Weekly Contest Winners 9-30-13

Well, that was stressful, haha.

Chelsey made hosting look easy, but the level of organizational skills required to make sure the correct poems wind up on the front page, and the correct order of copy-pasting and reorganization of how comments are sent by judges... let me just say, it's harder than I thought :) ...and that's with all of 5 of the judges submitting their comments and votes early!! (Thank youuuu, judges, you're awesome!)
Now that I'm done, and hopefully I didn't screw up, I'm pleased to announce three deserving winners this week, and plenty of equally deserving honorable mentions.

The Huntress achieved an overwhelming 37 points for her poem, "The Art of Reminiscence," and managed to pull off an honorable mention as well for "On Boosting Egos." Congratulations, poet!
Congratulations are also in order for Armada the Gestalt, who achieved 17 points for the poem, "Terracotta Heap," and for Robin A Walter for his place among the winners with, "Insomniac Mutterings." Jobs well done, poets.

Thanks, judges, for making this not as difficult as it could have been. I'm blown away by the length of some of these comments. Wowza!

Without further ado, here's what our lovely judges had to say---->

WINNERS:

The Art of Reminiscence
by The Huntress

"This poem was full of desperation. In the beginning stanzas, I was hit with this intimacy you had and clung to, how you would marvel at the tragedies in the world and death- yet your love did not have this end.

Fantastic imagery in the next few stanzas with the significance of Christmas, buying that gift and almost making those dreams a more tangible reality. I liked the connection with Christmas here... it made it more sorrowful, especially since it isn't Christmastime yet and that warmth and love that is supposed to be each year has not approach.

Beautifully written, eloquent yet instills in me a true sense of something lost. Good part about "natural etiquette"- I could picture that easily, all too withdrawn and polite.

You make this piece so relatable to others who have been abandoned in a relationship, but without being cliche, over-dramatic, or stating the obvious in a thoughtless way. You provoke thought here, simply at times, other times with specific references that tug at the heart. The ending line then stressed your choice to do this yet the after effects. How even if it may have run its course or you had your freedom to do as you wish, there is still memory and its pain." (7)

"Another rich, cunningly-woven tapestry of a poem by The Huntress. I especially like how she incorporates modern objects like smart phones and into her poems. There is a trend in this website to always write in a seemingly "classical" way about love, life and nature, and this often means that the dominant details about the realities of living and love in our current age and society - such as digital photos, skype, facebook, mobile phones, iPads, etc - aren't being represented...as if mentioning them might corrupt or de-romanticise the poetry. This simply isn't true. The Huntress has a unique contemporary style that is often laden with emotion and cryptic clues... but this poem gets the balance just about right." (10)

"To begin with, I did find the title good and it didn't worded more like a sad poem but something artistic and the poem did made use of artistic words, beautiful places and so you did great with the title. The poem's content is like a story and among the familiar ones of love which fails and the way life goes on for both of them. What I liked about the poem is the beauty of imagery you brought about with the words. The sequence of events from two lovers immersed in love to the distance and then parting always is beautifully crafted. I am amazed at the picturization of the first stanza- it shows sheer love and great lovely moments with a touch of uniqueness. Sorrow creeped in with the stanzas which followed and the mention of places added much reality to the sadness. The final stanza is very heart touching. Its really difficult for one to listen his past love interest talk with happiness and show radiance in his words while talking about his current love. And the final line "I can't help but ache for becoming old news. " was truly heartbreaking and a perfect end to a sad poem. I must say this poem is unusually sad and heartbreaking and a perfect example of the author's amazing writing skills." (10)

"A beautiful, heartfelt poem that captures a readers interest by her relatable sadness, the Huntress has wowed her audience with imagery. She not only takes us on a poetry journey, but an actual one, with specific places, helping us bring the feel of the poem to life. I also really love the layout of this poem, the lengthy(er) lines and thick stanzas, not something we see all the time here on the site. The Huntress has a really amazing way of using everyday language in her poetry, but giving it a lining of sophistication... it's shown here in the second stanza for me, which held most of the promise and feeling for me in this poem. I have read this several times and find something new and heartfelt each time I read it. Wonderful write!" (10)

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Terracotta heap
by Armada the Gestalt

"This was a refreshing piece for me to read. Throughout this poem I was thinking of this person in a complex manner, as if their relationship with you is not something simply "human", rather more metaphorical and intricate. Near the end I was also wondering if you were expressing your feelings toward a certain city that you loved, gave time to, but that eventually decayed. I also liked the different structure/format of this piece. I feel like you made this poem have your own independent, eerie voice in the sense that some things still remain vague to the reader... but you express the imagery and emotion.

