Weekly Contest Results August 28th 2017

Hi Everyone! Yet another tough week for the judges as there were so many
beautiful and heart touching poems. Congratulations to our front page Winners:
Frank, cassie hughes and mossgirl19 and congrats to all those who got a HM!
Now for the judges’ comments:

WINNERS:

Time only exists when you do not look at me by Frank

In once green fields by cassie hughes

And so by mossgirl19

||COMMENTS||:

Time Only Exists When You Do Not Look at Me by Frank

The enchantment that lies within the eyes is not a new subject matter – it’s
been here for ages! But, without a doubt, this enchanting write is a breath of
fresh air!
The title in itself is a craft - ‘time only exists’ which is in the affirmative
combined ‘when you do not look at me’ in the negative. A powerful title
coined here. The way it was structured revealed the passion and excitement
of the speaker in this poem. I started to read this slowly…first three lines,
followed by four lines which kind of built up the pace, then it drops to two
lines and whoa, fifteen lines! It comes to a halt again with one line and ends
beautifully with the repetition of the title. The line breaks here undoubtedly put
me in an enthralling spin, not to mention, hinge, pivot, kingbolt… how on earth
did these things fit in there? Astounding work! (10 points)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Time only exists when you do not look at me by Frank

The title drew me in and I was thinking about it a lot before
I started to read the actual poem. The flow of this poem is
alluring as well as descriptive. There is a tone of passion within
these words without making it too overdone. I also like how the
title was used to break the stanzas up it makes us feel, think and
just sink into the words…a lovely read which I enjoyed!
(4 points)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Time only exists when you do not look at me by Frank

Any poem that can seamlessly fuse the worlds of science, philosophy, and
fantasy/romanticism into a love poem is golden in my book. This poem
took me by surprise (pleasant surprise) and I read it several times over. I’m
sure I’ll be back to read it again someday soon. More than just the content, I
was also impressed by the structure. It is a very pretty poem and the stanza
breaks are purposeful. Well done. (10 points)
---------------------------------------------------------

In Once Green Fields by Cassie Hughes

I love, love, love effortless rhyme, maybe because I am so bad at it myself.
You did a wonderful job painting a picture with flowing rhyme that fit so
perfectly in the poem that it did not detract from the story at all. I don’t
know if you were referring to the place of a specific battle or atrocity, but
the poem can be attributed to seemingly endless events/places in human history.
We are an often cruel and blood-thirsty species. (7 points)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In Once Green Fields by cassie hughes

It’s hauntingly reminiscent of ‘in flander’s fields’, but what’s more haunting
is the fact that there’s quite a number of incidents that this poem can be
attributed to, there’s been an array of terrorist attacks throughout the world,
and in a more increasingly interconnected world we’re only a couple of clicks
of away of learning about these tragedies. There’s also the perspective that this
poem can be talking about mankind’s pollution as there’s plenty of evidence in
the verse ‘in once green fields now dark and dead’. Regardless, it’s an introspective
poem that really tugs on the heartstrings. (7 points)
---------------------------------------------------
And so by mossgirl19

Break-up poems generally leave me cold. They are too often filled with cries
of betrayal and prophecies of personal doom. This one, however, describes
the process in terms of what has been gained from the relationship and what
genuine appreciation remains. “today we ended up / Splitting the rainbow in half . . .
The colors of our memories / Will forever hold us in awe.” I could see into the
heart of the author that growth and maturity lie ahead along with the readiness
to explore future joys. (10 points)

HM’s:

Lavender and Rainbows by Ben Pickard

Compassion by Kitty Cat Lady

Piano by DarkLight

My heart is gold, my hands are cold by Odimer

buried in my bones by Britt

Vacant by Michael

Slip away by Mark

My Eight Lives by Elittos Ocinemod

Your lovely photograph by Lucifer

||COMMENTS||:

My heart is gold, my hands are cold by Odimer

A haunting write, though short there is tinge of sadness as
well as passion but in a very blue way. From start to end every line
is so descriptive and moving and it also brings an image of a harp to
my mind. Like a golden harp which waits for those fingers to touch her
strings, it does and then she has to wait for a very long time…
The title itself beckons the reader to come in and read this
piece and it has that medieval atmosphere…beautifully sad and
haunting. (10 points)
---------------------------------------------
Compassion by Kitty Cat Lady

This poem is truthful and it captures a patient’s inner feelings,
anxiety and pain when they need to hear the news from a doctor who
has no feelings what so ever. Sometimes I feel they are just cold hearted
and they deliver the news as if the patient deserves it. There are very
few who have that patience and compassion and this poem really
portrays pain against a doctor’s non compassionate heart.
Well penned…take care (7 points)
------------------------------------------------------
Piano by DarkLight

The metaphor of a musical instrument as a lover is not new, but DarkLight
does an excellent job of carrying it through with delicacy and style. The lines
“she will take away all my pain / and set me free of my worries” wrap the speaker
into the experience viscerally. Overall the emphasis of joinder and synergy
make this poem stand out. (7 points)
------------------------------------------------
Slip Away by Mark

Two poems by Mark on the same theme appear on the nominations list this week.
I like this one better for many reasons. It is direct and comforting; it serves the
purpose of easing the mother into the inevitable while Doves comes across as
musing than personal. This poem reaches out to grab you and sets you beside
the deathbed holding watch with the children. (4 points)
--------------------------------------------------
Vacant by Michael

There is so much beauty in this write, starting from the title. Whether it was
deliberate or not, I think it is refreshing that this was not titled with words of
the same meaning like Empty or Broken which are too common. Not that they
are not good titles, but the title in itself should lead us on to the content.

