ROUND THREE: 8-certitude vs. 5-palate

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.
• Votes are counted in real time and cannot be changed once entered.
• You can only vote once from a given IP address.
  • Classrooms should submit one vote as a class.
  • Students can then vote again individually from home.

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:

8-certitude
Debatable
By Marileta Robinson

When I defend with certitude
A certain point of view
And justify my attitude
That I know more than you
By pointing out the facts I’ve found
That clearly build my case
And vehemently stand my ground
and put you in your place
And fortify my argument
With discourse loud and long
That’s passionate and eloquent—
It usually means I’m wrong.

vs.

5-palate
Pot “Un”luck
By Tiffany Strelitz Haber

I bought a giant pot one day while on a shopping spree.
I hadn’t ever cooked before but how hard could it be?

I added every palate pleaser. Things that make me drool.
Chocolate cake. Just raw. Why bake? And who needs cooking school??

Scrambled eggs and peanut noodles, marinated meat.
Beat em, dipped em, fried em, whipped em. (Lather, rinse, repeat!)

The pot went in the oven with the timer set for 8.
Supercalifra-delicious! I could hardly wait.

Dancing in my kitchen, I was filled with endless pride.
I opened up the oven just to take a peek inside.

The mixture had congealed a bit, and boy, it sure did stink.
I tasted it. The flavor? It was Soup de Kitchen Sink.

 Loading ...

“This is awesome, where can I find more?”:
Browse other matchups using the slider below and click to go straight to that matchup!