[Rose Kelleher]

Mark, I don't really care. That's my point. I like my poem. I don't intend to change a word of it. And I'll either find someone who will print it, or I'll post it on my website. Eventually, it'll get read. Jack won't read it, of course, because it's not in Poetry magazine, therefore not worth reading. But it'll get read. Some people will like it. One or two might even love it. To hell with everything else.

Don't get me wrong: striving for improvement is commendable, and humility is a virtue. But any virtue taken to extremes becomes a vice, and responding to a rejection by saying, "Master knows best, Master doesn't like my poem, therefore my poem must suck," is just icky.

(p.s. You have to say that in the voice of Peter Lorre to really get the full effect.)


[This message has been edited by Rose Kelleher (edited September 03, 2006).]

[jack edwards]

Sigh.

[This message has been edited by jack edwards (edited September 03, 2006).]

[Mark Granier]

Acceptance Slip

Here's sum pottery.
Ain't it fine?
More on the way,
all of it mine!


Dear Reviewer

I don't request
you be impressed.
Just do your worst
or, failing that, your best.

[This message has been edited by Mark Granier (edited September 04, 2006).]

[jack edwards]

Originally posted by Gail White:
Wow, this got more response than I expected.

I too was disappointed in the Humor issue, although I did laugh at Kennedy's "More Foolish Things Remind Me of You."

My friend Barbara Loots tells me that some of the poems were supposed to be parodies of current schools of poetry. I guess I was not au courant enough to pick up on that.

I'll tell you a secret: They solicit for the humor issue by notifying former contributors that it's coming up.
So, assuming it becomes an annual affair, the thing to do is send in your funny stuff between January 1 and March 15 - and indicate on the envelope that it's for the humor issue. Maybe an influx of Eratospherians can improve things.

Hmmm... that's odd. I *just* got the latest issue of Poetry today in my mailbox, and found this in their 'Letters to the Editor' section:

Dear Editor,

Well, friends, it was another smashing humor issue. My candidate for best in show was X.J. Kennedy's "More Foolish Things Remind Me of You," which made me laugh out loud. The "Famous Poems Abbreviated" were gems too. Keep up the great tradition.

Gail White
Breaux Bridge, Louisiana


Would the real Gail White from Breaux Bridge, Lousiana please stand up?



[This message has been edited by jack edwards (edited September 30, 2006).]