FREE: Or Something Similar

“Nobody Rides For Free”.

Well, apparently nothing else in the world any more is free either.

As it is still in the month of April, and April is National Poetry Writing Month, I received this offer.

It came because I had entered a poetry contest last year, and according to those who held the contest, it was okay for them to let me know that even though I didn’t win their contest, I am still one of the “chosen” authors to be published in a book of poetry that will be distributed nationwide. According to their e-mail, its a “big deal”.

I wonder how many millions of other people received the same e-mail as I did?

But wait, there’s more!!

I can get these really neat pins, for FREE! But that’s only if I spent about $60 (US) on their products. Mainly if I buy two or more of their upcoming published books of poetry.

I was told that my poem was especially chosen, and therefore I had until the end of next month, in May, to submit my poem. After all, $10,000 will be shared!

So I was beginning to think, “Why not?!?”. And then I clicked on their link to submit the original poem that I had entered into the old contest. But, what happened to the old poem? I had 37 maximum lines of poetry to write in order to make my submission.

Shouldn’t they have already had my poem in hand?

And what of these really neat pins? Yeah, I think that they are really cool looking and all. But you want me to spend money in order to receive them? Since when in the history of mankind and language is this “FREE”??

Not only am I now stuck with these random Poetry Contests just itching to get me to enter, since I’ve already done it once. I didn’t think that my contest entry from the first time was going to win anything. But my mailbox and my inbox both kept telling me that I’ve won. I wonder how many of those that they sent out because when it kept showing up in my mailbox, the postage said “Bulk Rate”. And so you know that I was not as special as they were saying that I was. Someone else was getting the same message as I was.

I didn’t buy the original published works of the contest in the first place. I wasn’t going to pay near $50 (US) just to see my poem published. I could have just as easily posted it here in this blog and voila!!… published. All I would have to do then is hit the “print” button.

But it just kills me to the point of getting my eyes stuck rolled in the back of my head when I see those words: FREE with purchase. If I have to purchase something, then you can bet your last penny, ITS NOT FREE!!!!

So here’s my poem submission, and my thoughts about your “special offer”.

Roses are red

Horns are made of brass

You can take your poetry contest

And kiss my butt

 

 

Poetry & Prose

Words from the Soul

I cannot say that I’ve ever received a “royalty” in my life. I might have been an influence upon others that would cause them to strike poetry & prose, but I am unaware of it.

I know that others inspire me. Mainly though, through poetry.

Song lyrics however, is something that I have done before but without as much success with my poetry and short stories.

 

Although…. I am vaguely reminded now about how I did write a poem that was about twenty lines long. Four lines in each verse, and a man did put it to an electric guitar. Although I do not remember it well, and I no longer have the cassette recording. What I do remember is that it was called “Child of Wrath.” A story about a man who was secretly in love with a woman who was always angry but never tells her. I wondered if anyone figured out who it was I believed I was in love with? Anyways, not the point. It was transference, not love or even lust. No royalties and it never became a #1 hit song.

 

I have to sit and laugh when I hear about certain people who cast their names out to be “song writers”. I stop and wonder what in the world they have written and what has become of their work? Did they make millions of dollars and end up with a mansion in the Hills with a diamond-studded swimming pool and eighteen tennis courts in the backyard? Probably not. Usually the singer/performing artist is the one that takes up the fame and fortune. I wonder- is there ever any jealousy or ill-will with the songwriters?

 

When I was a teenager, I always wanted to make it big with writing songs. I dreamed of writing that one golden and magical song that would be so popular that it would become one of the top amazing hits EVER. And would always be played on the radio and in the homes of music lovers.

 

Hasn’t happened yet, darn it!!

 

So now that the dream is over, I continue with writing my own style of short stories and most definitely my own romantic poetry. Most of which has never been read, published, or seen by any other person alive today. I guess that is in part because of the fear of being cheated and my work stolen and having someone ELSE make all the money!

 

But I’ve made the attempt to break free from those dark and cloudy thoughts as I entered a short poem in a poetry contest. Only four people (outside of the contest people) have seen it and know it exists. Others just simply know that I’ve entered one.

 

It wasn’t my best work, that’s for sure! I kind of believed that this poetry writing contest is a bunch of crap. Probably a scam only to draw in aspiring poets and then make them feel proud of themselves as they promise to publish their works in a book. And I also suspected that at some point, they were going to push the selling of the book really hard on me. Glorifying the fact that “I would be published”. I would in a sense, but probably this company holding the contest is just out to sell, sell, sell.

 

The grand prize is $1,000. Not too bad, eh?? Then the finer print said “… and 116 other prizes.” How vague can you get? What KIND of prizes and just how is it that you can give out over a hundred of them??

 

Not that long ago, I received a letter from the company. It said that I had been chosen as a semi-finalist. The grand prize would be selected in the fall some time. But here’s my chance……………………………….. HERE WE GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Yep, they wanna sell their books. Well, “a book of YOUR proud entry along with others”. But no price tag was given. Someone mentioned to me, maybe about $60 for the book? They certainly wanted me to think about it seriously, because my poem will be printed in the book. And they dazzled and shined, showing a nice leather bound collection of books. But of course I would not suspect that whatever they are trying to sell me would look exactly like that.

 

So at any rate, I am thinking about going for it. Most likely I will not win their grand prize. But I want to see just how far they are going to push the selling of their books. I want to see what I “did win”, (if they said that I did) and find out just what they are going to offer me as a prize if not the $1,000. I still kind of believe everything is just crap, so as I said, I did write from the heart, but not really from the soul. And it was inspired by someone. I could very well say that the poem is “heartfelt”. Awwwwwwww…

 

But since I am a “semi-finalist” I have to intital off on some paper that it IS my original work and not a copy from something that has been already published. No ripping off Shakespeare, people!! I need to look it over and see if there are any corrections, and then send it back in their envelope that they provided (but did not provide a stamp to), and get it back to them by the end of this month.

 

Having 117 total winners, depending on how many poor saps entered the contest with hopes and dreams of winning all of that money, I’ll probably be told that I won and a prize is coming in the mail. Something menial like a $5 gift card to Wal-Mart. Well if that be the case, at least I could go there and buy another kick ass patriotic t-shirt!! How cool would that be?

 

But nevermind the contest, I enjoy the poetry writing. I find it to be my therapy as well as the outlet to say things that I just cannot say. Shy as I may actually be, personally.

 

I’ve done a lot of poetry writing in my entire life. Most of it I am very proud of. And I know that I will always continue to write poetry, until the day that I die.