Well, sponsoring my first premiere contest was an interesting experience, and a bit of a learning curve! I was expecting it to be more difficult, but I think I actually found it easier to have a predetermined number of winners and single placements. In addition to the three winners there are two commended poems, which I had to mark as 4th and 5th as there is no HM option for the premiere contests. It may be that I shall go back to the old system for future contests so I can award any commended poems as HMs. Anyway, on to the winners. All three have a haunting quality, and demand to be read several times.
1st Place - Wind-Felled by Anthony Mark
This poem held my attention from first line to last, and contains some very visual descriptions. There is excellent use of echoing internal rhyme throughout. Although written in the third person, the poet's ability to 'see' through the eyes of the small girl is quite remarkable. Nothing is overstated, but the last two lines are heart wrenching, with the little girl just wanting to crawl inside the hole in the apple to hide from the abuse. The style of the poem is quite raw, and this type of writing is becoming increasingly popular, with Bloodaxe Books in the UK publishing a number of edgy poets who write in a similar way.
2nd Place - Hideaway by Jenn Snowburg
Coincidentally, this poem deals with the same subject, albeit in quite a different way. In fact, it was nice to be able to contrast the two different styles on the same subject. This poem captured me with its strong opening stanza. It flows well from stanza to stanza, and has some nice subtle rhyme sprinkled throughout. The tone of the poem is cool but atmospheric, and it is altogether a very eloquent free verse. I see this is the first poem posted by a new poet on the site - and what a debut!
3rd Place - Aborted Vow by Nette Onclaud
Stunning imagery and creative manipulation of language is primarily what earned this poem its third place. There is a haunting quality to it, a cold despair which builds to the last line: "I have never heard a more immense cold than this.". The fact that the poet opted for 'heard' rather than 'felt' gives the ending tremendous impact.
Two commended poems (awarded as 4th and 5th places):
Memories of a Failed Engine by Rita A. Simmonds
Parallel Universe by Janis Thompson
Congratulations to the winners, and thank you to everybody who participated!