Weekly Contest Winners - August 8, 2016!

Good Monday morning to everyone! Hope you all had a restful weekend and a wonderful upcoming week. Such powerful pieces highlighted this week - and great diversity! Congrats to Hellon, Jenni and SL for making the front page as well as all the HM's. Thank you judges for all your insight too:)

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WINNERS:

"Joseph" by: Hellon 10 + 10 + 7 + 7 = 34 points

"The Dusty Chair" by: Jenni Marie 10 + 10 = 20 points

"Dressed In Pixie Dust" by: Sir Lancelot 10 + 7 = 17 points

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COMMENTS:

"Joseph" by: Hellon

"This poem immediately caught my attention. With its beautiful imagery and wonderful portrayal of human spirit. A wonderfully imaginative portrayal of an elderly man who has had a difficult life yet is still filled with good spirits. In the last Stanza the reveal that this man is afraid of uniforms and that he speaks a different language than that of the writer, implies to me that the elderly man is one who has suffered at the hands of authority perhaps a survivor of a concentration camp. This gives a wonderful feel for the human spirit. Despite all of his experiences of life he is still able to smile and laugh in a way that "melts the winter frost that
resides in my heart". Very topical at the moment with the Popes recent visit to Auschwitz. It flows so well and yet each time I read it I notice how cleverly written it is even down to the title of Joseph. This poem puts a positive slant on a subject that is so often depicted as sad or dark and instead leaves an inspiring feel for the human spirit." (10)

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"For some reason, despite the personal background of this poem, it can be relate-able by any reader. I am not sure if it's me, or if it's the poem itself, but there is something painful about this piece. It burdens the heart, as though it is written with too many emotions; longing, reminiscence, nostalgia.. A rich poem, no fillers, pure poetry...I honestly I'm fascinated by this piece this week. I still cannot get over the multi-interpretations of it, a refugee, a soldier, a friend, a lover, etc etc...

This is a masterpiece, in hope of reading similar ones in the future." (10)

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"This poem melted my heart and also it is loaded with unique and detailed visuals and word display... to be writing of a solider I feel and the face or eyes of so many thoughts... just a wonderful poem, indeed!" (7)

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"This poem reminded me of someone who could have been a child during ww2. Specifically mentioning he doesn't speak your language led me to believe he could have been German and further related to ww2. I know as one commenter implied the last stanza can be left for open interpretation, I also derived to this and it swayed the beginning of the poem and recreated a story within my mind. I picture a young lad from Germany during wartime, perhaps a father, mother of siblings were killed during holocaust and it has made him afraid of uniforms. What I love most about this poem is the imagery and that it can still be left to imagination on what is really going on. The smile? I am sure it's a very humble one, the kind that lingers in the eyes." (7)

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"The Dusty Chair" by: Jenni Marie

"I adore this poem!!! I can drown myself in a good classic book anytime. I love the imagery and especially the mention of spines. I remember the librarian explaining to us how the books had spines and a heartbeat and to never ever dog ear a page. Many hours were spent nestled in a huge yellow gold chair reading for myself. You have paid homage to the memory very well." (10)

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"This is a gem! A beautiful and powerful poem!

A special and comforting place to be reflected upon. I picked this piece for top ten because of the powerful visual display, its absolutely breathtaking!

I was so comforted while reading this poem of reflections and memories.. This poem is just.... WOW!" (10)

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"Dressed In Pixie Dust" by: Sir Lancelot

"The imagery in this piece is outstanding and the style is wonderful for conveying such a many meaning message. One thing I notice about this author is that every time he is nominated the piece keeps up the same flow and voice as the last read piece so beautifully that it all feels like one chapter connected to another in a story and I love how each chapter is such an interesting take on whatever has to be said. So this week the piece is beautiful, light, airy and overall mesmerizing - which is definitely worth being recognized because it is difficult to keep an audience entranced when your writing is presented in such a "blocky" or static form. This is an absolutely stunning write." (10)

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"What a refreshing change to see such sensual imagery delivered in such a nice way. Too often this subject is delivered in a crass and demeaning way. It's lovely to see the emotional and romantic portrayal of love in a way that inspires emotion and yet leaves everything else to the imagination. Great flow and rhyming in a wonderfully sensual piece." (7)

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HM'S:

"The Cracking of Paint" by: Deeplydesturbed = 7 points

"I won't puncture you." by: Britt = 7 points

"Flower Power (haiku)" by: Mr Darcy = 4 points

"Jigsaws of the world" by: Sir Lancelot = 4 points

"Mason" by: Mayday = 4 points

"Tepid Bruises (Italian sonnet)" by: Sir Lancelot = 4 points

"The road of acceptance" by: Dagmar Wilson = 4 Points

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COMMENTS:

