The word 5-dismissal was suggested by Iroquois Intermediate’s thinkers, readers, and writers.
Click here for authlete instructions.
Voter Instructions:
- The countdown at the bottom of each pairing indicates how much time is left to vote.
- When voting closes, timer will disappear.
- Read both poems as many times as you like.
- Mark the poem you like best by clicking the circle next to its name.
- Press the “Vote” button to record your vote.
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Things to Consider in Making a Choice:
- How well the poem incorporates the authlete’s assigned word.
- Technical elements: meter, rhyme, form, shape, and other poetic standards.
- Creativity: wordplay, imagery, unusual approach, etc.
- Subtle elements that make the whole greater than the sum of its parts.
- Your overall response: emotional reaction such as admiration, tears, laughter, terror, or some indefinable feeling.
Here are the poems:
5-dismissal
So I Married A Black Widow Spider
by Stephen W. Cahill
Appeals from my friends, I admit, I dismissed.
They cried, “She’s the wrong girl for you!”
But once she had kissed me, I couldn’t resist.
My friends were distraught, “Boo-hoo-hoo!”
But listen, dismissal of friendly concern
can often work out for the best.
I’m deeply in love. I’m like hand, she’s like glove.
Plus cockroach is tough to digest…
vs.
12-tincture
The Seasoning of Spring
by Donna Smith
A few drops of rain,
A smidgen of mud,
A zest of blue sky,
A sprinkle of buds,
A scattering of peepers,
A pinch of the sun,
A tincture of warmth,
Spring seasoning’s done!
5-dismissal vs. 12-tincture: Which Poem Did You Prefer?
- 5-dismissal (Stephen W. Cahill) (43%, 103 Votes)
- 12-tincture (Donna Smith) (57%, 135 Votes)
Total Voters: 238

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