The Golden Torch Flower, Phillipines
Closing Nette’s contest was a hard thing for me to do. I didn’t want to do it. Why didn’t I foresee how difficult this would, emotionally? Why did it come as such a wallop?
I’m concerned for our Filipino Friend, sad we’ve lost contact. Here is another poet exrodinaire who was a real friend to me, free with her encouragement, kindness and inspiration, and someone I should have treated with more consideration.
I do know that people can just move on. The rational side of me (yes, I do have a rational side. ;-) ) knows this, but my heart has always held the seat of power.
The entries to this tribute contest were stunning! I can tell you really put effort into this.
I wrote one myself, and gave myself a HM, just so that if our girl sees this contest, I’m there, too.
Some poems entered did not indicate that they were inspired by Nette in any way so, unfortunately, I could not place them.
Thank you to all who reached out to our Soul Queen of Poetry. You guys rock. I cherish you all!
I am praying that the love here reaches her, wherever she may be.
Xox
Cyndi
1st Place
Her Silver, Tender Web
By Carrie Richards
When the sunlight breaks upon her face
Ascending like a lover’s eyes It listens to a gentle song
With notes that run, in whispered breath
A fleeting mood, that twirls aloft
And circles in a morning breeze
A mantra of incantation
Stirring thoughts to meditation
And rising lightly, against the dawn
The lilting voice, which calls her name
and whispers like a whippoorwill
Her poems are leaves, that dance and sway
Each word exhales, so crystal clear
A bubbling brook, sweet, crisp, and pure
She stands alone, this flower child
She writes with grace, without fanfare
But petal by petal, words tumble and fall
So softly heard, in whispered breath
A timid bird, a quivering chord
A sonnet of love, with languid words
Each note a spark, that kindles bright
A meadow lark, in spiral flight
Wings made of silver, she flutters along
With trilling voice that wraps around
A wreath of mist lifts off the ground
And skims rainbows, with every song
(inspired by Nette Onclaud’s Tenderly Hugged)
There are so many things which struck me about this poem. Nette is a poet who believes in using senses, saturates her poetry with music, with movement. Carrie did this. Certain words (like mantra, chord, spiral, trilling) were EVOCATIVE of Nette’s style. There were things which touched me, like the placement of the word wreath, as it was Nette who introduced us to the Wreath form (Yes, Carrie I caught that :) ) I know, just know, that Nette would love the reference to flower child. And I haven’t even mentioned the incredible assonance, the EUPHONY of this piece. The lines are delicate, the mood is never lost. The last two lines won this one its top position. Skim rainbows, indeed. Congrats, Carrie. What a delight to discover who wrote this!
2nd Place
Fire Brands
By Debbie Guzzi
with wanton cries of warning
stroke the waning moon
in the tongue licks of bonfire flame
dance oh dance, barefoot upon the loamy breast
of mother, let swirl within the orb of i
red embers of holy ash
let arms and legs akimbo tilt and rise
to point a beckoning finger to the passing light
milk white upon its sapphire slate
with wanton cries each man and maid unbraids
playful sirens singing to her opal
ringed and ringing instruments, shadows
painted the blue-green, black meadow
prancing star-clad round the
bonfire’s flames
A tribute poem for Nette’s free verse poem 'Uprooting the heart veins'
Speaking of what Nette would have loved. Here is one that she would have ADORED. Subtle repeat. Strong verbs. Careful, ever so slight, alliteration, Nette styling. Internal rhyme, distant but haunting (bonfire/sapphire) And imagery, oh the imagery... (prancing star-clad) and the metaphor continuing, freely. Again, this speaks of Nette, movement, dance, ABANDON, joy, passion... Congrats, Debbie. This is somehow all you, yet so much of her. I bow low.
Summery Personality
By Sara Kendrick
Serendipity happened
As the dancer communed
Poet's scintilla s and muse
Enchanting poetic expression
Dances like wind-tossed Dandelion
Fragrant perfume infuse
Summery, sumptuous person
Gifted poet whose poems not homespun
Whose words hearts seduce___
(inspired by Nette’s Moonlight Ballerinas)
Oh, so much in so few words. And PERFECT words (serendipity, scintilla, infuse, summer) to describe Nette. Again, we see a lot of movement, the use of senses, nice imagery. Slant rhyme. This poem has both simplicity AND sophistication, a hard mix to achieve. Congrats, Sara. Lovely work!
3rd Place
Where, When, How, Why, What
By Leonora Galinta
Before the dark obscures the sky,
I sat gloomily looking out of the window, wondering why
wishing one of the stars tonight will glide and send you smiles
right here in my heart: a feeling that cannot deny
creeping worries and gloom-----sinking to the bones
of my fear, I close my eyes, hope and pray. Here,
my heart trembles, fear of the unknown
ghost of formidable weather in the origin, and what
a pal humbly does, not to close the jar
spills the ink, not to count the molecules on air
if possible, pull down all the stars above
all in her wish you’re at best right where you are.
