Ode To Contest Pandering - BYO2023

Vanity, you have one face to gaze upon
Reflecting back from a motionless pond.
This time I'm told I can bring by own rules.
And now I must clarify intention to all

Oh, please star and flag this submission of mine
It's ever so clever and needing of applause
I don't want to say it's self esteem related
It may be because I hit that writer's wall

The writer's category is skillful and competent
With all of the musers who correctly edit
My self-adulation may again go wanting
How nice it would be to place 3rd or better

Oh, please star and flag this submission of mine
Though now that I pandered it is likely you'll never
I don't want to say it's competitive nature
I may be going for the most irony ever.

The End

a reply to: Degradation33


S+F

a reply to: pthena

Thanks for heads up. Glad I got it within 2 hours.

ETA: I swear something was just written there. What I miss? Damn you Mandela.

a reply to: Degradation33

You didn't miss much. I was going to do a trick thing where you click the link and end up in an unexpected place.

Meditations On Silence
Not as startling as I expected.

Mandela for sure!
I thought I saw a miss spelled word.


I thought of a saying about Silence
But the risk of risqué was too great
so I deleted it.

a reply to: Degradation33

It’s perfect! S-F /

a reply to: Degradation33

I don't think it's about vanity really. Perhaps for some it is but for me it's more like sharing something that I never get to share.
I write songs that no one ever hears and sometimes little rhymes that no one ever sees. Where else can someone like me have a little outlet and conversation?
I'm not competitive by nature but I think here, it is a good thing. It keeps the writers forum going and encourages new writers to have a go.
I did like getting 'writer' status. I didn't think I deserved it but somehow it made me feel good inside. If that makes sense.

S+F for the irony!

a reply to: Degradation33

Different and amusing.

a reply to: pthena

Okay. That makes sense. I'm sorry, I wasn't paying close enough attention to notice.

a reply to: JJproductions, Enica22

Thank you. I honestly couldn't think of anything good. I am in an M Night Shallamallama rut where I keep trying to recapture The Sixth Sense, and theres a noticeable fall off after Unbreakable, The Village, Signs....

Kept thinking, what will get me enough stars and flags to actually place this time?

And then I felt silly over trying to write something grandstanding and appealing, so I said, "Okay, why don't you just write something about how much you just want to get rated into a placing position instead!"

I don't think it's gonna work, though.

a reply to: Degradation33

I will fess up.
I had a really clever poem or something about irony all formed and ready in my head.
Then I thought "Oh crap! I better not! I would feel guilty!"

And then, Poof. Gone. Disappeared.
I don't even know if it was good or not
can't review it.

Silence

a reply to: Degradation33

Respect. You never fail to deliver.

I wonder........ in this line.........

This time I'm told I can bring by own rules

did you intend "I can bring my own rules"? I think I like that better, but that's just me.

This feels sorrowful, in light of ATS's most recent devolution into a much lesser state than ever before. Well, it will survive or not. Either way, you have nothing to be sorry for; you've lighted the way and paid your dues and those of us faithful that have followed you have enjoyed your offerings.

Be well

a reply to: Degradation33

Really liked that and I am sure most of us share those sentiments at various times

Thank you.

I don't know about this contest anymore, but thank you.

Is it also ironic to star and flag my own story given the circumstances?

a reply to: SheWasTheDarkness

I think it is appropriate to do so -- a testament to that which was, and perhaps will be again, if the owners/handlers get their heads out of their asses. OOOH! Did I say that out loud?? I guess I did. Selah

originally posted by: SheWasTheDarkness
Thank you.

I don't about this contest anymore, but thank you.

Is it also ironic to star and flag my own story given the circumstances?

if you star and flag your own post I'd say its about time something good came out of all this crap and that might be it!