Wordgrove Post & Review

Quoted in the Grove: 

For all our conceits about being the center of the universe, we live in a routine planet of a humdrum star stuck away in an obscure corner … on an unexceptional galaxy which is one of about 100 billion galaxies. … That is the fundamental fact of the universe we inhabit, and it is very good for us to understand that. ~Carl Sagan 

Sometimes I think we’re alone. Sometimes I think we’re not. In either case, the thought is staggering. ~R Buckminster Fuller

The greatest mystery is not that we have been flung at random between the profusion of matter and of the stars, but that within this prison we can draw from ourselves images powerful enough to deny our nothingness. ~Andre Malraux 

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Posted from the Grove:

Prewritten for Thurs (02/28) is: write about the worst lie that somebody told you 

On the Contest:
Altho key people in Wordgrove were unable to make yesterday’s awarding of the Wordgrove Prize, the weather cooperated with sunny skies and a light breeze. With music provided by OdileC, JamTuner and Namron, backed by the impeccable hosting of SunnyMusic, the festivities were fun and a promising success

For the time and craft that went into this writing, and for the bizarre suspense created by sinister clowns, the winner of the 2013 Wordgrove Prize and Gold Torch Award goes to, Piffin, for: Chaos at Clown Factory

As announced last week, winners of the Silver Quill are: Piffin for Prose (Chaos at the Clown Factory), and Poetry (.Glitter Machine.), and GaryBob for his Journal entry (Anagnorisis)

Winning entries are all available for viewing on the black display stairs in Wordgrove. Winners are asked to redrop their winning entries for the next several weeks, to end on St Patrick’s day, Sun, March 17

It has been suggested that winners of the Gold Torch and/or two or more Silver Quills be limited to competing against each other on a special masters table. The intent would be to open up space for new winners while giving recognition to those with proven success. This is merely the introduction of a possibility etched in sand. Feedback on this proposal is appreciated

Having to reset Wordgrove for the display stairs made it necessary to remove all foreign objects from the grove. This included all the work on Writers Platform. It is more interesting for visitors passing thru WG to find books to browse at our central posting place. If convenient, it is asked that our Word Game enthusiasts redrop their Prewritten and Impromptu work

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@Writers Platform
Glass Table: No new drops

Prewritten: newspaper, firescape

~Piffin: quoted below

Newspaper photo
Firescape in black and grey
Hiroshima sun

~BarTalk: Fire Sale

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Impromptu: footprint, piñata

~Piffin: untitled
A whiff of ecstasy, a perfect moment soaks the senses; distant music, floral shadows, dappled curves in the moonlight, her nearing presence; a moment in amber one tropical night

~Jessalee: pinata footprint 022113
Party in two hours, the birthday cake needs icing and some villain has made off with the sugar bombs encased in a piñata; follow the empty wrappers and the miscreant is …? 

~BarTalk: haiku

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Writers in Residence:

Next week the Post & Review returns to visiting resident pazs in Wordgrove. Goal, to ferret out new Nutter writings. This is also a chance to air out old pieces, freshen them up a bit and present them for new readers to enjoy

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Quoted in the Grove:

Here I am, grey as a badger, wrinkled as a walnut, and never a beauty at my best; but here I sit, and yonder sits the other one, who had all the cards in her hand — except one. That I was better at loving and being loved.
~Sylvia Townsend Warner

I love you not only for what you are, but for what I am when I am with you.
~W H Auden

For small creatures such as we, the vastness is bearable only through love.
~Carl Sagan 

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Posted from the Grove:
Prewritten for Thurs (02/21) 5pm Pacific/8 Eastern is: newspaper, firescape (fire scene, during or after)

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On the Contest:
After a delayed start and discovering a surprising number of new ways to fail, we have reached the end of our club’s writing contest. Despite bruises, the time has come to celebrate the winners of our 2013 Wordgrove Prize

The winners of the Silver Quill in their category are:
Prose: Piffin ~ Chaos at the Clown Factory  (74%)
Poetry: Piffin ~ .Glitter Machine.  (57%)
Journal: GaryBob ~ Anagnorisis  (57%)

Apologies to noxy, NathanielBlack and others (this editor included) who missed chances to vote by a premature closing of the online poll. Information was missing when decisions where made. The sponsor (this editor) stands at blame

What’s done is done and can’t be helped … now it’s time to celebrate. The award ceremony for the Wordgrove Prize will take place this coming Sat (02.23) at 1pm Pacific, 4pm Eastern. Doors will open a half hour early. Meeting place is the Wordgrove clubhouse (005 Hermit) where instructions will direct to the ceremony stage. This will be fun!

SunnyMusic will be host for the Wordgrove Prize. Musical entertainment will be provided by, OdileC, Namron and JamTuner of our There Society of Musicians. This is a formal occasion and those attending should note that formal wear is appropriate. Performers are allowed to come dressed as themselves. Special thanks to Whitefeather and Jessalee whose contributions helped make this year’s Wordgrove Prize possible

For peeps in no particular hurry to leave after the presentation and who still crave excitement, a board game will be set up behind the stage. Advisory: It may be necessary to change outfits into underwear at some point

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Prose:

~Piffin: Chaos at the Clown Factory
The setting: a factory that extrudes functioning clown-infused life forms, much like a sphincter pooping out people; changes to: control room, computers, spilled coffee, and the clowns take control; in colors of purple, orange and green, tools of comedy become sinister, slapstick becomes slap hard, and glee is the response for pain

Previously reviewed (pr)
~wizardofoz: Clowns In A Circus (pr 02.10)
~noxy: Insert Typical High School Phone Convo Here  (02.03)
~Stejovis: Orchestra Hall  (pr 02.10)

