An Alchemy in the Bones
The first element is fire.
The second, seed.
The third, blood.
The fourth, danger.
The fifth, desire.
My bones have grown mouths,
have grown paths,
have grown rivers
of lead transformed,
and I am coursed through
with a better, killing blood,
and my bones are singing
their songs of lives lived in flames.
Teach me to wear fire.
Teach me to transmute
every stinging cell until
I am covered in flowers.
by William Reichard
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+ left justified
+ solid backgrounds
+ meaningful confessional narrative tones
+ strong metaphor
+ if you want a critical comment then ask for it specifically,
otherwise I do not give critical comments
+ welcome quietly burning as my co-host and judge
+ please do not send emails to me full of your silly assumptions
or I will promptly put you on ignore.
Contest is Over
- Contest was judged on December 1, 2008
- Rewards: Gold: 600, Silver: 300, Bronze: 100, Honorable mention: 5 people
- Final notes: This contest was a challenge to judge as there were several trophy worthy poems but more importantly there are some truly great works in this contest, so I hope you will all take time to read them.
Sometimes people ask me what sets a poem apart from another poem, especially in the contests at All Poetry. The latter part of that question is easier to answer than the former, so I will get it out of the way first: subjective tastes and preferences.
Having said that, I believe that many judges here work well together to come up with the most fair combination of finalists for any given contest.
As writers we must know that we are both free-spirited and limited but not every day is the day we write our best work; as judges we must also be humble because we too have been on the green and gold sides of contests. You have heard it before but let me share it with you again, these contests are not indicative of any finality so much as they are a momentary experience where one writer of equal talent tapped into the great sphere of creativity and nailed something that bumped their poem up a notch.
From a subjective point of view, I look for a poem that is sharing something with me that I cannot find anywhere else except inside that poet. It is the most difficult of deliveries. I want to read poetry that is particular to the poet; I want that poet to show me somehow that their unique experience or story can in a universal way touch me at my core with that one gesture.
Again, there are several really amazing poems in this contest. The top poems seemed to touch on a universal theme while delivering their personal story and the contest did ask for "meaningful confessional narrative tones." I suppose that could mean different things to different people but I felt the top finalists were the strongest.
Steve did not judge this contest with me and I was out of time, so if you want throw stones...throw them in my direction. Knock out a window while you are at it...or better yet go read some great poetry!
Peace.
Zayra
Contest Winners
-
• Viewed by judge. [remove]
- Error: Unable to find finalist item 4760963, it seems to have been deleted :( [remove]
- Error: Unable to find finalist item 4766589, it seems to have been deleted :( [remove]
- Error: Unable to find finalist item 4773064, it seems to have been deleted :( [remove]
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by MJ Donnelly 16 lines, 10 comments, on Nov 10 8:13 AM 2008. In Personal, Thoughts
Honorable mention
• Commented on by judge. [remove] -
Lit quietly
an embryonic tribal dance• Commented on by judge. [remove] - Error: Unable to find finalist item 4759763, it seems to have been deleted :( [remove]
-
by a pale flame forget yourself
again-• Commented on by judge. [remove]
Gold trophy winner
Entries [28]
1 - 28 of 28
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"teach me to wear fire"
draped me in flames of the phoenixby lunarlunacy 15 lines, 12 comments, on Nov 9 11:33 PM 2008• Commented on by judge. -
• Commented on by judge.
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I am drawn to you like a moth to a flame
With great disregard to my own pain• Commented on by judge. -
I see the wounded men
screaming to the sun,by TheCorrodedBreed 21 lines, 6 comments, on Nov 10 12:42 AM 2008• Commented on by judge. -
Flames of innocent purity
smoulderedby ears2hearyou 52 lines, 4 comments, on Nov 10 2:06 AM 2008. In Contest, Hope, Life, Nature, Contemporary, Happiness, Spiritual, Society, Humanity• Commented on by judge. -
by Lavender Butterfly 16 lines, 4 comments, on Nov 10 2:51 AM 2008. In Thoughts• Commented on by judge.
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His plumage glows in splendid hues
in reds and golds of turbulent flame,• Commented on by judge. -
It is not often
that I read something whichby obsidianrose843 23 lines, 1 comment, on Nov 24 9:19 PM 2008• Commented on by judge. -
I was a small child, then
after birth and before the hammers fell.by Everlasting-Fallout 24 lines, 1 comment, on Nov 27 8:57 AM 2008. In Life, Pain, Personal, Spiritual• Commented on by judge. -
Excite me
to ignite my desiresby Purush 12 lines, 1 comment, on Nov 25 7:17 AM 2008• Commented on by judge. -
How can it be
that you and I are so differentby trekkergirl 20 lines, 1 comment, on Nov 25 11:40 AM 2008. In contest• Commented on by judge. -
When I read about god and the burning bush it gave me a good idea
we could do the same, I’m sure many would come along to cheer• Commented on by judge. -
extinguish me between your fingers
put me out.by redvelvettears 13 lines, 1 comment, on Nov 25 7:31 PM 2008. In fire, love, this is not about you, broken, extinguish, simple as it looks• Commented on by judge. -
The tent is filled with wind,
the snakes in her hair.by Dragomiloff 44 lines, 2 comments, on Nov 27 6:16 PM 2008• Commented on by judge. -
And not just because
I want to map your gutsby evidently 19 lines, 5 comments, on Nov 28 2:53 PM 2008• Commented on by judge.
Add a comment
Comments
1 - 12 of 12
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Oh I am so pleased to see you here with a contest to get teeth into
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Love the poem and the concept, Zayra - lovely!
~ Nicolette
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oh wow, what a powerful prompt
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Bookmarked.
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Hmmm,
So hard to imagine, given the poem used as a prompt, to write past a faint reflection of this five-reader. Perhaps, if I stir the waters into a chop?
Great prompt. -
soo bookmarked.
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will write if I can.
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to say i am honored would be an understatement...
your contests always challenge and delight me
thank you -
Thank You
Once again, you have brought out what, to my own mind, is some of my best work. I often say that true poetry is born naked, that if an honest voice is to resound, even the wounds much show, the stigmata of our sorrow, and the scabby knees of lively play.
More often than not, your challenges reveal the poet, adorn them with a liscense to bestow art with that we would be known to say, as opposed to pretty lace and empty but well arranged small talk.
All I will say about my success here, is that I feel so honored to see myself between the two incredible poets above, that I can't even explain the affirmitive value of the suprise.
To the prospective reader, never mind mine, read gold and bronze... -
I think that is one of the finest and simplest explanations of critical analysis I've ever read ... that deserves gold
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I love you, ya know. That picture of you belongs on your next book, Zayra ~ it's gorgeous! Thanks for hosting, Sweetie. Congratulations to Mary, Rob & Guy, among the other incredible entrants. Happy holidays, Poets & Scribes.
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Thanks Zayra.
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1 - 12 of 12
