Weekly contest winners 17/8/2015

Thanks to all the judges for the continued great work! Some good poems on show this week, with varied genres and styles represented which is always nice to see! Keep up the great writing PnQ'ers :)

Winners:
Thyme - by Melpomene - 10 + 10 + 10
For Aeons Spent - by Kakera - 7 + 10
Harmony - by Larry Chamberlin - 7 + 7

HM's
Dark Mistress (Parts I,II and III) - by Ben Pickard - 7 + 4
I flicked an ant - by Darren - 10
Skeletons Rattle - by Ssevevol - 7
Denial Set Free - by Baby Rainbow - 4
Newborn - by Cassie Hughes - 4
Sleepless Eyes - by alexdapoet - 4
True Love 2015 (Senryu) - by Ingrid de Klerck - 4

***COMMENTS***

Winners:
Thyme - by Melpomene - 10 + 10 + 10

Comment 1: You are a GENIUS! And this poem went straight to my favorites even before I got a chance to write this comment. I think I read it so many times I could narrate it back. The idea of using a herb in the title as well as use it as a metaphor and a way to deliver your feelings is refreshing (just like the herb you chose). Yes, everything needs time to blossom, time to heal, and time to understand. And in those lines you wrote, I found elegance and beauty in the words, and the emotional part of it was so touching. Loved it beyond what words could describe. (10)

Comment 2: I'm always excited to see a new poem from Mel and she certainly didn't disappoint with this one. I liked the short first line; the fact it focused solely on last winter and then broke to the next verse shows how important that time was to her.
"Buried clockwork in my stomach." This is one of the reasons that I love Mel's work. She easily finds unique phrasing and plants it so effortlessly into her poems.
"You knew it would take patience for me to love you, " Favourite part of the poem. This suggests to me she has been hurt in the past and is careful to let her guard down and to love others easily. The spacing and breaks here work wonderfully and emphasise the patience needed.
I enjoyed the subtle mention of this person was in fact healing her, by placing herbs inside of her and thought it was a nice throwback to the earlier mention of the apple blossom being placed on her wounds. I thought that was, again, very nicely phrased and something different to what I usually see in this regard.
Love this. (10)

Comment 3: This poems creativity is what makes it worthy of a front page win. The use of herbs and essential oils and seasonings and well, things in the cupboard to describe emotions is not anything I've ever seen before. Really the best part of this, it makes sense! The play on words with thyme is terrific and clearly what the poem is centered around and I just thought it was brilliant. Very talented write. (10)

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For Aeons Spent - by Kakera - 7 + 10

Comment 1: I have entirely too much to say about this piece, but will make it brief. Truly, I have never seen a sad poems tone be this heartbreakingly beautiful. It almost had an old English tint to it. There's a huge part of me that wants to skip commenting on the structure, the wording, what makes this poem worthy of a win, and just comment on the subject, so I will do just that. Death is incredibly hard to pen, pain is hard to pen, goodbyes are hard to pen. This here was done without a single flaw. With almost a sweetness to it. Perhaps the pet names played into that in some stanzas.
I just feel so attached this piece for the style and the subject you expressed your sadness in. This is worth some comments too, so I better see some people leave you feedback! (7)

Comment 2:
As Britt said in a thread they just keep getting bigger and better. This one just grabbed me early on with well worded intense passion (10)

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Harmony - by Larry Chamberlin - 7 + 7

Comment 1: The questions raised in each verse, are so easy to make the reader question himself. Pretty clear and direct, yet getting under the skin with thoughts, emotions, and question marks.

The darkness in this poem and its contradiction with the title " Harmony" which reflects for the 1st hint an image of clarity, gave these verses a mixture of bitterness.

Is it wrong to shut off a part of me ? < what a painful questionary-statement.

Absolutely praise worthy. (7)

Comment 2: I love this. That opening line speaks volumes and I feel like anyone who has gone through a period of suffering can relate to. Sometimes the most basic thing we yearn for is the hardest to achieve.

The second verse is my favourite. So often we don't admit that we want some peace from those we love the most because it is 'wrong' to feel that way, because we should put their needs and wants before ours. But we can not look after others until and only when we look after ourselves first.

I could be way off base here but the last few lines lead me to believe you were locked away so long that you eventually died and that leads to a very strong ending and one that I wasn't expecting; as I expected you to find peace and rest before returning in a better place.

