AN INVITATION I WISH I COULD AFFORD

Ladies and gentlemen, and fellow poets . . . the winner of the largest cash prize ever awarded to an amateur poet . . . Our Poet of the Year for 2006 . . . the Grand Prize winner of $20,000 cash and a $10,000.00 book publishing contract is . . .

Gayle Watkins!

We're familiar with your work, Gayle, and you know . . .
it could happen just that way!

Dear Gayle,

I would like to inform you of your nomination as Poet of the Year for 2006, and to personally invite you to read your poetry at the single largest gathering of poets in history, where you will be formally inducted as an International Poet of Merit and Honored Member of our Society for 2006-2007.

Your induction will take place July 20-23, 2006, in the entertainment capital, Las Vegas, Nevada, during the 20th Anniversary International Society of Poets Convention and Symposium.

You will also be honored with two separate and very special awards for your poetic achievement at special ceremonies throughout the weekend.

First, to honor and commemorate your poetic accomplishments, after you read your poetry in front of fellow poets from around the world, you will be presented with your very own International Outstanding Achievement in Poetry Crystal Award Trophy. The Award is a magnificent work of art in itself ($300.00 value), made from imported lead crystal (see it here). It is hand-engraved and mounted on a three-tier solid marble base. This will be the first time ever that we have bestowed these crystal awards. They have been created by artisans that we have commissioned specially for this year in honor of our 20th Anniversary. This impressive 13-inch tall crystal award is so valuable that wehave designed a special carrying case just for you to take it home.

And Gayle . . . there's much more . . .

In recognition of your poetry presentation we will also present to you a beautifully crafted, antique bronze Commemorative Award Medallion to honor your poetic dedication and achievements.

AMERICAN IDOL WINNER RUBEN STUDDARD AND GRAMMY WINNER TONY ORLANDO WILL JOIN US IN LAS VEGAS!

Ruben Studdard was a 2004 Grammy nominee and won an NAACP Image Award the same year. Ruben's story of an amateur with a dream, who entered a contest and his rise to fame, will be inspiring to us all. Also, performing at this year's event and back by popular demand is Grammy Award winner and star of a hit TV show, Tony Orlando.

You'll also find yourself reading your contest poem in front of new friends, publishers, and editors who are supportive and eager to hear and critique your work. Amidst an intensive weekend of over 20 seminars, readings, rap sessions, and workshops led by the most talented poetry faculty ever assembled, you will have the opportunity to hone your craft. We have even added several young poet lectures to meet the needs of our up-and-coming poets under 18 years of age.

And you'll be able to get up-close and personal with some of the world's most renowned professional poets. This year, we are particularly pleased to welcome Pulitzer Prize-winning poet W.D. Snodgrass, Academy of American Poets Past Chancellor David Wagoner, Dr. Herbert Woodward Martin, Professor Grace Cavalieri, and over a dozen other poetry celebrities who will treat us to very special and inspiring readings of their world-renowned poetry.

OVER 50 POETS WILL SHARE $100,000.00 IN CASH AND PRIZES

And don't forget the most lucrative amateur poetry contest ever! Your contest entry poem can be written in any style, on any subject . . . and can be up to 40 lines long.

Just think . . . for this poem alone, you will have the opportunity to win one of over 50 cash and gift prizes. . . including a Grand Prize of $20,000.00 and a $10,000.00 Publishing Contract. There's also a Second Prize of $10,000.00, Third Prize of $5,000.00, two Fourth Prizes of $2,500.00 each, five Fifth Prizes of $1,000.00 each, and fifteen Sixth Place Prizes of $500.00 each. Plus, we will award an additional five $1,000.00 scholarships to some of today's most talented young poets. We will also present Apple iPods to the runners-up in the young poet category, not to mention door prizes, including tickets to see the best shows in Las Vegas.

DON'T BE LEFT OUT

Don't miss this opportunity. Space is limited, and our conventions routinely sell out. For our 20th anniversary, we have larger cash prizes, more chances to win, and more spectacular entertainment than ever before. Click here to register now or call us at 410-356-2000 ext. 101. Come join your fellow poets and bring your friends and family to Las Vegas, Nevada, July 20-23, 2006, for an incredible weekend and the poetic event of the year!

