Cowboys & Jackaroos: Testimony of the Lawmen - Winners!

Cowboys & Jackaroos: Testimony of the Lawmen

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1 Here lies JD

Marshall I
I'm not much into these Western themes but I did enjoy the read. This one draws the reader with imagery as well as life of a person. I also like the rhyme scheme used for it leaves behind a flawless poetry as well as a smile in the end. It also made me think and nod, that it's those people who like the aged know the best medicine and in this case the best drink to quench a desert thirst! Nice write! (30)
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Marshall II
What an imaginative, fun, and creative poem! This poem scored high for it's awesomeness (no really, the rhyme and line breaks were pretty seamless) and poetic movement. I love the ten gallon hat, what would a western poem be without it? Well done! (44 points)
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Marshall III
Comment: I am not sure about this poem. I read it a lot; at one point it was something very different, At other times it just felt somehow incomplete. But then again, it is different.. I am not sure if lack or, in fact, the absence of punctuation is deliberate and purposed, However it did work for me. Reading it the 1st time, I was thrown off, By the lack of punctuation. Reading it over again, it just went flawless! The Jack Daniels like, made the whole difference. It was simply complementary. I actually loved it, PS, my favorite title. Total score: 39

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2 In Search of Inspiration

Marshall I
This poem I really liked. Now this has the Western flavor, food for the imagination and a story where the reader is left wanting for more. I like the opening lines, it leaves a mysterious scene which makes us want to know more. Its those same lines that end the poem which still leaves me in a mystery. There are some vivid lines that caught my attention for instance "my horse of thoughts", and "my imagination was the sheriff" It feels like a story of a young girl whose memories speak of her father- the moments, the sights the scenery and the feelings. At the same time this poem is very metaphorical; which makes me want to delve into each line and dissect it! All in all a thoroughly enjoyed read! (50)
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Marshall II
I thought this poem was pretty interesting - I liked the "bang" feeling I got from this, and also liked how it looked like you were searching for what you would write about in a Western style. I feel perhaps this theme of writing about not knowing what to write about has been done so often that you really have to change it up in order to make it amazing. I didn't care for the repetition of "he was like", either. The first stanza, as well as the 2nd (and next couplet after) was really, really well written and feel that could spin off into something truly amazing! (36 points)
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Marshall III
Comment: The opening stanza, just epic! I felt curious. And then throughout the poem I felt like I am a part of the story You are telling. I was not really keen of the "horse" metaphor, But the whole part was will knitted. The years into tears and sorrow reflection added a bit of Drama that I was strongly fond of. I just loved your touch in the "prose" and last stanza parts. I think this was brilliant, and also got to me! Well done. Total score: 45

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3 Kissing Gunpowder "slang poem"

Marshall I
While reading this all I could see is a young maiden with cowgirl attire singing away her thoughts and dreams in a western bar. Not sure why but that is the image I got and the read itself came out like a song. A cute read that has all the aspiration a young heart has. (35)
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Marshall II
Love this traditional little piece! I laughed my way through most of it truly because of the old fashioned slang (tobaccy). This was truly a joy to read. There's such a fightin' spirit/tone in this poem and I just love it! (40 points)
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Marshall III
Comment: This one made me smile. The slang form was courageous of you. I was fond of your style. The theme well portrayed, and the stanzas well connected. I love the usage of gunpowder and how you worked it all out to reflect That cowboy lifestyle. You did well in helping the reader visualize, your word choice. Total score: 38
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4 Multi horse town

Marshall I
I had to read this 2-3 times just to get the rhythm going I was also trying to figure out the title-multi horse town. This poem reminds me of Christmas time; maybe because of the starting "bells chiming 'neath the wind". Its like one of those Western themed nursery rhymes a parent would read to his/her child. A delightful read! (30)
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Marshall II
Points for adding a form to this to make it a bit edgier/difficult! I think it worked okay, though there were words left out to make the syllable count match (the dusty town line) and I wasn't overly fond of a line break (blaze/by). Otherwise I thought it was a great poem with a fun twist!! (38 points)
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Marshall III
Comment: loved it loved it loved it! I love the form, I love the style; the tone the wording and just The whole piece. I was fond of the title and the how related The concept and context were to it. One of the best poems portraying neatly the main theme! Well done Total score: 44

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5 Once Upon A Time

Marshall I
A heart breaking story/poem. I like the opening stanza and the image of an abandoned tree, naked branches and upon that turtle doves...so tender. Then the second stanza shoos away all that tenderness with a naïve child's mistake. Children always look up to their parents and try to be like them even before they grow up; in the process, innocence can get hurt and a child scared for life. Such a sad write which will make any parents' heart melt with sadness. (45)
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Marshall II
For whatever strange reason, this poem just works. I don't know why. My first read through, it felt out of place in a traditional western poem. Then I really dove into the poem and realized there was so much more beauty and message to this poem. It's beautiful in the chaos, beautiful in the sadness. So much heartbreak in the days of the west and this describes it beautifully. Children will always create the history of their parents like this as long as they don't know better. Beautifully written.(46 points)
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Marshall III
Comment: The closing phrase did the most impression for me. I love how you twisted it in the end. I do believe that many Could relate to it. However I think it was at one point a little bit cheesy. Nevertheless it was coherent and well written. Total score: 37

