a soups winning poem - Shanity Rain's Blog

 If I knew what I know now.. have you ever heard that ?
I have entered 107 contest , I have placed 37 times , I believe . Not once would I ask anyone to remove me from the list if I did not place higher ?
I sponsored my 1st contest , I did not see names at the bottom , just numbers. I do believe a few names were there , yet not the one I am being accused of ..My opinion on that poem , It is a excellent poem , I thought I received it with a winners grace .. I did not know Honorable mentions are an insult ?  
The poem that some are very upset by, To me when judging this contest ,as my Husband Mark Kelley whom is just a member is about to explain from his membership . I have been up reading for 2 weeks in a row..
This poem again,  is not a losing poem ? It was quite long , and just did not get my attention as much as the other ones in place .

AS a member , I am baffled that this causes such ill feelings towards me .
I entered A Poem several times  "9-11 "  I thought because of the way it read many different ways , and the twin towers  , it was simply a piece of Art , and history , as what took place September 11th 2011 ,  in the USA here recorded . I thought it should have been showcased , at least on that day .It was not , it never won . I realized there are poets from all over the World , and just because we feel we were attacked does not minimize the other Countries that have had many attacks like this. 
In the end , It just did not Win , at all . But it did to me. I was very proud of My 9-11 poem , for it is mine , I wrote it , it has my signature on it .

Native American People was a wonderful contest ,. I enjoyed every poem I read, honestly I struggled moving poems from 1st place to 4th place and so on , at the end of it all, I would have given the 1st ten poems ,1st place and the next 5,   2nd .. I was very taken by the poems in that order and had no idea whom was SKY or Aboriginal Flight , I am really hurt that I am asked to remove my poems in the order given and that gossip is now being spread about me .   I may copy and paste exactly what appeared on my page when it was delivered and you will see NO name . just a number , I did not want to know names . Maybe if I knew names it would have influenced my decision , because I like all the poets here . I need to just say good bye for now.  I tried to change to NA and it will not , I gave everyone wins , because they were honestly  that good !  I just saw that my Friend and Teacher Richard was not chosen , and I adore his poems . Please note , I did not have names when they were moved and some had to be winners . I find this a little Crazy ! It is a contest ~ In fairness , it is just my opinion. That is all . Love not war , always :)

John Beharry Date: 12/21/2013 8:44:00 AM Hi Shanity, I admire your position in the ad for your contest "After the storm" by explicitly warning entrants not to put their names since you like to judge not on friendship for you would be way too biased. I wrote Poetry Soup on the matter of requesting names. Here is their position: "We agree with you. Asking for names bring into question the validity of contests. However, the sponsor of the contest makes the rules, not PoetrySoup. Frankly, we would not enter those contests." Have a wonderful day! Login to Reply

Kelly Deschler Date: 11/27/2013 3:09:00 PM Thank you for your nice comments, Shanity! I was not upset with my placement at all! Of course, we all want to win, but we can't be first every time! I am always thankful for any placement that I might receive. I think we take these contests too seriously sometimes, when it is just supposed to be for fun! :) Login to Reply

Skat A Date: 11/26/2013 11:07:00 AM Shanity, it's your contest. If someone doesn't like the way you sorted your winning list she/he should move on, and thank you for the thought. I don't know why poets are coming here acting as if their s--t don't st!nk. Everyone here has been hurt, offended by their placing in the contest. That's why I randomly enter any contest. My work's NOT perfect nor suitable to not be judged by others. I will join if the sponsor invites me directly. A few times I found myself not enjoying the poems entered in my contest. When that happens I will not give a first place, just to suit the entries. I will give many HM's on poems just to be NICE. I noticed you decided to offer every poem you rejected a spot on your list. That was wrong, and now seems like favoritism. You do not need to satisfy the poets, because it benefits you. How can you say DG had one of the best, and gave her a 15. I am confused. Love your work by the way..........SKAT Login to Reply James Marshall Goff Date: 11/26/2013 10:59:00 PM Wow, where's the love?

