Weekly Contest Results 2-22-16

Congratulations to our winners this week: Narph, Britt, and Andrea :) Beautiful poems by all of you, ladies. Thank you, judges, for your hard work -- you're in the final stretch!

-Jane

A Journal Poem by the Snowy Window (or Binge Poem #1) by Narph
10 + 10 + 7 = 27

Generational by Britt
10 + 7 + 7 = 24

He Gives me Stars by Maple Tree
10 + 4 = 14

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WINNERS:
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A Journal Poem by the Snowy Window (or Binge Poem #1)
by Narph
Total: 27

"Pieces like this exhilarate me. I love your voice in this, how alive and unique it is. The idea that in our poetry, we get lost in what we want others to see instead of expressing who we really are. We may try to impress and cover up until words get muddy and we ARE chaos... and our meaning is hidden. This line stays with me especially: "i keep my poems cupped in my hands like newborn breaths." Like you want to cherish each poem and not just write a poem for the sake of it. This is your spirit, and you will not take any breath for granted. Such a soul-reaching poem." (10)

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"An absolutely mammoth of a poem. There's a bit of everything, introspection (both self and outward), ruthless honesty and its tied together with a powerful narrative that slightly contradicts itself towards the end. My favourite verse would definitely have to be "i keep my poems cupped in my hands like newborn breaths." Absolute masterpiece!" (10)

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"Narph blows me away with her Journal Poems, and this one truly stood out for me.

Her descriptive wording leaves me spellbound and lifts me up into a world of visual beauty.

Her softness is very elegant and yet the metaphoric message can be felt within every line. to be a writer of poetry, one must accept the pain and agony within each word they place onto paper.

This poem is truly magical!" (7)

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Generational
by Britt
Total: 24

"I've spent too much time swimming
in hidden issues, sneaking behind the scenes of the gospel

^a child is to be seen and not heard, the old rhetoric of past generations, so they can cram their truths down our throats, the problems start when we begin to think for ourselves and start questioning all that we've been taught, do we follow suit, or search out and find our own identity, and sometimes that identity becomes what we've been handed down.....Marvelous." (10)

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"This poem, for me, talks openly about your journey, your vulnerabilities, your growth. That opening simile hits home - like the world wasn't prepared and maybe you didn't know either how things were going to affect your heart. The "cycle" you were born into reminds me of all the circumstances and people we try to control. When we feel like we have lost control, it's incredibly hard to move forward. In this one, I think of the woman who knew she wanted to be a mother for so long, and the learning that comes with the heartache. My favorite stanza is the last one by far. "swimming in hidden issues" holds so much depth! How often do we isolate ourselves and certain thoughts, thinking it better to talk about the easier things in life? Not bring up the dirt. I love that attitude and strength in the last few lines you have gained, taking a leap of faith and not letting the pain overtake you and keep you IN the past." (7)

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"Wow! This poem is so intense! So many feelings, emotions and the struggles of learned behaviors vs. genetic behaviors and the succession of faith. The first stanza....Wow, reminds me of "Wrecking Ball" by Miley Cyrus. Fighting into the age of reason we sometimes just don't understand things or why they are like they are. I love all the references to liquid of some sort (hurricanes, swimming, toes dipped and dunk). Whether or not it was intentional, the word use symbolizes a rebirth to me. A baptism or re-dedication to Christ in spite of your past. Powerful write!" (7)

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He Gives me Stars
by Maple Tree
Total: 14

"I cannot say that I sympathize with you, rather more like empathize. Cancer is the most selfish word, it steals, debilitates and is agonizing for not only the affected but also loved ones. It is hard to vote on a poem that is so personal, but it is also very well written. Nothing more can be said without being redundant." (10)

