»
Archives
»
Open Poetry #8
»
Fool Me Once - Shame on You
| Open Poetry #8 |
|
Fool Me Once - Shame on You |
|
|
Kit McCallum
Administrator
Member Laureate
since 2000-04-30
Posts 14774Ontario, Canada 
|
"Fool Me Once - Shame on You" I got a letter in the mail, Official, so it seemed; 'Twas quite an honour, it did say; A chance to fill your dreams! My poem had been "selected", Such "unique perspective" there, "Artistic vision", it did say, (All written with such flair.) Accompanied by accolades Of other poet's claims, Who had their poems published there, It was their "claim to fame". Within the papers, they did ask, Just sign this small "release", Your work will then be published, Golden bindings 'neath their sheets. For "only" fifty dollars, I could buy the book from them ... For twenty five more dollars, Add a "profile" to the end! And so I posed a question To this Forums Q and A; 'Twas sceptical ... suspicious, And responses, they did say ... That others did a survey To expose it as a sham, Seems anyone can win this thing, And get in on the scam. From first graders to David Barry, Even 8 month olds ... Their work would ALL be published In these books, so I've been told. Now I've been stung one time before, 'Twas 15 years ago; They claimed my idol, Vincent Price Belonged amongst their fold! I'd paid my money way back then, Was "published" right beside ... A lovely poem on "beer and burps" My heart did fill with pride!!! So "fool me once, it's shame on YOU", You got my money then ... But "fool me twice, it's shame on ME"; 'Tis where this story ends! /Kit McCallum |
||
| © Copyright 2000 Kit McCallum - All Rights Reserved | |||
|
Lost Dreamer Member Elite
since 1999-06-20
Posts 2464Somewhere near the Rainbow |
Kit, Excellent, I love your poem. I once sent a poem also and got accepted but my own procrastination saved me from the rest.  |
||
|
Poet deVine
Administrator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-05-26
Posts 22612Hurricane Alley |
This is great! Please read my reply to your question in Q&A!  |
||
|
Kit McCallum
Administrator
Member Laureate
since 2000-04-30
Posts 14774Ontario, Canada |
~Lost Dreamer: Saved by the bell you were! ~Poet DeVine: Thanks Poet DeVine! I just responded in Q&A, and also responded to Ron's additional note. Also, I responded to your question under the "Publishing Tips" Forum ... interesting question, I'd enjoy hearing more people's responses on that. Much appreciation, /Kit |
||
|
Corazon Senior Member
since 2000-02-02
Posts 1209 |
lol....I wonder how many of us have gotten that same letter...lol great writing |
||
|
Aimster Member Elite
since 2000-02-19
Posts 4297Charlotte, NC |
kit~ excellent writing...i too have got this letter. glad i didn't send my money  take care. amy "Don't be dismayed at goodbyes. A farewell is before you can meet again. And meeting again after a moment or a lifetime is certain for those who are friends." "Fate exists but it can only take you so far, Because once you're there It's up to you to make it happen." |
||
|
SorrowsMystress Member
since 2000-04-01
Posts 178I'm a wanderer, a nomad...I don't live in one particular area, Just wherever I end up. |
I got that same letter, and when I didn't respond or send money, they just sent me more things to buy.... "You could win $1,000" they said, "You're a finalist" they said.... what a crock! I think we should make a legit poetry contest.... I liked this poem, expressed just what I felt when I got all those "Since you are a finalist, you have the great opportunity to show your friends and family, so please send 60 dollars, 70 dollars, 100 dollars" letters.... GRRRRRRRRRRRR! "It was my love that did us both to death. " -Sylvia Plath |
||
|
sea_of_okc Senior Member
since 1999-06-15
Posts 568Oklahoma City, OK, USA |
Always wise to look at such things with a healthy dose of skepticism... Great poem |
||
|
Janet Marie Member Laureate
since 2000-01-22
Posts 18554 |
YEPPERS YEPPERS got that same letter 3 or 3 times now ... just seem to keep forgetng to mail that check lol good payback poem KIT... hopefully others will learn from our lessons later gator jm And it's good that I'm not angry, I just need to get over, I'm not angry, anymore Cry when you cry, run when you run, love when you love, represent the ashes that you leave behind ~MB20~ "What the caterpillar calls the end ... The world calls a butterfly" ~Lao Tze Tao~ ~Butterflies are meant to be free~ |
||
|
Kit McCallum
Administrator
Member Laureate
since 2000-04-30
Posts 14774Ontario, Canada |
~Corazon: Thanks Corazon ... gotten a few I think ... ~Amy: You too Amy? Guess we're in good company then! ~SorrowsMystress: Know what ya mean! Gotta laugh though or I'd' be grrrrrrrr'ing right along with ya! ~sea_of_okc: Thank you ... a healthy dose indeed! By the looks of this, I'm certainly not alone in this one ... much appreciation all, /Kit |
