Weekly Contest Results August 5th

Hello everyone, sorry for the delay. Thank you judges for your time and effort.
Congrats to all the winners and all those who received a HM.

//WINNERS//:

Reflections (Collaboration with Daniel) by Nourayasmine (30 points)

Brother by Matt Carroll (25 points)

Extinction of her Recovery by Star (14 points)

//COMMENTS//:

Reflections (Collaboration with Daniel) by Nourayasmine (10 points)

A collaboration that works seamlessly to create a dynamic piece of writing.
The opening line "Women like you are lonely” Immediately raised in my
mind the question – Doesn’t everyone deserve happiness? The first sixteen
lines portrays loneliness in a vivid and creative way that could be describing
anyone male or female suffering the ravages of loneliness and from then on
is more specific. It portrays a woman who through her search for love and
company has made a lot of bad choices leading her to be labeled….. She
gives love and time and even a child yet still she finds love elusive. Finally,
in her head she becomes just an object to be touched and abused at the mercy
of others who are never there for her. It is heart breaking poem steeped in
honest observations / reflections about a problem that happens to many
women. I think that it also carries a message for all of us not to judge others
badly because of where they find themselves because in a different world that
might have been our path too.
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Reflections (Collaboration with Daniel) by Nourayasmine (10 points)

What a collaboration you two! Seem-less, couldn't tell where each of you started
and ended. We do and have done a lot as woman, not to feel lonely. Bad choices,
selfish lovers, uncaring children. So many things that eat at our self worth. This
piece for me touched on all of these. If you are free and open with your love, you
are judged. If you are pious and guarded, you are judged. It's hard to be truly yourself,
open and exposed because then you are open to attack. There is always an opportunistic
human looking to take advantage and use. Well done with this. It spoke volumes!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Reflections (Collaboration with Daniel) by Nourayasmine (10 points)
“Women like you
are lonely.”
^
This here, in my opinion, it what it took the poem a “collaboration”, to another
lever. And I had so many thoughts come up to me. Who are the women like her?
Who is she? Or is it all women? Why is/are she/they lonely?

She then is describing the loneliness she is feeling, and he is signifying and
proving it.

“You give birth,
you give love,
you give time,”
^
And here it appeared to me, it is leaning more towards all women including her.

The ending is bitter, and left me distressed. But here it is recognized and feels like
being consoled. Yes woman are vulnerable, but I believe that is the beauty we hold.
Even though in so many cases it is taken as an advantage when it shouldn’t.

Each and every word are thoroughly thought of, and the balance between Daniel
and Noura is so smooth. A masterpiece indeed.
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Brother by Matt Carroll (7 points)

I was drawn to this poem because of the strong message of hope and support
that one person offers another when the first is going through a really tough
time. I think most people at some time or another have felt themselves in as
situation where everything seems to be going wrong some worse than others
and having support in such dark times is priceless. This poem feels like a
soothing hug and a lightening of a load shared. Almost conversational with
each stanza representing the sufferer and the friend with the strong message
“You are not alone” Maybe a message we should all take on board to hold out
a hand of friendship and support when we see someone else in need.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Brother by Matt Caroll (7 points)

So many of us feel alone. We wonder why we bother to keep going each day. I
think in this day of instant gratification and lighting speed notification we are
more alone than ever before. Sounds like an oxymoron doesn't it? Matt brings
home how so many of us feel and he also brings home the comforting message
that we are never truly alone. Someone has heard you and people appear in your
life at the strangest times. To lend a hand, to lend an ear. You are never alone.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Brother by Matt Carroll (4 points)

There is a mix of sadness and encouragement in the poem. Family is one of the
most important aspects of life, and having it by our side in our darkest times is a
blessing. For me personally, this is more inspirational than sad. The poem is written
beautifully as a conversation or a potential one, and it flows really well. I really
loved this!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Brother by Matt Carroll (7 points)

This poem touched me in many ways; to read and feel the support which
every one of us want from our siblings. Knowing you have that one person in the
family who will be there no matter what and will support and stand by you through
thick and thin. Reading this made my heart teary…nicely penned.
----------------------------------------------------
Extinction of her Recovery by Star 4 points

This piece reminded me of a person being in a toxic relationship. With every
abusive act her partner has taken a piece of her, killing her slowly, killing the
person she was. Even if she has hurt her partner in some way she's always the
tender of wounds, the person who makes it all better. She thinks this was the last
time, it's always the last time, until the next time. So she stays, each time losing
more of herself until one day there is nothing left to give, nothing left of her and
this beautiful engaging woman is truly extinct.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Extinction of Her Recovery by Star (10 points)

I adored this poem, quite simply. The metaphor for this woman ‘fixing’ this other
person and killing herself in the process is an extremely dark, but intelligent image.
I wasn’t aware that silkworms die when they weave the silk, so this made the read
even more uncomfortable and moving. There’s an abundance of excellent word
choice too. Words such as ‘grazed’, ‘punctured’, ‘extracted’ are all so clinical and
obtuse. This poem stands up on a pedestal this week for me. A deserved winner.

