I know.
The judging may have to be slightly brief, in this case. My exams are approaching and so I'm getting squeezed for thinking space. I was even going to try to write a poem along the lines of the theme but heck, that's not happening.
I picked the theme Drinking Tea because it evokes reflection, and this is something that most contestants have picked up on, whether it be through time or sensation. Others yet have picked on the cultural airs associated with 'drinking tea'. But within these there is a unique quality to each and every entry, which is particularly notable. Also notable is the disturbing amount of bathos that went into these entries...in this case I mean that a tone was built up but many just folded, as if they did not want to seem overly reverent!
I'll go straight to the judging and explain later:
Grand Winner: Parsat- The Lowly Shrub
What was the shrub that quenched ten thousand thirsts?
Was the leaf that fell into the cauldron first
Green, or autumn yellow as that bronze that gleamed?
Did the leaf cry as its life ebbed in the steam
Imparting its blood in bitter streams?
Or did it resign into its fate
Stoic 'til the end, its countenance sedate?
What love was this, that the life of one
Should satisfy the desires of a million?
I think of all the poems here, I would call this one the most vibrant. Congratulations, Parsat, you have won the merit for the round! If you would message me, I will handle the rest.
Second Place: CenereWaiting
Waiting for the
Water
Boiling water float over
Floating over leaves
Leaves from different plants
that gives off smell
No real taste
Just smell
Sweet
Remember the sugar
Always remember the
Sugar
One of the schools of thought on drinking tea (I'm talking out my butt here but anyway) is that the spiritual nature of it is a deeply personal one. Here, we see the stream of consciousness of a person, vague and bleary and somnolent. Stream of consciousness seems like such an easy thing to write but to do so convincingly is very difficult. But here, I am quite well convinced.
Third Place: GanticSweet Sorrow
Ten years for one cup
Most fragrant
Ten seconds for one sip
Most tentative
Ten minutes for one gulp
Most slaking
Ten hours for one teapot
Most bittersweet
A true tea connoiseur will tell you of the many timeframes the significance of tea spans, from the histories of years, to the moments one can too easily take for granted.
The Hall of Honorable Mentions (and Oddities)The History Channel: Adrecka33 wrote quite the fantastical historical poem, which I found particularly entertaining. I am not entirely sure if his version of events correlates with my version of events but either way!
Diuretic Didacts: ArmorHero, jediboy277. These people couldn't help but note that tea "makes you whiz"...with great glee!
Obsessive Onomatopoeiacs: Zootsuit_riot, ManUtd4Life096. Between the dripping and the splashing and the frothing and the steaming, I'm sure the spillage from your words alone could produce a cup of tea in itself!
Sorrowful Souls: mentorso123, for being allergic to tea, he is denied the peace that tea might hold for him. kingryan, for being an old bogan stuck in a nursing home. mvpguy22 for realising that he cannot drink his tea and have it too :P
And finally the
Poem that Made Me Say Whut: _kolak_
Sitting by the warm,tolerant sea
The water winding between my toes
I wish I had a cup of tea
Little flys tickling my nose
All of my tea is gone
I drank it all
Now I am tired
I just yawned
I bet you just said whut too, right? xD
Unfortunately there was no poem transgressional enough for me to nominate a Dishonorable Mention. But you could always try again next week!
I realise now that I'm going to have an extremely difficult time judging the poems on consciousness, but I picked the topic!
The deadline may be extended depending on the number of entries and how many people complain that the competition is going too slowly.
