OMF Poetry and Art Slam contest 'Hope and Heart for ME/CFS' January 2019

[Trish]

I have put this in advocacy because they say the aim is to raise awareness.

https://www.omf.ngo/poetry/

We invite poetry and art submissions for our first
Poetry & Art Slam.
Your words will help increase awareness and strengthen our community.
Poetry is a form of art used to express ideas, feelings, and messages. We invite the ME/CFS community to join OMF & the non-profit, Lev Leytzan, for a Poetry & Art Slam to share messages of hope for a healthier future for all people affected with ME/CFS. This is your opportunity to create a free-flowing word expression of your dreams for a healthier tomorrow.

From OMF e-mail:

From January 3 – February 3, 2019 your entry can be submitted at www.omf.ngo/poetry/. Upon review, your approved entries will be hosted on our website to be enjoyed by all. We encourage you to invite your family and friends to check our site regularly for inspiration and to vote for your favorite poems. Learn more.

Everyone is welcome to vote for the poem that is most inspirational to them. One poem from the youth (14 - 26) category and one poem from the adult (27+) category will be set to music to be released during "May Momentum."

To submit your poem or artwork, or to view submissions, click here.

Note in the terms of use:

By agreeing to share your poem and artwork and submitting any content or written work, including stories, poems, lyrics, comments, images or any other written work to Lev Leytzan & OMF’s Hope & Heart Unite for ME/CFS, you hereby grant Lev Leytzan & OMF the exclusive rights to these works, irrevocable and royalty free for use in any Lev Leytzan & OMF publication.

 

[Hell..hath..no..fury...]

That’s me screwed, i have no hopeful poetry, only poetry that was written at 4am after days of no sleep, lying in vomit and urine, describing the exquisite torture of solitude, agony and torment.

It would definitely raise awareness! Just not the type they’re looking for

 

[Trish]

I had a similar feeling, though not in quite such graphic terms. Well put, @Hell..hath..no..fury...
I like having a go at writing poetry and when I got the e-mail about this I thought I'd have a go, but when I read that it had to be a message of hope I gave up on the idea.

Raising awareness is surely about reflecting reality, not dreams. A hard hitting slam poem about the realities of ME and the need for change would, in my opinion, raise awareness more effectively than a positive message of hope.

 

[Diluted-biscuit]

That’s me screwed, i have no hopeful poetry, only poetry that was written at 4am after days of no sleep, lying in vomit and urine, describing the exquisite torture of solitude, agony and torment.

It would definitely raise awareness! Just not the type they’re looking for

That would be far better than any inspirational nonsense in my opinion. It’s the reality of ME/CFS.

 

[Hell..hath..no..fury...]

That would be far better than any inspirational nonsense in my opinion. It’s the reality of ME/CFS.

I totally agree. Poetry is a fantastic medium for describing in great detail the raw, socially unacceptable details of hidden suffering.

You can get away with sharing the sheer ugliness of reality when its contained within a poem and twisted into art.

I couldn’t even force myself to write a fluffy poem of hope. That’s not my reality

 

[Barry]

when I read that it had to be a message of hope I gave up on the idea.

Surely it depends what the message is @Trish. I would have thought many of us joined S4ME in the hope of changing things. I do believe that it will come - we just have to keep chipping away. I think I'm right that you and I have been aware of the state of things for around the same time - since 2016 sometime - and during that time a lot has change. Not enough for sure, but much more than ever before.

 

[Trish]

You're right @Barry. There is more reason to hope. But it's not a hope that has reached my grumpy poetic soul yet, it's more of an intellectual hope. I don't think I can put that in a poem.

I am thinking of having a go ... possibly. If it turns out to be a downbeat poem perhaps I'll post it here instead.

In fact I'd encourage that. Here's my challenge. Write a poem that feels real and post it here if it's not a poem of hope.

And don't let me put off anyone who can write a hopeful poem and submit it. Good luck, and I'll look forward to reading it.

 

[Hell..hath..no..fury...]

My apologies for the shoddiness and no editing, here’s a ‘non hope’ poem written in last 10 mins. You were warned lol.


I used to have hope, a long time ago,

It comforted pain, and bandaged my sorrow,

But as months turned to years, hope came at a cost,

I clung to the future and the present was lost,

Hope made me anxious, always just out of reach,

Never being honest, lost my freedom of speech,

I suppressed my emotions, sadness never allowed,

While I forgot to appreciate the here and now,

I no longer wait for cures, or wise men and their ways,

I’m greatful for small blessings, my achievements made each day,

I no longer count lost minutes even when the days drag on,

I am happy and contented,

now that my hope is gone.

 

[Trish]

Thank you @Hell..hath..no..fury... There's a lot of wisdom in your poem.

 

[Little Bluestem]

A hard hitting slam poem about the realities of ME and the need for change would, in my opinion, raise awareness more effectively than a positive message of hope.

You could go ahead and write such a poem and submit it. The worst they could do would be to ignore it. It still might make a point to them.

I would have thought many of us joined S4ME in the hope of changing things. I do believe that it will come - we just have to keep chipping away.

This would also make a good subject for a poem - a non-fluffy hope poem.

 

[Trish]

A poem of hope for OMF

I lie in bed, from head to toe my muscles scream with pain.
The doctor says, I just don’t know, there’s nothing on your tests to show
that what you feel is really real, so here’s the deal, it’s in your head.
Get out of bed, let’s cut the talk, you need to walk...

And so I walk... My muscles turn to liquid lead, I think perhaps
I will collapse, I falter, stumble, hit the floor, the therapist says,
more more more. You’re just afraid, not really ill, an act of will,
or better still, a plan, goal will make you whole, we’re on a roll,
your body-mind is in a bind. To set it free shout after me:
NO NO I won’t be negative, GO, GO, GO, GO.

All gone. I have no energy, this groaning lump is really me.
Collapsed, relapsed so savagely, can’t move, can’t prove this agony.

The looks I get are quizzical, they say my pain ain’t physical,
they want a rhyme that’s lyrical and full of hope but I’m no dope.
When I can’t cope this hope-talk sounds satirical, a joke a dream,
a cruel twist as, through the mist of brain fog, every ugly frog
is just a frog and not a prince.

You’ll not convince me ‘hope’ will see me through this pain.
There is no gain from reams of dreams and wishful thinking,
not when even blinking uses energy, my battery is flatter
than it ought to be and blinking positivity won’t prime
my mitochondria with pyruvate or ATP.

So OMF, I’ve really tried, but when my friends have nearly died
and late at night I’ve nearly cried, it’s only right I’ll fight my fight
the grumpy way the lumpy way, the…damn it all I’m ill today
and yesterday and every day, relentlessly.

There’d better be a better way than 'hope' - it feels ephemeral -
when puzzles biochemical need hard research and lots of cash,
or we will crash and crash and crash until eternity..
Unfetter me, our final plea, believe, reprieve and set us free.
Research M.E.

 

[Skycloud]

That's good @Trish - send it in!

 

[Trish]

It's too long! Has to be no more than one page 12 point double spaced which only allows about 18 lines. Very short for a slam poem.
I might make the lines longer to get around it.

 

[adambeyoncelowe]

I would submit, but the terms are unfavourable.

'Exclusive' rights mean you can't include said poem in your own collection or CD without permission and potentially a licence fee.

'Irrevocable' is also a problematic term, especially in conjunction with the former.

I would prefer an exclusive licence for a fixed term (five years, say), or a non-exclusive licence to publish in perpetuity (they can keep the poem on their site forever, but you have rights to publish it elsewhere).

 

[adambeyoncelowe]

It's too long! Has to be no more than one page 12 point double spaced which only allows about 18 lines. Very short for a slam poem.
I might make the lines longer to get around it.

A slam poem is usually performed and under three minutes. But 18 lines is very short. It's barely a sonnet.

 

[Trish]

Thanks, @adambeyoncelowe.

Given that I never intend to publish anything except on my blog, I don't have a problem with them having exclusive rights if I submit a poem, but if they want high quality poetry, they need to re-think their exclusivity clause.

Would the exclusivity clause preclude publishing the poem on a personal blog, or on here for that matter?

I'm not bothered for myself, as I'm unlikely to submit a poem, and if I do it won't be the sort of poem they are looking for, but for others it's asking them to give up a lot.

EDIT
I can understand why you, @adambeyoncelowe, as a real poet rather than a dabbler like me, would be reluctant to submit. I suppose it could be seen as a form of donation to OMF to help them with their fundraising, which seems to be what it's intended for.

 

[polly27]

Thanks, @adambeyoncelowe.

