Thank you to everyone that participated. You made deciding winners insanely tough but I loved it!   
Even though the contest part has ended, the challenge remains. I encourage you to answer the challenge for yourself. You might just learn something of how bright you are in this dim world.

Thank you to all of the judges: GinkgoWerkstatt, Lyricanna, Mollinda, deshrubber, MyntKat, kangel, annajordanart, ChewedKandi, deerlordhunter, ArtisnotanAccident, Mollinda, Atramina, alexandrasalas, Anoya, isthisthingstillon, Shalora, TerraRhapsody, pullingcandy, nycterent, BeccaJS, GwenavhyeurAnastasia, Kaz-D.

Review of Prizes

Grand Prize
Year Premium Membership
deviantWEAR Shirt^*
*

Secondary Prize
Six Month Premium Membership
deviantWEAR Shirt^*

Honorable Mentions
25 from across all categories will receive a Three Month Premium Membership


^*Subject to availability.


First Place
by CReevesABudd

Second Place
:thumb189610150: by Ms-Fix


First Place
by danydiniz

Second Place
by Joshi38


First Place
by Tuskface

Second Place
by BloodyRegret17


First Place
by DebWeb

Second Place
N/A


First Place
ResilienceWhen I was young, I loved to watch my father work. I used to think sparks were dangerous, so I would sit far enough away that the fire could not reach me. But I could still feel the heat, watching sparks rise high into the smoky air.
I was terrified of darkness. I would sleep with a candle burning to protect me, but shadows invaded my dreams. I pretended I was a dragon, filled with flames. Fearless.
Defiant.
No one believes in dragons anymore. No one believes in fire, either. I've grown up into the age of electricity, where fire is too hot and too wild to touch. Why risk burning yourself when light and heat are ready at the flip of a switch? It's much safer to shiver in the glow of civilization than to risk getting burnt.
The lights of cities surround me, outshining the stars. The mess of humanity clusters around the light like moths. They're all just afraid of the dark. I think back to the years I spent pretending to be brave.
When I was young, I loved to watch my mother light by jonathoncomfortreed

Second Place
:thumb192565601: by poshlost & The words are the spark.I hear them running. I hear them jumping, seeking, burrowing. I hear them whisper. They are words and they are mine.
In those moments, they overwhelm me. I think of sparklers during the night. How little children run around with thin sticks spouting fireworks that only last for seconds. Yet, looking back, on the cusp of adulthood, I realise how lucky they were to witness the sparks. To laugh, to delight in fire.  It is the same today, except the pen is my sparkler. The paper is the night sky. And with one wave, the words will tumble, heads over heels, towards the ground in sparks.
Countless writers have scratched their pens against the matchbox of Life. They burn out pen after pen trying to find the right spark. Together they form the literary canon, the bestsellers that riddle bookshelves, the scribbles of angsty poetry. We walk past them without realising. We speak of our Eureka moments, our crazy muses, our light bulb inspirations. Eureka moments are few and far between. O by julietcaesar


:thumb191488294: search for truthmy colour has rough edges,
my colour has its flaws
the red, how it offends you
the green, 'out of control'
a swampy, misty, foggy cloud
awaits my cry for direction
the rays of light i throw about
are slowed, stilled, and questioned
i am no perfect contrast
and i will often blaze too deep
i might spill too much of one hue
then next refuse to weep
i'll burn you with my fluro
and i'll bore you with my greys
i'll scream for satisfaction
wounding many on the way
i'll seep through far to much canvas
and i'll leak onto the floor
i'll drown you in conviction
as i smear it on my walls
i'll spill over the edges,
unboxed but uncontrolled,
and i'll stain things i don't need to
just a foolish, broken, boy.
...but as i move, i look for gold
and with this gold will come the fear
and with fear, there slowly grows the sound
of a Lion purring in His sleep
tell me, have you heard Him roar?
no beast will claim they have.
for all that does will soon be dead
and over time, renewed
there is a quiet gold mine :thumb189205063: For a DateI would like to go somewhere where I could hear you talk,
Hear you tell me everything that ever mattered to you,
And if you enjoy making out under the moonlight,
I would then like to ask you to do it again.
I would like to cuddle your hand to my chest,
Curl your hair around my sleeves,
Wipe the snow from your eyes,
And flower that little smile to soften your lips.
And I love to feel your soft lips on me,
Emotions behind everything you whisper in my ears,
Happiness in every one of your silly smiles,
Touching the spark in me that is now completely yours. Simplicity
Simplicity
1-01-11
My kitten nuzzling my cheek
And licking my nose at 5 a.m.,
Sitting on my chest purring,
Can be the spark that actually brings light
With the dawn of another day of having to be me. :thumb192035063: :thumb191948954: :thumb189653534: I am meA dreamer and a poet
A musician and an artist
A fighter and an outcast
A free spirit and a lost soul
A hurt girl and a strong survivor
A lover and a hater
A protector and a refugee
I am this person that has quite a story
I'll never give up as long as I have a say
I will fight till the end
Using all of my might
One day, I will win this fight
A child and a adult
A stereotype and a rule breaker
A student and a teacher
A patient soul with a short temper
A self injurer and a healer
A thinker and an acceptor
I am me, I will make a difference
No matter how small
My voice will be heard
My story told, by me for all
For all to benefit
For all to relate to
Until again our paths shall cross
Farwell The PhoenixA fire spirit burns deep inside
Through life's challenges I will glide
Changing direction with the breeze
Opportunity I will seize
Scarlet wings, potential power
Beautiful as the first flower
Precious tail feathers, painted gold
I wasn't born to fit the mould
Not always strong as I'm portrayed
Visions of the future have frayed
Sorrow fills my melodic song
Everything I've become feels wrong
Cried so many tears, they fail to heal
Pain so intense, I can't conceal
I fear I've given up the fight
Bursting into flame I ignite
Out of the ashes I will rise
Reborn, I'm yesterdays disguise
Always soaring through clouded skies
Memories lurk behind these eyes
Guided by the knowledge of my past
The lessons learned will forever last
I'll clean my wounds, and heal these scars
Spread my wings, and reach for the stars Beyond the LinesA six-by-six
is plenty of space
for a girl of only 5'3".
Consider yourself lucky, missy,
and back behind the lines!
You don't like staying behind the lines.
If you could just step outside for a bit,
you could do something—anything!
You know you could,
but—ah
              ah
                    ah,
that isn't allowed, dear.
Do stay behind the lines.
Keep your head down
and be like everyone else—
is that so difficult?
There is nothing beyond the lines;
not for you, anyway.
We have nothing to waste on you.
You wonder why you are a waste.
You wonder who else there is to waste on.
You wonder what is beyond the lines.
One day, you step beyond the lines,
just a little bit,
        only a little bit,
simply to see what the fuss is about.
They swoop upon you immediately,
a :thumb192213292: