Weekly Contest Winners - 06/07/2015

Good morning and good evening PnQers. It's the start of a new term and as we bid farewell to our previous set of judges, I'd like you to welcome aboard our new set of dedicated members who will be here for numerous weeks bringing you your weekly winners!

We only had three of our five judges vote this week. It can always be a little bit confusing as to when the new term begins, so I'm sure we will have all five judges next week. As you will see from below our three judges were quite split on their decisions.

You'll notice that we had two clear winners with 10s, however it seems that after I had went to bed last night another 10 was voted. I am unclear as of yet if one of our absent judges may have voted or if it was in fact one of those phantom votes you've all heard so much of. I'll get back to you! However, for now lets celebrate the winners of the front page: The Poet Behind the Poems, Maple Tree and Ben Pickard and of course Effusive who may also deserve to be up there too. Apologies for any confusion and if you'd like to shoot me, go ahead. - Mel

VOTES:

The angel by The Poet Behind the Poems 10
Not Another Word by Maple Tree 10
Abandoned Station by Effusive 10
Snowflakes Would Fall (Icy Shards) by Ben Pickard 4 + 4 = 8
You Don't See Me by Rings of Poetry AKA Naughtymouse 7
Wild Stitches by Britt 7
Spider Behind the Mirror by Larry Chamberlin the Godfather 7
Join The World And Be Free by Ben Pickard 4 Points

COMMENTS:

An angel
by The Poet Behind The Poems

The poems all deserved mention this week ,but this one just happened to touch me and remind that joy and sorrow are one in the greater scheme of life (10)

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You Don't See Me
by Rings of Poetry AKA Naughtymouse

This poem reached me on a spiritual level not that I could not relate to it on so many levels from varying personifications (7)

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Snowflakes Would Fall (Icy Shards)
by Ben Pickard

I don't think I got the full meaning of this dark poem in one reading, but I was blown away by the structure and several profound lines (4)

It's been a long time since a poem with a rhyme scheme has caught my attention, but this one did.

Winter is my favourite season so the immediate use of snowflakes made me smile; despite the sad tone of this poem. "So in tune with all that was wrong." and "But revel in saying "goodbye" How often do we find ourselves doing the wrong thing even though we should know better? How often do we find it so easy to close ourselves off from people and wish to be alone in our misery? Very relatable for the reader.

The last verse happens to be my favourite simply due to the imagery forged within the last few lines. The despondency is ever present throughout the piece and allows the reader to step into the authors mind for a moment and experience their state of hopelessness. Lovely write. (4)

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Not Another Word
by Maple Tree

Simply beautiful.
The adamant refusal to write another word within the opening really piqued my interest as we usually find poets struggling to find the words to write and a way to release them; not refusing to let them out. Particularly liked how Andrea stated her thoughts were dying and waiting to be grieved and followed this up with the use of the words being suffocating in their selves.

There's such sadness in the part of being a stranger to her own feelings. I feel like she's lost and desperately trying to find her way back to herself but doesn't know how because as she says she is trapped in her own mind.

It was the last three lines that stood out the most to me. She's alive but only surviving; not existing. Just struggling to get through each passing day and void of any emotion other than feeling like inside she's already dead.

So much despair and sorrow within this write whilst being exquisitely crafted. (10)

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Wild Stitches
by Britt

Love the usage of calloused palms and raw fingers here. Combined with stitches being uneven; it makes me think that this girl has had some rather painful experiences to overcome in her past. Maybe even events that she is still struggling with given they're uneven, but Britt doesn't let us know what they are and leaves it open to the imagination.

Particularly fond of the next verse. It reminds me of the phrase money can't buy you happiness. It doesn't matter that these patterns are made of gold and worth a lot, her life experiences are worth far more even though they may not be apparent to those around her.

The closing question makes me ponder on the meaning of life. How all those tiny moments create our past and present and will shape our future too. How just a small seemingly insignificant event can alter the course of our lives. Thought provoking piece here and seductively penned. (7)

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Abandoned Station by Effusive (10 Points)

I came across this poem and I stopped at the title. Even before reading the poem I could already see, smell and even feel the ambiance of the place. I was drawn into this piece immediately.
When everything is gone, and you go to visit the trails that are left behind. How sad it is to find the remnants of what used to be, thats when nostalgia hits you the most and soon you are filled with melancholy.

