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And Now, a Word For Our Sponsors

I think I’ve written some doggone good stuff
Hey, I am sorry if, for you, it wasn’t enough,
Submitting it was sometimes an afterthought
Because my skin is thick, your N/A was for naught,
I write my poems for me, and I can happily say
I’ve already had my joy long before your “nay!”
I am nonplussed when your choices seem biased
But then, who am I to second-guess your highest?
I admit, when your winner does miss the mark
I wonder why my entry apparently did not spark,
I am taken aback by a lack of judging credentials
Your seeming ignor-ance of absolute essentials,
Realizing entering is seeking only one person’s nod
Please do not think your opinion is the ultimate god,
And be as fair as you can be when selecting who
Writes the best piece and deserves a Woo-Hoo!
In closing, let me say I thoroughly enjoy contests
But love them most when my poem is the best!

Written July 23, 2022
[A fun poke at our contest sponsors!]

Copyright © L Milton Hankins | Year Posted 2022

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Caren Krutsinger Date: 7/30/2022 9:30:00 AM I love contests because they give me the BEST ideas - ideas I would have never had on my own. The prizes are nice, but the ideas are the ultimate gift. Login to Reply L Milton Hankins Date: 7/30/2022 10:38:00 AM You are certainly right about this, Caren.

Jenna Logan Date: 7/24/2022 2:05:00 AM I suppose I should have no say about contest sponsors since I refuse to put myself in that position. However, I will put myself on the tightrope by agreeing with you that a few ignore the best entries in favor of those of lesser quality. That said, I realize it's all a matter of one person's opinion, even if it's ignor-ant. Login to Reply L Milton Hankins Date: 7/24/2022 5:09:00 AM That it is, Jenna. That it is!

Gershon Wolf Date: 7/23/2022 8:09:00 PM Well... Do I detect just a tad of bitterness in here somewhere? ~ Different strokes for different folks Login to Reply L Milton Hankins Date: 7/24/2022 5:09:00 AM I should hope not, gw. I never feel bitterness... consternation, perhaps, but more so, to shed some light, clear the air, and tell it like it appears to me. The lousy sponsors aren't going to pay attention or change their ways. Catharsis, my friend...catharsis!

John Lawless Date: 7/23/2022 3:38:00 PM an afterthought...Milton. i sometimes go back and re-read the poems that I chose as "winners" and reshuffle them in my mind.....wondering ...... Login to Reply L Milton Hankins Date: 7/23/2022 4:02:00 PM I truly admire you for that, John, but I simply can't. I spend so much time reading, rereading, assessing (and I do this without knowing who wrote what, except for a few whose styles I have come to recognize and can't help that!) and then rereading and rethinking before I publish the placements. I am always surprised at the names that appear on the list, although some really good poets place rather consistently. That, of course, does not surprise me. Thanks, John.

John Lawless Date: 7/23/2022 3:35:00 PM ...and some even hate Shakespeare!!!! Login to Reply L Milton Hankins Date: 7/23/2022 4:03:00 PM Indeed! But, I love Shakespeare. Shakespeare has taught me a lot about poetry of all shapes and sizes, forms and fashions. You can't beat William!

Michael Tor Date: 7/23/2022 2:45:00 PM Your words Milton speak a truth that we all can relate to and probably have all experienced here on the Soup. Overall I think that a variation of judging takes place. I think because you have different people, you have different standards of judging, some are biased, some are controlling, some feel obligated to return a favor for years of support on the judges poetry, some value their friends more. A gambit of reasoning goes into each contest by different priorities chosen by the judge. Login to Reply L Milton Hankins Date: 7/23/2022 4:05:00 PM Aw, Michael, if you were close enough I'd...no, no, I simply couldn't. I'd just shake your hand and say, Thanks! Thanks a lot! Michael Tor Date: 7/23/2022 3:29:00 PM Wow Milton, that is shameful. What I have noticed throughout the years of being here, is this observation. Some of the judges were not good writers and they empowered themselves by judging. Trying to leave an impression on all, of their great abilities as a writer when in fact sadly they could have used much improvement. Just a thought. I would say most Judges are intelligent, and have a passion and love for their craft. You bring so much at a Doctorate level. Your life has been centered on Poetry, Theology, Faith, History. You bring much to the table as a judge Milton and are well qualified to judge. L Milton Hankins Date: 7/23/2022 2:59:00 PM Interesting idea, Michael. I don't know how it could be done on Poetry Soup with their IT setup, but, I would also like to see submitted poems judged by a panel of judges, not just a single sponsor. There have been a number of examples where the one judging cannot even write decent poetry themselves! That is shameful, especially for a fine site like this one. Michael Tor Date: 7/23/2022 2:48:00 PM Like you have expressed in your Poetry on Judging. To be fair, honest, non biased, is the only way to judge. I truly feel that the only fair way of judging is for the Poet to leave their name out and The best poem is selected, then the Poet who wrote the Poem comes forward and says I wrote it. That way there is no bias at all. Just a thought. What do you think?

Tom Cunningham Date: 7/23/2022 2:26:00 PM I think you've written what a lot folks on here are thinking, you might ruffle a few feathers too lol. Hope your weekend is going well Milton. Tom Login to Reply L Milton Hankins Date: 7/23/2022 2:35:00 PM Ha! (chuckling) It wasn't my intention to ruffle feathers, Tom, but if so, so be it. I'm a big boy. I was merely writing my thoughts (and without any particular sponsor in mind) about the whole contest thing. Anyone who is disenchanted couldn't be moreso than I am with unqualified and biased sponsors! Thanks, Tom.

Ilene Bauer Date: 7/23/2022 2:00:00 PM I know you wrote this with a touch of humor, Milton, but there is a lot of truth in what you’ve said. I rarely enter contests anymore because sometimes the poems chosen above mine just baffle me. Of course we all want to be acknowledged, but it seems wrong to be judged by one person whose own writing we may not even like… Login to Reply L Milton Hankins Date: 7/23/2022 2:37:00 PM You have certainly hit the nail on the head, Ilene. I couldn't agree more. It really is disconcerting to have a poem N/Aed by someone who can't write worth a diddle themselves! It is humiliating and insulting, too. I had no one in mind particularly, but I can think of some when I am pressed to do so. A few I have told so personally, and I don't enter their "contests."

David Kavanagh Date: 7/23/2022 12:25:00 PM Who’d be a sponsor Milton, the way I see it, sometimes good poems are overlooked in contests, because the judge either has a grudge against a certain poet, or the poem goes against their personal ideals, like you I write my poems for myself firstly, then the contest, but on the whole most sponsors are fairly open minded and fair, if this one’s for the Strand premiere I wish you luck, cheers David Login to Reply L Milton Hankins Date: 7/23/2022 1:10:00 PM Dave, I didn't have any particular sponsors in mind when I wrote this poem. I thought of it as general observations about the sponsoring realm. However, since you mentioned Strand, I'll simply say he is a "prime" example of what I'm talking about. I call him a "vanity" sponsor. These types I simply ignor! Thanks, David, I appreciate your comment and your thoughts.