Things I decided this week

Go to dance class even though they didn’t distance last week,

since they have to be doing better today,

or so I thought.

Read the news bulletin that always makes me angry,

since anger is at least better than ignorance,

or so I thought.

Assume other people are going to care about the rest of us,

since surely wearing a mask isn’t that hard,

or so I thought.

Scroll through social media for far too long,

since there’s nothing better for me to be doing,

or so I thought.

Give the world another chance at redeeming itself,

since it can’t just go on like this forever,

or so I thought.

Yay! Judging! Just to remind y'all:

1. There were only 3 entries and they were all really, really great!

2. This is all mostly my personal preference, so it's completely fine if you disagree with anything I say. Also, this is not necessarily indicative of the person's talent in general.

Ok, now the judging! 

1st:

The illusionist

This was written very well! The clean stanzas made it easy to read; the rhyme keeps a fun and delightful rhythm; and I love all the quotations and references that make it interesting to follow. The last stanza ends in the same great style with the simple, classic, and utterly baffling question that more times than not is left unknown. Congratulations!

2nd:

Kitten

This poem is very down-to-earth and relatable, especially for me. The despairing hope-against-hope that people would have a care, understand, and listen. It reminds me of that moment in Wings of Fire when all the dragons who are fighting can suddenly hear each other’s thoughts. I love the reality in this poem, and the repeated line: Or so I thought. It’s so true.

3rd:

Luna-Starr

This poem is short, but it’s packed with meaning. Everyone’s presented with choices, and we can only hope we choose the right ones. Unfortunately, many of the right ones are not always the easy ones, and we’re all only human. I like how this exposes the sad, but true reality, and ends with the knowledge that we are helpless to others' choices (and vice versa) and really can’t ever create perfection. Wow, that got depressing! Sorry about that. Anyway, Great job!

Congrats guys! The illusionist is now the new JUDGE!!! 

Thank you Indigo Feather! 

Y'all's poems were awesome! How about "reward" for the next theme?

Here's my submission!

Silver

Silver.

A curse, a taunt.

It clutches your neck like a noose,

a reminder that next time,

you can't be so complacent.

Silver.

Its gleam repels pride and glory, and locks

the bitter spiral of self-hatred into place.

It is doubt and cruelty

for it coats mirrors,

and don't we all know that

Mirrors Tell Lies?

Silver.

A tantalizing shimmer, yes, but

all it promises is fresh sorrow.

All it promises are tears

and rings of broken speculation.

And all-consuming jealosy, too,

because for every silver,

you know there is a gold.

--

Also, top! 

Here's my submission! I, er, may have diverged from the original intent of the prompt a bit. :)

Reward

Do as you’re told, they said,

and you’ll get a reward.

Follow the rules, they said,

and you won’t get in trouble.

Respect the police, they said,

and you’ll stay alive.

Do as you’re told, they said,

and you’ll get a reward. 

She followed the rules.

She did as she was told.

She thought she was safe,

as she slept innocently,

in her bed,

at home.

She deserved justice,

equal treatment,

a chance to live her life.

Yet all she got was

injustice

death

murder.

Her name was Breonna Taylor.

Where was her reward?

--

Just to clarify, these are my own thoughts and interpretations. It's
possible I took artistic liberty with the actual facts of the situation;
I'm not trying to suggest that anything here is fully accurate. I
really hope the Admins allow me to post this!

I wrote this yesterday at like 9:30 at night. It's historical about world war 2, if you couldn't tell.

My ma once told me

'Do the right thing

and God will reward you.'

She was wrong.

I stand on an icy hill,

sharp wind cutting into my face.

I see soldiers surrounding me,

almost hidden in winter's shadows.

My ma's words come to me:

Do the right thing

and God will reward you.

The soldiers creep closer, 

and I hear the snow 

crunch

under their boots. 

Do the right thing

and God will reward you.

But what is the right thing?

Run?

Fight?

Let them have me?

Do the right thing

and God will reward you. 

They point their guns-

Do the right thing

and God will reward you. 

Suddenly, it all makes sense.

Don't run-

they will follow.

Don't fight-

they will kill me anyways.

Do the right thing.

Let them kill me.

Do the right thing.

I stand, proudly a Jew.

Do the right thing. 

I hear a click-

Do the right thing-

and a bang that resonates in my skull long after I'm gone. 

I hope you like it. It's kind of a new style, but I like it fine. 

TOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOP!!!!!!

Also, when will you be judging? 

Reward:

~~~~~ 

Reward: something given

in recognition of one's service,

Effort or achievement;

Reward, something one has earned

in return for doing the right thing,

For the absolute best, for striving towards a goal;

Reward- something STOLEN 

by those who don't deserve,

Merit and standing casting all

"Good deeds" to the wayside;

And whom is the judge who tells

who is in the right or wrong,

How much effort vs achievement,

or discerns intentions from actions?

What one has offered for these?

Just what exactly is this

burden, a so-called  

"reward?"