Nyyark

Nice, I like word choice and rythem. I think your talking about self-disatisfaction and the desire to change, but I'm not totally sure. If you are I can definately relate to the mood and feelings expressed. Prolly why I like it so much.

It’s good to see a Quill Bearer actively drum up participation for the Quest! Count me in.

Pepsi Holiday Spice, Limited Edition - I went ahead and bought one of these from Hollywood video one day because I get an employee discount and because I need the caffeine. Cinnamon.... Yep. It wasn't spit it out of your mouth horrible, but it definitely wasn't chocolate in peanut butter.

Nice, what an awesome Christmas gift! Hmmm let’s see... Last line of stanza 1: "So strong and raw." to "So strong, so raw." The repetition of "so" would give it a more finished feel, fitting to the end of a stanza. Stanza 2: I love the humor, followed by the sincerity. In order to bring this out more you might consider slightly breaking the meter by changing line 6 from "My words of heart," to "The words of my heart,” Stanza 3: The "and" at the start of the last line conflicts with the second and in the line. "And time became an iris and blue eye." If possible remove or replace it to get rid of the awkwardness. Stanza 4: Unless you are going for the alien effect that the use of "humans" creates you could replace it with "people". No change of meaning or meter, just connotation. Stanza 5: I can't think of any changes to make Stanza 6: "A Blue Eye, three words and memories good," No matter what you do keep this line. It is totally awesome! (The rest of the stanza rocks for that matter.) The whole stanza makes a really good climax. Stanza 7 and 8: Good reuse of the start. The altered conclusion is cool on many different levels, and a great ending.

Killer lyrics Falcon, I'd love to hear the tune you set them to!

Wow, the parallel structure throughout this poem made it very powerful. The amount of variance on the last stanza seemed just right to close as well. You conveyed your theme beautifully, well done Katz.

You nailed it Rev, thats the same feeling I got from it. Awsome job Zariah!

His eyelids scraped painfully across their trusting wards. What could only be white acid forced a reflex closing no less painful. He tried to extend his awareness to whatever limbs he might have retained, and instantly cursed his adventurous spirit. They had to be attached in some way or another in order to tell him they hurt that much. He opened his eyes just enough to let sunlight filter through his lashes as his tongue probed his mouth. He dribble-coughed out the gritty copper-tasting mass his tongue scrounged up. Blood and sand- that narrowed the possibilities. He forced his eyes open a crack wider. Nothing but orange sand and bright blue skies all around him. 'Great', he thought, 'They dumped me in the middle of a desert'.

I like it! Its like an emotional impact, whose force is built line by line, with the meaning and logic captured in the last two lines, recalibrating the stunned reader. Nice job Purple Shadows.

An over flying crow looked down, then turned his head to his companion and said, "Hey George they're serving free Moulluscs down on the beach, go tell the guys."

Anyone ever notice how Jechum has more than 100% of the posts

"It really wasn't a problem at all, I'm glad that someone has decided to put my lessons to use!" "It just occured to me that in order to make finding team mates eaisier those who wish to participate might want to make a post here." "I'm also considering delaying the deadline, as I haven't had a team notification, yet, and the deadline isn't overly important. When I have atleast two teams that could compete I'll post a new deadline." (Edit: The above notification came as I was posting Remember you can always add up to the maximum number of teammates as lone as it is before the deadline.)

Nyyark pulls out a jar of Geld and a sign up sheet. “Okay Class, here is our first contest. This is the Contemporary sonnet contest. It is open to everyone, but it is a team based contest, so I will need you to sign up as teams.” “The idea of the game is for each group to compose 5 Contemporary Sonnets each with a different specific theme.” “The groups must be at least three people large, and no more than five. Also there can only be up to two AAA members per team.” “Everyone who participates will receive 5 geld, and each member of the winning team will get 10 geld. If more than 3 teams participate, then there will be a second place prize of 10 geld, and the first place will be raised to 15. If more than 5 teams participate, then there will be a third place prize of 10 geld, second place will be 15 geld, and first place will be 20 geld. I have drawn a chart to make this easier to understand.” Every non winning participant: 5 geld 1-3 groups participate: 1st place: 10 geld 4-5 groups participate: 1st place: 15 geld | 2nd place 10 geld 6+ groups participate: 1st place: 20 geld | 2nd place 15 geld | 3rd place 10 geld. “Although each sonnet should have a specific separate theme, bonus points will be awarded if there is a deeper message when all of the group’s sonnets are taken in connection to one another.” “Please talk amongst yourselves and decide your groups. Remember anyone can participate (except me, as I am judging). After you have decided to form your groups, PM me and I will assign you a group number. A group member(s) can be added to your group any time before the contest deadline, like-wise any submission may be edited before the deadline. Any post-deadline editing will disqualify the entire group.” “When you post a submission, the subtitle must read “CCy1 SSCC1 [Group#]” This stands for Carnival of Contests year one, Sequenced Sonnet Classes and Contests contest 1, and your group number so I can sort out which group they belong to. I am going to use this subtitle to search out the posts, so they may be posted anywhere on the Pen you like.” “The submission deadline for this contest is Midnight Eastern US Time Zone on July 16, 2004.” “Again please PM any questions regarding this contest. Good luck and have fun!” The Contemporary Sonnet Lesson

