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The beauty of pain.

For this contest, I wanted to be able to read some interesting, creative, deep poetry. None of that high school cliche shit. I want to read poems that move me to the soul and make me wish they would never end. Basically, I want to see the beauty in pain.

Rules first, then options.

1. No StIcKy CaPs!
2. Freeverse or rhyme will be accepted, but I must warn you that I hate freeverse. So you need to make it good enough to capture my attention.
3. More than one entry per person, but please keep it reasonable. I don't want to have the same person entering fifty times. Please keep it down to three or four.
4. Put the option number in the author's notes. If you don't do this, I will be forced to either warn or disqualify you, despite how good the poem may be. I will not let this slide, and if you forget it, that means you did NOT read my instructions. I will take that personally as you did not have enough respect to read my rules, yet you expect me to read your poem.
5. I want new poems only, but if I don't get enough entries, I will accept pre-writes as well. For now, please enter new poems. I repsect creativity and it will be considered greatly when I judge this.



Options:

1. I want to see beauty in pain. Write me something deep, personal, and moving. I want imagery and feeling.

2. Write about a time in your life when you wanted to end it all, but pulled through. I want the real thing, not a story of what happened to somebody else.

3. Write about the overall stupidity and naivety of mankind...include cruelty, mob mentality, and other such things.

4. Word bank. Use at least ten of these words. That means any form of these words, too. For example, glow could be glowing. Ice could be icy. Imprisonment could be imprisoned...etc.

Tryst
Sorrow
Amber
Somber
Glow
Dementia
Dwelling
Ice
Failure
Rage
Imprisonment
Captivate
Adoration
Flawless
Steel
Loveless
Ambition
Slope
Demons
Angels

5. Use an addiction as a metaphor. Drinking, smoking, drug use, self mutliation, eating disorders, etc... I want imagery in this one!

6. Write about the picture on the top of this page. What does it mean to you? What is her story? What kind of things has she gone through to put herself in this supposed situation? Why is nobody there to help her and what happens next? Anything. I want to know what you think that picture means. I'm really interested in your thoughts.

Good luck to everybody!

Contest is Over

  • Contest was judged on August 6, 2007
  • Rewards: Gold: 350, Silver: 200, Bronze: 150, Honorable mention: 3 people
  • Final notes:
    This was such an emotional contest for me.
    The raw power and emotion in most of these poems was overwhelming at points, which means you all did amazingly.

    Thank you all for your wonderful entries. Sorry it took me so long to judge. I've been away, and then I kept putting it off. The sheer number of entries was intimidating.

    Thank you all so much.

    Congratulations to the winners. You exceeded my expectations tremendously.

