Hi everyone, this is my 228th contest I believe. I have entered a ton of them, hosted a ton of them and read a gazillion poems on this site in my three years here. But lately I find there is a lot of poetry floating about that really doesn't matter, in other words it says nothing, has no lasting impact and is forgotten about as soon as you finish reading it.
So what I want is poetry that matters, that has a voice and something profound to say. I don't want cute, or emo or dirty pretty, what ever that is (haven't figured it out yet), I don't want to just say awww, nice, I don't want to read about a chicken or a canape, because frankly I don't care, I only eat them, lol,
I want whoa. I don't consider a lot of topics cliche, because it becomes only cliche in how it is written, let's face it over the last two or three centuries probably everything that we could think of has been already written about. So cliche to me is if you say it in the same way, not that you wrote about an already well-written topic.
Use metaphor, imagery, emotion, impact and focus. Reach down deep inside and pen me something that has depth, and that makes me think and feel, but most of all wish that I had written it.
In return I am giving out some big points and will give each entry a thorough review. I reserve the right to remove any pieces that I find are not what I am looking for or up to the caliber expected. If I do remove your piece, you may enter again if places are still available and try again.
I will be asking for assistance in judging as I want to have a few opinions to be able to choose the right winners. I want to make sure that truly the best pieces win, not the one that appeals just to a judge's personal preferences, (yes we are human and all have them), but the piece that poetically is truly the best.
Ok that's about it, I am not placing any limits on form, lines or style.
I do ask that you comment on each others work, not a rule, but it is just a nice thing to do and fosters a great poetic environment in which people can learn and grow.
You may reserve, but make sure your entry is completed well before the deadline or I will remove it to allow someone else to enter. In other words don't tie up the spots until the contest closes and then dump something in there.
Ok that's it folks, hope the contest intrigues you enough to write something great!
If this contest does well, I think I will make this a regular feature here on AP.
Off you go and hop to it!, Hugs, Bunny
UPDATE: I have started removing poems from the contest that don't display the level of depth, focus, creativity and poetic beauty that I am looking for. Please do not be offended, no insult is intended and you are all welcome to try again. I suggest reading the poems on the finalist list so far to give you an idea of what I am looking for. It might help you to take note that religious and love themes tend to leave me cold. While they reflect the writers deep faith and or emotion, they rarely have a deep impact and that is what I am looking for, the impact that will be universally felt by all who read the piece.
Thanks all
Bunny
So what I want is poetry that matters, that has a voice and something profound to say. I don't want cute, or emo or dirty pretty, what ever that is (haven't figured it out yet), I don't want to just say awww, nice, I don't want to read about a chicken or a canape, because frankly I don't care, I only eat them, lol,
I want whoa. I don't consider a lot of topics cliche, because it becomes only cliche in how it is written, let's face it over the last two or three centuries probably everything that we could think of has been already written about. So cliche to me is if you say it in the same way, not that you wrote about an already well-written topic.
Use metaphor, imagery, emotion, impact and focus. Reach down deep inside and pen me something that has depth, and that makes me think and feel, but most of all wish that I had written it.
In return I am giving out some big points and will give each entry a thorough review. I reserve the right to remove any pieces that I find are not what I am looking for or up to the caliber expected. If I do remove your piece, you may enter again if places are still available and try again.
I will be asking for assistance in judging as I want to have a few opinions to be able to choose the right winners. I want to make sure that truly the best pieces win, not the one that appeals just to a judge's personal preferences, (yes we are human and all have them), but the piece that poetically is truly the best.
Ok that's about it, I am not placing any limits on form, lines or style.
I do ask that you comment on each others work, not a rule, but it is just a nice thing to do and fosters a great poetic environment in which people can learn and grow.
You may reserve, but make sure your entry is completed well before the deadline or I will remove it to allow someone else to enter. In other words don't tie up the spots until the contest closes and then dump something in there.
Ok that's it folks, hope the contest intrigues you enough to write something great!
If this contest does well, I think I will make this a regular feature here on AP.
