We have a winner!
The Grand Prize winner of the 11th Annual Roger Simon Greater Eastern Seaboard Poetry Contest is Nancy K. Holden of Baltimore.
She wins with a haiku that reminds us of something we often forget when electing our leaders:
Who can rescue us
from urban decay and fear
Schmoke, Clarke or ourselves?
Second place goes to Robert Dean of Baltimore, who sent in this limerick:
The election is really a bummer!
In this hot, humid Baltimore summer!
With Schmoke showing "Pride"
And Clarke's "Nothing to hide"
It's like the sequel to
"Dumb and Dumber!"
Third place to Arnold Paskoff of Baltimore for two poems:
The city that reads
Its own obituary
If it's not careful.
and:
If you want to win,
Tell us what you will do right
Not what he's done wrong.
And Special Mentions to:
Sharon Miller, Baltimore:
Red, black and green signs.
A subliminal message?
My vote doesn't count.
Jerry Hervieux, Owings Mills:
Mary Pat says, "I'll fix what Kurt broke"
Trading cards tout the laurels of Schmoke
A political battle
Of slogans and prattle
It's like choosing between Pepsi and Coke
Natalie M. Conrad, who used to live in Baltimore and now lives in Oak Park, Mich., and gets The Sun by courier pigeon apparently:
The ambition of
Mary Pat Clarke is to make
This city Schmoke-free.
Bob Eikenberry, Fallston, whose work I like because it's so gosh darn deep:
One plus one plus one
Usually equals three.
Odd, I get nothing!
and:
Schmoke may appear somewhat Kurt
While Clarke's standing Pat looking pert
But the biggest surprise
The one raising all eyes:
Why did Schaefer's campaign go covert?
Dorothy Baumgarten, Baltimore:
Kurt or Mary Pat?
Decisions and decisions.
For'st Gump politics.
Richard P. Tustin of Baltimore:
So F.O.P. loves Mary Pat
The fly in the ointment is that
Two thirds of this bounty
Resides in the country
The net gain is not very fat.
C. L. Norris of Baltimore:
Baltimore's troubled schools
Mayors spend, candidates promise
Students do not learn.
Franklin Langford of Annapolis:
The gunfire explodes 'round our ears,
Charm City is haunted by fears
But Mary Pat Clarke
Was heard to remark
"I'll fix it after the Schmoke clears."
Dick Ballard of Sparks:
It's awfully hard to agree,
Just which of the three it should be
One just can't envision
A tougher decision
But, hey, look now, Bill Bradley is free!
Jim Wheeler of Baltimore:
When resumes get politicians elected
The wrong values are being reflected
To find someone who leads
Just look at their deeds
The others should all be rejected
S.A. Kalinich, Arnold:
Baltimore reads the
obits of its citizens
more names by the hour
Longer lists reach no
ears. No hands reach citizens
Wandering darkly
Fingers pointing, two
so-called leaders debate air,
While the concrete bleeds.
Thomas Pointer of Westover:
Which will win the race?
Schmoke or Clarke or Clarke or Schmoke?
Hey, vote Rog Simon?
You think the city couldn't do worse?
L When you wake up Sept. 13, ask yourself that question again.
