We Don'T Need No Stinking Contests

Poetry contests. What? This makes no sense. How do you compare a unicorn to a chair? But then this happened. I started running out of ideas; my writing ability crashed. My muse had deserted me. I began clicking around the PoetrySoup site, desperate for inspiration. The last click was on contests. Because contests do not make sense. Poetry is putting your soul on paper, not a contest. What if I thought of a contest less as a competition and more as a brain challenge? Poetry contests have forced my muse to think. My muse was delighted, she came dancing and singing back with full force. She was playing again, and she loved it. Contests encourage her to try new ways, new types of poetry, and to use new words. My muse and I have held our own contests too. Poetry contests encourage and challenge other people’s muses. If you have not sponsored one, we highly recommend it. It is a way to give back to others. Written: July 18, 2018 Entered: We don’t need no stinking poetry contests Sponsored by: John Lawless