Seldom we remember now
The passion once so violent
The love that once dared speak its name
Stuttered and was silent

SECOND PLACE
Carlotta Kane, Bronx, NY
Carlotta is 12 years old. And because she can’t take
advantage of the Cleveland Orchestra tickets, WCLV
sent her a Valentine Heart box of chocolates and
an assortment of classical CDs

I Know You

I know you
I walk by you in the hallway
Feeling my twittering, tapping, thumping heartbeat close
Your eyes are the brightest blue
Your hair, the softest golden silk
You throw the football to your friends, laughing.
I walk by, say hello,
But you don’t notice me.
You notice none of us.
Maybe you love me…No,

You may not know me, but I know you.
You may not love me, but I love you.

You may not dream of me, but I dream of you.
I know you.

THIRD PLACE (Tie)
John McGuire, Lakewood

A pair of tickets to The Cleveland Orchestra's Sunday, February 15th matinee concert for each of the ten honored poets. Pinchas Steinberg conducts the Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 4, the Brahms Violin Concerto with Nikolaj Znaider as soloist, and Barber's Overture to The School for Scandal.

Love music from assorted compact discs.

RE: Valentine’s Day

Your last e-mail mentioned you miss me, my dear
I long for you, too, and wish you were here.
‘Tis often told that true love knows no bounds
So on the fourteenth, I’ll traverse frosted grounds
To be with you.
Thus proving my lonely heart aches
I shall be there, my darling, whatever it takes.

Lo! Gasoline prices will help me, you know.
As I live in Lakewood…and you live in Stow.


THIRD PLACE (Tie)
Ruth Beach, Rocky River

A pair of tickets to The Cleveland Orchestra's Sunday, February 15th matinee concert for each of the ten honored poets. Pinchas Steinberg conducts the Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 4, the Brahms Violin Concerto with Nikolaj Znaider as soloist, and Barber's Overture to The School for Scandal.

Love music from assorted compact discs.

Love Laughs

Lovin’ leads to babies
and it’s one of Life’s great pranks
that interrupting lovin’ time
is how that baby says thanks!

FIFTH PLACE
Vern Morrison, Parma

A pair of tickets to The Cleveland Orchestra's Sunday, February 15th matinee concert for each of the ten honored poets. Pinchas Steinberg conducts the Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 4, the Brahms Violin Concerto with Nikolaj Znaider as soloist, and Barber's Overture to The School for Scandal.

Love music from assorted compact discs.

A Plea for Fiscal Restraint 

A poem of love
Is just the trick
To woo some ladies --
But others say “ick.”

To win their hearts
Takes something more:
An iPhone from
The Apple Store,

A Rolex watch,
Or a Hermes purse--
They can’t be won
By rhymes and verse.

Me, I prefer my women deep,
I may be clever, but I’m also cheap.

SIXTH PLACE
Marge Preslan, Bay Village

A pair of tickets to The Cleveland Orchestra's Sunday, February 15th matinee concert for each of the ten honored poets. Pinchas Steinberg conducts the Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 4, the Brahms Violin Concerto with Nikolaj Znaider as soloist, and Barber's Overture to The School for Scandal.

Love music from assorted compact discs.

Phil

Ladies, look no further.
Here’s the man you ought to meet.
He’s tall and handsome, brave and kind, and generous and sweet.
Six feet tall with wavy hair, and eyes the darkest brown.
Loved by animals and kids, with friends all over town.
He loves to travel – see the world.
He dresses very smart.
He loves all music: rap and rock and Copland to Mozart.
His condo is immaculate. His cooking is divine.
He plays bagpipes, and…WAIT! DON’T LEAVE!
WHERE ARE YOU GOING? COME BACK! NOBODY’S PERFECT!!!

SEVENTH PLACE
Christine Domin, Bratenahl

A pair of tickets to The Cleveland Orchestra's Sunday, February 15th matinee concert for each of the ten honored poets. Pinchas Steinberg conducts the Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 4, the Brahms Violin Concerto with Nikolaj Znaider as soloist, and Barber's Overture to The School for Scandal.

Love music from assorted compact discs.

Susannah

When snow lay on the mountains and pale stars shone above,
I sang Susannah to sleep one night, softly, with a lullaby.
When midnight came and the silver moon rose in the winter sky,

I heard the clop of a galloping horse beneath our windowpane.
Susannah woke and looked at me – her voice was in her eyes--
And with a kiss from her crimson lips, Susannah left my side.
For Death, a jealous lover, stood beside our bed.
Susannah placed her hand in his, and with him rode away.
Rode with death on his pale white horse into Eternity.

Now spring has come to our valley green, and tulips bloom by the stream,
I rise at dawn and walk alone, alone in the misty morn.
I see Susannah where’re I go, I see her once again--
In the crystal dew on the swaying grass, in the lilacs’ sweet perfume.

Susannah lives in the valley green, my love, in the sunlit blue.

EIGHTH PLACE
Fred Zweget, Oberlin

A pair of tickets to The Cleveland Orchestra's Sunday, February 15th matinee concert for each of the ten honored poets. Pinchas Steinberg conducts the Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 4, the Brahms Violin Concerto with Nikolaj Znaider as soloist, and Barber's Overture to The School for Scandal.

Love music from assorted compact discs.

Snowflakes

Snowflakes gently fall,
gathering in the moonlight.
Each a thought of you.

NINTH PLACE
Paul Ciano, Avon

A pair of tickets to The Cleveland Orchestra's Sunday, February 15th matinee concert for each of the ten honored poets. Pinchas Steinberg conducts the Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 4, the Brahms Violin Concerto with Nikolaj Znaider as soloist, and Barber's Overture to The School for Scandal.

Love music from assorted compact discs.

Tickles

You tickle my fancy
And I’ll tickle yours!!!

TENTH PLACE
Leslie Andrews, North Ridgeville

A pair of tickets to The Cleveland Orchestra's Sunday, February 15th matinee concert for each of the ten honored poets. Pinchas Steinberg conducts the Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 4, the Brahms Violin Concerto with Nikolaj Znaider as soloist, and Barber's Overture to The School for Scandal.

Love music from assorted compact discs.

An Engaging Sunday

I opened the box with the utmost anticipation -
How long I had waited for that very moment.

Breathlessly I watched as lights danced across my face,
Tiny mirrors reflecting the light for my pleasure.

This was a tribute to how far we had come,

A symbol of the life we had created together.

The shimmer and sparkle of that wondrous treasure
Paled in comparison to the kiss we shared in its glow
As we watched our first Browns’ game on our new
Fifty-inch high definition screen.