After Super Storm Sandy, followed by a nor’easter, hit the East Coast in November, we e-mailed all our poets near the Atlantic to see how they fared. All survived.
ROGER FINCH, Cape Neddick, Maine:
During Hurricane Sandy, we had a house-guest here whom we knew when we were living in Tokyo, Japan. She lives in London now. . . . Our lights flickered a few times, as we prepared to eat a cold meal, but there was no power outage of any length. Our English friend rather enjoyed all the excitement and we joked that we had arranged this pageant just for her enjoyment . . . Regards to all of you,
CAROL LEAVITT ALTIERI, Madison, Connecticut
I only lost many branches and limbs in our sanctuary and the internet, cable, phone and electricity for two days. My heart was palpitating and my brain burning as I remained in our house but I planned to move to the basement if any windows broke or if a tree fell on the house.
JANE GALLAGHER, Glen Burnie, Maryland The rain was like going through a car wash and never coming out. The wind never rested. My heart goes out for all those affected. . . My first writing since winning the (Maryland) Senior Poet Laureate award is a card for the returning troops, titled "Standing Tall". I plan to continue greeting our troops, and let them know my appreciation for their service through my words.
JEAN CALKINS, Waynesville, North Carolina We are inland, near the TN border, so Sandy was kind to us--just a day of rain, which we needed anyway. Did a lot of praying for those who lost so much. . . Pleased to have won a 3rd in FL State poetry competition, but really shocked at IN State Fed. of Poets who gave me not only a 1st, but 5 HMs! Have a wonderful holiday season!
MORE LITER—ETCETER--ATA
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MICHAEL WELLS: Come read my Paper.li newspaper Stickpoet’s Poetica… From around the internet: poetry, writing, cultural news and stories. Now you need only one source. Copy and paste this invitational link in your browser’s address bar and then click go/search: . :http://paper.li/stickpoet/1349560536?invitation_id=317a2 156-8734-4ba7-aa7c-cf8829e95ebc#
ELFINETTA's E.T.s continued
“There's mutiny at the North Pole,” Elfinetta said.
“Your cohort is dead,” Mrs. Claus smirked.
Elfinetta added, “And we know how to fix it...”
Silence. Then, “Huh-huh-huh-how?”
Elfinetta continued, “Demote Santa and pay the real elves minimum wage.”
“If you don't,” Mrs. Claus interjected, “I—and my new assistant, Doctor Etta Moon—are handing in our resignations...”
“And your legacy will forever be: the President who killed Christmas.”
The president whipped out his cell phone. Paused. Said, “Ambassador Claus, your mission is aborted. I'm sending Air Force One to bring you home.” He faced Mrs. Claus. “What happened to Karl?”
“Etta's little E.T.s et him.”
Returning by jet to the North Pole, Dr. Moon exclaimed, “If the elves are hungry, and they get there before we do...”
Mrs. Claus smiled. “Don't worry, dear. They're vegans.”
CYCLAMENS & SWORDS
To read the December edition that contains poems by
Helen Bar-Lev and Maude Larke,
as well as rules for its next contest, visit
Attention Traditional Poets!!
BRAND NEW CONTEST
$1000 Award
NO ENTRY FEE
Thanks to 2012 White Buffalo Native American Poet Laureate Neal “Badger Bob White” Whitman of Pacific Grove for info on this new classical poetry contest which requires meter and some rhyme. Details at: