Contest Closed for Judging:
Open only to those people with a valid change or entry code. If you do not have a code, or do not list it in your author's notes, your entry will be removed.
Welcome to the first annual Raven Contest.
Commenced in January of 2007, the Raven seeks to uncover genius in the written word by actively pursuing and endorsing the creation of notable works through a paradigm of recognition.
General Contest Outline
The qualifying round for the Raven Contest will begin on June 1st, 2007 and last until July 1st, 2007. Site assigned contest end dates will be extended to meet that time-frame. Entries into the qualifying round will be accepted between those dates only.
From July 1st, 2007 until August 1st, 2007 the qualifying round will be judged by the current Raven Judge pool. A listing of current Raven Judges can be found here.
On August 1st, 2007 the final round of the contest will begin. Entrants into the final round will be comprised of all trophy winners from the qualifying round (including honorable mentions).
Judging of the final round will take place during the month of September, 2007. The judge's final decisions will be issued no later that October 1st, 2007.
Prize Pool
Over the course of the contest 30,000 points will be awarded to participants. Additionally, $200 has been contributed to the contest and set aside as prize money to be divided between the winners of 1st, 2nd and 3rd place in the final round. The collection of prize money carries conditions which are outlined in the Raven Contest Regulations (RCR).
In the final round of the contest part of the 30,000 point prize pool will be awarded as grant funds to be used by winners to execute contests of their own. For questions about grant winnings please consult the RCR, the FAQs, or the official Raven prize structure page.
Depending on participation and eligibility, the 2007 Raven Contest will award, at most, one hundred and fifty-three trophies for excellence in the written word.
The Judges
To insure fairness and assuage poetic ethnocentrism an international judge pool consisting of ten members has been assembled. Over the past two months the judges have worked together to create a contest that embraces diversity in culture and writing styles.
Raven Contest judges are individuals who are secure and competent both in particular forms and writing styles as well as in general contemporary poetic creation. Each has several years of writing behind him or her and many have a multitude of contest experience here on Allpoetry. Every judge has pledged to dedicate their time and energy to establishing, continuing and adjudicating the 2007 Raven Contest in an unbiased and responsible fashion.
Questions about contest rules or procedures should be addressed to the Judge in Charge of the qualifier you are interested in entering. A listing of all JICs can be found here.
The Rules
A complete listing of the rules can be found by consulting the RCR by clicking here, and some general questions are answered in the FAQs. To get started, however, it is important that entrants read and understand the following:
1 ) There is no prohibition against formatting, including sticky caps, background or colors, or off-mainstream character use. Some judges may dislike them, however, and so you use them at your own risk.
2) Most entries are allowed, however specific qualifiers should be entered if the work you wish considered falls within their parameters. Works not falling into one of the specific qualifier categories may be entered into the general qualifier. If your work is removed because it doesn't fit the qualifier entered, you may re-enter the correct qualifier.
3) Entrants are allowed one entry per qualifier, which means you may enter a maximum of five times (this is per person, not per screen name).
4) Works entered must be of your own creation. Plagiarism, even with the author's permission, is strictly forbidden.
5) Works espousing, promoting, or otherwise praising hatred or intolerance are generally prohibited from receiving prizes or standings. For this reason, entry of these works is discouraged.
6) Entries must be in a poetic format. Short stories are prohibited.
7) The Raven Contest seeks to uncover genius in the written word. Given that, you should enter your best writing, and hold nothing back.
8) A minimum of three people per qualifier will move on to the final round. In addition, judges may assign up to twenty-three honorable mention placings (also per qualifier), winners of which will also be invited to move on to the final round.
9) The Raven Contest offers advertising consideration to those who wish to sponsor the contest. Information on sponsorship can be obtained here. Contest sponsors are prohibited from entering.
10) Questions regarding any aspect of the Raven Contest may be directed to any JIC or RavenContest@comcast.net. Issues regarding dispute resolution should be directed to that address.
11) You are not required to read all or any of the rules listed in the RCR. However, the rules pertain to judges and entrants alike, regardless of familiarity.
