Please Read all of this !
This group was the brain child of a couple of my readers, Their comments directed to one of my poems, (which will be the first entry) Is the impetus for this group.
I will be including within this post, how this First . . .

Please Read all of this !
This group was the brain child of a couple of my readers, Their comments directed to one of my poems, (which will be the first entry) Is the impetus for this group.
I will be including within this post, how this First Challenge will work, and I hope that all of you gatherites will give it a try. Winter is just beginning and it will give us something to dwell on, and I hope you try to make yours the best one of the bunch!
Make it is as complicated, or as simple as you wish it to be!
The challenge could even evolve with time.
But lets get started at the beginning.
SO here we go then...;-)
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My Challenge Poem will be after the following Challenge format!_______________________________________________

Ok... To make your own challenge poem!

Everyone that wants to give this a try! Choose your own theme! It can be about anything! Whatever inspires you...Nature, Art, Seasons, Religion, Animals, Sports, Love, Colors, Space, Industry, Science, Travel, etc.

...The Criteria Works Like This...
You will need a Theme, (Lets say COLORS:)
Choose 4 WORDS that SYMBOLIZE COLORS: For the (4 VERSES) These four words will stand alone...
(the verse lines will have the count of 3-4-5-5- (letter counts)
Such as RED: BLUE: GREEN: BLACK. Or you may use a 3-4-5-6- line count...
As in ( YELLOW: if you use a 6 lettered word)
The total line count would be either 17 or 18 lines.
((This would be the only exception!))

To Compose your Lines for each Verse, you would start with the Color Coded Capital Letter, to spell out each of your line words, down the side...(as well as the first word of the verse)...but the first letter of 2nd thru 6th lines must be part of a larger word...Like this!

RED: stands at the corners of our lives - - >
E- vening skys blush, for lovers - ->
D- aring and yet, - ->

BLUE: lives in your eyes -->
L- ovely azure stare -->
U- n'blinkingly you gaze -->
E- xcited by your boldness -->

GREEN:
R-
E-
E-
N-

BLACK:
L-
A-
C-
K-

BLACK: If you use the 3-4-5-5- line count!
...Or...
YELLOW: If you use 6, which would change the line count to 3-4-5-6-
E-
L-
L-
O-
W-

No syllable count is necessary per line, except that it must all fit in one line, in the published version. So that spelling out the word, isn't broken up by line over runs.

Then try to pull in something out of CLASSIC LIT. for 1 LINE, in ANY ONE of the VERSES, that would RELATE to your THEME. (But this would not be manditory!)

Also an IMAGE that is representitive of your theme would be a BONUS!

If our TEXT choices allowed for COLORS, The verses would be color coded to the the colors assigned to the First Word of each verse and the First Letter of each line. I begged Tom G. for colored text, with the upgrade. But we still don't have it! I'm still holding out hope that he will come through for us! In the mean time I have just stated the color code at the top on my poem for refrence! It helps to visualize...

BUT, IF ANYONE CAN FIGURE A WAY AROUND THIS PROBLEM? PLEASE LET US KNOW HOW WE CAN GET COLOR TEXT!

I hope that this explanation makes it more understandable for you!
If not, contact me at bobbi-jo.gather.com and I will try again!
But now Lets put on our thinking caps, and see how inventive and fabulous YOU can make your own creations!


For Future Reference!
When someone comes up with a New Challenge, they will need to make a Format for it, and make it as clear and concise as possible! and make their selfs avaliable for help, in the possibility that it isn't quite clear enough for some!
B.J.

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Now For My Challenge Poem

Color Codes for my Verses
1. lavender 2. red-orange 3. aqua 4. green
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'ELEMENTALS'

AIR: dry as vast desert sands, coalesing with the earth

I-llusions, shimmer before me, thirsty mirage of phantoms

R-ippling a transparent sea, floating upon solar heated winds.



FIRE: flames feverishly leap with unquenchable appatite

I-lluminating dark corners, repelling winters frigid chill

R-adiating its' personality onto my face, warmly I glow

E-xhilarating, bringing to a boil, the tea kettle made merry.



WATER: heavens tears, cascading, released from on high

A-rtesian up swelling, elegant, the deep virgin spring, swirls

T-sunami, earthquakes dread spawn, crushing powers of destruction

E-ffluence, pouring forth, spring released from winters icy grip

R-ushing, ocean tides, stroking exotic sands, passionate caresses.



EARTH: mother of all things, life nurtured at her breast, our refuge

A-lpine spires, reaching through congealed clouds, touching the sky

R-ugged, the rocky canyons, carved through millenial tides of time

T-antalus son of Zeus, his kingly palace unseen, vaulted beneath our feet

H-eaven and hell, a balanced insanity, our exsistance dances the elementals whim.