The DARK's Winner's Circle1
I have to admit that I am one of those that leaps for joy when I see a trophy has been placed next to my work. I can remember when I first came here and within two days I won a trophy, the Gold, no less. That was such an adrenaline rush for me. Especially, when it had taken me so much courage to just post a poem. I was so terrified everyone would laugh me off the site. I had never seriously written poetry before. I had dabble here and there that was it.2
So, I would have to say that earning trophies has changed my life. My sole purpose for coming to this site to begin with was to gain encouragement to publish the book I was working on. This was a very important task for me, as the book has a message I think all need to hear. But no one had ever read my writing before. I had no clue if I really possessed a talent to write so I was invited here and thought what a wonderful way to get feedback on my writing.3
My initial plan was to get the feedback and I would go from there. If people hated my work and said," Hey you stink as a writer and you have no business writing a grocery list let alone poetry," then I would know not to send my book into the World. On the other hand, I also planned that if I got positive feedback than I would go ahead with the plans, publish the book and complete a goal. The book has been published and I must say that I have to attribute it partially to those little Gold, Silver and Bronze trophies that adorn my Author's page. They let me know people must like what they were reading.4
But, for as much as I love those trophies, I have learned to love to write even more. I have been here for over a year and when I got her all I knew about poetry was every line was supposed to rhyme. It is? Well, I soon learned that was not true and I have learned so many different types of poetry. From Haiku to Villanelles, and to Tankas and Kyrielles (even the Sonnet Kyrielle), to Alliterations and Acrostics (I love Acrostic Sonnets), to simple Diamantes to something as challenging as a Sestina the list is endless. I have to admit I have had the time of my life learning. Right now I am working my tail off trying to write a true Shakespearean Sonnet but the iambic pentameter is messing me up. I can't tell the difference between a stressed syllable to an unstressed if it were to save my life. So if you are dying and the only thing that can save your life is a stressed or unstressed syllable don't call me.5
I hate to admit it but this all started over one little Gold trophy icon placed on what I consider to be the stupidest poem ever written about being run over by a monkey; the contest requirements. I think that if Shakespeare were to read that poem he would beat me with his quill for adding such atrocity to the literary world. However, I do not revere the trophies as an actual goal when I enter a contest. It is a bonus, a lovely one I must add, but I have to be honest and say that I enter the contests because I need the inspiration. My creative mind starts when someone gives me a subject and then I expand from there. If I win a trophy that is great, if I do not I still have won because I have created art with my words and that I keep. lol!6
So to sum it all up, although winning trophies is not all that important to me they have changed my life. Earning one gave me the encouragement to try for another, which changed my whole writing ability. I look back at some of my older poetry when I knew nothing of form and meter and then read some of my newer poetry and I am proud of what I have accomplished. I remember once someone had commented on one of my poems and he had said, "Damn, you must love getting trophies because look at all those Contest Poems!" I replied," No the contests inspire me." I was too embarrassed to admit I didn't know there was another way to add a poem. I did not know you could add one on your own. lol! Whether it be Gold, Silver, Bronze or Honorable mention it matters not to me because I have really won something greater. The pride of knowing I was given a gift. A gift to express myself and create art with words.7
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Who We Are 9
The ego is fragile it's clear to me10
We view ourselves through what others do see11
The Psyche it thrives on positive seeds12
to grow plants in our hearts to meet our needs13
They grow from our hearts and into our souls14
helping us to strive hard to reach our goals15
with words of wisdom our spirits are raised16
Souring to the sky when we have been praised17
But when harsh words reign our egos shatter18
Where nothing in the world seems to matter19
We hide who it is that we truly are20
Just so the wounds won't leave a jagged scar21
We slip in the DARKness, shadow ourselves22
Buried deep into our souls so no one delves23
the pools of the sorrow we keep inside24
Loneliness comes to rule as our true guide25
We create a person for all to see26
wearing a mask of mediocrity27
We become so vulnerable and afraid28
as with our hearts we have already paid29
So many wonder what’s deep in our head30
Not aware it is the heartless words said31
Our hearts our deeper than our inner minds32
Pain in our soul mingle and intertwines33
So many think it's a frivolous thing34
Too proud to admit that they feel the same sting35
"Oh don't you worry what they have to say"36
These are some words that you hear everyday37
But the human ego it needs praise to grow38
It thrives off the warmth of the love to show39
Like the sun feeding the root of the plant40
People need people or survive wholly we can't41
We need the gentle touch of another 42
or the flame in our heart comes to smother43
We're cast to the DARK shadow's lonely field44
Feeling to us it is the only shield45
So lift someone's spirit watch their soul glow46
You put that sweet smile on their face you know?47
through time this gets passed along by and by48
to lift ones hope to give the World a try!49
Author notes
The contest I chose was:
DARK Presents Boosting Self-Esteem
I read this as being really long in width. If you do as well and know how to change it please let me know because I know how irritating it can be to scroll back and forth. Thank-you!
What did you think? Please comment!
Comments
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I thought about entering this contest and it helped by reading your entry. I remember winning my first trophy was in a contest by theDARK1. There were four entries and I took third. I just enjoyed the challenge since it was like a soap opera. I won't be able to do the job you have done with your work, but I will at least attempt it. Good luck in the contest, but I think you have a winner, Steve.
