My Dear Readers,
Congratulations to those who entered the poetry contest Woman: Splendor and Sorrow: | Love Poems and Poetic Prose and won Honorable Mentions. I am most grateful for your contribution. The beauty of your poems filled me with joy. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!
The authors, their sites, and their poetry:
Honorable Mentions – Poetry Contest Woman: Splendor and Sorrow: | Love Poems and Poetic Prose [in no particular order]
Joni Caggiano, inspired by The child to be,
You Were The Best of Us
Daylilies and lavender fall from a sky of bright eyes,
in the silhouette of a boat, under a quarter moon.
Born on the month of the ram
with your right fist on your pink cheek.
I was twenty, and you were my gift from God and my second love.
My milk came like a white river on the third day.
Red, your color, dwelling within the passion
where fire seared black, my white peasant dress.
Burning away the smell of gardenias and honeysuckle,
a miracle fashioned within our fervidness.
Meeting your father in an arid desert on foreign sand,
oh, how I was craving dreams, escape, and freedom.
He was to be my savior, but he was only a man.
Like the red coral of the sea, our child was the best of him and me.
Cindy Georgakas, Inspired by Self-Indulgence,
Chance Meeting
We sat at the coffee shop and chatted,
eyes riveted drinking in the rose hips of winter in February,
where children run in the snow.
We escape from hardships and cold.
Electricity between us like thunder of the night.
Steam escaping…
sent shivers up my spine.
Different silhouettes in denseness,
yin and yang.
worlds apart,
but one species.
We scan each other;
Small-town country to city slicker.
Voices echoed,
through the caravan of the room.
A chance meeting,
where tight spaces took distance away.
Mountains etched with grooves on either side,
sandwiched between the icicle cafe, where bodies collide.
Cupid piercing the heart.
Sweetness found wrapped In foil
like the chocolate waiting at our chairs.
We sigh, our coffee cold.
Country song on the radio singing
“Live like you were dying”
Jeff Flesch, inspired by and…love…
and… love… is seen.
and…
love….
is not the end
this story may commence
like petals on a flowers recompense
and…
as love breaks the moon in two
I’m reminded of you
tranquility among stormy seas
the key
you…
me….
and…
the dreams
cast far out into the wild
we idly stand by
regarding each other for a while
then…
what is distant can be seen
shapes and figures cut from trees
earthly figures caught in a blissful underwater scene
as
hope…
becomes something familiar
caressing the tree tops with delicate fingers
made from years of turmoiled laughter
transfigured into something adjoined to the hereafter
and…
love…
is seen.
Karima Hoisan, inspired by Sahara,
The Stars of Wadi Rum
After the devoured lamb
licking our fingers clean
2 million stars of Wadi Rum
pulling our eyes
up to the sky
You hooked my
little pinkie
with yours
as we lay in the sand
hearing the adolescent boy
playing the Oud
until he made us cry.
Purple mountains
pink sand,
fake feet fights
laughing undercover
we muffled our laughter
with your sleeve.
No-one has the right
to be this happy
All I need is you.
Your profile,
a Persian princess
framed in embers
from a dying fire….
My honored one,
I trace your nose
with my feather,
wrap the blanket tighter,
those gelid desert nights.
are swirling swirling.
“Tomorrow
I’ll buy the best gold
to adorn us.
You always laugh
when I am serious.
I’m really serious!”
Some masks
with silver tooling
and hanging coins,
We’ll tinkle
and impress
next time
we buy bread,
but tonight….
I just need you
alone.
Cling to me,
we are a shipwrecked
life raft for each other
on this rolling sea
of sand.
* * * * * *
“The caves are so beautiful
in morning light
“Come sleep
up above with us”
“You’ll miss it all”
“No thank you..
We’ll sleep below,
right here
by the fire…..”
“All I need is you.
and
the stars of Wadi Rum”
Carrie Yang, Inspired by Yellow,
Yellow
Beneath the golden wattle
We meet again to read poetry
The spring wind pays us a visit
I pick yellow out of your tawny locks
and brush them off your lips with a kiss
Your freckles bloom like pansies
Announcements
- The poems of all other finalists will be featured immediately after the New Year.
- Thank you once again for entering the poetry contest Woman: Splendor and Sorrow: | Love Poems and Poetic Prose.
- A new literary initiative will be announced after Thanksgiving.
- Please do not forget to visit MasticadoesUsa.
Thank you.
@Gabriela Marie Milton
When I read these poems, I did see Gabriela’s style and work influenced the writers. This was such fun and honour at the same time. I am grateful for this opportunity and community. 💚
Thank you so much for your kind words and for entering the contest hon. I am glad you enjoyed it. It was an honored for me.
Love
xoxo
😊💚💕💐
❤️🌹🌸🌺
You are right. I got to know her just some few months before the contest. Yet, l feel the pulse of her heart in any extract l read from the book. When l was writing my poem for the contest, I felt it was Gabriela writing but not me.
Her work is really inspiring.
Congratulations to all the finalists. Their words speak on their behalves. Beautiful writing! 🙂
Thank you hon. You are such a gem. I really appreciate the support.
xoxo
Thank you Gabriela for this opportunity, and for sharing the work of all the honorable mentions as well as the winners. These poems are so lovely and I am proud to be amongst their work. The judges really did have their work cut out for them. Also, I would like to thank those who read my work as it touches my heart deeply as does each and every comment. Love to you all. Joni
The pleasure was all mine Joni. Have a gorgeous weekend hon.
xoxo
Thank you so very much Button. We are spending time with family it is such a blessing. Big hugs and sending a bouquet 💐 of flowers. Love honeybun ❤️
My pleasure hon. Have a great time. Love to everyone 🌺❤️🌸🌹
Congratulations! All of the poems are wonderful I’m happy I wasn’t a judge. What a touch lot of great work to have to choose between.
