I’m looking for the best poem on AllPoetry, but you don’t necessarily have to write it. You have to write about it. This is a contest for poetry reviews.
To enter, pick a poem and write a review explaining what it does and how it does it and, of course, why it is the Best of All. Put a valid link to the poem in your review.
There will be 300 points for the best and most convincing review and 300 for the writer of the best poem nominated (the judge’s opinion counts here). The winning poem may or may not be the one proposed by the winning review. You can nominate any poem on the site (as at the time I read the review) so the permutations are interesting.
If the contest gets any applause I will award the points to runners up, etc. as I see fit.
That is the end of the rules but stupidity won’t win.
Contest is Over
- Contest was judged on March 23, 2006
- Rewards: Gold: 300
- Final notes: This has been an extremely interesting contest. On the one hand, the number of entries makes it clear that the inhabitants of the site are happier to write poetry than to write criticism, which has to be good news in so far as creation is better than analysis. The down-side might be that there are techniques we might hope to learn by analysis that could help in writing better poetry.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading the poems you proposed. From a purely selfish point of view, one of the reasons for running this contest was to discover good poetry and
There is a sense in which awarding places and points in this contest means very little, but I will, of course, try to do it fairly, so I will try to explain how I am approaching the task.
Essentially, I am looking for a good, clear and detailed explanation of the impact the poem has had on the reviewer and how it achieved it. This should be tied back to the text of the poem with, ideally, a detailed reference to the elements that, individually or in combination, produce the effect.
That means that some of the most heartfelt reviews – and indeed some excellent nominations – will not win prizes. That is not significant or, if it is significant, it is only of interest in the context of being able to do something with the points. Reading a poem carefully and responding to it is much more important than that.
In addition to these concluding comments, I am commenting on each entry and its response to the poem nominated. Those comments give more detail on the rationale for the awards I am making which are:
The points for the best review go, without question to cvllelisa for her review of ‘This Side of Eden’, with the silver going to ecrivain01 for the review of ‘Free Us From the Claws of Cruelty’ and the bronze to superkurd13 for the review of ‘One such as you is not as growing leaves’.
I found the selection of a single best poem from those nominated impossible and, in the end, I found I had to award a joint first to Lute’s ‘This Side of Eden’ and to Zayra Yves for ‘Free Us from the Claws of Cruelty. I have, therefore increased the total points and am awarding them 200 each.
Entries [3]
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The poem I am reviewing can be viewed here: http://allpoetry.com/poem/1839870• Commented on by judge.
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These are the last minutes of our lives!
The end of laughter and soft lies,by Voodoo witch 18 lines, 4 comments, on Mar 5 2:25 AM 2006. In Dark• Commented on by judge.
Bronze trophy winner
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Comments
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Great contest idea! Sadly, I'm seeing this being ticketed in the future because of the new "spaming for comments" rule. It would be a shame, as this is exactly what AP should be about... community, reading and learning.
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Interesting idea - think this would sure be difficult to judge - need a panel to do this right I think. Good luck in getting this off the ground.
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I will enter your contest today, as soon as I finish writing the poem you desire.
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this is a great idea. i shall see if i can find something. this really should be great. viyanna r langager
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Great idea for a contest.
Al -
Surely this will take up less of your time - but maybe not!! My comments are always pretty crass so don't trouble about me sweetie. I think it's a good idea because we all like a good, valid critical comment. Ah, but then again, maybe we are all on here for a stroke........ and no, not the blood clot kind of stroke................ xx woman of fire!!
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Thanks for your comment. My hope is that I will get a range of entries and that the contest will get people to think about poetry and how they respond to it rather than just bring out a few good critics. I haven't won many contests here but they are good because they get me thinking and writing.
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great
I think that this is a good idea for a contest. I really hope it goes well for you. I also hope that you won't have a hrd time figuring out who the winner of the contest should be.
Have a nice day/night. -
Very interesting challenge! I will return after I shop for the best poem! Good luck with your contest!
