Contest inspiration & points by Dolores, aka Lady Ireland. Thank you, Sis! 
Let this song be your inspiration: Only Our Rivers Run Free
- As performed by The Wolfe Tones
- Category: Freedom, Ireland, The Troubles
Only Our Rivers Run Free
When apples still grow in November
When Blossoms still bloom from each tree
When leaves are still green in December
It's then that our land will be free
I wander her hills and her valleys
And still through my sorrow I see
A land that has never known freedom
And only her rivers run free
I drink to the death of her manhood
Those men who'd rather have died
Than to live in the cold chains of bondage
To bring back their rights were denied
Oh where are you now when we need you
What burns where the flame used to be
Are ye gone like the snows of last winter
And will only our rivers run free?
How sweet is life but we're crying
How mellow the wine but it's dry
How fragrant the rose but it's dying
How gentle the breeze but it sighs
What good is in youth when it's aging
What joy is in eyes that can't see
When there's sorrow in sunshine and flowers
And still only our rivers run free
-Performed by The Wolfe Tones
Contest Images: Harp, Irish Flag; and Tri Flag of Ireland. Wikimedia, Public Domain.
Copyright Statement: All song rights belong to the respective authors/composers
and this material may be copyrighted. Please inform us if your rights are violated.
Contest is Over
- Contest was judged on October 16, 2008
- Rewards: Gold: 1000, Silver: 600, Bronze: 400, Honorable mention: 12 people
- Final notes: Thank you all for entering your heart-stirring poems in our contest. Your soul-felt words were heard, and your shared love for freedom in the world rings throughout each and every piece. The winning selections were a very difficult decision to make; and were based in part on the overall depth of the sincere feelings expressed for our freedom-loving humanity, as felt by the judges; as well as imagery and relevancy of meaning, especially in the portrayal of the sacrifices made by our martyrs for the cause of freedom, within each poem. Thanks again, I am so proud of each and every one of you - it is great to know there are so many gifted poets with hearts of gold!!! Peace & Love Always, Cyn P.S. Thank you for your contribution of points, Lady Ireland!!!
Contest Winners
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Destiny bleeds strong
in riversby ears2hearyou 32 lines, 17 comments, on Oct 9 12:57 AM 2008. In Contest, Hope, Life, Contemporary, Society, Humanity, Family
Bronze trophy winner
• Commented on by judge. [remove] - Error: Unable to find finalist item 4666621, it seems to have been deleted :( [remove]
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The oceans that cannot contain me
The rivers that cannot run free• Commented on by judge. [remove] - Error: Unable to find finalist item 4666175, it seems to have been deleted :( [remove]
Gold trophy winner
Silver trophy winner
Honorable mention
Entries [8]
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Comments
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wow...such a beatiful song
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Thank you!!!
Hope to see your entry!!!
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can it be a sad poem? Im alittle too stressed to write something hopeful and happy
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Let your feelings be your guide!
Wherever your muse takes you, and take care of yourself!
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my muse is feeling very..sad. as am I, well sad and down right sick of the world and the people in it. so ill enter
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Oh Slayer sent me to this song, said it was His favorite one and it is beautiful.
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Thank you for visiting, and yes, it is beautiful...
I hope to have your entry, Chez, you ARE Erin's poet.
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My entry is already there hun...as if I wouldn't
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Wow! Nice flow of the lines, nice rhythm in them. It read like a song, like real poetry. I personally find it really hard to construct lines like this and really respect you for being able to do it so well. There were some lines that didn't really fit into the rest of the poem though. The phrase, "I drink to the death of her manhood
Those men who'd rather have died
Than to live in the cold chains of bondage
To bring back their rights were denied" specifically seemed a little more awkward than the rest of the poem.
I also really liked the idea of this poem, and the main line, "And only the rivers run free", which was really meaningful in bringing this whole poem together. I think it's really great. Good job! -
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Thank you!!
What a thoughtful comment you've left for this piece - I hope you'll find the time to enter into the contest; you have a flair for writing, I can see!! Thanks for stopping in today, I appreciate the kudos, too!! Take care, Peace, Cyn
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Oh.. This WAS the contest, not a contest entry! lol I misunderstood. Yeah, I think I will join this contest. I'm a Celt and love this style of music.
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only our rivers run free.
Although not a nationalist I found this so touching and insperational, and can understand the ethos behind the sentiments.
As someone who struggles to express my feelings in the written word, i find it very moving indeed.
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