Thank you for your comment Timothy.
“I’m happy I wasn’t a judge: Me too.
Such wonderful poetry: a real treat to read all of these! Congratulations to all! 🎉 🎊🎉
Thank you for your kindness Ingrid. I hope you are enjoying your weekend hon.
xoxo
Well done all, I enjoyed reading these, words as different as you, yet of Gabriela of too, as with all of us inspired to write by her unique poetry.
Eric, thank you so much for this beautiful comment. I hope you are having a fabulous weekend.
xoxo
Beautiful, illustrious, vibrant poems! clothed marvelously in poetic shadow and insight.
Thank you for being such a great supporter of this community Jaya.
Love to you hon.
Thank you so much Gabriela and I agree with Joni.it was wonderful to read everyone’s submission who received an honorable mention. I too feel proud to be in the company of such talented writers. Thank you again for inspiring us in so many ways:):)
My pleasure hon and thank you from the bottom of my heart for your wonderful poem. Have a beautiful weekend filled with love and inspiration.
xoxo
You too ❤️
🌹🌺
I echo Joni’s sentiments. So much fun to read all of the poems. I am in awe of the words and imagery of each poem. i feel blessed to see my poem here with such amazing work and truly grateful for the opportunity.
A big thank you to Gabriella, the judges and all of our community. 💖
Good morning my dearest Cindy. I am blessed to have you and your beautiful poem here hon. Thank you for being you. Sending love and lots of hugs.
Good Afternoon now my dear Gabriella!
Oh thank you so much, it’s an honor and was so much fun to write and participate in, truly. Awwww thanks so much for the love and hugs and back at you 💖💖💖❤️❤️🤗🤗🤗
My pleasure Cindy. 🌺❤️🌸🌹🌺❤️🌸🌹
All of the poems are beautiful; and I am honored to have my poem displayed among them, and to have been a part of this wonderful contest. Congratulations to everyone, and thank you again, Gabriela, for your continued support and love. 🌹🌺❤️🥰🙏
Jeff, I am honored and privileged to have your poem here. Thank you for your kindness, support and beautiful poetry.
Love and hugs to you.
xoxo
It’s my pleasure and honor to be here; thank you, Gabriela, for all you do, and for being who you are. Love and hugs. xoxo
🙏🌸🌹❤️🌺
I’m just reading the entirety of your poem here Jeff and it is so beautifully woven into love so beautifully shared and the gift of natures powerful blessings of each and everyone of us.
Thanks for the mention as well.
Honored! 💖
as a continued response to your post… the entirety of your post is incredible woven into a magical piece on love and nature of the moon and the sun. Congratulations once again Jeff and thanks for mentioning me and our friends!!!💖💖💖🙏🙏🙏🙏
You are so kind, dear Cindy! Thank you from the bottom of my heart. You are the best! ❤️❤️
Congratulations to all! Such wonderful verses refecting the beauty of Gabriela’verse yet shining in their own light.
Punam, thank you from the bottom of my heart for your support. Sending love.
xoxo
Always a pleasure. 😊❤️🌷
What beautiful poems. I don’t know how the judges were able to… judge! Lol. A wonderful competition, Gabriela, and more so, a lovely inspiration to write our hearts out. Congrats to Joni, Cindy, Jeff, Karima, and Carrie for your fabulous poems. <3
Oh, Diana, thank you so much for your wonderful words. I hope everyone reads them 🙏🌹❤️
My complete pleasure, Gabriela. I’m posting my poem tomorrow with links to your book and the two posts that share poems from winners and honorable mentions. I hope they get lots of reads and we sell a few of your books too. 🙂
Diana, I will never be able to thank you enough for your talent, kindness and generosity. I could only try 🙏🌺🌸🌹❤️
<3
Thanks soooo much Diana and Congratulations to you. Your poem was just incredible as is your writing! I loved it! 💖
Yay such a lovely set of poetry here inspired by your own work …so happy to see familiar names too😊😉😉
🙏🌹🌸
Congratulations to all the winners and those who received Honorable Mentions.
Thank you for your support Marsha. That’s very kind of you to say 🌹
A couple of my blogging friends were mentioned, and that is always exciting. 🙂
I am glad to hear that. It is indeed 🤗
Congratulations to the winners! 🎊 Beautiful Writing! 👏🏻 I love your poems Gabriella! 😊
Thank for the congratulations and the kind words about my poems 🙏🌺🌸
Most Welcome😊 I have started following your blog. I just love it! 💖
Thank you so much 🙏🌸🌺
Thanks for following my blog too. 😇
Wonderful
Thank you.
Nice to read
So much thanks for giving to others Inspiration,dear G!!in this post other poets ‘s poems are admirable.🌺
Congratulations everyone. Wonderful reads. A stunning collection.
Thank you so much for your kind words and your support Goff.
Pleasure, Gabriela. Have a great day.
You too Goff 🌸
Cheers.
It is very beautiful and well written. It is a real pleasure to read the poems
Thank you so much. I am so thrilled you think so 🌸🌺
What an amazing collection of poems, the best of their own ilk! I love what you do, Gabriela. Such a kind soul you are. I saw this on Cindy’s site, and I said I had to come and see it for myself. I’m amazed. These poets are doing wonders with words. Quite commendable! ❤
Thank you so much my dearest Lamittan 🙏🌸🌺❤️🌹
You’re most welcome, dearest Gabriela. 🤗💖💖🥰
❤️🌸🌺💕