Poetry competition CLOSED 28th January 2019 3:57pm
WINNER
ImperfectedStone (The Gardener)
ImperfectedStone (The Gardener)
RUNNERS-UP:
eswaller
and PoetsRevenge
Bone - Celebration of Mary Oliver
...and Death Came
Tell me Mary,
what did you hear when eternity was calling?
how did it feel to pass through that door?
because in the darkness beyond
all the stars shining in the distance
were saying your name.
All your strength and courage,
all your wisdom and experience,
never left your side,
at the pass into infinity
I’d to think you smiled peacefully ,
serenely
because you gave this world something so valuable.
The legacy you’ve left behind…
the works of art that fill the heart with wonder
are a testament to the human race
that when death comes we should not fear
leaving this earth
but look forward to becoming immortal.
#MaryOliver
what did you hear when eternity was calling?
how did it feel to pass through that door?
because in the darkness beyond
all the stars shining in the distance
were saying your name.
All your strength and courage,
all your wisdom and experience,
never left your side,
at the pass into infinity
I’d to think you smiled peacefully ,
serenely
because you gave this world something so valuable.
The legacy you’ve left behind…
the works of art that fill the heart with wonder
are a testament to the human race
that when death comes we should not fear
leaving this earth
but look forward to becoming immortal.
#MaryOliver
Written by wallyroo92
Go To Page
Bone (A Soul)
1
One day I went down to the beach
and lay on the cool sand, my ears heard it singing.
Or maybe it was the surf, or the beetles in the grass.
I closed my eyes and felt the vibration of its tenor
stirring me to love, love, love, trust, or just
awakening me to acknowledge it.
2
My bones sunk into the sand
and rested against its language,
their thousand pages of words telling me
I am like them, and of belonging, and of god.
I never prayed but lifted a mussel shell to the sun.
I felt its hard edge against my hand as sand grains
blew over me. It was curved like my ear and
I think it heard me with its multitudinous blues
and pearlescent insides not unlike my own.
I think it may have heard the ocean
calling it home, because I heard it.
3
And I think we became sisters
in that moment and got to know each other
as kindred souls although I didn’t touch a soul
only a shell, an exoskeleton of a once alive thing
surrounded by other things once as alive as myself
and gulls or crabs stirring its rest crackling it
into the other broken things that were
once alive.
4
I heard the wind unsettling these things,
I heard it again in the dunes.
It cupped my ears as it blew and
in this way I knew:
The soul is a sum of many things;
that what I heard was simply
the sound of those many things.
That what I heard was
simply a soul.
.....
#MaryOliver
One day I went down to the beach
and lay on the cool sand, my ears heard it singing.
Or maybe it was the surf, or the beetles in the grass.
I closed my eyes and felt the vibration of its tenor
stirring me to love, love, love, trust, or just
awakening me to acknowledge it.
2
My bones sunk into the sand
and rested against its language,
their thousand pages of words telling me
I am like them, and of belonging, and of god.
I never prayed but lifted a mussel shell to the sun.
I felt its hard edge against my hand as sand grains
blew over me. It was curved like my ear and
I think it heard me with its multitudinous blues
and pearlescent insides not unlike my own.
I think it may have heard the ocean
calling it home, because I heard it.
3
And I think we became sisters
in that moment and got to know each other
as kindred souls although I didn’t touch a soul
only a shell, an exoskeleton of a once alive thing
surrounded by other things once as alive as myself
and gulls or crabs stirring its rest crackling it
into the other broken things that were
once alive.
4
I heard the wind unsettling these things,
I heard it again in the dunes.
It cupped my ears as it blew and
in this way I knew:
The soul is a sum of many things;
that what I heard was simply
the sound of those many things.
That what I heard was
simply a soul.
.....
#MaryOliver
Written by PoetsRevenge
Go To Page
This was a very difficult comp to judge because of developing circumstances regarding Mary's death; and, yet it wasn't. The main thing we sought was simplicity, as Mary was known for: simple language, simple format, and simple message ( with depth ). The second was the focus: nature, nature, and, nature vs self. Third was form; Mary was not ornate; she was down to earth - a barefoot traveler through the world leaving very little footprints. She didn't draw attention to herself, but to nature and its power to restore and heal.
That being said, the winners are as follows:
Poppy, your entry gave us chills when reading it. The language was simple and the essence was clearly Mary Oliver. Congratulations on placing first.
PoetsRevenge, we felt we were on the beach communing with nature throughout your entire entry, lulled by the lapping of waves into tranquility. Congratulations on placing second.
Elena, your entry was a flowing stream of words that we journeyed down effortlessly as if in a whitewater raft. Congratulations on placing third.
Honorable mention:
Kathy, we felt like we were watching a lifelong struggle become resolved through self-discovery.
Congratulations to the winners, and a special thank you to each for honoring such a prolific poet.
See you at the next!
That being said, the winners are as follows:
Poppy, your entry gave us chills when reading it. The language was simple and the essence was clearly Mary Oliver. Congratulations on placing first.
PoetsRevenge, we felt we were on the beach communing with nature throughout your entire entry, lulled by the lapping of waves into tranquility. Congratulations on placing second.
Elena, your entry was a flowing stream of words that we journeyed down effortlessly as if in a whitewater raft. Congratulations on placing third.