//HM’s//:

No Title by Matt Carroll (4 points)

Third Degree by Aegis (10 points)

Fatalist by Aegis (4 points)

Untitled by Mark (4 points)

Perhaps by Darren (7 points)

Little Billy and, his Time Machine by CRAFTY KEN (7 points)

//COMMENTS//:

Untitled by Mark (4 points)

My initial thought at not seeing a title was that Mark had forgotten to give it one
but then after reading the poem I realized that in all likelihood it was a conscious
act that reinforced the tone and message of the poem. Throughout he shows the
suffering felt by many poets when trying to put to paper the emotions and feelings
that affect them deeply. He compares black ink to being like the blood red of pain
and that when words are placed upon the paper, rich with emotion, that it
transforms the paper and becomes as if soaked in blood. “The page being likened
to a Poets scream follows on nicely with the imagery of blood and pain and then
finally depicts the poet digging deeper inside himself for even more emotion –
exhuming scars for art and words. For me a truly visual and emotion depiction of
the worst kind of poetic struggle.
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Little Billy and, his Time Machine by CRAFTY KEN (7 points)

I am not a child yet the poem drew a smile on my face. It has a lovely rhythm,
and is different in a really good way. I was hooked from beginning to end. It feels
like a poem written from a father for his children. It just needs illustrations and it
would make a lovely children book.
---------------------------------------------
No Title by Matt Carroll (4 points)

I really like this inspirational message. With just few lines the positive
voice of the writer lifts the reader’s heart which assures that even in the
darkest of moments do not give up and march on and you will acquire its
rewards. I can see this as an inspirational card. Well done!
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Third Degree by Aegis (10 points)

I can’t put it in words but this short write has such a vivid image which
portrays the contrast of fire and destruction with two point of views. So few
words are used here yet it carries the image very strongly..another excellent
write.
----------------------------------------------------
Fatalist by Aegis (4 points)
Aegis’s poems are unique in that they usually say a lot in so few words. His poems
often beckon to be reread, as they are often snapshots; bite sized glimpses at a bigger
picture. I enjoyed how this poem has a narrator who doesn’t fit in, a poet who writes
poetry because he/she has to. An outsider. How many poets are outsiders though? Or
at least feel that way? How many of us can relate to this feeling? How many of us feel
that our writing exists only because we know it should? I feel this poem perfectly
captures the unease behind being a writer and is deserving of 4 points at least.
---------------------------------------------------
Perhaps by Darren (7 points)

I find the self-awareness in this poem very commendable and its dry humor
and wit a welcome change. Darren is a very underrated writer, and his poetry often
escapes under the radar. It is another poem that questions poetry itself, moreover, the
self-depreciation/jibes at other poetry forms proves the writer does not take himself so
seriously. It is frustrating being a writer sometimes, even been a reader; this poem
makes a little fun out of it. A very refreshing read indeed. ‘oh I do hate a good sonnet’.
Is a great line.

Darren

“oh I do hate a good sonnet’.

I don’t think I have made you feel that awful feeling of hate but come to think about it, you are the person I have written the most sonnets to.

I do hope to see more sonnets and in general more poems from you. :P

By the way, congratulations winners.

Thank you so much to all judges and/or volunteers this week! And a big shout out to all winners and HM's, really awesome effort this week. I think I added a good 4 or 5 authors and poems to my favorites list just this past week alone^_^

Thanks judges for your time and effort, and for the lovely comments. Noura was the brains behind it. :)

Congratulations to Star and Matt for 2 great poems too!

I was really surprised to see my poem on the front page, thank you for the nomination MA and judges for your votes and comments :)

Congratulations to the other three winners, and all HMs!!!
Thank you Meena for your time ^_^

Thanks judges and congrats winners

Luce thanks for the nomination and no you didn't Stoke the fire.

Congratulations to all the winners and HMs, to the judges for judging and to Meena for organising this weeks competition. Best wishes Milly x

Congratulations to all the front page winners and HM's! What a diverse group! Meena, thank you for hosting and our judges for judging...have a great week everyone!

Thank you Meena for hosting!

Congrats to all those who won and picked up a HM! A lot of solid pieces all around :)

Congratulations to the front page winners and the honorably mentioned.
Thanks Meena and thanks judges!

Well done, one and all. Noura and Daniel - a masterful piece of writing from you two.

Thank you for the comments, judges, and all the members who commented on our poem. I'm very lucky that an awesome poet like Daniel collaborated with me.