January | 2011 | Cathy C. Hall Writes

First, a little poetic inspiration to get you primed and ready to write:

I love myself, I love me so!
I took myself to the picture show.
I wrapped my arms around my waist.
I got so fresh, I slapped my face!

Hahahaha! I wish I could claim that, but it’s one of my mom’s jewels from back in the day. If I could use that little poem, I might send it in to one of the poetry contests I’m considering. To wit:

The Poetry Society of Virginia’s Contest (Deadline: January 19)

The North Carolina Poetry Society’s Adult Contest (Deadline: January 15)

The Pennsylvania Poetry Society Contest (Deadline: January 15)

Now, if I’m being perfectly honest, my poetry skills are not exactly scathingly brilliant. But I do so love poetry. Or at least the poetry I understand.

I love the way a lyrical poem makes words sing. And I love how images spring into my mind when I hear a poem read aloud. I can appreciate the wonder of a beautifully wrought poem, even if I can’t exactly wrought one up for myself.

But that doesn’t keep me from trying. And with the entry fees for these contests, I can afford to send my pitiful poems out into the world. Because …

I love my poems. I love them so!
The ones of joy, the ones of woe.
I send them out all over the place-
Makes judges want to slap my face!

(P.S. About the Polar Bears. Um, that was a shameless ploy on my part to grab folks who like Polar Bears and convince them to follow my blog. I’m not sure if Polar Bear lovers would enjoy a blog about writing and such, but who doesn’t like winning a Barnes and Noble gift card? Of course, you can’t win if you don’t sign on to be a follower. Or get your friends to sign on as a follower. I mean, if you get 20 of your friends to sign on here, that gives you 20 entries. Just make sure your friends let me know. And if you’re a rabid Polar Bear lover who feels shamelessly manipulated, I’m very sorry. I could write you a swell poem if that will make you feel better.)

Yes, I know I normally pass along my embarrassing, yet instructive, What Not To Do’s, writing-wise. But today I have a What TO Do. Mostly because I didn’t have to learn this lesson the hard (not to mention, embarrassing) way.

We all know how beneficent the Beneficent Mr. Hall is, especially when it comes to holiday gift-giving. Seeing as how he only has to shop for one (me), whereas I shop for 87 (different friends and family)…well, I digress. The point is, he’s beneficent. And he’s thoughtfully beneficent, trying to choose items in the writing field.

Which is why every year, I get a Page-A-Day Calendar. I love these calendars! This year, I found the Booklover’s calendar in my stocking, and I’m throughly enjoying it. But I also got another calendar. FREE!

See, when you buy a Page-A-Day Calendar, you can go to their website, put in the secret code that came with your calendar, and pick out another calendar to access online (or sent to your email).

So, here’s what you can do. Go to your local bookstore where most calendars are now 50% off. Buy one and get another (virtual one) free! Oh! And every day, after you get smarter or laugh or feel spiritually better, take the real calendar page off and use the back for your next day’s To Do list. Then you don’t have to buy a separate notepad or look for paper! Yes, I really get my money’s worth from my Page-a-Day calendar.

And as we say in the South (though I know better ’cause I’ve had several grammar calendars): Ain’t nothing embarrassing about that!