Weekly challenge: April. Fool.

[Tzara]

OK. April 1, April Fool's Day in most of our contributor countries, falls roughly midweek. So this challenge is about fools, or fooling, or foolishness, or something.

So write a poem somehow, someway related to fools or foolishness. Hey. Like these sample topics:

• Write a poem about being fooled, on April Fool's Day or some other time.
• Write a poem about fooling someone on April Fool's Day, or some other time.
• Write a poem about being foolish. Or foiling foolishness.
• Write a poem about
  
  http://lemurianabbey.files.wordpress.com/2007/09/rider-waite-the-fool.jpg
  
  This arcanum in the Rider Deck, or whatever Tarot deck works for you.
• Write a poem about Lear's fool: I marvel what kin thou and thy daughters are. They'll have me whipp'd for speaking true; thou'lt have me whipp'd for lying.
• Write a poem about a song, like
  • Why Do Fools Fall in Love?
  • The Fool on the Hill
  • Won't Get Fooled Again
• Write a poem about iron pyrites (Fool's Gold).
• Write a poem about chess (Fool's mate).
• Just write a poem, dammit. The point, I think. Just make sure it includes the letters F-O-O-L somewhere. Or, hell, not.

Note that The_Fool has my papal dispensation to write anything he wants. I mean, he's the Fool, after all. He meets the criterion by simply logging in.

Oh. I will comment on all poems unless you tell me not to. So say something like Keep your stupid biased opinion to yerself, dorky boy, I don't want it if you would prefer I not eviscerate your poem.




Not eviscerate. Comment on. I was being overenthusiastic. Really. <-- Smiley face fixes all, right?

 

[annaswirls]

Do we post them here? (Sorry if this is a question free zone)

 

[Tzara]

Do we post them here? (Sorry if this is a question free zone)

Yes, you do. (The stupid bulletin board software wouldn't let me say just "yes.")

 

[Tzara]

Very bad example of what I mean, in sonnet form.

The Nonnes Preestes Tale of the Cok

Oh, my God. A nun. A ripe one, too:
She was compleet, quite passing faire and so
Syn March bigan, these thritty dayes and two,
I asked if she would bless me. Un zéro.

And what they seyn of wommen ye may heere
And fondle samples selfish-cheerily;
They're happiness, and sometimes comfort neare
Much more to in- than to fidelity.

But thirty-two from March marks April 1.
Com doun, and I shal telle yow what I mente—
To break your vows and render them undone.
Celibacy is wrong. My pure intent

Is only for you to be one yclept
As wyf, as lover. One whom with I've slept.


.Bad, and doesn't use the word "fool" or any of its cognates, but does mention April 1.

OK, OK. It's meant to be an example of you can write anything you want.





Not a good example, mind you, but an example nonetheless. (Grumble.)

 

[darkerdreamer]

I'll do it, if only because having a piece eviscerated by Tzara sounds like a good learning experience. Any deadline?

 

[butters]

i'm in. what's the deadline?

 

[Tzara]

It's supposed to be a weekly challenge, but I was late in posting it, so how about a deadline of midnight PDT, Monday April 5? Feel free to post things after that, but I'll probably stop looking at the thread shortly after that time.

Also, just to be clear--there no form or length requirements, just the thematic one (and that's pretty darn loose, actually). If you want to write in form, that's OK, though.

 

[butters]

ok. i'll get my thinking cap on. then reject everything it suggests, and likely come up with something that says 'write me' while i'm in the bathroom or dropping off to sleep.

 

[bflagsst]

ok. i'll get my thinking cap on. then reject everything it suggests, and likely come up with something that says 'write me' while i'm in the bathroom or dropping off to sleep.

You have a notebook full of ideas next to the porcelain?

 

[butters]

You have a notebook full of ideas next to the porcelain?

lol. no. but have written plenty in the bath - so it's not unknown to take a pad and pen in there with me. i also often fall asleep in the bath, so there might be some correlation between that chilled out zone between relaxing and falling asleep that allows images/concepts to appear with ease and clarity.

 

[bflagsst]

lol. no. but have written plenty in the bath - so it's not unknown to take a pad and pen in there with me. i also often fall asleep in the bath, so there might be some correlation between that chilled out zone between relaxing and falling asleep that allows images/concepts to appear with ease and clarity.

I take my laptop everywhere with me. I've written some stellar lines in the bathroom, not taking a bath... Haha. I was hoping you were admitting to writing on the toilet so I wouldn't be the only gross person. My gf can't sit down in a public restroom without sending me a text message about the quality of the restroom. I guess that's more common than writing the first line of a love poem.

 

[butters]

I take my laptop everywhere with me. I've written some stellar lines in the bathroom, not taking a bath... Haha. I was hoping you were admitting to writing on the toilet so I wouldn't be the only gross person. My gf can't sit down in a public restroom without sending me a text message about the quality of the restroom. I guess that's more common than writing the first line of a love poem.

to date i've not written whilst taking a dump, but then again i'm not there long enough! how people find time to read a newspaper's beyond me.

