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Each month a regular challenge
is set to give Alpha Writers a chance to flex their writing muscles and engage in
some friendly competition. Read on for details of present and previous challenges,
entries and results!
CHALLENGE 4
Alpha Day 4: 10 November 2005
We've now had three challenges in prose of one kind or another, and it's now time
to look at a little bit of verse. I know that some of you don't like verse, but I'm
going to look for all kinds of writing and word-usage.
This year November 5th was the 400th anniversary of an attempt to blow up
Parliament. Every year, it is celebrated with great enthusiasm, nowhere more so than
in Somerset, where Bridgwater Carnival is the biggest illuminated procession anywhere
in the world: the population grows from its normal 30,000 to 150,000 on Carnival
night. Floats nowadays typically have well over 10,000 lights on them. There are
about 50 illuminated floats like this - all about 100ft long. How many of you have
heard of it, I wonder?
But despite all these celebrations all over the country with bonfires and fireworks,
I have to say that I cannot think of a verse which anyone quotes around Guy Fawkes
Day. The only thing I can recall is the couplet "Remember, remember, the fifth of
November".
So write something in verse (4 lines minimum to 12 lines maximum) which relates to
the event. It might be historical, it might be just to be careful with fireworks and
bonfires - it's up to you. What I'd like is something which is snappy to quote and
easy to remember, and makes a good point. I may be entering for this challenge, but
if I do, I'll use something other than the following verse which I made up for
illustration.
From four hundred years ago
There was this chap called Guy
Who tried to blow up Parliament
I forget the reason why.
But when you add the salaries
And all the costs entailed
You cannot help but think sometimes
It's a pity that he failed!
Send your entries by Alpha Day 5, December 1st.
RESULTS:
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Winning entry by Chris:
"There's ermine in the House tonight
There's powder Down Below,
If Guy can get the Fuse to light
Then UP! the House will go;
And DOWN! will come the Protestants,
The Crown and all the Lords,
The Bishops with their Testaments -
And we'll unsheath our swords,
And we'll take over Parliament,
The Catholics will rise -
But hush!, no more of our intent,
"This Place" is full of spies..."
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Runners up: David, Sally, Catherine, Margaret
David's entry:
Now Guido (oh the silly prat!)
kept ‘jelly’ sticks in side his hat.
So when they said “No hats allowed,
here comes the King!” and they all bowed.
The ‘jelly’ rolled across the floor
and wedged itself in jamb of door.
“Well I’ll be blowed,” said James the King,
“Some curling sticks. They’re just the thing.
I’ll take them home to do my wig,
although they are a little big.
Now Guido look, come on, fair play,
I know they’re yours, so show me, pray,
how do they work? What’s with this string?”
“Well Sire,” said Guy, “That’s just the thing.
You light it and your guards all cower,
then boom! Your dead! I’m in the tower!”
Sally's entry:
"A Question To Ask On Fireworks Night"
In November we remember
How the Tudors did dismember
Just one luck-forsaken member
of a plot to kill a king
He was quartered and then slaughtered
While they round his pyre cavorted....
Do we really think this ought to
be a celebration thing?
Catherine's entry:
"Your Fireworks"
I thought of you
As the fire shone
And crackled in song.
I thought of you
As the rocket screeched
Like a broken dream.
I thought of you
As the exploding sky
Rained crystal light.
I thought of you
As flames turned to ash
And the night faded black.
Margaret's entry:
Guy Fawkes told his cronies, ‘let’s hatch a plot.
‘We’ll blow up the MPs - get rid of the lot!
‘We’ll kill King James, put Catholics in power.
‘They’ll hail us as heroes - our finest hour.’
The men dug a tunnel, brought powder to fight.
But their plan was foiled one dark stormy night.
So Guy is remembered - a traitor and a liar.
We eat our hot dogs, then stick Guy on the fire.
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