||
|
Kit McCallum
Administrator
Member Laureate
since 2000-04-30
Posts 14774Ontario, Canada |
~Janet Marie: You too? I'm feeling pretty special already ... I'm in great company according to the list above!!! Love it! Thanks JM. Maybe better break out the penicillen ... there's an epidemic out there! LOL Much appreciation, /Kit |
||
|
brian madden Member Elite
since 2000-05-06
Posts 4374ireland |
I had something like this happen to me, when thye sent asking for money I dumped the letter... well I am a student. At the moment all my money it tied up in buying shares in the local pub. LOL wonderful poem, Kit. I think that you should charge them for using your poem!!! ------------------------ "Take nothing but pictures. Leave nothing but footprints. Kill nothing but time". Baltimore Grotto "To be nobody-but-yourself-in a world which is doing its best night and day, to make you everybody else - means to fight the hardest battle which any human being can fight; and never stop fighting." E.E Cummings. "Art is a lie which makes us realise the truth." Pablo Picasso "You do not destroy an idea by killing people; you replace it with a better one". Edward Keating ----- |
||
|
Sudhir Iyer Member Ascendant
since 2000-04-26
Posts 6943Mumbai, India : now in Belgium |
So "fool me once, it's shame on YOU", You got my money then ... But "fool me twice, it's shame on ME"; 'Tis where this story ends! .......... Wiser words were never spoken, KIT, and nicely put too... regards, sudhir. P.S. seems I am lucky not to fall prey to these vultures... |
||
|
ethome Member Patricius
since 2000-05-14
Posts 11858New Brunswick Canada |
I know exactly what you mean Kit. I've been burned also. A lot of internal politics going on in the results I belive. I don't mean that to sound egotistical, but seldom lies the chance for fair judgement there. Great description in your poem. |
||
|
Irish Rose Member Patricius
since 2000-04-06
Posts 10263 |
amen! Glory Hallelujah, boy is this true Kathleen "How do I love thee? Let me count the ways. I love thee to the depth and breadth and height My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight For the ends of Being and ideal Grace." Elizabeth Barrett Browning |
||
|
StarrGazer Senior Member
since 2000-03-05
Posts 679Texas |
Well I fell victim to the poetry.com thing too and actually bought the book against better judgement and advice not going to get fooled again so easily though ...live and learn |
||
|
Kit McCallum
Administrator
Member Laureate
since 2000-04-30
Posts 14774Ontario, Canada |
~Brian: One book would buy a few beers in the local pub eh? Loved your comments! Thanks Brian! ~Sudhir: Thanks Sudhir ... lucky you've not joined our infamous group (seriously, you're lucky you've not been a victim, it's frustrating) ~Ethome: You too Ethome? Welcome to the group ... we have a 12 step program meeting in the lounge at ... lol ... ~Kathleen: Amen Kathleen ... thanks! ~StarrGazer: Live and learn indeed ... welcome to our "not-so-exclusive club"! Boy, I'm amazed at how wide-spread this is ... much appreciation to all, /Kit |
||
|
Denise
Moderator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-08-22
Posts 22648 |
This is great, Kit! I guess we all learn as we go along and gain the wisdom needed to protect us from such scams. Denise |
||
|
Kit McCallum
Administrator
Member Laureate
since 2000-04-30
Posts 14774Ontario, Canada |
~Denise: That's all we can do ... live and learn! Thanks Denise. Much appreciation, /Kit |
||
suthern
since 1999-07-29
Posts 20723Louisiana |
ROFLMAO.... and suffering complete chagrin. *G* First, because I'd missed such a great poem... my belated applause. *S* And second... shaking head... well, I'm gonna have to check the certificate I got and PRAY my contest was different. *G* For after reading some of the threads that indicate EVERYONE is a winner, my ego is destroyed... I only got honorable mention. *G* Woe is me... I could have bought the book... but not even money would have included my name. LOL Ouch! LOL |
||
|
Kit McCallum
Administrator
Member Laureate
since 2000-04-30
Posts 14774Ontario, Canada |
ROFL ... I had to laugh when I saw this one pop up again Suthern. Hope you aren't part of the same group ... but if you are ... you're in grrrreat company, lol! Best wishes and hugs, /Kit |
||
|
passing shadows Member Empyrean
since 1999-08-26
Posts 45577displaced |
oh my...thanks for sharing....I was about to fall in the trap! |
||
|
|
⇧ top of page ⇧ |
|
| All times are ET (US). All dates are in Year-Month-Day format. | ||
