"Donate a poem or a poem challenge"

[Jon]

Please consider this post.

As some of you may know, I am a counselor for juvenile delinquents ranging ages from 13 to 20 years of age. (Yes 20 years of age…Indiana has some funny laws) I work midnights in order counsel those who have foolishly dropped out of school or have a GED and have taken a job that requires them to work into the small hours of the morn or to awaken in these small hours and go to work. These young folks need counsel as much as those going to school and sleep “normal” hours.

I wish to begin a program to elicit team work and/or “thinking outside of the box.”

This is where you come in, fellow riddles and poets.

I wish to present these young folks with riddles and/or poem challenges (the poem challenges I envision to be much like the François Villon Contest as well as the three word contest and the poem subject contest) I intend to give certain rewards to the more difficult challenges.

What I would like from you, my beloved friends, are riddles you are willing to “donate” as well as poem subjects, words and opening lines. I assure you, I intent to steal and copy write none of these ideas. I just have several young folks interested in writing poetry and hope to lead them into working as a group (many do not get along) on some of the more difficult riddles.


***Note; none of these young folks are mentally challenged but many suffer from ADHD and ADD. In addition, those of totally sound mind have yet to be pushed by parents and teachers, many have attended school little, please keep this in mind.
I point this out to you so that you understand that a riddle on the subject of…say… the Children’s crusades of 1212 A.D. may be a bit “over their heads” by the same token a mother goose riddle would be a bit too childish. As to appropriateness, I reckon I can be the judge of that and not expose them to a poem or riddle that the facility may deem appropriate. Please do not worry about being appropriate, I will be your filter on this issue as well as the mental acumen issue. If one you ( my friends), write a poem of romance and one of the young folks feels inspired to write a poem that is not appropriate…That is his or her fault. I will deal with her/or him in kind. This will not come back to haunt my fellow writers and riddles…after all…I am the filter. If a “Three word” poem game is submitted and contains the word “stick” and a young one makes something inappropriate of it…I will deal with the young person rather than you, my writing and riddling friends.

After all this…It would likely be best for Admin. here if you all PM you submissions to me rather than start a new thread. Admin. may consider closing this thread if they wish, and let PMs be the vehicle. You may even consider am already written poem or poem game to “donate.”

[Jean]

I suggest ideas be PMed to Jon, because their authors might later want to use them in our threads and not let the cats out of the bags before their time.

I would, however, like this thread to stay, for general conversation of how poetry might influence minds. I would also like Jon to keep us abreast of all developments of this subject. I think what he is doing is great and noble, and I personally would love to know all about it.

[Jon]

Thank you sir.

I have only one donation so I am using my own ideas. I just fear I will run out soon.

[Brice]

I know you said you'd worry about appropriateness, but I am just curious: Are sheep poems and riddles considered appropriate.

[Jean]

I hope nobody will mind if you take all ideas already used in our three poetry contest threads

[Jon]

I know you said you'd worry about appropriateness, but I am just curious: Are sheep poems and riddles considered appropriate.

Umm... not mine...

[Jon]

I hope nobody will mind if you take all ideas already used in our three poetry contest threads

I hope so too sir.

Perhaps someone, maybe an Admin. will speak up. I have no idea who's property a post is when posted here.

[LadyHitchhiker]

You may use anything from my parody thread if you would like! Or anything of mine I should say which is everything I've posted there...

[Jean]

I believe posts are property of their posters. If so, you're free to use - for the purpose specified in your starter post - whatever I posted anywhere.

[Jon]

I believe posts are property of their posters. If so, you're free to use - for the purpose specified in your starter post - whatever I posted anywhere.

Thank you sir and Lady porn bot!

I have always held that a post or PM is the property of the writer as well.

[cozener]

So you want opening lines for poetry? Do you mean the first few lines to set the meter or feel? Oh here's an idea, how about a list of rhyming (or just related) words that one could use in a poem; give them such a list and tell them to make a poem from it...that sort of thing...

