From: <a href="/blend/av.cgi?id=141">wistful</a><BR>
Date: 11 July 2001<P>

Sorry, quick test: <a href="/blend/wv.cgi?id=2001.05.29.21.19.13812">The Real Message</a> <BR>
[2001.05.29.21.19.13812] 
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From: <a href="/blend/av.cgi?id=141">wistful</a><BR>
Date: 11 July 2001<P>

Okay, all you fabulous poets out there: I have a challenge for you! [insert medieval jousting fanfare here]<BR>
<BR>
We've all had fun with the haiku.  Some of you reached amazing depths in these brief but beautiful expressions of your souls.  But now . . . NOW . . . I throw down the gauntlet: a new challenge to all of you!  BWAHAAHAAHAAHAAA! (Maniacal laughter does not translate very well to writing, does it?)<BR>
<BR>
Over the last couple of months, I've been toying with this form: Using a phrase or series of words that expresses a particular thought or emotion as the first letters of the lines of a poem.  Then the text of the poem either supports/describes/details that thought/emotion, like <a href="/blend/wv.cgi?id=2001.06.06.01.20.18490">Gone</a> , or if you prefer irony (and who doesn’t?), directly contradicts it (see <a href="/blend/wv.cgi?id=2001.05.29.21.19.13812">The Real Message</a> ).  So when you read the first column of letters in the poem from top to bottom, it’s like a hidden message, a punchline to a joke, or the answer to a riddle. <BR>
<BR>
I’m sure this form has a name, but I’m not quite literate enough to know what it is . . . extra points to anyone who names it!<BR>
<BR>
Anyhoo, that’s the challenge.  Write one of these little poems, will ya?  I don’t have a prize or anything, but I’m sure you’ll earn the vast and undying admiration of your peers for stepping up to the plate.   Come on, I dare ya.  I double-dog dare ya!   I’ll even start you off:  <a href="/blend/wv.cgi?id=2001.07.11.00.02.641">Too Busy To Miss You</a>.  <BR>
<BR>
(Bonus to anyone who’s already figured out that this is just one more ploy to keep myself from missing my sweetie while he’s away . . .help!)<BR>

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From: <a href="/blend/av.cgi?id=17">deevaa</a><BR>
Date: 11 July 2001<P>

been playing with Kirks date tool.... it is soooooo much fun... and here are the official stats....<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
it has been 119 days since I saw my guy last.<BR>
<BR>
it is 9 days before I see him again.<BR>
<BR>
34 days before his birthday.... and 99 days to go till mine (he is coming here next for my birthday) 164 days since you we first met, but best of all, its only 168 days until  his ETA in NZ.... <BR>
<BR>
<BR>
<BR>

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From: <a href="/blend/av.cgi?id=141">wistful</a><BR>
Date: 11 July 2001<P>

Jenna (Holland);<BR>
<BR>
We've never met, but it is because of you that I've been posting to the love blender!  Some months back, you posted two works by a mutual friend.  When he & I started dating,  he did a google search on my name, and since I do a lot of community theatre, he found a bunch of reviews and pictures of me on the web.  So when I returned the favor and looked up *his* name, I found his poems that you posted on the love blender.  Then I started reading, and got hooked.  I hadn't tried poetry since middle school, but this same mutual friend was a form of muse to me in the brief but heady time of our fling.  Check out my poems about him, and see if you can guess who it is . . .<a href="/blend/wv.cgi?id=2001.05.26.01.36.9688">You glow brightly, my love</a> , <a href="/blend/wv.cgi?id=2001.06.01.02.42.12141">The whirlwind</a> ,  <a href="/blend/wv.cgi?id=2001.06.04.21.52.13548">Elegy for a Muse</a> , and <a href="/blend/wv.cgi?id=2001.06.07.02.58.18026">Online Love</a> .<BR>
<BR>
(BTW, we're still friends.  He agreed to stay my muse, and help me develop as a poet)  :-) 
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From: <a href="/blend/av.cgi?id=14">terry39</a><BR>
Date: 11 July 2001<P>

