Jewoo525
  Gold Member

Hey good luck everyone! Just wanted all the regular folks know I’m going to be taking a break from writing and competing to focus on my applications due in a month!

But I’ll make sure to come back to read and comment when I get the chance. Good luck again y’all! more »

excellent choices John, many I have pinned myself…

wow! That’s so cool! Unfortunately I don’t think we were ever class mates, I was a freshman there back in 2018 and have since moved schools- but what a awesome coincidence. You must be a very proud uncle. What a small world! more »

oh cool! Yes Boston would be correct my man. I am currently back home in South Korea, but I used to study at Northeastern.

Thanks Steve! I gotta read your recent ones again, they always warrant repeat reads. I’ve been going through the contest entries again today dropping comments, thanks for stopping by for mine- I always appreciate it my friend. more »

Well, reading the poem's background makes me re-think a lot of what I was interpreting from it initially... But overall I enjoyed this piece a lot during my first readings of the contest entries.

I thought that all the mystique the piece generates with its almost cryptic lines is rooted in the structure and content of the writing. Speaking on what changes and what provides permanent "through-lines" in nature and the ever-changing seasons. The structure of the piece, with its disjointed line endings, lack of permanent rhyme scheme, and haphazard line breaks, drives the progression of ideas forward- occasionally resting on a few places, much like how the seasons would. My favorite lines were "threads sewn by a jet," and "cure normalcy so." It felt to me that despite all of these contrasting things, they are all ephemeral (seasons, elements, etc). Although they last for different times and are there by different means (snow, the jet artificially creating a streak in the sky, grief, and sadness), they all will pass.

At least that's what I got from the words and the reasons why I enjoyed this piece so much! When I read these phrases, the content, and the unique way they were structured together, I couldn't help but conjure this association in my mind. If unintended cerebrally, perhaps it was the author's poetic intuition that took over to create such a genuine piece.

Either way. Well written, I enjoyed it. Thank you for sharing and keep writing! more »

In a world of automated answering machines, I feel this poem captures the timely frustrations of a person seeking out some real connection or communication. Phones and calls are supposed to be tools to connect us, yet; it seems there are more barriers to controlling and limiting it than there are methods to aid it. From tin cans and wire to cell towers, to AI. I loved the almost chronological progression of communication technology the author adds to demonstrate the timeless elements of these problems, in contrast to, perhaps, how timeless their attention and care for the other person also is.

The final line, the ending, on top of being incredibly relatable to the very problems I just described adds a bit of humourous irony to the whole situation. I loved this poem and had to re-read it a few times to appreciate the full depth of it- I just wish others could have appreciated it and recognized it as well. Great poem. Keep writing! more »

Where to start with this excellent sonnet? I loved the use of homonyms and the excellent turn of phrases that not only adhere to the meter but also give it a personal flair that makes it interesting and fun to read. "blood everywhere is read" to signal the turn and "the way you justice do is sadness" are my favorite lines from this piece. It's just the right amount of mystery but paired with such engaging and fun lines that I can't help but want to pry more about what or whom the author writes about- the perfect setting for a Sonnet in my opinion.

I otherwise do not like metered pieces during the contest, I often feel they are done for the structure's sake and not much to aid the author in what they want to express; but, this piece was truly an exception. Knowing that Sonnet 18 is the (in)famous one we all probably learned in English class, I started reading this poem by first rolling my eyes at the title and expecting a soupy love poem, but I was genuinely and pleasantly surprised!

Well done, what an exceptionally interesting submission. I loved reading it. Keep writing! more »

Oh, the daily Sisyphean trials of the corporate machine! I usually don't like poems with such extended rhyme schemes, especially if they are simple; however, I truly appreciated how in this piece, the structure itself lends itself excellently to the author's rhetoric of the dolorous repetition and expectations of the modern workplace. Every stanza adheres strictly to the rhyme scheme, each detail added to the slog of getting through it- and I loved every moment!

I relate to the frustrations of this world and I see how it could people down, this poem made me think of that but in a nuanced way- this poem's other strength is its subtlety. The author doesn't need to make his intended message known through hamfisted statements, just the final line of the final stanza is the quiet rebellion from the repetition that leaves the reader with everything they need. After reading the poem's background, perhaps I am reading too much into it and projecting- but more power to the poem and the genuine feelings it invokes!

