Weekly Winners 4/17/2012

One judge couldn't vote, congratulations for all the H'Ms and Winners, sorry for delaying this, and it's not as organized as before, I'm having some technichal issues.

Don't 4 + 10
by Colm

Even a Crooked Smile Shines 7 + 7
by Blissful

War Orphan 10 points
by Dead Soul + 4 from Tie Breaker

Obituary
by The Poetess 10 points

The Silk Of Stars
by Tara Kay 10 points

To Exist 7
by Lady Nik

Silhouette cycle
by Everlasting 7 points

Divorce The Sun 4
by LP

Weepin' Willow Tree
by Glenn gay 4

I still live 4
by Everlasting

***COMMENTS***

War Orphan
by Dead Soul

This Rhyme piece is out of this world! The message is deep, and beyond heart gripping- the abcc rhyme pattern really added a special and unique touch to this poem, very nice!

The author of this piece touched upon a subject that not many have written about- and I found it to be outstanding! This piece deserves to be highlighted-

The title: When I saw the title I knew my heartstrings were going to go in so many directions and indeed I was correct- War itself is a sorrowful subject and then to add orphan is beyond sad... Powerful title-

First stanza: The descriptive tone of this piece sets an explosive vision in my head as I first started to read...describing the emptiness of the "gaze" , tattered clothing, living on the streets... Beyond touching first stanza-

Second stanza: This stanza continues on to describe the sweet innocence of a child stripped away, being unable to cry, emotions gone, loneliness and emptiness. After a person gets to this second stanza, there shouldn't be a dry eye- I know my tears started to flow....

Third stanza: My heart broke at this point and the author has grabbed the readers heart within this stanza- I can't tell you how this stanza made me feel, and I really applaud the author for his unique approach at the end of this stanza on how he touches upon the child's tear towards her parents death.

Fourth stanza: What can I possibly say about the ending... a tragic ending, powerful stanza, that leaves the reader speechless!

I really felt this piece needed to be highlighted for many reasons: the message, the creative style and the way the author wrote this powerful piece and his in depth display of a heartbreaking reality that happens with War-

Awesome....Awesome.....Awesome.... poem- well done Dead Soul !!!!! (10)

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There are certain expectations that are so strong that to thwart them causes profound shock, engendering feelings akin to betrayal. This poem takes as its subject the gritty reality of war in the person of a two-time victim. Orphaned by the conflict, her anguish is never ending as the memory of her parents' death constantly torments her. Normally, one expects a resolution to occur along the lines of the five stages of death, ending in acceptance and determination; especially when the subject is of tender age and helpless. This pacific ending is denied as the orphan herself is snuffed out with a "bullet to the head." This denouement is more than painful, it is starkly cruel and seems impossible in such a work. Moreover, a mystery is unveiled as to whether the child's life is taken as yet another victim of the war or, more horrible, by her own hand.
Such a powerful outcome is told unrelenting and straightforward. I hated the poem in the way you hate the perfect performance of a great villain on stage. The poem is a winner.

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Obituary by The Poetess

I loved the contrast between the simple title and the profound poem. The repetition of "even if for once" was great because it emphasized the message. Your poem had me questioning if April was a person or if the month is just a bad time for you therefore you personified it with death. Either way, it was brilliant! You packed so much emotion in such a short piece, but I wasn't left hungry at the end...which is good! Very satisfying poem to read even though it culminated in a mysterious way. I loved the imagery of jasmines and wrinkled flesh because they are so different from one another. Jasmine represents a young spirit for me while wrinkled flesh shows age. This was just brilliant, can't say anything more than that. (10)

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To Exist by Lady Nik

What a heartbreakingly beautiful poem! I loved how the first sentence set the scene and I imagined myself there as well. The first stanza reminded me of the Lion King where Mufasa tells Simba that all those that die become stars and watch those that are living...Such a sad scene to paint.

"Now that your heartbeat is
quiet, do those secrets
still linger like your essence?"
^I am blown away. Such a poetic way of expressing death and questioning if the spirit remains.

"if only the moon could
capture the sadness of
solitude"
^Blown away once more...The lost love is now a star and you feel so alone without them that you wish the moon to capture that emotion and allow to linger among the one you love. Maybe my interpretation isn't quite what you had in mind but I love that this line set that image in my mind.

I loved how you let the last line stand on its own because it holds such a deep message. Wonderfully written.

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The Silk Of Stars by Tara Kay 10 points

This was so much more than just a poem. It is also a lesson, maybe the most important lesson of all: to love yourself. In her words I find so much comfort and strength to go on. It made me smile as I read it. Such a carefully thought out verse, each stanza is like a small gem of wisdom and all of them combined it is all you need to read when life gets you down. I am sure this writer is the best friend anyone could have. Excellent work.

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Silhouette cycle by Everlasting

This is a philosophical verse and the questions are very thought provoking. A poem that leaves you pondering and somehow changes your outlook on life is always a feast to read. I like how the writer uses the image of the hour glass to visualize the endless circle of rebirth all souls undergo as they enter and leave this earth time after time. Well done, cleverly construed.

