Contest winners shine
Dew drops on glossy grass leaves
Parched eyes drink the words

Granted, I’m not a talented poet like the rest of you. So show me what you’ve got! Post your own haikus in the comments to help us all get inspired.

Then, take a minute to read this week’s winners of the Daily Contest.

October 30, 2009: Pamela Maalouf for I Wonder Why
October 31, 2009: Paul R. Sydow for The Quill of the Writer
November 1, 2009: Lisa D. Wadford for The Soul of Man
November 2, 2009: Paul M. Attaya for Mistake or Not? That’s Not the Question
November 3, 2009: Andrew James Kappler for The Girl I Love and Lost
November 4, 2009: Santos Discar for Twilight
November 5, 2009: ishaq johnson for Untitled

Congratulations to our winners!
Annie

Be sure to keep rating your favorite poems, since the judges select winners from the poems with the highest ratings by the community. Visit our official contest rules to learn more.

Congratulations again Joshua,
Annie

October 23, 2009: Marye St. Michols for Where Were You?
October 24, 2009: hawkinsdk for Moment
October 25, 2009: Kimberly Rinehart for Camille
October 26, 2009: Martina Marissa Mueller for My Coast Guard
October 27, 2009: jerusalem for Elegy
October 28, 2009: Rachel Elizabeth Oliver for A Simple Prayer
October 29, 2009: Timothy Ivan Brumley for Come With Me

Be sure to check back next week, when we will announce more Daily winners and the winner of our Monthly Contest for October.

Congratulations to our winners,
Annie

October 16, 2009: CosmeValentine Tijerina for Shadow of a Guardian
October 17, 2009: Anthony Strange for Flying With Our Eyes Closed
October 18, 2009: Richard Deets for Blue Violets
October 19, 2009: D. Roxanne Paris for Blank Page
October 20, 2009: Herbert Curtis-Stubbs for A Spring Morning Walk
October 21, 2009: Thomas Burman II for New Disease
October 22, 2009: Pamela Sue Allen Primm for Tomorrow

Congratulations everyone,
AJ

October 9, 2009: Horace Bryant for Night Reflections
October 10, 2009: Natalie S. Nicholas for Forever
October 11, 2009: Amy Elizabeth Hand for Faces Above My Bed
October 12, 2009: Monica D. McDowell for I Am Learning
October 13, 2009: Timothy Ivan Brumley for Ten Brothers
October 14, 2009: Patricia Idrovo for Remembrances
October 15, 2009: Wallace Dean LaBenne for My Sister Died Today, Karen Charlotte, 7/6/44 to 1/11/ 09

Congratulations everyone,
Annie

October 2, 2009: Oscar Arcelious Lottihall for The Ticking
October 3, 2009: Muhammed Lawwal Sule for If You Ever Exist
October 4, 2009: Anthony Salin for Cupid’s Quiver
October 5, 2009: Jennifer Rivera Sanchez for Running
October 6, 2009: Melissa Danielle Meisch for Failure
October 7, 2009: Krista for Walk With Me
October 8, 2009: C J Unsworth for Alive

Congratulations again,
Annie

September 17th through the 20th was a lively time to be in Raleigh, NC. Over the course of four days, downtown Raleigh hosted the highly anticipated (by those “in the know”) SparkCon event. Restaurants, shops, and even the streets were transformed into havens for the artistically inclined and visitors gained a real understanding of the breadth of cultural diversity Raleigh has to offer.

Now in its fourth year, SparkCon had the largest turnout to date this year. Thousands of attendees spread out over Fayetteville and Hargett Street, which were closed to any traffic. The streets were filled with people giving mass dance lessons, artists spraying graffiti on designated walls, and children drawing chalk art. Tents blanketed most of Hargett Street, housing an eclectic bazaar which featured handmade items from stores throughout the city. Each storefront and building put their normal business on hold in order to host artistic and insightful events such as “fashionSpark” at The Foundation, or “filmSpark” at Art Space.

Lulu sponsored “poetrySpark,” which was held in the upstairs lounge of The Morning Times coffee shop. At any given moment there was a minimum of 60 people, and a maximum of what seemed like 200 people out to enjoy and enrich themselves with poetry from well-known authors such as Carolyn Beard Whitlow, Professor of English at Guilford College in Greensboro, as well as from open-mic poets that happened to stop by. Saturday evening started with live music from local band Lizh Crew - a soulful rock/pop act that really set the mood for the readers and listeners. At one point more chairs had to be brought in!

Lulu, which began as a grassroots company, is thrilled to be able to be a part of something that inspires creativity in the community. It was such an honor to be able to participate and have a presence at the poetrySpark and we hope we get to do it again. Lulu will be publishing a collection of poetry read throughout poetrySpark later this year.

The Butterfly has received consistently high ratings all month. Thank you to everyone in the community who took the time to rate this and their other favorite poems.

Great job, Timothy!

Congratulations again,
Annie

September 25, 2009: Mildred Irene Kellerman for Moonbeams
September 26, 2009: Timothy Ivan Brumley for Four Sisters
September 27, 2009: Jason Cox for I Was the Statue
September 28, 2009: Jenny for Ethereal Captivity
September 29, 2009: Rob Roy Foresman for Quiet
September 30, 2009: Nancy F. LaVerne for No Inspiration
October 1, 2009: Ryan Phillip Quandt for Howl in the Night

The time just seems to fly by, and it’s hard to believe that we are already in October. Be sure to check back next week, when we will announce the Monthly Contest Winner for September, who will receive a $250 prize.

Congratulations again,
Annie

September 18, 2009: thenotoriouspoet for On Entertaining Ghosts
September 19, 2009: The Light for Unintentional Letters
September 20, 2009: Zeljko Mihajlovic for Waiting To Be Doomed
September 21, 2009: Donna Ellen Baylor for Another Good Day
September 22, 2009: Salisha Hill for One Day
September 23, 2009: Damarie for The Wolf
September 24, 2009: Cookie for Father

Thank you to everyone who took the time to rate and share poems this week.

Congratulations again!
Annie