Wow! Good stuff, Stephen! Congrats to all the Sphereans concerned -- what a talented bunch!

Warmest congratulations, Stephen, on this hard-won distinction. You are a terrific poet. And of course congratulations to all the finalists. Somebody told me that Bill Baer gets 3000 submissions, so well done, all of you.

Stephen--congratulations, that's great news!

dwl

*laughing* Susan, you're not alone -- I just had a minor panic attack, thinking I'd missed this year's deadline...

Bravo, Stephen, bravo! And cheers to all the other members included.

Sorry to have created confusion about this year's deadline!
I did put 2009 in my posting, but it might have helped if I'd included it in the title as well! For which, many apologies, to Susan and Jen, and anyone else I might nearly have sent into cardiac arrest!! :o

Without doing a statistical analysis, I think Erato has consistently been taking about 50% of the Finalist slots.

I dunno, Janice. I'd say the Powows alone are snagging fifty percent of finalists and that Sphereans are getting sixty. What's depressing is that Powows win it all the time. What the hell am I doing in North Dakota, chainsawing limbs from corpses of the downed? I only entered once and agreed with myself I'd never try again.

I've only entered once or twice in the past, too, Tim, which is why I was prepared to despair, had I FINALLY gotten something to submit this year, and missed the deadline.

What Tim modestly neglects to say is that the one time he entered he won. So he's batting 1000.

My last two pheasant hunts I should have pulled a Nemerov and quit after the first shot, Marion. Rhina assures me that you and I are honorary powows.

Marion, thanks so much for the announcement.