Contest Winners- December 31, 2012

Hey Guys! Before I post, just wanted to say thanks to the judges for being on time with their scores and comments during this busy holiday season!! It was very smooth and easy for me to organize and I appreciate that so much!

Congrats to this weeks winners as always and Happy New Year everyone! :)

WINNERS:

Comfortable Winters
by Tara Kay 10 + 10 = 20

Spectral Siren of the Night
by NightFlyer 10 + 10 = 20

The Collector
by Yaki 7 + 7 + 4 = 18

HM's:

Merry Men
by Myonlymoon (10)

Winter - Full Moon
by Everlasting (7)

Annual Heartache
by baby Rainbow (7)

A single rose, a single tear
by The Poet Behind The Poems (7)

Three Demons [Original]
by silvershoes (4)

Nostalgia
by Senryu - (4)

An Angel's Love
by Baby Rainbow (4)

Obsessive dreams
by The Poet Behind The Poems (4)

WINNER COMMENTS:

Comfortable Winters
by Tara Kay

There is such a distinct vulnerability and sense of confusion here that the poet is describing, especially in the first beginning lines. I like how the poet brought up their own poetry and continued that on, more deeply mentioning that she aims for perfection constantly- doing everything in her power but it always falls short of that. I also like the immediacy in which this poet pen this poem, like hands itching to tell that truth a big part of herself knows. What I personally enjoyed was the portrayal of winter. It came alive to me- how this wasn't a nature piece but a poem about life, about desperation, bitterness, the lack of hope for reality. The voice stands out and tells me that these movies of life do portray lives being destructed, souls being damaged with so much....we all believe in fantasies, some of us may live by them and see them as a necessity- growing up can be fearful because there is a part that's lost- innocence can be compromised. Intriguing piece, very strong thoughts here. Great work! (10)

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Comfortable Writers
by Tara Kay

One thing I always enjoy in poetry is when the reader takes me somewhere that I wasn't expecting, and this poem did just that. From the title, I immediately thought of the more pleasant aspects of winter, the soothing and soft visuals we often see in Christmas movies and hear in songs, and as I didn't notice the category this poem was placed in before reading when I first read those opening lines I realised this was going to be so far from what I'd originally anticipated. And that's a good thing, as it made me wonder where the author was going to go with the poem in its entirety.

The first three lines make me think that the author wants to say something, to get something off her chest but she isn't sure how. Maybe that she's tried previously, even several times but she just can't find the right words to portray what she wants to say specifically.

The third stanza really moved me. So many people place such meaning in that kiss under the mistletoe, in making sure they have someone special to see the new year in with that often they forget they shouldn't make such a huge deal of just one or two moments...but apply that need, that want, that keenness to all aspects of their lives at every moment.

The next stanza completely blew me away. Don't we all try to aim for perfection, whether in our work or something completely irrelevant? More people need to remember that whilst aiming for perfection is often considered as a good thing, you should always make sure you don't forget to enjoy the things that are already more than good enough whilst doing so.

The ending, to me, carries hope. It says that the author may well feel this way, she may be scared, she may wish things were easier and that she already knew comfort...but she wont give up attempting to find it, no matter how difficult it is. That even though she hasn't known comfort yet, doesn't mean she will cease searching for it. And that little bit of hope carries so much meaning and promise.

This has become one of my favourite poems on this site, and one I have read many times over since first coming across it. I think the author did a magnificent job on this. (10)
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Spectral Siren of the Night
by NightFlyer

The title is what first caught my eye and I just had to see what this was all about. As I started to read, each stanza just drew me in deeper and deeper. It definitely reminds me of ancient times, as the one line reads "on rocky paths of ancient years" I get that picture in my head as I read through. The darkness of the sky with dark stone buildings, cold out and you can see your own breath as you walk along the path... Candles, the only source of light back then, makes everything seem so eerie on the inside yet so warm and inviting as well. You can feel the passion and heat. Then in the end it makes you wonder... hhhmmm... was it just a dream or was this a real spiritual encounter, it leaves me wanting you to write a part 2... The flow and rhyme of this write made it read splendidly and seemed to add so much more character to the write , I actually went back and read it a couple of times that's how much it captivated me. I enjoy dark poetry and have not read a good one in a long time until now. A picture well painted Randy, well done (10)
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Spectral Siren of the Night
by NightFlyer

To me quite simply this is how a poem should be written, there are many people on here who like to write to forms and I have noticed a few who seem to enjoy mixing forms. But this is poetry. It flows beautifully and takes us by the hand leading us through a tale that has imagery leaping from every stanza. The rhyming is unforced which is an art in itself. It is not trying to be clever, it is just powerful in its own right with such an eerie atmosphere. I think Randy has written a masterpiece and I am not going to do it a disservice by tearing it apart stanza by stanza, I just urge anybody reading this comment to read the poem. (10)
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The Collector
by Yaki

This was one of those rare pieces that both made me tear up and smile throughout it. The way the author starts out with how she collected things really made me ponder on that opening stanza, and it made me think on how so many of us think that we have so many flaws, how we have so many personality or appearance traits that we don't like, that maybe we even hate. And the ironic thing is I imagine all those things that we wish we could change or that we wish didn't affect us is something that not many, if any at all, other people even see in us. It made me think on how we are always our own worst critic.