Nyyark shuffles through some papers and smiles as he pulls one out. “Hello. The first Class in the SSCC will be about Contemporary Sonnets. The Contemporary Sonnet is what over the centuries the sonnet has evolved into. It is essentially a distillation of all the things that every other kind of sonnet has in common, thus making a great start for learning about sonnets.” “The word sonnet is accepted to have derived from the Italian sonetto, a short strain. A sonetto was a short poem sung to the accompaniment of the lute or mandolin. The word from which it is derived hints greatly about the nature of the sonnet it. It is a poem whose structure is dictated by musical flow.” “The musical feeling of the sonnet has bred true through its many generations, and when writing a sonnet it is something to keep in mind. By musical feeling I mean that each line of the sonnet flows into the next, so when reading the reader doesn’t ever feel the sonnet is choppy, or stumbles over a particular word arrangement.” “The technical characteristic shared by all sonnets is that they all have 14 lines. Some even go as far as defining a contemporary sonnet as “a 14 line poem”.” “Most Sonnets also share a thematic characteristic, which is a shift in their mode of description, such as describing what something is in the first part of the sonnet, and then describing what it does later in the sonnet.” “A Contemporary Sonnet should contain all three of these aspects, but all that is truly required is 14 lines. However I would suggest familiarizing oneself with the other two aspects of sonnet writing, as it will be greatly helpful in the future contests.” “If anyone has any questions about this lesson please PM me or post it, and I will update my lesson, thank you.” Contests of this type of Sonnet: The Contemporary Sonnet Contest - A group contest where working together gets you geld Back to the Main SSCC page

Deep in the AAA Guild Tent Nyyark stands behind a stone podium. “Welcome pennites and guests to Sequenced Sonnet Classes and Contests. This summer I, Nyyark, will be your host. Let me give a brief introduction to both myself and these classes. I, Nyyark, have lived at The Pen’s Keep for quite some time. I was a member like any, and slowly worked my way up to the title Poet. I am now a Word Whittler of The Articulate Artisans of Alliteration, to whom this tent belongs. It is thanks to their generosity, and that of the other two sub-guilds that we have the Carnival of Contests this year, though I would like to note that the majority of Geld donated this year came from the treasury of the AVV, presumably earned from their mission tithes.” “What you are listening to now is the introduction to a series of lessons and contests about sonnets. The information and lesson plans were gathered and devised by myself, and although I do not have sources to cite, I do believe that most of the information is indeed correct.” “What I will be doing is explaining both the characteristics and history of the different kinds of sonnets. Then with this information, you, the participant, will attempt to create a contest entry that fits both the information conveyed, and the contest requirements.” “The reward for all of my contests will be geld. In this way we of the AAA hope to show that learning does enrich your life. Thank you for your participation, and I hope you enjoy yourselves. Please if you have any questions about any of the information, or about the process of the contests, or comments and corrections, as well as ideas for how to do things differently during the next Carnival, feel completely free to post or PM them to me, and I will reply as promptly as I can.” “Here are the Lessons:” Contemporary Sonnets “The door back is This Way.”

