Judge’s Note:
I am coming across the same problems so regularly, that rather than continue to scratch the same thing all over your hard copies, I will attach same, to elaborate on my individual notations scrawled therein.
1. The use of a capital at the start of every line is obviously counter-productive to poetry. The practice was abandoned in 1939. To adjust this in your pc: In your ‘Word’ programme untick ‘Capitalise each new line.’ You can then choose exactly where you do, or do not, require a capital. (Obviously not in the middle of a sentence, which occurs when every line of poetry begins with a capital.)
2. When you are satisfied with the structure of your first stanza, you must repeat that structure throughout the rest of your poem. (There are exceptions, but they require a very advanced writer’s skill.) Wherever you are using a weak beat (unstressed syllable) in a line ending, you must continue that pattern. (and vice versa for using a strong beat.) This applies equally as much to internal rhyme. I have been thoroughly enjoying a poem, and suddenly....the applicable line ending’s stress changes...and I weep. It results in throwing the meter out...from its original structure. I am then obliged to put an otherwise wonderful poem to one side, as it no longer qualifies for any award. (n.b. this is not because of pedantic ‘rules.’ It is because the reader then has to work to pick up the newly introduced rhythm, because the piece no longer ‘flows’ as it did. That is why, if the accepted poetry writing techniques are not engaged, that the poem no longer qualifies for any award.)
3. The use of punctuated contractions (or abnormally ‘abbreviated’ words) is not acceptable in a poem crafted by a wordsmith. A true ‘wordsmith’ finds another, more suitable word. When you enter a wordsmith’s competition, a dedicated and informed judge will abhor this practice...because...it is forcing the meter. With generally accepted forms of contractions like ‘‘ere,’’ and ‘‘o’er’’ if the style of the poem lends itself to the ‘‘archaic’’ I will allow it. Some other judges may not. I suggest that you are far better to write, eg. ‘‘history’’ than ‘‘hist’ry’’ as if I can see the author’s intention, and there is a modicum of applied talent apparent, I allow the former...but never the latter. Other judges may think otherwise, so your best practice is to find another, more suitable word, or restructure your line.
4. I personally dislike preambles on written poems unless they are essential. eg. to explain an unusual pronunciation essential to the meter of the poem, or some other component that the judge may not be reasonably expected to know. The poem should stand on its own in relating the message/story. I suggest that you are better to head such (a valid) instance as ‘‘Author’s Note.’’
I do hope that this helps....
