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I had hoped that, with them choosing several regional winners, someone else from talkback might have won a prize too. But no-one has reported here yet!
Mutley, I have never been to a Marriott. They're good then, are they?
Still waiting for the written confirmation of my prize and the chance to pick where and when to go.
I used to stay in them for work a lot - then I'd got so many points I've effectively been round the world for free with them. Hawaii, Cuaracao, San Francisco, Vienna..., THey are the most consistently good hotels I know. In fact we are going to London in May and staying in the new one at St Pancras - the old Midlands Hotel (on husbands points!) I've very excited as I have wanted to stay there since I knew they were doing it up.
I'm a bit surprised the judges split responses into 'regions' - there must have been far more entries from some regions than others, surely, due to popularity densities...? I think that should have been made clear in the T&Cs...!
I would have thought more TBers would have been recognised if there was such a spread!
How many TBers entered? I'm not sure of the ratio of poets to 'ordinary' writers. I don't fit into the poet department and, truthfully, if I did I wouldn't have entered, so ... maybe the amount of TBers who entered was relatively small.
Well I entered and I live in the Croydon area (shuffles feet with embarrassment). Croydon is a London borough so it probably came under London region, which meant I was up against Viv!! Gnash, gnash. Had I known, I'd have stayed home and saved me bus fare! At least I have the satisfaction of knowing I was beaten by a class act and not some saddo who just wrote them an advertising jingle. :-)
Strangely they still haven't announced the winners on their website or blog, despite saying they would do so on Monday. There may still be hope for some of you yet.
I wonder if there are any poems with any ethnicity to them?!
I'd like to share mine here, because I was really proud of it, as it was definitely something different!
An Indian Wedding
Sara Sehdev
Brown flowers, swirls and patterns,
Her hands are stained with ink,
And through his fringed hat,
His joyous eye does wink.
Enwrapped with rich red silk now,
Embroidered cream and gold,
In another language linked they are
Until their days of old.
His bare toes fidget, aimless,
Devoid of curled-end shoes,
These traditions are not his,
But this girl he chose to choose.
His nose protrudes so slightly,
Just through his tassled crown,
A smirk appears on her face,
She casts her eyes right down.
Mirth crosses their expressions,
She has to bite her tongue,
Her mother elbows her to hush,
She cannot do this wrong.
And then he holds the necklace out,
Slim gold against her chest,
She leans forward as he binds,
Charm hanging by her breast.
Tis nearly done, their wedded bliss,
She gently grasps his hand,
And with a slight and teasing squeeze,
The couple rise to stand.
Around a fire they walk and walk,
Slowly exchanging side,
And standing with their in-laws now,
Groom and his giggling bride.
The blog is now displaying one of the winning poems, from the Midlands region - and they say they will put them all on there one at a time over the coming days. I thought the poem was Ok, but had some faults, especially a very dubiously placed question mark. Just waiting for mine to appear now!
Of all the people in the world
I've chosen you for me.
If I look out across a crowd
Yours is the face I see.
If I were reaching for a hand
Yours is the hand I'd take
And if I had to choose just one
You are the friend I'd make.
If I could do just anything
I'd sit with you and talk
And if I err and lose my way
I'll follow where you walk.
Of all the voices in the world
Yours is the one I heed
And when I feel I'm sinking, then
You are the rock I need.
If I could choose one single time
It would be here and now,
As we unite before our friends
To make our wedding vow.
If I can make one precious wish
We two will never part
And I will give one gift to you:
My loving, constant heart.
I love your beautiful poems OA and Lou. Thought I might as well add my entry and we can have our own Talkback wedding poem collection! Mine is very simple and reflects my own feelings on my second marriage, which was in complete contrast to my first in every way and was definitely the right choice second time around!
THIS TIME
No fancy dress this time
No top and tails this time
No big car
No ta-dah
No stress this time
Yes, yes, this time
Complete
We are
No seating plan this time
No drunk best man this time
No canapés
No fuss
No rings to match this time
Its you and me this time
All we need
Only us
No hands to shake this time
No speech to make this time
Nothing borrowed
Nothing blue
Yes, second time around
First time love weve found
Just me
Just you
No flower girls this time
No lace and pearls this time
No song
No score
Yes, yes this time
So much less this time
Much less
Much more
I like that one very much. I wouldn't want to be a judge on any competition as so much is down to personal preference that we would all have different opinions but I have liked the ones on here. :)
Yeah, lovely that, Josette. I also agree with you that in many respects on the wedding day, less is more. And did you know that according to Catholic teaching - not that your marriage was a Catholic one; I'm just saying - there is no need for a minister at a wedding, since the sacrament of matrimony is administered to the bride and groom by each other.