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A very interesting idea.How one choose just one poem or write is the dilemma for me.There are several poets on ap that I admire,some that I am in awe of,I have read so many poems that have moved the spirit...yes,the difficulty for me would be selecting just one.I will be very interested in the ultimate winner as recently a poet had the temerity to message and tell me he was the best poet on ap and left me a caustic message on my poetry...mine is simple,I do not profess other wise and welcome constructive critiques as I wish to learn and improve if I may.The irony for me within the egotistical self professed best ap poet trumpeting by aforementioned poet is I replied that there were indeed awesome poets on ap but the wonderful thing was that they didn`t laud their expertise and talent but SHARED it.When a poet shares beauty and evokes emotions by showing and not telling,when they accept the applause graciously,when they continously reveal the essence of themselves to be soul satisfying...that`s the timbre of quality that I admire.How hard you will find the decision to choose a winner out of the entries!I shall have a long, hard think about which one to propose for this contest...love and light,Yvette
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I have my Poet picked out -- just deciding on the poem. Another great contest idea.
Thanks for the opportunity.
Lisa
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Came back to check on entries - lots of people hard at work writing I guess.
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This sounds like a very interesting idea for a contest. Having read many amazing poems on this site I have a feeling that this could develop into a devilish contest to judge. I wish you a lot of luck on this and I hope that you have many entries.
James
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okey dokey.. going on a poem tour.. hope to find something interesting to write on.. good luck in the contest judging.. very intrigueing
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I wonder which of my efforts someone will pick? The choice is so vast, I hesitate to put any single one forward. Maybe www.allpoetry.com/poem/1048479 springs to mind.
Seriously folks, an unusual idea and I'll try and enter!
Best regards -
great
Back to applaud. -
oeh. I had a contest similar to this one, I just wanted people to explain this about their own poem.
I whis you very much luck. -_- -
I'm afraid my review isn't top notch, but I decided to try for a poem I enjoyed alot. I think I'll notify the author that I decided to do this. Hope the contest goes well,
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This is a veri interesting idea! Have at thee, lol! Keep penning . . . keep sharing . . . and much luck to you in your contest!
Maggie -
But edna, that particular poem stinks!
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What if you have two poems that you think are best? -
Send in two entries. Although there will only be one first prize.
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Well yes, I figured that. Better for you to have the hardest job.
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Great idea and will see what I can come up with...
Smiles Your Way >> Sandy
san-d
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This sounds challenging, I don't think I am ready for this sort of thing yet, have a great contest!
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Hope I can come up with something this is an excellent idea. RC
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I think this is one contest where winning really isn't important. The idea was to give us an excuse to think about what we like in poetry, even if people don't enter. vic
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This involves a lot of effort on my part, and right now I am not up to that - so will just read the entries and wish you well.
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Very interesting idea for a contest. I've never seen anything like it before, so very original. I don't much like writing reviews on poetry so I don't think I'll be entering. however I wish you the best of luck on the contest and I hope that it gets lots of entries!
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An interesting idea for a contest that you have here. I shall certainly think about entering this. It is a challenge for certain.
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Interesting contest and i am sure this will receive some outstanding entries...but i dont think id fit here...Commentary's not my thing...YET
...This is up there, for the REAL poets, the ones who contemplate their work and learn from others 
(haha...) Hope you get what you are looking for and enjoy reading the entries. Curious to see how this turns out.
Have a wonderful weekend
~sui generis777~ -
I think this is a great idea, but it's too tall an order for me to pick one best poem and review it. Maybe the best needs no review? Anyway, I'll be interested to see what happens here. Best Wishes.
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Just want to congratulate you on this idea. It is great for a number of reasons, plus it brings focus the concept of constructive reviews. I agree it is important to think about the process of what makes a poem great where otherwise it is merely good. So, thank you for yet another brillant idea!
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It's too bad so few people entered this contest. It's a great idea. I'd think more people would have wanted to enter.
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I was also expecting more entries but there is benefit in that the judging is hard enough with the entries I have. Initially I was expecting a huge take up but now I'm relieved that the number is manageable. vic
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I really wish I would have noticed this one. Best of luck to everyone. Great idea.
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Is this contest still judging?
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Hi, I'm afraid that this is taking longer to judge than I had hoped. I spent a couple of hours on it on Friday but work has been a bit hectic since. I'm still going through the entries carefully and will judge as soon as I can. Apologies again.
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Take your time ..
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Thank you. Very much. I'm honored. And mostly happy that Lute's work got some recognition in this. He has taught me so much about Poetry along with others I respect on this site who quietly teach and humbly post their poems -- often being overlooked.
Thank you Vic, I know you put a huge amount into judging, please again, excuse my bit of snit
again.
I will definitely be hosting a contest with the points. Congrats to everyone who took the time to spend time with another's work.
Lisa
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