Poetry Challenge #149 Winner Announced

[Skylan]

Premise: Write your poem about a fear, any style. Scariest wins.


More fear than I care to mention

I've conquered them all,
some were just dust devils
masquerading,
yet strong enough to last years
and suspend me, crucified
separated from solid ground.

Some remnants of 'The Waa'
(a clawed creature
that lived under my bed
who'd, given the chance
drag me to the underworld)
still darkened occasional dreams
a peripheral thing
not fear...really!

Blood, my blood,
especially needle induced,
scared my waking hours.
But my 'grow a bigger pair' mantra
sorted that fear out.

Until they needed to use a few
thick enough
strong enough, and
long enough
to enter deep into my bones.
Without anesthetic, I closed my eyes.

The pain was one thing
the fear was worse.
In that dark, eyes-closed moment
a billboard screamed
'Fear is forever, that's what your balls are for...shrinking!'
They retracted in confirmation

a personal introduction to
the real Waa.

REMOVED

Untitled

I am scared shitless
of fake haiku approaching
on five [seven, five] hairy legs


Fear is a fruit

Fear is a fruit grown
on vines which climb
toward the sun, to shade
and strangle their host.

Fear is an elixir
to cure maladies like
love, endurance
and loyalty.

Fear is torch against
the night sky
dowsing our night vision
and making invisible
the miracle of shooting stars.


Terror Driven

Cold creeps across the wooden floor
Though heavy my eyelids be
I dare not sleep

I seek distraction as
 horrific visions attempt to infect my mind
They must not enter

Wild is my imagination
Once terror has me in his grips
 it’s a struggle to peel his boney fingers from my neck

I must break free
Or else I cannot breathe
Or scream
Or cry
Or pray

Sudden trill vibration breaks the heavy silence
Startled, my heart races,
“Hello?”
            Silence
                         … Click

A distant siren heightens
the electric sickness pulsing through my veins
Suddenly aware of my frigid toes


Headlights penetrate lace curtains
at three in the morning
A car door closes stealth and muted

Dog barks
I hear the doorknob turn
Hinge squeaks

Footsteps tiptoe in the dark
Body parts –
               all there
No blood, no crumpled metal

I’m tempted to fake sleep
Lure him into a jump scare
The evil thought replaced

Demons slain
Relieved, I draw a full breath of gratitude
My eighteen-year-old is safe at home

[Skylan]

Please note the second entry has been removed at the request of the submitter.

[DGSquared]

Well, that's a bummer.

What happens to the votes that went to that entry? Will current tallies stand with votes to the withdrawn entry forfeited or does this negate previous voting so that we need to vote again? If we re-vote, do we get one or two votes? Perhaps things are fine as they are.

Oh, and when does voting close?

Suddenly, things became unnecessarily complicated.

[fire-fly]

 

Only you could ask that many questions in one mouthful.

If you read the first post it tells you when votes close, as it always has 

Did you vote for the deleted one? If you did, try to re-vote, if you can't, I guess its suck it up buttercup 

Sorry Deb, beyond our control when the author asks for it to be removed mate.

[Skylan]

Indeed, I don't want to call for a re-vote since the challenge was delayed enough as it was, but there's also no way to get the lost votes back, sorry. Usually it's a one-vote ordeal, so at least one of yours is still in play. 

[Vienna]

Tha could mek a ruddy soap opera aht a this contest eh, know worrahmean like?

[Skylan]

Congratulations to DGSquared, winner of the challenge with the entry Terror Driven

[Laura H]

Congrats, Deb!

[fire-fly]

Way to go Deb 

[Vienna]

congrats indeed. Got my vote.

[Catherine F]

Congratulations Deb! Yours was my favourite. I related so much to it...
Great 

[DGSquared]

Only you could ask that many questions in one mouthful.

 
I know, I'm cool like that. Pft!

If you read the first post it tells you when votes close, as it always has 

Hee hee hee. I swear I looked three times, didn't see the close date. The blonde gets in my eyes sometimes.

I wonder if the person who withdrew did so because he or she learned what the prize would be and was afraid he or she had a good chance of winning the contest?

I like all of the entries and appreciate the fellowship of participation.
So, thank you, to everyone who played along as well as for the congratulations and votes.


So, there's my acceptance speech.

[fire-fly]

Well, where's the new contest woman? 

[DGSquared]

I'm going to take my walk because it gets dark here in about an hour but I'll be back later this evening or by noon tomorrow to post the next challenge.

First, I have an idea and want to run it by everyone to see what you think.

A long time ago, in the Land of Dial Up, I used to belong to a trivia website where there was, for a time, a great deal of camaraderie. Once in awhile, I would win a contest and like here, win the privilege of running the following contest.

There was drama centering around the attitude of and remarks made by a resident curmudgeon which resulted in a mass exodus. There weren't  many people willing to put up with his cantankerous disposition and management couldn't have cared less so this made drumming up participation next to impossible. So, I promised a two to three verse limerick to the winner and strangely enough, it worked.

I'm not saying my limericks are all that great but people love to have their name, traits, or somehow be praised or mentioned in verse.

So, if you will, please consider this:

The winner of the next challenge is awarded some sort of verse or poetry written to or about him or her by all of the other entrants. In other words, the losers have to write something for the winner, be it a haiku, limerick or whatever. 

What do you think about that idea? I could do a trial run if everyone is game for it.


Since I'm at it, here's another though that has come to mind:

Would you agree that we sometimes see newbies with fresh voices, participate and win a challenge only to become overwhelmed or intimidated by the prospect of running the next challenge, then leave? Perhaps it's my imagination but if not, how about the person who ran the challenge offer to assist the newbie or if necessary, have the newbie come up with the challenge and someone offer to set it up and run it for him or her?

I know that breaking tradition is tantamount to treason but perhaps, in the case of new members, we might consider some sort of rotation or volunteer situation to run the challenge with the winner creating the prompt or challenge. Perhaps then, the caveat be that if someone else runs your challenge that person doesn't have to write a verse for the winner.

Good grief, that sounds convoluted, doesn't it?  Oh well, I'll have to, or you'll have to, as Firefly put it, "Suck it up."
I'm late for my walk.

Thoughts?

~Deb

[DGSquared]

I know my overuse of the word, 'Challenge' in the above post was ridiculous but it was challenging to bang out that drivel in time for me to be off on my walk for which, I am now late.