About this Qualifier
Entries into this qualifier should be works included in the dark category, including; anger, angst and/or goth. If you have a question regarding whether a particular poem is suitable for this qualifier please contact one of the JICs responsible for this category.
Despite the JIC ruling on the permissibility of the work, you may be asked to move your entry to a different category during the term of the contest. If this happens, don't worry. No legitimate entry will lose standing consequence to being moved.
Please email RavenContest@comcast.net with any remaining questions regarding the Raven Contest.
The Raven Contest is sponsored in part by Life, DRF LLC and by the current judge pool.
Navigate the Raven! Use the Raven Navigational Portal for access to articles, contests, information and all things Raven.
Thank you for playing a part in this contest through your entry and best of luck to all participants.
Contest is Over
- Contest was judged on August 1, 2007
- Rewards: Gold: 300, Silver: 100, Bronze: 50, Honorable mention: 24 people
- Final notes: The contest administration, judges and staff wish to thank all the entrants into the 2007 Raven Dark Qualifier.
Only the first three entries are in order relating to contest standing. The honorable mentions are in alphabetical order(1).
Those of you who have placed with an honorable mention or higher should visit http://allpoetry.com/poem/show/3256904 for instructions on what comes next.
Those of you who have not placed with an honorable mention or higher have the right to dispute your standing. You may make use of this process by sending an email to ravencontest@comcast.net in which you should declare the nature of your dispute including the reasoning behind why your standing is incorrect. Contest participants who have used the dispute resolution system in the past may still avail themselves of this process now. Please consult RCR rule 9.5 for more information on the dispute resolution process. All disputes must be submitted no later than September 1st, 2007.
On October 1st, 2007 the contest administration will launch a 2007 Raven Feedback contest which you are all invited to join. To receive an official invitation to this feedback contest simply leave your entry posted within this contest, and you will be sent a reminder message when the feedback contest launches. In the event that you desire to remove your entry please send an email to ravencontest@comcast.net requesting an invitation to the feedback contest.
The purpose of the feedback contest is to allow you a chance to let us know how we did this year, and what we can change for 2008.
After the final round of the 2007 contest year is judged the administration will release an unpublished collection of accredited works. You may elect to purchase this volume for the cost of its production, or you may download it for free in Microsoft Word format. For more information please email (you guessed it) ravencontest@comcast.net.
Thank you all for your participation. Without you we would have no quest to undertake, no journey to honor, and no path upon which to tread.
Best Wishes,
~RC Administration, Judges and Staff
1 - In the event that the alphabetical order has any errors in it, you can bet that's going to keep us up nights.
Contest Winners
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"...when death slumbers...
... it dreams of you"• Commented on by judge. Prewrite [remove] -
There is, / sorrow, such painful sorrow...• Commented on by judge. Prewrite [remove]
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by -Ink Artist- 55 lines, 31 comments, on May 3 8:12 AM 2007. In Personal, Sad, Dark, Thoughts, Contemporary
Bronze trophy winner
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Too late are those who set sail mid hurricane / False hopes amid careless thoughts doomed / Too late are thee, sweet traveler / Too late in• Commented on by judge. Prewrite [remove]
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I step from my sepulcher
Over dead and drifting leaves• Commented on by judge. Prewrite [remove] -
Hush my children of the night-
and I shall tell a story.• Commented on by judge. Prewrite [remove] -
by Edna Sweetlove 18 lines, 31 comments, on Dec 14 7:01 PM 2005. In Adult, Abuse, Dark
Honorable mention
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I am blood red / hungry to smash your heart in on itself / and your fist into her face / She deserves it, that little whore / she wouldn'tby Everlasting-Fallout 42 lines, 3 comments, on Jun 4 9:49 PM 2007. In Pain, Society, Spiritual, Dark Honorable mention
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Tattered blanket / dirty bib / roaches crawling / baby crib..... / / Crud caked nipple / sour milk / cradle cap / hair of silk / / Dirty• Commented on by judge. Prewrite [remove]