    Love, DxD

Contest Winners

  1. by spine 11 lines, 3 comments, on Jul 26 12:44 AM 2007. In Personal, Sad, Love
    Gold trophy winner
    • Commented on by judge. Prewrite [remove]
  2. Falling Star, how you deceive. / You're not a star / as I did believe.
    by McRae by nature 18 lines, 22 comments, on May 2 10:43 PM 2008. In Life, Pain, Personal, Sad, Spiritual, Thoughts
    Silver trophy winner
    • Commented on by judge. Prewrite [remove]
  3. If Heaven has a voice and joy could be touched / Then my hands would gently hold the angel that returned from the sky. / If my dreams led me to the vision of happiness / Then my eyes would see that angel's smile.
    by DavidCater 17 lines, 8 comments, on Jul 21 7:34 PM 2007. In Hope, Life, Love, Pain, Personal, Sad, Spiritual, Thoughts
    Bronze trophy winner
    • Commented on by judge. Prewrite [remove]
  4. A calming addiction to help me ease / easing away at the sharpest tease / A slit or two to calm my nerves / An addiction that I dont deserv
    by NickelleteXninja 22 lines, 11 comments, on Jul 16 3:18 PM 2007
    Honorable mention
    • Commented on by judge. Prewrite [remove]
  5. Just watch me spiral into your ocean blue eyes with waves the size of your lies / as i drown in poisoned words / Ill bite my glitter painte
    by brandy. 29 lines, 5 comments, on Jun 8 3:26 PM 2007
    Honorable mention
    • Commented on by judge. Prewrite [remove]
  6. The world does a slow dance around me / The screaming reverbrates through my ears / Images flicker rapidly / as usual I can't tell / if they're real / or inside my head / Dad wants me to snap out of it, / act l
    by frostany 39 lines, 6 comments, on Jun 8 5:42 PM 2007. In psychosis, pain, sad, life
    Honorable mention
    • Commented on by judge. [remove]
  7. I remember the suffering / as I reached for the bottle of pills / beside me on the floor / I remember feeling nothing / so cold, numb to th
    by Nein 53 lines, 3 comments, on May 27 6:41 PM 2007
    • Commented on by judge. [remove]
  8. I Washed off apathy / With every kiss / Of crystal eyes; / Every insecurity you had / Made you real. / Drown the temperature / In fresh bak
    by solipsistic 33 lines, 3 comments, on Jun 4 9:06 PM 2007
    • Commented on by judge. [remove]
  9. A kiss on the lips, a mark on the neck / Never stopping, marks to wreck / A nibble on the ear, a kiss on the cheek / Touch so firm, knees t
    by NickelleteXninja 22 lines, 7 comments, on Jun 3 12:03 AM 2007
    • Commented on by judge. Prewrite [remove]
  10. ~ Hues of neon blues,
    versicolor virus of violet
    by Arkbear 23 lines, 25 comments, on Nov 9 10:01 PM 2006. In Sad, Personal, Society
    • Commented on by judge. Prewrite [remove]
  11. Bitter locked doors hold what only she knows, / Non but the best remain sealed. / Cursed each in her own way / Regardless of the spells / They sit there, just waiting / She needs her release. / Snow White ea
    by glued-to 21 lines, 5 comments, on Jun 11 2:31 AM 2007. In disney, metaphorish
    • Commented on by judge. Prewrite [remove]
  12. Death is wrapped in beauty / As the trees are painted white / A picture set so beautiful / To drown the thought of death. / The eyes alter what the mind knows, / We only think what we want. / Unpleasen
    by Wolf of Roses 13 lines, 2 comments, on Jul 23 11:59 PM 2007. In Sad, Other
    • Commented on by judge. [remove]
  13. As I lay here on the cold hard floor,
    I wonder if its worth it.
    by slipperssun 18 lines, 12 comments, on Jan 5 10:07 PM 2007. In Dark, Sad, Angst, My life, Contest
    • Commented on by judge. Prewrite [remove]
  14. love is like falling rain / hitting hard the window Pain! / everything that you said wed gain / was washed aquikly down the quickly filling
    by SeaWithYourHeart 26 lines, 9 comments, on May 28 2:50 PM 2007. In Love, Pain
    • Commented on by judge. Prewrite [remove]
  15. My eyes witnessed an astounding sight / The freshness of dew, the sweetness of pine / The sapphire creek, the misty peak / The smiling rose
    by Chweetkavi 39 lines, 14 comments, on Jul 4 4:06 AM 2007. In Other
    • Commented on by judge. Prewrite [remove]
  16. Error: Unable to find finalist item 3010670, it seems to have been deleted :( [remove]
  17. Error: Unable to find finalist item 2341919, it seems to have been deleted :( [remove]

Entries [81]

