Contest Winners 3 December 2012

Nana is still out of network, only able to get on with her cell phone. Congratulations to this week's poets, both the winners and the HMs. The site broke a four way tie.

A Shy Night ( Sonnet ) by Everlasting 10pts
Bound by Xanthe 10pts
Questions about nothing. by Darren 10pts

Bookmarks by Meme 10pts

Farewell to Baaba by Real meaning - 4pts + 4pts

Hot Wax and Handcuffs by Tara Kay 7pts
Serenity by Stephen 7pts
The Attic by MyHalozChokinMe 7pts
The Pursuit of Happiness by Wild flower 7pts

Amidst Adoration (Collab) by Naughtymouse 4pts
Sword and Sorcery...( Dark Intentions ) by Ah satan 666 4pts

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A Shy Night ( Sonnet ) by Everlasting

This is a beautifully crafted Sonnet- Amazing piece here! Everlasting has penned this poem with pure elegance, the flow made me sway back and forth while I read this, and that to me is important! The metaphoric message blew me away. She mad the beauty of a night sky come to life, using the words "shy" helped me to dig deeper, past the beautiful nature metaphor and made me feel like a woman searching to reveal her "stars"; feelings perhaps to another... Trying to escape the wall or "cigar smoke night"- Breathtaking poem she has penned! Amazing piece~ (10)

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Bookmarks by Meme 10 points

I enjoyed this poem and found it to be an incredibly powerful and emotional write.

The metaphors the author uses throughout are both original and superbly described, allowing the reader to really feel and visualise the author's words and emotions that seep through each word.

I interpretated this as lost love, and that the first stanza was describing a past love (or perhaps a present stale one) re-entering the authors life, once again interrupting them with no conscience on how this action would affect them.

I was particularly fond of the second stanza, to me, this says that the person whom is being written about is someone that goes through the motions of a relationship without actually committing to it or becoming personally involved, so to speak.

The following two verses had me tearing up slightly, not only am I sure far too many people can relate the author manages to portray the anger, bitterness and resentment that these type of actions can cause, particularly with the mentioning of "Halfway through the journey and
you stop"- It's always heartbreaking when someone we love either gives up and moves on and away, or when we realize that they never really cared to begin.

I'm impressed at the metaphors used throughout this entire piece, as previously stated I thought them to be original and incredibly unique.

Wonderful work. (10)

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Bound by Xanthe 10pts

First and foremost, well done! The poet has definitely done a good job by responding to the given prompt, accurately, completely and specifically.

The title of this poem prepares the readers for what to expect, something that is unavoidable. Again, notice its relationship to the prompt. No time in our lives is ever permanent, but it will always be there in our memories and sometimes, whether we like it or not, it's the only best way to look at it. The title also portrays one of the major themes in this piece, that of yearning. "I remember" is usually linked to good times we shared with those people we never want to leave behind.

The poet also describes "these memories" in a countless of ways, which is evident in every stanza of the poem and as it ends, the images of those happy moments come alive once more. Reading this poem is like seeing a fine picture of the poet's past. Thank you for sharing this wonderful piece with us.

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Questions about nothing. by Darren

Darren made me stop and think about something that has always intrigued me: death and I must confess I simply love poems that read my disquieting heart. We - mortal beings- have resorted to Science to explain many things in life but it can't tell us what lies after death. We crave for the continuity of our existence and there are many people who advocate in favor of reincarnation but who can truly answer our most challenging question. Even religion can't give us a comfortable response although it claims we will join God in heaven. But the thought of angels, clouds and harps is an insult to my mind. I like to think our lives are not superfluous and we are here for a purpose. We may not leave a mark but our immortality is borne through our kids - they are our continuation in time - and through the good things witnessed by people around us: those who will remember us and preserve our stories even we " become nothing". For those who are Christian/ Catholic, the answer is here:

"I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and whoever lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?" {John 11:25-26 RSV}

This piece is unique and I really enjoyed it. Darren, I'd like you to leave you a quote:
" The fear of death follows the fear of life. A man who lives fully is prepared to die at any time." Mark Twain
I hope I can be prepared when my time comes. Thanks for sharing such a valuable piece with us. (10)

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Farewell to Baaba by Real meaning

This heartfelt poem had such an impact on me and I couldn't do anything but cry, thinking of my own father. It evoked an old pain and I saw myself in my father's funeral twenty years ago again. It is hard to face death of a beloved one. We lose our identity and reference in life. But what is worst is our powerlessness before something we have no control. It is a brutal life experience no matter how old you are. I like to think that although he's gone, our relationship still exists. It will live on forever through me.
"Farewell to Baaba" is an epic piece and I was in awe of the images portrayed for they capture the poet's pain tenderly. Loved the comparison to a snow man: it is perfect and the ending blew me away. It was phenomenal. This poem left me speechless. Well done Real Meaning. (4)

Farewell to Baaba by Real meaning 4pts

This poem seems to evoke certain memories from the poet's childhood and youth, and it's rather more precise to say that the poem is an experience shown from the point of view of a child.

"Farewell to Baaba", this title pretty much sums up the poem as a whole. The first line concludes that the word "farewell" in the title is meant for someone who has died. Though on the other hand, I'd like to think that "Baaba" is symbolic in some way, and that it could be about the carefree innocence of a child which we tend to lose it as we grow up. The ending line reveals the poet's final feelings. Being in a coma is the same as what it feels like being stuck in this earthy life.

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Hot Wax and Handcuffs by Tara Kay 7 points

I read this quickly the first time around and liked it. I read it slowly the second time, really allowing myself to savour each word and loved it. The title was something that drew me in immediately as I found it so creative and unique and I wanted to know what was going to follow.

