NATIONAL POETRY MONTH UNOFFICAL CHALLENGE WINNERS

Hello, all Vocalites, Poets and friends!

The time has come! First off, I just want to say, where I was a few weeks ago to now feels like two different people, I'm not even exaggerating. When I first came up with the idea for this challenge, my head was on another planet. Not a good planet. I couldn’t put words on paper for the life of me that didn’t have to do with journalism. And since it was National Poetry month, that made me sad, because I had almost forgotten how to write. Life’s been steady for once and I didn’t know how to write about it. I’m used to writing about the things that stir around in my mind because it’s easy to regurgitate it in poetry. I’ve always been in the ‘tortured poet’ genre, until now. Since reading all your poetry I have written multiple poetry entries and even started a fiction mini-series! But I'll bore you the deets since you probably want to know who the winners are.

But reading poetry isn’t what did it, it was reading FRESH poetry felt right on the spot. You guys reminded me how it works.

To be able to feel the "weight of silence" on the spot and think about it and put it into words as Paul Stewart shows us in his poem. Or how Carolina Borges describes the weight that motherhood brings in her poems in her everyday life on the spot.

Or how being inspired by fog! And how it moves from blur to clarity! By Henrik H in his The Edge of Fog.

Or the way Angel Hepworth captured the ocean and its grounding nature in comparison to our mortal lives, or the way Christina Vanhaerents puts into perspective what it truly feels like to be drowning.

Or how Dharsheena expresses 'on the spot' conflict and confrontation in Watch Me Spit Venom.

I could keep going but I’m too excited to announce my picks!

With just under 60 entries, I read each one, over and over. Every time I settled on a winner, I was like "no! this one needs to place, or this one! No -this one!!"

I must've had like ten first place winners lol Which is why I know why Vocal picks runner ups and now honorable mentions, not because they want more winners, but because choosing ONE just makes no sense, which is why I decided to come up with a third-place spot and some honorable mentions.

Without further ado- Please applaud the winners below!

In third place- The Weight of it -by Carolina Borges. $5

I literally went back and forth between her poems of motherhood. Inheritance and The Weight of it were both as equally profound. Inheritance had a subtle honesty, one I found to be more drawn to, but the ‘The Weight of it’ was raw. Mortal. Real. Carolina Borges expresses so deeply allowing someone like me -a single woman, to see a glimpse into her world imagining what her day-to-day life is like.

In second place- Class 103: -by Brenton F -$10

I had to pick my jaw off the floor when I read Brenton F’s poem. I obsessed a little. Stalked a little. Read so many of his works including his interview with Heather Hubler. At the end of Brenton’s poems, he adds a song to complement each poem. Whether it makes sense or not.

There is nothing I appreciate more than someone who introduces me to new music. One thing about Vocal is I have been introduced to the best music on my playlist and its usually artists outside of the US. I’m a little ashamed to admit I have never heard of the Fontaines D.C till now, and that’s poor on my part! I now have added the ENTIRE album to my playlist and just recently come to find they played in ATL this week. Not too far from me lol

Back to Brenton- his artistic- carefree side of his personality really shows in his work. He is relaxed and hardcore at the same time. His writing is the kind of un-hinged that people are attracted to. The reason I chose Brenton’s poem was because how it made me feel when I read it. Part of poetry isn’t all about the writer, but how the writing is received. It could make no sense to one person but move the right one.

Keep writing Brenton!

And for first place, drum roll please!

Weight in Silence -by Paul Stewart $20

Paul’s poem was my first entry, and he sure held the bar high with this one. For as long as I’ve been on Vocal, I’ve watched Paul’s writing progress. He’s reached new heights in his work. When I read Weight in Silence, it immediately pulled me in. Each line kept building and I truly felt that weight. It’s a feeling we have all felt. You can’t escape it. Silence can be so loud sometimes. Paul delivers every angle to silence. But also, how it connects every human interaction with it.

Well done, Paul!

Honorable mentions:

Candlewick in Shadow -by Novel Allen

https://shopping-feedback.today/poets/candlewick-in-shadow

The Daydreamer -by Lamar Wiggins

https://shopping-feedback.today/poets/the-daydreamer-mi27ta08dr%3C/p%3E%3Cp class="css-14azzlx-P e1ccqnho0"> Games - by Kelli Sheckler-Amsden

https://shopping-feedback.today/poets/games-1j13ec0vyu%3C/p%3E%3Cp class="css-14azzlx-P e1ccqnho0">The Whispering Brook- by Tim Carmichael

https://shopping-feedback.today/poets/the-whispering-brook-6ta0gun%3C/p%3E%3Cp class="css-14azzlx-P e1ccqnho0">Pieces of a Puzzle -by Cristal Beikd

https://shopping-feedback.today/poets/pieces-of-a-puzzle%3C/em%3E%3C/p%3E%3Cp class="css-14azzlx-P e1ccqnho0"> April needs a cool shower- A last minute entry by L.C. Schäfer

https://shopping-feedback.today/poets/april-needs-a-cold-shower%3C/p%3E%3Cp class="css-14azzlx-P e1ccqnho0">Diminish Ramblings – A last minute entry by Lightning Bolt

https://shopping-feedback.today/poets/diminishing-ramblings

Thank you to all the entries. I could keep highlighting some more. I know in these community challenges we award each other in tips if we can, but ultimately these challenges are for the fun of it! But if you loved a poem why not send a dollar or let them know.

This challenge was not only fun, but something that will stick with me for a lifetime because of what I was able to take from it. How poets need other poets.

You can read all entries here!