I Really Have To Say

I really have to say Having entered several contest And, being pelted with N/A's What's the purpose of the game If you're not allowed to play I appreciate the prod To help me write about some theme But the results, which should uplift Are more cruel than it would seem I can't condemn the contest, or the Judges of the same Perhaps lack of compassion Truly is the blame Having sponsored contests And judging poets who, While writing with their hearts Share their best with me and you Perhaps we could explain What makes us choose Why we pick a winner And those we leave to lose Then perhaps these little contest's Would be meaningful and fun Giving useful criticism And helping everyone I wrote this because, having been on both sides, Contestant and Judge, I realize the difficulty of both. I'm not sure why some member write poems off topic, I know I twist the topic and stretch the rules, but I expect an N/A, I'm just having fun---It never upsets me---and It doesn't bother me, that it seems like the same small group of people receive most of the honors and appear at the top of every list. I don't know maybe they're just that good, or perhaps just well liked But that's not why I'm here. I'm here to write, and the comments I receive are my only true reward. In closing Here is my dilemma, with my recent contest, I happen to like all 37 entries, If I grade them, First, Second ,Third, and leave out the rest, that would be an injustice. If I ranked everyone from 1 thru 37, Anyone under third place would probably still feel like a loser and If I rate everyone as First place, no one will feel like a winner, Oh well it would seem, I can't win at this either and it's the Judge in this case, which is truly N/A