Vixility's comments

I’m a sucker for traditional, rhythmic poetry … awesome piece

Love the philosophical import this poem presents: reminds me of Philo’s concept of the Logos. Also appreciate the rhythmic pattern, the cadence and the diction used to impart the poem’s point.

Couldn’t agree with you more, Sue. This is the kind of poem that inspires writers to write!

Wuh-wow! The imagery in this poem is flawless! THIS is how free verse poems ought to be written—after the short-lived style of the Imagist movement and poets like Amy Lowell and Hilda Doolittle.

So impressive … you’ve got real talent. more »

So much said in so little space. Simple and powerful and beautiful.

Delightful poem and fun read. Well deserved win.

The shopkeeper Dvoyrele's daughter is calledPretty Mirele, MireleAnd Dvoyrele says that her only comfortIs Mirele, Mirele.The sun shines by day, the moon by night,And Mirele stands by the window and laughsLaugh, Mirele, Mirele.This Mirele is graceful, sweetly beautiful,This Mirele, Mirele.She has white hands and white teeth,Ah, Mirele, Mirele.The boys all grow pale with longing,But Mirele's heart is colder than ice,Oh, Mirele, Mirele...Nothing but sighs float up to the sky,Oh, Mirele, Mirele,No one can eat, no one can sleep,Oh, Mirele, Mirele,All the hearts are bursting with ache and pain,But no one can move the frigid heartOf Mirele, Mirele.The years flow by like water,Look, Mirele, Mirele.Your beauty has already come to an end,Oh, Mirele, Mirele,Your face is haggard, your head is bowed,Your eyes are bloodshot, your braids are grey...Light from the stars and moon at night shinesOn Mirele, MireleShe stands by the window, mournful and pensive,Oh, Mirele, Mirele...The clouds drift here and there,A tear drops from Mirele's eye,Weep, Mirele, Mirele! more »

So good! I had no idea what this poem would say after having read the title— personification, eloquent language, a lovely rhyme-scheme and a humble warning against arrogance and self-complacency … a lot.

It reminded me of a song I first heard almost a decade ago: Mirele. more »

Love it and definitely can relate to its existential themes …

Lovely.

Hi there. You have a seven day period to (hopefully) read all the submitted poems. After that, you are afforded one vote for a single poem out of the 150. The winner will be announced on the eighth day.

I’m sure you’ll find, as most of us do, that after having ‘pinned’ several poems it is very difficult to narrow down your vote to one poem. Good luck!! more »

100% agree with Sue … an exceedingly creative and rather mystical notion: the poet’s desire to BE the poem. Almost reminds me of the opening lines of the Gospel of John:

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” more »

Powerful piece! Made all the more so considering your personal experience of it.

Sad this little girl had to endure it; happy she’s alive ..

Also, excellent opening quote !!

A heartbreaking tribute, I completely sympathize with the poem’s sad bewilderment of warfare and the collateral damage it brings.

By the way, have you read Artuso’s poem: “Collateral Damage”? It was submitted in this contest … powerful, sad, with a tiny, tiny glimmer of hope. more »

THIS! This was definitely an original piece, and I—we, everybody!—can relate to the ‘blah blah’ BS that gets idiots into power.

I can safely say you didn’t hold back …

Lovely piece. Almost expressed in terms of an existential glimpse of things. I especially appreciated the lines:

“Get out of your head,
Get out of your tiny world;
Beyond, it is vast.”

Sounds like something Emily Dickinson would say (“Our lives are Swiss”), and reminds me of Spinoza’s ‘sub specie aeternitatis’.

Again, thank you for sharing … more »

I love and appreciate the allusion to Scamander in the closing stanzas … you are clearly a well versed and educated poet.

The thing I really love about this poem is its originality: the menacing symptoms of COVID expressed in terms of the Celtic god of thunder … priceless!

And the imagery—my God, the imagery! Richly rhythmic, clearly Homeric, and (humorously or not) exceedingly convincing.

You never, NEVER cease to amaze me with your poetry, Sue … more »

Really enjoyed this piece. Life can be so overwhelmingly busy at times that you almost don’t have time for yourself (that’s not necessarily a complaint). Thank God for that 20 minute coffee break!

Loved the ‘pitter patter’ ending … more »

Tenderly eloquent and sincere, I could feel the longing anguish of the writer. Beautiful metrical cadence, lovely use of language, and a wonderful, wonderful tribute poem for Lindsay … I hope this poem wins. more »

I would promote or submit this poem to a contest if I were you …

Unbelievably beautiful and full of emotional power, this poem is one of your best. The sympathy and compassion expressed in these lines are profoundly moving. The story behind its inspiration … heartbreaking.

The results of each contest months are typically posted on the 8th of the following month. My guess is that they will be posted sometime later today … hopefully.