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Weepin' Willow Tree
by Glenn gay

A poem that rhymes in such an unforced way, and speaks of the madness that makes us kill and keep on killing, the absence of love in past and present as it occurs worldwide. I could envision the Weeping Willow as I read the poem and how it weeps for us. Sad but very true, this poem is. A charismatic writer.
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I still live by Everlasting

Sometimes, we have to remind ourselves that our heartbeat is one of the greatest gifts we have and while it is still present, we have to take advantage of it. Our heart has so much to say even though we don't take it into account most of the time which is unfortunate. We shush it and deem it foolish although it is wise. I liked how you structured this poem because it created a nice pace when read aloud. Great way of tying in the title into the last line because that was the essence of the poem. Nicely done.

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Don't
by Colm

I love the repetition of "don't" here... when someone tells you over and over again not to do something, or that you're not allowed to have something, it ends up consuming your thoughts and it's all you can think of, all you can want. Some of his requests were of small, mindless tasks, and others were much bigger, but it really made the poem have stronger effect - don't remember me no matter what you do. The ending makes me feel like the subject is still in this persons life, but they know they are poison to them, however they won't be let go, in a literal sense. I have pulled my own personal meaning from this that moved me and I won't go into detail now. This was just a wonderful piece of poetry.

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This poem took me on a trip to Wowland! Yes folks there is such a place and the author took me there with this piece-

The title: "Don't": I had many questions just reading the title for starters... and immediately had to read...and happy I did.. I adore titles that make me think right off the bat... love this title!

First line- When a person says "don't worry" there are so many questions and speculations...loved how this poem starts off...

Heart of the poem: I had so many ideas and thoughts as I read this stanza (heart of the piece)- What a powerful display of words and such a unique tone- In my mind I felt this was a dream or the promises of a loved one to never forget the love or desire-

Ending three lines- Its almost like the author is expressing that fantasy has its limits and not wishing that on someone made me feel like it was a curse- I may be way off, but this is how I felt within this poem and wow wow wow.... I love this ending....

How fun is that ending line....i really love it when you can almost catch a glimpse of the authors personality within a poem... and I really admire the unique approach in this piece-

Explosive short poem!!! Well done Colm (4)

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Even A Crooked Smile Shines
by Blissful

This woman is full of short, meaningful love pieces that are so packed with meaning and emotion that it is absolutely astounding. Her imagery here made me smile, like a teenagers first love and the butterflies, hope and naivety you inevitable see (in the first stanza). Keeping with the theme I definitely am brought back to my childhood where there was this person I longed for and no matter what I did, I could not get their attention - this summed up my sophomore year in a much prettier way than the rugged emotions felt. After hearing Blissful from the readings I can always picture a softer, breathy tone while reading these poems. It adds depth, I believe, and is just beautiful.

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Even a Crooked Smile Shines.
by Blissful

I'm going to sound like a broken record, but here goes my repetition... I LOVE SMALL POEMS that say so much!!! WOW on this elegant love gem!!!!!! Sorry folks but I had to scream within this comment, that's how much I adore this poem-

Title: There is so much beauty within a smile and when I saw the title my heart melted- What a creative title- love it!!

First stanza: What a unique and creative first stanza!! I actually visualized two balloons raising a person's smile and how the author ending this stanza "filled with my love" <----- so elegant, mixed with loving and creative flare- beautiful!!

Second stanza- My heart broke- The love of a person and to what lengths they go too is heart gripping... The author took twelve words and designed an explosive ending...How the person longs to see the one she loves smile and in the end, losing hers as well...sighs...... touching piece-

I can't say enough about this poem, and again when you read the poem, the title is so perfect.... This poem is sad, unique, and beautiful... a wonderful read, and one I will read many times in the future.. defiantly one of my favorite poems to date! Well done Blissful (7)

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Divorce The Sun
by LP

I've read this poem a few times and felt really inspired by it. The imagery is beautiful as well as the emotion behind it.. it's just so powerful and gut wrenching. The writer does a wonderful job at pulling at the readers heartstrings and bring real life metaphors into play. This was a beautiful write.

Congrats to the winners and HM's
and thank you to the judge for my HM, and the comment, very much appreciated.

Great wins this week for sure

and thanks again Nana Dearest :)

Thank you for the votes and wonderful comments judges! I really appreciate it all<3 Congrats to Dead Soul and Colm...I am honored to grace the front page with such talent :) Congrats to HM's as well! Thank you Sunshine for putting this all together!

Congratulations to all the winners and HM's!!! Well deserved!!!

Congrats

Congrats to the winners and Hm's.

Thank you to the judges for their comments, they are much appreciated. :-)

Congratulations to the winners & HMs. Thank you the the judges &,as always, to Nana.

Congrats to all, some really lovely reads this week.

Thanks judges & Nana for all the effort.

Congratulations.

Thanks to all involved, seeing 'dont' on the front page was quite unexpected! I appreciate the comments, well done other winners and hms :)