" When people leave
they always take the paints with them
though the canvas remains"
^^
Those were my favorite lines. It is so true that when someone leave they take with them everything they are and just leave behind the empty spaces that once were filled with life because they existed in them.
This poem will always have a special place in my heart, it moved me in a way I never thought a poem would do...

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Spider Behind the Mirror by Larry Chamberlin the Godfather (7 Points)

This poem became a favorite of mine right away. It gave me a sense of adaptation, we can always coexist with others id we were smart and patient enough to understand and see them for who they are.
As for the progression of the poem I specifically liked the way it was narrated, its true that at the first glance anybody would easily try to get rid of the web together with its host, but to try and keep it just to see how it reacts and adjusts to its surroundings make me see a side of the poet that shows who he is as a person. And I was glad how he build an adoration for the the little visitor. Lovely piece!

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Join The World And Be Free by Ben Pickard (4 Points)

The pictures and emotions portrayed in this poem are so strong and vivid. The fact that the writer saw the strength in her and was encouraging her to break free from whatever it is that was imprisoning her I found it inspiring. Some people fail to see their inner beauty or strength, they needed a hand to guide them, to show them that the world is beautiful, that life is beautiful!

Congrats to the clear winners. Thanks for the judges who voted. Thanks Mel for posting.

Especially thanks to the judge for the perceptive comment!

Congratulations to all the nominees - and sorry that there is any confusion, this week. Effussive's effort is entirely worthy of a place on the winners' board. But still, our poetry isn't primarily about winning - let's not lose sight of what's important - the poetry itself, and there have been some lovely pieces this week. so well done to all.
Ben

Congrats winners & HM's! Thank you judge for the HM. I so appreciate the thoughtful comment.

Thanks judges & Melpo!

Congratulations Winners and Hm's!!! really great pieces and thank you judges and Mel :)

Congrats, everyone! Big welcome to the new judges, thank you, and a thank you to Mel as well!

Well done Everyone.

I want to just say again how sorry I am for the confusion in this weeks contest. I have removed my poem which seemed to be the subject of so much speculation as Effussive should have been a clear winner.
I hope genuinely that there is no more confusion with the voting as it's not been pleasant to receive a message a week later telling me mine was the subject of a fraudulent vote.
Congratulations to the winners and a special congrats to Effussive.
Ben

I can affirm the poem that got my vote

Snowflakes Would Fall (Icy Shards)
by Ben Pickard

I don't think I got the full meaning of this dark poem in one reading, but I was blown away by the structure and several profound lines (4)

I was just filling in for someone else

I don't understand if it was a fraudulent vote they would have voted 10... To make sure the poem which won was that one.. Even if yours poem ben shouldn't of won... The fact you got lower points then the one that should of won seems more of a mistake... Not fraudulent.

I believe Ben is very honorable to have eliminated the result as he has. I am sure I speak for all the mods when I say that we don't believe Ben did anything wrong. Instead, he and Effusive were both victimized by someone who cast an unauthorized "10" vote for his poem.

The casting of an unauthorized vote by someone not a judge or mod, is by its very nature fraudulent, not a mistake; that does not impugn Ben. Twice before we have faced this and each time the poet voluntarily deleted their own entry and resubmitted it. The integrity of the weekly contest has therefore been preserved.

Unfortunately, until Janis returns, we won't know who has cast these votes; it takes his owner-programmer access to determine that answer. In the meanwhile, we counteract glitch votes. This time, with the first week of the new judge term and confusion by some judges as to when their term began, it slipped by.

I understand but how does someone cast a vote with out being a mod or a judge...???

It's one of those things. What's nice, is that I genuinely believe the right result came about anyway. Efussive's effort was the worthy winner, as above. These things happen, but it's the poetry that's the most important thing. I don't want issues like this staining what a great site this is and how great the contest winners are. Let's all move on - tomorrow will bring three new winners anyway!
All the best,
Ben