Sincerely,
Steve Michaels
International Society of Poets
Convention Chairperson

Click here to watch the new convention highlights video

Click here for more information.

Click here to Register Now, or go to
https://www.poetry.com/poetscorner/register.asp?VIP=P5262091&SC=T155

poetry.com * One Poetry Plaza * Owings Mills, MD 21117

thanks to dorn for this marque

THE LOSS OF A SOUL

i just opened my emails and found something that has really hit me hard.........the passing of someone i never met in real life, but someone whom i thought highly of and who fought a hard battle with cancer...............PAMELA CARYL HILGER.  she passed on april 16 of this year..........6 days after her birthday.  PAM YOU WILL BE MISSED NOT ONLY BY THE AOL JOURNAL COMMUNITY, BUT BY MANY FRIENDS AND FAMILY MEMBERS.................

   

Pamela Caryl Hilger April 10, 1956 - April 16, 2006

an entry from pam's journal:

"most days the patients sit chatting quietly with each another .. yesterday morning there was a woman and her husband there i had seen on several occasions .. she was always quiet, never making a fuss .. just sitting there in those sexy hospital gowns in a hat on that reminded me of Gilligan's Island

"i pulled my chaircloser to hers and inquired, polietly, about her condition .. althoughher husband tried to interject on several occasions (to save his wife the effort of breathing i suppose) i really DID want to talk to her, to her hear side of her story .. pretty soon her gracious husband "got it" and was content to sit back and listen .. then i asked if her Gilligans hat held any sentimemtal significance .. she shook her head no

"i pulled my hand crocheted chemo cap from my head (i was wearing my black and green one) and then i asked her if she'd noticed my chemo cap that was crocheted by a friend of mine .. she ran her hand over the cap, exclaimed how soft it was .. i encouraged her to put it on so we could see what it looked like .. and she looked like a queen .. a chemo cap fit for a queen .. just about that time my technician came to fetch me and i told her to keep the cap, it looks like it was made just for her and she looks beautiful

"and tomorrow i know when i see my new friend, she'll have a smile on her face and a beautiful new chemo cap on her head .. its amazing, even when you're at your sickest, just doing a little something to make you feel pretty sure does do a long way"

thank you for the smiles while you were here pamela!

MAY YOU FINALLY BE AT REST......................

A PICNIC FROM THE PAST

jo (hannahthemaid) recently asked the poet community if any of us had been on a real picnic.  that jogged my memory of a picnic that occurred 34 years ago..........this is what i remember......................

i was dating a young man named christopher (actually his real name is christopher robin lefevre, but i wasn't his pooh.......lol).  he was 16 and i was 18.  i had graduated from high school and he was still in high school.  i had dated the same boy, john, all through high school and then after graduation.........john dumps me to pursue other life avenues.  i was devastated, but then christopher came along and i fell for him.........he had long hair, was thin and "artsy" looking, with very nice facial features.  his goal in life was to become a concert pianist.  i loved music...........so we sorta fit..........

during mine and chris's relationship he asked me if i would like to go camping with him.  he had all the equipment needed and would bring the food.  we went to high falls park, which at that time wasn't a big tourist trap, and found a nice spot along the river to set up the campsite.  chris spread out a tablecloth and opened up a real picnic basket which contained a bottle of wine, cheese, french bread, and strawberries.  ok, maybe this isn't the "true picnic" that jo was speaking of, but it was really nice and was pretty darn close.  we dined on the foods and wine and snuggled in for a cozy night together. 

ok, before anyone starts letting their imaginations run wild.........i was still a virgin and so was chris.............and he brought along a friend's dog he was dog sitting, which was a large black mop.......and the trees were alive with ticks...........the dog, chris and i were covered in ticks before the sun came up.............so it wasn't the romantic get away we had originally hoped for.................but it was still nice.........up till the tick attacks..........

thanks jo for jogging my memory on this.............i have so few memories of my past life.  sometimes i think it is best that way, but then something like this arises and i feel good inside.....................i miss chris.............he was such a sweetheart.  i wish we still had the connection we once had.............i would think about him and he would somehow contact me, either by phone or by letter..........but we have lost touch.  he was headed to new york last time i heard from him..................chris, take care wherever you are ok???

