COME ONE, COME ALL/ July 16

July 16, 2010
By

by Carolee, Deb & Jill

It’s show time! It’s time to post your original poem, written in response to Monday’s prompt — our guest maestro’s idea to write using a hidden code (Thank you very much, Nathan Landau!) – or any other inspiration from the week. (We love it when you write to our prompt, but we also love it when you write on a whim. We all know how fickle that muse can be.)

Leave a link to your blog post, or leave your poem itself, in the comments! And remember: Although we love seeing our badge in the sidebar of your blog, we would appreciate it if you would also link back to the site in each of your poem posts. Linking within your post helps people travel back and forth from your site to the Big Tent Poetry site, and it helps perpetuate Big Tent Poetry “findability” in Google searches — and that helps us all.

Let the show begin! This post is “sticky” — it will stay right here in the spotlight for you all weekend.

Here’s how prompts work under the Big Tent

You’ve got all week to write your poem, based on this week’s prompt. Come Fridays (today!) you’ll find a “Come One, Come All” post (this one!) where you can 1) leave a link to your poem or 2) leave the poem in its entirety.

We want to give you all weekend to post your work and read each others’ work. Take your time. Enjoy all the poems that are new to the world.

Some hints

Hint: We’ve set Big Tent Poetry to Central Time.

Hint: An easy way to check on new post comments is via a RSS reader, if you use one. Here’s the address you would add to your reader: http://bigtentpoetry.org/comments/feed.

Hint: Since we’re a new site, and you’re new to it, your comment(s) will be held for moderation for your first few posts. We’re checking the filters often, so don’t despair! That said, if it takes more than a half a day to see it come live on the site, do email us at info (at) bigtentpoetry.org. (But be patient, okay?)

Circus etiquette

We figure you know how to play in the poetry community, but here are the basics:

Be nice. Have fun. Remember we aren’t a critique forum. We want to support each other as we bring more poetry into our lives. Only provide critique if someone specifically asks for it.

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76 Responses to “ COME ONE, COME ALL/ July 16 ”

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  1. rob kistner on July 16, 2010 at 12:06 am

    The code key will be posted on my blog Sunday morning, but first here is my poem: Stream

    • rob kistner on July 16, 2010 at 12:22 am

      Oops, here is the link: Stream

    • rob kistner on July 16, 2010 at 2:11 pm

      I just now published the flash fiction intro I’d forgotten when first posting this morning… my mind’s not working today ;(

      • Elizabeth on July 16, 2010 at 8:55 pm

        Oh, after reading that intro and the poem, I think your mind is working just fine Rob, but sometimes it takes a few whatever for our bodies to catch up.

        • rob kistner on July 17, 2010 at 1:37 am

          Thank you ElizaBeth! My creative mind seems to gallop on, it is my practical mind that has been left in the dust — and my body, it’s so slow its being “lapped”… ;)

      • rob kistner on July 18, 2010 at 3:10 am

        As promised, it is Sunday the 18th, and I have now posted the codes & key to help you unravel the secret greeting message.

        • vivienne blake on July 18, 2010 at 10:09 am

          I tried: oh how I tried. But it was all algebra to me. I think the code needed punctuating or something.

          • rob kistner on July 18, 2010 at 12:09 pm

            It isn’t supposed to be easy. Remember, this is a “secret” greeting. The gist is in the “key”. Read and follow it carefully, then use the “words” code to pull the words from the poem — then the “form” code to assemble them. I even grouped the codes for the words in their proper stanza clusters. I will reveal the secret greeting on Wednesday.

          • rob kistner on July 18, 2010 at 12:18 pm

            Here are two clues for you Viv:
            1 – there are 38 words in the “secret greeting”,
            2 – the first word (1b2) is “the”.