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I am wondering if there is something I can say, that will do you and your work justice. You wrote of how you felt at winning your first trophy, and I can relate to that same feeling. It was like, Yes!! I crossed the finish line.
I enter contests for the reasons you do, for the inspiration and the challenge. It is what I need to keep me going. A mixture of forms, styles, subjects, moods, and so many other things come from entering contests. The trophy, it the cherry on top.
Your poem that followed was very well done as usual. Maybe even better than most. Your passion was evident throughout the whole write. I wasn't amazed, because I know how talented you are. However, I was proud. Proud to know and love the person who can write with such grace and spirit. You have blossomed in so many ways since we first met. It is so great to see how much you have grown and changed...for the better. The life you lived as a child was part of the foundation of the woman you have become. I feel as though I have known you for years and years. Reading your book, "I Dare You to Survive" gave me insight on where you came from and the life you lived as a child. I will always ache to hold that little girl and keep her safe, but is is comforting to know that she is safe in the hands of God, and no need to worry about her any more.
You Melissa are Gold. A treasure to behold. Your friendship is brighter and more important than any trophy. You have always been honest and truthful. Never showing malice or speaking falsehoods. Thank you dear friend, for being a part of my life.
I applaud you with all the love and sincerity that I have.
Sam
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wonderful essay and poem
Darling Melissa, I think you have done a wonderful piece on your essay. I always entered contests when one inspired me to write one, I too look back at my earlier poems and see how far I have come, it's always nice to win a trophy, but it's not that important, my first though was my greatest thrill and each one I get is a bonus, but not important, as you said being inspired to write is my greatest thrill, to be able to create a new poem is a wonderful achievement. Love your essay and I love the poem you have chosen, we all tend to have an alto ego we hide behind, but we all do need people, it doesn't matter who we are. Well done my sweet angel~Love you and good luck in DARKS contest~I Love DARK and tpa so much, they are great! -
I do thank you kindly for your reply but I guess you are right in this might be a thought to agree to disagree on but I have to give mt reason for my argumant. Even the Bible says you should have fellowship with other Christians to help encourage your Faith in Him and keep your Faith in Him strong. Even Jesus suffered and got lonely and sought the company of other people. I think they called them his disciples. In the scientific World Failure to Thrive Babies have proven that people need other people. Without human contact, human compassion and other human stimulation the psyche dwindles considerably. I spent ten years being horribly abused and being called every name in the book except my own everyday, never once hearing a kind word from anyone. My pysche is extremely damaged by this. If it were true that we did not need other people's love and we can depend on ourselves than that would not have happened. We would not need parents to show us how to love; we would automatically know how. Love and hate are not instinctual they are learned behaviors. I do believe we should remain humble but if no one ever tells us that we are good at something we will never know.
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Wonderfully expressed
Your writing is good as always Meesap. I hope we can agree to disagree on the some of the thoughts you have expressed. The road to freedom is difficult but I have found that dependence on external support for the ego is giving over control of your life to someone else. The kind word, the trophy, the award, the praise can be lovely "icing on the cake" surprises. But if we depend on the praise of others for our happiness we also leave ourselves open to making our unhappiness a reaction to the slurs of others.
I am persuaded that all people are divine. Each person enters this world with that spark of divinity and exits with the same spark of divinity. Nothing we do can add or subtract to our basic worth as human beings. Because I work in the performing arts it is easy to become a praise junky. I don’t think it is healthy, and although I am not saying it is easy; taking steps to become less dependent on the thoughts and expressions of others is the way to happiness. Certainly in matters of grave concern, as Thomas Jefferson put it, we a “decent respect to the opinions of mankind.” However, when it comes to the issues of self worth and self expression then the better source of validation is the self, the soul, or our God.
Again you express yourself very well – the essay and poem are wonderful, but I wanted to dissent to some extent with the content.
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the story/essay:
i believe that anyone winning their first trophy, be it gold-silver-bronze, would react the same way. my first trophy was more in disbelief, for i thought someone made a mistake, but i was still very excited at the same time. i was glad to learn that the trophy changed your life for the better, confidence is always a positive to enrich our lives. you were not convinced that you had talent until your feedback and i believe that most of us feel the same from that aspect. i'm still not convinced of my talent, all i know there are people that enjoy my work, then there are others that despise it (yes i have many haters out there as i do with the people who think no matter what i turn out is incredible). you have increased your knowledge as a writer which is indeed commendable. i do not know the first thing about poetry! i just write what's in my mind. basically reactions and effects on the many things that fill up one's life. i am very proud of you for your growth and the many writing skills that you have improved on. as for any work being stupid, i don't know any artist, painter-musician-singer-poet, that goes back to their earlier work and think that itz worth praise. i have poems/work from many years ago that i think is not worthy of putting my signature on. i can share your embarrassment for i do not know many things that i can do at the site. i know enough to barely get by but still learn, at a snails pace, gradually with passing time.
the poem:
your poem based on the contest title "DARK Presents Boosting Self-Esteem" was absolutely a great work of art. of course i noticed the DARKs throughout without it being required to appear as it normally is and i humbly feel honored. your message was superb in your write and it flowed with finesse.
final comment:
first, i want to thank you for taking and accepting the challenge as your entry is an impeccable role model for others to emmulate. i was taken by everything you had put before my eyes to view. i have always thought your work was immaculate and you still prove that to be true as you illustrate that you are a gifted writer. thank you for such a fascinating entry, luvya, DARK.
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