I Put Contests Together For Poetry/Rhyme And Give Prizes Once A Year.

February is Black history month. And like American Indian history, most people in the United States know very little about Black history. I met people from Russia that had to learn about America before they could enter the United States to live.

They knew all the tribes in Minnesota and where they were located. Even many Native Americans cannot identify all the reservations and tribal communities in Minnesota. We don’t learn that in school. Many know where the casinos are in Minnesota but have no idea what tribe is there.

It was so much fun visiting with the people who were well-informed and had such great questions to ask that were genuine and interesting. I could do the same with them and their life experience.

Due to this, I thought I would feature the poem in the photo above for my story on poetry contests.

I love putting together a Poem a Day in February on my writing site and my regular site. I love contests as people are competitive and try out for the winner or to place in the contest. Most entries are great. It becomes a tough decision to pick the favorite.

The contest favorites for each of the categories are below for this story. Hope you enjoy them.

JoAnn Boorman submitted the following two unusual formats:

Epitaph is from the Greek and means “upon a tomb”. Many are funny and they are usually short due to lack of space.

Here lies a gal named Susie

Everyone said, “She was a real doozy!”

Another poem form is the Alphabet Poem

A big cow dropped eleven fresh golden heavy icons, just kicking long mangy narrow open pens. Quicker results seldom tip udders, via wide X-rated yogas zits

Carol Jean Arola submitted this unusual form:

Clerihew — Short, funny often satirical. 4 lines, AABB. The first line must be the person’s name.

Carol Jean Arola

Used to drink Coca-Cola.

Buts she doesn’t anymore

Water’s better for shore.

Mariann Carroll submitted this form:

1-word title, 2-word descriptors, 3 words what they do, 4-word samples, 3 words what they do, 2-word descriptors, 1-word title. (Could not remember the name of the form)

Courage

Confident, Fearless

Pursue, defeat, create

Survivors, Doctors, Visionaries, Writers

Reflect, Process, Determine

Strong Decisive

Job

Mike Singleton — MikeyDred submitted this form:

A poetry form with single words and single syllables

Quiet

Still

No sound

Not a note

To not be heard

Not a click

No noise

Still

Kathy Hron — submitted a newer form — a Twittle:

The Twittle — a newer form with 4 lines and 100 total letters in the poem. (may or may not rhyme)

Cleo and Liberty, two Shih Tzu pups,

are my gifts from God above.

Every day we happily converse.

in the joyful language of love.

Favored poem from Limericks.

JoAnn Boorman

My yellow cat named Mr. Moose

Always wanted to be a goose

He bought himself a big pill

Guaranteed to grow him a bill

Unfortunately, it appeared on his caboose

Favored poem and photo of my deceased co-worker’s son and poem.

Jennifer Sawatzky

Awakened with hypnotic stares here we are…

A new generation brought down from the stars.

We are more than just human beings~

Into the souls of others, we are clearly seeing.

We came from the stars near the Milky Way.

A distant place so far away.

To make a change upon the ground.

Making moves without a sound.

Powers in the eyes like hidden magic

To protect the land from all that is tragic.

Against all odds~we never fall down.

Lessons are taught through Heyoka clown.

Ones who teach~both sacrifice and hope,

Before humanity tangles itself in the rope.

Save the sacred water to the sky so blue…

Fighting with old fashion Love, Unconditional and true.

Favored Poem for the Nonsense Poem:

JoAnn Boorman — Author

I saw a zebra in the street

He was looking pretty darn neat

Strips of color on his back

Not the usual white and black.

His neck was purple, edged in puce

His ears were yellow and chartreuse

Mahogany, gray, blue, and green

He was the brightest creature I had ever seen

On top of all he’d donned a scarf

All that color made me want to barf

I asked him why he dressed so loud

He said, “I like to stand out in a crowd “!!

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First published by Mercury Press in Medium