poetry award

As a beginner poet, I took the opportunity to enter my first ever poetry competition at poetry.com. So just try to imagine how delightful I was when a months later I got this email:

The votes are in, and we are proud to congratulate you for your outstanding literary achievement. The editors of The International Library of Poetry were thrilled to inform you that your poem was honored with the prestigious Editor’s Choice Award because of your artistic accomplishments and unique perspective--characteristics found in the most noteworthy poetic works. To further commemorate this prestigious achievement, we have elected you to receive the 2007 Editor’s Published Poet Ribbon Award Pin.

This stunning pin proudly displays your elevated status in our poetic community. Since only an elite group of published poets were selected to receive this special honor, imagine the sense of pride you will feel when others see you wearing the 2007 Editor’s Choice Published Poet Award Pin. What an impressive way to show off your status as an honored poet for the year 2007!

I went back to the competition site but found no mentioning of my name or my poem. On the other hand, what I did find was

To take advantage of this special offer to commemorate your exceptional poetic talents, simply go here. This exclusive pin is only $19.95, plus shipping & handling. If you wish to send us your order by mail, please include a copy of this email and your completed order form to receive this special offer.

So let me get it straight. Is it because I try to write poetry you feel that I have no common sense, or that I am a complete idiot?

Is the competition is just away to collect email addresses of would be poets who are willing to pay to support their poetry ego?

If I was interested in paying for fake awards, I would not have wasted my time trying to write poetry. I may be a crap poet, but still not a complete idiot. Count me out!