Masterpoet Tournament: Heat 3

Lol hmmmm im excited more than u guyz LOL...i wana see the remaining poems XD
Warriors :P!

This is indeed nerve racking waiting to see who have made it out as the top three. I can't wait to see the poems that have gotten this far.

Tiny Dancer

^^perfect title.
this form is not as easy as it sounds..and I think the writer here really worked out this poem in a very talented way. I was enjoying it from the very 1st word, to the very last line.
I admire this PIECE!

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Our Soul

Something about this one, kept me rereading it! In a good way. I just love the way it got to me, and the way it made me think!
It is truly well penned..and I have nothing to moan about! deserves to be noticed

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American English

-shortly this poem Is really special..REALLY unique and I can't wait to know who wrote it , so I express my admiration about it. Since it was short, yet RIch.

Alright already, we are holding or breath, abracadabra break the spell!

RESULTS RESULTS RESULTS

Congratulations to the top three finalists. You can have a breather of two to three days now. Digest your feedback, read, relax, reproduce and rejuvenate your brains for the Championship ahead. I like that 2 of the top 3 did not bother with bonus points at all. This indicates how damning and deceptive these allurements can be.

All Heat 3 participants have been awarded with a pirate hat. Congratulations, all!

To all you eliminated challengers... prepare for the WILD CARD round, starting in a couple of hours. One of you may still make it to the finals. On your toes, everyone.

Special request: I ask everyone here to please refrain from hinting at how you have fared in this contest, both within and outside of clubs. This is serious stuff you guys.

_________________
20 points (7+6+7):
In that tree, Maria

"This poem could have risked drudgery with its heavy repetition, but I found the more I went along, the more the repetition built up and contributed to a powerful tone. Some phrases seemed more awkward, like "muscular stature," but overall I thought the imagery was pretty fresh, and some of the lines were very original. I especially liked "your silhouette was there, poised starkly against a darkness I could not name." This phrase had an ominous air, but more than that the words just sounded good together. Can I stress that to everyone here? *You don't need fancy things like "mellifluousness" or "dreams dropping crystalline striated tears." You just need to have a solid understanding of how words sound around each other. That is all.* Ultimately I just liked how this poem read. Like a mantra. A portrait of a complicated and conflicting personality."

"had the most thought provoking title -- the content was ambitious and lengthy. Could have been a lot more precise and confined but I enjoyed the gradual build up and steady revelation of persona through the piece. Ending was weak, bit of an anti climax."

"far surpassed the others in a poetic sense. Kudos to the poet who scribed such a lovely piece. Do check your spelling though."

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18 points (3+7+5+3BP):
Optic Death and the Color Vision

"The mash-up of themes was a little off-putting to me. I thought "American English" seemed tossed in more as an afterthought than as a real consideration. Also, I thought the reference to Brialle was a little off topic. I understand it's drawn from the Keller quote, but unless the poem is actually about Helen and not about a tree.... there's my issue. Beyond that, I thought this author showed a good talent for pacing and phrasing. The line breaks were pretty well placed, and the poet uses punctuation to create the desired effects of pauses and stops."

"Love the title of this one."

"inspired, and melodically written"

"was a bit haphazard but inspired in tone. The 'gift' of language really came across through some carefully chosen adjectives. Sibilance was a nice touch, and was the most pleasant read out of the seven."

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16 points (5+5+6):
Ballerina

"This poem really seems to get at the "spirit" of a tree: rings draping around a core, songs that only the tree can dance to... The tone and the rhythm both seems to mirror the slow, stately passage of time to these big growing things. It makes you wonder how our perspective would be different if time sped up, and we could really see those branches stretching and trunk shimmying."

"contained some interesting imagery with clumsy cliches. Mostly forgivable because the tone is refreshing and the language is appropriately dainty."

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14 points (6+4+1+3BP):
Vengeance.

