Poets and The Poetry Contest

I have been writing poetry, fiction and short stories for many years and have completed a book of poems. I also enjoy comedy writing.

There they go again

Judging my poetry of pain

The words I express are not for monetary gains

Nor or they to be treated like a scrabble game

Don’t place a measly price on my craft

Reading hundreds and thousands of pieces, then neglecting and rejecting

Too much for you to read with understand, to read with appreciation

You don’t understand the craft or its foundation

Making money of the poets desperation

To be recognized in his nation

Taking money to read poems is pathetic

Then the poet goes into despair when her piece is rejected

Now she questions her skill and wonder why she is neglected

Then launch a symposium and charge an admittance fee

For the poets to come and listen their own piece

I see your emails intruding in my mail box

Telling me to submit and earn cash

But I place them in junk and leave them there

For a poetry contest, this poet has no care

I will write, I will publish even if I alone give them a read or two

But to enter a poetry contest, that I will never do.

© 2019 Clive Williams

Comments

John Hansen from Queensland Australia on March 19, 2019:

https://winningwriters.com/our-contests/wergle-flo...

Clive Williams (author) from Jamaica on March 19, 2019:

Congrats Jodah. Poem to song is every poets dream...well used to be at least. Yes, please send me the link.

John Hansen from Queensland Australia on March 18, 2019:

Clive, I feel for you, brother and can relate. I submitted my poetry to a few contests and publishers and mostly got rejected. I did have one poem win a contest to be recorded as a song, but I learnt my lesson and won't submit my work to any contest that has an entry fee. To me, that is just a money making scam and who wants to pay for a polite (or not so polite) rejection letter. I mainly write poetry for the love of it.

You got your point across well in this poem. p.s. I did come across a contest for humor poetry that has free entry. It is called the Wergle Flomp Humor poetry contest and entries close April 1st. If you are interested and want the link, let me know.

Clive Williams (author) from Jamaica on March 17, 2019:

Blessings to you billy

Bill Holland from Olympia, WA on March 17, 2019:

Clive, you will always have this to hold onto.....you will always be a better poet than me. :) I love your ending....just write for the love of writing, buddy!

Clive Williams (author) from Jamaica on March 17, 2019:

ruby, you are a gem

goodens deep to the roots

Ruby Jean Richert from Southern Illinois on March 17, 2019:

If I wrote poetry for money, I'd be broke and living on the streets. I write poetry for the love of rhyme or if something is not going well. It seems if I put it on paper I feel a sense of relief. To me, poetry is beautiful and displays the poets' heart. I like your heart and I like your poetry...Nuf said!

Clive Williams (author) from Jamaica on March 17, 2019:

Eric...please share the spoils with this moneyless poet

Clive Williams (author) from Jamaica on March 17, 2019:

lol...Flourish...that one cracked me up..I need to eat too...bye bye poet.

FlourishAnyway from USA on March 17, 2019:

There’s not a lot of money in poetry but you should do it for the love of it. I was the poet of my high school graduation class. I had quite a passion for it but well, I needed to eat. Write on, Clive.

Eric Dierker from Spring Valley, CA. U.S.A. on March 17, 2019:

What? I make a ton of money for my sermons.

Pamela Oglesby from Sunny Florida on March 17, 2019:

Well Clive, you sure made your intentions clear with that poem. It was interesting, and I understand your decision.