Poetry

Getting Legless With Drunk Aliens - Editing A Winning Poem
For this entry into the Self-Editing Epiphany, I wanted to do something a little strange. It’s easy, in some ways, to look back at pieces we know were flawed because they didn’t get well received or didn’t place in a challenge or competition. But what about those pieces that did have success—ones that not only placed in a challenge but came first place? Could any editing, especially with time passed and experience gained since the piece was published, improve upon a winning poem?
By Paul Stewart10 months ago in Critique
Filtering Free Verse Poems Through Form. Runner-Up in Self-Editing Epiphany Challenge.
Mainly writing in free verse, can make you think you are so much more free than writing in strict forms. But I have found that when under constraints of rhymes and rhythm, magic can happen. Imagery you would never have come up with yourself, lyrical music that makes reading a pleasure and a challenge to cut out the excess to find the true meaning you want to say.
By Dark Constellations10 months ago in Critique
Found in Translation. Runner-Up in Self-Editing Epiphany Challenge.
At first I scrolled past this challenge and didn’t even consider joining in on that one. And then, a little voice at the back of my mind reminded me of a promise I had made to myself at the beginning of this year – do more new things, even, and especially, the ones out of my comfort zone. With a little sigh, I scrolled back up, instantly knowing which excerpt to use. Yep, another "do more new things" moment that happened just over a month ago.
By Cristal S.10 months ago in Critique
Dervish: Potential Space. Runner-Up in Self-Editing Epiphany Challenge.
Creative risk? I venture to rail against the theocracy that enslaves half of an entire population. How many da Vincis, Edisons, Hemingways, Gödels, Mozarts, or Rembrandts are surrounded by the black cloud of divinely ordained propriety? How our world progresses at only half potential!
By Gerard DiLeo11 months ago in Critique
"The Fan" Gets Another Chance.... Honorable Mention in Self-Editing Epiphany Challenge.
Here is the original poem: There are some Challenges where I feel that the Vocal Gods are smiling down on me. There is work that I have produced that has brought out the best in me; sometimes it has brought out things I did not know existed in me. And I feel that I really do have something to say with this one.
By Kendall Defoe 11 months ago in Critique
What goes through the mind of an empty envelope?
Humans! Aah, the notorious ones gospelled with the prowess of pouring their hearts onto the folds of power, of unleashing the confinement of unsaid pain through the enigmatic flair of woven syllables through the crevices of their glistening minds.
By Hridya Sharma11 months ago in Critique
Raw to Remix- 53 & Me. Runner-Up in Self-Editing Epiphany Challenge.
The crows have landed, I see imperfection. Fifty times around the sun plus three more to rub my nose in it. Love yourself, they say, age with grace. But celebrities don't, so why should I? Botox and fillers- a facelift will do. Don't take age lying down, invoke skin resurrection. "You look good for your age." What the hell does that mean? Under eye bags, a deep forehead wrinkle leaves no secrets on my face. Social media spites me and forwardly invites me: To challenge Father Time with "Yeah, I'm about to get mine." Creams, potions, and diet, already tried it. So, I'm about to go in for hand assisted fixes and take a page from the famous. If you ask me later, know I denied it. This is all natural, don't you see; me at 53!
By Marilyn Glover11 months ago in Critique
Are Ukrainians prepared for concessions and a ceasefire? What the polls say is as follows:
The idea of a negotiated end to the three-year war has been put on the agenda and in the hands of Russian President Vladimir Putin thanks to an agreement between the United States and Ukraine on a ceasefire proposal. However, the parties' positions are pretty clear even before Moscow responds.
By Md Mirajul Islam11 months ago in Critique
Trump’s Tariffs on Steel and Aluminum Go Into Effect
President Trump’s sweeping tariffs on foreign steel and aluminum went into effect on Wednesday, escalating America’s trade spats with global competitors, including close allies already reeling from his on-and-off approach to trade penalties.
By Md Mirajul Islam11 months ago in Critique
The Flower and the Flame
Chapter 1: The Encounter In the idyllic town of Verenthia, where blooming flowers kissed the gentle breeze and sunlight draped every street corner, lived Lila, a florist whose delicate creations captured the hearts of the townsfolk. She was known as the *Flower*, radiating warmth and kindness, tending to her shop, "Whispers of Petals." Each bouquet she crafted was renowned for its beauty and enchanting scent, a testament to her extraordinary talent.
By MOHAMMED NAZIM HOSSAIN11 months ago in Critique
Canada’s most consequential election is on the horizon
The contest that resulted in Mark Carney becoming the leader of the Liberal Party and the next prime minister of Canada has turned out to be a dull fait accompli. Chrystia Freeland, the once-reliable confidante and trusted deputy prime minister of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, played the role of Judas in the drama that appeared to inevitably result in Carney's persuasive coronation on Sunday evening.
By Md Mirajul Islam11 months ago in Critique
C.I.A. Begins Firing Recently Hired Officers
The government cuts ordered by the Trump administration have hit the C.I.A. Some officers hired in the last two years have been summoned to a location away from the agency’s headquarters in Langley, Va., and asked to surrender their credentials to security personnel, according to three people briefed on the firings.
By Md Mirajul Islam11 months ago in Critique