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Cagedbird
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Username: Cagedbird

Post Number: 88
Registered: 02-2004

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Posted on Thursday, March 19, 2009 - 09:18 am:   Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

Guys, I am trying to find some poetry contests (FREE) to post. Thanks Chris for getting us prepared! Has anyone judged a poetry slam besides me, recited poetry & won a prize at a festival, got a standing inivtation at a reading, sold more books than any other author at a book signing? It is indeed an exciting time 4 POETRY. Peace 2 all the POETS on this board!


Ahhh, April—that special time of year when our thoughts turn to spring, Opening Day in baseball and National Poetry Month in the U.S. So, how do you mark what is supposed to be “the cruelest month?” When you tell friends and family it is National Poetry Month, are your responses similar to this:

“National Poetry Month? Uhmmm … No, I didn’t know.” I’m sure you hear a lot of that.

But after the initial bewilderment, what happens next? Do you explain what happens during the month? Do you inspire dialogue about the meaning of the month? If people ask you, “Why April?” do you have the right answer?

Founded by the Academy of American Poets more than 10 years ago, National Poetry Month has become a way of honoring a time-honored literary genre, while highlighting readings, community events, gatherings, and publications—all related to poetry. April was chosen as poetry month as a nod to T.S. Eliot’s “The Waste Land” and its famous — or infamous — first line, “April is the cruelest month … .”

My small contributions to the national dialogue about National Poetry Month start with writing a poem a day in April, also known as NaPoWriMo. I also run a community-based literary reading series and attending poetry readings by others. But supporting national poetry month can be as simple as hanging a new poem outside of your office door, which always invites conversation. The Academy of American Poets makes it easy to participate by listing 30 Ways to Celebrate poetry month.

As someone who cannot have enough poetry in her life, my role is to bridge the disconnect between old ideas about poetry and what’s happening now. Poetry has become this dynamic, exciting exchange that brings people together in person or virtually. When people share their favorite poems they are sharing a part of themselves, which is something to be celebrated 365 days a year.

Whether you go down to your local elementary school or local library to volunteer your creative writing skills, host a writing workshop in your home, or take a poet to lunch — whatever you do, April is brimming with people who want to connect with others. In the U.S., spring is just beginning. Nationally and internationally, we are ready discuss the things you just can’t find in the news (yes, that’s a William Carlos Williams reference). In my heart of hearts, I believe that poetry is one of the ties that binds us together. It records our history through emotion and words. Poetry is the oldest of traditions, and I can’t think of anything better to celebrate. (Well, Opening Day in baseball is pretty cool, too!)

So, how do you celebrate National Poetry Month? Do you write a poem a day? Do you read poetry or attend readings? Do you participate in open mike and slams? What are YOUR plans?

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The IRS Audit

The IRS sent their auditor (a nasty little man) to audit a Jewish synagogue.. The auditor is doing all the checks, and then turns to the Rabbi and says, "I noticed that you buy a lot of candles.."
"Yes," answered the Rabbi.
"Well, Rabbi, what do you do with the candle drippings?" he asked.
"A good question," noted the Rabbi. "We actually save them up. When we have enough, we send them back to the candle maker and every now and then, they send us a free box of candles."
"Oh," replied the auditor somewhat disappointed that his question actually had a practical answer. So he thought he'd try another question, in his obnoxious way.
"Rabbi, what about all these matzo purchases? What do you do with the crumbs from the matzo?
"Ah, yes," replied the Rabbi calmly, "we actually collect up the crumbs, we send them in a box back to the manufacturer and every now and then, they send a box of matzo balls."
"Oh," replied the auditor, thinking hard how to fluster the Rabbi.
"Well, Rabbi," he went on, "what do you do with all the foreskins from the circumcisions?"
"Yes, here too, we do not waste," answered the Rabbi. "What we do is save up all the foreskins, and when we have enough, we actually send them to the IRS ."
"To the IRS?" questioned the auditor in disbelief.
"Ah, yes," replied the Rabbi, "directly to the IRS, and about once a year, they send us a little prick like you."
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Carey
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Carey

Post Number: 1777
Registered: 05-2004

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Posted on Thursday, March 19, 2009 - 12:43 pm:   Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

Cagedbird, no one can do the thangs that you do "wink" ...*lol*

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