The Gauntlet

by Claudia Jemal

I throw down a gauntlet that’s fashioned from silk,

A challenge to poet’s composed of my ilk.

A joust of this kind, you must understand

is housed in my mind to extract something grand.

This duel I propose, a most rigorous tool,

will fuel, I suppose, from the vigorous pool

the passions of poets and keepers of trust,

of starry eyed dreamers and those filled with lust,

a fiery ignition designed to combust

the prolific ambitions from this upper crust.

I’m calling all poets, your honour’s at stake

Your skill, you must show it, this gauntlet you take

up and scribble out stories and tributes and verse,

for if you don’t do it your soul will be cursed

with treadmill like matters and actions mundane,

where poetry shatters and guarantees gain.

Now answer this calling, I surely don’t jest,

It just sounds like we’re brawling, There is no conquest

for we all are the better, we all win the fight.

We all can unfetter our poetic might.

Now let’s get a writin’, ourselves to amuse.

For it’s us we’re delightin, inciting this ruse

It just sounds like we’re fightin, but that’s how it’s planned.

And we all are the winners, we make something grand,

for in our creations, we all understand,

that by our gyrations, we try out our hand.

If any doubt lingers, then jiggle your wit.

Now wiggle your fingers, this gauntlet will fit!

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