MM's IBPC Selections for Dec comp, No Poll required Options

[Cleo_Serapis]

Hi all,

Well, here's a first, we only have two poems that have been accepted for nomination this month, Eric Linden's Northland Solstice and Linda Balboni's Time Gone Cold. PLease let me know if any additional edits are required.

Thanks and best of luck!
~Cleo



Northland Solstice

Snow lay deep that cold December
on my Dawson City home,
shrouding mountains, lakes and rivers
far and wide, including Nome.

Not much moved; our world was frozen
from Old Crow to Watson Lake.
Even ravens had forsaken
this harsh land, for pity’s sake.

Darkness dwelled; it stopped and dallied,
swallowed up the midnight sun.
How I cursed this devil northland
and its grip I couldn’t shun.

Came the day I went out walking;
all was quiet, skies pale blue;
in the woods, those white-clad pine trees
sparkled like old Manitou.

Could it be that I heard carols
coming from those soundless hills?
Solstice in this frigid northland
spells more, brighter winter chills.



Time Gone Cold


The time has gone, my heart’s grown cold,

I miss your love and stories told,

your smiling face, like golden dawn,

my heart’s grown cold, the time has gone.



Our talks at night, your gentle voice

to spill my soul, your ears, my choice,

dear dad, your laughter made things right,

your gentle voice, our talks at night.



How deep the ache through tearful eyes,

to know you’ve left, can’t share our ties,

a plan from God, your soul to take,

through tearful eyes, how deep the ache.



For all my life, I will believe

your presence guides me, yet I grieve

for you to be here; end my strife,

I will believe, for all my life.

[Aphrodite]

Hi Lori,

I just happened to notice that there is an extra period after the last word, "ache" in stanza three. Please delete as there should only be one period for end stop.

Thanks!

[Cleo_Serapis]

Thanks Lindi - all set!

[Cleo_Serapis]

Hey Hey Hey all!

I've just received the winner's announcement for the IPBC December comp and guess whatsie? BOTH our poems placed! Yay!

Congrats to Eric for his second place win with Northland Solstice and to Lindi for her honorable mention with Time Gone Cold!


~Cleo

[Aphrodite]

Hey Lori,

Thank you very much for the nice message! I appreciate being mentioned for my poem too!


Congratulations Eric, in placing 2nd! Your poem is great and you are well-deserving of the award!

Again, thank you for including my poem for the running, Cleo!

Happy New Year to all!

[Cleo_Serapis]

You are most welcome Lindi!

While the IBPC judges don't comment on the HM's, here's what was said about Eric's (I'll be posting the winners either tonight or tomorrow):

"What would Jack London think of this poem? Here is the Yukon. Dawson City a place where people went looking for gold? This poem however captures the moment more than history. One is a witness to the landscape and seeing its beauty through the eyes of a poet. Nothing moves -- except the language. What lies beyond the cold and darkness? What brighter winter chills? I like the question this poem asks -- "Could it be that I heard carols/coming from those soundless hills?" --E. Ethelbert Miller