Elizabeth Peele
Lisa Merrill
Maryann Miller
Meghan Hoch
Mitchell Stout
YOU, THE READERS ARE THE JUDGES! Base your judging on creativity, originality, depth (even of wit), and... oh, I don't know... desparation to win(?). The most accurate way to judge would be to use a scoring system i.e. 1-5 for each category; 1 being low, 5 being high--20 points equals a perfect score. After that rigamarole post the titles of your three highest scoring entries in a comment box. By Sunday we should be able to declare the finalists. Be sure to mention how your favorite touched your heart deeply.
* And please forgive me, but there were some entries that were submitted with no title... so I made titles up!
Good luck contestants!
Here are the entries in random order:
Entry # 0002929-01
Ode to Karen
There lives a young gal in the East.
She is raising six kids and a beast*.
She is funny and bright—
Her blog a delight,
On each post fans and readers do feast!
*A reference to your dog. :)
Entry # 0003838-02
Daffodils
by William Wordsworth
I wandered lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o'er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host, of golden daffodils;
Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.
Continuous as the stars that shine
And twinkle on the milky way,
They stretched in never-ending line
Along the margin of a bay:
Ten thousand saw I at a glance,
Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.
The waves beside them danced, but they
Out-did the sparkling leaves in glee;
A poet could not be but gay,
In such a jocund company!
I gazed—and gazed—but little thought
What wealth the show to me had brought:
For oft, when on my couch I lie
In vacant or in pensive mood,
They flash upon that inward eye
Which is the bliss of solitude;
And then my heart with pleasure fills,
And dances with the daffodils.
Entry # 0004747-03
[*Dog from Hell]
The dog in the corner
He craps all the time
I don’t understand him
I’m starting to lose my mind
Would someone please adopt him
He eats us out of house and home
There’s dog hair all over the place
And when he licks he leaves foam
Dear God why do we have this stupid mutt
My family makes the worse decisions
I should take away all the Purina
Seeing how I am the one who keeps his provisions
I know I’m being hard
But if you knew what it was like
You couldn’t argue my point of view
Then agree the dog should take a hike
Entry # 0005656-04
ONCE UPON A TIME WHEN I WAS SPIRITUAL
or
HAIKUS FOR THE HUNGRY: PONDERINGS DURING A PROLONGED TIME OF FASTING
Day One: Determination in the Face of Adversity
First day of the fast
I cannot have toast today
Sigh... pass the water
Day Two: Panic! Weakness! Must Eat Soon!
The hunger! Need food!
How much longer will it be?
It's only day two.
Day Five: Does It Have to Be Something I LIKE?
What to fast today?
Coffee? Bagels? Steak? I know-
How 'bout lima beans?
Day Ten: Tempted by Spiritual Pride
There, just within reach -
Pizza. But I say no thanks.
God must be impressed.
Day Fourteen: Identifying With Those Who Have Gone Before
Long days without food
This must be how Gandhi felt
Wanting a sandwich
Day Twenty One: A Prophetic Dream - Time to End the Fast
Go to bed hungry
Alarm sounds - wake feeling full
Hey! Where's my pillow?
Entry # 0006565-05
[*A Mealtime Prayer said by Karen's Dinner Guests]
karen's great,
karen's good.
let us thank her for our food.
amen.
Entry # 0007474-06
[*Joyous Kool Daze]
I wake each morning and start my routine
The same day after day
I take a break and go online
To see what Karen has to say
KOOL DAZE is a thing of beauty
An absolute treasure of a blog
At the dreariest moment of my dreariest day
It lifts me from my fog
With a song in my heart and a spring in my step
A grin from ear to ear
I now can get through the rest of my day
Thanks to KOOL DAZE - and a 12 pack of beer...hee
Entry # 0008383-07
[*Song of a Homeless Stranger]
There’s a man sitting out somewhere,
Wrapped in a blanket, sitting in a wheelchair.
The wind cuts through my bones
As I know it must to his.
Will he ask for money?
I can’t stand it when these people beg.
I hate saying no, and I hate feeding drug habits.
I fumble with my phone.
If I look busy, I’ll have an excuse.
I won’t feel bad ignoring him.
What a lame excuse.
Hey girl won’t you look at me?
Hey girl can I play for you?
Hey girl its cold tonight.
Wanna hear my music
Playing through the night?
Was he playing for me?
Was that music meant to pierce my soul?
Did he intend to make me cry?
I should buy him a cup of tea.
Won’t he find that strange?
And again my indecision makes the worst of me.
There’s a man sitting out somewhere,
Holding a harmonica, sitting in a wheelchair.
He’s not a penny richer,
Not a drop of tea warmer,
But the night wind has heard him play,
And I have heard a gentle reprimand.
Be not forgetful to entertain strangers,
For thereby some have entertained angels unawares.
Entry # 000828208
[*Playtime for Seniors]
Moved to Florida where the weather is nice,
No more snow and no more ice.
You can swim with the dolphins, while watching for sharks,
Or go ride a coaster at one of the parks.
Lots to see and lots to do,
even got a camper
"We'll try that too"!!
No doubt about it, if the truth would be told,
We're getting younger while our kids are getting old.