There was a struggle in this piece for me. Like you are afraid to be disappointed or left behind, you want these words to be directed toward you, and in a way it is this stark contrast to wanting to live your own life. I thought the yellow lights could also symbolize caution and how you dream of entwining yourself in this life, almost losing yourself. Such a entrancing poem with fresh ideas. The title made me also think of a "fallen city" you want to restore or be a part of its foundation. Great work!" (10)

"Not very familiar with this writer and have mixed feelings about this piece. On the one hand, I don't have a clue what's going on and that always frustrates me. On the other hand, I still feel a connection with the words, I can imagine them and I want to follow them again. Surely, that should be the main achievement of any poetry. Here, I see a natural rhythmic style, some clever phrasing and repetition, and neat delivery. This person knows how to place one ordinary word next to another to create trembling whispers and churning roars." (7)

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Insomniac Mutterings
by Robin A Walter

"The way this poem is written twists my tongue and makes me see the words blurry and dancing, as they are written weirdly in a rhythm - off rhythm way which makes me feel like an insomniac muttering in my half-sleep (numb mind, open eyes) looking at the ceiling as it begins to dance and fade.

The feelings in this poem are strong and I could feel the helplessness in the poets voice as he tries to sleep. I could feel the pain, and remember myself trying to sleep on a sleepless night and then looking at the clock remembering that there is a new day coming in just a few minutes (which seem endless) and my body still aches for sleep. The poet has captured all those feelings through his poem as he describes the three stages of the night for an insomniac in three stanzas (wanting to sleep but having too many thoughts, thinking about sleep and how tired you are, waiting for morning because you just gave up and are content with just lying there).

I also like how the last line in every stanza contain the same words in different order, which is perfect for showing the progression of time in this poem. It is also refreshing instead of just repeating the same line." (10)

HONORABLE MENTIONS:

Sometimes
by ddavidd

"This poem gets a vote for having unmistakable beauty in it. The first stanza and the first half of the second stanza tore at my heart and I felt a golden awareness from them. The last stanza lost it for me. I have noticed that ddavidd has started to use liberal rhyme quite a bit this year - sometimes this works, but mostly it feels forced or excessive and mars the potential purity of his intent." (4)

"There are a few things I didn't LOVE about this poem, and that's why I gave it a 4 and not a higher score, but felt it still had importance enough to land itself on the front page, or at least an HM. "Sometimes your hand is searching for something
while you heart is clinging on nothing." Those first two opening lines wowed me -- I think ever writer/poet will be able to relate to this. Sometimes we long to write what we want our heart to feel, or even to use as therapy and release the emotion, but we can't. It's a desire we all feel at some time and get so lost. These first two lines made me stop and think about so many different things, it was truly an amazing couplet. I love the images of wisdom blank, yet reveries full of movement, loudness, "big"-ness. The first stanzas really makes me feel a sense of disconnect from your head/heart. The last half of your second stanza, while the content was good, I wasn't fond of the layout. I felt it too choppy for the rest of the poem, unless you wanted it read with much more intensity.. which could work really well, but with how I was reading the above stanza, I didn't feel intensity, but longing. I'd be very interested to know the intent from the author. I thought the use of chops was a little different and maybe off-putting for the rest of the stanza, but I do absolutely love that last stanza. I think it wrapped it all up well. There are a few grammatical things such as lack of punctuation that I feel could really help with the flow/reading of this poem, but overall I really, really enjoyed this piece!" (4)

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On boosting egos
by The Huntress

"It is hard to point a finger at exactly what this poem means! It could be a reference to being a shopaholic. It may be something about how we sometimes get things we don't need because of what people say. It may be about people who get things they don't like because they want to seem better (richer, more stylish.. etc). It may emphasize the effect of media on us as consumers. Nevertheless, I am voting for it because it carries an important message and the writer done it so vividly that the message is emphasized not the situation.

The message of course is that possessions don't change who we are, and that we shouldn't be afraid to show others the real us. The scene that the poet painted was so broad that it could contain any of the situations above and even more, making it easy for each person to put themselves in that situation.

"It's not yet winter and we're already hunting for wool" < I can feel the anxiety here, how the market works by making us hurry to get things before we need them because offers don't last and fashion demands our immediate action, otherwise we're stuck with last season's fashions. I like the start, it makes the heart race and memories of things we bought before-hand and regretted come to mind.

"for wool,
if not cotton" < showing the effect of media, showing what's "in season" and how people react

"clothes layer as much in closets as they would upon skin"< true, we don't always buy what we need, saying it this way makes the reader feel guilty and we can see how things go to waste. The next line clarifies this and helps the reader see that there are others in this world who need the things we don't, or it could mean that we don't use the things we have although we need them because we can't find them.

The rest of the poem shows the effect of others and words, how they make us feel and how we strive to get approval from others, to seem the best. The final three lines show greediness, how things can never satisfy our self image, how no matter what we do we can never be "the best" in the eyes of everyone.

