Congratulations! And we'd be happy to have you here at Vanderbilt. I know I'm proud to say I know you.

Good for you and I'd feel proud of that too. You obviously wrote an excellent poem.

Congratulations! One can feel good about competition with one's immediate peers, but to make the cut against such a wide-spread field is really outstanding. Please accept a virtual pat-on-the-back: Â

Good for you, Michael you have reason to feel good
about this. It is quite an accomplishment.

Ah Michael,

How wonderful! It is so very hard to get in one of those, you should feel special!

Rebecca

Michael, Congratulations! What a boost for your creativity. I know most authors write mostly because they have to...mostly for themselves...they say...but then to know others respond...I love reading autobiographies or collections of letters about early writings and then that first publication. How proud you must be! josh

I kinda like how Hawthorne summed up writing.

The only sensible ends of literature are, first, the pleasurable toil of writing; second, the gratification of one's family and friends; and lastly, the solid cash.

LOL, I like that! And for the newbies who may have missed it, or those of us who wanted to refresh memories, see link below. josh

Here is a link that might be useful: Hunter's Moon

ongraatulations! I was going to ask for a link to the poem, but Josh. happily, provided it for us all.

That's really wonderful, Michael. I hope you are proud of yourself because we are.

Thanks everyone. This is probably the final version.
I think I have it as cleaned up as it's going to be.

Hunter's Moon

The Hunter's Moon illuminates the world tonight,
With an ethereal light that illustrates in back and white.
Orion rises in the east all right,
Signaling that it is a winter's night
Smoke wafts leisurely from chimneys aglow
Whilst Christmas lights
Color the dark
That tell of faith and hope and warm hearts.
The cold invites a snuggle beneath
Handmade quilts
With a beloved old pet by the hearth,
Sipping hot toddies to warm the bones,
Wondrously clear is a cold winter's night.

....nope, methinks it still needs tweaking.

Way to go Michael!!!

Great job Michael and awesome poem...Congratulations!

Michael,Your poem is so beautiful. Orion is the true winter constellation and sets off your winter scene perfectly.

I can see why you won.
vickie

Congratulations Michael! Like a hot toddy for your writing bones. :) Yay you!!