For those of you following my pursuit of Performance of the Year, voting for round three has opened! This week, each of us has been asked to submit something out of our genre and comfort zone. I chose poetry, which is well beyond my comfort zone and borders on The Twilight Zone. Especially since I was not allowed to use any humor in writing an introstpective piece called “At The River’s Edge.”
My goal was to create something visual, relatable and rhythmic that was perfectly measured — 5-word stanzas, 5 stanzas, all adding up to an equal number (including the title and byline) which is 100. I also wanted it to be a journey, to a place and back again, finishing where it started but with a new perspective — like T.S. Elliot’s famous quote about exploring, and returning the beginning only to rediscover it.
The result of my poetic endeavor, as well as the other seven talented nominees’submmissions, are on this week’s episode of “A Star Is Born.” Last week, in addition to having the honor of becoming a finalist in this talented group of artists, I also remained in the No. 1 spot for the second straight week. Thank You ALL so much for that. This week, in addition to public voting, the competition will also include three judges whose decision also weighs in on who stays and who goes — so your votes are especially important now.
You can cast your vote between now and 10 a.m. tomorrow morning (Oct. 26). Final results — and the next nominee to be eliminated — will be revealed at noon.
Below you’ll find the link for voting. It will take you to my Facebook page first. Please “Like” the FB link (accounts for 25% of our score) and then follow it to The Public Blogger to vote (70% of our score). As I mentioned last week, even if you don’t vote for me, please DO vote. It’s a terrific group of folks who have become my friends.
And they’ll still be my friends even if I get voted out. Assuming they’ll answer my calls.
Again, my sincere and appreciative THANK YOU to all of you for helping get this far.
Now please… Vote HERE (Look for this image on my FB page)
Ned's Blog 
Gorgeous poem, Ned. Call me a groupie, but I’ve been looking forward to reading this all day.
The last stanza was my favorite.
Well done, my friend.
Good luck!
Thank you, Michelle! The judges didn’t seem too impressed. Maybe I should have written about my thong…? 😉
Roses are blue
His thong is red
Seriously?
Why wouldn’t you
Vote for Ned?
Lol! If I get voted out, I’m having this made into a coffee mug!
Nooooo!!!! You can’t be voted out!
Right!!! No negative talk Ned!!!!
Haha! Tell your friends “Ned promises he won’t write any more poetry if you vote for him!” That should get the voting up! 😉
What is the non FB link? I’m one of three people who do not have FB. Thanks.
me too . . .
Here’s the WordPress link 😉 And thanks for asking! http://thepublicblogger.com/2015/10/25/a-star-is-born-an-all-around-artist/comment-page-1/#comment-26749
Nvm. Figured it out…good like that. Liked the poem.
Ha! Crossed in the mail. Thank you!
You’re welcome aand thank YOU!
me three…. I guess that sums us all up! And we are all Ned’s friends! LOL! 😉
I think I see a pattern here… 😉
Ned, I can’t figure out how to actually vote. I get to the part to vote “here”, click on here, get to the Public Blogger page and then can’t find where to actually register a vote.
It’s at the very bottom. There’s a voting poll with buttons and the nominees’ names. You can choose up to three, then push “Vote.” Thanks for asking, Beth!
Found it – your vote is in!
Thank you, Beth!
Voted!
Thanks so much, Paul!
i was so moved by your poetry that i had to vote.
Thanks so much, Beth 😉
And it’s certainly better than the other kind of movement my writing usually inspires…
Violets are blue,
Roses are red,
I’m having fun
Voting for Ned!
There. 😀
(You had me at “At…”)
Hahaha! Thanks, Marcia 😉
Voted and I loved the poem!! Go Ned!!! 😉
Thanks, Courtney!
You are an inspiration to me. So I countered with this:
He was a star. His parents told him he had that quality,
He could tell jokes and make up stories, he had ingenuity.
He could play ball, throw the furthest and leap up high,
He was a winner, brave and strong, a hell of a guy.
He went to college and scored all A’s on the test,
He performed in the class play and of course was the best.
And then in business he made money galore,
He was always on top, he was so much more.
He married a princess and had two children cute as pie,
He grew old with fame and fortune and in old age he did die.
The legacy lived on and his name was said with awe.
In heaven God choice him over others and his spirit did soar.
Wow…! That is amazing, Alex. Thank you so much for writing and sharing that! I also hope to never compete against you in a poetry contest.
Thank you, my friend 😉
It’s official: You’re a crowd-pleaser, Ned Hiockon.
Turns out I was wrong.
Who knew?
Sorry for mangling your name, buddy.
(I’m a bit of a dumbass at times.)
Dumb-ass, smart-ass… just part of your charm
I think you’re the first, actually!