Thank You

Thanks to all of you The Beautiful Path can now claim over three hundred views and scores of followers. We just wanted to stop and say how much we appreciate it. Trust me, none of this is possible without you.

Sonnet Four: Lover

My hand in hand with solemn Winter’s own,
I gently dance upon the crusted lake.
Though she should reave my spirit, flesh and bone,
her way is mine. The form I’ll not forsake.

Beneath the endless diamond-studded night,
I draw her snow-kissed whispers to my soul.
Shroud only in the pallor of the light,
we two shall die apart and rise, a whole.

Entwined within the arms of that good night,
a vision in the waters and the wild,
with coy advance seduces my poor sight:
an imp like springtime, wondrously mild.

And shall I plant in Winter impish Spring?
Who dares deny when Nature her songs sing?

Silvia

A poem inspired by William Shakespeare’s The Two Gentlemen of Verona

She loveth not the liar who forsook,
a thousand oaths when once she graced his sight.
Whose heart, worm-fed and rotted,undertook,
to name his friend from Adam lost to light

Who tombed his forlorn Julia in earth,
to lay his suit before a brighter sun.
Tis pestilence to her, his praise and mirth,
for she who bore it last and now is dun.

Her winds chastise his heart to no avail.
“Thou cur! Repent and find thy blessed love.”
“Thy blessed love” stands nigh in borrowed veil,
and whispers thanks and praise for Heaven’s dove.

O feckless mistress! Love, thou art unkind.
Such misery hast thou from joy refined.

Sonnet Three: Light

The warbling of the lark calls forth the day.

Young flowers yawn and sing unto the sun.

The sprawling fen, the highlands and they cay,

resound with life. The morning has begin.

 

The radiant sky all veiled in wisps of white.

The shining lakes well lined with summer gold.

The emerald grasses dancing with the light.

The winds that nip at cheeks like lovers bold.

 

I see these things and wonder what am I

that would not bear another to this grace?

A miser clutching wealth till he should die.

It saddens me to look upon his face.

 

I lay in Eden’s bounty lost to care,

and yet I can’t be troubled for an heir.

Pour ma mere

Before I was, she was, and now I am.

In whispered places, midst the dread of night.

I have no fear, enclosed within her arms.

They carried me where Healing lends her art.

Fair love to pass the ken of mortal minds.

“Gain nothing more fantastic than her love.”

Comprises all the wisdom of this world.

Garden

Her garden is a place,
my very soul has always sought.
Yes, she is my home.
Her springs revive my heart.
A proof at last that sorrows die.
Love is not a blade.
If all this world should fail,
yet I still midst her hedgerows rest,
life is still a dream.
Her garden is my home.
Within it we are evermore,
blessed in our time

The George Chijoke Amadi Poetry Contest Sequence Rules and Regulations

 

 

The George Chijoke Amadi Poetry Contest Sequence

Rules and Regulations

I. Eligibility

The George Chijoke Amadi Poetry Contest Sequence is open to all U.S. Residents thirteen to eighteen years of age, published or not, regardless of poetic skill level. Current and former employees of The Beautiful Path or The Pocket Revolution, their friends and families are ineligible. All poems must be the original work of the entrant unaided by any party or entity except as to concerns of form and structure. Entries that are co-written, or published in any physical medium outside of school newspapers or journals, are deemed ineligible. Poems may be on any non-adult subject, in any format, and must be thirty lines or fewer, single or double spaced. Electronic entries must feature the poet’s name, physical and email address, age and a brief biography in the body of the email. The entry must also appear in the body of the email. All electronic correspondence with attachments will be deleted unopened. Physical entries may be typed or very neatly handwritten and returned using the provided envelope. Illegible entries will be ignored. Only one submission per entrant during the first round of competition. Duplicate entries will be ignored. During the second round up to three poems may be submitted. In the final round up to five poems may be submitted.

II. Fees

There is no fee for entry into the first level of the competition. Entrants to the second round of competition are required to submit an entry fee of five dollars per poem. The final round requires a ten dollar entry fee per poem. Winners will receive a mailing from The Beautiful Path with instructions concerning fees.

III. Submissions and Deadlines

During the initial level of competition all entries are electronic and must be submitted to beautifulpathsubmissions@gmail.com The Level One Entry Period begins June 29, 2011 and ends at midnight August 1, 2011. Winners of the second and final rounds of competition will be mailed specific data concerning submission deadlines for each respective round. That data is also available at http://uzomapeterlane.wordpress.com/2011/06/29/announcing-the-george-chijoke-amadi-poetry-contest-sequence/

IV. Decisions and Notifications

During the third week of August fifty winners will be invited to participate in the second level of the Contest Sequence. During the third week of October half of that number will be chosen and invited to the final round of competition. By noon on December 1, 2011 a Champion will be chosen and notified of his or her success. In all cases winners will be notified by mail. Each poem shall be rated on a scale of one to three in the following areas: adherence to the rules, creative expression, creativity, and style. The decision of the judges shall be final and binding. If a self addressed stamped envelope is included with an entry, that submission will be returned when judging is complete.

V. Rights and Privacy Policy

All rights and protections provided to the entrant by Federal and District law are respected by these rules and regulations. Poems submitted to The Beautiful Path remain the property of their author. Entrant information will never be sold, given, or otherwise released to any entity unless required to by law.

VI. Prizes

Prizes are awarded during the second and third rounds of competition. Of the twenty five winners of the second round three will receive top honors. Two runners-up will each earn two ten dollar commissions for poetry, which will appear in a future anthology. The poet to earn First Place will win fifty dollars. The Grand Prize winner will be interviewed in person or via telephone for The Beautiful Path and securely mailed two hundred dollars. The winner may also be published by The Pocket Revolution at a later date.

VII. General Conditions

If the operation, security or administration of the Contest is hindered, of if the Contest cannot proceed as planned in any way or for any reason, as determined by The Beautiful Path in it’s sole discretion, The Beautiful Path may in it’s said sole discretion, suspend the Contest until the matter is resolved or terminate the Contest at any stage. In case of termination all collected prize money, if any, will be awarded at random to the author of any non-suspect entry received at the time. The Beautiful Path reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to disqualify anyone tampering with the Contest or the website in any way, acting in violation of these rules, or causing a general disruption. The Beautiful Path reserves the rights to seek damages for any such actions which violate criminal or civil law. Failure by The Beautiful Path to enforce any part of these rules does not constitute a waiver of that provision.

VIII. Liability, Disputes and the Winner List

By participating in this contest entrants agree to release and hold harmless The Beautiful Path, its founder and his family, all employees and their families, any business interests or businesses the previous groups might have and all persons employed therein, advertisers, promotion agencies, from and against any claim or cause of action arising out of participation in the Contest or receipt or use of the prizes. Except where prohibited each entrant agrees that any and all disputes, claims or causes of action arising out of or connected to the Contest or any prize awarded shall be resolved individually, without resort to any form of class action and exclusively in the appropriate court located in Washington DC. All issues related to the construction, validity, or enforceability of these rules shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of Washington DC without giving effect to any choice of law or law rules which would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than Washington DC. To request a list of the Contest’s winners, email beautifulpathsubmissions@gmail.com with “Winner’s List” in the subject.

IX Agreement to Rules and Regulations

Participation in this Contest constitutes entrants’ complete and unconditional agreement to and acceptance of these rules and regulations as well as The Beautiful Path’s decisions, which are final and binding. Winning any prize is contingent upon compliance with these rules and the fulfillment of all other requirements stated herein.