Contest Winners- March 18, 2013

Hey all! :) Hope you all had a wonderful (safe) St. Patty's weekend! Once again I'd like to say congrats to our winners and all our Hm's....some gorgeous pieces highlighted this week!

In Memoriam
by: Karla- 7 + 7 = 14

Lamented
by Lebanese Phoenix- 7 + 4 = 11

Blue January (A Voice for the Voiceless)
By Lostlove1- 10 + 4 = 14

HM'S:

Vagues d'Amour
by Hellon (10)

Down Here
by Antithesis (10)

32-48-22
by: Dawn (10)

Visit from the Dragonfly
By Maple Tree (10)

On the Wings of an Angel
By Meena Krish (7)

Leather chains of a Raven Heart
by Maple tree (7)

Fade
By: Linda leavers (4)

Inferno
by: Real meaning (4)

Maniaphobia: Method to Madness
by Myonlymoon (4)

WINNER COMMENTS:

In Memoriam by: Karla

The moments of complete openness in this poem soften my heart immediately....they are almost intimate moments where the poet is finally facing and staring the truth right back in the eye. I really was moved by this line: "I know I made you happy: your words always embraced me carefully." I absolutely experience tenderness here, almost as if he is acting as the safeguard to someone fragile, but that this woman has given him also a chance to enveloped in happiness. I thought the little dialogue in the fourth stanza added so much to the piece, and it's something I ask of myself. I think we are called to love, whatever form of it there is... and surviving is sometimes all there is we can do and hold onto. I literally got chills at the end of this write, when the poet spoke of how this man had confided in her that he wanted a fast funeral. Only 20 minutes. And in that short time the poet has this realization that she can't be as happy with him gone. Very somber yet brimming with a love so beautiful. What a dedication. (7)
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In Memoriam
by Karla

The melancholic tone in your words just killed me. This piece speaks of deep sadness and emotions, and it really showed me how much this person meant to you. What he was in your life, and how you both loved each other. The part where those questions of how love many times someone can love or how to survive after love was gone, this part was so heartfelt and especially when you mentioned the things you failed to tell him that made my heart ache. Sometimes time steals away moments from us that we never get to redeem again... (7)
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Lamented
by Lebanese Pheonix

There's nothing much to say about this poem, because quite frankly I don't know how to describe the impact it has made on me, surely there's a lot of power packed into those few words. To me it's fascinating to see the words "tranquil" (reminds me of quietness, perhaps not being noticed) versus "mascara" (reminds me of glamour, something that makes people notice you). But also the shock that their faces are tranquil WHILE wearing make-up, as if it does nothing to them (almost normal). And I believe the poet is right in criticizing that. He did so in a very effective manner too, interesting that it's in the form of a question instead of statement. (7)
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Lamented
by Lebanese Phoenix

This Senryu spoke of something we seem to often see in this generation. As if now they are hiding who they really are under tones and tones of cosmetics. I loved the wonderment at the end of it, as if you are not asking but actually like you said in your title you are lamenting the condition in which they have reached. (4)
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Blue January (A voice for the voiceless)
by Lostlove1

Firstly as a judge I have the right to ignore the '2' missing apostrophes in this piece, I shall also turn a blind eye to the excluded hyphen I am going to give it 10 points anyway. Now onto why.....
I love the opening stanza, it doesn't apologise in its dark content. Although it is describing a miracle of nature, it is pre warning us that this is not going to be an easy poem. Then the plucking of roses reference fulfils that promise, that was an excellent analogy. But it is the next stanza that does it for me, the cut like limbs from family trees, awesome but to then take us further, telling us what potential this little being could have had is also perished. Looking beyond the here and now. Very clever to describe them as twigs. It gets more poignant as it continues with the mention of birthdays and names etc. A great write that has looked at a very sad subject matter and written it from a different perspective. (10)
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Blue January (A Voice for the Voiceless)
By Lostlove1

This piece tore at my heart... I love the words that were chosen in the writing of this, and although it is a sad and emotional write it is so beautifully written. (4)
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HM COMMENTS:

Vagues d'Amour
by Hellon

The title itself took me to another time, like Paris in the fifties (like I saw it in movies) it had this lovely sense in it.

The word choice was perfect for this piece, you managed to draw a picture of love in such an elegant way. It flowed like a river; smoothly to take you into another place.

"love meets heart
to become
a tsunami..."
The way you choose to end this piece was breathtaking, the metaphor of how love meeting the heart would result in a tsunami just blew my mind. Its like the moment love was introduced into their life everything was never the same again.
Such a wonderful piece. (10)
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Down Here
by Antithesis

What I found interesting about this piece is its different images: both modern and (dare I say) classical/antique, but above all, the TRUTH they portray. While diverse, I thought they were very relatable, to the extent that one could easily be sucked into its emotions while one would almost forget it's a social poem they're reading. It's the repetition that keeps the reader alert to its message. There's something magical about being brought into trance by a poem just to be awoken by the same poem. In the beginning, "down here" had some hints of "hell", despite the many everyday images. It's still a pleasant surprise to find out in the last line contains a twist, telling the reader that "down here" is in fact "earth". Reminds me of a quote (though not really related to the message of the poem, perhaps even slightly the opposite): "what makes earth feel like hell is our expectation that it should feel like heaven". Just thought I'd share, mainly because the poem made me think (and wander off to that quote). (10)
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32-48-22 by: Dawn