Ali~ Thank you so much for the welcome again. Illness has kept me away from both the web and writing for a while. <BR>
<BR>
BK~ I'll give it a go as soon as my muse awakens, Darlin'. Sorry about that last one...it was a downer I know.<BR>
<BR>
t.
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From: <a href="/blend/av.cgi?id=63">blue sky to your clouds</a><BR>
Date: 11 July 2001<P>

Ali~ Thanks, how are you?<BR>
<BR>
Harlem~ Thank you for reading my stuff.<BR>
<BR>
xoxo<BR>
elaina<BR>

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From: <a href="/blend/av.cgi?id=50">MichaelT()</a><BR>
Date: 11 July 2001<P>

witty ~ thanks for <a href="/blend/wv.cgi?id=2001.07.02.15.11.27649">transient</a> and <a href="/blend/wv.cgi?id=2001.07.02.15.29.5107">discontent</a> . I love your rhythm and rhyme. :-)<BR>
<BR>
kev ~ nice to see you're still here. :-) I hope <a href="/blend/wv.cgi?id=2001.07.05.08.14.17908">lit up</a> was well recieved. <BR>
<BR>
Terry ~ glad to see you are back! what was wrong? <BR>
<BR>
Flash ~ <a href="/blend/wv.cgi?id=2001.07.02.18.49.28776">Far</a> -- I know that feeling all too well. :-)<BR>
<BR>
It's good to see new and old "faces". <BR>
<BR>
Kirk ~ Hope the honeymoon is going/went well.
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From: <a href="/blend/av.cgi?id=122">~*Truelies*~</a><BR>
Date: 11 July 2001<P>

Hey all,<BR>
<BR>
B.K ~ thanks for the appretiative comment on my one piece of work.<BR>
<BR>
Ali ~ thank you as always for liking my stuff! It always amazes me when people say they like something of mine, especially as usually they like the work I'm not too sure on. Thanks!<BR>
<BR>
Harem - Thank you, I'm glad you liked 'That Scar'. He finally told me what it was and all I can say is OUCH, it must a hurt!!!<BR>
<BR>
Wistful - A note on your challenge. I believe the form is called acrostic, or in this case single acrostic. It's a good challenge I must agree. I have used acrostic poems before, only no one ever seems to notice! :-) So I gave up trying them, but it'll be good to have another go.<BR>
<BR>
I haven't got time to write all the poems I've read and liked, and there's quite afew, so perhaps later I will. <BR>
<BR>
Luv -x-x-x-
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From: <a href="/blend/av.cgi?id=34">Just Some Girl</a><BR>
Date: 11 July 2001<P>

Rainh20~<BR>
<BR>
You have so blown me away with your two submissions, Dysfunction and True Love!!!  Simple yet powerful. Do you have anymore you can share with us????
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From: <a href="/blend/av.cgi?id=142">Debra654</a><BR>
Date: 11 July 2001<P>

Stevr; EXPLORING....  remarkable, although the ending suggests that one had exclusive possession of what they found.... in which case they should/would not have been exploring in the first place.
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From: <a href="/blend/av.cgi?id=13">B.K.</a><BR>
Date: 11 July 2001<P>

Geeze I almost forgot here. I am just worn out down here from the heat and working overtime, forgive all my booboos lately, I promise to strive to get it right..ha ha ha<BR>
<BR>
Anyway our own Kevin is having some knee surgery today and I want to wish him the best of luck and good wishes and tell him I am thinking about him lots today..Big Hug Kev and Kiss too!!<BR>
<BR>
bk 
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From: <a href="/blend/av.cgi?id=91">flash</a><BR>
Date: 11 July 2001<P>