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>Explanations / >To tell you why I am me / >Sorry I'm tired...it must be my kidney /• Commented on by judge. Prewrite [remove]
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I have been trying to get out of here / away from this jungles seemingly inevitable death / away from this wars tormenting evil, hate and eby Roaddog Wolf 39 lines, 172 comments, on May 24 7:03 AM 2007. In Dark, Hope, Life, Pain, Personal, Sad, Spiritual, Thoughts Honorable mention
• Commented on by judge. Prewrite [remove]
- Error: Unable to find finalist item 2931188, it seems to have been deleted :( [remove]
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diseased young children gasp for breath
but money must be spent on death• Commented on by judge. Prewrite [remove] -
Why is this happening? / Suffocating from your controlling ways / I want it to end / I am counting down the days / Make me bleed ragged dagby rerouni66 29 lines, 3 comments, on May 17 3:03 PM 2007. In Angst, Dark, Life, Nature, Pain, Sad, Thoughts, Society Honorable mention
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White knuckles that pierce at the grip, / Knees contused on a crimson barren slip, / Formulate the scenes behind two caustic eyes, / Weenedby Saturninity 38 lines, 4 comments, on Jun 19 6:13 PM 2007. In abuse, angst, depression, pain, thoughts, random Honorable mention
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Cool gray eyes of the princess of time,
Shimmering over the moonlight beams,• Commented on by judge. Prewrite [remove] -
Darkness closes, unrelenting / Silently as I, consenting / Nod to it in affirmation / Of my soul’s capitulation / And, without my remonstra• Commented on by judge. Prewrite [remove]
- Error: Unable to find finalist item 2912760, it seems to have been deleted :( [remove]
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What am I to you? / nothing more than a bundle of rags / lying discarded in the corner of your mind! / a barely-glimpsed shadow that crosses the edge of your sight / I am not real….I am not flesh….I am not blood….I amby arafura 10 lines, 22 comments, on Jun 16 12:47 AM 2007. In Life, Love, Other, Pain, Personal, Thoughts Honorable mention
• Commented on by judge. Prewrite [remove]
- Error: Unable to find finalist item 1358292, it seems to have been deleted :( [remove]
- Error: Unable to find finalist item 2107189, it seems to have been deleted :( [remove]
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Go on brothers and sisters and join these bodies on the grass
Long Live this Endless Night of Broken Glassby obsidianrose843 36 lines, 20 comments, on Oct 7 5:13 PM 2005. In Dark• Commented on by judge. Prewrite [remove] -
Surrounded by ceramic,
Porcelian metaphors of who i used to be,• Commented on by judge. Prewrite [remove] - Error: Unable to find finalist item 2960638, it seems to have been deleted :( [remove]
Gold trophy winner
Silver trophy winner
Entries [124]
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Wrote it on the job...Random thoughts of the liquor store clerkby uhhzebras 29 lines, 6 comments, on Mar 28 11:22 PM 2007• Commented on by judge. Prewrite
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I'm mad. You're Mad. We're all mad. Ciao, baby!• Commented on by judge. Prewrite
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Pedestrian mainstream vain pulsing pounding down cityscapes'
Streets ahead of the rest, streaks ahead of my best,by Master Anarchy 24 lines, 7 comments, on Nov 23 4:30 AM 2006. In Vampyric, Predatorial, Occluded Seclusion, Vain Illusions• Commented on by judge. Prewrite -
I hope it's obvious.• Commented on by judge. Prewrite
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• Commented on by judge. Prewrite
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do you hear that?
....its nothingby Inlovewithperfectio 19 lines, 9 comments, on Sep 7 10:23 PM 2006. In Dark• Commented on by judge. Prewrite -
I’m home, oh yeah, I’m home. I’m just not picking up the phone.
Do you know why I’m not picking up the phone, huh?• Commented on by judge. Prewrite -
Strangle them as they sleep, / They're the main coarse of this ritual, / Their blood smeared across the floor, / Drag they're bodies out th• Commented on by judge. Prewrite
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Shadows
Looming in stealth• Commented on by judge. Prewrite -
If ever I felt vulnerable / It is now: For eternity / The darkness closes in / And even light cannot defeat it / Blood seeps through my hands / Like the Fountain of Youth is eluding me / Pain ho• Commented on by judge.
