Two shootings this week. One in the US, and one in Germany the following day.
I don't feel like saying much more right now.
Please use your common sense to decide what is appropriate for this contest.
One entry per person, no prewrites.
Update: I changed that rule. If you have written anything related to the topic, you can enter it into this contest. I'd prefer some more "fresh" writes anyway. And you can now enter up to three poems.
This song just popped into my head... Take a listen to it, if you like...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vqy6Kr89K-o
Update 16 Mar 09: Today I found out that a 15 year old student from a school in the town I live in threatened a shooting... He was questioned by the police and suspended from school, but returned to home to his parents the same day... That student goes to a school that is directly next to the school my brother attends.
My grandma tried to call the local authorities, and was told they had all already left off work. There was just one guy who said he didn't know anything about that, he told her to call the police instead and ask them.
So she called the police, but no one seemed to take this threat seriously... They said a few policemen would be near (probably not even in!) the school tomorrow...
And the students attending that school were not even informed properly about what was going on.
I'm furious.
I don't feel like saying much more right now.
Please use your common sense to decide what is appropriate for this contest.
One entry per person, no prewrites.
Update: I changed that rule. If you have written anything related to the topic, you can enter it into this contest. I'd prefer some more "fresh" writes anyway. And you can now enter up to three poems.
This song just popped into my head... Take a listen to it, if you like...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vqy6Kr89K-o
Update 16 Mar 09: Today I found out that a 15 year old student from a school in the town I live in threatened a shooting... He was questioned by the police and suspended from school, but returned to home to his parents the same day... That student goes to a school that is directly next to the school my brother attends.
My grandma tried to call the local authorities, and was told they had all already left off work. There was just one guy who said he didn't know anything about that, he told her to call the police instead and ask them.
So she called the police, but no one seemed to take this threat seriously... They said a few policemen would be near (probably not even in!) the school tomorrow...
And the students attending that school were not even informed properly about what was going on.
I'm furious.
Contest is Over
- Contest was judged on April 29
- Rewards: Gold: 400, Silver: 250, Bronze: 150, Honorable mention: 3 people
- Final notes: First of all, I would like to apologize for the delay in judging this contest. I wanted to comment on all the entries before ending this contest, but as you can see, I haven't managed to do that by now... If I haven't commented on yours but you would like a comment from me, please don't remove your poem from this contest yet!
A big thank you to everyone who took the time to write about the horrible events that have happened recently as well as in the past years.
The winning poem is the one that touched me most in a personal way. Please take the time to read it, it's worth it. The poem I'm talking about is "Safe No More.". This poem wins the gold.
There are a few more poems I really liked a lot.
One of them is "Pack a Lunch Instead" which is written from an unusual perspective which made it a very interesting read. This poem is the silver winner.
The bronze trophy goes to "Mourning Mother's Second Sonnet", a poem that was not just written about the horrible things that happened, but about hope and faith.
The following three poems will be awarded an HM each:
"It's Insanity!"
"surviving the hallways"
"The Right To Bear Arms"
Thanks again for contributing to this contest and making it worthwhile.
Keep on writing!
Annie
Contest Winners
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• Viewed by judge. Prewrite [remove]
- Error: Unable to find finalist item 5137589, it seems to have been deleted :( [remove]
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Kids killing kids
what’s the sense in all of this?by Kathleen a Nazarene 36 lines, 11 comments, on Mar 13 4:23 PM. In Life, Sad, Society, Spiritual, Inspirational, Message
Honorable mention
• Commented on by judge. [remove] -
by lowercase prelude 20 lines, 8 comments, on Dec 1 12:05 AM 2008. In Contest, Society, Pain Honorable mention
• Commented on by judge. Prewrite [remove]
Gold trophy winner
Silver trophy winner
Entries [10]
1 - 10 of 10
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Oh Dad, I always knew the rules.
You made some mistakes but youby Judith Chandler 43 lines, 7 comments, on Mar 17 4:44 PM• Viewed by judge. -
Tainted kisses
convey myselfby sillsill44 13 lines, 2 comments, on Apr 28 9:11 PM 2008• Viewed by judge. Prewrite
Add a comment
Comments
1 - 17 of 17
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First thing, I thought about you...
I am so sad about what happened in Germany, LittleAnn. I hope it wasn't near where you live.
Of course I will write a poem for your contest. 
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It was in the south, about 230 miles from where I live. But 230 miles are nothing, it could just as well have been my school.
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Yes, or anybody's school... everybody's school. Such tragedy touches us all, for we are all vulnerable to the insanity and cruelty of others. I am so sorry for the families of the victims. It is just beyond imagining.
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It's sad but: until guns are banned this will continue. I am shocked Germany's gun laws are so lax. I expect nothing else from the Americans who enjoy killing each other.
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Germany's gun laws aren't lax. That's why it is so shocking. It happened very close to where I live and I have two children in school.
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I read that the killer's parents owned 18 guns! That seems a BIT lax!
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This is a very important topic and I hope you get lots of entries. Right now, I just don't know what to say.
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Thank you for the comment
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I looked on the wikipedia to see how many there have been and it's over 50 in the U.S. dating back to the 20s; 5 in Germany, though all very recent (in this decade) followed by 3 in Finland (for the most in Europe), one in Denmark, and one in Scotland - sad statistics.
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My original piece for this got booted out when I wrote a new one, if you want to open this up for more than one write.
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I opened the contest for up to three poems per participant.
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It appears something is wrong with the judging so I'm withdrawing my entry.
Adios Muchachos -
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I'm sorry you got that impression, I just have not been able to judge this contest yet due to lack of free time. Once again, sorry.
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I deleted my poem "Memories of Thuringia" from your contest as you didn't bother comment on it which saddened me.
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Did you fail to read the final notes?
"First of all, I would like to apologize for the delay in judging this contest. I wanted to comment on all the entries before ending this contest, but as you can see, I haven't managed to do that by now... If I haven't commented on yours but you would like a comment from me, please don't remove your poem from this contest yet!"
I was going to comment on your entry. By the way, in some parts it reminded me of "Die Harzreise" by Heinrich Heine.
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Thank you for the HM trophy
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You're welcome! Thanks again for entering my contest!
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