Tim Ryerson Date: 11/26/2013 3:37:00 AM Hi Shanity - Thank you for my placement in your contest...I second Jimbo's comment...ANY time I place in a contest, whether it be first or honorable mention, I consider it an honor. When I DON'T place, I understand that just because my poem appeals to ME doesn't mean it will appeal to the judge of the contest...Thanks again - Tim Login to Reply Kelly Deschler Date: 11/27/2013 3:11:00 PM I could not agree more, Tim!

Richard D Seal Date: 11/25/2013 7:33:00 PM Dear PST, Would it be possible to block the sponsor from seeing a poem entered into their contest anywhere on the site except in their entry box, and for the names of the writers to only appear after the contest result is posted. This is in no way a slight against the sponsors as I’m sure they judge honourably and fairly already, but it would give them some protection against being accused of any bias. I’m no expert so I’ll leave that for your wizardy brains to mull on. Take care, Richard Login to Reply Shanity Rain Date: 11/25/2013 11:11:00 PM Thank-you ! Excellent idea .. If you read the poems , some may have decided differently . I just read something about an HM is an insult when one used to judge ..on the different blog. I say to those angry , sponsor a contest , and let us see whom is chosen ?

Charlotte Puddifoot Date: 11/25/2013 11:37:00 AM multiple placements, because very often I find two or more poems that are equally good, both deserving of a 1st place or whatever...and finally, any judging based on friendship etc. has to stop, because it makes a mockery of the judging process; placements should be awarded based on the work itself and not the person... Login to Reply Shanity Rain Date: 11/25/2013 3:49:00 PM Thank-you . I appreciate that comment , for this was not personal , in my eyes ..these poems were so amazing , and I took judging them all very serious. I just do not what to say , I tried to NA a poem and it will not . so I gave everyone wins ! LOVE :) Poet Destroyer A Date: 11/25/2013 1:37:00 PM Sometimes when I'm reading poems, I find it easy to place a few 11-15 place, when poems are short, and have little imagery... Not Exciting at all.... Poet Destroyer A Date: 11/25/2013 1:30:00 PM When I give out an HM' #1. I'm clearly saying maybe next time. #2. Your poem is good but, too simple. #3. Your poem was awesome, but you did not follow the rules. #4. Lost the flow while reading the poem. Poet Destroyer A Date: 11/25/2013 1:26:00 PM I try not to give many HM's.. but sometimes many poems don't follow rules. My sister & I have had trouble in a few contests where every entry where plain and simple. We have given no first place at times. Poet Destroyer A Date: 11/25/2013 1:23:00 PM Charlotte, thank you for the unforgettable first place in your first contest... :-)...... Team Poetrysoup Date: 11/25/2013 1:02:00 PM Any judging based on friendships is just wrong and useless. It certainly needs to stop. We need a way to judge the QUALITY of contests...

Charlotte Puddifoot Date: 11/25/2013 11:34:00 AM personally, I think the contests should be run in the same professional way that contests are run by poetry societies i.e. that the judge's decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into...of course people are not always going to agree with the placements, but that's because personal taste in poetry differs so widely...one of the most fundamental aspects of being a writer is learning to take rejection on the chin...I don't like the idea of HMs or anything below a 10th place, because anything below a 10th doesn't register on our personal score boards, so really there's not much point in awarding anything below a 10...I do, however, like having the option of awarding Login to Reply Sandra Adams Date: 11/25/2013 11:40:00 AM well said Charlotte and I agree with you, we all have different tastes, we all write differently, how boring would poetry be if we all wrote the same? since anything below 10 doesn't score on our boards, isn't NA kind of the same thing?

