EPITAPH Writing Contest (with a FREE BOOK PRIZE!) discussion

Use this discussion thread to submit your epitaph.

Use this discussion thread to submit your epitaph between 7/28 and 8/3.

Writer of books! How many leaves from
how many trees fall to the ground
each one dry and brown after their green years?

They form sentences as they dissolve earthward
and like avid readers
butterflies flit across them into the woods.

Charming even the birds from the trees
he sang through life giving back the
largesse he received
in rewardable measure

Arriving empty-handed from
generosity into godly territories
may his soul be filled to overbrim
with God’s Light

Open the windows —
he always loved the sky

A change of address
from his home in Uruguay

I thought I’d write my
own epitaph
but couldn’t think of
anything to say

So I passed in silence

Daniel,

Thank you for this flurry of epitaphs!

MBW

Yet fall we must as downward spirals time,
Stone gyres surpliced in cold eternal rhyme.

Our first rhymed submission! Thanks, Wilson.

Oops. If you speak the final syllable of Uruguay as a long i sound, (aye)
then Daniel's submission of July 29 is a rhymed epitaph too.
In that case, Wilson's rhymed epitaph is the second rhymed epitaph.
Jut trying to keep the record straight! : >)

Michael

Ahem. Gracias.

De nada.

My body rests below you
Yet no stone at my head
Nor soil to make my bed
Has kept my soul-it is free
Dry your tears-don't cry for me
My spirit soars above you

Thanks, Sherry, for sending this epitaph: The deceased's voice is audible, rhymed, speaking mainly in monosyllables, and offering the reader consolation in the last line...everything a good epitaph should be doing.

So raise your glass, scythe, bow and arrows two:
Your time’s for love, yet death will have his due.

Drums do we hear, but can we mark the horn?
One signals martial dark, one fires reborn.

Thank you for these epitaphs two.

You are most welcome, Michael.

Dear Contestants: Today ends the third week of receiving epitaphs for the contest. If anyone would like to squeeze one more epitaph under the door, we'll keep the contest open until 1 minute to midnight, Sunday evening, August 3rd.

Once we've gone through all the submissions, we'll decide upon the 3 winners, one for each week, and post an announcement with brief commentary on the Johns Hopkins University Press blog site and here.

Many thanks to everyone for participating. We did eventually get up to speed with a healthy number of submissions on the third week. It's been a pleasure! .

Michael

Do not mourn me...I have lived.
Have you?

I am not here
if I ever was
I am there
with the son.

Eye me--you’ll find I’ve changed and so we’re free:
Green maid, green man, two eyes for you and me.

Tina, thank you for your epitaphs. I'm enjoying them both. We have 30 minutes left, by Pacific Time, just enough time for anyone else out there in the aether to send us one or more final final words. As for the demise of the Epitaph Contest, I suppose I may say, with Tina: "Do not mourn me...I have lived." Good night.

Michael

Past we can leave as leaving we assure
Green love can grow as icy cold endure.

Wilson, you win the laurel for timing with less than 30 minutes to go: a new epitaph! Many Thanks!

Thank you--and best wishes, Michael!

A note from the Epitaph Writing Contest: We are in the process of identifying our three Contest winners. Once they are announced, here and on the John Hopkins U Press Blog page, we will need contact information and mailing addresses for the winners.

Thanks for your patience, everyone!
More shortly,

Michael (For the Awards Committee)

Daniel, Tina, and Wilson: Please send your full name, mailing address, and other contact information including email to: JMH@press.jhu.edu

Right away, Thanks!

Michael W.