Weekly Contest Results Monday October 4th

Hello Everyone,
Hope everyone had a safe weekend and are keeping well.
I want to thank our judges for their time and effort this week and say
well done to all the poets on their poems! The poems this week were
interesting and unique. Our front page Winners for this week are:

When Whitewood Nematodes and your thoughts react by Star (7+7)

Three alleyways down by Colm (10)

James Vi by Rayven (4+10)

COMMENTS://:

When Whitewood Nematodes and your thoughts react by Star (7 points)

Well for a start the title had me curious indeed!

‘Nematodes’ in simplistic terms – worms. But to combine this
with thoughts? How interesting!

As I read this short piece of writing, I felt the poet was almost motioning the way a
‘worm’ moves itself (along with how the writer thinks, so to speak). ‘shrugging’ its
body in movement; like that of shrugging ones shoulders after being in deep
thought, or even a question asked? I maybe barking up the wrong tree (excuse my pun).
However when I read deeper into this piece, I felt the writer has done well in their
expression of how they think, move and react –
‘munching sounds; like thoughts eating away at them, like a worm ‘munching through
wood? Maybe? Thereafter the feeling of no thought as they depict a ‘hollow’ feeling,
and the ‘wilting’ meaning they are left with a feeling of void (of some kind).
I really enjoyed how much is really going on within the writer, and how they compare
themselves, well to the title.
Nicely penned, with a gentle and deep meaning.
Well done.
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When whitewood nematodes and your thoughts interact by Star (7 points)

Rarely has the title of a poem been so apt, and rarely has a title impacted in such
a way as to be an active part of the poem itself. The poem is short but detailed,
almost looking at a microscopic level at how the dying leaves symbolize the wider
seasonal changes. The imagery is clear and efficient and the formatting lends itself
to the idea of falling, as a leaf would. Nice job.

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Three alleyways down by Colm (10 points)

I have read quite a bit of poetry in my day, that is filled with
beautiful imagery but this one is my number one favorite.
From start to finish I could see the meeting in the alleyway,
and it was beautiful, I could hear the jazz music playing
and I was mesmerized! Just beautiful!!
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James Vi by Rayven (4 points)

Depression and mental illness can be felt within this poem
in some ways and I find when writing about writing poetry
is a powerful touch to express the emotions within, just wonderful!
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James Vi by Rayven (10 points)

This had a depth to it that interested me and dragged me in. I think it is a
topic that everybody here can relate to - the back and forth relationship poets
have with their poetry and their inspiration. The reader gets the sense that t
he poet here seems to have come along on a journey I like how the poem is
both reflective and predictive. Ironically, the poet has penned a very good
piece here at a time when perhaps they feel like their writing is somehow
un-genuine or finite. Of all the poems this week, I think this one is the most
personal, intriguing and relatable. Well done.
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HM:

A kiss from a Rose by CJ Maleney (4)

Did you by Obscure (7)

Beauty within by Maple Tree (4)

Apathy is agony by Lune de va mie (10)

COMMENTS://:

A kiss from a Rose by CJ Maleney (4 points)

I will admit that this poem isn't without flaws but it has plenty of heart and
works at its level. I think there is a very soothing, assured tone throughout the
poem which makes it flow nicely. Even though there is rhyming, it is quite
informal and reads almost like a stream of consciousness at times. I like how
the poet doesn't try to over-complicate things and wraps up the metaphor
nicely in the last line. Well done.
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Did you by Obscure (7 points)

Powerful imagery, somber feelings and this is a poem that
Everyone who has lost a loved one can relate to. Love the word
usage.
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Beauty within by Maple tree (4 points)

I read this gentle piece that holds such beauty and sadness; painting a
picture of a tree that giving a representation of how the writer feels within themselves.

A quite simplistic piece of writing, using words that mean more than the words
used, which is a clever way of bringing a piece together, especially when it reflects
on the poet.

I enjoy the way in which the writer conveys how they feel, using a tree as a metaphor –
reflecting on their life, but also the life of a tree itself. The portrayal of how we are
becoming older, but also a season changing along with our feelings. Possibly.
Also the space between each line gives the a slow way to be read, as its a process of
change.

A joy and sadness to read. * just a note to the writer* ‘leaves of mine have toasted’
could be read as *these leaves of mine, have toasted*?
But takes nothing away from this poem.
Well done.
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Apathy is agony by Lune de va mie (10 points)

I read this poem a few times just to get a deeper feeling of how the
poet portrays their story of great pain and despair. The title itself is powerful, a
statement in fact of ‘apathy’ being of no interest in a person and the ‘agony’
they feel of a certain person, close to them in their life.

The poet paints a picture of an unpleasant emotional feeling, and
a color that is just filled with darkness. Their expression is one of
an inability to live life without another, along with the feelings that
bring such raw context. A sense of feeling trapped; claustrophobic in their
thoughts. Words used such as ‘abyss’ and ‘labyrinth’ to describe
the feeling of being lost and depth of such pain that brings this whole piece
of writing to an emptiness, that carries a very sad portrait of the poet.
I feel that pain in love resonates with many, and the actions are of a personal
response.
The poet holds nothing back here, and reflects on their life in a true color.
A hard poem to read, and expressed with every feeling they own.
I would like to thank the writer for sharing this with us, such a difficult
personal situation. I hope there comes some solace and resolve in reaching
out for support. A well written piece, albeit very sad.
Thank you again for sharing.

Thanks Meena for hosting and thanks to the judges, especially to the judge who took the time to leave such a lovely comment on my poem!

I'm so humbled, dint expect this. Thank you so much to both judges for the well thought comments and MA for nominating :)

Congrats everyone!!
Happy to see three judges this week, thank you for your tine and Meena as well.

Hi all.

Congratulations to the front page poets and HMs awarded.

Thank you to the judges as always.

Thank you to STAR who nominated my poem.

Much love M x

Fantastic pieces! Congrats to all. Thank you to our judges and to Meena, for hosting :)

Just seen that I got an HM. Massive thanks to whoever thought it worthy of a vote, I certainly didn't think so but the poem made my lady smile.

Well done to everyone else too, I've only just caught up and the range and scope of your efforts never ceases to impress.

See you on the flip side

Craig