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"I can read this time and time again and it will never fail to warm and touch my heart. Your pain and the sorrows you write, even in the opening lines I can tell how your heart bleeds when writing this. The burden many of us can't imagine. What October holds for you and him is so different than what it may be for us, and that breaks my heart, how something can become such a time of possibly not understanding, of mourning what will happen. He is definitely a kindred soul as you are. And what is the most beautiful about this poem is the last few lines that show the depth of your love. That you strengthen EACH other. He gives ALL he has, these stars (his spirit) and you carry that light and pain and darkness. Keep holding your head up. You both have such light inside of you, no matter if some days it may be more dim." (4)

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HONORABLE MENTIONS:
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Heimwee
by Yakari Gabriel
Total: 4

"There is so much wisdom in this poem. As teenagers and young adults we often fight against the grain, the very grain of the board we are cut from. Too often we don't realize it soon enough. This poetess has shown so much growth over the years. I have to applaud her on the wisdom and beauty she pens. As a young teen myself I despised my mother, was actually quite embarrassed of her. If only I knew then, what I know now, I would have ran and embraced her and been all the better for it. Awesome write!!" (4)

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Within it
by Karla
Total: 10

"Karla,

You can't help but get swept away with the words Karla writes.

she has such an elegant way about her writing. this poem is very uplifting and stylish.

I do want to highlight on a line if I may:

"she is the radiant is" <--- within the English language this does look like a typo, however as Karla pointed out it is exactly what she meant it to be.

I for one: enjoyed this line, because it so powerfully displays the power of the second stanza... "Is" becomes the power statement, Is and will always be radiant... this is how I interpreted this line... to me, it makes this poem stand out about the rest! just beautiful!!" (10)

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A Letter to my imagination
by Everlasting
Total: 7

"I'm curious by the author's lack of capitalization on 'imagination' in the title. I wonder if it was accidental or if intentional, and if so, is it meant to contradict the personification of the author's imagination? That noted, this is quite the creative ode, a honest heart-warming confessionary poem that everyone can relate to, the imagination is oftentimes neglected, but it is responsible for so much, a lot of technology and scientific breakthroughs occur because of imagination. Well-written piece!" (7)

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Life summed up!
by J Nair
Total: 8

"I love the slightly humorous narrative the author employed, it takes you from the stages of life in a relaxed manner that screams "life's not that serious" from the bit about the child playing with a cane, to the ending verse. Great write." (4)

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"Bursting with joy, wanting to share it all
Only to be cheated and left behind, stuck on wet shores
Sadly vanishing into grains of sand
Tearfully watching the receding waves

^there is so much to this poem that only those who experience it first hand can really grasp, simply riveting......." (4)

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A Maiden. An Apple Tree. A Tragedy.
by Ben Pickard
Total: 11

"Ok the bias is in, Shakespeare himself enjoyed this so much his corpse was seen to crack a smile.....excellent." (7)

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"Ben has managed to write in every genre and blow us away. This week, he took the funny genre by storm!

This poem is funny, well written and just cute!

the word usage is mesmerizing and very unique. Rhyme poem at it's best!" (4)

I think I've managed to get two winners right in the past, but this week I am particularly happy as I pegged all three! They really are all wonderful pieces of poetry, so a very well done to the winners and the hms too. Thank you judges for your lovely words regarding my own.

All the very best,
Ben

Big big big congratulations to everyone! Such wonderful pieces highlighted this week. Thanks to judges and Jane, for posting!

Thank you judges, so much, for your thoughtful comments. I love that each judge took something a little different from the poem. This was a poem I have been wanting to write for years and never knew what to say or how to say it. <3 Thank you!

Congrats other winners & HM's. This week was a hard one for those judges, so many amazing poems! Thanks judges for all your hard work - you're almost done!

Six years ago today... I met my husband.

Excellent day for a win, I won so much more the minute he said my name and smiled.

Thank you judges for your heartfelt comments...

Congratulations Britt, Narph and all Hms...

Thanks judge.you got it.
congrats everyone!

Oh! Thank you. I'm both surprised and humbled at the reactions to my poem. Love to all.

Congrats Maple, Britt and HMs! Loved reading the nominations list this week. :)