Albert's Poetry Cafe ~ KEEPING THE DREAM ALIVE " When the trees sing, what really matters is knowing that the trees are singing at all." With Salvatore Buttaci  December 20, 2008 - January 17, 2009

PLEASE NOTE: THIS CONTEST HAS BEEN EXTENDED DUE TO THE SMALL NUMBER OF ENTRIES. WE NEED MORE POEMS!! COME'N POETS, MAKE OUR DAY!



WELCOME SAL!!!

Retired from teaching after many years, I live in Princeton, West Virginia, with the love of my life, my good wife Sharon. While she comes first with me, writing comes second. I do a lot of it! I joined Writers Caf� because I enjoy the company of writers where I can post my work, read their work, enter contests, as well as offer and receive constructive criticism. All of my WC friends are so talented that it�s a pleasure knowing them.


My phrase comes from a short poem by the late young poet Mattie J. T. Stepanek, who had four or five poetry collections of the bestseller�s list and who passed away at twelve years old of an incurable illness.
The phrase comes from the following Stepanek poem called �When the Trees Sing." I have placed asterisks for the phrase you will include somewhere in your poem (32 lines or less). You are free to select whatever form you wish.

THE PHRASE: When the trees sing, what really matters is knowing that the trees are singing at all.

When the trees sing, *
It doesn�t really matter
If you know the song,
Or if you know the words,
Or even if you know the tune.
What really matters is knowing *
That the trees are singing at all. *

--from Hope Through Heartsongs (2002; page 35)

Despite dying all his short life, Mattie the poet found joy in all things. Like Henry Thoreau, he conversed with nature. I picked this phrase because as poets we need to learn the language Mattie and Thoreau spoke.


SOME RULES:

This is a host challenge, whereby the poet who is awarded 1st prize has to choose a PHRASE from either a (1) Poem (2) Book or (3) Lyrics (4) Movie and also write a few lines as to why they like the particular phrase.

The host's chosen phrase must be included in the poem to be eligible for consideration. (It can be in the title, but must be in the body of the poem as well)

Please be sure to mark "adult" content or graphics as such.

If you submit entries please make sure that you are able to host if chosen. If for any reason you are unable to, then the 2nd prize winner will be asked to step in.

Additional Information:

Important: PLEASE MARK YOUR ENTRIES 'Official" if you wish to be considered for hosting. or 'unofficial" if you just want to enter "just for the love of it".

Note: The previous winner is not ineligible to enter "officially" but can enter "unofficially" in the next challenge.

The challenge will run for 18 days and is for POEMS ONLY.
Three prizes will be awarded;

1st
2nd
3rd


I will contact the winner and let them know they are to host and what is required.


Okay poets, are we ready? Pens poised and off we go....enjoy Sal's challenge and good luck!

Helena

Australia

8 Contestants
8 Submissions
666 Views
Created Dec 9, 2008