For the judge who wrote the first comment on Speaking Stones as an HM: Actually, I embellished the story my mom told me about them: Traditionally they were said to answer your questions, but someone asked the same question twice and they've been silent ever since. I felt they should provide a more sacred duty.

Judging comment:

I'm genuinely surprised that this poem doesn't have any recognition, it truly deserves it! The opening had my mind flashback to the novel 'a feast for crows' and I wonder if the author drew inspiration from that and then put his own spin on it?
It isn't often that I come across a poem that makes me take a step back and think, because there is so many ways of interpreting it, yet this poem did exactly that and it left my mind in a maze to begin with.
"This is the time to speak
sort out your grievances
with words not swords
for failing that attempt
the field will drink again."
I can not stress how much I love this last verse! It's so brutally honest and apt that it's quite heartbreaking, truth be told. If only more people thought like this then there needn't be bloodshed each and every day, be it in the name of culture, religion, vengeance and just plain violence for violence's sake. If only people could see that there is no need for any of this, those fields spoken of here would soon starve from hunger and the world would be a much better, more pleasant and safer place to live in. I only hope others read this and adopt this way of thinking.
I'm a firm believer that no matter how good somebody is at their trade, there is always room for improvement and yet here I can't find a single thing that needs modifying, it's perfect as it is.
I'm a big fan of both the imagery that has been wonderfully placed throughout this as well as the vocabulary throughout, and though I often find even the most creative and well thought out poems can often be choppy or lack-luster every now and then, this isn't one of them. As I said: perfect. Well done. (

(P.S Thank you for the clarification :) )