Thanks to Kevin Curis Barr, graphic artist and poet,  for creating a namesake poem for Castles in the Sky! 

Click here to go directly to Humdinger's May Poetry Contest section! Welcome, fellow poets and friends of Txpoet. You may remember me from AskMe.com as the top-ranked Poetry Writing Expert. Thank you for all of your support! Poets voted Humdinger Literary E-zine as the Number Two-ranked Poetry E-zine on the 'Net at the Preditors&Editors' Poll. Without your support (and your amazing talent!) Humdinger would be an almost empty page. Now, each month is a glorious sunrise and sunset. At an art show I attended today, they mentioned that artists are doing things that have never been done before. Because of this, they said, artists should make their mark. It's the same with poets! Make your mark. Get published, and begin the career you wish to have, regardless of whether you have a day job. Click here to go to the Writing Contests page to find the most recent poetry competitions. Have you been published, fellow poet? I certainly hope you have! If you're a new poet or returning artiste, you'll appreciate this website as an original experience in poetry publication: http://www.poetry.com/ Before you go, let me help make your trip more enjoyable by pointing out my favorite things to do at the site. There is Always a $1,000 Poetry Contest at Poetry.com: http://www.poetry.com/contest/contest.asp Poems must be 20 lines or less. Winning poems are published in anthologies. No entry fee.   Computerized Magnetic Poetry (they call it Poetry in Motion) Inspiring! Use your mouse to select words for a poem. When you're done, they format it nicely and you can print your new poem. http://www.poetry.com/Poetry_IN_Motion/MagCon.asp   Haiku Contests Forgot how many syllables this type of poem has? Never fear, they remind you and provide an inspiring picture! http://www.poetry.com/Haiku/HaikuContest.asp Go ahead and click on some of the links above. You will visit that page and can return to Humdinger and Castles in the Sky by selecting the BACK arrow on your browser when you're done. For many poets, love provides our first inspiration and fuel for our most enduring works. Perhaps no other type of poem is associated more with romance than the sonnet.   What is a sonnet? A fourteen-line poem, with ten syllables (or beats) per line. Beyond that, there are various rhyme patterns and line groupings of those fourteen lines. The Shakespearean sonnet’s lines are organized into three four-line stanzas and one couplet (two lines). The rhyme pattern is simple: ABAB CDCD EE, but can also vary. On this page, you’ll find famous sonnet examples and links to information about sonnets. Try writing a sonnet; the specific line length and number helps many poets conquer writer’s block!   To find what you need more quickly, click on a blue link:  Famous Sonnets by Elizabeth Barrett Browning and William Shakespeare   Editor Chris Goebel’s Romantic Sonnet   Incredibly Useful Sonnet Links   If you write a sonnet, you can submit it with me, Chris Goebel (Txpoet) at: Editor@humdingerzine.com (Instructions below)     Write a sonnet using original language, imagery and punctuation to express a memorable love. Remember, your sonnet should have 14 lines, 10 syllables per line.    Take a few minutes to read some of the sonnets below this section to familiarize yourself with this type of poem.   1. Read Humdinger’s rubric to discover what we seek in a romantic sonnet. When you’re ready to submit your sonnet, send it as an attachment to an e-mail.   2. In the body of the e-mail, include a Brief and Bizarre Bio, a few weird and hilarious paragraphs about yourself. Include links to your website and previous publications, if applicable.   3. Provide your mailing address (which will not be published or shared). Humdinger sends out cards on rare occasion and keeps writers’ names and addresses on file for communicative purposes.   4. Submit sonnets to: Editor@humdingerzine.com   Famous Sonnets:   Below are sonnets for inspiration:   The following poem by Elizabeth Barrett Browning is probably one of the most memorized love poems of all time and is one of my favorites.   Sonnet 43 How do I love thee? Let me count the ways. I love thee to the depth and breadth and height My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight For the ends of Being and ideal Grace. I love thee to the level of every day's Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light. I love thee freely, as men strive for Right; I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise. I love thee with the passion put to use In my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith. I love thee with a love I seemed to lose With my lost saints,—I love thee with the breath, Smiles, tears, of all my life!—and, if God choose, I shall but love thee better after death.   Elizabeth Barrett Browning   LISTEN to Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s famous “How Do I Love Thee?” sonnet number 43 at: http://www.sonnets.org/brownine.htm#043   The next poem is William Shakespeare’s humorous look at a lover. Many speculate that this poem was dedicated to a mulatto lover. We don’t often associate humor with the sonnet, yet as you’ll see, it works.   My Mistress' Eyes are Nothing like the Sun My mistress' eyes are nothing like the sun; Coral is far more red than her lips' red: If snow be white, why then her breasts are dun; If hairs be wires, black wires grow on her head. I have seen roses damask'd, red and white, But no such roses see I in her cheeks; And in some perfumes is there more delight Than in the breath that from my mistress reeks. I love to hear her speak,—yet well I know That music hath a far more pleasing sound; I grant I never saw a goddess go, My mistress when she walks, treads on the ground; And yet, by heaven, I think my love as rare As any she belied with false compare.   William Shakespeare Finally, Chris takes a hand at writing (another) sonnet.   Night’s Grace Reveals   In night’s grace, I still think of you and smile— Because I’ve loved you in my dreams and life. I thought I’d felt love in a kiss, but while I sit, I paint love’s picture—as your wife.   Layers of blue, sadness and truth and skies We walk beneath when finding private paths— Green above and around, love’s verdant cries: Life for us is climax and aftermath.   Red is the sting and cure and pain we fear; Where there’s passion, latent feelings arise. Yet orange and yellow greet the sun each year— In the rays, in the rainbows . . . in our eyes.   New love’s a full moon shining and divine, But the partial moon allows the star shine!   Copyright 2005, Chris Goebel   SONNET LINKS:   http://www.sonnets.org/ Sonnet Central. Scroll down the page to find graphic links to any type of sonnet. Learn about sonnets and how to write and read them. LISTEN to Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s famous “How Do I Love Thee?” sonnet number 43 at: http://www.sonnets.org/brownine.htm#043   http://www.sonnets.org/write.htm This page describes the sonnet in full detail. This is for the literary type who’s comfortable with college-level explanations of poetry. If you wish for an easier explanation, go to: http://www.electpress.com/loveandromance/page100.htm which is further explained in the next link.     http://www.electpress.com/loveandromance/page100.htm The Love and Romance Page at Love Express gives an Easy to Understand explanation of sonnets. If you need a refresher, this is the page to visit. We have to give Electpress.com credit for this page, which allows you to relearn the sonnet, purchase chocolates and lingerie and order flowers. What more could our modern-day Cassanovas and Cleopatras wish?

