International Society Of Poets Or Poetry.com "duped" "feel terribly foolish", my self esteem wounded" Owing Mills Maryland

As a new widow, I was feeling especially sentimental about my husband and wrote a poem in his honior. I received a e-mail saying there was a poetry contest to enter. I thought, "I'll send in the poem I wrote". Much to my surprise I received a congratulatory letter telling me that I had won "The Editor's Choice Award" and was in the running for $10,000 and would be published in a hard cover book and I was one of 12% of the entries to have my poem read on a CD with a music background.

I was thrilled and shared my winning letter with many, many friends and family by e-mail. I was under no delusion that I was really as special as they said and I wouldn't, for Heaven's sakes send them any money. However, tonight a girl who heard of my "winning poem" from a kidney cancer support group member wrote to me and told me to look up Howard Ely and Poetry.com on Google. I was very astounded to see so many fraud reports about this man and his so called poetry society.

I know it wasn't as wonderful as it first seemed, but now I am very hurt and disillusioned of so many who have been "duped" by this man. I am feeling more than a little foolish about my "winning " poem even though I still think it is a darn good poem and deserving of recognition some where legitimate!!

I suppose no real harm is actually done if one does not send them any money, but my ego and heart are saddened by the experience and I feel hurt that the beautiful poem I wrote in my husband's honor was part of a scam.

Shame on Howard Ely and his Poetry.com. Someone has to stop this man (or group) before he hurts more people and takes their money for illegitiment gain!

Kasie
Fairlawn, Ohio
U.S.A.