The second stanza was in my opinion by far the best and the most thought provoking and powerful emotionally. I'm sure that almost everyone wants and wishes to be loved at some point in their life when they don't feel that they are and the way the author phrases their own want of this is incredibly heart breaking and moving. It really allows the reader to not only understand the desperate longing for it, but also -feel- the want, along with the author.

"made of hot wax that will never set..."

This was by far my most favourite part of this poem, and a line I read several times. Once I thought about the hot wax never setting, it again made me aware of just how much inner pain and turmoil the author is describing throughout, for wax that never sets would be incredibly painful and something that you would always yearn to be free from.

I'm really not keen on the closing line, it does pack the emotion and depth that is consistent throughout the rest of the poem, however I felt it could have been phrased better as the use of "being alone" is something often far overused by many writers.

That being said, I think this was a beautiful write. (7)

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Serenity by Stephen 7pts

This poem, also, is like a tree, a tree with a strong structure and desirable form. :)

The poet titles the poem as "Serenity", a feeling of calmness or peace. Titling a poem as such, I think they only mean to convey that this is going to be an inspirational poem.

The tree has many representations throughout the poem, but in my opinion, and as obvious as it is, it means to finally suggest that we are like the trees and as we all know, trees prevent/reduce erosion, harmful land pollutants and flooding. The forest here signifies the unknown and the evil things that knock us off the path altogether.

The ending sums it up, peace is possible but only if we work together to achieve it. Same applies when it comes to dealing with our partners, too. Excellent piece!

"or entangle within it's roots."
or entangle within [its] roots.

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The Attic by MyHalozChokinMe

It is not easy to write a poem about something seemingly simple as an attic. But this poet examines this part of a house, showing its importance since our greatest secrets are buried there and might be there forever. After all, we are never prepared to face what we most fear in life: our past.

"We venture in to leave our souls and the broken
pieces of our hearts. Our unfinished novels are here;
paintings found to be wanting. Friendships we
thought were forever, grow moldy in the dust.

As we get older the blood red door
becomes harder to close."

Attics symbolize the highest level of our consciousness. They are located in the top of the house just like our brains are located in the top of our bodies. As we store things there, we store in our minds too.

"This room holds a depressing inventory:
Broken promises.
Hopeless yearnings.
Faithless lovers.
False friends."

So our painful memories, sins, sorrows and fears fed during a lifetime are hidden in our brains/ attics as well as our treasures. However, those treasures are too wonderful to be shared or seen. It made me think of a book I read a long time ago in which a widow keeps his dead wife's belongings in an attic and forbids everybody to enter the room Those things are too precious to be donated or even worn by any simple mortal woman. Besides his ghosts are his best possessions and he needs them to go on living.
I enjoyed reading this poem so much. I also loved the message too: we all have something to hide in life but let's leave that "faded red door " closed: there is nothing "worth seeing" there and "relax in our bright, sunlit rooms, smiling
at each other (...)". It is better not to see what is behind our daily masks. Excellent piece. (7)

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The Pursuit of Happiness by Wild flower

I truly adore simplistic poetry that flows and spreads a positive message. Wild Flower has done so here within this poem. She has a truthful and expressive tone within this piece, displaying her need to overcome obstacles and also give to others what she has overcome and experienced as well. Her ending line says it all: "to show reality that we can find happiness"... This piece is uplifting and a powerful poem, I adore the courage and heart displayed within this poem. (7)

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Amidst Adoration (Collab) by Naughtymouse

I want to applaud Naughtymouse and MyHalozChokinMe for writing such a breathtaking love poem. Its beautiful from start to finish. The word usage is very unique throughout, describing the pain of broken hearts and the reality of a new love, overcoming obstacles and bonding together as one. It was a beautiful and romantic piece from start to finish- Beautiful!! (4)

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Sword and Sorcery...( Dark Intentions ) by Ah satan 666 4 points

The length of this poem initially intimidated me slightly as often alot of authors struggle to maintain a strong piece for something so long, upon finishing reading however I was both pleasantly surprised and impressed.

Not once did I find the poem to falter in terms of power or flow and the author manages to create such unique imagery from beginning to end that really allowed me to picture what they were describing. I liked the lines in brackets too, they were like a small verse all on their own, and also managed to add more depth and power to the surrounding lines.

The imagery was right on par with the subject of the poem and I thought that the author did incredibly well at keeping the imagery, vocabulary and content so dark without turning the piece into bloody gory alone.

I imagine the layout of the piece took the author some time along with the poem itself and each compliment the other very well.
This was a wonderful poem. (4)

Congratulations to all the winners and HM's....

Thank you for my HM and credit for the title goes to Andrea and James... :)

Awesome to see so many Free Spirits with HM's this week!!

Congrats everyonr! Darren, I am proud of you, man!

Congrats winners and HM's, and thanks a lot for the comment Judge X :)

Congrats everyone:)
And thank you for the HM judge:)

Congrats ya'll :D

Loved that tieee

Thanks for my win and a great comment.

Congrats to the winners!!!!

And thankyoj for the HM judges :)) made my day :))) x

Whooot!! Congratulations to the Winners and all the Hm's :-)

Congratulations to all the winners and HM's....

Thank you so much for acknowledging one of my works. I am honored.
And congratulation to the winners

Omg!

Thank you! Thank you!

I cannot believe that Xanthe and Darren are sharing the front page with me. Thank you Judges for that.

This is a great surprised, Congratulations everyone.
This made my day.

And thank you Mr. Larry too.