HUMDINGER'S November Poetry Contest:   Humdinger’s garden poetry contest entrants received a special prize from Editor Chris Goebel, an avid gardener: seeds from my Pride of the Barbados shrubs. Pride of the Barbados is an exquisite flowering shrub, nonfragrant, with huge orange and yellow flowers. I paid $25 for my plant, so they got a bargain (and a surprise—love those!).   Here are these marvelous plants in my garden: Pictures: © Copyright 2003, 2005, Chris Goebel. These are Pride of the Barbados. In my zone 8 area, these act as perennials, returning yearly with plenty of seed pods. They reach a height of over six feet and spread at a very controllable rate (your friends would want them anyway). The flowers are often over a foot long! The thorns you see are soft and easy to touch.   Tiger Lily By Angel Logan   Weed Garden By Randy Lane     WINNER: ANGEL LOGAN Tiger Lily   TIGER LILY Feel the magic that flows from within the field of Tiger Lilies, the enchantment of life dancing in a meadow of opportunities and second chances.   As one flower withers away, another one blossoms and radiates brightly opening the doors to growth and knowledge.   The loss of a lily is disappointing but another one will appear flourishing with love, hope and a stronger tomorrow.   Failure is no longer a reality as long as there is a new lily growing in the school of life offering a second chance to make your dreams come true.   COPYRIGHT© 4/29/03 BY ANGEL LOGAN These poems may be found in the published book, Wings of an Angel Poetry Collection by Angel Logan at http://www.wingsofanangel.us   To read Angel Logan’s Bio, click here. WEED GARDEN   The flowers in my garden grow so well every year with such blooms and fragrance I find so dear. People ask, what kind of flowers do you grow? I tell them, Sweet Williams, there just a weed I sow. Purple that covers the ground, it’s such an easy task— a weed garden! and what a smell and how it lasts. And it’s from spring to fall I enjoy them oh! so much; it’s just a weed garden,one of God’s flowers I love to touch.   © Copyright 2005, Randy Lane   Click here to read Randy Lane's Brief and Bizarre Bio.

Eight Lines Aced Poetry Competition Poets had to write a poem in eight lines or less. They did wonderfully and I know the judges will have a difficult time determining which poem wins.