Nyyark grinned to himself in satisfaction. The Carnival looked absolutely wonderful. He hurried across the courtyard towards the AAA Guild Tent, eager to start his contributions to the festivities. ‘Yes,’ he thought, ‘everything is per-‘. Suddenly struck, Nyyark tumbled to the ground. Panic began to rise as he felt two thick arms wrapped around his waist, squeezing the air out of him. “And stay out!” Shouted a deep accented voice from a wagon doorway. “Wha-what?” gasped Nyyark as he struggled against the heavy weight pinning him down. “I’m sorry” rolled a voice, and Nyyark could suddenly breathe again. Nyyark blinked as the weight disappeared. Putting his elbows to the ground, he hoisted himself up to a sitting position. Before him was a small, slightly misshapen figure. It had on ill fitting clothes that billowed off of its asymmetrical figure, pulled thin by an ugly brown belt. A large nub of a nose predominated the center of its face. It had large, thick lips, which bulged even thicker on the left. Above the bulge was a round mole with a single black hair, and above that, a small brown eye. On the right however was the largest and cutest blue eye Nyyark had ever seen. Both were set under thick bushy eyebrows, as black and greasy as the hair jutting out from under his cap. “Hi,” said the stranger, “I’m Gugs the Dwarf. Now, I’m not sayin’ I’m one of them there mystical Dwarven types, all I’m sayin’ is I was born short as it were, among other things.” “Hi Gugs,” replied a slightly confused crowboy, “I’m Nyyark.” Nyyark shook Gugs’ disproportionately large hand. “I’m sorry about all that there squeezin’ earlier. I seem to have this hugglin’ problem see. I’d like to say it was a witch’s charm, or some such other magical ailment, but I was just born to it. My folks say I was queer child. Why,” Gugs smacks his leg with a laugh, “they still do say I’m quite the odd one. Said I was like dog in heat they did, only without all the humpin’. I was broke of that real young. Anyways, I hitched a ride with them wagon folk to try and get to this carnival I’d heard about. But being holed-up with all that bad weather as it were, I seem to have worn out my welcome. They said I was spookin’ the horses. They wanted to lock me in a box for the rest of the trip, but,” The big blue eye moved uncomfortably close to Nyyark’s face as Gug’s lifted his eyebrow, “I huggled the key.” “Um Gugs,” Nyyark said as he tried to peel the arms from around his shoulders, “your hugging me again.” “Oh sorry Nyyark, it that hugglin’ problem actin’ up again.” Said Gugs, releasing Nyyark. Gugs looked Nyyark up and down. “You know, seeing as how I’ve just been fired and all, do you know what I can do around here?” “Ummm” said Nyyark, while scratching his head. “Oh! Are you any good with maps?” “Why sure!” Said Gugs, “I used to be the one who showed the new folk how to get to the well. Carried me on my back they did.” “Great!” said Nyyark, “Then I want you to take this map, and show them to these places.” Highlighted were the Following: --StoryWeaver's Booth-- --Temp AVV links page-- --AAA Guild Tent-- --Stalls and Booths(Member held services)-- --Contest Staging Area(Member contests)-- With that Nyyark pried Gugs off of him again, and hurried off to the AAA Guild Tent.

This should be the temporary AVV page, sorry. My brain is not being a brain right now. Bachlor Auction Sign up Kissing Booth Tag game Back to Main

Off to one side of the Courtyard is a cleared out field of grass for the contests. Behind the field is a giant magical tent, enchanted to access any imagined need of the various contest holders. By the field is a sign that reads: "A listing of contests of the Solstice Carnival. To have your contest listed please PM Nyyark a link to your post and brief description. Also please PM Nyyark when the contest deadline is over, thank you. Write In Competition, by Merlas - Incorporate 27 sponsor chosen words into a work of the competitor's choice. CLOSED 1st: Wyvern | 2nd: Salinye | 3rd: Gyrfalcon | Participation +5g" Clay Sculptures, And a Writing Challenge, by Katzaniel - Buy or Win a Clay Sculpture of yourself! Or simply participate in the writing challenge for a few geld. Prize: Clay sculpture Mr. Bunny's Carrot Stand and Happy Haiku Hut, by Big Pointy One and Mr. Bunny - Carrot goodies for sale, and a Haiku Contest. CLOSED 1st: Xaious | 2nd: Tanuchan A Picture is Worth A Thousand Words, by Zariah - A story contest based on turning pictures into words. 1st: 25g | 2nd: 15g | 3rd: 10g | Participation 5g (x2) Storyteller's game, by Mynx - A story contest, requiring including *one line* within the story. CLOSED 1st: 25g | 2nd: 20g | 3rd: 15g | Participation 5g Repetition, repetition, repetition, by Katzaniel - Using repetition effectively within a poem, story, or paragraph. 1st: 5g x #participants to a maximum of 30. 2nd: somewhat rounded and approximately 2/3 of 1st. 3rd: somewhat rounded and approximately 1/3 of 1st. Go to the rest of the Carnival.

