Our deepest gratitude is extended to Thomas Vaughan for the gracious donation of his time in serving as are our superior judge. I know our finalists also thank him for the insightful analysis he offered each of them on their sonents.

Because She Loved Him
by: aien (Scotty Blake)

At first, he never knew the war that raged
within her breast; she granted that first kiss.
He felt her passion stirred, and then uncaged,
let loose along a path that led to this.
He pondered on the traits that he possessed,
the qualities that made her take the chance,
embark upon a journey never guessed,
the voyage of a frowned-upon romance.

He learned that soon would come her judgment day,
a knowledge that he wanted to deny;
he wondered then the price that she might pay
and asked if now the cost was much too high.
He hoped that when time came to hear His voice,
forgiveness would be granted for her choice.

Catching Mania
by: Just_Daniel (Daniel J. Ricketts)

Contagion is a strange and wond’rous thing.
The world's a stage for hypomania.
But stages come and go; the zanier
the mood, the more depression it may bring
when it plays out. Without a doubt it will,
and all the bit-part characters who yet
engage with Leading Player, you can bet,
bear risk of crashing, burning, trying still
to take away the consequences of
the crazy episode. They'll fear to talk
or feel; they'll pass along the egg-shell walk.
Somehow they think they can survive above
the up/down dancing with a manic soul
who gets depressed again. Ring up the toll!

Playing Moonlight by: TM_Douglas (Doug Jenkins)

A fellowship of ten prepares to dance
to movements of the moonlight's shimmering beams,
which cascade soul-ward as the dissonance
of minor tones inject their haunting themes
into a fluid stream of harmonies.

Reverberating strains have echoed through
the halls of time-like distant surging seas
of sound-inviting spirits, old and new,
to come and frolic wistfully within
the ebb and flow of music's finest hour.

I've heard the call- it breaks the worldly din,
endowing me with quiet's gentle power.
The moonlight summons me into its trance;
obediently I begin to dance.

Stargazer
by poetprncess (Liz)

At night she stands beneath a lustrous gleam
in awe of distant stars that light her night.
Entranced by heavens glow, her soul takes flight
to stroke his cheek and kiss his lips in dream.
Compelled by passion's stifled flame she prays
to feel, just once his warm embrace, so near
and lay her head across his chest to hear
his beating heart and feel his body sway.

Between the earth and sky they live apart,
two lovers waiting Fate's slow hand to wave
and God to sanction life anew-- to brave
a world without the joy of destined hearts.

Two souls adrift between the earth and time,
a dream's clandestine love affair; divine.

Sonnet II
by Samantha

And then I saw his face above the stars.
'Neath trough and trow I gaped, inferior.
My hand stopped work (unknown) still sown with scars.
They trembled slightly as the face grew near.
It filled my vision and my shrunken mind.
An apparition, coming with a flood.
I braced my fear - to stand made muscles grind.
He stole resolve; I fell face-first in mud.

No words were said and none were lost in need.
His purpose was clear, an idol to praise.
Unwritten rules gave no choice but to heed
The benevolent gift of accolades.
T'was a present to me, a subtle nod.
Faithfully now, I can believe in God.

Congratualtions to our winners, and to all who took up the challenge of writing a sonnet.