POETRY CONTEST WINNERS!
September 7th, 2004
We are at this point again! Furtopia's ever growing in popularity, Poetry Contest! We, the Staff and Mods were REALLY impressed with the creativity and heartfelt poems submitted. They were all great so this has been a VERY tough decision for all of the judges.
With that said, let's get on with the awards and comments we have all been anxious to hear! Each staff/mod was allowed to choose three (3) poems. Scoring a poem on a scale from 1 - 10. It was not easy with so many great poems and our sincere thanks go to everyone who posted their poetry to be read and shared with the Furry community, once again.
First Place: 26 points is:
"Untitled" by RavenessWolf
In an ancient medieval space,
At some forsaken village place,
Two young lovers eyes did meet,
Never did two truer hearts beat.
They danced, they twirled, fell in love,
Passionately touched under the stars above.
Never knowing someone jealously watched,
A cruel curse an amateur wizard botched.
He wanted her for his own, you see
To make the young woman his bride to be,
So he worked on a wicked spell for a night and a day,
And cast it while he assumed she was away.
Not only did it affect the man,
But in she walked to spoil his big plan.
It was too late to stop the curse,
So the wizard went to search for a reverse.
Not finding one to suit his need,
He proceeded with another dirty deed.
If he could not have her then no one will
And with this in mind, he set out to fulfill.
He found a spell that fit his desire
And went in search for an experienced wizard to acquire.
Gold exchanged hands and the spell was soon cast,
Locking the two lovers happiness in the past.
In that instant the young man became a creature,
Black as the night, with many a feline feature.
Her eyes went wide in fear and despair,
She trembled at him and continued to stare.
"What have you done?" She managed to exclaim,
But in the silence, no answer came.
When night did begin to rear its dark head,
His panther form he did happen to shed.
But alas, her body transformed
Into something soft, feathered and warmed.
Snow white feathers on a stark white owl,
Causing the man to furrow his now human brow.
Her fingertips forever stroking his ebony fur,
Human ears filling with only his rumbled purr.
Snow white feathers caressing his skin,
Binding their love deep within.
And in their hearts they made a silent vow,
To be with one another.. here and now,
No matter what, no matter the cost,
Their love was true and never lost.
~meCOMMENTS:
Savaaha - Her poem is well written, it grips the reader and tells a story of love. I give it a 10- even tho it is alittle much like LadyHawke.
Kada-Ru - I really enjoyed the poem because when true love comes your way, NOTHING, can tear it apart.
Second Place: 18 points is:
"Animal Magic" by TigerWiccan
Do I have to be an animal
to gain it's powers and tricks?
Or can I choose what aspects I want
and pick and match and mix?
Flight of a bird, speed of a cheetah
the hoppiness of a 'roo.
Eyes of a hawk, gills of a fish
in waters deep and blue.
A lion's strength, a bloodhound's nose
the cuteness of a housekitty.
If I couldn't take these all for my own
it would really be a pity.
But I know I'm all human
at least on the outside
a fact that isn't all tragic.
For I can feel like whatever I want
with only a little magick.COMMENTS:
WhiteShepherd - Nice poem and really cute twist! Well done. :)
Kada-Ru - I believe that everyone has this 'magic' to be whatever they wish to be inside. Not a bad thing at all!
Third Place: 17 points is:
"The War in My Room" by Kasarn.
There are dragons on my curtains
flying all about
The unicorns look up at them
wishing they'd go out.
Form their place upon my table
they stamp and snort their frustration.
But the dragons are not able
for the curtains have been closed.
The dragons snort, and the dragons snarl -
trying to escape.
The unicorns whinny, but refuse to help
filling up with hate.
The gryphons on the cupboard high,
look down on the two wondering why -
they don't just open up the curtains
and let the dragons out
So they launch off onto the drawstring,
pulling hard and strong.
But their combined weight in pulling
is nowhere near enough.
The dragons and the unicorns meanwhile,
stop their bickering to look
At the gryphons dangling back and forth
from the curtain string.
Watching them pull and tug
And struggle to make it go -
The dragons and the unicorns
stop their arguing.
The unicorns act first
Running over to the string
And adding their weight
to the gryphons already pulling.
The dragons merely snort and wait,
Watching the two groups pull.
This is as it should be, they thought
as they flitted to and fro
But the gryphons and the unicorns
together were not enough.
The dragons had to help them
or else all hope for peace was lost.
The groups looked at each other,
knowing what needed to be done.
And finally the dragons submitted,
To the work that had to be done.
The three groups of creatures
pulling very hard at the string.
The curtains barely moving,
When I finally returned to the room.