1 - 75 of 81     1 2  next >
  • by Jeneralix 38 lines, 2 comments, on May 27 5:16 PM 2007
    • Commented on by judge.
  • Different kind of prose!!
    by scorpio rising 10 lines, 16 comments, on May 27 7:41 PM 2007
    • Commented on by judge.
  • Can you tell me what stopped the rain?
    Was it all of the pain
    by SomethingPoetic 33 lines, 6 comments, on Mar 24 3:43 PM 2007. In Life, Pain, Spiritual, Thoughts, Sad, Personal
    • Viewed by judge. Prewrite
  • Dear dad when I'm gone there is no sorrow, / Dear dad when I'm gone you know where I am, / Dear dad when I'm gone you know who to blame, /
    by scarletXroses 16 lines, 9 comments, on Jun 2 8:38 PM 2007
    • Commented on by judge. Prewrite
  • Darling, / I say to you, / it hurts, / it pangs our insides / and we can't stop crying / Blaming yourself / serves no purpose / and neither does / the rapist / Darling, / heal as time passes by,
    by cadm14 19 lines, 6 comments, on Jun 4 3:04 PM 2007. In Personal, Sad, Life
    • Commented on by judge. Prewrite
  • Thunderstorm, I hide in my bed / Can't face the questions that swirl through my head / I don't want to sleep, I don't want to dream / I don't want to write, I just want to scream / Go to work, pretend that I care /
    by jervoodoo 19 lines, 2 comments, on Jun 9 12:08 PM 2007. In Sad, Pain
    • Commented on by judge.
  • by Synthetic-Nightmare 57 lines, 22 comments, on Jun 9 7:02 AM 2007. In life, personal, thoughts, pain, sorrow, sad, dark, emo, death, violence, demons, misery
    • Commented on by judge. Prewrite
  • A lone prize sap, / mockery in a pigeon's eyes, / stooping on a / street corner. / Puddles of sorrowful rain / outcast by the clouds / expo
    by alexandrathegreat 167 lines, 23 comments, on Jun 4 4:55 PM 2007. In Thoughts, Angst, Sad
    • Commented on by judge. Prewrite
  • Sometimes the most beautiful things,
    Are the saddest too,
    by Psycho Jess 20 lines, 7 comments, on Dec 2 12:43 PM 2005. In Sad, Personal, Love
    • Commented on by judge. Prewrite
  • As the sunsets and it becomes night,
    My horror starts to unfold, as I hold my teddy tight.
    by trace3grls 33 lines, 5 comments, on Sep 17 6:14 PM 2006. In Dark
    • Commented on by judge. Prewrite
  • It all started so easy a drink here and there
    It was only on weekends, now you just don t care
    by trace3grls 30 lines, 2 comments, on Oct 30 6:06 PM 2006. In Dark
    • Commented on by judge. Prewrite
  • Thoughts of death in my mind
    darkness surrounds tears flow
    by umpa lumpa 17 lines, 10 comments, on Mar 22 10:12 PM 2007
    • Commented on by judge. Prewrite
  • I lie in my bed, / tucked beneath the covers, / lightly held over my head. / I contemplate things, / I never wanted to. / and that is what
    by killerxwishes 47 lines, 1 comment, on Jun 9 9:19 PM 2007
    • Commented on by judge.
  • Sorrow and suffering / pay me a visit again / Never will they leave me be / but over time I learn to love them. / My heart breaks open / I
    by Fallen Archangel 44 lines, 1 comment, on Jun 9 11:41 PM 2007. In life, lyrics, other, person
    • Commented on by judge.
  • by Suberu14 15 lines, 3 comments, on Jun 11 7:28 PM 2007. In Abuse, Pain, Personal, Sad, Thoughts, Life
    • Commented on by judge.
  • My heart is on fire, / My head is a whirling mass of thoughts, / It was too good to be true, / But still I cant help but wonder. / I told you I loved you, / I know, you said, and I'm sorry, / I can never rega
    by ForeverFalling 13 lines, 4 comments, on Jun 11 10:28 PM 2007. In Angst, Dark, Life, Pain, Sad, Thoughts, Fear
    • Commented on by judge.
  • Every breathe is as though amoungst the living
    by Salem 12 lines, 36 comments, on Apr 28 10:28 PM 2005. In Personal
    • Commented on by judge. Prewrite
  • One single heart flames out the fire of passion.
    It can flow its own tears like a stream.
    by Little Miss Mozart 3 lines, 6 comments, on Aug 8 8:30 AM 2006. In Personal
    • Commented on by judge. Prewrite
  • by WishMeAway--x 59 lines, 17 comments, on Jun 2 4:23 PM 2007. In Dirty/Pretty, Addictions
    • Commented on by judge. Prewrite
  • / is it worth it this time / to go back and think about the problems / [&& cry your fucking heart out?] / is time even worth it / to waste
    by WishMeAway--x 57 lines, 10 comments, on May 10 5:04 PM 2007
    • Commented on by judge. Prewrite
  • My beautiful Amy, / Can't you see... / The pain your actions inflict onto me? / A promise of Love can never be broke / were the beautiful w
    by Kreuk 32 lines, 8 comments, on Jul 10 4:22 PM 2007. In Angst, Dark, Love, Pain, Sad
    • Commented on by judge. Prewrite
  • by Thrilla N9nna 503 16 lines, 1 comment, on Jul 14 4:59 PM 2007. In Pain, Feelings
    • Commented on by judge.
  • the slushing of shoes this side of fiction
    when the celluloid reels have shone their last.
    by J. Peoples 20 lines, 6 comments, on Mar 31 8:48 PM 2007. In Contemporary
    • Commented on by judge. Prewrite
  • Dreaded pain and agony / Why have you forsaken me. / Blessed are those that call you their friend. / I want my tears to flood the world / My grief to become nightmares / My pain to shatter hope. / I wa
    by nerd42189 15 lines, 2 comments, on Jul 20 8:55 PM 2007
    • Commented on by judge. Prewrite
  • I have walked over mountains and through valleys. / Swam rivers and oceans and yet i trek. / I walk with scabs and scars, / ney wounds for they have not healed / they bleed and dont let me dream. / For I have f
    by nerd42189 13 lines, 6 comments, on Jul 15 5:13 PM 2007. In Dark, pain, spiritual, hint of hope.
    • Commented on by judge. Prewrite
  • Ripped out, lying there / Bleeding, Aching / Pain from the knife, that was just stuck in / Love is suppose to be “amazing” / Screaming Out!
    by Randi6570 27 lines, 5 comments, on Jul 17 8:04 PM 2007. In Love, Pain, Personal
    • Commented on by judge. Prewrite

