Editorial Anonymous

There were (a) some presentable examples of poetry, (b) some examples of language that might be poetry if it were polished a little, (c) some lyrical prose (in fact a couple very nice instances), and (d) a couple entries that had a damned nerve showing their faces in a poetry contest. But in the spirit of this blog's new year's resolution to eat fewer authors for lunch, let's move on. You know, until I get hungry.Here are our top contestants (and some questions).Ruby and her sisters in the field helped their papa pick the peas. As they picked they chanted, “Peas, peas. Picking peas. Rows and rows of picking peas.”1. the removal of which three words in the first sentence would fix the rhythm scheme of that sentence? Is there anything else that could be removed?2. the most common metric foot in this sample is what?The crocodile sings a song today; while the river flows Deep in the jungle and wide on the plains, The crocodile sings a song way down in his throat: Ohhhhh.3. in what way does the rhythm scheme change in the third line?4. does the change seem deliberate?Aunt Leodie’s magic porch ain’t nothing but pine planks on stacked-rock stilts a screen door says scriiiiiiiinge and slap peeled bark posts and a rusty freezer All the same, that porch is magic5. what is the most common metric foot in this composition?6. which two lines are aberrations from the overall pattern? Often, when Marian and her mother drove home through the autumn twilight, Marian saw the deer watching. “Deer are shy of people,” Marian’s mother said. “See how they stay away?”7. it isn't formatted as poetry and it doesn't have a clear beat. Why did I choose this one?8. the first sentence is missing a long beat... where?Gabriella Isabella Duncan Fife Stomped downstairs and clomped outside, Yanked up a flower and growled at the cat. Everybody everywhere had best watch out!9. define "molossus".I’ve got the blues, man.Not the down in the dumps, sad in my shoes, out of luck blues—The hip-hopping, skit-skaddling, thump-whumping Blues!When B.B. plays Lucille on Beale, I don’t know where to sit my seat.When he screeches out his songs, my toes just have to keep the beat.10. there's a transposition of beat patterns between the second line and the third. Does this match the sense of those lines?Pushing swingsLeaping frogs,Always running, the sound of YellingGrows louder by the minute.Round and round we go,Over the bars, Under the slide,Nothing to do butDance beneath the sky.11. reasons the last line should be changed?questions may be answered in the comments.AND NOW, VOTE FOR THE WINNER!