It’s Time for the Annual Times Publishing Group, Inc Competition
By Noel Smith
Whether it’s the memory of Love, Love that has stood the test of time, or the rush of young Love, that is what we celebrate each February 14, Valentine’s Day. What could be more romantic than to express through your own poetry about that Love for your loved one (and for our readers) to read. So it’s time to send us your poem about those tender feelings and romantic thoughts to our annual poetry contest.
Times Publishing Group is sponsoring its 14th Times Publishing Valentine’s Day Poetry Contest to reward four local poets (and their sweethearts) with the ultimate in Valentine’s Day romance. It’s time for poets throughout our county to make public their feelings for those they love in celebration of Valentines Day. In 2013 had so many poems submitted from out of the area – places like Cedar Falls Iowa, and Old Bridge New Jersey – that we created a new category – OOTA (Out Of The Area).
The 2013 Times Publishing Annual Valentine’s Day Poetry Contest drew poems from Watsonville to Boulder Creek. Some were funny, some romantic, some touching. As usual, a winning poem was chosen for each of our three newspapers; the Aptos Times, Capitola Soquel Times, and Scotts Valley Times. This year there will be an additional prize for the best poem written to your married love of 30 years or more!
Express your love – in 250 words or less – (see “Contest Rules” for complete details) and tell the world what makes your Valentine special!
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2014 Poetry Contest Rules
Please Read Carefully
Write a poem about, or to your Valentine and send it to us. Only one poem per poet and no more than 250 words and 25 lines.
Submit it via email to [email protected] with Poetry Contest in the subject line, or mail it to 9601 Soquel Dr, Aptos, CA 95003.
Be sure to include your name, address, day and evening phone numbers, e-mail address, and for whom (fiancée, spouse, parent, child, lost love, etc.) your poem is written.
Three First Place winning poems and three honorable mention poems will be selected by the Times Publishing editorial staff: from south county representing the Aptos Times; from Capitola/Soquel/Santa Cruz representing the Capitola Soquel Times, and from Scotts Valley/San Lorenzo Valley, Bonny Doon and Summit representing the Scotts Valley Times. This year there will be a prize for the best poem written to your married love of 30 years or more! (Note: We welcome submissions from all readers living within Santa Cruz County.)
All entries must be received by 5 pm on Thursday, February 6, 2014. The winner will be notified on or before Monday, February 10. Please Email or call us at 831/688-7549 if you have any questions. The winning poems will be published in the March 1 editions.
2013 Winners
Grand Prize – Alice Keys of Capitola
Aptos Times – Jacqi Holmstrom
Scotts Valley Times – Linda Foster
Capitola Soquel Times – Dana Orlando
Out of the Area – Michelle Swanson of Cedar Falls, Iowa.
Grand Prize
Alice Keys of Capitola
My love.
I wait for you on the beach
as the silver moon lifts and pales
into iridescent dawn.
One diamond glitters
then rises and fades
above dark reaching branches.
Perhaps you’ve forgotten me
here in the mist
wrapped in the last veils of night.
White foam shushes near and kisses my feet.
Cold and away.
The ocean’s whispering touch is your lips on my skin.
Cold and away.
How like your breath, this kelp salt metal air.
I wait for you.
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Aptos Times First Place
Jacqi Holmstrom
Forever My Sweetheart
It’s Valentine’s Day
A day made for love
You’re gone now my angel
In God’s hands above
I wake up alone now
But I’m not alone
The love that we shared here
Surrounds me at home
The days seem so long
And the future is vast
I live in each moment
But cherish the past
Just 5 months without you
I miss you so much
My nights are too empty
I long for your touch
I’m sad but I’m thankful
Our life was so fine
A man to be honored
I’m proud you were mine
My thoughts for all lovers
The years go by fast
Count each day a blessing
And your love will last.
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Capitola Soquel Times First Place
Dana Orlando
True Love
Surprised by love so long ago,
found in a friend- who would have known?
That initial spark of “Could it be?”
soon grew into our destiny.
Church bells rang, the honeymoon … a delight.
Lively baby cries soon filled our nights.
Blessed beyond our imaginations.
“Gratefulness”… our favorite contemplation.
My partner, my best friend, the love of my life,
this world has thrown punches. We have sadly known strife.
Through chemo and heartache and questions of “Why?”
We have grown as a family with God by our side.
You see, a love that is fleeting is not love at all.
But a love that grows deeper as adversity falls,
is proof of True Love, the kind with no end,
the kind that we share, my husband, my friend.
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Scotts Valley Times First Place
Linda Foster
33 Years
33 years ago across the dance floor our eyes met
Little did we know then our future was set.
Engaged and married within a few short years
Adjusting to life together through laughter and tears.
Blessed with the pitter patter of two tiny feet
Two became three, then four in a heartbeat.
Our lives always busy – so much to do
Tough times shared together – thank goodness I had you.
Life moved on – children all grown
You by my side – couldn’t have done it on my own.
Now as we continue on this road we call life.
I am so glad that you chose me to be your wife.
We’ve done so much – we’ve laughed we’ve cried.
You’ve been my support – always there by my side.
You are my husband, friend and soul mate too
On this journey together, I’m so lucky to have picked you!
What more can I say but thank you for all that you do
You love and laughter always shines through.
Thank you for all the time you’ve made me smile
You always know when to go that extra mile.
The future looks bright knowing you’ll be by my side
Thank you so much for choosing me to be your bride.