My god, this was difficult to judge. Many entered, and all the entries were very well written. Unfortunately, some were not in iambic pentameter, so I was forced to exclude those based on the rules.
Even so, the ones which qualified were all so well done, I had some difficulty ranking them in any sort of hierarchy. After reading and re-reading the entries, however, I was able to determine the winners.
Thank you all for entering. I was amazed at the amount of entries and what wonderful, aspiring writers you all are. I appreciate your patience. Old Mad just goes running off to KC and slacks off, not judging the contest in a timely manner. That bastard.
Note the wonderful rhythm with Romulus's sonnet, and the bright, passionate images it evokes.. Ugilick was a close second, with spectacular, vivid lines like "damned to Sheol." And Aeon is not to be discounted. The final line is masterful and telling, implying that the most rational course in such a situation, despite and in fact because of love, is suicide.
The rest of you are receiving honorable mentions, as you all did very well. If you entered, I am throwing 5 points your way. If I somehow miss you, PM me.
#1: ROMULUS: (100 points + my trophy)
Where once lay endless lush and fertile plains,
Where once there bloomed our love and joy and lust,
Where once there reigned life, now cold death remains.
Where once lay my love, now crumbling to dust.
The heavens shed tears, for her that I've lost.
Yet not even death will keep us apart.
I will bring you back, no matter the cost,
My immortal soul, my desperate heart.
A bolt of lightning, the gathering storm,
My accomplice to this infernal act.
Drive away the cold from that which was warm,
And bring back the life to whom death hath sacked.
The sound of thunder, the heavenly light.
Arise, my love, from the darkest of night!
#2: UGILICK, "Worthy Ransom": (50 points)
Spiraling curls of gold ordained throughout
Wondrous majesty, sunset n’ sunrise
Whether there are lovelier locks I doubt
My love has greater than under all skies
To be beheld under those emerald eyes,
Oh, the rings of gorgeous n’ wild green,
My every worry meets a quick demise
Twas only true till that foul unforeseen
My love, for beauty has traded her soul
A demon fiend by careful art deceived
I am hers but she is his, damned to sheol
My love, My heart, I am as one bereaved
To him but one offer rivals your worth
That I must go the way of all the earth
#3: AEON SPIRAL: (25 points)
Her name was Susan; My love, my darling
We shared a love, as one, till that night came.
A man strode down the street, we unknowing
His bite, his poison were to be my shame!
She screamed as my blade intruded his brain
He fell with gusto! My love then exclaimed
Love, the light it fades, and i feel insane!
I caught her in my arms and I proclaimed
If this monster has taken thy beauty
I love you still, and pray to go as well
For i knew this curse to be the Zombie
I swore: Damn the night, damn it all to hell!
For to live a monster is not to be,
I then cut our throats in lucidity
#HONORABLE MENTIONS: (5 points)
Turtle, Killa_Robot, frank2, BerkaZerka, Amy2, Aman, galobtter
Congratulations, all of you! A new contest, this time with prose, is just around the corner, and I hear that a Kindle will be one of the prizes!