  • I really want to come back
    by aldebaran 35 lines, 10 comments, on Mar 28 2:44 AM 2006. In Dark
    • Commented on by judge. Prewrite
  • Persistent
    Aggravating
    by DolphinLass 18 lines, 4 comments, on Aug 17 10:19 PM 2006. In Other, Hope, Angst
    • Commented on by judge. Prewrite
  • It takes / One minute to like someone / One hour to love them / One lifetime to forget / You've had an impact / On only me / I am changed / Don
    by God is my reality 18 lines, 2 comments, on Jul 24 10:36 AM 2007. In Love, Pain, Personal, Sad
    • Commented on by judge.
  • Addicted to / my lover's tryst... / me and disdain... / beautiful amber waves of pain. / Sorrowfully seduced / by demons dwelling / within
    by Sacrificial Love 26 lines, 3 comments, on Jul 24 12:34 PM 2007
    • Commented on by judge.
  • the way most people / decide to escape / self inflicted horror / is said to be a disgrace / slaps to the face / adoring horror and / abortion fairs / couples breaking / husbands dyeing / war on foot / and
    by DogTagz-TheJalapeno 33 lines, 5 comments, on Jul 24 2:06 PM 2007
    • Commented on by judge.
  • "Cut my wrist and make them bleed. / Now do you believe? / This is the story of me." / "You took my heart. / You took my soul. / How could you have been so cold? / Beneath my skin are the secret
    by Kiimmyy 19 lines, 1 comment, on Jul 24 2:40 PM 2007. In Dark
    • Commented on by judge.
  • I've let you all down, / every single one. / I live my life covering up this frown, / but now i am done. / Done with this life, / swimming in self-pity. / Drowning in regret. / Running from reality. /
    by kodytexan1807 56 lines, 3 comments, on Jul 24 4:14 PM 2007. In Contest, Dark, Life, Pain, Sad
    • Commented on by judge.
  • I'm not sure i can take this, / no not anymore. / Things just aren't the same, / they're different than before. / A life once worth living, / now fades into a pool of nothing. / I once had a purpose, / a re
    by kodytexan1807 49 lines, 4 comments, on Jul 24 4:18 PM 2007. In Contest, Dark, Life, Pain, Personal, Sad
    • Commented on by judge.
  • Killing ourselves slowly, then when all is said and done,
    We collapse, belly up, giving into disasters waves.
    by PassionsPromise 27 lines, 6 comments, on Jul 24 4:21 PM 2007. In sad, loss, life, thoughts, death
    • Commented on by judge.
  • When I start to think about the pain / I don’t know where to begin… / Should I start with the way you broke my heart, / With a careless wor
    by bubbleburst 58 lines, 3 comments, on Jul 24 6:09 PM 2007. In Sad, Personal
    • Commented on by judge. Prewrite
  • Beauty In Pain:: That Is My Option
    by Fey Absinthe 37 lines, 1 comment, on Apr 14 5:59 PM 2007
    • Commented on by judge. Prewrite
  • The way I feel it's blank and undesrcibable / I don't know what demons are dwelling in my closet / I don't know why i saw you as flawless / I don't know why I saw a glow within you / When all you caused me was sorrow
    by ItsalltheSame68 17 lines, 1 comment, on Jul 24 7:29 PM 2007
    • Commented on by judge.
  • I was used to you being there / Now you left and it's unfair / I was used to your smile and your laugh / Now I miss watching movies with Zach Braff / I miss thinking you wanted me / Now I know you truely don't / I
    by ItsalltheSame68 16 lines, 2 comments, on Jul 21 12:20 AM 2007
    • Commented on by judge. Prewrite
  • Every night I cry tears of blood,
    The tears that fall, fall for you,
    by Pain-is-all-I-Feel 14 lines, 2 comments, on Nov 14 11:22 PM 2006. In Dark
    • Commented on by judge. Prewrite
  • ~Do you love me? Will you ever take those cold eyes off me? Will you ever smile when I'm with you? How can I live without you? You say you should be alone. You say you hate me. You say you can live without me. Can you? Are yo
    by Pain-is-all-I-Feel 0 lines, 1 comment, on Jul 24 6:24 PM 2007
    • Commented on by judge. Prewrite
  • Stumbling, tripping, / Unable to stand. / The prices I pay for my moments of bliss. / The haze of happiness now gone, / And I am left with
    by SweetLily 23 lines, 1 comment, on Jul 24 8:51 PM 2007. In Personal, Sad, Other, Fantasy, Contest, Message, Freewrite, Family, Addiction
    • Commented on by judge.
  • My heart is split between a fault line, / Eruptions causing this fear, / On top of the mountain is what is right, / How much farther must I