"Alright, guys.... who wrote the pirate poem? I honestly can't tell if the poet is snickering behind this language, or if it was sincerely used. (If this was secretly Kevin I'm sorry and I know you know English, but.) I generally have no patience for this archaic "thee and thou" language. I will say, if you're going to use it, use it impeccably. In this poem, if you insert modern words into their counterparts, the poem does not quiiiite translate well."

"did nothing for me except come across as unintentionally comic. Seems to try too hard to use archaic syntax and structure but comes across quite naive and the meaning is lost through clunky word choices. Admire the author's attempts though, credit due for taking on a risky form."

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12 points (2+2+4+4BP):
Tiny Dancer [Villanelle]

"For such a tricky, finicky form, this author did well. I thought a little more of a punch could be added to the lines; when you use so few, repeated so often, there's no space for idleness. My favorite Villanelles are ones that, with their spare number of lines, can use those same lines in several different ways to evoke unique meanings every instance. This poem seemed a slight step below that (which is fine because I bet it's really hard to do!). But they did succeed in using those lines in rhythmic ways so that, when repeated, they built upon the overall mood of the piece."

"cute, but that's about it. The flowery imagery was nice, but the flow was awkward and the rhyme was predictable and tired. The character wasn't given any precise detail, just vague and unimportant imagery. Wrong choice of form in my opinion."

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11 points (4+3+2+2BP):
American English

"I didn't think there was much that necessarily detracted from this poem, but it just sort of sifted through to the bottom of the pile. I thought the structure was sound, but the language was kind of half-hearted, which muddled the content."

"tries too hard to bring the title into the actual body of the poem but fails as it sinks further and further into obvious observations delivered, ironically with broken syntax and an odd rhyme scheme. Disappointing."

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4 points (1+1+3-1P):
Our Soul

"I felt like a giant dick placing this so low, because it has such a pure and righteous message. That said, I would have liked to see more proficient originality in the rhyming, and perhaps some phrases that took us even deeper into the emotions behind the poem. As it is, it has a good message but it's just skimming the surface of it."

"too clumsy and trite for my liking -- seemed preachy and shallow. Grammar was skewed, rhyme was forced and the poem goes off focus to sum itself up...not of a good standard."

Thanks, abby!

Obviously I and the judges have diff tastes :P.

but congrats for the ones who remained..I think it was a gr8 contest..a very unique one..and no bet full of suspense!

Congrats to all of you who have passed, and also to Abby and the judges, Great job with how you have handled this entire contest.

Congrats everyone. Blehh, I'll keep my mouth shut. Mama always told me if you can't keep your comments to yourself, don't say anything at all! She didn't really say that.
Anyway, yep. Congrats. Can't wait to see what Heat 4 entails.

Congrats to all those moving on and to every poem entered in this heat.

Every write was unique and wonderfully woven, in my eyes.

WILD WILD WILD CARD ROUND

A hush has fallen over the crowd. Ten challengers from the past three heats- eliminated, ragged, whimpering, scarred- are limping their way back to the stage. We see them, brave souls, scabs clotting on their hearts, hair damp with sweat- eliminated, but not defeated.

The Masterpoet crown, encased in crystal on centre stage, shines upon them yet with golden mercy and angelic hope.

Here is the challenge for the chance to enter the final round:

1) You have 24 hours only. 24 furious hours. This round ENDS AT 12 NOON, MELBOURNE TIME. (Check timeanddate.com to compare.)

2) At least five out of the ten of you need to submit a poem for this round to qualify for wild card selection.

3) Your poem must be a maximum of 12 lines.

4) The topic is Writing. Write about writing.

Good luck, comrades!

Congrats to the winners of this round, the judges must have had a hard time deciding, all poems were so beautiful:)

Yes well done to all...Oh to be a judge...

Two hours to go till the WILD round ends.

Two hours.

The arena is filled with the sound of scratched heads and scratched paper.

Four poems have been submitted. One more poem is needed for a potential fourth finalist at the Championship.

Do it, ye filthy curs!