[Jon]

So you want opening lines for poetry? Do you mean the first few lines to set the meter or feel? Oh here's an idea, how about a list of rhyming (or just related) words that one could use in a poem; give them such a list and tell them to make a poem from it...that sort of thing...

Right. Like any of the games we play here...or any new ones.

[LadyHitchhiker]

Thank you sir and Lady porn bot! [

I'm so glad you remembered that!

[Jon]

Thank you sir and Lady porn bot! [

I'm so glad you remembered that!

I will never forget!

[LadyHitchhiker]

I will never forget you Jon...

[Jon]

Who are you again????

[LadyHitchhiker]

You know, the pornbot and cardboard tiger...

I see you've finally visited my parody thread. Find anything fun?

[Jon]

You know, the pornbot and cardboard tiger...

I see you've finally visited my parody thread. Find anything fun?

I found you!

No, serious;y, I don't see what you are referring to.

[Jon]

Thank you folks.

The kids seem to be expanding their minds a bit...thinking around corners.

I found a latent use for riddles with these kids.

One day a boy, age 17, pointed to a word and asked its meaning, The word was "sure."

I almost cried (I really did) at this boy's ignorance (word used in the most kind and pure way.) I am still amazed, but now I know the scope of the ignorance infesting this place and these kids. I have had to explain many common phrases as well.

I would have seen the ignorance when a given child handed in their first treatment plan, about three weeks after introduction into the program. Now I see it in a matter of days. I also see other ignorances such as lack of culture, understanding other cultures. geography, literature, history etc...

The boy who did not recognize "sure" and thought it spelled "shore" ( lets call him "Billy") had his problem seen much sooner than traditional treatment techniques all because of these riddles that YOU ALL are putting forth.

Thank you.

Many issues are not so blaring as "Billy's" but a clear picture of a lack of at least culture has emerged.

I visited "Billy's" school and found the teaching to be atrocious! I spoke in private with a couple of "Billy's" teachers and three of them, when speaking with me, used phrases such as " I seen this or that" ...and "I so totally like the way Billy, like, tries so hard and stuff" and "So like, you're like Billy's, like, counselor and stuff?"

This was three different teachers! I now know that his school is likely at fault. I told the Dean of the school she should screen her staff better. To which she asked "Is one of them doing drugs?"

(Face palm!)
I explained what I had witnessed and left.

I went back and began the paperwork to get "Billy" into another school.

Now remember, usual methods would have caught the problem in three weeks or so (plus all the red tape to switch schools), but thanks to YOU ALL, "Billy" will be in an entirely new school inside of TWO weeks!

[ladysai]

Now remember, usual methods would have caught the problem in three weeks or so (plus all the red tape to switch schools), but thanks to YOU ALL, "Billy" will be in an entirely new school inside of TWO weeks!

Don't forget your own contribution to those great results!
You are making a difference in those kids' lives.
In other words, you rock!

[Jean]

Jon, do you remember my library games? if you think they could help you in any way, feel free to use them, too

[Jon]

Thank you Ladysai!

And jean...I am trying to remember the library games. I can only remember two. Please refresh my memory.

[alinda]

Heres a poem, I dont have a thread so I thought I'd bump this one with it.


You talk about craft
but no magical mantras
persistence is key


Unlocking visions
beyond what is apparent
pay close attention


Dare to speak the truth:
another prefers silence;
each finds his own way


Words reflect knife's edge
joy, pain, sorrow multiplied
condensed in poems


Above all else, write:
keep striving; chances are good
you'll carve your own path


While the road ahead
remains hard, one understands
maps fashioned with words


Fragments of prayer
snatched from thin air and transformed
poetry for all

[BROWNINGS CHILDE]

Jon feel free to use any poetry or riddles I have posted.
I might suggest the "womans work is never done" riddle/poem as it seems appropriate for this group.
Also the poem I posted on the Poetry contest 2 thread might be appropriate if any of your group are loners.

[BROWNINGS CHILDE]

I would not use the poem entitled "winter" however.