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home sweet home,
I muse,by brightraven 36 lines, 5 comments, on Dec 20 1:54 PM 2006. In Dark• Commented on by judge. Prewrite -
Burns me like the sun
Everyone is having fun• Commented on by judge. Prewrite -
Out of my mind / Feels so free / The chains of sanity / No longer bind me / Running fast / Towards the ledge / A mind as twisted sharp / As the razor's edge / The voiceby Nihilist Monk 24 lines, 3 comments, on May 29 5:03 PM 2007. In Life, Dark, Thoughts, Other, Angst, Society, Lyrics, My life, Depression, Depressed• Commented on by judge. Prewrite
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by Angel w o Wings 34 lines, 52 comments, on Mar 19 11:46 PM 2007• Commented on by judge. Prewrite
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So you want trouble?by Armoured Heart 45 lines, 12 comments, on May 17 5:25 PM 2006. In Dark• Commented on by judge. Prewrite -
you know i love you but i cant tell you why / i think that in my dreams all you do is die / im always hiding and waiting for you / but you• Commented on by judge. Prewrite
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In the school boiler room
rises the sweet smell of deathby The Void 30 lines, 7 comments, on Apr 11 9:42 PM 2007• Commented on by judge. Prewrite -
Death’s Call
Death came for me on saturnine wings• Commented on by judge. Prewrite -
by MistressAkasha 36 lines, 5 comments, on Mar 21 11:37 AM 2007. In Dark Dream• Commented on by judge. Prewrite
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I hit the surface
everyone laughing
thinking• Commented on by judge. Prewrite -
Is this fantasy, is this real
What I see, what I feel?• Commented on by judge. Prewrite -
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The cobweb strands that dangle from my fingers,
Brush gingerly against the troubled stone,• Commented on by judge. Prewrite -
by giggety 39 lines, 13 comments, on Mar 9 5:30 PM 2007• Commented on by judge. Prewrite
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The mirror shows no shadow
my pain is stained on the walls• Commented on by judge. Prewrite -
The cold steel flashes from my hand
Slow liquid silver glinting harshly against the sunby ImprintedAFTERMATH 31 lines, 9 comments, on Jan 24 1:00 PM 2005. In Angst• Commented on by judge. Prewrite -
death is pretty don't you think?
dark red blood just a deeper shade of pink• Commented on by judge. Prewrite -
You walk, going through / the motions of life, / eyes vacant, / your body an / unoccupied vessel. / You’ve caged your soul / in a tiny room• Commented on by judge.
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Ripples like a pebble to a painter’s stream
These wounds these scars make haste to team• Commented on by judge. Prewrite -
Tears fall down my cheek / At first slow and steady / Falling one by one they kiss my pillow / How did I get so lost? / How did I get so alone? / Tears fall down my cheek / Falling just as fastby JacquelynK 25 lines, 1 comment, on Jun 19 10:45 AM 2007• Commented on by judge.
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Hating you will be a game / Played with frigid eyes / And a black heart / I will tell thirsty crowds / Everything about you / And they will• Commented on by judge. Prewrite
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All through me life, I was trapped in a cage.
The loneliness, the sadness and in the depths of despair.• Commented on by judge. Prewrite -
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A dark period, as usual.by Wulfareika 29 lines, 3 comments, on Sep 23 10:40 PM 2006. In Dark• Commented on by judge. Prewrite
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Black flower flourishing / cracking, shifting, shattering in what once was / a heart / wonder and want so briefly known / the Gardener / of small growths and buds / in the shadows bad seeds planted / poison gush• Commented on by judge.
