I got a letter from Alicia who seemed to think that I misunderstood her intent. I didn't. Guess I was responding historically and didn't word my note as well as I would have liked. Over the life of the FML it's been a place where people can find emotional support and help. On the other hand, I do know that it can sometimes get bogged down with sad or tense situations, so think that she is right that it's been rather heavy recently. If I recall right Brian likes to update the _Ferret Poem Book_ which exists to help shelters in the Spring (for northern climes -- autumn for all of you who are standing on your heads), so what say we give him some new material? I am hereby announcing a NEW poetry contest. The categories considered (by my small mind so recall that my taste may be horrid) will be 1. artistic aspects and 2. humor. These will have to be poems which have not yet been posted on the FML and I'll have to trust you on that score. I also URGE other people to come up with their OWN favorites and post that right on the list to encourage further writing. Poetry is to be posted on the list AND to come to me privately. OH, and I KNOW the haiku will for the large part be an approximation, and that's fine by me; if someone with long or intense haiku expertise would like to judge these for closet to real haiku that would be WONDERFUL! The only thing I ask is that this time we lay off the tear-jerkers, please; life's been heavy enough recently. HEADS UP, BRIAN! [Posted in FML issue 2968]