Preface: I’d see these poetry contests and eventually realized someone
wanted to publish a book, so they’d get dummies to write a poem and submit
it, then for $25. or $40. you could buy their book. The author then would
be pumped with evidence that they were published. This poem was actually
submitted, only to make fun of the whole thing. If you’ve read any of my
work, it’s obvious it’s difficult to say anything meaningful with
restriction.

Twenty six lines of poetry
Of what then do I write?
Family, friends or lovers …
Or a moment remembered bright?

Philosophy or religion?
Or perhaps of world affairs …
Of something warm and fuzzy
Or maybe of deep despair … ?

Twenty six lines of poetry
Is all the lines allotted
Free-form … rhymed and metered
But amateurly concocted

A contest of us unpaid poets
Competing for a prize
One pen against the others
Dreading notice of demise.

A book perhaps in the making
In the cross-hairs of publication
Eager for our forty dollars
Lending us ego gratification

A momentary distraction
As if another needed
A job, a house, kids and bills
‘Til energy is all but depleted

Twenty six lines of poetry . .
Conjecture running free.

3/23/13 ,