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The nexus of my soul / Thrown askew by agony / My vapid life trickles away / The genesis of death / The ethereal being / Rapines my heart / Showing my dismal existence / Crimping my progressive destruction• Commented on by judge. Prewrite
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Creatures lurk in many places
Even though they have same facesby Black Sweetie 11 lines, 2 comments, on Mar 3 10:45 PM 2007. In Dark• Commented on by judge. Prewrite -
my heart was filled with love, and slowly its been drained / now its filled with heartache sorrow and pain. / I once loved him so much, heby trace3grls 19 lines, 2 comments, on Jun 12 4:29 AM 2007• Commented on by judge. Prewrite
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Here is my story, before I go / Because Iam going to die, for a reason you should all know / My name is Alice, I just turned seventeen / The best present i got was to know the worlds so mean / I have been hurtby kimba 23 lines, 9 comments, on Jun 18 3:03 AM 2007. In abuse iam 16• Commented on by judge. Prewrite
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She loved her children / She hated to go / But the pain in her heart / Just wouldn't let go / Watching over her / Staring down / The nightmares surrounded her / Bearing her down / There was noby Green-Eyed-Goddess 19 lines, 1 comment, on Jun 28 12:24 AM 2007. In Abuse, Angst, Dark, Love, Sad, Personal, Pain• Commented on by judge. Prewrite
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love is like falling rain / hitting hard the window Pain! / everything that you said wed gain / was washed aquikly down the quickly filling• Commented on by judge. Prewrite
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Encased by society,
shackled by morality,• Commented on by judge. Prewrite -
The days come and go, / Emotionless tears fall from my eyes, / The pain in my stomach is like a / Thousands knives, / Twist and turn, / sto• Commented on by judge. Prewrite
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sometimes when i come home i like to sit in my car for a while before i go inside. / if it's pretty outside like when the sun goes down i sby Schmonny 41 lines, 5 comments, on Jun 10 12:13 AM 2007. In dark, gloomy, pessimistic, megalomaniac, fantasy, lonliness, sad, depressed• Commented on by judge. Prewrite
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Written: 12 / 11 / 06 / Where the beginning ends, / Where the end begins, / Here from heaven a message sends, / A change is needed / Among this race. / A new dawn to be, / A new dawn of grace. / And how willby lostprophet1 76 lines, 1 comment, on Jun 13 8:25 PM 2007. In Fantasy, Hope, Life, Spiritual, Thoughts• Commented on by judge. Prewrite
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It's late at night and everyone else is asleep
I feel as if I'm the only one in the house• Commented on by judge. Prewrite -
Sick, sick, sick but i can't get enough
I was always a girl who liked it roughby Redtearstains 42 lines, 2 comments, on Jun 20 4:06 PM 2007• Commented on by judge. Prewrite -
words drip from between / those lips and they drag me downby impurfekshun 12 lines, 2 comments, on May 5 7:14 PM 2007• Commented on by judge. Prewrite
Add a comment
Comments
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I would like to obtain a new submission number and put my entry plastic lies into this section.
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Plastic Lies
Why is this happening?
Suffocating from your controlling ways.
I want it all to end.
I am counting down the days.
Make me bleed ragged dagger.
End my pain rusted bullet.
I want to escape with the sunken pills.
Finish off all of me that is upset.
Together we appear to be happy.
Yet when we are apart all I do is cry.
Overloaded from deception from both sides.
All I can remember were those small plastic lies.
Numb me from the world I was brought to.
I want to be an empty, hollow shell.
Shoot my life away.
Send me into another hell.
The pain has ruled me for far too long.
But the vodka doesn't satiate.
I have an appointment with the devil.
Everything in my life I hate.
And your lies are the chains that suffocate you.
We both already know the score.
What now, it doesn't matter.
Nothing matters anymore.
Author notes
And Your Lies Are The Chains That Suffocate You
and I used the whole word bank. Honestly, I am not depressed but for some reason I feel that it is not too difficult for me to write on the dark side. The poem is about someone who is in so much pain and is tired with being fake and living with someone who says what's wrong with one more little white lie.
Entry Alteration #2007MC2
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thank you for this unique occasion to have our work read and judged in such a professional and caring way ... even if my poem has not been approved in this section, I am more than content to have placed in two other sections ...
thank you again so much for the investment of time and energy in this adventure ...
maa
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