DISCLAIMER - Yes, I know that the Steemit logo has changed, but I like the old one more and do not want to change it :)

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My Greetings To You!

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The theme for Steemit Poetry Contest #11 - Loneliness

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About Prizes:

First Place - 8 SBD

Second Place - 7 SBD

Third Place - 6 SBD

Fourth Place - 5 SBD

Fifth Place - 4 SBD

Sixth Place - 3 SBD

Seventh Place - 2 SBD

Eighth Place - 1 SBD

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Entries will be accepted within five days from the date of publication of an announcement!

Deadline - January 16 7:30 AM UTC

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The winners of the Steemit Poetry Contest #10

1st Place - "Big Cosmic Baby" by @chrisroberts

I started as a single cell inside a cosmic storm;

That cell began to multiply, to instantly reform.

I once was small, but heard the call to change and quickly grow;

I held my breath and hitchhiked on the interstellar flow.

I never stopped creating, always growing as I went,

Absorbing the results of all the energy I spent.

Galaxies and nebula appeared as little ants,

The scope of my pure magnitude would shift with every glance.

At last I grew so large that I contained a billion stars,

My belly quite unsteady from a thousand cosmic wars,

Although I once was small and now I am forever grown,

I would not change at all my life; I must not be alone.

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2nd Place - "WART" by @carrieallen

It started as just a wee itch.

Some days I'd forget it was there.

Was never a reason to bitch,

Less bothersome than ingrown hair

With a pop it began to emerge.

Strange dots then appeared on the top.

But prior to singing my durge,

I figured out how it could stop!

I grabbed a banana, I need just the peel.

Some duct tape to hold it in place.

While tightly securing the green to my heal,

I give thanks it's not on my face!

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3rd Place - "Fractal Climb"by @hypexals-spiral

From the very moment you are born,

death pricks at you like an unforgiving thorn,

but there's a spark within that lives and grows,

with the inherent beauty and balance of a rose.

You will aim for greater heights,

as the sky reaches out during uncertain nights,

so keep your faith that the Sun's light will return,

for growth is a virtue from which we all earn.

When times are uncertain look upon the midnight moon,

and sing aloud your spirit's signature tune,

for we all participate in the symphony of time,

as we love and grow in this fractal climb.

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4th Place - "The Nature of Growth" by @belovebelight

Nature shows us its majestic ways,

Hoping we might offer gratitude throughout each of our days.

The lessons given are hard but valuable indeed,

Just as we witnessed from the persistent plantain tree.

For many days it may go without water,

Even be cut down, or seemingly brought to the slaughter.

No matter the weather it stands tall and keeps on growing,

Even though it seems natural, yet impossible or unknowing.

If it perseveres through all obstacles and trials throughout time,

That energy given will produce beautiful fruit beyond reason and rhyme.

Pragmatic and enlightened one will be if they even dare tried,

Because that same lesson to anyone can be applied.

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5th Place - "Timorous Growth" by @fishyculture

Clinging to familiar things that make me feel at home

While gazing out the window, seeking paths to the unknown.

The ego feels empowered by the habits of my life

Which is sufficient reason to embrace a little strife.

Routines fill every hour of my every passing day

Disruption is upsetting, I think I like my life this way.

Yet somewhere in my patterned soul a little rebel lives

Set to chuck it all and see what life free-wheeling gives.

Change is the only constant friend on this, our mortal walk

Yet when it beckons, fear steps in and causes us to balk.

So overcome, embrace the void, there's so much left to know

And outside of our comfort zone is where we really grow!

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6th Place - "The Fall and Rise" by @moonsoleil

In the middle of a field

Was a burned down oak

Its trunk turned to ash

In the sky still lingering smoke

Beside it stood a little girl

A lighter in her hand

She looked at me and smiled

And I could not understand

She spoke to me: ‘you see

This is the truest of all:

In order to rise,

One first must always fall.’

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7th Place - "Grow wise enough, beloved son!" by @hazem91

Do not grow fast but please grow wise.

You grow up once you realise

that no one cares about your size

if all you say is nothing but lies.

It's never about how big you grow

but what you learned and what you saw

and mostly about how well you know

who's a friend and who's a foe.

Grow wise enough, beloved son,

to do the best that can be done.

For if you can't be number one

there's nothing left to be won.

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8th Place - "Seeds of Thought" by @renascence

Here they are, thought after thought

Aspirations, ideas, and everything I've been taught

This fragile dandelion, filled with thoughts too

What if every seed, is a memory it's been through

Poor dandelion, your future is your seeds

And are told your flowers, are merely weeds

Every seed is a chance, maybe you'll find

An open field to flourish, with your own kind

With a single breath, your memories soar

This is the moment, you've been living for

I know you'll prosper, you will make it just fine

Your mind is flying free, and so will mine

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Rules of The Contest!

• Only one entry is allowed.

• Your entry-post must be tagged both #poetry and #poetrycontest

• The Title must be "SteemitPoetryContest #(with the number of the actual episode)" + the name of your poem.

• You can use any types of rhyme - End rhyme, Cross rhyme, Internal etc.

• The size of the poem - three quatrains (one quatrain = four lines).

• Do not steal! The contest is only original works!

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I wish everyone good luck and creativity!

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Let's make STEEMIT more interesting and varied together!

Sincerely, Terry Craft.