Elaina (Blue Sky...),<BR>
<BR>
I really like your last three submissions, especially "All I'm Asking."  I think I know *exactly* how you feel, it is so hard to understand why people can't or won't tell you why they left.  I went through it a few months ago, and it nearly killed me.  I, like you, knew that she would never love me.  All I wanted to know was what happened, so I could have some closure, and some peace (I tortured myself wondering what it was I had done...).  Five months went by, we talked a few times, and all she gave me were lies or half-truths at best.  Nothing she said made any sense.  It just didn't add up.  So the other day, I finally got a letter from her explaining the whole thing.  All of a sudden everything she said or did since the day she left made sense to me.  I can't say it hurts any less, since in my mind she overreacted, but at least I have that closure, and I feel like I can finally begin to move on.  <BR>
<BR>
It's funny how she thought that not telling me the truth would protect my feelings, when it had the exact opposite effect.  It was as if she didn't even respect or care about me enough to give me the truth.  She didn't realize that the truth was the medicine I needed to finally heal the wound.  But, as I've come to understand, she was just so afraid.  Sometimes people have been hurt so much when they have told the truth in the past, so they try to protect themselves with lies.  I have been there, too... so I understood where she was coming from.<BR>
<BR>
Well, I just wanted to let you know I relate to what you are going through.  And I hope you get the answers you seek...  but if you don't, remember that his ability to tell the truth has nothing to do with you.  It's not something you did or said wrong that keeps him from being honest.  It is a pain or fear that he just can't face right now...  unfortunately, that is all too common in life.  Not all of us have the courage to wear our hearts on our sleeves...<BR>
<BR>
Peace to you,<BR>
Flash
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From: <a href="/blend/av.cgi?id=91">flash</a><BR>
Date: 11 July 2001<P>

Harem and MichaelT:<BR>
<BR>
Thanks so much for your comments on my latest work... it means a lot to me to hear that someone relates...<BR>
<BR>
Peace,<BR>
Flash
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From: <a href="/blend/av.cgi?id=239">luce_bruffell</a><BR>
Date: 11 July 2001<P>

Hi everyone!<BR>
<BR>
Thanx tj! thought it was one of my better poems<BR>
<BR>
PLease please please please could I have other peoples opinions!! I seriously want to know what people think of them!<BR>
<BR>
Oh and whoever wrote "a friend that just stands by"-its really good, I like it a lot!!<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
As I love "senseless!!!! Its amazing!!!!!<BR>
<BR>
Can I have a comment from the likes of harrem, or BK, or blue skies to your clouds, I really would love to know what you think n if you have any improvements you think I should make?!?!!?! Thanx<BR>
<BR>
Deep luce sea<BR>

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From: <a href="/blend/av.cgi?id=63">blue sky to your clouds</a><BR>
Date: 11 July 2001<P>

Flash~ Thanks. As soon as you explained your situation, it made me realize that, that's exactly what's happening in mine. Thanks for reading my stuff, and relating. <BR>
xoxo<BR>
Elaina
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From: <a href="/blend/av.cgi?id=122">~*Truelies*~</a><BR>
Date: 11 July 2001<P>

luce_bruffell - I liked your latest poem 'I miss your everything'. It's really different to the other works you've submitted. I'm not a big fan of sterile rhymes - I mean rhymes that just seem to be there to rhyme, and don't take it bad when perhaps I say I thought this a little in your first few subs... but I REALLY like the new piece! Perhaps the sterile rhymes was harsh - I guess to be more precise it's just a personal preference (even tho i'm guilty of the rhyme thing myself). I hope this kinda makes sense to you, cus Im confused. Anyways, basically I loved the new poem because it's just rich with images and just has a good flow and I just luved it!<BR>
<BR>
Luv -x-x-x-
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From: <a href="/blend/av.cgi?id=152">Max-Rom</a><BR>
Date: 11 July 2001<P>

Hey Kirk,<BR>
<BR>
Is there a button or banner that I could use to link this site on my links page?  Right now, it is only a text link.  I ask because I think The Blender deserves much better than a mere text link.  You can see for yourself here:<BR>
<BR>
http://www.angelfire.com/art/jahpoetryonline/links.html<BR>
<BR>
Please repond...<BR>
you can email me at [email-masked]<BR>
<BR>
Your Partner in Poetry,<BR>
<BR>
Max-Rom aka Joseph Allen Hardy
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From: <a href="/blend/av.cgi?id=8">Ali</a><BR>
Date: 11 July 2001<P>

Savannah~ Beautiful...I love 'Bob'...Keep up the great writing!<BR>
<BR>
Gala~ 'Wash Day'...Extraordinary...You are so very amazing...<BR>
<BR>
scqueen~ 'Foglifter' was wonderful...moving...WOW...<BR>
<BR>
Love and truth, Ali
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