[Michael Cantor]

1 - #1
2 - #8
3 - #3

[John Beaton]

1 #2, "The Way it Ended", for terse and poignant closing lines that touch real life situations*;

2 #3, "I Need Men", for grabbing me at the entrance and not letting go; and

3 #7, "Smitten", for, despite some flaws, throwing caution to the winds of a strong and accessible metaphor.

John

*PS My wife holds weekly come-one, come-all music sessions at our house. One man takes his wife, who has Alzheimer's. She has lost almost all communication ability, but music still perks her up. She plays percussion and smiles. This is a late chapter in his campaign to do everything in his power to "keep her in their game", and I can't imagine a better way of expressing it. In a real sense for them, because of Alzheimer's, "old age never came".

[Susan McLean]

1--Surabaya (8)
2--Differing Visions (6)
3--I Need Men (3)

[Tracey Gratch]

1. #3
2. #8
3. #4


This has been a lot of fun. I have enjoyed reading all the poems here and want to congratulate all who made it in. To Catherine and Mr. Gwynn - thank you.

[Carol Trese]

First: Sonnet #10, Stuffed
This bear is unforgettable.

Second: Sonnet #8, Surabaya
The inventiveness of this one made me read again and again.

Third: Sonnet #7, Smitten
This one pulled me in and pulled me back.

Thank you to all the contributors and the commentators. This bake-off is an annual treasure. Thanks to all!

[David Rosenthal]

I did not enter this year, and I haven't had time to comment in the threads, but I have enjoyed reading the sonnets and Sam and Cathy's comments. My votes:

1. I Need Men
2. God May Forgive You
3. Matriarch

David R.

[Bruce McBirney]

My favorites were

A Bird's Eye View
Differing Visions
Matriarch

Thanks to Catherine for her selections and insights (and efforts in organizing this!), and Sam for all his comments and reactions to the poems.

And a special thanks to Tim Murphy, who I've not seen at this year's bake-off, but who founded the event, and whose passion for poetry sustained it over many years.

Best, Bruce

[Steve Bucknell]

1.#4
2.#3
3.#1

Steve.

[Siham Karami]

And my choices are:
First - 3
Second - 8
Third - 10
And may the best sonnet win.
Siham

[R. Nemo Hill]

1. I Need Men #3
2. Surabaya #8
3. Smitten #7 (which could have been #1 Matriarch but for the fact that rule-morphing needs support at all times!)

Thanks, Cathy & Sam.

Nemo