We Are Beautiful and Ugly Too

A big thank you to all who paid tribute to this month's featured poets. As in previous months, these are very difficult to judge, and sometimes come down to a simple typo or grammatical error breaking a tie. This month was no different.

Call it emulation, we seek the essence of the classic author in the entrant's own style - not just replacing words of existing poems, but writing as though they were those classic authors ( regardless of form utilized ).

Our Classic Champions, as we like to refer to them, work HARD, and it shows in their writing. They study and deliver without any borderline plagiarism. They double-check spelling, grammar, form, guidelines, and put forth their heart into these comps.  

We recognize that effort and award accordingly, judging on a scale of 1-5 spelling, grammar, punctuation, form, and content - while the most important question we ask ourselves is this:  Did we feel like we were reading a classic poet?

All that being said, congratulations to the following winners!

First Place: Russell Snow

Like John Henry hammering in a railroad spike, your entry Opportunity nailed it the hardest by capturing the essence of Hughes as well as his style, effective use of repetitions and language. You really captured his civil rights attitude and social justice vibe in this. An excellent offering in your very first series of Classic Corner challenges; you proved yourself a serious contender here.

Second Place: PoetsRevenge

You likewise nailed Hughe's essence and language with Southern Mammy Sings (Hung Up On A Dream), but were ever so slightly edged out by Russel in terms of style elements. This is superb poetry in diction and form - the reference to stained laundry is a phenomenal metaphor.

Third Place: Josh

You did a phenomenal job in Crossed Wires keeping your subject matter relevant to an issue Hughes would have been passionate about.  In the inspirational poem, Hughes comes to terms with both sides; thus comes to terms with the past, as well as himself in current times.  Your attention to the detailed history was certainly appreciated, Josh.  We liked that you adopted the same form/rhyme as 'Cross'—thus, closely emulating Hughes' style.

Honorable Mentions go to wallyroo92 and Case28 for uniquely told compelling entries regarding social upheavals and tribulations of continental magnitude. You were both passionate in your pleas for a wake up call to national powers-that-be a and bringing awareness to the reader of the plights of common people.

And a round of applause to everyone else who braved Hughes!

Congratulations to everyone for quality entries; thank you again for honoring the classics.  We hope to see you in this month's Classic Corner Champion challenges!

https://deepundergroundpoetry.com/forum/competitions/read/11245/

https://deepundergroundpoetry.com/forum/competitions/read/11244/

Congratulations to the winners and all who braved Hughes this month!

Congratulations Russell - a well-deserved win, formidable entry and a great read. Well done PoetsRevenge again. Am honoured to find myself as a runner-up. And thank you to the judges J&A, fine-tuning their examinatory powers to the submissions.

Congrats to Russel, your poem was impressive in reflecting the complex rhythms of jazz and blues, as well as all those other attributes Johnny mentioned, are you a musician? Youre certainly a poet..

Congrats to Josh, your history lesson in your poem was really informational and reflects things that never seem to change and the ironies that came through in Langstons poems, the style reflecting his so closely..

This comp was really a unique challenge in poetry style and in reflecting deeper human struggles, increasing our sensitivity as poets in what we write and reflect on.  All the entries were interesting examples of that..

Thank you to our hosts, Johnny and Ahavati for hosting your classic comps :)

Thank you all, especially to Ahavati and Johnny. Not only for hosting a terrific comp series but driving conversation afterwards. It makes the process all the more rewarding for the effort that we put in.

For this win, I am completely honored, as this write completely surprised me. I learned a ton about the perspective and uphill climb of the black intellectuals becoming comfortable to write in their own voice. The essay by Langston Hughes, The Negro Artist and the Racial Mountain, is a must read for anyone interested in his work as well as jazz in general. The syncopation style was certainly new to me as a writer, yet a familiar sound in music I've always heard. One of my favorites of course is by Joe Turner- Shake, Rattle and Roll- rhythm and blues leading the way into the rock and roll era in the 50's. This is a live performance by Joe Turner if you are interested:
https://youtu.be/YhELpSeeipg

Congratulations to everyone who participated and thanks, again!