"The Cracking of Paint" by: Deeplydesturbed

"This piece relates to a condition or event that occurs in the lives of countless people each and every day. Even those who do not experience them first hand are bound to know at least one person who does battle them; and this makes that feeling (whether on the sidelines or in the game) all the more understandable, relateable, and necessary. The author left a note that this piece is quite personal to them, but even one person's catharsis can be just the thing another needs to free themselves of similar chains, and I wholeheartedly believe that this author has done that for many members and readers out there. The word choice is spot on, the descriptions are almost too painfully vivid for those who have stood in these shoes, and the emotion just oozes out from every speck of black on the screen - it's a fantastic piece." (7)

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"I won't puncture you." by: Britt

"The poem popped up in front of me for a while now; I took it as a sign. What a wonderful authentic poem. There is this raw revelation and self-determined inner peace, weakness and strength, both combined in this low voice that's trying to speak up powerfully.

The title is well translated within the verses, the usage of lower case really served your intention.

Well done." (7)

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"Flower Power (haiku)" by: Mr Darcy

"Such a cute little write that captivates readers everywhere with the lovely, fitting seasonal description. Most people do not associate the popular phrase "flower power" with much other than feminism or the 70's in the US, but I love how that title adds a little bit of dynamic to the piece and how even a simple haiku can (almost literally) knock my socks off. The very strategic use of punctuation should also be noted as having aided in this piece's success." (4)

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"Jigsaws of the world" by: Sir Lancelot

"No matter the distance of ocean and countries, we can certainly agree that this earth needs fixed. If only we could see it with the innocence of a child's eyes and it were as easy as a jigsaw. Lovely write." (4)

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"Mason" by: Mayday

"To show two sides of a person... this poem is in depth, well written and just a thriller in my opinion.

A poem of what socially is seen compared to the dark side of reality.. powerful and explosive poem!" (4)

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"Tepid Bruises (Italian sonnet)" by: Sir Lancelot

"Interesting title, musical piece of poetry. I love this Italian sonnet, love the whole flow, the word choice and use of metaphors. The whole theme is sad and reflects pain. The lead lines were personal and direct. Loved the way the poem ended,

If love and dreams have somehow been mislaid,
Then gaze upon the stars where hopes abound.

^ It's always refreshing when poets connect with hope,
when they rely on a more hopeful ending, rather
than a dramatic emotional closing concept.

Unique poem." (4)

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"The road of acceptance" by: Dagmar Wilson = 4 Points

"A wonderful portrayal of someone fighting with a chronic illness The third stanza in particular because when you are ill, time gets very confusing and seems to disappear all together, the looming depression that follows you wherever you go. The final stanza offering advice and a reminder that "life is too short to let your illness cloud your tomorrow" I think the most important line of all the last one "It's nothing you did or didn't do" Anyone who has ever suffered a long term illness will know the countless hours questioning what you did or didn't do to make yourself so ill and what you can or can't do to make yourself better. For me this was a lovely write that shows a true understanding of the subject and a poem that many people will be able to relate to." (4)

Great poetry to choose from this week. Thanks judges for your dedication. Thanks MA for posting. Congrats to the Winners and the HMs.

I agree Larry, wonderful poetry this week. A difficult task for the judges, but one which is appreciated. Thank you to all and congratulations to the winning poets and HMs.

I,have to agree everyone seems to have upped their game this week thus I'd have hated to have judged so much great poetry.

Thanks to the judges. Well done to all winners and HMs.

Congratulations to everyone recognised this week and a genuine thanks to the judges for their time and insightful comments,

SL

Wow thanks to the judges for their time and lovely comment!
Well done all

Congratulations to all the winners and HM's this week. A lot of amazing writes, I don't envy the judges having to choose. Thank you Poet for your lovely moderation and the judges comments.

Oh wow, I didn't expect to see that when I logged in!

Thank you so much for your comments judges!

And thank you to those who nominated it. :)

Congratulations Winners and HM's!

Thank you judges for your work and thanks for posting MA :)

Thank you, judge, for your HM and sweet comment. <3 I appreciate you!

Thank you to all the other judges also who serve our site :) I appreciate the rest of you, too! :)

Thanks judges for your great comments...I really never expected this poem to draw any attention at all...it was just something I had to let out.

Thanks to the members who nominated it and...congrats to the other winners and Hms this week.