  2. Tumblewords on July 16, 2010 at 12:17 am

    I’m not sure. Are you? :)

    Forty-three Miles North of Soul

  3. Elizabeth on July 16, 2010 at 12:18 am

    Mine is a letter that should have been written long ago. The code is posted on a sidebar page titled “Decoding”

    It’s About Time

    http://soulsmusic.wordpress.com/

    Elizabeth

  4. barbara on July 16, 2010 at 12:29 am

    Mine aren’t so much obscured as decorated, but I had a good time.
    There are words in the pictures Steg Steg Steganography

  6. Stan Ski on July 16, 2010 at 12:56 am

    Here’s mine: HIDDEN IN PLAIN SIGHT

  7. Francis Scudellari on July 16, 2010 at 1:26 am

    A bit of physics, a bit of food, and a whole bunch of silliness:
    Collision Course

  8. vivienne blake on July 16, 2010 at 1:34 am

    Here’s my feeble attempt: A MESSAGE WITHIN A MESSAGE for Bigtent http://vivinfrance.wordpress.com

    I’ll read the others later – it’s too early and we have guests for breakfast!

  9. Rallentanda on July 16, 2010 at 1:37 am

    ‘Looking for Mr. Right’

    Clues are provided….too easy!
    Any resemblance to persons living or dead is purely intentional.

    http://rallentanda.blogspot.com/2010/07/looking-for-mr-right.html

  10. Mory on July 16, 2010 at 4:11 am

    I am not certain if this can be called steganography but here the link to what i wrote, Frog and Fish http://teslawall.blogspot.com/2010/07/frog-and-fish.html

  11. Rachel Barenblat on July 16, 2010 at 5:57 am

    My poem isn’t exactly to prompt, but it is about the idea of hidden messages –

    Messages
    http://velveteenrabbi.blogs.com/blog/2010/07/another-mother-poem-messages-.html

  12. Linda Watskin on July 16, 2010 at 5:58 am

    I started with the idea of following the prompt, but instead followed where the poem led.
    http://word-painting.blogspot.com/2010/07/women-who-play-like-children.html

  13. nan on July 16, 2010 at 5:58 am

    You will find my little poem here.

  14. Jessica on July 16, 2010 at 6:28 am

    My poem is either in code or a metaphor. I don’t know if I know the difference, yet. Great prompt!

    Love Note (in Code)

    • Deb on July 16, 2010 at 1:26 pm

      It’s so nice to see you here, Jessica! Welcome!

  15. the odd inkwell on July 16, 2010 at 6:42 am

    poem story
    http://theoddinkwell.com/2010/07/14/message/

  16. Nathan Landau on July 16, 2010 at 6:43 am

    I went for the “conceit concealment” and ended up writing something totally unexpected. As with Tumblewords, I’m not quite sure. The clue is in the title.

    “Postictal”

    Many thanks to everyone who gave this prompt a shot!

    • rob kistner on July 16, 2010 at 12:46 pm

      Look forward to reading yours Nathan…

  17. Deb on July 16, 2010 at 6:44 am

    My strange response is an Instinctive Loving Response.

    Thanks for a fun prompt, Nathan!

    It may take me a while to read everyone this weekend. Carolee is visiting Portland (wOOt!) and we have a reading Saturday & other fun diversions. :-) But I will be checking for spam often to pull your links out of the filter.

    • Kelly on July 17, 2010 at 12:55 pm

      Wish I could come to the Portland event tonight. I’m just a couple hours south, but have other plans. Hope you have a fun time!

  18. twitches on July 16, 2010 at 6:44 am

    I used my teacher skills to make a multiple choice test out of a poem. There’s a link to the key at the bottom of the post.

    Multiple Choice Test – “A Hundred Words or Less”

  19. Dina Spice on July 16, 2010 at 6:45 am

    This is my second attempt, as my first got so confusing I couldn’t even understand how to figure it out….

    http://mypoeticlicense.wordpress.com/2010/07/14/justifiable/

    :) O happy Friday!
    - Dina

  20. Deb on July 16, 2010 at 6:59 am

    Be sure to thank Nathan Landau for this week’s prompt. And if you need editing help (copy, line, literary, etc.) Nathan is looking for editing work.

