@mariannewest,

Marianne, I think, perhaps, there's been a bit of misunderstanding. Marg and I are VERY GOOD friends. Indeed, I am her poetry mentor. We frequently communicate by email, including earlier today. There's a half-dozen private jokes reflected in our various comments and replies. There is NOTHING malicious going on. Marg and I are very close ... you're only seeing 1% of our communiques and therefore missing the context. I commented upon her entry in your contest as well. Did you read it? Surely you can see the humor in my reply above. It even ends in a smiley face.

Respecting my comments to your other contest participant ... did you go back and read my reply to his comment? I was not jumping down anyone's throat. Indeed, I prefaced my original commentary by saying that I thought his freewrites were very well done. He and I are both ex-military and the "politicization of the troops" is an issue about which many soldiers feel quite strongly. Obviously, I am one. Following our exchange, he has since followed me and I have followed him.

I understand your concern but I think the wires have gotten crossed.

Quill