AMAZING COLLEEN

My friend, Colleen, has recently been asked to show some of her "photography art" at a showing in Hollywood.  I am so proud of her!  I have always loved photography myself, but don't have the funds to purchase the right kind of camera to do much with.  I did win one online photography contest with a picture of the rising moon over Savannah, Georgia, taken with a $5 yard sale digital camera.........I was soooooo excited.  

I have decided to share some of Colleen's work below, but please, DO NOT STEAL THIS WORK.............it is hers and hers alone.............so if you wish to purchase some of her shots, you can contact her at: 

http://hellolosangeles.com/Art/CertifiableView.Cfm#BioContact

the one below is not of the ocean..........it is actually the desert floor..........great shot.

NOBLE HOUSE LONDON

i received in the mail today a request from noble house london publishers to publish another of my poems in their international book.........woo hoooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

this is the poem i chose to have published...........sorta dark..............

 

THE PAINS OF DARKNESS

 

amber light, fading, dying

darkness, encompassing, consuming

voices, untruthful, lying

fear, uncertainty looming.

 

sleepless night, too well known

nightmarish horrors on nights of fitful sleep

peaceful dreams far away have flown

only despair follows, forever deep.

 

pacing, frightened, craving dawn

wishing away the awful voices

knowing not where hope has gone

and having no more choices.

 

black gives way to gray

the voices drift afar

the sun gives promise of a new day

and erases each and every scar.

 

but soon the light begins to fade

giving way to darkness once more

again she must lie upon the bed she made

and cry her pain as before.

 

(written by regina 2005, copyrighted by noble house publishers 2006)

NATIONAL POETRY AMBASSADOR

Dear Gayle,

What are you doing this year for National Poetry Month? As you might imagine the International Library of Poetry (ILP) and National Poetry Month have a long history together in promoting and furthering poetry in our society.

April is National Poetry Month; the Academy of American Poets established it in 1996 in order to celebrate poetry, our poetic heritage, and individual poets on a national level. Today, National Poetry Month is celebrated by millions of people every year in schools, libraries, and bookstores all over the United States and abroad.

As a leader in this endeavor, the International Library of Poetry has been given a unique opportunity that recognizes your poetic achievement. Gayle, on behalf of the International Library of Poetry you have been selected to become a "United States of America 2006 Poetry Ambassador." This exceptional honor is one that you should take pride in receiving. We here at the International Library of Poetry hope you accept this prestigious nomination and join us in celebrating National Poetry Month.

GAYLE WATKINS HAS BEEN NOMINATED AS A 2006 POETRY AMBASSADOR.

So, what is a Poetry Ambassador? It is a person whose love of poetry is so great that they want to spread the joy of poetry to anyone who is interested. A Poetry Ambassador is also someone who is looked up to and admired for his or her poetic knowledge and insight. In fact, sharing your love of poetry with others is the only obligation to this distinctive honor. We hope you will join The International Library of Poetry and consider donating some of your time or money to the many worthy causes that support poetry in our culture. Again, you choose your own way to spread your love of poetry.

Upon acceptance of the nomination to become a 2006 Poetry Ambassador, you will receive a beautiful award certificate with a special United States of America / National Poetry Month Seal to recognize your poetic accomplishment and distinction as a Poetry Ambassador. Additionally, we will provide you with a list of suggestions to spread your love of poetry to others. Your acceptance form is attached to this email. Please fill it out as quickly as possible in order to reserve your spot as a 2006 Poetry Ambassador.

As a Poetry Ambassador, you will have the wonderful opportunity to share something of yourself with your friends, family, and community. The great American poet Robert Frost once said, "The only lasting beauty is the beauty of the heart." That is why we are challenging all of our poets to show us the beauty of their hearts by spreading the joy of poetry. Whether you like to write poetry, read poetry, or do both, we know that poetry is important to you. This year we can make a difference and spread the gift of love, peace, and poetry.