Given the first few stanzas started of with such a negative tone, I was expecting the following to become even more emotional, filled with more sadness and with more self doubt. So the last line in the third stanza succeeded in throwing me a little as it held so much more promise and hope than the previous ones did. It made me smile and stop and think, wait a minute, maybe she is starting to realise she really isn't as bad as she thought she was originally.

The second half of this gave me hope. It made me think if one person can begin to realise this, surely others can too. We're always worth so much more than we give ourselves credit for and so many times we just accept the things that others do when what we should actually be doing is standing up and defending ourselves and saying, you know what? I AM worth more than that, I do deserve more than what you are giving me and I'm not going to stand for this any longer.

Yaki, as always you succeed in really pulling your readers in and making them think, and allowing them to emphasise with you and what you are feeling. And as always, you manage to do it so beautifully. (7)
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The Collector
by Yaki

This piece touched me beyond words, but I'll say I felt in a sense this was a coming-of-age moment...this realization, and putting it into permanent ink, that this poet and their heart are both on the same page: a love should not be accepted unless it is given, 100 percent given. This was a beautiful message to me. Be the leading lady of your own life- that was in the movie "The Holiday" and this poet's words remind me of this- I believe it can take certain people and circumstances where we are the ones being used or the ones being placed under for us to come to understand. It's the time to move on. I also admire the maturity of this write- how the poet writes about in the beginning collecting all the things of this person, the reminders of their perfection, yet that is in the past. This poet uniquely shows their struggle with insecurities and the feeling here is beyond meaningful. Good work. (7)
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The Collector
By Yaki

Yaki, you have written on a subject that so many people can relate to, myself included, "insecurities"... we look at others and wish we were like them... we don't feel comfortable in our own skin. We build walls around ourselves because of it and it chases people away, and we lose all respect for ourselves, that's what I feel when reading the first few stanzas... then you realize while looking back on this relationship, that you have actually learned a lot about yourself and that you are beautiful, you are YOU and you sure do not need anyone who is going to put you in the background... you ARE worthy Yaki and this write is so inspirational to me as it will be to others as they read it. We all have our own little issues and we need to learn to live with them and make the best of them and this write is proof that it can be done. This write really touches my heart, I love the title and the flow was perfect. Well done (4)

HM COMMENTS:

Merry Men
by Myonlymoon

Poems like yours make me realize how much I love poetry. "Merry Men" is filled with poetic power in every elegant detail. The opening stanza is stunning and the first line is jaw-dropping. But I must admit that many lines caught my attention in your piece. They evoked many thoughts in me. I also like the title of your poem and the images you crafted. They are unique. The second stanza is flawless as well as the other stanzas. I love this line: "my strokes have curdled the milk of Love ".The closing lines wow what to say? They are awesome.

My only hope:
That writers consciously scale the weight
Of originality and replication.
My reality:
We are all the greatest of Illusionists.
We are all Robin Hoods.

You penned something spectacular. I love the comparison of poets as illusionist and Robin Hoods. Robert Fitzgerald said that "Poetry is at least an elegance and at most a revelation".Your poem is an example of what he had in his mind. You revealed me a new fact. I feel like Robin Hood now. I steal my inspiration from what touches me, from my conflicts with myself, recreating the universe out of my experience to allure my readers and bring them a world they can again believe (or not). You unzipped a new world/ definition and I applaud you for that. I'd like to leave an excerpt:

Bring me all of your dreams,
You dreamers...
Bring me all of your heart melodies
That I may wrap them
In a blue cloud-cloth
Away from the too-rough fingers
Of the world.

Langston Hughes

You wrapped your readers' heart melodies in blue cloud-cloths. All we can do is to thank you for such a sweet sensation. Excellent piece!(10)
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Winter - Full Moon
by Everlasting

Your poem is a spell, a lovely thought breathing. The magical beauty of the moon has always inspired poets and I suppose your poem made you approach the gods because it transcends the silence of the page and becomes an echo in one's heart as we marvel at magnificence of the moon. You fished your inspiration in the natural world and created such a poetic gem: I could see the moon bewitching the wolf and the owl in a clear sky, I could feel its tranquil inscrutability, its splendor and constancy under a cold sky. I can't speak enough about this poem. Beautiful piece indeed! (7)
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Annual Heartache
by Baby Rainbow
This reads like a monologue, I could imagine a young lady perched at the end of the stage face in hands and talking in a sad tone. I enjoyed feeling the atmosphere, the 'forgetting your lines' is a very clever reference, I immediately picture somebody saying something they shouldn't in front of the rest of the family. This whole thing reads to me like a typical xmas get together that ends in a war and the perpetrator is ejected, yet we sympathise with her. A great reminder to us all that not everybody has such a merry xmas. It poses questions, is she really the black sheep? Does she get blamed for everything trivial? I think the way the poem is broken up into many stanzas helps keep the pace slow, which in turn helps with the mood. Great piece Baby Rainbow (7)