Given that I never intend to publish anything except on my blog, I don't have a problem with them having exclusive rights if I submit a poem, but if they want high quality poetry, they need to re-think their exclusivity clause.

Would the exclusivity clause preclude publishing the poem on a personal blog, or on here for that matter?

I'm not bothered for myself, as I'm unlikely to submit a poem, and if I do it won't be the sort of poem they are looking for, but for others it's asking them to give up a lot.

EDIT
I can understand why you, @adambeyoncelowe, as a real poet rather than a dabbler like me, would be reluctant to submit. I suppose it could be seen as a form of donation to OMF to help them with their fundraising, which seems to be what it's intended for.

Hi, not sure if this will work. It is the first time I have joined/commented. I just wondered how you know about the exclusivity clause, I couldn't see it anywhere. Thanks!

 

[Trish]

Hi, not sure if this will work. It is the first time I have joined/commented. I just wondered how you know about the exclusivity clause, I couldn't see it anywhere. Thanks!

Hi @polly27. Welcome to the forum. Well done for figuring out how to quote. You accidentally duplicated the quote, I'll remove one for you.

If you scroll down to the bottom of this:

https://www.omf.ngo/poetry/

It's under the heading 'Terms of Use'.

 

[Sunshine3]

A poem of hope for OMF

I lie in bed, from head to toe my muscles scream with pain.
The doctor says, I just don’t know, there’s nothing on your tests to show
that what you feel is really real, so here’s the deal, it’s in your head.
Get out of bed, let’s cut the talk, you need to walk...

And so I walk... My muscles turn to liquid lead, I think perhaps
I will collapse, I falter, stumble, hit the floor, the therapist says,
more more more. You’re just afraid, not really ill, an act of will,
or better still, a plan, goal will make you whole, we’re on a roll,
your body-mind is in a bind. To set it free shout after me:
NO NO I won’t be negative, GO, GO, GO, GO.

All gone. I have no energy, this groaning lump is really me.
Collapsed, relapsed so savagely, can’t move, can’t prove this agony.

The looks I get are quizzical, they say my pain ain’t physical,
they want a rhyme that’s lyrical and full of hope but I’m no dope.
When I can’t cope this hope-talk sounds satirical, a joke a dream,
a cruel twist as, through the mist of brain fog, every ugly frog
is just a frog and not a prince.

You’ll not convince me ‘hope’ will see me through this pain.
There is no gain from reams of dreams and wishful thinking,
not when even blinking uses energy, my battery is flatter
than it ought to be and blinking positivity won’t prime
my mitochondria with pyruvate or ATP.

So OMF, I’ve really tried, but when my friends have nearly died
and late at night I’ve nearly cried, it’s only right I’ll fight my fight
the grumpy way the lumpy way, the…damn it all I’m ill today
and yesterday and every day, relentlessly.

There’d better be a better way than 'hope' - it feels ephemeral -
when puzzles biochemical need hard research and lots of cash,
or we will crash and crash and crash until eternity..
Unfetter me, our final plea, believe, reprieve and set us free.
Research M.E.

Trish, that is super...I love it, send it!!

 

[adambeyoncelowe]

Thanks, @adambeyoncelowe.

Given that I never intend to publish anything except on my blog, I don't have a problem with them having exclusive rights if I submit a poem, but if they want high quality poetry, they need to re-think their exclusivity clause.

Would the exclusivity clause preclude publishing the poem on a personal blog, or on here for that matter?

I'm not bothered for myself, as I'm unlikely to submit a poem, and if I do it won't be the sort of poem they are looking for, but for others it's asking them to give up a lot.

EDIT
I can understand why you, @adambeyoncelowe, as a real poet rather than a dabbler like me, would be reluctant to submit. I suppose it could be seen as a form of donation to OMF to help them with their fundraising, which seems to be what it's intended for.

Technically, a blog counts as publication if it's public. I don't think they'd forbid that (and I can't see that they'd get many submissions if they did).

Some organisations that don't really understand creative copyright laws use 'exclusive' because they don't realise what they're asking for. But for me, it would mean my own publisher would have to get permission to reprint my own poem in future, which is off-putting on principle.

I could see it as a donation. You're right. Though I'd prefer to donate my time in writing the poem rather than in giving the poem away forever. Maybe that's just me thinking with a poet's head, though. I suspect it wouldn't be an issue for most.

I may just email them for clarity. I would love to write something especially, and would be happy to donate something for a fixed time period, for example, rather than forever.