    by Innocent LIke Sugar 35 lines, 7 comments, on Jul 24 9:41 PM 2007. In Other
    • Commented on by judge.
  • I may be seen as lost / But I will always be found / Your love keeps me near / Even when I’m far / We are both unique / But always shared a bond / I felt your pain, I felt your joy / I knew the secrets that
    by DavidCater 28 lines, 4 comments, on Jul 21 7:08 PM 2007. In Thoughts, death, Sad, Personal, Love, Life, Pain
    • Commented on by judge. Prewrite
  • Stainless tears / Dripping down my face / Memoirs of you / Leave only a trace / Stainless tears / An empty heart / Missing your smile / A vivid art / Stainless tears / A grieving soul / Rememberi
    by xCandieKissesx 40 lines, 11 comments, on Jul 23 12:19 PM 2007. In Love, Sad, Personal, Life, Pain
    • Viewed by judge. Prewrite
  • In youth they stood strong / striving to build careers / with single minded ambition / admired and respected by peers. / For years they dwe
    by Tamera 41 lines, 10 comments, on Jul 24 10:25 PM 2007
    • Commented on by judge.
  • My cries soundless, My voice killed in all of my words
    Will I be commended to live here for eternity?
    by DeejayQuik 22 lines, 2 comments, on Aug 2 5:01 PM 2007. In Sad, Dark, Pain, Weird, Abuse, Death, Sadness, Anger
    • Commented on by judge. Prewrite
  • "I love you" she said to me. "Don't say that." I answered, running my fingers up and down her forearm. What I didn't say is how much I've wanted to
    by jewlberry 13 lines, 1 comment, on Aug 2 5:53 PM 2007
    • Commented on by judge.
  • My tears starts to roll down my cheeks
    As blood flows out my wrist
    by Danielle Samia 30 lines, 10 comments, on Mar 30 3:42 PM 2007. In Sad
    • Commented on by judge. Prewrite
  • And Who are you? The one who held me
    by undeadperfection 15 lines, 2 comments, on Aug 2 7:13 PM 2007. In Pain, Personal, Life, Regret
    • Commented on by judge.
  • Oh Broken Angel of the night, / Your soul shall not be saved, / Lost within dark and wretched blight, / You live a life depraved. / Oh Dark
    by Intravenous Jesus 34 lines, 7 comments, on Jul 3 8:45 PM 2007
    • Commented on by judge. Prewrite
  • Staring at my shadow
    I felt no one could see
    by Nat 37 lines, 8 comments, on Aug 2 6:41 PM 2007. In Sad, outcasts, Life, Hope, Spiritual
    • Commented on by judge. Prewrite
  • looking back on times of joy / why do they seem so far away / thinking of my broken mind / why were you all so unkind / i leave you nothing
    by exithere 44 lines, 2 comments, on Jul 19 9:46 PM 2007
    • Commented on by judge. Prewrite
  • Staring out the window watching the
    rain streak the glass. Thinking to my self
    by edit my world. 18 lines, 5 comments, on Aug 2 2:33 PM 2007
    • Commented on by judge. Prewrite
  • We heard the bells / Its coming spurred our wind of intrigue / Befitting of its character- / I am free falling / Emotions rage / Agony clou
    by Nat 32 lines, 7 comments, on Jul 24 2:59 PM 2007. In Life, Pain, Understanding
    • Commented on by judge. Prewrite
  • by PassionsPromise 44 lines, 2 comments, on Aug 2 9:34 PM 2007. In suicide, hope, substance abuse, adult
    • Commented on by judge.
  • That blade you feel run down your flesh, A raging lover mad,
    by Scott0 49 lines, 2 comments, on Aug 2 9:47 PM 2007. In Spiritual, life, nature, pain, other, EVERYTHING
    • Commented on by judge.
  • I don't hate you / I really can't / I just don't like you / You put me through to much / i feel this pain after every punch / Don't think t
    by ItsalltheSame68 20 lines, 3 comments, on Jul 25 6:53 PM 2007. In Sad, Father
    • Commented on by judge. Prewrite
  • For as I felt death's embrace,
    I sang my own version of Amazing Grace.
    by Wretched Mind 17 lines, 20 comments, on May 28 9:12 PM 2006. In Personal, Spiritual, Dark
    • Commented on by judge. Prewrite
  • Emotions seething under my skin You will not know about me breaking
    by Stoneface Gremlin 22 lines, 2 comments, on Aug 2 11:04 PM 2007. In Sad, Pain, Lost love
    • Commented on by judge.
  • He makes suicide look good / He makes death look easy / He makes me scream / He makes me cry / He makes me think because he's deep / He mak
    by ItsalltheSame68 13 lines, 5 comments, on Jul 16 8:56 PM 2007. In Sad, Personal
    • Commented on by judge. Prewrite

