Honorable Mention Poems | Examples


List of Member Poems

Premium Member Honorable mention in My Song 2

Thinking of You   Lyrics By  Speaks Volumes

Glory - Honorable Mention

By its root, it means glory 
Like the end of great story 
But to others, it means fame 
Like the star of a hunting game 

One so famous with a spear 
In the hunt of elusive dear 
As a message, it is common 
As a sign of confirmation 

In some places, it's a dance 
If it's mixed with rabbit stance 
But in legend, it's a name 
For the one with might and fame

Honorable mention
Etymology of names poetry contest 
Judged: September 7, 2023

Premium Member Honorable Mention

When just a child the poet's mom said "Son
Throughout your life beware the sin of pride
Remember this when every day is done
What counts the most is who you are inside"

At first he thought his mother's words unfair
For recognition surely has its place
In time he witnessed prideful thoughts can flare
When undue adulation supplants grace

The poet took to heart his mother's words
Too many accolades can turn your head
Vainglory flits away on wings of birds
What's left is mostly emptiness and dread

Life immersed in modest exhibition
Satisfied with honorable mention


Honorable Mention

It is never one’s intention
Earning “honorable mention”
When you’re entered in a contest or a race.
Yes, you’ve gotten some attention
So that listing, by extension,
Means approval that you really should embrace.

Still, it’s not exactly winning
And it will not leave you grinning
For it feels more like a pat upon the head,
‘Cause you know at the beginning
All your hopes were proudly pinning
On that very first or second place instead.

Since most judgment is subjective
You must know that one’s perspective
May not match or be divergent from your own,
So it’s best to be reflective
Which is rather more effective
Than reacting like you’ve just been tossed a bone.


for Jerry T. Curtis' Contest Contest

Honorable Mention

Honorable mention, a clever invention
To stifle "not good enough"s blow 
An ego, conceited, though truly defeated
"So I am the champion?!" NO

Honorable Mention

Burning fire freezing air;
Heart’s desire feels impaired--
Nothing in this world is fair,
Burning fire freezing air.

Clip the crop with the sickle,
People fake; people fickle.
Greet the day and morning dew
With a smile not made for you.
Circumcise the newborn child,
Wonder why he grows up wild.
Send a hero straight to hell,
Say goodbye and wish him well.

Burning fire freezing air;
Heart’s desire feels impaired--
Nothing in this world is fair,
Burning fire freezing air.

I’m Held accustomed to believe
My heart is tattooed on my sleeve,
The haven of my holy dreams,
Is like a dying dove it seems.
Rest assured my rent is paid
On the ground where I’ll be laid.
Legend told of living art--
Rest in peace my beating heart.

Burning fire freezing air:
Heart’s desire feels impaired--
Nothing in this world is fair,
Burning fire freezing air.


Honorable Mention

On entering this contest I have to admit
The fame it will bring me when I push "submit"
Is all that I'm after -  my name in bright lights
The kind of attention I earned with my writes.

I used to get noticed for walking in late
To school, then to jobs, and even for dates
My family picked up on my one loud defect
And thought they could fix me - no disrespect.

They told me that dinner would be served at five
When seven was really the time to arrive
Two hours they gave me to help cure the curse
But of course I found out and the problem got worse.

Right now I'm supposed to be cleaning my room
Instead, I am writing, ignoring the broom
My shrink says that tardiness is a cry for attention
I'll clean my room later for an honorable mention.

Looking for the formal definition, structure, and history of this poetry form? Visit the Poetry Dictionary entry below. Then return to explore how PoetrySoup members bring the form to life through their own poems.

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