    • rob kistner on July 16, 2010 at 12:44 pm

      Thank you Nathan, this was most interesting… ;)

  21. Cynthia Short on July 16, 2010 at 7:39 am

    I just wish I had a bit more time to “spit & polish” my piece! You’ll find it here:
    http://cynthiashort.blogspot.com

  22. Iain D. Kemp on July 16, 2010 at 7:41 am

    Hi Folks

    First my news: my poem “Peregrine” (about a Falcon that mimicked sea-eagles )has now been published by the Born Free Foundation, follow this link to hear Virginia McKenna read it: http://www.bornfree.org.uk/get-involved/wildlife-poetry/

    I’m not sure my poem for the prompt really went were I was thinking…anyway ‘tis what it is…. the key is:
    1.1, 3.4, 4.3, 4.4, 7.2, 10.4, 10.5, 12.4, 15.2, 16.4, 18.5, 18.7

    …. and here it is:

    Disenchanted

    My heart fails
    I am lost in a world of confusion
    and disappointment in love,
    your treachery knows no bounds.
    Each breath you take, every word you utter
    leaves me cold and afraid.
    The end is coming,
    the loneliness and long dark solitude
    approaches fast.
    I wish with my soul
    that I could hate you but no;
    all I feel is numbness,
    desperation
    and fear.
    The longing within me is fading fast
    my spirit failing for good
    and all I can see now is a silhouette
    of what once was your sweet smile.

    My own podcast this week is a vintage piece from 1994!!!! Just click my name to go hear it

    Cheers all

    Iain

  23. Joseph Harker on July 16, 2010 at 7:52 am

    I hope this one didn’t get too out of hand: Cantando

  24. brenda w on July 16, 2010 at 8:16 am

    Happy Friday circus goers! Thanks for the prompt, Nathan.

    http://bozone-bw.blogspot.com/2010/07/infinite-loop.html

  25. pamela on July 16, 2010 at 8:39 am

    First of all thanks Nathan for a challenging prompt!
    I am not very good at hiding messages but I did try!
    Pamela

    http://flaubert-poetrywithme.blogspot.com/2010/07/message-to-you-from-me-big-tent-poetry.html

  26. gautami tripathy on July 16, 2010 at 9:21 am

    It is not to the prompt. Will write one for that soon.

    http://firmlyrooted.blogspot.com/2010/07/timely-interventions.html

  27. Weasel on July 16, 2010 at 9:39 am

    This was an interesting prompt. Really much more of a challenge, but I enjoyed it. Challenging things are always fun, especially when you are not very good at hiding stuff =D. Here’s my take on the prompt. I called it Spectrum.

    http://systematicweasel.blogspot.com/2010/07/spectrum-btp.html

  28. derrick2 on July 16, 2010 at 9:53 am

    This is my secret!

    http://melrosemusings.blogspot.com/2010/07/secret-pleasures.html

    I may be a little late getting to visit you all but will strive to do so!

  29. Tiel Aisha Ansari on July 16, 2010 at 10:19 am

    Kudos to anyone who can identify the quote, and why it’s appropriate for today… Radiance

  30. Kelly on July 16, 2010 at 10:20 am

    I didn’t follow the prompt – sorry. Had to follow the muse instead and write about this experience that has been haunting me.

    Out of Reach
    http://www.starsandwillows.com/2010/07/out-of-reach/

  31. Robin on July 16, 2010 at 11:23 am

    Hi, all ~ Finally an opportunity to jump in. Have been wanting to join the circus fun since NaPoWriMo, but no time! Looking forward to reading everyone’s poems over the week-end.

    F
    http://robin-turner.blogspot.com/2010/07/f.html

    • Deb on July 16, 2010 at 1:27 pm

      Welcome to the Big Tent, Robin. Yay for summer!

  32. Robert Lloyd on July 16, 2010 at 11:31 am

    I nearly forgot to post my Big Tent inspiration here. Ive been so busy. I hope you enjoy it. Its simple but positive. I can’t wait to read all these entries this weekend once Im done with the beatings of work. Thank you everyone for sharing!!

    My Poem is: Glum and can be found below.

    http://burdensandsmiles.blogspot.com/2010/07/glum.html

  33. Julie Jordan Scott on July 16, 2010 at 11:41 am

    I went through a whole cycle to get to where I finally arrived. I am considering blogging about it because it amused the heck out of me!

    http://juliejordanscott.typepad.com/jjspoetry/2010/07/seeing-through-the-code.html

    • derrick2 on July 17, 2010 at 7:31 am

      Hi Julie, for some reason your blog won’t let me post a comment, so here goes!

      I’m going with Elizabeth’s interpretation. We should all be grateful for the gift of another day. Very nicely written.

