Multifandom Poetry Fest 2021

[minutia_r]

Welcome to the fifth annual Multifandom Poetry Fest, a prompt fest for poetry for all fandoms! Have fun, and feel free to promote it on your journal/community/tumblr/discord server/whatever if you want. You can copy the code in this box wherever HTML applies:

<a href="https://minutia-r.dreamwidth.org/69423.html" target="_blank"><img src="https://i.imgur.com/IVQgWF9.jpg" /></a>

Rules

1) Leave a prompt in the form of fandom, characters or relationships, prompt. If you don’t want to specify the fandom or characters, you can say "any." One prompt per comment. Leave as many prompts as you like.

2) Reply to other people’s prompts with poems. The poems can be any length or form, or no form. Quality isn’t important--the point is to have fun, not to produce deathless works of art. (Any deathless works of art produced are just a bonus.)

FAQ

Q: I want to write a sonnet/haiku/villanelle/limerick, but I’m not sure how it goes.

A: You can find a good list of poetic forms and their structures here.

Q: Can I write fills without leaving any prompts, or leave prompts without writing any fills?

A: Go ahead!

Q: I want to fill a prompt, but someone else has already filled it.

A: That’s okay, prompts can be filled multiple times.

Q: I want to write explicit erotica, or a poem with potentially disturbing themes, or a poem that spoils recent installments of canon (or make a request for the same). Is that okay, and what sort of content do I need to warn for?

A: Sure, that's fine. Warnings are considerate and appreciated, but they're also up to the discretion of the individual poster. Consider this a warnings-optional space and read at your own risk accordingly.

Q: Can I prompt/write original works?

A: Original works are a fandom! If you want, you can specify genre and character types while prompting, like so: original fantasy setting, female elf/female orc, next time I won't miss.

Q: I want to participate, but I don't have a dreamwidth account/I'm shy.

A: That's okay--anonymous posting is on.

Q: How long is the fest going to be running for?

A: Currently, I don't have any plans to close this post to comments--I figure we'll keep going until everyone gets bored and wanders off. I reserve the right to change my mind, though.

Q: Is there a collection on AO3 where I can post my poems?

A: Right here.

Q: I want to participate, but I suck at writing poetry.

A: Aww, you’re probably not as bad as you think. But even if you are, it really doesn’t matter--like I said, the main point is to have fun.

Comments

[kiraly]

Murderbot Diaries, Murderbot, no emotions just a poem

[minutia_r]

10 create new object: "2.0"
20 upload doc "helpme.file"
30 set sarcasm ratio
40 put that back, ART //don’t compile
50 define "killware" object class
60 set directive: "targetSys"
70 security bypass
80 //just one shot, so don’t you miss
90 copy parent: "murderbot"
100 // shut up, it’s a term of art
110 move fast, and don’t get caught
120 //parent??? //shut up, ART
130 initiate upload
140 no emotions, only code

[(Anonymous)]

This is incredible.

[minutia_r]

Thank you <3

[kiraly]

Ooooh I love this! You found a structure that works perfectly, and the snarking back and forth between Murderbot and ART throughout the coding is so good.

[minutia_r]

Ahh, thank you! It was a great prompt <3

[hamsterwoman]

I really love this! (I've been trying to think of a Murderbot-appropriate poetic form, but, really, it's hard to find something more perfect than this)

100 // shut up, it’s a term of art

Heh :)

[minutia_r]

Oh gosh, thanks! I really hope I didn't deter you from taking a crack at it though, I'd love to see your version.

[the_leaky_pen]

Holy shit this is so perfect! I love this, I love this. I love the lines of code, I love the commented out lines!

[minutia_r]

Ahh, thank you! <3

It just seemed fitting for Murderbot and ART.

[hamsterwoman]

For some reason it wanted to be ruba'iyat. (I don't mean ruba'iyat, I mean the other thing.)

Bored, greedy humans and augmented humans --
I've had my fill of dumb, demented humans.

I'd rather ride the cargo hold -- it isn't
Chock full of dirty-sock-smell-scented humans.

Minute by minute, I steal time to savor
Bright nonsense plots with represented humans.

At every turn, new imminently eaten-
By-hostile-fauna, airlock-vented humans.

So many used-up, scrapped, and left for salvage,
Ground under, doomed, and unlamented humans.

Someone needs to look after all these likely-
To-get-selves-killed-unless-prevented humans.

Talking to Murderbot about its feelings --
Ridiculous (hopeful, contended) humans.

[minutia_r]

Amazing! Every rhyme was better than the last, and it's a great mix of humor and poignancy (much like the series itself). Definitely no emotions here, no sir.

[hamsterwoman]

Thank you! :D I'm glad you think it works!

I just binged 2/3 or Rogue Protocol, Exit Strategy, and Network Effect in the last week and am full of Murderbot feelings. I mean not-feelings. :D

[hamsterwoman]

Also, oops, that should've been "contented" in the last line. Well, I'll fix it in the AO3 version

[kiraly]

Oooh I love this - the way you did an multi-word rhyme so it's not just "humans" rhyming with humans, but augmented humans/demented humans and so on throughout - it's a brilliant choice and works so well! And I love the "I don't mean ruba'iyat, I mean the other thing", it's so in-character for Murderbot haha. So good!

[hamsterwoman]

Thank you! I'm really glad you like it! :D

The multi-word rhyme is apparently part of the full set of rules for the ghazal form (which I had not realized until I tried to write one), and I definitely agree that it makes the form a lot more interesting (also a lot harder, LOL)

And I love the "I don't mean ruba'iyat, I mean the other thing",

Hee, I'm glad! :D Because once I thought of that, I couldn't resist going with it -- Murderbot's refusal to learn what an anagram vs what an acronym is just never fails to crack me up, and this seemed similar enough :D

[(Anonymous)]

I LOVE the rhythm and rhyme scheme here. Perfect.

[hamsterwoman]

Thank you very much! I'm really glad the rhythm and rhyme scheme worked for you!

[the_leaky_pen]

Ahhhhhh! Wow wow wow, I love this form so much and it works so well! Every single rhyme was just - damn, perfect!

[hamsterwoman]

Aww, wow, thank you! :DDD

I never really realized how intricately ghazals were put together until I tried to write my first one for NaPoWriMo a couple of years ago, and they have a lot going on, haha, but it was a neat challenge trying to do that again in a fannish framework. I'm really glad it worked for you! :D

[the_leaky_pen]

Ghazals are one of my favorite poetry forms and this worked so well here!

[hamsterwoman]

Then I am even more pleased and flattered that you liked this one!