WILD CARD POEMS

One out of the following six poems shall be selected to join the other three finalists in the Championship round. The judges are casting their scores now. I believe this fast round and relatable topic has resulted in some of the best poetry in this contest. Which poem would you choose, spectators?

______________________

Flush Of Emotions

I pick up my pen,
and for the first time ever,
nothing leaks out onto the page.

Trying to grasp at secretive thoughts,
while no flush of emotions tickle
this never-ending dry spell,
and I cannot succeed.

Words bounce through my head,
and I am determined to push them out,
with a thoughtful, poetic feel.

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Recipe to Writing

mixing ingredients of
experience and inspiration,
I roll out imagination -

with technique
I carve words
from raw emotion;
each distinct
from the next -

baked to perfection
then served
is the recipe
to writing.

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Pieces of a poet's mind

Art trapped in a restless mind
Before the pen meets the sheet
Remembering ties that bind,
Lost loves, dreams that are so sweet

The rhythm of a heart heard
The harmony of my soul
There are never enough words
To make this poet feel whole

Old reasonings seem like news
Lines cannot be repeated
With proverbs or mystic views,
Or the purpose is defeated

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Because of My Passion

Words cross these blue inky rivers
of mine; searching for me through the
wildness of each silent night.
Though unlike me they never return alone,
but they seek me still-
Through every wound and another,
among violent storms
from the branches of winter
to the green leaves of spring..
Down the golden fields of Autumn; only
to revive through Summer's clear sunshine-again
Faithfully, eagerly words search for me the whole year!

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Writing

Creativity flowing
Etching ones heart in paper
embracing metaphors
breathing life in words

Feelings run over
pouring out words
soaking my paper in tears
bleeding sadness again

strangling my life
I gasp for air and yet
emotions nor words can portray
etching one's heart in paper

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Little soldiers

Be it childish scribbling
Crafted, stylized or mere black ink
Typed little soldiers in perfect uniform
That run, skip, across an endless plain
Creating sumptuous feasts of verb and noun
Colluding to tempt, taunt, tantalize
Or freshly torn in brutality, ugly and brash
A cacophony of meanings and sounds
Some whispered softly to tickle our ears
Others burst, resound, distract our mind
As upon so many leafs, they scurry away
Expectation, I Turn the page.

I vote for this one

Because of My Passion

Words cross these blue inky rivers
of mine; searching for me through the
wildness of each silent night.
Though unlike me they never return alone,
but they seek me still-
Through every wound and another,
among violent storms
from the branches of winter
to the green leaves of spring..
Down the golden fields of Autumn; only
to revive through Summer's clear sunshine-again
Faithfully, eagerly words search for me the whole year!

I would choose Flush of Emotions, Recipe to Writing, or Little Soldiers.

Little soldiers

Be it childish scribbling
Crafted, stylized or mere black ink
Typed little soldiers in perfect uniform
That run, skip, across an endless plain
Creating sumptuous feasts of verb and noun
Colluding to tempt, taunt, tantalize
Or freshly torn in brutality, ugly and brash
A cacophony of meanings and sounds
Some whispered softly to tickle our ears
Others burst, resound, distract our mind
As upon so many leafs, they scurry away
Expectation, I Turn the page.

^^

This to me had so much verve and pace and captured the broad spectrum of the written word.
It was a little funny it was written from the reader's point of view, because it has been written by a poet:) It shows he or she really loves to read, so extra kudos for that!

Pieces of a poet's mind

that one is FLOW LESS..........................................unforced and hits the nail on the head.

> Little soldiers I can't say less about it either..

this will be a hard choice!

I like "Because of my passion" for its beautiful imagery and flawless flow

I really enjoyed "Little Soldiers" It was a to me a great poem, with a sprinkling of alliteration, assonance and consonance.