  34. EKSwitaj on July 16, 2010 at 12:13 pm

    Decoding

  35. Cara Holman on July 16, 2010 at 12:52 pm

    A code and a conversation…

    Subliminally Yours
    http://caraholman.wordpress.com/2010/07/16/subliminally-yours/

  36. Elizabeth Perry on July 16, 2010 at 1:54 pm

    ETC was written using a simple Caesar shift cipher-system for inspiration.

    • Deb on July 16, 2010 at 3:26 pm

      Welcome to the Big Tent site, Elizabeth!

    • Nathan Landau on July 17, 2010 at 10:34 am

      I was wondering if someone was going to use a shift cipher, or similar encoding method. Glad this prompt got your gears turning! (“Sibilance and fricatives” is a wonderful one-two punch, by the way.)

      • Elizabeth Perry on July 19, 2010 at 8:44 am

        I adore Caesar shifts; one of these days, I’ll get to the point where I can rotate them in my head.

        And thank you!

  37. Zouxzoux on July 16, 2010 at 2:06 pm

    Warning: my poem isn’t a happy one but I hope y’all have a happy week-end!

    http://wp.me/p9O6Y-bP

  38. August & April « Zouxzoux on July 16, 2010 at 2:07 pm

    [...] poetry inspired by this prompt can be found at Big Tent Poetry. from → New Orleans ← Lease No comments yet Click here to cancel [...]

  39. Evelyn N. Alfred on July 16, 2010 at 2:22 pm

    I finally am contributing:

    http://evelynnalfred.blogspot.com/2010/07/poetry-on-plane.html

    • Deb on July 16, 2010 at 3:25 pm

      It’s nice to see your poem here, Evelyn!

  40. Ben C. on July 16, 2010 at 3:03 pm

    My first ever Big Tent poem…if there’s a hidden code in there somewhere, I am not sure what it is:

    http://thesmallnouns.blogspot.com/2010/07/new-poetry-prompt.html

    • Deb on July 16, 2010 at 3:24 pm

      Welcome to the Tent, Ben!

  41. Sand Is On Fire, a stenographic poem | Rubies in Crystal on July 16, 2010 at 5:03 pm

    [...] to Big Tent Poetry’s prompt (where other entries are linked in the [...]

  42. Brenda on July 16, 2010 at 5:18 pm

    Sand Is On Fire: a poem ball.

    Wasn’t going to be prompted by this prompt, no, no, but a wild crazy ink drawing poem done in far too little time, and when I intended to take a nap, and I screech in with my stenographic offering… :)

    • Brenda on July 17, 2010 at 9:33 am

      when no, no, meaning I’m not good with games, tricks, being clever, and so on, just a dull poet…. :)

    • Elizabeth on July 17, 2010 at 9:47 pm

      Uma, I tried to leave a comment, but it didn’t seem to stick. So I’ll say it here:

      I feel that you have given me a special gift with your poem. Thank you so much, can’t say how I feel after reading it,

      Elizabeth

  44. maria on July 17, 2010 at 1:39 pm

    This prompt made me pause as I was trying to come up with “clever” ideas, until I remembered that all poetry has has this in common: the hidden message in plain sight. So here is my contribution to the prompt this week: http://www.smallchangeblog.com/smallchangeblog/2010/07/fringed.html

  45. ana on July 17, 2010 at 6:20 pm

    Anaïs: Big Tent Poetry (a Draft)

  46. Rachel on July 18, 2010 at 2:29 pm

    A sestina for my first poem here.

    http://eskenosen.wordpress.com/2010/07/18/22/

    • Deb on July 18, 2010 at 6:09 pm

      Hello, Rachel, and welcome to the Big Tent!

  47. Christina Hile on July 18, 2010 at 6:15 pm

    My poem, Mishka & Bee…

  48. Nate Hile on July 18, 2010 at 6:19 pm

    My poem, Hard Reboot

  49. Donald Harbour on July 19, 2010 at 4:06 pm

    The secret code? It is written between the lines.

    Grandmother’s hand sewn quilt

  50. jingle on July 19, 2010 at 6:26 pm

    http://thursdaypoetsrallypoetry.wordpress.com/2010/07/19/the-celebrate-poet-of-june-award-plus-poetry-community-award/

    I bestow you an outstanding poetry community award,

    plus two awards on the bottom,
    thanks!

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