Ludi Apollinares Poetry Contest (06-15 July)

[Lucius Aurelius Curio]

Salvete Omnes!

I am pleased to open up the poetry contest for the Ludi Apollinares, one that most honors Apollo himself. A description of the history of this Ludi as well as the opening ceremony can be found here (viewtopic.php?f=3&t=763), as conducted and cataloged by our honorable Sacerdos Apollinis, Lucius Vitellius Triarius. Thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule to conduct this ceremony, Triarius.

So without further ado, here is the listing for the poetry contest of the Ludi Apollinares!

The prize will be: 50 denarii to the first place winner, 25 denarii to the second place winner, and 10 denarii to the third place winner.

Contest Rules:

The poem must relate to any of the following themes: Poetry, Apollo, Music, Healing, Prophecy and the Sun. The poem should also be associated with Rome and the Roman Republic.

Each contestant may submit up to two poems.

All submissions must be received July 15th, the winner will be announced soon after this date.

The contest is to be judged by the Praetor Urbanus, Gaius Atius Victor, Curule Aedile Marcus Flavius Celsus, and myself. 20 points will be awarded based on artistic merit and 10 points based on reflection of the theme.


I look forward to reading your poetry!

Valete!

L. Aurelius Curio

[Lucia Hostilia Scaura]

Avete!

Please accept my simple entry for this year's Ludi Apollinares poetry contest.

Apollo,
God of prophecy, music and eloquence
You advised us of two things we had to do
And as a result we see the world anew:

"Know Thyself" and " Nothing in Excess"
The son of Jupiter emphatically declared
In that way the path to wisdom you find
Thus better for you to be prepared

Stop trying to locate your Gods far away
High up a mountain or on the floor of the sea
For within the depths of your soul the Gods are found
Waiting for you to one day perceive
To see the magnificent artist
To know Apollo

Close your eyes, your ears, your nose, your mouth
Hold back your hands and touch things no more
Remain thus immobile and in absolute silence
If you ever wish to perceive, eternity's divine door

Take notice of what Apollo says
Make certain every step you take to be the right one
Avoid excess or deficiency in all that you are doing
Keep your soul in balance, for to see how all is done!

[Caeso Cispius Laevus]

Apollo God of light, I Am
a prophetic deity of the Delphic oracle of all men
the power of healing flows from my hand

The love of the sun I shall shower across the land
I shall defeat the rats and locust that plague crops grand
I reign as dominion over all muses of simple man
I shall guard your flocks and herds from the valleys to the desert sand

Upon this sphere of man, my powers flow.

Apollo God of Music, I Am
I shall flood music across the Realm of a new seed
a verse of truth to scatter abound


My attributes attest proud as I travel the crowds
a tripod of vision showing all my prophetic power proud
a bow, an arrow sweeping away drenching clouds
I am all power, I announce to the heavens aloud

Apollo God Of Knowledge, I Am
The truth of all known, in me will be found
The scrolls of wisdom, I Am

Upon this sphere of man, my powers flow.

[Quintus Furius Camillus]

SALVETE!

My poem reflects my own state of mind and my views about our noble republic at this time. Please accept my entry.


Apollo's passion fills my soul
With a stream of life, that knows no restraint,
Its frantic current defies all control
Awakens the beast within the altruist.

Injected with life I'm lost in his force
As waves of strange visions rend me apart
For purpose that has no ending, no source
Oh, come to my rescue creative art.

Apollo, come harness this raging stream,
With power of reason channel the surge,
Reshape my voluptuous, savage self
Transmute its horror to aesthetic needs.

Bring order to chaos!
Hold tight your rein
Come, challenge this frenzy of energy!
You are needed by both the mad and the sane…

Apollo! Be near me!
Don't forsake me!
Apollo!

VALETE!

[Procula Valeria Messalla]

I enjoyed reading the entries. To celebrate this first Ludi Apollinares, I present my Golden Apollo poem.

Apollo's hair is twisted gold,
Bright stars apiece his eyes do hold,
Apollo's brow enthrones the Graces,
Apollo's beauty stains all faces,
On Apollo's cheek grow rose and cherry,
On Apollo's lip a sweeter berry,
Apollo's snowy hand but touched does melt,
And then no heavenlier warmth is felt,
Apollo's voice tunes all the spheres,
Apollo's music charms all ears.
Fond am I thus to sing his praise;
These glories now are turned to angelic pitch,
For this grace I take up my pen,
On Apollo's devotion I do follow,
For to him is passion,
And I am grateful.

[Lucius Aurelius Curio]

Salvete Omnes!

I would like to thank everyone who participated! This competition is now closed, and the winners shall be announced shortly!

Valete Bene!

L. Aurelius Curio

[Publius Iunius Brutus]

Brutus sal.

Hostilia, as the winner of this competition, has been granted the Ludi Apollinares victor's badge on her citizenship profile. http://romanrepublic.org/civitas/citize ... 0Scaura/22

Congrats!