Everyone's entries were so amazing. I had a hard time choosing. In fact, the more I reread some poems, the more I grew to appreciate them. Thank you so much to everyone who participated. Because of the amount of entries in this round, I will be choosing two runners ups and a single winner. Congratulations to those who have won.
Every day faced with decisions,
How hard can it be?
These poems and their revisions,
Which is the winning entry?
I've been told it was this,
I've been told it was that,
I read them and clench my fist
While I ponder as I sat.
These poems are very deserving,
of more than just a merit,
My emotions I am reserving
For the winner's reward inherit,
Which will I pick?
So many to choose from,
And I cannot be too strict,
So I have become stumped
Alas, I have found the one,
I have been researching and now I am done.
Runner Ups:
@poppington
The Emotional WarWars arent always fought by legions of men,
But sometimes by the demons within.
The mind can be a curious place,
Bringing joy or even great disgrace.
The emotions are sometimes a powerful foe,
Capable of beating you very low.
Anger, Sorrow, Guilt
These demons can destroy all that you've built.
The battle against these is long;
For the adversary is quite strong.
But if you hold on to everything dear,
And never give in to the feeling of fear,
You might, just might, be able to destroy,
These evil demons' little ploy.
In the end if you do not fail,
You will be able to lift the veil.
Now seeing the light, you now have hope,
That no longer you will go down that slippery slope.
When wars go on inside your head,
the demons will now lose to you instead.
You have showed how different wars can be, and how some wars are fought internally. Yes the mind is always under constant stress, and most people have to deal with their own demons. It seems like you've taken the word "war", and instead of literally describing it, you've turned it into something more creative. Props to you for displaying war in such a unique way.
@KatPryde
Not Quiet on the Western FrontBrazen sun looks down.
Mud and gore slurry beneath.
Pitted no-mans land.
Weary silence breaks.
Pray to God your shelter holds.
Bunker down: survive.
Opposing guns roar.
Whistling, thudding, booming stun.
Tsunamis of earth.
'Ware the poison clouds.
Blackened lungs no longer breathe.
Faces, bloated blue.
This bombardment ends.
Pile up those dead and injured.
Prepare for the next.
I loved the use of Haikus in this one. Simple, yet telling a story of how soldiers have to survive a round of bombings. You're poem described a scenario in detail while maintaining it's own unique structure of haikus put together. You painted a picture in my mind of how war can be. A single image described in detail. Good job!
The Overall Winner:
@coleslaw35
Blood of Oil, Tears of Bullets, Hearts of IceWar.
The greatest folly of mankind,
And the most potent of all, I find.
On oil and steel these countries dine,
So that they may push to the Volga or Rhine.
Nationalism takes hold, the people sing,
Awaiting orders from their "righteous" king.
To nations bordered and afar,
Guns, bullets, and death they bring.
War carried out, casualties mount up
As more men equip their bullpups.
Death and destruction
They pour into their cups.
Victory and defeat, both in sight.
Neither country fully right.
But each combatant continues on
In order to finish their horrid fight.
Over the hills and plains men walk,
Their eyes, focused, like hawks.
Professors of combat, their guns chalk.
To the enemy's capital for a lecture they flock.
Men, young and old,
For their country they are bold.
To kill and conquer they are told.
And so their hearts grow arctic cold.
Victory achieved
Or so they believed
For there was no winning
When families grieved
Maimed, yet no crutch
All that is gained,
Well, not much.
Widows and children, pained
Mothers and fathers, tear stained
War, but a bane.
On history a smudge is placed
Of which wishes to be erased
A time of bayonets affixed
An era of hostilities to never be fixed
Eventually forgotten, the memory is erased
Until one day an old minefield faced
War's fetid aftertaste.
I've chosen this poem as the winner because it was grand, it was epic, and it told the story of war really well. There was no favorite part, but instead just a poem that shocked me into reflecting how hard war could be for people and country. There was also a nice rhyming pattern and rhythm to the poem, while at the same time displaying your wide vocabulary. I can see the effort you put into this poem. Great job!
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A round of applause to the winners. I've been reading the poems from the moment they were posted, which gave me more than enough time to appreciate every single entry. The hard part was choosing which ones would win. Thank you everyone to who participated and a job well done.
@coleslaw35 please now select round 3's theme. Thank you!
