Do you write poetry for kids of all ages? Do you like a challenge? Do you like writing with a deadline? Then maybe you should consider signing up for the March Madness 2014 Poetry Tournament coming up in March!
It's not too late to apply as a poet! There are crazy hard words to incorporate into a kid's poem to be written in 36 hours! The Challenge is great - the true Poet Winter Olympics! It is fun, challenging and a good kind of exhausting!
Your short application poem will be judged by Ed Decaria for entry into this amazing event.
And if you don't apply, at the very least, please stay tuned in the month of March to vote on your favorite poems! Classrooms and homeschoolers are invited to vote also.
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March Madness Poetry (#MMPoetry)
brings the excitement of the NCAA March Madness tournament to the world
of kids' poetry. 64 poets from around the world participate in the
event; together, these poets write 126 new kids' poems in just 21 days:
IT'S MADNESS!
This year's participants include THE LEGEND Jane Yolen, THE MASTER Allan Wolf, THE RHYMER Tiffany Strelitz Haber, THE ARTIST Samuel Kent, and THE PRODIGY Gloson Teh. The rest of this year's authletes will be revealed to the public on Selection Sunday, March 2, 2014.
APPLY TODAY to this "epic event" -- the deadline to apply is February 23, 2014.
Event overview: http://www.thinkkidthink.com/mmpoetry-2014/
Application page: http://www.thinkkidthink.com/mmpoetry-2014/authlete-application/
Thanks!
-Ed (event founder and organizer)
This year's participants include THE LEGEND Jane Yolen, THE MASTER Allan Wolf, THE RHYMER Tiffany Strelitz Haber, THE ARTIST Samuel Kent, and THE PRODIGY Gloson Teh. The rest of this year's authletes will be revealed to the public on Selection Sunday, March 2, 2014.
APPLY TODAY to this "epic event" -- the deadline to apply is February 23, 2014.
Event overview: http://www.thinkkidthink.com/mmpoetry-2014/
Application page: http://www.thinkkidthink.com/mmpoetry-2014/authlete-application/
Thanks!
-Ed (event founder and organizer)
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I love to watch the Olympics, but feel so unlike them. I am in awe of what they can do both physically and mentally. I am sooo not them. They are sooo not me.
An Olympic Poem for Poetry Jam:
Olympians
I feel I meddle
when I write
of those of mettle
and such might
honed of body
toned of mind
soul and muscle
all aligned
they do not falter
though they fall
they continue
through it all
when defeated
means no prize
above the rabble
they still rise
but when victory
is seized
and Greek history
appeased
a medal’s donned
bronze, silver, gold
metals precious
to behold
when I write
of those of mettle
I wish I didn’t
feel I meddle
© Donna JT Smith, 2014
i love the ones that medal that are not supposed to...seeing the surprise stories....
ReplyDeletefun word play on mettle and meddle....
One of the first things that popped into mind were medal, meddle, metal and mettle. They just wanted someone to do something with them.
DeleteOlympians can make us feel very humble and vulnerable. I suppose we can find solace in the fact that there are an exception rather than the rule.
ReplyDeleteWouldn't it be interesting if they WERE the rule? What if everyone had to compete at a local level until they came up with the Olympians? I hope we'd get to pick our specialty. I'd want to stay on the ground and not go too fast!
DeleteI know what you mean here! It is amazing to me what these athletes can do--not possible for me no matter how hard I'd worked or how young! But you are right in your comment about being the true champion as mom and now grandmother.
ReplyDeleteIf only those were real Olympic events!
DeleteVery nicely penned. Your choice of going with rhyme in this piece - is right on!
ReplyDeleteI find that I often rhyme one way or another.
DeleteI really enjoyed this & I am so glad you listened to those words (re: Brian's comment).
ReplyDeleteI tried ignoring them. But you know how that goes!
DeleteYes, even though they fall, they continue. That is what I appreciate about so many of the Olympic athletes. They continue on despite momentary failures!
ReplyDeleteThey have such heart! They really must be pretty special individuals in their personal lives, also.
DeleteResilience at its best, right? Fun poem, Donna.I love seeing what you do with rhythm and rhyme-always beautiful to me. We talked all weekend about the athletes, the turning and jumping and racing and ... What feats they perform! And looking forward to MM poetry!
ReplyDeleteDo you have some classrooms voting?
DeleteYou rightly placed them in a class of their own. We can really only guess at the degree of dediction required over many a year. Such a well constructed poem to honour the subject.
DeleteI wonder how and when they acquire such drive.
DeleteWhat a fun read. I love the Olympics and feel such fun when they receive their medals. Feel badly for the ones who don't because I know they also worked very hard.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Myrna. And I feel bad too, but someone has to be best, even if it is only for that moment.
DeleteLove the joy contained in this, the infectious spirit that makes you want to join in.
ReplyDeleteMy wanting to join in would come to an abrupt halt when faced with a steep incline!
DeleteYou nailed it , ....nicely done
ReplyDeleteThanks, Wayne. I enjoyed your offering also!
DeleteI love how you played with mettle and medal and meddle :-). Your rhyming is flawless, wonderful poem!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Sara. I had fun with it.
DeleteThis is gold medal worthy!!
ReplyDeleteHa! Thanks, Helen!
DeleteEven the ones that fall are so amazing in their skills. Unfortunately, they probably don't feel that way when it happens!
ReplyDelete