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THE WINNING POEMS IN THE 2013 WCLV VALENTINE'S DAY CONTEST
Each winning author receives a pair
of tickets to The Cleveland
Orchestra's March 1st concert
featuring Mahler's Symphony
No. 1 conducted by Christoph
von Dohnanyi, plus a Sono
Luminus CD, "Brubeck and
Amercian Poets," featuring
the Pacific Mozart Ensemble.
The grand prize winner also
receives an overnight stay at
Marigold Bed and Breakfast
in Chesterland, twice voted
"Best Breakfast in the Midwest,"
by the Arrington Bed and
Breakfast Journal.
| FIRST PLACE |
THEN AND NOW |
| Nathalie Ketterer, Fairlawn |
Once I was fifteen. In a certain kingdom,
Known as Sixth Grade Algebra Class, I sat in front of him - Healthcliff with a rose tattoo on his forearm.
Drenched in warm sunlight, repeatedly I lifted my
Long blond hair, hoping he would study me. He did.
How much I loved him. I only told my beads and
My very best friend. Like half-remembered
Equations, sometimes his rapt brown gaze still
Comes back by the unlocked door of sleep, dreams.
We have been together for many decades,
But I will never forget the beginning.
I still remember the whispering before class,
The many smiles of that never-erased semester.
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| SECOND PLACE |
MY TWO DAVIDS |
Jane Birnkrant
Moreland Hills |
One stands in the Academia
Steely eyed, full of purpose
Massive curls frozen in time
Jaw taut with determination
Right hand ready for Goliath
Rippling abs, idealized youth
My perfect Renaissance Man.
The other David's right hand
Is cramped from paying bills
And texting all the children
His eyes are soft when he looks at me
And he fits perfectly into my back
For a nighttime snuggle
My perfect Twenty-Century Man. |
THIRD PLACE
(TIE) |
The Wonderful Thing about Love |
|
Suzanne Miller
Cleveland Heights
|
Is the surprise
We planned to purchase something else
But it arrives in a plain wrapper
Prepaid?
And we forgot what we had ordered
For this is different
Its strangeness fills our eyes, our mind, our heart
We are stuffed full of thanksgiving
We are sparklers crackling with joy
Dazzling the grocer, the bus driver
That man, that woman, the boy and girl at the light
In their winter of not knowing
That someday for them
A package will arrive
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THIRD PLACE
(Tie) |
PICK UP LINE |
| Peter Manos |
Hi there, what's your sign?
Virgo, the unrepentant?
Me? Leo: love's kickball. |
| FIFTH PLACE |
A LA BUKOWSKI |
|
Elizabeth Knaak
Cleveland
|
I've got a bottle of wine
and a pack of cigarettes
for myself.
and a can of tuna
to share with the cat.
Don't need you, babe.
|
SIXTH PLACE
(Tie) |
SORCERY |
Joseph Psarto
Westlake |
If I were
a wandering Greek
I'd conjure you into Circe
and linger awhile
on your island
before sailing home
to Ithaca. |
SIXTH PLACE
(Tie) |
LOCK THE DOOR |
Larry Domin
Beachwood |
Lock the door
Climb the stairs
Lover, be mine
Until the end of time
Or until the kids wake up. |
| EIGHT PLACE |
FOR KIM |
Jeff Brown
ShakerHeights |
I grew somewhat somber
reflected and pondered
a summer about to conclude
when I turned a page
bearing turkey and sage
and awoke from under my blue
for my heart filled with thoughts
of new butternut squash
and sharing my autumns with you.
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| NINTH PLACE |
TRULY |
Joette McDonald
Vermillion |
Truly
Take my hand
We'll run beyond
That last dark outpost of consciousness
Out where time and space are meaningless
We'll find an ancient hollowed cave
And dwell there endlessly inured in love
Some warp will let us slide between
And we'll forget the world we know
It truly has no need of us.
We'll stay in that enchanted realm
Ageless and formless
Completed in love
Truly
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| TENTH PLACE |
WINTER WHITE |
Donald Knight
Avon |
The sky is dull, leaden
the little sunlight that gets through the gray atmosphere
helps make the day seem sad, joyless.
The ominous clouds make the snow look dingy:
giving it the appearance of cold concrete.
I sit at the window watching the large snowflakes lose their battle with gravity.
the winter weather making my mood even more
morose.
In spite of the winter white, there is no brightness - no warmth
since you went away.
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