All Poets Are Cordially Invited To Join Me

[OSINACHI]

Ladies and gentlemen, and fellow poets . . . It's now time to declare the winner of the largest cash prize ever awarded to an amateur poet . . . Our Poet of the Year for 2005 . . . and Grand Prize winner of $20,000 is . . .

MichaelChima Ekenyerengozi!

We're familiar with your work, MichaelChima, and you know . . .
it could happen just that way!

Dear MichaelChima,

I would like to inform you of your nomination as Poet of the Year for 2005, and to personally invite you to read your poetry at the single largest gathering of poets in history, where you will be formally inducted as an International Poet of Merit and Honored Member of our Society for 2005-2006.

Your induction will take place Friday evening, August 19th, at the Washington Hilton Hotel in Washington, DC, during the International Society of Poets Summer 2005 Convention and Symposium.

You will also be honored with two separate and very special awards for your poetic achievement at special ceremonies throughout the weekend.

First, to honor and commemorate your poetic accomplishments, after you present your poetry in front of fellow poets from around the world, amidst the applause from the audience, you will be presented with your Outstanding Achievement in Poetry Silver Award Bowl. The Award is a magnificent work of art in itself ($200.00 value), uniquely engraved and mounted on a cherry-wood base (see it here). This impressive award is so large and heavy, you may need an extra suitcase just to carry it home!

And MichaelChima . . . there's much more . . .

In recognition of your poetry presentation at this prestigious International Symposium, we will also create and present to you a beautiful and colorful Commemorative Award Medallion to honor your poetic dedication and achievements.

36 POETS WILL SHARE $74,000.00 TOTAL IN PRIZES--INCLUDING
THE SINGLE LARGEST POETRY CASH PRIZE EVER AWARDED--$20,000.00!

And don't forget the most lucrative amateur poetry contest ever! Your contest entry poem can be written in any style, on any subject . . . and can be up to 40 lines long.

Just think . . . for this poem alone, you will have the opportunity to win one of 36 cash and gift prizes to be awarded at the Symposium . . . including a Grand Prize of $20,000.00--the largest cash prize ever awarded in an amateur poetry competition. There's also a Second Prize of $5,000.00, two Third Prizes of all-expenses paid vacations for two, including a Caribbean cruise and a trip to Cancun, Mexico, a Fourth Prize of $1,000.00, and six other cash prizes of $500.00 each. World-renowned Pulitzer Prize-winning poet, W.D.Snodgrass, and Academy of American Poets Past Chancellor, David Wagoner, will be with us to congratulate poets and present the Grand Prize.

Your society is also encouraging today's youth to develop and utilize their poetic talents in a positive manner. This year we will award five $1,000.00 cash scholarships to talented young poets attending the Symposium.

Our editors and professors will also be searching for new poetic talent. Twenty poets will be "discovered" in the contest reading sessions. These winners will be awarded publishing or recording contracts that will generate international exposure for their poetic artistry.

In all, $74,000.00 in cash and prizes will be awarded at this single event!

LIGHTS . . . CAMERA . . . ACTION!

And that's still just the beginning . . . we've got three very special days planned for you . . . ones you'll never forget!

**You will be officially inducted as an honorary "International Poet of Merit" for 2005-2006.

**You and your poetic achievements will be honored at two Gala Banquets and Award Ceremonies.

**You will be thrilled by a special command performance by Grammy winner Tony Orlando.

**You will enjoy dazzling world class entertainment created especially for you featuring Rock and Roll Hall of Fame members the Drifters. You will be up close and personal when the Drifters thrill us with their classic hits including "Under the Boardwalk" and "Up On the Roof". These special command performances will delight you. There will also be many other Las Vegas Headliners and Midnight Dance Parties on both Friday and Saturday nights!

**You will learn more about your craft in seminars, reading rooms, rap sessions, and workshops, where you can read and discuss your poetry in informal settings with other poets from all over the world. Back by popular demand are the ISP rap rooms, our famous sunrise poetry readings, the ISP Coffee House, the ISP Open Microphone Rooms, and workshops on how to fine-tune your poetic talents.

**You will have the rare opportunity to get up-close and personal with Pulitzer Prize-winning poet W. D. Snodgrass, Academy of American Poets Past Chancellor David Wagoner, Dr. Len Roberts, Dr. Herbert Woodward Martin, and other poetry celebrities who will be in attendance.

**You will attend a VIP reception where you can take pictures, get autographs, and personally meet all of the celebrity poets in attendance.

**You will participate in a fantastic international poetry competition featuring 36 prizes totaling $74,000.00. A Grand Prize of $20,000.00, two all-expenses paid vacations for two, including a Caribbean cruise and a trip to Cancun, Mexico, 8 other cash prizes totaling $9,000.00, 10 poetry recording contracts, 10 book publishing contracts, and 5 $1,000.00 Young Poets Scholarship prizes will be awarded at this single event.

**You and your guests will also be eligible to win one of many door prizes, valued at over $6,000.00.

**You will make friendships that will last a lifetime and will return home with wonderful memories, your Outstanding Achievement in Poetry Silver Award Bowl, your Commemorative Award Medallion, and lots of other special gifts.

DON'T BE LEFT OUT

Don't miss this opportunity. Space is limited, and our Conventions routinely sell out. Plan to join your fellow poets at the Washington Hilton Hotel in Washington, DC, August 19-21, 2005, for the poetic event of the year! I am also looking forward to meeting you and celebrating the power and beauty of poets and poetry!

Sincerely,
Steve Michaels
International Society of Poets
Convention Chairperson

[OSINACHI]

Many are called
only to be conned.

Come for the tourism and recite your ditties.

[OSINACHI]

Millions are called
Only to be conned.

Who is not a poet?
Even the scoundrel Moet.

Millions on the roller coaster of egos
Have lost their ethos.
And they have crucified their sacred creed
On the crooked altar of their greed.

Millions are called
Only to be conned.

It is amazing how it takes only a few dullards
To make millions of dollars.

Millions of mails make the spam
Like rapids burst the dam
Alas! Millions are fooled in the scam.

Humans are the most crooked and the most rugged
Plugged or unplugged.
Many lies repeated soon become legend.

Millions are called
Only to be conned.

Wacko Jacko
Has turned psycho.
Ahaah! The King of Pop
Has become the King of Dope.
Oh! My darling Lollipop
Why have we lost our hope?

Millions are called
Only to be conned.