Poetry Competition Idea(s)? Opinions please

[NightmareInShiningArmour]

Well my teacher approached me and asked me if I wanted to write a poem for a contest. After several tedious arguments about what I should write about she said "do a Gothic poem as you are Gothic".
This poem may not be Gothic but I haven't written many poems in my short life. So I haven't ever written a Gothic poem before anyway. This one took me about 10 minutes to do.
Constructive criticism, opinions and ideas for other poems please?
It would be much appreciated.

"Life"

Life is a pain,
For which we must endure,
Only a small amount of time surely cannot decide the fate of eternity?

Death is a blessing for all those who seek eternal life,
Yet we still cannot bring ourselves to end our strife.
For life is a precious gift,
That we need to cherish,

‘Seize the day’
They always tell you,
Because anything evil could expel you,
From Heaven, from Earth from anything worthwhile.

Your life has become a living hell,
But even then you cannot bring yourself to do it,
Do you really want to?
Will it just be the biggest mistake of your short, unlived life?

What is life?
A prison that we are trapped in?
Imprisoned with life sentences,
What is the meaning of life?
Does it really make sense?

Does wishing you were dead mean you should die?
Or does life end itself?
A short, merciless phase in the fate of a human being…

[HumanePain]

Needs more symbolism. :grabs symbolism shaker and sprinkles:
:tastes:
Hmmm, maybe a little better:

"Respiration desperation"

Falling leaves
still green when shed
dead
then red.

A sigh
cannot decide
eternity?
Let's die.

Earth's deep fathoms
penultimate eternity
and peace.
(Breathe deep)

But peace be damned!
Caterpillar's bite
the price for light!
And Jaws to jam.

‘Seize the day’
timeless lexicon.
For the cocoon is soon
and our grips decay.

Devoured
yet breathing
continuing
life's heaving.

Most sure question
with hesitant answer
with only a head
And yet a Dancer.

Existence, persistence' question
A prison we are locked in
Until the Worm finally feasts
On even the largest of Beasts

Logic's death
And Whimsy's wry smile
is not serious
exploration.

Chasm will Extinguish
All who question
or sooner
who answers.

[JCC]

Poetry competitions are bullshit.

[Ishan]

Poetry competitions are necessary ... and I must say, Humane Pain, you're so damned prolific! For Nightmare in Shining Armour, sorry you're in such a "shit town", but use that isolation to grab that symbolism Humane Pain is referencing.

Just remember, Cogitum veritas non est; ergo lux et veritas non sum! and that is dangerous - particularly if I got the grammar correct. AAAAH!

Now, submit more poetry so we can learn more about you.

[JCC]

Originally Posted by Ishan

Poetry competitions are necessary.

No, seriously, they are bullshit.

[I Am Great.]

Originally Posted by Ishan

Poetry competitions are necessary

Yeah, you ever want to solve the problem of world hunger, we need more poetry.

[KontanKarite]

*sigh*

I would be slightly insulted by your teacher if she told me something like that. I'd just write a damned good poem and leave it at that.

[NightmareInShiningArmour]

So do you reckon I should enter that one?
I just need more ideas and hints etc about poems. Preferably Gothic. So far I've got more Symbolism. Does that mean be more metaphorical in my poetry? Hints are great, as I really do wanna get in to poetry. my dad loves it and i just reckon that writing is really cool =].
help is, well, apreciated

[JCC]

Gothic literature mainly sucks nuts.

I didn't like your poem.

Poetry competitions are shitty.

[Ishan]

Originally Posted by I Am Great.

Yeah, you ever want to solve the problem of world hunger, we need more poetry.

The problem of world hunger is rooted in greed, power struggles, misunderstanding and just plain apathy - not to mention too many people being born without the capacity to feed, clothe and house the offspring.

At least a person who writes poetry is capable of introspection. And that can lead to understanding, eventually to solutions to problems like ... well, hunger.

When I was a teenager, Ethiopia was a major rallying cry for those who wanted to feed the world. The problem remains ... and it is politically based, and poetry can sometimes be the conduit that changes a political regime, for it is the basis of spreading ideas - even when couched in pure metaphor.

Please, grow up.

[Underwater Ophelia]

I don't think that poem will win a contest, honestly, but I don't think it's awful, and I definitely don't think you should stop writing.

Keep trying, and read as much poetry as you can.

[I Am Great.]

Originally Posted by Ishan

The problem of world hunger is rooted in greed, power struggles, misunderstanding and just plain apathy - not to mention too many people being born without the capacity to feed, clothe and house the offspring.

At least a person who writes poetry is capable of introspection. And that can lead to understanding, eventually to solutions to problems like ... well, hunger.

When I was a teenager, Ethiopia was a major rallying cry for those who wanted to feed the world. The problem remains ... and it is politically based, and poetry can sometimes be the conduit that changes a political regime, for it is the basis of spreading ideas - even when couched in pure metaphor.

Please, grow up.

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!! You suck.

But seriously, poems aren't gonna solve shit.

[Tea and Cake or Death]

There once was a man from Nantucket.......

[I Am Great.]

Oh wet pet.

There you go, I just helped Darfur!

[Toy Killer]

Originally Posted by Ishan

poetry can sometimes be the conduit that changes a political regime, for it is the basis of spreading ideas - even when couched in pure metaphor.

Remember Remember, the fifth of November...