Add a comment

    : Comment:

Comments

1 - 9 of 9

  • scorpio rising
    May 27, 2007
    Edit | Reply
    This is an excellent contest!!!

    I think I will try free verse just to piss you off!

    Hahahahaha.....no, no

    I like the challenge of trying to move you, plus I have a piece I just finished that seems perfect

    I hope the contest is a huge success!

    Much Love!


  • NickelleteXninja
    June 5, 2007
    Edit | Reply
    hey hun btw its set to only one entry per person and you say that its open


  • -JuLz-
    June 7, 2007
    Edit | Reply
    Taken in , option one, thanks xx


  • Suberu14
    June 10, 2007
    Edit | Reply
    No!!! i had the perfect write! open! open back up for a sec!!! ahh itll be amazing omg i havent had such ispiration in a long time!

  • Suberu14
    June 10, 2007
    Edit | Reply
    i have my poem all written out i havent added it to alpoetry yet since u dont accept preqrites please let me put it in the contest T_T


    • Jai Guru Deva
      June 11, 2007
      Edit | Reply
      ok it's open until the 15th. but after that, i'm not going to bother with an extension.

      good luck.

  • Jai Guru Deva
    August 5, 2007
    Edit | Reply
    sorry this is taking so long to judge people.

    i've been away for the last month or so, and when i got back, i was bombarded with this overwhelming amount of amazing entries.


  • Arkbear gold member
    August 6, 2007
    Edit | Reply

    Wow ~

    How did you ever get through all of these?

    Thanks for Hosting a Great contest ~

    Congrats to the Winners and HM's...well done ~

    ...but most of all, thanks to every Poet who came out to support this contest ~

    Bear ~


  • Undaunted1
    August 8, 2007
    Edit | Reply
    Thank you for hosting and you had a lot of entries here to read. It was a great contest. Congratulations to the winners. The U1

1 - 9 of 9