I really enjoyed this. (7)

***HM's***

Dark Mistress (Parts I,II and III) - by Ben Pickard - 7 + 4

Comment 1: Cheers! To one of the best metaphoric poems I read in a long time. Every line was penned to perfection, the dark and mysterious vibe kept me intrigued all the way until the end. I wanted to know who she was, and where this story is taking you both. How can such a thing have so much power over someone? The idea that it is three parts I think is interesting. You gave it a break and then you continued to a deeper emotional state than the part before. All to wrap it up the way you did. Loved the ending, and the beginning, and everything to do with this poem. Well done! (7)

Comment 2:
Ben always writes like a pro and I could not ignore this one (4)

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I flicked an ant - by Darren - 10

Trying to deal with my issues with title capitalization, so not a big deal. However this was a spot one poem. It is easily distinguished, reading through all of the contest nominations, this one in particular had the biggest impact and just got stuck there.

I found the whole combination really creative and unusual in oneway AND another. Absolutely deep and thoughful wording. I really love this piece of art. It's like a meaningful abstract painting, so much feelings and emotions.

Well done for writing this, hope to see it on the front page.

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Skeletons Rattle - by Ssevevol - 7

The clever concept was so well delivered in a way I never thought of before (7)

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Denial Set Free - by Baby Rainbow - 4

Saffie I have to say, usually its first stanza that pulls me into a "winning"poem and gets my vote, but this here was actually the ending stanza that did it for me. What a really hard reality some people are struggling with. Their past, being two different people, not accepting things in their life...I love the description of the little girl entering a braver state of mind, which is really truth and reality. Something we all must come to actually. Something some of us never do.....denial sure is a killer, and I really liked the title here which gives the reader an interest to read it, because denial is always hard to admit and even hard to pen whatever was denied. Well done.

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Newborn - by Cassie Hughes - 4

I really adore this little poem, I find it beautifully moving and heart warming. I had to smile at the storm of hunger, it certainly made me remember the days of screaming for food.

"Tiny dreams wrapped in pure white cotton." This is easily my favourite line. It sets such a calming tone and beautiful visual and I can just imagine a baby all wrapped up in blankets now sleeping peacefully.

I thought the last few lines were filled with emotion and the entire poem left me feeling so very serene and with a smile.

Truly a wonderful little poem that really captures the overwhelming love of your newborn. (4)

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Sleepless Eyes - by alexdapoet - 4

Again another eyes* Eyes*, capitalizing the title just makes it neat, but you don't have to listen to me.

Alexdapoet, what an incredible stunning piece of literature! This Sleepless Eyes poem is much more deeper than what the title reflects, if I have to be honest the title does not give it justice. I found so much profound lines, touching and beautiful. It is purely a real poem, one of those type of poems which I bet many are starving for.

Looking forward to read more likewise poems.

Piercing closing line :) .

Well done! (4)

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True Love 2015 (Senryu) - by Ingrid de Klerck - 4

Short and to the point! I love Senryus, they manage to deliver what's on the poets minds in very condensed doe of emotions. The idea within these lines I found to be so true. Not always that a vacancy can be occupied. Some remain empty for a long time, or even forever.

Woo hoo! Congrats winners!

thank you judges! As stated before, what a super hard week!

Congratulations to the other winners and HMs, and thank you to the judges for their kind words

Thank you judges, for the in-depth comments, and for the win, that's nice.
Congrats to the other winners. Mel, you rock!
Congrats to the HMs and thanks judges and thank you Colm for hosting.

Congrats Winners and HM's!

Thank you judges and Colm for hosting :)

Congratulations to the winners and all of the HMs! And well done by the judges, undertaking the difficult task of paring down all of the excellent poems that were nominated this week.

First off, many thanks to the judges for their comments. A terribly hard week for them to judge. I personally can't believe that Hellon's "A Year In The Life Of A Tree" wasn't on the front page - let alone the hms; truly, that is a pure and beautiful piece of poetry.
Having said that, not sure who she would have replaced up there. It must have been a hard weekend in the life of a judge!
Thanks again and well done all.

Congrats everyone and thank you for the HM, much appreciated.

Congrats to all winners & HM's! Wonderful work. Thank you judges-

Congratulations to all. The standard is so high that I fear the only way to reach these dizzy heights is to buy a a stepladder. *applauds*

Thanks for the HM, congrats winners. No shame in not winning when up against these titans.

Congrats everyone, amazing pieces!

Thank you judges for your thoughtful comments! Congratulations to everyone involved.