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6 Sam Smith

Marshall I
I felt like I was watching a movie here. Where the bullied comes out and faces the bad guys. Once and for all wanting to put an end to them. I like how the story unfolds and leaves the scene with the death of a hero...therein lies the sadness. This poem has the right ingredients for story telling..touching write. (48)
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Marshall II
The first half of this poem started out really strong, really interesting... and then it just kept going. It truly was more of a short story, and I will be honest, it took me several attempts to read through this poem completely. Sadly I don't feel like this was much of a "poem" at all. Reading the story itself it was interesting and definitely a Western, but unfortunately not enough to hold my interest. (35 points)
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Marshall III
Comment: This is a piece of art ! It was just totally exciting. It was actually fun to read, the length did not throw me off. I just loved the whole poem; it was more like a huge pack Of events chained together tidily. What I mostly loved about this poem was the twist in your narrative form. One of my favorites! Total score: 48

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7 We wear

Marshall I
We wear
paisley bandanas to protect
our bones from dust storms and
the rough midnight terrains
of legends, that still wail
on the ranch and prairies.
^^For real all I could see was the Lone Ranger and even Zorror! Laughable but that is what came to my mind when I was reading it! The second stanza really stood out for me especially with lines like "murders of the moon, silver blood on their manes" What an image to behold and the remaining stanzas that followed leaves a lump of sadness in the throat. But the final stanza though is what got me "take me instead to that hanging tree" I can feel the sacrifice of a parent as a last resort to save his son...moving write. (46)
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Marshall II
This poem is gorgeous. Another poem that has so many different elements combined! This poem literally paints me a picture and I absolutely love it. Very creative... and what I love most is how much it stands apart from the other poems. The ending to me feels as though the writer is saying to throw away the newness (pistol) and give them tradition (hanging) instead. Love that you can get so many different feels from this. (49 points)
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Marshall III
Comment: The poem as whole played the main theme well. However the images are disconnected at one point or the other; The usage of the simple present in your opening stanza "we wear", the "to protect" form, the "wail" did not get along well With the rest of your poem, starting with gerund "coming" which Reflected a different time zone. However putting that aside, I was in love with your tone through the poem. Loved the question in your 4rth stanza . Neat imagination. Good luck! Total score: 38

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8 West

Marshall I
Hmmm..this is something unusual- the scene here is very descriptive for it shows the colors, the mood and an overall atmosphere of a quiet country side where two people are hidden away and one of them taking in the beauty of this solitude time with love. It's inviting with a touch of romance in the end. Kind of like a clip from a movie or a script from a story. A nice read :) (47)
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Marshall II
Hands down, best poem of the group for me. You've got a mixture of romance, of beautiful setting, of the wild, wild west - what more can you ask for? What stole the show for me was the descriptive tone of the entire piece. Love the thought of wind jigsawing hair, thought that was incredibly creative. It could be my love for the west, but I thought this was an incredibly romantic poem, with that last stanza. Maybe a bit troublesome as the west can be, but filled with a huge story nonetheless. Favorite poem of the bunch! (50 points).
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Marshall III
Comment: This was just perfect by all means. I was in love in the whole scene. The poem is effortless. I did not want an end...perhaps you'd go for a part 2. Simple word choice, great flow. Loved the word choice so much. I can almost imagine 90 % Of the whole poem-scene-settings. Well done! Total score: 47

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DRUM ROLL
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And the Winners are:
1st Place Colm 8 West 47+50+47=144
2nd Place Poet on the Piano 7 We wear 46+49+38=133
3rd Place Tie Everlasting 2 In Search of Inspiration 50+36+45=131
3rd Place Tie Nicko 6 Sam Smith 48+35+ 48=131

Honorable Mentions:
Baby Rainbow 5 Once Upon A Time 45+46+37=128
Maple Tree 3 Kissing Gunpowder "slang poem" 35+40+38=113
Beautiful Soul 4 Multi horse town 30+38+44=112
Michael D Nalley 1 Here lies JD 30+44+39=111

Congrats colm. Thanks Larry for hosting this, was challenging but fun

Congrats! Great poems everyone.

To marshal #I, if you can dissect and understand the metaphors in my poem, then you'll figure out how I write my poems.

Thank you Judges and Mr. Larry for hosting this contest.

Congratulations Colm and Mary-Anne

Congrats Colm! Awesome entries and thank you Larry, for hosting, and for 2nd place. Had fun with this as it was something I hadn't done before :)

Congratulations Winners and HM's :)

Congrats all!

Congraaats ! Great entries!

Would Marshall l reveal him/her-self ?
I am really curious :P

^and Marshall II and Marshall III? I'm also really curious :P

The lawmen are free to ride off into the sunset or stick around & share a redeye with the locals.

Thanks everyone! Thanks Larry for hosting such a creative contest and for getting the poetic juices flowing :) Well done all who participated, some really interesting reads and of course thanks to the marshalls :)

I enjoyed writing the poem for this contest. I did read a book about Jack Daniel the business man that is remembered for his product . In the book it told how a slave of a preacher taught JD to run a batch of what has become to be known as Jack Daniel's finest.

I got to speak to one of the surviving members of the Jack Daniel's band at the Lynchburg funeral home the week Larry was inspired to run this contest Truth is stranger than fiction

http://www.lynchburgfuneralhome.com/obi.../Charles-Simmons-5/...

Charles Albert "Billy" Simmons

October 29, 1928 - November 20, 2014

Obituary for Charles Albert "Billy" Simmons
Billy Simmons age 86 of Moore County passed away Thursday November 20, 2014 at his residence. A native of Moore County he was the son of the late Finis Roy Simmons and Nora Smith Simmons. He was a Guitarist and Music Teacher. Mr. Simmons was a US Army Veteran, loved music, playing the guitar and spending time with his grandchildren.

Lol well I was one of the judges (III), but I was wondering about the 1st judge because we had almost similar evaluations/scoring of the entries.

Awwwwwwwwwwww Congratulations everyone!! Colm, everlasting and MaryAnne!

this was a challenging contest I might add... it was fun for me to write!

Thank you Marshals and Larry :-)

Congrats all! This was hard. I was Marshall 2.