POETRY CONTEST FOR SEPTEMBER

[Fangorn]

THE POETRY CONTEST FOR SEPTEMBER IS:

This September we will compose our poems about the Dragon Smaug, to co-incide with the September Art Contest. There are no restrictions on the poems, save one-- no epics please!

Contest will run until the end of September, and then be closed to new entries. Pick up those quills!

[Fangorn]

Troll De Jour

Wisps of smoke twisted and rose
To roof of cave from monstrous nose
And as he rolled in gold he dozed
And dreampt of gems and bar-b-qued trolls

His wings stretched out and then lay flat
He snorted then farted and blew up a rat
Rubbed his eyes and then up he sat
Slimey and stinking and ostensibly fat

He blinked and yawned and scratched his left ear
Looked in the mirror and shed a wee tear
Turned and looked at his tail and wings
Eat trolls too much and this IS what it brings

"I'm dumpy and fat and smell of Tom Jones"
He said to himself as he looked at the bones
That lay on the floor in a huge mighty heap
Then spied Old Berts leg, "that one I'll keep!"

Then with a great ROAR, he let let out his breath
Filled with great fire and a great fear of death
Barren was cave from end unto end
and nobody there, no need to pretend

"Ah me," he sighed and flapped his great wings
"I'm off to dine in the Halls of Kings"
"I'll swallow their kingdoms, and slay all their kin,
and make them scream as I melt their skin."

Up, up he rose to the hole in the mountain
Burst through the top like a firework fountain
Old Smaug had a mission to get thin and stout
But a troll on the way? Who would find out?

[Desi Baggins]

Smaug's Last Flight

Smaug, Smaug, ugly, stinky, ol’ Smaug
Get out of our mountain home.
Don’t leave it smelling like a bog
We aren’t concerned where you roam.

Smaug, Smaug, greedy, grabby, ol’ Smaug
Leave all our jewels alone.
Get off of them you big fat hog
Shoo far away from this zone.

Smaug, Smaug, gamey, gritty, ol’ Smaug
Bowman sighted you out there.
Fly, fly swiftly like a wild dog
His arrow strikes with a flair.

By Desi Baggins 9-2004

[MajahTR]

The Fall of Smaug

In a time very long ago
when life was so much more.

A mighty beast flew the air
and commanded all to fear.

His fiery breath, a burning torch
leaving homes and lands all scorched.

The Dwarven treasures he did steal.
All their gold and jewels appealed.

Asleep he lay upon his horde
looking dead but yet he snored!

Goaded into an angry flight
by a hobbit who started the fight.

Bilbo was tricky and brave at heart
(But some would say…NOT too smart!)

This reluctant burglar forced his hand
and the evil worm took flight again.

Smug and sure he was fully amoured
He swooped and soared ever lower onward.

A brilliant stroke of pure luck
left clear a patch as an arrow struck

Felling the monster who spread such terror
The Bowman Bard called King with fervor

Majah

[Stormrider]

The Saga Of Smaug the Magnificent

Deep in the darkest reaches of his keep
Smaug dreamt of treasures in his sleep.
His life in Ered Mithrin had become boring
So when dreams of plunder disturbed his snoring,
He woke with a snarl and a gleam in his eye,
Unfolded his wings, and took to the sky.

As he flew circling the lands far below,
His eyes shined with a bright reddish glow.
Memories of ransacking Durin’s folk years before
Stirred within him an urgent desire for more.
The lust of hoarding those vast Dwarven treasures
And crunching on Dwarf bones were two of his pleasures.

He came upon the Kingdom of The Lonely Mountain
And burst upon it like a fiery fountain.
His teeth were like swords and his claws like spears
Smaug’s arrival was one of the Dwarves’ worst fears.
He battered the mountainside with shocks from his tail.
The hurricane from his wings made Dwarven hearts pale.

In brave defense of their beloved homeland,
The Dwarves valiantly took a firm stand.
But Smaug’s immense strength and his red-hot flame
Defeated Durin’s folk and put them to shame.
Those that were left made a hasty retreat
And through hidden tunnels, they fled in defeat.

While laying for centuries on this rich treasure hoard,
Smaug’s underside was encrusted with gems while he snored.
Admiring his armor-plated scales and his new waistcoat
He knew he was impregnable and of that he did boast.
No one in Middle-earth would challenge his claim
And anyone who tried he would fatally maim.

But the Dwarves were not done with this self-righteous dragon.
They made careful plans to put an end to his braggin’.
They despised Smaug and made a vow for revenge.
Their treasure, home, and reputation they would avenge.
Thirteen dwarves, a wizard, and a specialized thief
Set out on their mission to give Smaug some grief.

Opening secret passageways that Smaug overlooked,
The Dwarves sent their burglar to steal like a crook.
They were rewarded with a great two-handled cup
But regretted the results when the dragon woke up.
Smaug knew every piece of the treasure he kept.
With fury and rage, out of the mountain he swept.

Smaug knew the scent of Dwarves and their taste
Searching them out now he would eat them in haste.
All that he found were some ponies he chased
Reeking of Dwarf and a scent he could not place.
This new smell puzzled him a great deal
And wondered if it would make a tasty meal.

Once again in his dungeon-hall Smaug settled.
Again the burglar surfaced and began to meddle.
But dragons are sly and can trick and deceive
And twisting the talk he began to perceive
That help had come from the Men on the Lake
And Smaug would cause them to quiver and shake!

A grim man named Bard saw Smaug’s terrible approach
And a company of archers he stood ground to coach.
Their arrows snapped on the dragon’s scales and jewels.
Even with Bard’s encouragement, the archers felt like fools.
When unquenchable flames sprung up throughout the town,
Men jumped into the water preferring to drown.

Bard drew his bow-string till all but one arrow was spent
And not one of those arrows did the dragon’s hide dent.
Then an old thrush perched by Bard’s ear
And brought him news that made it clear.
“When the moon rises, watch the glittering vest
And look for the hollow in the left breast.”<br>
Bard took careful aim and his Black arrow sped
Directly to the hollow and finally Smaug bled.
His shriek was deafening as he crashed onto the town
Splintering it into sparks while the lake rushed around.
With a gushing swirl, steam arose with a hiss
Enveloping Smaug who would never be missed.

Stormrider 9/24/2004

[Fangorn]

The Poetry Contest for September is now closed. No further entries will be accepted. Thanks to everyone who participated!

[MajahTR]

i have returned from the North only to realize in my haste that i had not left the September poetry awards on Fang's rootstep before i went...sowree!

so for all of you who are waiting with baited breath for the results...i have now sent the awards to Fang and i am sure he will be posting them soon!

Note to Fang...i am curious... how come the 1st place contest has 1 more vote cast than the other two? does that mean someone only voted for first and not the other two?
just wondering
Maj

[MajahTR]

Storm and Fang!

i am honored to be between two such accomplished poets in
The TR Book of Bards



And Desi...awesome job as usual...your poem was

[Desi Baggins]

Most excellent job everyone!
Thanx Majah, poetry is definitely not my strong point!

[Stormrider]

I think all of the poets outdid themselves this month! The poems were all awesome! I really enjoyed reading all of them and wished there were a lot more to read!

Smaug was a very interesting subject for September in both the art and poetry challenges. I know I really enjoyed sketching and writing about him. With topics like this, it makes the challenges easier and fun to do!

I have to apologize for the length of my poem. I had not intended for it to be an epic! I originally wanted it to be a short one (about 8 to 12 lines long) but once I got going, I found I had a lot more to say about Smaug than I realized! and everything kept rhyming so well, too.....

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