Contest Winners 26 Nov 2012

My apologies, Nana told me she'd be off network since the weekend began but it failed to penetrate my thick skull that she meant I should post the results.

Congratulations to the three winners and the 8 honorable mentions. One judge was gone with notice. The site broke a three-way tie for 2nd & 3rd place.

Bereaved: Finally Bare by Xanthe 7pts + 10pts

Elephants by Silvershoes 10pts
Web of Greed (Eintou) by Meena Krish 10pts

Banalities by Jenni 10pts

I Stood Musing In A Black World by The Queen 7pts
Ordinary people by Karla 7pts
Unexpected by Chelsey 7pts

Freedom by Hannah Lizette 4pts
Is it Nintendo?by Jordan 4pts
Ratiocinative by Exostosis 4pts
The Stringed Haiku of Mia Kaori by Naughtymouse 4pts

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Bereaved: Finally Bare
by Xanthe
This poet always brings pieces filled with uniqueness and elegance. The message, the emotions and the perfect choice of words get her message dashingly. I read "Bereaved: Finally Bare" a lot of times and I found myself wondering what led the poet to lay her soul bare. It is an intriguing poem and I was captured by the delicate images and soft tone although it is a lengthy poem. The cadence is perfect. I was under the impression that the poet was talking to the readers as if they were accomplices, witnessing the same scene which triggered this piece but I won't allow myself to analyze what I read because this poem lends itself to many interpretations. However, I could see you were writing about someone dear too you, someone unable to understand you due to old age or maybe some kind of sickness. Xanthe, your piece impacts the reader. Thanks for this moment of surrender. (10)

Bereaved: Finally Bare by Xanthe 7pts
To write a very long poem which is worth reading is certainly an accomplishment and I could truly read this piece over and over again and never get tired of it. The poet's way with words is truly stunning as to how they make it flow so well and the theme interesting so much that it certainly appeals to the senses in so many ways. For example, I find the concept of the title "Bereaved: Finally Bare" genuine and certainly heartfelt, which is evident throughout the poem. Although the final line is incomplete, (the poet's feelings/bereavement remain unrequited/unheard), their longing to be together is evident to the reader.
"was brimming with life.
Hands reached out for mine, and I recall
a pair much younger - holding amber crayons
too tightly until they almost broke."

These lines indicate their romantic feelings for someone who they spent their childhood years.
"I've always thought we are
so alike suns -

In describing themselves as suns, the poet has achieved a rather effective comparison; younger people tend to be fervently desirous when it comes to what they want in life, and have fiery personalities.

Overall, I enjoyed reading this and will definitely come back to re-read it again.

"to open it up and bring it over you head."
^to open it up and bring it over [your] head

Just a typo I thought I should point out.

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Web of Greed (Eintou)
by Meena Krish

Meena has intoxicated me with this breathtaking formed poem! I'm Drunk!!

The title made me have a visionary display of a greedy man wrapped in a spiders web, with money stuck in his jaws and that was just with the title alone!

I truly admire formed poems that (a) highlight the form with spot on syllable count and (b) leave me speechless with the flow and rhythm of the formed piece as well..

The message took me in several angles: Greedy businessmen feeding on today's youth just to make a dollar and where nothing is sage when greed and shame is luring the innocent... This piece was sad, and honest, mixed with class... Brilliant piece in my eyes!! Well Done (10)

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Elephants by Silvershoes 10pts
This poem, as a whole, evokes certain aspects of historical consciousness (whalebone as statue) and of folktale style due to its opening lines. I admire the structure of this poem, not all of free verse poems are good, except when it's 'structured free verse', (accurate line length and appropriate spacing), such as this. Throughout the poem, the poet just describes visual scenes by constantly using vivid descriptions, "dead birds", "slick, melted, disfigured", "mourning songs like foghorns", when the gray light is down; when waves crash through this burial ground" almost close-up scenes behind my eyelids as I read further. As for the use of punctuation, from ellipsis to semi-colon, dash to comma, in my opinion, was done effectively. The sound and the rhythmic language choices of this poem are the key factors that made it stood out from the rest of the nominated poems this week and not to mention, its surprising ending line, as well.
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Banalities
by Jenni 10 points

This is such a heartfelt poem that I can't help but smile when reading, even though the poem is filled with such sorrow, as the emotion throughout is so easy to feel. The author has a wonderful way with words and the imagery portrayed throughout leaves the reader easily able to picture what the author is describing.

My favourite part was the mention of how the author likes coffee but the person they are writing to does not. It's such a simple thing and probably relate-able to many people, yet the way the author paints the picture and captures this here is something unique and something I have not seen/read before.

The closing is filled with such bitterness and sorrow, that I found it stayed with me long after reading. It's always difficult when we wait for someone to return home, for whatever reason, and they never do and the author really manages to capture the heartache and pain that stems from wanting someone to come home, yet they never do, so perfectly here. (10)

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Ordinary people
by Karla

Karla made me feel like I was standing beside her waiting for the 6pm bus... Two people just living an ordinary life, getting lost in the shuffle of everyday life... Losing sight of the inner beauty.. I was left crying at the end.. So many times, precious human beings lose sight of who they truly are and they themselves become "routine".