Off you go and hop to it!, Hugs, Bunny
UPDATE: I have started removing poems from the contest that don't display the level of depth, focus, creativity and poetic beauty that I am looking for. Please do not be offended, no insult is intended and you are all welcome to try again. I suggest reading the poems on the finalist list so far to give you an idea of what I am looking for. It might help you to take note that religious and love themes tend to leave me cold. While they reflect the writers deep faith and or emotion, they rarely have a deep impact and that is what I am looking for, the impact that will be universally felt by all who read the piece.
Thanks all
Bunny
Contest is Over
- Contest was judged on February 6
- Rewards: Gold: 2000, Silver: 1000, Bronze: 500, Honorable mention: 2 people
- Final notes: Thank you all for your patience while we tried to choose the winners of this contest. There was a lot of wonderful poetry to choose from which is exactly why I held this contest.
I did remove over 100 pieces from the contest and I want to thank everyone who entered for their understanding as to what I was looking for and for not being offended when I removed pieces.
I wish to thank my Co-Judge Tenthousandcicadas, as always ten your poetic insight is phenomenal, I would not have made it through without you.
This has been a great contest of which I can truly say was filled with Poetry that Matters! Hugs, Bunny
Contest Winners
- Error: Unable to find finalist item 4828235, it seems to have been deleted :( [remove]
-
Walking midriff visions precipice path
juxtaposed mortality's monolithic faceby Roaddog Wolf 40 lines, 8 comments, on Dec 1 12:56 PM 2008. In Life, Thoughts
Bronze trophy winner
• Commented on by judge. [remove] -
• Commented on by judge. [remove]
-
• Commented on by judge. [remove]
-
• Commented on by judge. [remove]
-
by Luna Tique Fringe 67 lines, 17 comments, on Dec 2 10:17 PM 2008. In Contemporary, Vignettes, Adult, Personal, Slush Girls• Commented on by judge. [remove]
-
The girl sings to her scabs,
and forms a religion with the waterby TheCorrodedBreed 33 lines, 4 comments, on Dec 1 8:01 PM 2008• Commented on by judge. [remove] -
• Commented on by judge. [remove]
-
The stale shed blocks my view
of why I take the long way home.by RyanosaurusWrecks 38 lines, 4 comments, on Dec 3 12:18 AM 2008• Commented on by judge. [remove] -
• Commented on by judge. [remove]
-
One withered hand, upon
another. They walk• Commented on by judge. [remove] -
There was a town, with all brick houses
And all the bricks were bright redby wastebound 78 lines, 8 comments, on Dec 5 2:21 PM 2008• Commented on by judge. [remove]
Gold trophy winner
Honorable mention
Entries [24]
1 - 24 of 24
Add a comment
Comments
1 - 10 of 10
-
ok, It's up. Hope you enjoy it
-
-
That is a lot of pressure Bun, but I will try my best!
-
I think i have just what you are looking for. You won't find anything like it here on AP. Unfortunately it was written some time ago. But if you are curious it's title is " Flight One Twelve" : )
-
To say that a poem doesn't matter is entirely an opinion. There is no objectivity in that.
-
-
Well let me put it this way, I read a poem about popcorn, it bored me and did not matter, of course that is to me, I forgot the poem 2 minutes after I read it. I am sure the poem mattered to the author, in some way, shape or form. But more because it was written by them and not for the content I suspect. Regardless this is a contest only, and yes someone has to judge it and that would be me. I am not a harsh judge and not even being critical of those that write on more light hearted or personal themes. Just that I want to read pieces that are so good that I wish I'd written them and that months down the road my mind will drift back to a certain line or a turn of phrase and I will remember the beauty of the piece once more.
-
-
Well, that's great. I'm glad you won't judge my entry by some godly standard that I am unaware of.
It sounds like the poetry that you're looking for is mine...Ha! Just kidding.
-
-
-
Thanks so much you guys ...always such an inspiration...congrats to the winners...Rich
-
Thank-you for hosting Bunny! Thank-you for co hosting ten! This was a wonderful contest Congrats to the winners
Hope to see more of these in the future 
-
Thank you all so much for the gold nod! It really made my day and I am so pleased and proud that my piece was selected. Congrats to everyone else, especially my beloved Demon Childe Rob, who by the way did a phenomenal job, and again, thank you for hosting such a meaningful and powerful contest. It really did set the bar to the skies.
Adding your comment:
1 - 10 of 10