Michael has a unique way of structuring his works and this is something I
think every poet has or would wish to have – poetry that can be distinguished as
one’s own. This poem is so rich with captivating word choice that set the
bittersweet tone flawlessly. And, talking of line breaks, I think Michael has mastered
that well. What was once a beautiful love and the sadness that followed it were
adequately emphasized with how he broke the poem line after line. I agree with
the comments here; it is utterly beautiful and heart- wrenching at the same
time. Great work! (4 points)
------------------------------------------------------

Lavender and Rainbows by Ben Pickard

Who would ever think that lavender and rainbows would have a love affair?
Well, only Ben Pickard! And a beautiful love affair it is.

Imagery- wise, this oozed with so much beautiful scenes and sure left me
in awe. The message contained within just literally took my breath away and
had me thinking this is a beautiful world after all! This charming poem flowed
very well and I must say, it is commendable that Mr. Pickard was able to keep
every line within a 12 syllable count (if I counted them right) without the slightest
inching away from the theme of the poem. I see here mastery of rhyme! Admirable
work! (7 points)
-------------------------------------------------------------
My Eight Lives by Elittos Ocinemod

I loved reading through this poem and relating it to my own life. You’ve
captured perfectly how we can be so many different people with so many different
tastes, worries, and aspirations in a single lifetime. Sometimes it can feel like having
lived different lives as different people. I know I’ve felt that way. I’m sure this is
especially true for someone who has moved to a foreign land with different customs
and a different language. In the end, all these lives add up to make one unique
individual with one vibrant life (all our selves culminating together into a present
self). Forgive my ramble, but your poem affected me and inspired me to reflect. One
last thing: “with a lump on their throat” — usually the term is “in” rather than “on,”
but I don’t know if you intentionally changed the wording. (4 points)
--------------------------------------------------------------

Buried in my bones by Britt

There’s so much to say about this poem; it’s the personification of vulnerability.
I think as poets, we can all relate to this to varying degrees; we tend to the fire that
burns in our heart (in times of turmoil and peace) with words, and that’s the essence
of this poem. Britt has mastered the art of expounding her soul’s unrest, and you
cannot help but look with wonder and appreciation. (10 points)
-----------------------------------------------------------------

Your lovely photograph by Lucifer

The usage of imagery was a nice touch to this piece – the mentioning of the
seasons help to hammer home the fact that even though time has passed (at
least a year, but the author does mention that ‘many seasons’ have passed so
possibly even longer) but the wounds are still raw. I think I’d liken this poem to a
pearl – oysters form pearls from foreign substances that managed to enter the
oyster, so the oyster covers that irritant with layers of nacre until you get the pearl.
This poem is that pearl – formed from a wound and with layers of words comes
this gem. (4 points)

Congrats to all those who won, and those who picked up a HM! Thank you to all the judges for your hard work and Meena for posting :)

Thank you judges for the beautiful comment on my poem. Thanks Cassie for nominating and congrats on your win too! Congratulations also to Frank and to our HMs. Thank you Ms. Meena for hosting!

Wonderful week! :-)

Well done to all and thank you to the judge for noticing my obsessive syllable counting, lol

All the best

Congratulations to the winners, the HM's including me.
A big thanks to deeplydestructed and beautiful tragedy for nominating my poems.
Thanks to judges for their valuable time and their wonderful comments and much more to that one who chose my poem worth the HM.

Big Thanks to Meena(soul of Pnq) for hosting it.

Hi everyone :)

Congratulations to all winners this week, including HMs.
Thank you to the judges for their time, which cannot be easy at times, with great and wonderful poetry. Thanks also for lovely comments on my poem.
Thank you to Maher for nominating and others who said they would of if possible.

Much love

Michael :)x

Congratulations to the other winners and HM's and a big thank you to whoever it was that nominated my poem. I didn't even know it had been nominated until I got the message to say I was a winner!

My gratitude for such classy comments. Thanks to deeplydesturbed and Meena Krish.

Congratulations to all the front page winners and HM's! Amazing writes all the way around. Thank you Meena for hosting.

Definitely a diverse week this week judging wise but congratulations to all the the front page winners and all who got themselves an HM all well deserved.

Thanks judges and Meena.

Congrats to the front page winners and to the HMs as well.
Thanks judges and Min!
Larry

Thank you sir.

Hey up folks

Just having a catch up as kinda been out the loop.

Amazing stuff every one of ya's. Congrats to all winners H.M's and all nominated totally deserved

Craig

Whoops forgot to big up the judges and Mods

You guys rock too:)

Hi all,
I'm a bit new to all this but I'm loving the site and was thrilled just to have a poem nominated (thanks so much Milly Hayward x ), so imagine how chuffed I was to get a HM! Thank you so much, really ... I do actually feel honoured :-)
And huge congratulations to all the other winners, nominations and HM's. .. Sorry it's late, I had no idea this bit was here!
Kitty =^.^=