My friend Melissa Varnavas and I got together for a little poetry the other evening, and she pointed out a problem I have a lot — how to end it! The poem, “Advice to the Cat …,” which you can find in the prior post, is a perfect example. I like to wrap things up somehow — have a slowdown, a kaput, an ending. And, I overdo it. I overdid it in this one.

Melissa thought I should just end it at “abeyance.” I now think I could get away with just the word, “Hush,” on  a line of its own, separated from the prior stanza by a space.

I do like an ending. …

Any other thoughts? Other flaws? I know I am not a super poet. I would like to get to be a semi-decent one, so I am open to constructive criticism, with a reason why one thinks that way.

Go to it!

And remember, the Forum meets on Saturday, Jan. 22, 11 a.m. at the Beverly Public Library.

Also, we are again sponsoring our national Naomi Cherkofsky contest, any form, any subject, 40 line limit, due by March 1. For details, simply click on the tab at the top that tells you about contests. In general, however, it is open to poets 18 and older, and the poem should not have been published previously.  There is a $3 per poem entry fee, payable to the North Shore Poets’ Forum, with a maximum of 5 poems per poet. There will be a first prize of $50, a second prize of $30, and a third prize of $20. No one poet can win more than one monied prize. There will also be 7 to 10 honorable mentions, depending on the judge.

Our April meeting features the winning poets, who are then followed by anyone who would like to read. It is always a great time, and here’s hoping you can make it. Again, it is at the Beverly Public Library, beginning at 11 a.m. See Meetings tab.

Please e-mail me, ckohare2@yahoo.com, if you have any questions. Since we are a volunteer group, you could help out by spreading the word about the contest to all your poetic friends.

Cheers… and peace