My winning poetry entry

Ten years ago I used to subscribe to an online writer's ezine called Inscriptions. Unfortunately it is no longer in existence. The woman who owned it sold it to another woman who sporadically published it, changed its name to something I've long since forgotten, and continue to sporadically publish it. The content was never the same and I unsubscribed. I have no idea if its still active

But back in the Inscriptions days the owner used to run monthly contests with various prize packages. Then early one year, in time for Valentine's, it was announced the world's worst poetry contest. The prizes were a $50 gift certificate for Amazon.com and a box of chocolates. My two favorite things! Books and chocolates! I had to enter, but I'm no poet. But still, this was a contest for bad poetry. Maybe I had a shot. So I borrowed the cadence from an old Christopher Marlowe poem "The Passionate Shepherd to His Love". It took me 15 minutes to write. Then I talked myself out of waiting and coming back to it later to make any changes. This was supposed to be a bad poem. So I emailed my entry immediately. And yes, I won. I received an email with the code for the $50 to spend at Amazon. I was disappointed that I didn't actually receive chocolates. What I received was a $20 gift code for Godiva chocolates web site. Imagine my disappointment when I went to their site and found that they only ship to the lower 48 states. No good to a Canadian winner! :(

But I had an aunt who lived in California so I used my gift code and had a box of chocolates sent to her, much to her great surprise when she received them in the mail.

And here is my winning entry:

The Forgetful Maiden to Her, her, her... (with apologies to Christopher Marlowe)

Come live with me and find my glove
Your reward is my undying love.
For I am forever losing things,
I swear my possessions all sprouted wings.

And we will sit upon the docks,
And watch the waves crash on the rocks.
My love for you is like these flumes,
A rose in summer that always blooms.

No cap of flowers, no buckles of gold,
Help find my glasses before I grow old.
They're lost forever and that makes me sad,
Please find them for me and make me glad.

Keep an eye out for my gown of fine wool,
Then we'll enjoy a swim in the pool.
And I'll gaze adoringly into your eyes,
Find my things, and I'm your prize.

I'll give you pleasures all year round
If you brave the snow and find my lost hound.
I opened the door and he bounded out,
If you bring him back, I'll nevermore pout.

Every night we'll sing and dance,
Come live with me and take a chance.
Incredible delights await you my love,
But first find my glasses, my hound and my glove!