Upcoming August IBPC 2016:

[Michael (MV)]

any newcomers or returnees this month, Welcome!

and here is a home link to the IBPC rules: http://ibpc.webdelsol.com/rules




In this thread, from the poems posted in the workshop forum during the course of the month, recommend/nominate by title & author.

Nominated poets, please acknowledge the nomination here in this thread.
Please reply by accepting or declining the nomination - in this thread.

Please note & observe: This is not a workshopping thread.

In this thread, poems that are ultimately selected to represent the Block are then posted here
as the author would like for the poem to be forwarded
along with all IBPC required info.

When the 1-3 poems are decided upon, and permission granted by each author of the selected poems,

along with all the info needed by each author:



1/Your name

2/e-mail address

3/statement that the poem is your original

4/and unpublished work

5/and that you are not representing in the current IBPC

6/and the poem as you would like it forwarded to the finals.

^^ All of the above is the usual needed info as part of the process.


I will then forward the 1-3 to the IBPC finals.




Thanks,

Michael (MV)

[FranktheFrank]

I nominate Bob Bradshaw's: 'To Have Your Eyesight is a Blessing'

Although I do feel he needs another title.

[FranktheFrank]

I nominate Meenas17's: 'I am a Planter'

I suggest a new title and some editing for punctuation and grammar.

[BobBradshaw]

Thanks, Frank, for the nomination. Also, I'm happy to see Meena's poem 'I am a Planter' nominated...you beat me to it! Best

[BobBradshaw]

Frank, you're right. Thx for mentioning it. The title can be improved. I would like to change the title to 'Your Eyesight is a Blessing'. Best, Bob

[FranktheFrank]

This isn't the workshopping thread else I would comment Bob.

[meenas17]

Thanks, Frank for nominating my poem " I Am A Planter".

[Michael (MV)]

Thanks, Frank (et al)

and, Please, do continue on with the workshopping in the workshop forum.


Thanks for voicing your nominations in this thread.


If anyone thus far nominated is not going to be available,
then, Please, in this thread let us know ASAP,
so we will know not to consider you further for this current IBPC. Thanks.


Soon the selected poems will be announced;

and then each author will post the poem itself
in the incarnation as the author would like the poem to be forwarded to the finals


Thanks



Michael (MV)

[Michael (MV)]

 
I also like Bob's Longfellow poem; I believe it would be an IBPC contender.


Is there one by Frank?   if he doesn't already have a poem committed to represent for another board this upcoming IBPC.





Michael

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

[FranktheFrank]

'Hiraeth Moments in Old Bombay' I would be honoured.

I have withdrawn my poem in another board, I am now free.

[BobBradshaw]

I gladly nominate Frank's poem ''Hiraeth Moments in Old Bombay''.

[meenas17]

I second Bob in nominating Frank's Hiraeth Moments in Old Bombay.

[FranktheFrank]

Thanks Bob and Meena, you are gems.

[SivaRamanathan]

Michael

Frank's poem, I second it.

Siva

[Michael (MV)]

 
From what I'm reading in the thread

Meenas17   I Am A Planter.


Bob Bradshaw's   'Your Eyesight is a Blessing'

or

Longfellow


Frank's Hiraeth

Frank, Thanks for the info: "I have withdrawn my poem in another board, I am now free."


If anyone's availability/eligibility has changed, please let us know here in this thread ASAP. Thanks


If there is to be further workshopping concerns on these selected poem,
please keep the workshopping in the workshopping forum.


Then, Each, please post in this thread ASAP the poem as you would like it forwarded, along with all the needed info.


Thanks,



Michael (MV)

 

 

 
  
 
 

[FranktheFrank]

1. Ieuan

[meenas17]

1/Your name Meena.

2/e-mail address meenas17@gmail.com

3/statement that the poem is your original Yes.it is original.

4/and unpublished work. It is unpublished.

5/and that you are not representing in the current IBPC I am not representing in the current IBPC.

6/and the poem as you would like it forwarded to the finals.

In The Realms Of Black Gold.

What an experience!
From the comforts of home
to a humid oil palm estate.

I flew to Malaysia
to witness a temple festival.
Had to stay back to learn the skills
of an oil palm planter.

Teluk Intan, a lazy town,
has the best alluvial soil
suitable for oil palms

I, in my new role, as a planter,
wear big estate boots,
don a straw hat and grab
a walking stick to support me
in case, I slip on the marshy track.

I start my first day's work.
I find
the palms, tall almost 40 feet,
the fruits, weigh 50 kilos.

I supervise the harvest.
Learn to speak a few words in Malay,
boleh, pegi, mana, makan
(can, go, where, food).I
address the workers as cawan,
meaning my good friend.

Harvesters use long rods
attached with a sickle. They tap the fruit.
A sharp cut on the exact spot
and a heavy pull brings the fruit down
with a huge thud
- the heart jumps.

The pickers,
with a wheelbarrow
pick the fruits not with ease.
Pile them in heaps.
I go behind each harvester
talk in Bahasa Melayu
ini, ini, buah buah . I shout
pointing to the fruits they have missed.
They nod and say boleh

I order the pickers to collect
the loose berries lying around.
Call out to them sini mari la.
The blackish tinges on the yellow berries
renders a shine similar to black gold.
Funny to see I turn into
a hard task master.

I walk past the rows briskly.
A leech clings to my sari
crawls stealthily in,
clutches my calf muscles.

I cry ayyaaoo ayyaoo in pain,
my eyes well.
The harvester smiles all knowingly.
Says with a concern
"Puan, tidak much untuk menjadi seorang penanam kelapa sawit.
Madam, not easy to become an oil palm grower".

[BobBradshaw]

1/Your name Bob Bradshaw

2/e-mail address bobbybradshw@yahoo.com

3/statement that the poem is your original Yes.it is original.

4/and unpublished work. It is unpublished.

5/and that you are not representing in the current IBPC I am not representing in the current IBPC.

6/and the poem as you would like it forwarded to the finals.


Longfellow


Henry awoke to you racing towards him, Fanny,
your summer dress a fury of flames.

He would rather be mauled by wild dogs
than face that night again,

and blames himself for not saving you,
his wounds minor: hands burned,

his neck disfigured. To this day
he hides his facial scars

with a beard, rough as horse hair.
Friends no longer bring that night up,

and at times Henry must feel
like it never happened.

Yet, when he least expects it,
his beard will envelop him

in a scent of thick
smoke.