Edit: This contest is now officially closed! Thank you to everyone who entered. Please scroll down for the final prize list as well as run time for voting. We will be working hard to narrow down the amazing entries. Winners will be posted no later than March 15th. However, if we come to a conclusion before that, I will post the winner's blog early. Thanks again to all who participated and donated prizes!

Edit: Only three days left to enter! Enter while you can!
Scroll down for updated prize list. Seriously, we have tons of awesome prizes. Thank you to everyone who's donated!


Welcome to #PoeticalCondition's Second Official Contest!!!



Okay, so it is February, and what is in February? Valentines day!
We are sure to see at least a zillion variations on the valentine concept in prompts and contests. Some people adore the day, some hate it and some, like myself, just think it's stupid. So we'll see the
usual love and hate and disinterest for all kinds of reasons. But how about something a little different?



I challenge that everyone find at least one thing you love about YOURSELF and write a love letter about it.
You can write it directly to yourself, or you can write it as if it's about/to someone else. That is up to you.
It doesn't have to be in letter format, but it must be poetry.
It can be vain, or deep; about a specific instance or in general; even sarcastic. As long as the main theme is "I love myself and this is why."

Even the most lonely, or most in love people, can relate to this. Even the most self-hating people can find ONE thing they love about themselves (and chances are they probably need to).

As an example (and actually what gave me the idea for the contest), I wrote this:
Moriah JeanShe was soft and warm.
She was stone-cold.

I watched her, the strength in her
spine, the height in her shoulders,
the wave of ebony silk cascading over her
back - there was an unmistakable air.

But that skin, tight and smooth,
pulled over round hips, curved along
the concave of her stomach, crested
over her breast- a desert landscape.

She was sharp and round in all the
right places.
Formed from lightning and sand-
a burst of energy, a birth of
beauty.

Untouchable, but for that treasured
moment of welcome, that break in
tension, that upturning of lips, pink
and supple.

The knowing glance, the wanting look,
the low eyes,

Hopefully, that will help you understand what I mean. But feel free to explore this idea. And if you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask!

If we are confused as to how your entry is a love letter to yourself, we may ask for a small explination. But for the most part this is completely open to member interpretation. Love poems come in all shapes and sizes, so don't hold back.



1) Only members can enter (feel free to join just for the contest!).
2) Poems only, but any type/form of poetry is fine. Feel free to write an actual letter poem, but don't feel confined to that form.
3) Only 1 poem per member.
4) New poetry written for this contest only.
5) Poem must be your own work, do not try to claim someone else's work as your own.
6) No found poetry, and no cover photos.
7) No longer than 50 lines, please. Haiku is fine, but nothing shorter. No 6WS. (In this case, a little length is probably better, considering the topic, I really wanna feel the love.)
8) Must include "Written for #PoeticalCondition's Love Letter To Myself Contest" or something to that effect, in the author's comments.
9) Must be submitted to the "Love Letter Contest Entries" folder only.

If you do not adhere to the rules completely, we will not take your poem into consideration to win. And we will remove it from the contest folder.

Members, Contributors and Co-founders are welcome to enter and free to win. Only Judges cannot enter.

Judges Are:


In the case of a tie during voting, my vote (*RiseandBe) is the tie breaker.



First place:
Journal features from: *RiseandBe, *prettyflour, *DearPoetry, ~Dreamsickdev, and !TheLunarDragon
An interview and journal feature from !travelgirlxx
Llamas from: *RiseandBe, *bloodawni, *DearPoetry, !travelgirlxx, ~Nullibicity, `vespera, and !TheLunarDragon
Feature in ~MadxRhapsodyx17's "Deviously Skillful and Talented" article.
3 In-depth comments or Critiques from !TheLunarDragon on pieces of your choosing.
1 critique from `tiganusi on a piece of your choosing.
A from ~Nullibicity
3 from !TheLunarDragon
50 from *prettyflour
50 from ~shehrozeameen
200 from *RiseandBe

Second place:
Journal features from: *RiseandBe, *DearPoetry, !travelgirlxx, ~Dreamsickdev, and *prettyflour
Llamas from: *RiseandBe, *DearPoetry, *bloodawni, !travelgirlxx, ~Nullibicity, `vespera, and !TheLunarDragon
Feature in ~MadxRhapsodyx17's "Deviously Skillful and Talented" article.
2 In-depth comments or Critiques from !TheLunarDragon on pieces of your choosing.
1 critique from `tiganusi on a piece of your choosing.
A from ~Nullibicity
2 from !TheLunarDragon
30 from ~shehrozeameen
125 from *RiseandBe

Third place:
Journal features from: *RiseandBe, *DearPoetry, ;devtravelgirlxx:, ~Dreamsickdev, and *prettyflour
Llamas from: *RiseandBe, *DearPoetry, *bloodawni, !travelgirlxx, ~Nullibicity, `vespera, and !TheLunarDragon
Feature in ~MadxRhapsodyx17's "Deviously Skillful and Talented" article.
1 critique from `tiganusi on a piece of your choosing.
A from ~Nullibicity
1 from !TheLunarDragon
20 from ~shehrozeameen
75 from *RiseandBe

*Must specify pieces for comment/critique and commission wanted within a week of winning.

Prize donations are open! Anything from features to llamas to points, whatever you have to offer, we will accept. You can donate points for the contest at the Official #PoeticalCondition Donation Pool on *RiseandBe's profile.
The more you donate, the more you can win!



Start Date: February 1st, 2013 (or the second you read this)
End Date: March 1st, 2013 (I will close the contest folder on this date)
Judging: March 1st - 14th 2013
Winners Announced: March 15th, 2013

I can't wait to see what you all come up with!
Good Luck and Happy Writing!
- Mo