I can't express enough how much this poem touched me, the word display allowed me to go there and feel as I too have felt on many occasions.. I adore this poem and it truly deserves to be highlighted! (7)

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I Stood Musing In A Black World
by The Queen
Myryn always melts my heart with her precise imagery and creative style. What caught my attention was the bitterness and angst that permeate each stanza and the use of powerful words in her thought provoking piece. I experienced a crescendo of emotions engulfing me as I read the poem because "we truly ache...to live", Our minds and choices destroy us all the time blinding us to simple truths because in the end we all want the same things in life. However, hatred, ignorance, greediness, etc prevent any possible change in the world. Your pieces never disappoint me. I always know I am going to find something great in them. Excellent work! (7)----------------------------------------

Unexpected
by Chelsey 7 points

I find it difficult to describe my feelings for this poem as it was one I simply fell in love with after reading it for the first time, and it's difficult to do the author justice when the poem itself is so beautifully and elegantly penned throughout.

All the emotions and thoughts, the needing and wants, we experience at the start of a fresh new love is something the author manages to portray and capture so vividly and beautifully, yet making it look so effortless whilst doing so.

The imagery shown throughout the whole poem is something I could happily read over and over, as it leaves me with such instant and striking visuals in my mind. The whole content of this poem, the flow, the emotion, the imagery all works wonderfully, each complimenting the other.

Well done! (7)

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The Stringed Haiku of Mia Kaori
by Naughtymouse
I must confess I am not a fan of haikus or nature poems. But The Stringed Haiku of Mia Kaori
provoked my emotions because it captures the beauty of Japan gently. The dreamy images, the smooth style and the peaceful atmosphere allured me. It is such a tender piece! I fell in love with it. I also loved the reference to Hokusai's painting. Superb! And the ending simply blew me away. The whole piece is a lovely tribute to the Land of the Rising Sun. Saikoo Ben! (4)

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Is it Nintendo?
by Jordan 4 points

This was one of the most unique poems that I have come across as of yet and I found it interesting as the use of nintendo in the poem took me back into my childhood, yet without the innocence of childhood because of the way the author incorporates the nintendo into the piece, it made for such a melancholy effect.

I was particularly fond of the last five lines, as it made me think on how often too many people repeat the same mistakes and constantly try again only to achieve the same results in life.

The closing line was what affected me the most, as I believe it is all too relate-able for most likely everyone-we all want to 'reset' some parts of our life/actions at some point or another in our lifetime and the author captures that beautifully in so few words here.

I really enjoyed this poem. (4)

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Ratiocinative by Exostosis 4pts

"You extol the way I contemplate cellular regeneration
My avarice, you decry me as a coherent lover"

These are very wickedly clever opening lines and judging from its tone, this is going to be one heck of an edgy read.

"My desires are not furtive or indolent. Must I prove how inept I am of surrender?"

In this line, the poet shows how much they want to be with their lover. However, the "question mark" seems to signify ambiguity, awkwardness, and unwillingness as if they are force to prove it. But as the poem continues, the poet begins to talk persuasively and irresistibly (repeating "I dream" and "your body" noticeably) by showering their lover with compliments and flattery. "And I have hungered for your touch" is definitely the turning point of this poem, the ending is just expected as it is, sarcasm.

I enjoyed reading this poem so much. It is not like every day you are going to encounter this type of poem (of verbal irony) on here. Excellent piece.

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Freedom
by Hannah Lizette
Hannah took the phrase "bottling up emotions" and created a truly touching metaphoric piece!
At first my thoughts were headed in the direction of an alcoholic and then I dove deeper into the phrase .... That is when I started to truly fall in love with this poem... Its creative angles and heart touching emotion can be felt from start to finish... To forgive the one who has caused you to "bottle" your emotions, or hold things in is a soul searching event. I applaud Hannah for pouring her thoughts into this awesome poem in the way that she did... and as sad as it is, its beautiful in the sense that it's a cleansing poem... the ending was superb to a beautifully sad poem! (4)

Congrats to Xanthe, Jane & Jenni! I just finished reading the poems now and they are all very lovely.

Thanks for posting, Larry!

Congratulations to all the winners and Hm's :-) Mercy! Beautiful poems this week.

Congrats, winners and HM's and thanks Larry for posting this.

Thank you Larry for posting this week!

Congrats to the winners and thank you judge for the HM!

Congratulations to all the winners and Hm's

Congrats everyone!

Thanks, judge for the vote/comment. I didn't even realize it had been nominated. :)

Oh sigh! All of you are so precious!! Thanks a lot for the HM I feel so honored! Thanks :):)

Congrats to the three winning poems, they are all so beautiful. :)

Congrats winners!!!! Awesome writes :))

And thankyou for the HM...seriously smiling like an idiot :)))

Congrats everyone and thanks for the HM.

Congrats to the winners and HM's...and thank you for the vote and comment.

Congratulations to all winners and HM's
x

Congrats!
i miss Nana!!

Congrats to all!
thanks for the HM! :)

Had no clue about my poem being nominated.