COMMENTS FROM CONTEST JUDGE MARIE KANE:

The poem "Alone at Night" uses original language to discusses the peacefulness of a quiet night. In its sparse but accurate explanation of moving from twilight to nighttime, the poem succeeds admirably.

In the opening of this poem, the speaker offers the time of day and place. The waning light of the sun is expertly captured in the phrase, "Watching the sun fade away," as the speaker sits "all alone / on my front porch." This visual opening sets the quiet tone of the poem.

The next lines creatively describe the coming night:

The sky as dark as a chocolate bar
punctuated by fireflies.

These lines are visual and tactile; the reader can see, feel, and even taste the dark's depth and silky nature. The superb verb "punctuated" vividly describes the light of fireflies against a dark night; and like a period's single dot, it suggests the fireflies' pinpoint light with clarity and conciseness.

The speaker moves to the moon at the end of the poem. It "appears in the West / shining like a jewel"; the simile illustrates the distinct brightness and reflective, even valuable, nature of the moon's light. In the final lines, the moon illuminates

my backyard
as if a bright candle
lights my heart
as I fall asleep.

Again, a simile describes the moon and its light, this time with the lesser, yet soothing, light of a "bright candle." The poem concludes with the satisfactory visual of the moon lighting the speaker's heart as he or she falls asleep. Line breaks are handled with care in this poem.

I enjoy this poem because of its natural rhythm, easy-going tone, and imaginative description.
One of the joys of reading poetry is in its skillful use of language; this poem fits that category well.

Thank you for the privilege of reading your work!

Marie Kane
Final Judge, Sarah Mook Poetry Contest
engmrk@aol.com