Great poem, solid choices. Keep writing! more »

Wow! I love the imagery in this piece. The rhyme scheme, in contrast to how short the piece is, adds a certain "longing" to the overall poem- it's like, I want it to continue but there's no more to show. The structure itself emphasizes how you must have felt returning to that place. Reading the poem description helped me associate that last part, but even without it, the imagery was strong enough to conjure up the feelings of that place for a reader who has never been there. I especially love the lines that personify the screen door- so haunting!

An excellent piece that deserves recognition. I would love to see more of your work, please keep competing! Keep writing. more »

Great poem John, and congratulations on your win! Well deserved!

I was initially, quite honestly, a bit thrown off by the quote in the beginning. Not my style, but the writing below was just so good I had to keep it on my list- and of course, it was written by a master! I loved the use of the metaphor "autumn limb," and your use of words like "mangled," "raptor," "razor," etc despite describing a rather sublime scene truly aided the piece's rhetoric.

Describing nature as it is, is something I love writing about myself, this poem shows me I have much to learn. Love the simplicity, and the overall meaning- great work! Keep writing. more »

At first, I thought it was a Haiku! Either way, I was very glad to see a concise poem submitted to the contest. It is hard to write a poem with fewer words than more, yes, but I think it's harder to have the courage to submit these shorter-form pieces into the contest as well- so extra props for that.

In such a few words, you can conjure up excellent imagery! The reader is immediately able to see an image that their heart is drawn to. This fact, paired with the title, naturally guides the reader to think of a night sky filled with stars- although the association isn't forced by any means. This is supported by the choice of phrases gently "suggesting" rather than "commanding," which invokes an inclination for the reader's imagination to comply.

Truly excellent writing and a lesson in disciplined word choice/phrasing. I would love to see more of your work in the future, please keep competing. Keep writing! more »

As I read this poem, I got a good chuckle at the various cultural references and grounded-fantastical elements that added to the narrative style. The first line revealed to me, or perhaps was written in the intentional perspective of, someone in a period of their life (25 years old probably?) who has become largely disillusioned with society's rituals and faced with the harder realities of budding independent adulthood. I too, am just turning around that age and this poem resonated with me as it makes me think about who the holidays truly are for. At the awkward age of being too old to receive gifts, yet nowhere near the place of being able to gift all of my loved ones freely, the "spirit" of Christmas eludes me...

I think this poem captures those frustrations in a fun, free way; that, if anything, highlights the hypocrisy of perpetuating these ritualistic expectations we have of each other around this time of the year- while simultaneously collectively forgetting what Christmas is all about! Fun writing, poignant submission. Keep writing! more »

Congratulations to all the winners this month. Shoutout to John for a winning entry this month and for having one of the poems on my monthly list! I'm glad the community agrees and recognizes the piece.

Here are my ten favorites (in no particular order) for this month: 1. Santa Goes Bankrupt, 2. On Beauty Untamed, 3. Cold Camper, 4. Coming Home, 5. Transmogrification, 6. All Is In Order, 7. Sonnet #18, 8. Your Call Is Important 9. Aphonic 10. Atlantic City

I will be making my rounds to comment on the individual poem's pages as usual, I encourage everyone to do the same with their favorites. Until next month, keep writing! more »

Excellent poem. Its ability to capture a moment in its entirety is what drew me to vote for it ultimately. I have participated every month this year, and I have yet to read something as pure and personal as this poem. The writer distills every complexity and inner turmoil, with the discipline and restraint required to give it the gravitas that everyone can relate to without needing drawn-out personal anecdotal examples. The poem encapsulates not necessarily a moment in chronology, but the emotional period sparked from this encounter. The time is not important- as permanent is the impact this event has had on the author's life and memory- the writer draws the reader into perfect empathy with just a few lines and an intriguing title that gives just enough detail to latch on to.

I was so impressed when I read this poem. Although I'm unsure if its simplicity will draw the attention of others to vote for this, I genuinely believe this is one of the best examples of what good poetry looks like. I applaud the guts the author had for submitting a piece like this to the contest- please know that the thoughtfulness of the piece did not go unrecognized. Even if this is an amateur platform, I would not be surprised if this person has had previous experience in writing.

It's poems like this that inspire me to continue writing and submitting my work here, knowing that there are really good writers on this platform. more »