I just stood there looking in,
Nothing seemed to have changed.
The gryphons were high upon on the cupboard,
and the unicorns posed dancing on the table.
The dragons still sitting perched, high upon the rail.
"It's dark in here," I thought to myself,
and pulled the curtains open wide.
The sun flooding into my room
And letting the breeze in from outside.
Then I looked at my beautiful creatures,
sitting in my room.
Before leaving my room once again
to do the things I have to do.
But as I left my room again
I realised I had forgotten something
And as I turned around again
I found my dragons had gone...COMMENTS:
Benjamin - I like the theme and pacing of this work. It's fun and fantastical.
WhiteShepherd - This little waltz really brought out the images! From the characters feelings to even their undisclosed actions. A fun little read.
Other poems that were submitted.
In no particular order.
"Untitled" by Sabu
Ah, to who of which I write this poem
of where to be you are,
Look not within the written tome
For it won't get you far
Instead direct your view to where
The real amusements are;
the link to you of which I pose
lies therein:
here you are!
"Open" by User of Shadows
Unleashing my mind
Unleashing my curiosity
My heart goes with them
It skips when I know what I can be
My future with them is unknown
Though that does not bother me
For right now
It is them I am glad to see
How much further
I can go
It’s extremely opened
My mind no longer running slow
Tough my highs are more
I still have my lows
But while I am with them
It no longer deals as big of blows
"Yourself"
Though you want to hear
Your are deafened by confusion
Though you wan't to see
Your eyes are blinded by fear
You want to show
But you have nothing but emotions
You want to go
But you do not know the way
You try to be
Something that you are not
You want to know
yourself you forgot
"Dreamworld" by BlueFox
There's a place in my dreams where i can confide,
When in real life i have to hide.
I can be sly fox or a witty owl,
Or a montaintop wolf letting out a deep howl.
There's a place in my dreams where i can be me,
A place that no one can invade or see.
Where i can fly with the doves,
Or hunt with the wolves.
A place where i might meet my true love,
Swinging between trees.
Don't wake me now, im lost in a dream.
A place where no-one can conquer me.
And so it happens,
A divine tragedy.
I wake up and discover the real me.
Still stuck in this pelt of hairless skin,
Far away from my supposed kin.
I roam the industrial streets,
Created by man.
And i feel attracted to the forests and beaver dams.
There i can roam,
Peaceful and at home.
And i can't awaken, Although i find it hard to believe.
For this time, its not just a dream.
This is reality,
This is me.
"Catching The Tongue-Slip - Closet Style" by Rust
What I am's what I am, and that's all that I am
Gonna stay that way 'til the end.
So stay away and walk by 'cause I'd like it if
You please didn't condescend.
I'm plenty laid-back and I won't toss a stone
If you try to say it's wrong.
But I guess there's no choice but to let out my voice
It's been held in for so long.
Keep your nose in the air
I really don't care
Long as you keep it away
But please do beware
And respect all my space
'Cause if that's not the case
I'll just have to get tough
It's written right on my face.
My personal space is all that I've got
That I keep to myself.
And so it would greatly appreciate
If you left and didn't tell
Everyone that you see what you know about me
It's quite an annoying thing
To be asked and be drilled from every last shill
Disguising their mic as a golden ring.
And so I'll now take my seat
My two cents are complete
All my fines are paid up
My life won't be replete
With questions and stares
Though I really don't care
What you think about me
The opinion is there.
Though I say otherwise...
The opinion is there.
"The Hawk" by TakeWalker
Often times, I am the hawk.
I perch atop a telephone pole to survey what I can
The sparrow flies about me,
leading me from his nest
The sparrow flies at me,
trying to drive me off.
I only wish to perch unmolested
Yet no pole is far enough from the sparrow.
The Wolf With the Raven Hair
Her fur is as gray as a dark, stormy sky,
She's the wolf with the raven hair.
And I can't help but stare as she passes me by,
This wolf with the raven hair.
Her hair cascades in a wave down her back,
The wolf with the raven hair.
And like that dark bird, it is silken and black,
That head of raven hair.
The curves of her body are glorious things,
The wolf with the raven hair.
Her voice gently lilts; how I swoon as she sings!
The wolf with the raven hair.
I call out her name, but she does not reply,
The wolf with the raven hair.
If you were to ignore me, I think I might die,
O wolf with the raven hair!
My life lived without you is wasted indeed,
O wolf with the raven hair!
And why can't you see you are all that I need,
My wolf with the raven hair?
She does not hear my words as she goes on her way,
This wolf with the raven hair.
I'll continue to chase you, O loveliest prey!
