The circle of poetry.

It seems for me that poetry has been a process all of it's own. As if seperate from me in the beginning, somehow merging along the way. Slowly. At first writing them for myself. Searching for and finding healing for whatever was bothering me at the time. Secretly almost like a love affair of sorts sharing them only with one or two of my very closest friends.

Then it became such that it could be kept secret no more. My love of it could not be kept silent any longer. And so risking everything and even expecting to be rejected I began to declare my love for poetry to anyone who might listen. And even to some who did not care either way at all. Each poem a seperate creation. I was and am like a mother giving birth complete with the pain albeit much different than the pain of an actual child. Oh how I love it when a poem begins to fly on it's own! Or when it's written for someone specifiic to a circumstance in their life and they LOVE it! It's the greatest feeling in the world that I found.

From silently and secretly to claiming and declaring my love from rooftops the next step was to deliver them in person. Poetry readings and open mic nights. Every chance I get. And now what?

Today I have started what will be my first attempt at a poetry contest here on poetrysoup.com. And for my first one I want it to be special. Therefore first prize will be a one year premium membership at poetrysoup. If they are not a member. If the winner is a member already they can either name a recipient for the prize to go to or I'll send them the money. My own lifetime membership here was a gift from a dear friend and now I am at a place to pay a little something forward. God bless And have a happy 4th of July. Please take a moment to remember not only our independance but those that died for it.  Ed