Stalls and booths line the pathway, pressing close together, many sharing the shade of various brightly colored canopies. Behind the stalls are a number of interesting characters, each offering an even more interesting item or service for Geld. They say you can buy anything at The Pen’s annual summer solstice carnival, but as this is the first, it has yet to be proven. Among the place set out for the Stalls are many a vacant sign, as well as a number of invited Carnival folk willing to share a wagon with a Pen residing merchant in order to draw more attention to their particular service. Here there is a sign that says: “If you would like to set up a stall, please PM Nyyark a link to your post and a brief description of your services. Also if you decide to close your booth, please PM Nyyark notification. For more information see here Thank you." A Listing of Pen Member’s Goods and Services Clay Sculptures, And a Writing Challenge, by Katzaniel - Buy or Win a Clay Sculpture of yourself! Or simply participate in the writing challenge for a few geld. Always Accurate Predictions, by Xaious - Your prediction, from the Master of Time, to work in to your time spent at the carnival. Earns five geld. Mr. Bunny's Carrot Stand and Happy Haiku Hut - by Big Pointy One and Mr. Bunny - Carrot goodies for sale, and a Haiku Contest. Tarot Readings, by Dragonqueen - spend your hard earned geld on a personal Tarot Reading, costs 5 geld. Necromancer's Solutions, by ntraveler2 - curses, pranks, gizmos or spells, prices vary. Riddle Me This, Riddle Me That, by Salinye - write a poem about a Pen Member and let us guess! Earns 15 geld. Quiz Me!, by Salinye - create a quiz about your character and post the link to it. Earns 20 geld. Peredhil's Poetry Place. Write one acrostic poem using your name for five geld. Write a second poem using another member's name for five more geld, for a total of ten geld. Earns 10 geld. Back to the Carnival Commons.

Stepping into the Articulate Artisans of Alliteration guild tent, one first notices the particularly subdued lighting. The whole tent is shaded in tones of warm earthly colors, almost seemingly contradictory to the atmosphere one would expect in a den of dreamers who clothe thoughts, feeling, and beauty in the flesh of words. But upon further examination, one would realize that the seemingly uniform coloring is actually tiny bits of outstanding brilliance, so mixed and placed as to not distract and lull one into overlooking its presence. But so much as blink and the vision is gone, the viewer banished back into a reality of lamps rather than light. Here and there a figure is sprawled on a large floor pillow, or sitting hunched in a chair, making use of the pile of free guild provided parchment. The soft murmuring of a line of poetry can be heard every now and then, and from a side chamber the steady but comforting drone of an instructing voice is barely, but reassuringly, audible. Where would you like to go? Here you can find Alaeha’s poetry lessons. Class 1- Rhyme Class 2- Meter Just ask and a guide will direct you to the various AAA sponsored contests. Feedback Contest by Finnus - Revise a poem for Geld! Or you can go further into the tent to find the Sequenced Sonnet Classes and Contests. I’m sorry; would you like to go back to the Main Carnival Grounds?

The exotic orange of the walls stands out more than the bright green roof, but not by much. This is the moving home belongs to Jozsa, the old gypsy, mother of mothers. All passersby are welcomed to view the old magic, for if they so wish she can touch their hand and guess their destination. She also, as paid by the StoryWeaver’s sub-guild, gives directions as well. The Dunk Tank - Dunk everyones favorite Almost Dragon and get Geld Bringing Good Things to Life - Personification for everyone Alliteration Exercise - Alliteration for fun and profit! Or do you seek Gugs for a more personal tour?

Heehee I decided to respond. *Looks sheepish* I was a rather loooong post, and I hope I didn't break any of the community rules or anything. Also I doubt I should have started with commentary on the writting as a work of art instead of on its content. Do they not do that there?

I think that the old pen had something like this. I remember Zool saying something about commas not having to go somewhere I thought they did. I can't remember the name of the thread. It seems to me it was some sort of thread drift or something. Its not like you need commas anyways...

WE MOST CERTIANLY CAN NOT, AND I WON'T HEAR ANOTHER WORD OF IT. I HATE YOU! *runs away crying* heeheehee j/k

This is really fascinating for me to read, especially since we have such a small selection of represented opinions! Being an American with this as my only glimpse it almost seems a wonder that the conservatives are in the running, and it looks to me like the NPD better watched out for those Greens, because they've been sneakin' up when the NPD wasn't looking! Anyways I like the point of people not voting for something that they don't think will win, because everyone else is doing the same. Helps set me straight with who I'm vote for down here = ). (I hope, actually its more of the two I know I'm not going to vote for...) Also the term of minority government struck me as particularly humorous in the context of being voted in. Seems a tad oxymoronic... But if it did get voted in, would that make the liberals the minority government then? Also seems humorous to me that the Liberals want to keep things the way they are, and the Conservatives want to make changes. Sounds like both sides should do a name change to me. Sorry for barging in, but I just wanted to post my appreciation for this thread, it really has made my day.