Tonight’s the night we have a phalanx of poets
arraigned in public and before an omniscient jury,
who have first to listen and then bestow its verdict.
Hang about – these lines are meant to scan.
There’s no point waffling on with stuff that’s formless.
The idea is to stand here and prove that you can rhyme.
This is not working out, I must change it a bit
and compose each verse with a little more balance;
choose words not only right-meaning but that also fit
the image of a writer composed of many talents.
Yes, tonight’s the night when we seek the perfect muse,
one fitted to promote the beauty of poetic form.
It really shouldn’t be too difficult to listen and then choose
the supremely impressive poet who takes the proceedings by storm.
Tonight is the night when the opportunity is taken
to remember the beauty of the language that we speak and write,
and how an imaginative poet may sometimes awaken
a half-remembered passion in a way that can delight.
There are times when our resting feelings call to be stirred
and complex emotions released in ways that are right.
Can it be that some of this occurred on this night, tonight, for tonight’s the night?