Results have collected, tabulated, calculated, regurgitated. Most of the judges agree that the quality of these Wild poems was surprisingly high and spoke volumes to them. One judge had this overall comment:

"I thought it was interesting how at least out of the 6 poems focused on the angst of writing. Several of the poems refer to be hounded by words that seek them out...almost against the poet's will. It highlights the desperation, maybe, that we all seem to have as writers. We feel this significance in the world around us, and we ache to be able to express it. Perhaps we express it better than most of the laypeople, but ah! The struggle it takes to get there! I salute these Wild Card Warriors for the acknowledgment of this weird, weird state of being. I honestly liked things about all the submissions."

Ain't that so? I also salute you Wild Card Warriors. You have made this the toughest round yet. Sorry it took so long. But there is a good reason.

There was a draw. Out of a potential total of 18 points, two winning poems scored 15 from our three grand judges.

I had to enlist two extra mystery judges (who haven't been involved in this contest at all) to cast their scores on all the Wild poems. Both voted unanimously for one of the grand Judges' picks. And the winning poem going through to the Championship is...........

** LITTLE SOLDIERS **

Congratulations! Yay! Now get your sweats on for the Final heat that is about to start.

A Very Honourable Mention goes to BECAUSE OF MY PASSION. Well done!

I am not going to do the scorecard for this round as the point of this was to select one winner, not eliminate anyone. But, as always, here are the judges' comments:

______________
Little soldiers

"Definitely the most unique, creative poem here. What I love most about this piece is the end. Most poems teeter off, become lazy and bored with themselves. Yet, you didn't allow your words to falter, you tied them up so neatly, for us to unfold."

"This poem kept away from the typical metaphors of writing, and used some fresh imagery. "Typed little soldiers" was great. We all write poems about ink, but who uses ink these days anyhow? Mostly, I loved the vocabulary of this poem. Good assonance, good collections of words that sound fitting together. The vocab was intelligent and textured, but not ostentatious. It was a poem for the "linguaphile," and for that, amen."

"This one gets the top vote for me. I thought it was very creative and the author has used their imagination very well here. I liked the idea of the soldiers (words) all battling to get attention. The whole poem was very original in my opinion and it just stood apart from the others."

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Because of My Passion

"I liked the concept of the words seeking out the poet. I think the last line could have used a little something more. Or maybe something less. I'm just of the school of thought that believes the first and last lines of the poem are the most imperative. And yet, this poem was one of my favorites, for its capable use of pacing, and for the way its theme was expressed without the need for cliche. The first half, especially, was interesting and haunting."

"I'm a sucker for poems that incorporate nature in their message. Some really nice images without taking the actual meaning of the poem away."

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Pieces of a poet's mind

""There are never enough words
To make this poet feel whole"

Ain't it the truth, brotha."

"This one was really quite good but I found a couple of things distracting. I didn't like 'the' being used twice in the second line of the first stanza it disrupted the flow. All the words in the second stanza start with the letter T and although the stanza itself was good this spoiled it for me slightly."

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Flush Of Emotions

"This piece felt the most intimate to me. The simplicity added much depth to its already raw candor."

"I can imagine the last line being different, and completely changing the effectiveness of this poem. "Thoughtful, poetic" didn't feel solid enough, and didn't seem to match the rest of the poem. What is a poetic feel? Some clarity here could make a big difference."

"I loved the title but the opening line was very weak and disappointing."

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Writing

"This poem addresses the drowning, asphyxiating feeling of poem writing. There's some emotion behind it, but I think a smarter selection of descriptions could have helped get that feeling across. Perhaps more focus on a single image could help."

"I did like this one a lot and the only thing I could really fault was using 'word' twice."

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Recipe to Writing

"Sweet, airy, and insubstantial. Like one of those chocolate covered cream puffs that you always think is going to taste better than it actually does. This poem was perfectly inoffensive."

"The baking theme has been done before so I don't think this idea is very original."

Pieces of a poet's mind

""There are never enough words
To make this poet feel whole"

Ain't it the truth, brotha."

^^
LOL!

What a funny judge!

Ohh ain't this fun and amazing..Congrats Little Soldiers XD

Abby you rock!
Thank you for this amazing contest ..was really suspenseful