Honorable mention:
Kathy, we felt like we were watching a lifelong struggle become resolved through self-discovery.
Congratulations to the winners, and a special thank you to each for honoring such a prolific poet.
See you at the next!
Anonymous
Well done everyone, especially the four aforementioned ladies above! Mary Oliver would be satisfied to know her footprints left in the sand of this world will never be washed away from our minds and hearts. ❤📝
Congrats to the winners.
And once again, a big thanks to Ahavati and Johnny for sponsoring such a wonderful educational series.
To think, they posted this comp right before Mary's death. Sigmund Freud said there are no such things as coincidences. I couldn't agree more.
Epic artwork Mr. Blaze.
And once again, a big thanks to Ahavati and Johnny for sponsoring such a wonderful educational series.
To think, they posted this comp right before Mary's death. Sigmund Freud said there are no such things as coincidences. I couldn't agree more.
Epic artwork Mr. Blaze.
Congratulations everyone! It was a pleasure to be a part of this one. Until this competition, I wasn't that familiar with Oliver's work, so I thank you all for helping me to discover her wonderful poetry, as well as introducing me to some of your own inspired works, inspired by hers. As a nature enthusiast, I thought most of the entries were wonderful. This truly was a beautiful competition, and the timing was impeccable, so thanks for hosting it!
I am at a loss for words... I am truly honored to stand alongside PoetsRevenge as runner up. A huge congratulations to ImperfectedStone for winning. Mary Oliver is one of my favorite poets, so this competition means a lot to me. And to think that this was started before her death... somehow this was meant to be. I thought there were many amazing pieces here and I hope her work continues to inspire all of us. Thank you Ahavati and JohnnyBlaze for hosting.
Anonymous
snugglebuck said:Congrats to the winners.
And once again, a big thanks to Ahavati and Johnny for sponsoring such a wonderful educational series.
To think, they posted this comp right before Mary's death. Sigmund Freud said there are no such things as coincidences. I couldn't agree more.
Epic artwork Mr. Blaze.
Likewise on the coincidence.
Thank you for the compliment, SnuggleB. I've done almost a dozen portraits of poets and writers and have two more to show off in the next two comps.
And bless you for taking the time out to acknowledge our efforts and the efforts of the winners.
And once again, a big thanks to Ahavati and Johnny for sponsoring such a wonderful educational series.
To think, they posted this comp right before Mary's death. Sigmund Freud said there are no such things as coincidences. I couldn't agree more.
Epic artwork Mr. Blaze.
Likewise on the coincidence.
Thank you for the compliment, SnuggleB. I've done almost a dozen portraits of poets and writers and have two more to show off in the next two comps.
And bless you for taking the time out to acknowledge our efforts and the efforts of the winners.
So many heartfelt poems posted true to the honored poet's work, impressive collection we have amassed here. There are some real talents on DUP. She was a joy to learn about. Thank you to the hosts.
Congrats to PM, PR, and ESW.
Congrats to PM, PR, and ESW.
Thank you so much. I have been so hit by one, being introduced to her by you both, two, finding in her a kindred spirit and three, her death. This contest has truly been something I will treasure and be grateful for forever. Thank you A and JB.
Thank you to all our gracious participants for braving Mary Oliver - she was such a naturistic trooper who eschewed focus on herself for nature. How she will be missed despite the resonance of her presence living on.
We hope to see you all do the same with Maya Angelou:
https://deepundergroundpoetry.com/forum/competitions/read/10611/#438256
And Pablo Neruda
https://deepundergroundpoetry.com/forum/competitions/read/10615/#438262
We hope to see you all do the same with Maya Angelou:
https://deepundergroundpoetry.com/forum/competitions/read/10611/#438256
And Pablo Neruda
https://deepundergroundpoetry.com/forum/competitions/read/10615/#438262
This has been an artful and touching journey with amazing lessons learned about writing from the heart..
I'm so pleased to have been a part of such a meaningful project..
I congratulate the other winners, PM and ESW and Kathy, your poems were sublime, heartfelt and impressive, it really is an honor to win as all the entries were so amazing and plentiful and the inspirations so strong..
Thank you so graciously to Ahavati and Johnny for hosting this endearing tribute, I look forward to more classically inspired writing :)
I'm so pleased to have been a part of such a meaningful project..
I congratulate the other winners, PM and ESW and Kathy, your poems were sublime, heartfelt and impressive, it really is an honor to win as all the entries were so amazing and plentiful and the inspirations so strong..
Thank you so graciously to Ahavati and Johnny for hosting this endearing tribute, I look forward to more classically inspired writing :)
Thank you, Ahavati, for the announcement, and heavens above - even made room for me as an Honorable Mention - that to me is just as much an honor. To be a part of any of these Classic Corner competitions is a wonderful stretch, and experience.
To Poppy, PoetsRevenge & Elena - sisters three as wordcrafters, please accept my congratulations in light of my awe.
Kathy
p.s. It happens I'm about to enter my contribution in the Caged Bird/Angelou competiton.
To Poppy, PoetsRevenge & Elena - sisters three as wordcrafters, please accept my congratulations in light of my awe.
Kathy
p.s. It happens I'm about to enter my contribution in the Caged Bird/Angelou competiton.