Team Poetrysoup Date: 11/24/2013 8:51:00 PM It is up to the POET, not the contest sponsor (In this case Shanity), to remove a poem from a contest. Sponsors cannot remove it. It is not their responsibility to do so. It is the poet's responsibility. If the poet makes a mistake...oh, well. Onto the next contest. Also, remember, do not use a member's name in poems, blogs, or comments - unless it is positive!!! Login to Reply Poet Destroyer A Date: 11/25/2013 12:17:00 PM Thanks soup... Teardrop, Teardrop... LINDA

Poet Destroyer A Date: 11/24/2013 7:45:00 PM Thank you for the lovely HM.... S. Rain, I have enjoyed all the new visits, and fun comments. I had no idea many poets admire me and my poetry. I love the supporting community, the love each one left behind. Especially Ruben. ;-) Who took the time to visit my poem, and your blogs. I do hope he keeps his word and enters one of your future contest.... Thank you for everything... Love Linda" Login to Reply Skat A Date: 11/26/2013 11:20:00 AM Shame on you sis. I bet you wild this one purposely. Knowing you. hey Ruben on the bottom

Mark Kelley Date: 11/24/2013 5:17:00 PM Hello to all of you very special and talented people. I have watched my wife of 19 years struggle and drain her spirit to judge her first contest only to hear that some contestants want their poems removed because they didn't place hi enough ? Really ? Its called a Contest because the entries are contestants not because they are allowed to "contest" the results. If you are not a professional meaning you can lose as good as you can win than you have no business competing in any thing. Login to Reply Poet Destroyer A Date: 11/24/2013 5:55:00 PM My soup mails were urgent. Yes pushy, I was trying to reach you when I'd seen your first blog. Before you closed the contest. You did not respond. Sorry, you feel you have to attack, my reason for not wanting my poem in your contest.. Mark Kelley Date: 11/24/2013 5:47:00 PM the comment below is Shanity , for some reason The site is confused after he logged on and off.. Yes ..Mark knows where you are coming from , he is very intelligent and you keep reminding everyone how wonderful , 1st place your poem is , and boy. They better think so ..or else. This is SHANITY , Mark I am sure will speak for himself , he made the 1st comment and he knows I was reading poetry for many weeks . No names as accused . Poet Destroyer A Date: 11/24/2013 5:43:00 PM WOW! This person Mark, does not know where I am coming from. I asked for one little simple favor and decided my poem did not deserve the mentioning. That contest was not right for some reason. GEES... What the fudge, is going on. It is my freaking POEM>...< Mark Kelley Date: 11/24/2013 5:43:00 PM you e-mailed me while I was Thanking the winners , several angry times, actually I think it s pretty shallow to do this when winners are just getting noticed. Poet Destroyer A Date: 11/24/2013 5:40:00 PM Exactly Frank it is nothing... It is my poem, and it is not worth the mention. I can't believe she took it this far. I feel real bad that I can't trust no one on the soup. Mark Kelley Date: 11/24/2013 5:34:00 PM ok , here I am ! Mark Kelley Date: 11/24/2013 5:30:00 PM ohh lord, I have to log out , Mark logged in , and it will create more to say !! He wrote the 1st response, then I am commenting from his profile. Shanity Rain . Mark Kelley Date: 11/24/2013 5:27:00 PM Thank-you Mark . I don't feel like writing much anymore~

Poet Destroyer A Date: 11/24/2013 4:03:00 PM It is your contest and your decision on how you want to finalize the wins. Only you decide what you like. I should have never asked you to remove my poem from the winning list. I was trying to remove it last night after your odd soup mail. Once your contest was closed it was not an option. That is why I sent soup mail asking for the FAVOR. Thank you for the honesty, and keeping my poem on your list... I love all the attention it got.... Hugs.... Always LINDA Login to Reply Poet Destroyer A Date: 11/24/2013 4:22:00 PM You are not asked to remove the poems from the order you placed them... In my soup mail, i asked you to give me an NA... That means no placement. I don't think my poem deserved a placing in your contest. Poet Destroyer A Date: 11/24/2013 4:19:00 PM Last week, a poet placed my poem in her contest. After she posted the winning poems. My poem mysteriously disappeared from her winning list. I thought it was funny. I was okay with it. It is her contest. Poet Destroyer A Date: 11/24/2013 4:04:00 PM I wish the soup would allow a clicking buttons that allows us to remove poems from the contest. LINDA