O wolf with the raven hair!
"Feral Desires" by by TigerWiccan
I have the urge to hunt in the wild
stalk my prey
make the kill
rip into flesh
consuming life
to satisfy the animal inside
Things I can never do in this body
would never do
but the tiger in me
the animal inside
wants to be free
unconstrained by human morality
Are we not all animals struggling to survive?
We pretend to be civil
above our desires
but they are there
for all to see
waiting for the right moment to be set free
"False Memories" by Spierwit (arctic hunter)
Each night I enter the realm of a beast;
Be it mammal bird or reptile, many creatures haunt my dreams.
My heart, my mind, every fibre of my being is changed,
I soon learn the ways of the wild, running joyfull and free.
The thrill of the hunt, soaring high on weightless wings,
These memories stay ever with me.
Too often I wake to find myself weeping
At the realisation of my reality;
I am bound to the race of men
And only my dreaming can set me free
The Homeland
Welcome to my song,
To the seed and the fruit of the bards,
To the harvest that's been waiting
Since the days of youth.
Welcome to my landscape,
The pure and unspoilt western island,
To the place that will always find
It's meaning and truth locked away in my heart.
Welcome to my language,
The one I learned as a child,
The huge dignified language of the Gael
That stands like a banner for me daily.
Although they tried to destroy us
My children will see the landscape of generations,
Although the Language has been wounded in it's struggle
In this land, she will live on
Come and walk with me,
Walk by the side of the ocean.
Come, let me show you
The land of the maram grass.
"A Cry Out" by BabyTiger
A cry Out...
I wish this feeling would go away
leave and let me be
No one knows the pain I feel
No one; Not even me…
I sit in my den
I sit here and cry
Wondering about things
Like if I were to die
Would anyone remember me?
I wonder what they will say?
Would they come to my funeral?
Or just turn away?
Will tears be shed?
Would memories be shared?
Through the faces I met
Between those who cared?
No one would care
Because no one will know
Barricade my Emotions
And never let them show
All they see is a smile
And bright Cheer on my face
They don't see the darkness
I cover over that place
No one knows how I feel
The emotions I keep in me
But I wish that they would know
And answer my longing plea.
"Blue Wolf" by Neptune Wolf
Blue is a color, a feeling, a power.
The Wolf is a force, a drive, bravery that will never cower.
Blue is a color that invokes one to dream,
The Wolf is a carnivore with fangs that gleam.
Blue is the feeling of sadness and sorrow,
The wolf will not cease, its prey has no tomorrow.
Blue is REAL power; the vast oceans, the sky,
The Wolf is always brave, he knows he cannot die.
Blue Wolf has the color of force, the feeling of drive, and power of bravery.
His bravery, drive, his courage: strong enough to break the bonds of slavery.
Blue Wolf's fangs are white but his fur is deep Blue.
Blue Wolf is me, MY furry side. I guess I'm just of a different hue.
"No Free Lunch" by Zeitgeist
You think you’re a hero,
after what I did.
KILLER CAT: Authorities shot a cougar after an amateur mountain bike racer's half-eaten body was found and a woman was mauled in a Californian park on Thursday.
That was the headline on a newspaper you
wrapped me with,
you smug little creature, you.
But you’re not parading me around,
I’ve noticed.
Don’t you want to sling
the Nemean lion’s pelt
over your hunched and shameful form?
Don’t you want to proudly show
this vicious feline
that devoured half your brother
and mauled a damsel in distress
that you,
yes, you, Hercules,
rendered harmless with a kind and loving shot?
What a prize I am,
with my silky cinnamon coat
dyed a regal crimson,
with eight holes in my side perfect for slipping buttons through,
with my delicate, stone-gouged countenance,
and Mark Jeffrey Reynolds sitting happily in my soft, furry tummy.
I intend to sue for police brutality,
you know.
You’ll hear from my lawyers tomorrow morning,
whenever you reveal this trophy.
They only invaded my territory, they’ll say.
I was only driven mad by human influence on my home.
I was only protecting my young cubs.
I was only doing what you all do –
surviving.
Why can I only be on trial posthumously?
You’ve got to stick up for each other?
It’s a sin to kill a man.
You never read me my Rights.
All at once we are forced to obey your laws,
but are not protected by them.
And somewhere out there, your brother’s got
my sister’s head
hanging on his wall.
It’s a two hundred dollar fine for killing an endangered species.
It’s a life for trying to get a free lunch.
If you had given me a
last phone call,
I would have asked for
Bessie.
You can see all the great poems
in this contest in the "Poetry Corner" of the Furtopia Forums.