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Poetry: No new entries

Previously previewed:
~GaryBob: Swan Song  (pr 02.10)
~Wizardofoz: God Have Mercy  (pr 02.10)
~Stejovis: Daylight Conquers Night  (pr 02.03)
~Piffin: .Glitter Machine.  (pr 02.03)

~ 

Journal:

~GaryBob: Anagnorisis
Quotidian life; suddenly a bottomless sadness when a realization of loneliness settles in; every moment lasts forever, every month a taste of hell … until the surprise of a smile restarts singing in the shower; the happy tune echoes harmony and the melody is life

~Piffin: Piffin’s Diary
You’ve lied to yourself all along

Previously reviewed:
~Wizardofoz: Wheels of Misfortune  (02.10)
~noxy: ~D~R~A~M~A~  (02.03)

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My Way Table:

~Jessalee: Jessa’s non-judge poem
Shuffle letters in the twisty way of words and still the spelling is less convoluted than the drama some people make of life; some would say a nuisance, but every audience needs a show

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@Writers Platform

Glass Table: No new drops

Prewritten: Write an argument that begins in bed

~BarTalk: Blow Up

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Impromptu: None
Meeting devoted to resolving vote issues, arriving only at the penumbra of success

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Writers in Residence: On hiatus for the contest

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Quoted in the Grove:

In the silence of night I have often wished for just a few words of love from one man, rather than the applause of thousands of people.
~Judy Garland

You know what getting married is? It’s agreeing to taking this person who right now is at the top of his form, full of hopes and ideas, feeling good, looking good, wildly interested in you because you’re the same way, and sticking by him while he slowly disintegrates. And he does the same for you. You’re his responsibility now and he’s yours. If no one else will take care of him, you will. If everyone else rejects you, he won’t. What do you think love is? Going to bed all the time?
~Jane Smiley

What the world really needs is more love and less paperwork.
~Pearl Bailey

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Posted from the Grove:

On the Contest: A quote on Valentine’s Day
The only bubble in the flat champagne of February is Valentine’s Day. It was no accident that our ancestors pinned Valentine’s Day on February’s shirt: he or she lucky enough to have a love in frigid, antsy February has cause for celebration indeed.
~Tom Robbins

The Wordgrove Prize is our club’s gauntlet challenge to Mr Robbins’ chilling observation. Our contest defies the winter doldrums as no other organization dares … um, except maybe for something called the Grammys, is it? Also, a little known group named for uncle Oscar does something, and ….

No matter, because this is our chance to vote, and the time to vote is now! Most have waited for late-comers to drop before voting, and some have benefited from this courtesy, but Thurs the 14th, at midnight is the deadline for voting. This is two things to remember for Valentine’s Day

Important Note!!
Since all the entries in each category fit easily on the Tally Boards, and most Nutters held off voting until now, this is your chance to vote twice. The official count remains the online poll @wordgrove.com, but this gives visitors to WG an immediate reading of current results without having to go online. This is your chance to be heard twice, but vote online if you vote only once. This standard will correct against the possibility that more may enter in a category than the Tally Board can display

You are encouraged to invite friends to vote, but in fairness to others, we ask that visitors check out all the submissions of the category in which they vote

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Prose:

~Wizardofoz: Clowns In A Circus
God creates Adam for entertainment, is bored and fashions Eve, adds children when he’s jaded, then more, and more until complexities multiply out of control; the show becomes a layered weave of myriad threads when skin color and language are added in; the pattern (we are told), is wholly discernable only from the majesty of his holy distance

Previously reviewed (pr)
~noxy: ~D~R~A~M~A~  (pr 02.03)

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Poetry:

~GaryBob: Swan Song
Her last aria, perhaps her finest performance vanishes into the grim silence of an empty house; the tragedy that befalls performers: no more pictures, no posters, no applause, no clamoring for autographs, no chatter in the dressing rooms; and the greatest loss for our soprano, no more clouds of love scent from her adoring crowd of roses

~Wizardofoz: God Have Mercy
An impassioned voice crying in the wilderness; who knows which words to heed, except those that last always speak of love

Previously reviewed:  (pr)
~Stejovis: Daylight Conquers Night  (pr 02.03)
~Piffin: . Glitter Machine. (pr 02.03)

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Journal:

~Wizardofoz: Wheels of Misfortune
The very rich are as happy and passionate and devastated by a love-gone-bad as the rest of us, and as easily penetrated by a bullet

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Prewritten for Thurs (02.14) 5 pm Pacific/8 Eastern is:
Describe an argument between two people that begins in bed

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@Writers Platform

Glass Table: Condition is barren, largely uninhabited except for weeds planted by BarTalk: Legends of the Whale, show me

Prewritten: create a drama without action

~Stejovis: Orchestra Hall
Imagine the building as a body with insidious disease; imagine a day of great celebration for building and body and that the structural engineer, as internist, discovers imminent death, the prognosis: cascading failure: will hundreds die, or is he in time

~Piffin: drama without action
Heavy, pregnant with the water of life, the suspense of a filipendulous raindrop

~BarTalk: Quandary #3 of 4

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Impromptu: describe a raindrop

~Piffin: .Turnpike.  (described a smokestack)
View from the freeway of a desolate landscape and grimy air; ugly Priapus on the horizon spewing death, blocking the light

~Jessalee: journey of an ant
Danger in the course of duty, the tsunami of a raindrop to an ant caught unaware

~Stejovis: Orchestra Hall
Rivulets of fallen raindrops down the front of painted glass; crystalline drops distort synthetically the unchanging face beneath

~BarTalk: not a haiku: raindrop

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Writers in Residence: On hiatus for the contest

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