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A single rose, a single tear
by The Poet Behind The Poems

Tony, although this was a short piece, its powerful, it brings tears to my eyes while reading because I think so many of us can relate to losing someone we love. Its also so descriptive, that you can picture it in your mind. Comparing the beauty of the rose to the lost love I think is perfect because not only is a rose beautiful and fragile, but its also the flower of love and we give it when one passes as life is fragile. The last stanza really did me in, the single tear and the whisper of "goodnight my sleeping beauty", yeah that had the tears flowing real good. When a poet can touch a readers heart like this, to me, its a great work of art. And though this piece is sad its also breathtaking. Beautifully written Tony (7)
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Three Demons [Original]
by silvershoes

The beauty of this poem makes me not want to even imagine explaining the thoughts I held after reading this. To me, watching the sunrise is something so precious, something so timeless. I desire to do that with someone. I really cannot personally remember the last time I actually got up, sat down, and watched the sun's ascent. The poet paints this into reality, into a love that really became a part of this poet's daily life, daily heartbeat. The pain here seems inevitable, yet the way the poet speaks the question of knowing about the pain is a tender and weak moment. The greatest sadness here is when I read how this love seemed to know, maybe from the start, that a break-up would come. Was it always doomed? The last two lines are incredibly thought-provoking, showing the strength of this speaker....I can't imagine watching someone slowly come to hate you. It leaves me with mystery. Whether the speaker fell in love yet fell too hard and relied on this person too much and if they themselves were their own downfall. Prosaic and well-versed emotions. Well done. (4)

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Nostalgia
by Senryu

This poem is going to divide opinion between the purists and the open minded. I almost didn't pick it. Stanza 2 needs work especially around lines 2 and 3 as the word 'yet' conflicts with line 3. There is a spelling mistake in stanza 1. Finally the layout of the whole piece needs work. I hate how line 3 seems to have been snapped off line 2, no natural break, but......

I have never been a purist.

(Can I be controversial? If there were better poems nominated this week, this wouldn't have scored.)

So why did I score it?

Imagery, there is some amazing imagery in this piece. 'fragrance of nostalgia', the contrast of 'cherry-blossoms' and 'blue skies'.
There is also a real sadness that grows as we are taken back into the memory banks of this young man. This ties in wonderfully with the whole concept and title of the poem.
There is a basis here of an exceptional poem.
Purists you are free to criticise my decision. (4)

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An Angel's Love
by Baby Rainbow

What I truly like in this poem is its inspirational message:" it was finally safe to love someone....".Sometimes we simply don't want to try again because we are afraid of love. After all, if a wound healing is achieved from four phases, imagine our hearts after a scar! But life does go on and all we can do is to turn our wounds in wisdom and move on. The fact is: everybody experiences the pain of love once or twice. However what tortures us is what connect us with people because nobody escapes this powerful feeling. Pain is always temporary, my lady. Well done!(4)
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Obsessive Dreams
by Poet behind the Poems

I read this quite a few times, and each time the poem became more intense and real to me. The way the author starts out made me picture an enjoyable summers day, with a child playing, basking in her innocence, enjoying her youth and completely unaware of the dangers that surrounded her.

The use of "Tiny hands" really struck a chord inside me. Whilst it's true there's too many horrors in this world, it is always made so much worse when something terrible happens to a child, especially a young one. And the way the author started off with such an enjoyable and somewhat hopeful tone, the atmosphere immediately changes to something dark and scary with just those two words.

The last stanza really gave me goosebumps. It allowed me to visualise a mother desperately searching for her child, breaking down when she realises her child is lost forever, and I can only imagine the pain and terror that would overwhelm the mother upon learning and realising all of this, and in so few words the author manages to portray so much emotion.
I liked the fact that the author switched, even temporarily, between the narrator, the child, and the mother. It allowed me to feel and see each individual emotion throughout.
The last line really was a perfect way to wrap up this chilling piece, because of course after something like this, there would never be any going back, at least for those people that were still somewhat sane.
Original, different, and something I enjoyed, even if it did give me the chills throughout. (4)

Congrats to the winners and HMs. Very creative choices.
Thanks to the judges and to Chelsey!
Happy New Year!

Thank you for my win, the comments are lovely judges, it means alot to me, rearing me up for the new year :)

Well done to all the other winners and HM's,

Happy New Year!

Yo..I got my tent out here

x0xx0 muah

Congratulations winners & HM's!!!

Congratulations winners and Hm's, beautiful poetry and Chelsey your awesome!

Happy New Year :-)