[Julie Steiner]

As usual, I don't know nuthin' 'bout this but what you see here. Looks like the sort of challenge that would be right up many Sphereans' alley, though.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Limerick Writers’ Centre
in association with the
Mid-West Regional Drug and Alcohol Forum
is seeking submissions for a new anthology of poetry.
The anthology, entitled
“Voices from the Cave- an anthology of poems about addiction and recovery”

It will be published February 2017. We welcome everyone to submit poems on the theme of addiction awareness and associated areas of depression and homelessness brought about by addiction.

We are looking for work that is sensitive, brave, raw and relevant. You do not have to be an established writer to submit, we want writing that is varied and embodies the strength of feeling, covering issues relevant to our theme, but relatable to all.

The anthology will be edited by: Ron Carey and Dominic Taylor

Submission Guidelines:

· Submit by email or post with your name and a short bio

· Up to three poems, we are flexible but try to keep to a max line count of 40

· Original unpublished work is encouraged but previously published work is acceptable provided there are no copyright issues.

· Closing date: Saturday 31st Dec 2016

· Submit to: limerickwriterscentre@gmail.com

· Put the word Anthology in the subject box and submit poems in one Word document.

· Post to: The Limerick Writers’ Centre, 12 Barrington Street, Limerick

[Julie Steiner]

Okay, just to prove that I don't know nuthin', I see by the line count that they want POEMS, and they are located in LIMERICK, but they don't necessarily want LIMERICKS.

DOH!

Still right up many Sphereans' alley, though.

[Roger Slater]

They really should call themselves The Writers' Centre of Limerick.

[John Whitworth]

Gawd! I thought poetry was supposed to cheer you up, not make you suicidal.

[Jayne Osborn]

We welcome everyone to submit poems on the theme of addiction awareness and associated areas of depression and homelessness brought about by addiction.

I had the same thought as John. Not exactly a barrel of laughs, this anthology, eh?

Jayne

[Julie Steiner]

Not yet. Try sending them some limericks on the subject.

[Mary McLean]

Bwahahaha! I suspect they have little sense of humor about their name.

[John Whitworth]

Do you think these are the sort of thing?

Addiction Limericks

I once knew a hell of a bloke
Who was sadly addicted to coke
Such a pity he chose
To stick drugs up his nose,
And it proves that addiction’s no joke.

An addiction to strong marijhuana
Makes you feel you are like a banana,
Not terribly nice.
So take my advice:
Discontinue your search for nirvana.

My brother liked shooting up horse,
A very regrettable course.
It was horrible stuff
Whose effect was enough
To fill him with fear and remorse

[Ann Drysdale]

No, John. Limericks are not specifically called for. I know the good folk of Limerick well, having taken part in festivals there. I can testify that they have excellent senses of humour, having shared the craic into the small hours.

But, as Julie suggests, you could always try. While I don't think the organisers of this competition would appreciate its being sent up, I feel sure that any entry fees in similar contests would be banked, regardless. (ho-ho-ho.)

With regard to the name of the group, I am grinning as I recall the Pythonian provenance of the Judaean People's Front. Or was it the People's Front of Judaea...

(And I think if they had meant writers of limericks there'd've been a wee hyphen in there. They're very literate in Limerick.)
.

[Julie Steiner]

The Limerick Writer's Centre does host an annual limerick contest, with entries accepted in either English or Irish, "so that Limerick can establish itself internationally as one of the few places that gave its name to a literary form." But that celebration is only once a year.

I wonder what the sandiego form would be. Probably this, by Edward Conti, who didn't know he was writing one:

It's silly
to wear shorts
when it's chilly.

It's foolish
to wear shorts
when it's coolish.