Well written, and very exciting to read as thoughts are clarified with every re-read." (7)

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Payback (The Play)
by Baby Rainbow

"I feel this is the first playwright I have read in here and as a unit, it is truly amazing. The thoughts are properly put up and the words perfectly penned. More descriptive and a complete imagery to bring in for the readers. A thorough act of sorrow and the rising of happiness from it is what was portrayed in this piece. The narration is clear and so is the girl- the victim's life aptly penned. Every scene is properly incorporated to depict the stages of life and how an innocent was victimized who then urged to search for truth and a life which she once lived. The entire journey is very nicely portrayed. The ending is very nicely penned. Great applauds to the author for being so different in thinking in terms of writing and bringing up a strong story which radiates out true hope and wisdom." (7)

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Lost Rills - Kwansaba
by Lonely Rider

"HELLO something different! I've never heard of this form before, and was so pleased to be introduced to it in such an awesome way! It's really an interesting one, the 7's and how particular it is, but I wouldn't have even noticed the words had to be less than 7 letters, she pulled it off so well. The first line absolutely had me from the get-go, I loved the soft/internal rhyme and the use of 'sultry'.. that first line had it all for me and I knew I was about to enjoy it. This poem is also so jam-packed with descriptive imagery that it's filling my senses! There is such a softness to this nature poem 'lofty woods', 'murky skies', 'lush meadows', I feel like I should be reading this in a soft whisper-like tone. A pleasant surprise, and I may try this form soon! Beautiful!!" (7)

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Brucken [Bridges]
by Britt

"Interesting usage of the German words; I liked how they weren't unimportant words but played a huge part in the truth of this relationship. You do have a certain style in which you write, with simplicity and brevity yet still conveying depth, and you have done so once again in this poem.

There was a maturity and realization I found here in your voice. This person's settlement affirmed the fact that these pathways are no longer ones you will be walking across. I loved the actual naming of the country and city, as well as saying "our streets", such as saying this person is not a member anymore, no longer contribution to anything good.

Lots of depth in this piece and it flowed beautifully, the reader could understand how close this person was as well as what you have realized from crossing their paths." (4)

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Counting Stars
by Baby Rainbow

"The ending of this poem is what got me. It's so full of hope and positive thinking, which is different from most "break up" poems. I like how the poet's thoughts escalate throughout the poem, how looking onto a starry sky can stimulate the emotions and create a bond between man and nature. This helps create the image and recreate the scene with the reader.

I like how it is also linked to the psychology of break ups and how to overcome them. The poet seems powerful from the inside as she manages to swerve her thinking so strategically and fast, how she can turn a disadvantage into a battle of feelings. This helps give others who have been through a break up gain their power, by using the same strategy, or something similar." (4)

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Palindrome - Untamed Words
by Lonely Rider

"It is great to read a formed poetry, especially such tough ones and make them so meaningful and amazingly worded despite following the rules of the poetic form. This is an awesome attempt. The arrangement of words amazes me as it makes sense either ways. I am more an imagery person and this provided me with the sadness instilled within a relation with a touch of beautiful words. Truly heartbreaking poem." (4)

Nice start, Jane.
You're right, Chelsey made it look easy, as did nana before her.

Congratulations, winners & HMs

THANK YOU judges!

Congrats to everyone

Congrats and thanks to all!

To the judge who commented on my poem, thank you so very much.. that comment meant the world to me

I hate you judges for not choosing me every weeks haha you are not inspired enough I guess.
but thank you for even reading my poems,
never mind mentioning them, for I do not bargain;
for bargaining is not what I bargain for.
So thank you for nothing that yet is everything.
This goes two times for Everlasting!!

If you understand my metaphor
you will grasp what I stand for

Congrats winners and HMs

Great work and thanks to all involved with judging... The Huntress sure took the lead there!

Congrats winners & HM's!

Congratulations to the winners,

and also thank you judges for those comments. I will be reading them all pretty soon.

Ddavidd, you're welcome, though I am not sure why.
and you stand for real meaning?

Congrats Winners and HMs:)

Why?? because you inspire me, how solid your soul is!!
You go around and nominate the most un- famous poets without trying to appeal to the halo of prominence in this site, every week. You nominate me , ((you and Hellon)) regardless of the fact that I have never nominated, never mind that, even acknowledged your works which are so creative. And that tells me how independent your judgment is and the strength of your personality.
I am sure the the real meaning is always going to find you .

Congrats to all and thank you, judges!

Thank you to our judges! I'm glad we have you on board.

Congratulations to the Winners & HM's, very deserving.

Thanks for taking care of the contest this week, Jane.

Well done winners and judges :)

Congratulations winners and HMs.
@Judges - thank you so much for the wonderful comments :D I am so glad you liked my poems :)

Well done to the winners! And also the HM's too. xxx

Thank you judges for the comments on my poems. xxxx