Yes, I agree it would be hard to judge, but then it is a very personal subject and means many things to many people. Also, you change and your circumstances change and what matters greatly at one point in life seems insignificant at others and vice versa. It's the marriage years that matter though in the end, much more than the day.
And I expect the judges needed to choose a mixture of styles and sentiments to make the finished book more varied. My winning poem is more light-hearted, but by no means better than the above.
I loved all the above poems. Here's mine, a sonnet, which I wrote as I mentioned earlier, two days after the competition ended! Of course, I didn't send it.
When I was a young girl a while ago,
I dreamt of the day when I would be bride.
In my dreams I was happy, beautiful
And radiant, sparkling, dressed all in white.
My bridegroom stood beside me when we wed,
He was handsome, dashing and always kind;
From the moment we met at the station
It didn't take long to make up our minds.
We knew we were in love within a week -
Your smile beguiled when we danced every night,
While on holiday, we won three-legged race
And when you kissed me, I swooned with delight.
Happy the pair who start their marriage here,
We hope their bliss lasts for many a year!
As it was too late for Marriott's competition, I altered some of the poem a little and the couplet to the following, for our wedding anniversary later this year:
We were so happy on that wedding day,
Just as we're now, 55 years away!
Oh, that is beautiful, Verica. How wonderful to have got to 55 years - my warmest Congratulations to you and your husband. I think winning a three-legged race together is definitely a good omen and very symbolic!
Comments
Mutley, I have never been to a Marriott. They're good then, are they?
Still waiting for the written confirmation of my prize and the chance to pick where and when to go.
I would have thought more TBers would have been recognised if there was such a spread!
I drafted one, then didnt go back to it - poetry isnt my thing I have to admit.
They've added the list of winners now.
I'd like to share mine here, because I was really proud of it, as it was definitely something different!
An Indian Wedding
Sara Sehdev
Brown flowers, swirls and patterns,
Her hands are stained with ink,
And through his fringed hat,
His joyous eye does wink.
Enwrapped with rich red silk now,
Embroidered cream and gold,
In another language linked they are
Until their days of old.
His bare toes fidget, aimless,
Devoid of curled-end shoes,
These traditions are not his,
But this girl he chose to choose.
His nose protrudes so slightly,
Just through his tassled crown,
A smirk appears on her face,
She casts her eyes right down.
Mirth crosses their expressions,
She has to bite her tongue,
Her mother elbows her to hush,
She cannot do this wrong.
And then he holds the necklace out,
Slim gold against her chest,
She leans forward as he binds,
Charm hanging by her breast.
Tis nearly done, their wedded bliss,
She gently grasps his hand,
And with a slight and teasing squeeze,
The couple rise to stand.
Around a fire they walk and walk,
Slowly exchanging side,
And standing with their in-laws now,
Groom and his giggling bride.
Hee hee, not yet! September for the Indian wedding (August for the Catholic) - am beginning to have nightmares already!
Here's mine:
OF ALL THE PEOPLE IN THE WORLD
Of all the people in the world
I've chosen you for me.
If I look out across a crowd
Yours is the face I see.
If I were reaching for a hand
Yours is the hand I'd take
And if I had to choose just one
You are the friend I'd make.
If I could do just anything
I'd sit with you and talk
And if I err and lose my way
I'll follow where you walk.
Of all the voices in the world
Yours is the one I heed
And when I feel I'm sinking, then
You are the rock I need.
If I could choose one single time
It would be here and now,
As we unite before our friends
To make our wedding vow.
If I can make one precious wish
We two will never part
And I will give one gift to you:
My loving, constant heart.
THIS TIME
No fancy dress this time
No top and tails this time
No big car
No ta-dah
No stress this time
Yes, yes, this time
Complete
We are
No seating plan this time
No drunk best man this time
No canapés
No fuss
No rings to match this time
Its you and me this time
All we need
Only us
No hands to shake this time
No speech to make this time
Nothing borrowed
Nothing blue
Yes, second time around
First time love weve found
Just me
Just you
No flower girls this time
No lace and pearls this time
No song
No score
Yes, yes this time
So much less this time
Much less
Much more
When I was a young girl a while ago,
I dreamt of the day when I would be bride.
In my dreams I was happy, beautiful
And radiant, sparkling, dressed all in white.
My bridegroom stood beside me when we wed,
He was handsome, dashing and always kind;
From the moment we met at the station
It didn't take long to make up our minds.
We knew we were in love within a week -
Your smile beguiled when we danced every night,
While on holiday, we won three-legged race
And when you kissed me, I swooned with delight.
Happy the pair who start their marriage here,
We hope their bliss lasts for many a year!
As it was too late for Marriott's competition, I altered some of the poem a little and the couplet to the following, for our wedding anniversary later this year:
We were so happy on that wedding day,
Just as we're now, 55 years away!