Yours truly,

Edward Moffet III
Chairman
ILP / National Poetry Month Committee

P. S. Don't forget to complete your acceptance form as a 2006 Poetry Ambassador for National Poetry Month.

Go to https://www.poetry.com/poetscorner/NatlPoetryMonth1.asp?VIP=P5262091

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Dear Gayle,

On behalf of the International Library of Poetry (ILP) / National Poetry Month Committee, you are now officially registered as a 2006 Poetry Ambassador. Congratulations on accepting this distinct honor for your friends, family, and community and for doing your part to spread your love of poetry.

In recognition of this exceptional honor, please accept the beautiful award certificate accompanying this letter with our National Poetry Month Seal. This certificate of distinction is something you should be proud to display for all your friends and family to see.

As a way to further recognize your contributions as a Poetry Ambassador, we are planning to register your name and your poetic activities on the 2006 National Poetry Month Poetry Ambassador Online Directory. Attached to this email is a Poetry Ambassador Services Form. We would love to hear about all your poetic activities during National Poetry Month. Please fill out this form as soon as your volunteer work is completed.

Remember, your only obligation as a Poetry Ambassador is to share your love of poetry. Of course, we hope you join the International Library of Poetry and donate some of your time or money to the worthy causes in support of poetry in our culture. Attached is a list of 101 Ways to Celebrate National Poetry Month; these are suggested ideas and activities for celebrating National Poetry Month. Here at the International Library of Poetry, we treat the entire month as though it were a month-long holiday. We are celebrating this year by supporting local schools in the Baltimore, Maryland area. Our staff developed a lesson plan to go along with textbooks that we donate to schools. We hope that these poetry lessons will last for generations. Our professional Editorial Advisory Board gets into the volunteering act, too! They volunteer throughout the year with adult literary and community projects, as well as after school youth programs. All poets, whether professional or amateur, are truly generous people.

Some of our suggestions for promoting the public support of poetry are to read classic, contemporary, or even your own poetry aloud. There are many places where people of all ages congregate, and many of them welcome volunteers to readpoetry. For example, libraries, daycare centers, schools, after school programs, literacy organizations, community associations, nursing homes, and churches have allocated a certain amount of time for outside volunteers. Why don't you give one of them a call and offer to read your favorite poetry? Reading poetry aloud and introducing it to a new audience can be one of the most rewarding experiences imaginable.

If you don't have time to volunteer, then why don't you read a book of poetry at home? Or perhaps you can attend a poetry reading at your local bookstore or library. If you can't recite poetry in front of a crowd, then share a poem with a family member or a friend. One of our favorite things to do is to send a poem to a friend or loved one. It doesn't matter if you wrote it or if it's an old favorite.

If you cannot donate your time to sharing poetry, then consider donating a few dollars. There are thousands of charitable organizations that can use your financial help. The National Endowment for the Arts is our favorite. The U.S. Congress established it in 1965, and its mission is to encourage artistic creativity and to make art education available to everyone. You could also help to spread the gift of poetry by buying a book of poetry and donating it to your local library. Many libraries have limited budgets, so donating a book of poetry increases the poetry available to everyone in your area.

As a Poetry Ambassador, you have the wonderful opportunity to share something of yourself with your friends, family, and community. As the great American poet Robert Frost once said, "The only lasting beauty is the beauty of the heart." That is why we are challenging our poets to show us the beauty of their hearts by spreading the joy of poetry. Whether you like to write poetry, read poetry, or do both, we know that poetry is important to you. This year we can make a difference and spread the gift of love, peace, and poetry.

Yours truly,

Edward Moffet III
Chairman
ILP / National Poetry Month Committee

P.S. Remember to complete your Poetry Ambassador Services Form so we can submit your name and activities to our 2006 National Poetry Month Poetry Ambassador Online Directory.

You are receiving this email because you agreed to receive relevant emails from us. Please do not reply to this message. If you no longer wish us to notify you of poetic events that we believe may be of interest to you, please click here, or go to http://www.poetry.com/nl/stopemail.asp.

poetry.com * One Poetry Plaza * Owings Mills, MD 21117