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Poetic Injustice: WT's First-Ever "Bad Poetry Contest"—This Friday Night!

Roses come in many colours. / Violets mostly one. / If you can write a crappy poem / Come Friday for some fun. // Thanks to Dr. Daniel Helbert of WTAMU's Dept. of English, Philosophy, & Modern Languages for stopping by High Plains Morning today to encourage bad poets of the Panhandle to come together FRIDAY NIGHT, April 5th for the school's first-ever Bad Poetry ContestIt's from 6-8p CT at the Legends Club (Jack B. Kelley Student Center, Lower Level, WTAMU Campus) in Canyon, TX. Light snacks and drinks will be provided--but feel free to bring drinks and food of your own. Click to hear the full interview! 

HERE ARE THE RULES! Participants will read a bad poem of their own composition to be judged by a panel of distinguished writers and readers of bad poetry. The poem may be of any genre, but the reading should be three minutes or less. Excerpts of longer poetry are fine. Prizes will be awarded for the best bad poets. 

From Dr. Helbert: "A great poem is its own advocate. Compelling us with beauty, wisdom, or power, they can be wonderfully difficult, absorbing, or deeply troubling. Bad poems, however, are just plain fun—and they need our attention and our love as well. They try too hard or give up too early, mean too little or too incessantly. They clank, jangle, or thud through the language, reaching out for ideas they can’t quite manage. And they can do it in ways that are outrageously entertaining and inspiring.There is something to be said for the ambition, earnestness, and weirdness of bad poetry. So, let’s say it. Help us to celebrate bad poems. Write and read a bad poem of your own at the BAD POETRY CONTEST." 

Jenny Inzerillo joined HPPR in 2015 as the host of High Plains Morning, our live music program that airs weekdays at 9 am to noon CST. Broadcasting from KJJP in beautiful downtown Amarillo, she helps listeners wake up with inspired music from our region and beyond. Tune in for new voices in folk/Americana, deep cuts from your favorite artists, soulful tracks from singer/songwriters across the world, and toe-tapping classics dating as far back as the 1920s. Plus, discover underground greats that just might be your new favorite band.