean, not Wilde's. I suddenly realised how this could be misconstrued after re-reading the quote.

[Michael F]

You may be right, Mark. If they wish, people can judge him for themselves.

But I don’t think there’s much use in going down the rat hole of religion and bigotry, once again. Not for the Sphere, and certainly not for me. I’ve done it before and I regret it. Logic and sermons never convince, to quote a certain (gay) poet. That is all I learned from the experience, so that is all I shall say.

[Mark McDonnell]

Logic and sermons don’t convince

That's Whitman, yes? Wonderful. Thanks for reminding me that I, too, always regret disappearing down these rabbit (or rat) holes. You're a wise man.

I bow out of here now.

[Andrew Szilvasy]

Patrick,

Given what's won so far, I don't know that my sonnets are up their alley, but I do appreciate you sharing this.

[Brian Allgar]

I'm rather inclined to agree with Michael Cantor. Leaving aside the 'bio' of this year's judge, the two previous winners strike me as being the worst kind of combination of fustian language, tortuous syntax, and trite sentiments.

[Jennifer Reeser]

Here is a link to the thread following Shaun Russell's third-place award, two years ago. It was originally posted by Charles Southerland:

https://www.ablemuse.com/erato/showt...=Shaun+Russell

Russell praised the winner, and gave tips on some of the tricks he used.

[Patrick Murtha]

Thank you, Jennifer. I did not connect the dots between Shaun the Eratospherian and Shaun of "155." Belated congratulations to Shaun. Did Shaun ever share that poem with the Sphere?

Sincerely,
PM

[Patrick Murtha]

Only one month until the deadline. August 1 is the deadline.

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