As a new widow, I was feeling especially sentimental about my husband and wrote a poem in his honior. I received a e-mail saying there was a poetry contest to enter. I thought, "I'll send in the poem I wrote". Much to my surprise I received a congratulatory letter telling me that I had won "The Editor's Choice Award" and was in the running for $10,000 and would be published in a hard cover book and I was one of 12% of the entries to have my poem read on a CD with a music background.
I was thrilled and shared my winning letter with many, many friends and family by e-mail. I was under no delusion that I was really as special as they said and I wouldn't, for Heaven's sakes send them any money. However, tonight a girl who heard of my "winning poem" from a kidney cancer support group member wrote to me and told me to look up Howard Ely and Poetry.com on Google. I was very astounded to see so many fraud reports about this man and his so called poetry society.
I know it wasn't as wonderful as it first seemed, but now I am very hurt and disillusioned of so many who have been "duped" by this man. I am feeling more than a little foolish about my "winning " poem even though I still think it is a darn good poem and deserving of recognition some where legitimate!
I suppose no real harm is actually done if one does not send them any money, but my ego and heart are saddened by the experience and I feel hurt that the beautiful poem I wrote in my husband's honor was part of a scam.
Shame on Howard Ely and his Poetry.com. Someone has to stop this man (or group) before he hurts more people and takes their money for illegitiment gain!
0 comments