Art:Poetry Death Match/Archived Round 6

Poetry Death Match Round 6 consisted of rondeaus. The archived results are shown below with the winning rondeaus in bold.

Non-Competing Entries

Match None	Mannafh	Gotagota
	Indecision The indecision holds me captive As I delay, my movements pensive. The timer drops, the sands seem faster. As panic hits, I sense disaster. I choose a column, feeling restive. Opponent's turn, his look aggressive. Before his moves were all deffensive. I'm sure that he will prove my master. Curséd indecision! His next move makes me apprehensive. I fear I'm losing the offensive. And sure enough the coins do scatter. The score bell rings in constant chatter. And so I lose, my thoughts oppressive. Curséd indecision!	A Pirate Player Would that I, a lowly drinker Havin' wrought now, from me thinker A mastery over that game They've gone an' changed! It's no' the same! Avoid th'bar? That'll kink'er. Not convinced, am I, this blinker! Revision thoughts? Nah, they'll sink'er. It's jest this new one is so lame. Would that I... A new idea? Curse th'linker Thinks that I should ne'er tinker With the formula that they aim. Perhaps I'll use my garnered fame An' be to them their own head shrinker. Would that I...
Match None	Squidbeard	StKittsSam
	The Codger's Life I'll sit an' drink me rum and eat me chips; Me trusty mug e'er at me fingertips. Me days o' reckless swashbucklin' are over, I seldom sail, and seldomer am sober. Ye younger mates can sail upon yer ships. When ye return from yer seafarin' trips, Ye'll find me here, a tankard to me lips. So go ahead and sail from Yax to Nova, I'll sit an' drink. The secret art to drinkin's in the drips - To keep the stainin' bonus in yer grips. Those extra points beat any four-leaf clover, Ye'll see it so much clearer when ye're older. Now get ye gone, and think about these tips. I'll sit an' drink.	The coins fall down; the game begins But my opponent only grins. He sees the moves so far ahead It's "tic tac toe" for him, it's said, And he's the one who always wins. My plays are trapped upon the pins, And soon, my stack of money thins, While his plays bring him points instead: The coins fall down. He scoopes the silver from the bins And leaves in search of other inns. He does not hear my silent tread Nor feel the sharp blow to his head. His beltpouch tears as 'round he spins. The coins fall down.
Match None	Kargach	Talisker
	I hate to write a poem harsh and mean But I can't spade with partners named in green It's probly just some inexper'enced kid Who doesn't know the meaning of "to bid" And likes big numbers, so he hits thirteen This makes me shout out phrases most obscene For now I'm forced to nil with ace and queen And soon, to minus one eight oh we've slid! When in doubt, bid two Much better is the greenie play'r who's seen The rules and read them all, and even been To other servers on the network grid And doesn't play as poorly as a squid But new play'rs who have heard me vent my spleen: When in doubt, bid two	Destroyer of Kings The King's laid low, the blackened spade, Dealing a blow, bidding is slayed Wailings of woe as the King falls Bounce to and fro in gambling halls It's then they know the bid's unmade The Queen's bright beau has just been flayed That fateful throw, a black card played She shouts out , 'No!' and loudly calls "Destroyer of Kings" The tears do flow. Options are weighed Hope sinks below. Winning's delayed. All your hands owed, both large and small Bids high and low, to Lord of All Perilous Foe, the Blood-stained Spade Destroyer of Kings.

Lower Bracket

Match 217	Graceisme	Bladen
	She's got it... A lady like the Queen of Hearts, She picks a partner; so it starts. Pirate of class, she bids with flair; Ne'er complains the cards aren't fair. She reads her cards like sailing charts. Clever, she practices her arts She loves the game and all it's parts. Has this pirate savoir-faire? She's got it in spades. Tossing cards like well thrown darts, On display are amazing smarts. Smiling like she hasn't a care, She stretches - easy in her chair. The game soon ends, her foes depart. She's got it in spades.	While passed out on the floor While passed out on the floor, I find I have surprising peace of mind While all my friends, above they stand In looking down, they reprimand As if I weren't enough maligned... My mem'ry vaguely does remind Of how I became so entwined With scruffy boots and dirty sand While passed out on the floor A challenge, I had not declined For drinking is my fav'rite kind The challenge, though, went not as planned So won't you kindly lend a hand? Though I may seem quite unrefined While passed out on the floor
Match 218	Devilsword	Toesy
	Stash the deck. Stash the deck within your garter, Tonight our fame won?t go farther, In the closet, put on your rag. One last kiss tonight we go stag, Smile tonight we be a martyr (pronounced mar·tyr {mär't?r}) The first games they are our handler Captains wishing they could have her It?s free Poe filling every ones bag Stash the deck?. Now with rich pots it turns to her Double nil with every rounds stir Yet, now the Poe flows from her bag With the wins, they fly a white flag Crap! Now she be found a cheater Stash the deck!!!!	Shell Game at the Drinkin' Table Yer me best pal - let's go out a-boozin'. Wear yer glad rags cos we're goin' cruisin' Down by the docks where mates look cool, look sharp; Ships bobbin' at anchor, tars joke an' tart. Bring yer flagon, or what e'er yer usin'. Let's find some greens an' we'll lure those fools in. Pretend yer new, their PoE they'll be losin'. We'll split the loot even, your part, my part. Yer me best pal! I'll drink a round an' give ye a bruisin'. Ye take 'em again 'fore they start musin' On patterns an' trends that show ye're smart. I'll hold the cash whilst another ye start. ...Just steppin' outside to get some coolin'... Yer me best pal!
Match 219	Popeye09	Tamsin
	The Queen of Spades The Queen of Spades I cannot stand: Although she seems serene and grand, Her menace it is unsurpassed, The one she picks always aghast - I extradite her from my hand. The game now starts, I take command To force her out on my demand. I want to see her face now fast, The Queen of Spades. She has not shown as I had planned; A tension mounts that I can't stand. An errant high card is my last, The one I wish that I had passed. Unerringly, the trick's mine and... The Queen of Spades.	Drink up, me mates - I'm buyin' this next round! Yer finest rum fer all o' us boozehounds! 'Tis but my way o' sharing my reward, Fer layin' me opponent 'cross the board. He belched- and in me lap his purse I found. 'Twas but the first o' many mugs he'd downed, To fill the void amongst the stained surround. We'd long lost count o' what the innkeep poured- Drink up, me mates! Still dizzy, I surveyed our battleground- If but me luck would only turnaround. Praise Dionysus! Chips! How the crowd roared! And while me foe and I were rather floored, There was but one o' us upon the ground! Drink up, me mates!
Match 220	Kmf	Ruby_spoon
	I Lost My Heart I lost my heart, I lost my poe I lost my pants, I've fallen low Those parlour games I cannot play Yet gold I bid, all of my pay In hope that luck my way will flow One day I'm sure I will soon crow "I've won a hand! I've made some dough! My debts repaid, I'm free!" I say I lost my heart. My love knows this will not be so He left before I bet his poe He may return, for this I pray And from the cards away I stay For gambling is my worst foe. I lost my heart.	One in eighteen, or thereabouts "What are the odds of talking all you guys in to a wagered drinking game?" she cries, "Quite high," they say, "if you supply the drink." "Agreed. Now all pick colours - I'll be pink." "The standard rules?" "Of course," the lass replies. The game begins; their careless play implies they underestimate their host. Surprise - she takes an early lead! They must rethink. What are the odds? Co-operating now, they can devise a blocking plan. She looks them in the eyes: "So that's your game. However, there's a kink. I'm known as lady luck," she says. They blink - She takes two rows and wins the game, with fries! What are the odds?
Match 221	Gloraelin	Bye
	A Game of Broken Hearts A game of broken hearts on this day Something I might win, I may, I may! The object of the game is easy: Most points, though the thought makes me queasy That's not quite how you normally play.... As per usual, I can't quite play - "Moon Shot!" Silly me... that's not the way! "Heh. Oops?" my reply is quite cheesy A game of broken hearts. My stupidity shines as a ray of sunshine. You grimace, and then say, In a reply quite brusque and breezy, "You really are much too lazy." It makes me weep, standing on the quay. A game of broken hearts.
Match 222	Wmcduff	Tgreyfox
	Heartless I have no heart it's plain to see A nasty lady against thee In games of hearts I never fade You will not beat this heartless maid You might as well give up and flee All hearts I break, and two or three Will find their way away from me Into your growing points they're laid I have no heart Now more; but wait! It cannot be! A black ace summons her! That she Through my defence. That queen, the spade Though thirteen mine you may have made Thirteen to you I'll guarantee I have no heart	There she is, the Queen of Spades My hands she constantly invades That evil smirk to me she'll turn With 13 points again she'll burn My winning hope - again it fades. I try my best with plays and trades But with no luck - there are brigades Of ebon maids, my tricks to spurn - The Queen of Spades. My sleep at night her face pervades In dreams my confidence degrades I see my luck start to upturn But soon for help I start to yearn She just ignores my loud tirades - The Queen of Spades.
Match 223	Bluetta	Lulunz
	You can't set my boy, my best chum He won't make me bite on my thumb When he puts down his cards, to state "Gonna nil," he's just testing fate. He soon will prove - his brain's not numb I'm confident he won't succumb. though hear our opponent's gay hum as he plays a club - it's the eight! You can't set my boy! My partner, he picks up his rum And smiling, says "Don't look so glum!" Plays a seven, almost too late He grins, and I start to deflate "That's a spade - ye bucket o' chum!" ....You can't set my boy.	Sod it, lost again at Spades, As bad as Hearts: each loss parades My lack of skill. Though not a bragger, I resent my rival's swagger. P'r'aps I'll try my luck with blades... I've practised lots at different grades, And in some mad crew escapades, And bought a shiny new skull dagger - Sod it, lost again. Time to drink! The rum pervades Me, leaves me wide to slick charades From some green upstart carpetbagger. No stake left so home I stagger. Left or right? Now drunk tirades: Sod it, lost again!
Match 224	Indeed	B_licker
	The Shaft I always get the shaft when playing hearts. My 'pponnents, do they practice the dark arts? A once great hand, it changes like the tide: My 3 of diamonds took the Queen; i cried. But shoot the moon? Not with the deuce of hearts. A score of twenty-five - the last point darts o'er to the winking meanie - "Scupp'ring Tarts!" A game like this i just cannot abide: I always get the shaft My wager always flees to unknown parts. A gamb'ling fiend, i heed not the alerts that i should go and take a walk outside: i play the night 'til my poor brain is fried; My outlook - it becomes as bleak as Sartre's Because i always get the shaft.	Blind Nil "I bid blind nil!" my partner cried. My cheerful humor quickly died. I could not help him whatsoever. My cards were just too low to cover. His foolish bid would be denied. "Ha ha, good luck!" our foes replied. And I, too, felt an urge to chide my mate for trying to be clever. "I bid blind nil!" And yet for every play they tried, An answer somehow I'd provide. I must have picked a four leaf clover. Our enemy could not recover. Only one way to turn the tide: "I bid blind nil!"