EIGHT LINES ACED TOP ENTRIES: Applaud these brave and creative poets who say much in so few words! Scroll down and read their brief, yet telling poems.   TOP POETS: Kyra Abbott Steve Barker Jonathan Biehl Brent Bowman Christopher Burrow Tara Carter Bryan Clark Peter A. Dorsey Verdena Gardner Tom Gleason vince gullaci Rebecca Hirsch Joshua Izenberg Mona Martin Tom Nasset Carla Reynolds Susan Stewart Sophya Vidal       Time. It’s wasting away. Trapped in a moment. Leaving everything or nothing behind. Time is just slipping by me. Waiting and wondering is all I know. Life goes on, but I can’t seem to step in. Facing the world is just one step away, but a million miles from where I want to be.   © 2005 Kyra Abbott     stale cigarettes remind me of the first few I ever had hidden deep in my closet in a hockey glove only to be pulled out at a moment when children’s games were boring   © 2005 Steve Barker   Read Steve Barker’s Brief and Bizarre Bio   Confusion, creating illusions, societal institutions cannonball solutions for human pollution recycling conclusions   Confusion . . .   © 2005 Jonathan Biehl   MOUNTAIN SICKNESS   and now I have returned with a duffel-bag and horse sermons; stone tablets were too rare and expensive, so I used ink pens and a notebook, and bequeathed my beard to a long lost friend— and now who will I trouble?   © 2005 Brent Bowman Quote from Brent: "Do your duty in all things. You cannot do more. You should never wish to do less." --Robert E. Lee   chessboard pawns don't offer much in the way of mobility but on occasion they are able to mate   ©2005 Christopher Burrow   I'm leaving this city in three days and am on a mission to sample the things you can get in a lot of places but not in one place all at once; trying to lighten my load and take it all on as the bit of chill reminds me that it is all fleeting   © 2005 Tara Carter   BOY MEETS BIRD boy bravely stalks his prey; pigeon drops its guard, takes the bait with back turned, careless. boy sees the moment, moves with careful eye, mouth agape, for the bird . . . proudly holds it in his hands, arms high -- a fret, a flap, he throws it roughly upward, tossing along a nervous grin.   © Bryan Clark   Read Bryan Clark's Brief and Bizarre Bio Little, old, Japanese Man comes to the park, takes his shoes and socks Off, and walks slowly through the grass, pant legs rolled, for hours. If a leaf falls and touches his ankle he will cry.   © 2005 Peter A. Dorsey   Deadly Nightshade   Twining, vining Mining my life Belladonna in the sun Is fun for just one. Stealing, sealing Revealing my heart Pounding on the beach A leach-she's a peach.   © 2005 Verdena Gardner   Read Verdena Gardner’s Bio   “Deadly Nightshade” was inspired by a photograph I took: http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y274/shantidove/deadlynightshade.jpg   BLUE BALL IN A BIRDBATH  Large stone home of muted tone With vines and bushes overgrown And scattered remnants lost to ruin Among the rooms of long neglect Against the sad nostalgic hues A blue ball in a birdbath Screams of children laughing Done too soon   © 2005 Tom Gleason   Read Tom Gleason’s Brief and Bizarre Bio.     WORDS Paper that would blow away in the gentlest of breeze cuts not deep but wounds to the quick.   © 2005 vince gullaci     HEARTLESS By actions past at the core's heart a barrenness of soul cloaked by a warm smile never quite touching the eyes.   © 2005 vince gullaci     EMBRACE Don't go to seek comfort there an imaginary lover arms entwined the beautiful   © 2005 vince gullaci     dreamy Meg in a green shirt with pancakes makes me realize I've lost my sharpness entirely anti-excited stalker curiosity literary sexiness Meg, do you want to eat some peach? Meg: no, i don't eat fuzz Meg is all languor hyperconscious sleepy arrogant perfection   © 2005 Rebecca Hirsch   See more of Rebecca’s work on the Women of Wit page   Read Rebecca’s Bio     winter in Michigan, when sunshine is a precious metal, where people prefer plastic, I struck it rich; a little patch on the corner of Washington and Fifth I caught the snow pause to reconsider, then head back upward for the clouds   © 2005 Joshua Izenberg   Read Joshua Izenberg’s Brief and Bizarre Bio.     TURMOIL   As I lay my head down to think Realizing my thoughts are not my own to keep Not one not two but three of me Tossing an turning inside my head Never remembering what it said Running away as fast as i can never far enough to understand who i am help me now help me then take it away make it end   © 2005 Mona Martin   Read Mona Martin’s Brief and Bizarre Bio     You could blow me Or you could snow me But neither means That you would know me Should I show me? If when I pass And none do know me Was there no me?   © 2005 Tom Nasset     Samantha Lucille Louise, you do whatever you please blow bubbles to chase your cares away, throw all your toys down the stairs then say, "I do not care for pears today, pass the peaches please." Samantha Lucille Louise, you are each one of these: the monster that cuts and tears and frays, the angel that kneels by her bed and prays, the child that I must mold with praise and the gift God has given to me.   © 2005 Carla Reynolds       The Where House   you've reached your mail storage limit, it read my male storage limit perhaps, I loved him as completely as I could, I loved him incomplete, sometimes all the pieces are there and sometimes, when they're not, it's better that way, i say, limits are for the lame, the confused - the ones who don't miss their pieces.   © 2005 Susan Stewart   Read Susan Stewart's Brief and Bizarre Bio     The candle flickers Its tiny dancer leaps and spins, caught in a tango with the breeze. She dreams of freedom as the pace moves faster, she matches her partner toe to toe. Suddenly I stop the dance, with a flick of my breath. I focus on the rising smoke and wonder about the fiery ballet called my dreams.   © 2005 Sophya Vidal

Sample Eight Line Poem: Truly, truth is a true painting, direct in its portrayal, new, never stale, full of youth, but not for sale. If you question the painter, then view the painting: does it want, or is it tainting, Truly? Txpoet

Read the daring WOMEN OF WIT POETRY.

... on the Range...

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