Gee Mom and Dad, I'm a published poet! Back at Iowa Wesleyan the campus English literati printed a booklet of winning entries annually. It is the called Design. Students and faculty would submit their poems, haikus or whatever and a judging panel would include them in the year's latest Design.
I don't know how I found out about it other than perhaps fliers about campus. Anyway, I submitted a poem and guess what, they included it in that year's edition. I wish Iwould have considered it as big a deal as the school did. They sent a letter to the folks telling them what an honor it was, and even asked me to join them on a certain day and read my poem to as assembled group of winners and their families. I declined. Shyness? Maybe. At the time I just don't think I wanted to. Somehow, looking back on it, I kind of wish I had.
Anyway, here is the cover of the Design and my entry. By the way, must not have been too big of a deal, they misspelled one of my words and all edition had a gauche ink pen correction. Tacky, the published poet said, with snooty nose firmly in the air. Tsk, tsk.
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I don't know how I found out about it other than perhaps fliers about campus. Anyway, I submitted a poem and guess what, they included it in that year's edition. I wish Iwould have considered it as big a deal as the school did. They sent a letter to the folks telling them what an honor it was, and even asked me to join them on a certain day and read my poem to as assembled group of winners and their families. I declined. Shyness? Maybe. At the time I just don't think I wanted to. Somehow, looking back on it, I kind of wish I had.
Anyway, here is the cover of the Design and my entry. By the way, must not have been too big of a deal, they misspelled one of my words and all edition had a gauche ink pen correction. Tacky, the published poet said, with snooty nose firmly in the air. Tsk, tsk.
Oh and before I forget, the President of the college, Dr. Louis Hasselmayer also was a winning contributor with his haiku. Anyone can do a seven word haiku, but it takes a real genius to come up with a word that rhymes with Nantucket.
Dear Mike,
ReplyDeleteI have to apologize for being absent from your Existing in BFE. I recently had been reunited with my pc and I noticed your link in my “favorites”. So, here I am perusing through, and stumbled upon this profound bit of work of yours! I notice “comments”, so I must! Beautiful poem and very well done. You should have made that speech! You deserve the recognition. I can see these thoughts coming from you very easily. You should pursue with writing more. It really hits home with me because I like to say the word optimism has always been my outlook, but even more than ever in the junction of my life I am now. So, it was well received by me and very pleased you shared! Nice work, you touched me today! LOL!