Art:Poetry Death Match/Archived Round 13

Poetry Death Match Round 13 consisted of ballades. The archived results are shown below with the winning ballade bolded.

Only the lower bracket participated in this round. There were two parts to Round 13 because the first try turned out to be a tie.

First Edition of Round 13

Match 252	Bladen	Crystal
	Blissful Futility Dear Jaquilynne, our host so fair, Do hear my tale, that I relate, Of joy (and yes, at times despair), Please, my indulgence tolerate, As I share what I've seen to date. Events I've seen, both big and small, From 'fore these seas they did create, I've tried, and failed, to win them all. Sword fighting tourneys, I declare, Have been the most proliferate. So many pirates take great care In making sure to cultivate This skill, with which they can sedate Their enemies, with whom they brawl. And of these, I'll reiterate - I've tried, and failed, to win them all! The Drinking tourneys are not rare And these I do anticipate. And forum-based events, I swear, Bring out amazing skills, innate. But I, a poet (second rate), Do not allow my will to pall, My goal is to participate, I've tried, and failed, to win them all. My lady, if it were my fate, To never make the final call, The next event, I'll still await, I've tried, and failed, to win them all.	The events are so lovely when they stop The treasure hunt's over, the deadline has passed. The quiz is just starting, but so much ado; I stand in the inn, all annoyed and aghast, As I outline the process again, through and through. I posted so early, but nobody knew The rules that I wrote at the top of the thread. I kept the words simple; they still misconstrue. Why run an event when you could be in bed? I'm running a sloop race, they're going so fast I'm noting the places and times for each crew No you can't have a parrot for coming in last! That's just for the winner, we don't yet know who. The parrot for one, and the cutter for two; The prizes were there in a list to be read. That's most impolite, and the same to you too. Why run an event when you could be in bed? And now to a tournament, should be a blast, A nice lot of money, a trinket or two, A potion, a ticket, a hat unsurpassed, And still they're complaining, whatever I do; I swear it's like herding baboons at the zoo. My eyes red and stinging, my poor aching head; What made me sign up for this hullabaloo? Why run an event when you could be in bed? So Jacquilynne, praises we offer to you; You gave up your rest and amused us instead. The poets applaud you, with gratitude true. Why run an event when you could be in bed?

Second Edition of Round 13

Match 252	Bladen	Crystal
	The Kraken and Marie T'was long ago, and far away, in pouring rain and skies of grey, It started out as any day that she and I were filled with glee She asked if we could go for tea, I thought it sounded quite cliché Suggesting that we might delay, because of wind and choppy sea, No sooner had I made decree, than her sweet eyes looked up at me And how could I deny her plea? A single glance could melt my will But reminiscing brings a chill, repeating mem'ries of debris, And in my thoughts, each night and day, the kraken - how it haunts me still The nearest inn, not far away, was only just across the bay To walk would take almost a day, so we would sail, most usua'ly She loved the rain, she felt so free, she said it washed her cares away However, on that fateful day, because of rain, I could not see The danger that lay underneath, awaiting me and my Marie We hadn't any time to flee, but with a noise so loud and shrill The thought of it still brings a chill along with hate, beyond degree, And in my thoughts, each night and day, the kraken - how it haunts me still Our sturdy ship, it would betray us to the tentacles as prey When finally the hull gave way, a slimy arm had grabbed her knee I tried with all my might to free her from the danger of the fray But so it was, to my dismay, that she became an abductee I floated there, out past the quay, for many hours, wantingly, The rain, it passed, eventu'ly, and there I vowed that I'd fulfill With fortitude and strength of will, what would become my destiny, And in my thoughts, each night and day, the kraken - how it haunts me still M'lady, Jacquilynne, you see, my course is set, I guarantee, That to avenge my dear Marie, the Kraken I will surely kill I do it not for fame or thrill, m'Lady, quite contrarily, And in my thoughts, each night and day, the kraken - how it haunts me still	Easily Amused The forum at large filled my stomach with dread; Admitting it caused me a strange sense of shame. I made a resolve and to Shore Leave I sped, To see how the stars built their internet fame, Performing to rapturous readers' acclaim. There's much to amuse, and still more to confuse. The spam and the nonsense led me to exclaim "I'll stick to the comfort of Mariner's Muse". I moved on to Game Design, tried that instead, Where somebody had an idea for the game. I bet that he wished he had left it unsaid, As another responded at once with a flame: "We've heard that before, get a life, you're so lame". The fight that ensues changing nobody's views. But still they continued the bout just the same. I'll stick to the comfort of Mariner's Muse. I rallied and tried out another new thread - To Parley I ventured, my fear overcame. I sighed with dejection at most that I read, And watched as two sides leapt to hand out the blame, Each loudly contending a different claim, So slow to excuse and so quick to accuse, They talked round in loops with no obvious aim. I'll stick to the comfort of Mariner's Muse. Dear Jacquilynne, back to your shelter I came. I laugh and enthuse at the posts I peruse. So thrilled to be home that I proudly proclaim "I'll stick to the comfort of Mariner's Muse".