The introductory lines automatically caught me....it makes me think this man is almost glorified I guess, or highly esteemed by this woman, and though may not have completely perfect skills as a human, he has a almost recognizable beauty that could be called perfection. I can't imagine watching a man you admire or maybe even loved with someone else- content. The pain the poet etches in their lines takes my breath away. Also, the understanding in this poem takes me into this author's mind, how she is probably sure she doesn't regret moving on and not looking back, but that her past is still something so empty. Will she be able to grow from it? The I absolutely adored how the poet tied in time changing and passing on so quickly with the locker combination, like life itself has been moving too fast to give one the proper chance to catch up, take a deep breath, and be who they truly are. A flawless flow and the emotion interwoven in each line is so strong here, I like how the poet separated a few lines and let herself be honest with herself and the viewers.... the poet has a voice that does not just sit there but talks to the reader as if we never knew what was going on but now enter into the glimpse of what she's feeling. Captivating piece! (10)

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Visit from the Dragonfly
By Maple Tree

The title drew me in and in knowing what the dragonfly symbolizes I just knew it would be an emotional piece. And I was right... The opening stanza alone speaks of heart ache and it continues through. There is so much of life and love to hold on to, but when you know in the end you will lose your best friend, your soul mate and all the pleading in the world cannot change that fact, its just heartbreaking.

I'll hold him until the dragonfly
takes his soul to the clouds

^^This ending stanza was perfect and is what brought me to tears (10)
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On the Wings of an Angel
By Meena Krish

Love the title, it truly fits the description of a mom. As children I don't think we really see what mom's do for us until we grow older, especially when we have children of our own. This write speaks volumes of how a mom loves from the day we are born until the day we pass... very powerful and well written. (7)
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Leather chains of a Raven Heart
by Maple tree

As I would expect from Andrea we have a little poem that is jam packed and stuffed full of clever imagery. It is no surprise to see so many of her poems nominated. This is a great example of her ability to nit sadness and nature together. There is clever sub references in each stanza, we start with the opening stanza, she describes to us that she is no gossip, she would never be seen as two faced. Then in two she obviously bites her tongue a lot, for it has swollen, yet here we can sense she is starting to feel her real worth, then three shows that she knows she needs to fly, yet her spirit and confidence has been broken, The final two offer us two possible outcomes without finishing the tale. Does she leave or does she die? I love the dark imagery throughout it helps with the sadness, but this wouldn't be a maple tree poem without a scattering of nature.
Nice piece. (7)
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Fade
By Linda Leavers

Worth 4 points of anybodies money, just for the 'pretzled' legs imagery. But seriously this nature poem oozes note only fine imagery in every line but you can almost taste touch and smell each detail. That is the real art and craft of writing a nature poem and Linda takes us right into her 'monet'
There is some fantastic detail, the sand reference not only tells us what it looks like, she shows us how it feels, then the use of 'reflection' which is empowered by the use of 'shimmers' and 'sparkles'
every analogy and point is hit home with great descriptive narrative.
Awesome job Linda (4)
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Inferno by: Real meaning

I really enjoyed the thought put into this piece, it was reflective for me in the entirety of thinking of love as that healing remedy. I do believe whatever wounds we hold whether internal or external can divide our spirit and our minds.....however love can make whole
what we never dreamed could be. I love the poet's simplicity and almost prophetic attitude here. Lovely format, especially with the small things the poet did like "THE music that mends". When I think of fire, I don't always immediately match it with destruction, for love can spread like wildfire. Those closing lines greatly spoke to me and the relevance between this inferno and love is wonderful. (4)
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Maniaphobia: Method to Madness
by Myonlymoon

First stanza truly grabbed my attention, well-written and unique description of "being somewhere else with your mind" too. What stood out to me was the structure of this poem, and how it affected the pace. During the last lines of every stanza, the enjambment forced me to "slow" down and I thought that that, along with the repeated line, created a special effect. As I read on the stanza seemed to slowly go less "poetic", more casual/raw, perhaps. Not sure if I like it but I can appreciate the attitude ("spoil the plot" really had something fierce to it, somewhat unexpected but nice). (4)
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Congratulations to Connie, Karla, and Abed on very beautiful poetry selections this week! Congrats to the Hms and thank you judges for my lovely comments on both pieces.. I truly appreciate them :-)

Congratulations to the winners, and all the HM's, some really beautiful writes highlighted this week.

:)

Congratulations to the winners as well as the HMs.

Thanks for all five judges & Chelsey. Good work!

Congrats to the winners & HM's!!! Such beautiful poems this week :]

Thanks for the HM, judges. :-* muah!

Congratulations everyone! This week was extremely good!<3

Hey yo, thanks for the HM. :)

Grats to all!

Thanks Judges. That poem means a lot to me. February was a hard month.
Congrats my dear friends: Connie and Abed. I am very happy to share the front board with you two.
WTG Kite Runners!

Congrats Connie Karla and Abed,

plus all the HM's

some really good stuff this week.

Wow I really am surprised!

Congrats Lp and Karla and all the Hms.

And thanks also to the judges whom this poem touched :)

Congrats to the winners and other hms. Thank you judge for the brilliant comment you gave my poem...very much appreciated.

Congrats to the winners and HMs Thank you for the HM.

I'm surprised my Senryu has won! I wanted to see Jordan's poem instead, but... thanks anyway, judges, for your great insights :)
I was inspired by a girl who was in my school. She is young and beautiful, but all of her profile pictures are concealed with make up and powder, so she looks like some model in a child's skin, which stinks for real!

Congrats Connie & Karla & HMs.

Congrats Connie, Karla, Abed and HMs:)