 

[Epmd607]

to date i've not written whilst taking a dump, but then again i'm not there long enough! how people find time to read a newspaper's beyond me.

Most guys aren't necessarily constipated either. Sometimes we just sit down because we think we might have to go at some point. It's pure solitude, no TV on, you can either read a book or stare at the wall and think about your finances. The wife walking in is always jarring. The first time that happened and she acted like it was nothing I was shocked. It's not about modesty, it's about having a little quiet time to think. All the best male minds came up with their great ideas on the pot. Especially Isaac Newton.

 

[EroticOrogeny]

lol. no. but have written plenty in the bath - so it's not unknown to take a pad and pen in there with me. i also often fall asleep in the bath, so there might be some correlation between that chilled out zone between relaxing and falling asleep that allows images/concepts to appear with ease and clarity.

Do you ever drop your pad in the water?

 

[butters]

Do you ever drop your pad in the water?

it has been known

now i'm more careful. i read in the bath too, and sleep. i do like a long bath. one simply has trouble reading, writing and sleeping in the shower!

 

[The_Fool]

This might take some thought...or not.

 

[UnderYourSpell]

I take my laptop everywhere with me. I've written some stellar lines in the bathroom, not taking a bath... Haha. I was hoping you were admitting to writing on the toilet so I wouldn't be the only gross person. My gf can't sit down in a public restroom without sending me a text message about the quality of the restroom. I guess that's more common than writing the first line of a love poem.

better than writing on the walls I guess

 

[butters]

oh lord, why is this one proving so stubborn???

everything that presents itself is getting discarded. like if i keep peelin' the damned onion, i'll uncover what i'm looking for.

this is almost like writing poetry back to front for me, so a good exercise in itself.

 

[UnderYourSpell]

oh lord, why is this one proving so stubborn???

everything that presents itself is getting discarded. like if i keep peelin' the damned onion, i'll uncover what i'm looking for.

this is almost like writing poetry back to front for me, so a good exercise in itself.

It's trying to find time over the holiday weekend that's going to prove difficult

 

[EroticOrogeny]

it has been known

now i'm more careful. i read in the bath too, and sleep. i do like a long bath. one simply has trouble reading, writing and sleeping in the shower!

Later I remembered a product called Rite InThe Rain or something - designed for field geologists in case the weather was bad.

 

[UnderYourSpell]

They shook their heads and called him fool
but his was not the way of simple men,
not even those who sought to bend the rule,
not many of his like would ever come again.

But his was not the way of simple men
with frowning brows and hearts so cold
not even those who sought to bend the rule,
he decried the selfish seeking only gold.

With frowning brows and hearts so cold
saw not the loving heart becoming still,
he decried the selfish seeking only gold
who never listened to the man on the hill

Saw not the loving heart becoming still,
not even those who sought to bend the rule,
who never listened to the man on the hill
they shook their heads and called him fool.

Do your worst *grits teeth*

 

[Tzara]

It's trying to find time over the holiday weekend that's going to prove difficult

Holiday? Is there a bank holiday this weekend?

Sorry, if so. American, you know.

ETA: Nevermind. Saw your later poem.

 

[Tzara]

They shook their heads and called him fool
but his was not the way of simple men,
not even those who sought to bend the rule,
not many of his like would ever come again.

But his was not the way of simple men
with frowning brows and hearts so cold
not even those who sought to bend the rule,
he decried the selfish seeking only gold.

With frowning brows and hearts so cold
saw not the loving heart becoming still,
he decried the selfish seeking only gold
who never listened to the man on the hill

Saw not the loving heart becoming still,
not even those who sought to bend the rule,
who never listened to the man on the hill
they shook their heads and called him fool.

Do your worst *grits teeth*

Well, thank you Annie, for insuring that my challenge wasn't one week long whiff, which was what I was starting to think it would turn out to be. I'll comment on your poem (pantoum, right?) after the expiration date for the challenge.

Hey! Someone (well, yes, talented) has managed to write a poem that satisfies my, I thought, rather generous criteria. All the rest of you (that one or two who might be on the fence about it) get right up on that horse, 'K?

Itsa horse, fer Gawd's sake. You fall off, you get back on.

Darn it.

Whatever.

Berk.

 

[butters]

Later I remembered a product called Rite InThe Rain or something - designed for field geologists in case the weather was bad.

aaha! endless hours of submarine fun

 

[butters]

Well, thank you Annie, for insuring that my challenge wasn't one week long whiff, which was what I was starting to think it would turn out to be. I'll comment on your poem (pantoum, right?) after the expiration date for the challenge.

Hey! Someone (well, yes, talented) has managed to write a poem that satisfies my, I thought, rather generous criteria. All the rest of you (that one or two who might be on the fence about it) get right up on that horse, 'K?

Itsa horse, fer Gawd's sake. You fall off, you get back on.

Darn it.

Whatever.

Berk.

my wooden horse has no legs atm. it's ok. i'm a carpenter (not Karen)