More thoughts of you, in succession comes
lighting the pent-torch in search of love ones
my echoes traverse, emotion balances: still,
the fleck spreads out and runs in a glut
sacred novena uncontrollably flooded since the start
my ranging gloom. However, excitement of our plans await
scribbling countless words….I wish my break swiftly comes on its wings
ink profusely flows releasing conglomerations of feelings
outpouring all the words from a pal’s warmest embrace
dream once dreamt printed on my hymn: the pledge
and the joys how we shared once through pen
light and happiness: worries no more
The power of ink, words unfold surge and drifts away as
my fingers open a glint of hope, I’m waiting
I love the feel of this one, the message at its center and its ... methodology. There are words.. oh again the words, which I know Nette would applaud... words like... novena, pent-torch, traverse... and that this is a poem about writing a poem to a poet who loved words... the word echo is used wisely, because (though this is original and creative) this poem has the feel of an echo... sad and haunting. Congrats on your win, Leonora. May the power of ink reach her.
Home to the Ocean
By Reason A. Poteet
While dreaming of my childhood ocean ties,
mem'ry's chandelier sheds light, somewhat eclipsed.
The essence of the salt still stings my eyes;
the rusty taste of iron hangs on my lips.
The ocean’s fragrant spray not quite so fair
as I recall; it makes me think of death.
Many a moon has set since I was there;
destiny speaks to me - my own last breath.
The ocean’s soft waves bring dulcet mem’ries,
my mama’s silk scarf brushing ‘gainst my face.
Turbulent storms always left me on my knees
under safe precipice back of our place.
It is there my dreams rest as I stand by;
it’s there I shall be buried when I die.
Inspired by Nette’s Even After Twilight Loves
I had contemplated highlighting the verbs in this poem. Oh, so well done! Bravo! There is a great deal of emotion in this piece, as well,a tribute to family ties, to HOME. Words that wowed me were: chandelier, dulcet, precipice. The last two lines resonate, craftily done by a good placement of repetition. Congrats on your win, Reason!
Two-Faced Tempest
By Andrea Dietrich
Wind, your double essence is well-known.
Whispered summer breezes you exhale;
Then suddenly you turn. You surge and wail,
Expelling rage, you bluster or you moan.
Your brute relentless nature then is shown
For you become a cyclone, Hound of Hell,
Or show yourself a monsoon, squall, or gale.
Unquelled, a devil’s wrath with dust is sown.
As you intone, we’re stricken by your power.
Whipping wind, who thrashes us below,
You’re merciless until that final hour
Your vehemence ceases. Gust, I hate you so.
You scour Earth for those who next must cower.
Two-faced tempest, most indeed you BLOW!
Stunning use of rhyme here, including its echo found within the lines (wail/expel, shown/cyclone, gale/unquelled, sown/intone, scour/power) Poetry voo-doo! I loved how the first word in the first line is a distant alliteration to the first word of the second line. The word unquelled is perfect! I liked the flow of this poem, its momentum. Congrats on the win, Andrea.
Frozen Souvenirs
By PD
(this is from a collaboration poem with Nette. Here are PD’s verses..)
Gently she is weaving in and out of her own bed near the sea ledge,
faith will be drawn in the sand near the watery shores
broken down heartsick sea walls of loneliness will triumph
yet another frozen sad mood, a shadow that feels like it will last forever,
only to rest upon her own will of over flown solitude lids
her eyes are still like fireflies throughout the ebony in the dark night sky
The lengthy halls carry echoes in which silence the memorized souvenirs
dusk announcing the end of another frozen day;
there she sits in an incubator waiting to hear her name in the wind
A deeper, more intense treasure she found in her own reflections
with an open mind she is in mourn in hopes that these feelings don't last long —
a few hours or maybe a day or two she will bliss it all away
Free verse stylin’ for one free verse scribe to another. ART! Imagery sprouting everywhere. Faith drawn in the sand, firefly eyes, sitting in an incubator... Dazzling internal rhyme (mood/solitude, own/flown, eye/sky) and word play, so much word play! I am a fan of changing verb/nouns, especially in free verse. To bliss it away really works here. Congrats, PD, on this gem!
4th Place
Nette’s Sonnet by Craig Cornish – An inspirational poem that speaks of strength and the tenacity of hope. Lovely, graceful, honest. Congrats, Craig!
Thanks Nette By Harry Horsman – I loved the contrast in this, poetry, a sentimental art and the hard man. Nicely done, an unfettered poem. Thanks to you, Harry!
Fireflies light the Path By Annalise Brigham Such a lovely image here, of reaching out, as that is what the intent is behind this contest, to reach out to Nette. Congrats, Annalise!
5th Place
Stolen Tears by Tirzah Conway – these tears do not feel harsh or regret-filled. Instead, there is a healing quality to this tidy monorhyme. Wonderful. Congrats, Tirzah.
The Gull by Shah Jehan Ashrafi How wonderful to think that a creature of freedom can be summoned through the peaceful practice of mediation. Nette would like that!
Tribute to Nettty Onclaud by Seren Roberts – the layered simplicity of a haiku. Enjoyed the image and the message. Congrats, Seren!
6th Place
Harmony Through Love by Wayland Bunch – hope eternal, found here. Lovely verse, good metaphor and a unique approach to the contest !Congrats, Wayland!
Nette’s Legacy By Joyce Johnson – A sweet poem with lines which made me both smile and cry, just a bit ... such a good tribute for Nette. Congrats, Joyce.
Your Words by Julie Alcin Such an honest poem, kindhearted and tender. Lovely tribute, lovely dedication. Congrats, Julie
NETTED by WORDS: HER SILVERED, TENDER WEB
Contest Judged: 2/19/2013 12:00:00 AM |  |
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