Short Takes Short Takes (January 25, 2006)

To the commuters, to make much of time

Who doesn't love bad poetry? Frankly, the answer to that question should be "Everybody," but apparently the good folks at Caltrain are actually soliciting for the stuff. Rail enthusiasts have until Valentine's Day to submit, in 100 words or less, love poems lauding Caltrain.

To help get the ball rolling, Short Takes offers up this maudlin doggerel, in the spirit of Robert Herrick:

Gather at the train tracks while ye may/Caltrains are still arriving. But this steel coach that rumbles today/ tomorrow may stop driving.

The glorious age of trains and tracks/ could one day run its course, and swelling freeways full of cars/ shall kill the iron horse.

The budget woes that are the first/ signs of that sad day lead to the worst: no riders left/ and stations in decay.

So leave those keys and dump the pump,/ go happily to the track. Endless traffic will still await/ but trains may not come back.

Winners will receive prizes. Entries can be e-mailed to lovepoems@caltrain.com, sent to Caltrain Communications, Rail Poetry Contest, 1250 San Carlos Ave., P.O. Box 3006 San Carlos, CA 94070-1306; or faxed to 508-7919.
Essay contest on troubled animals

High school essayists, it's time once again to take your best shot at examining -- in about 1,000 words -- the mistreatment of one animal species in trouble in the United States, or a single cause of animal suffering in the United States, and ways to reduce that suffering.

The deadline for entries in the 16th annual Humane Education Network "A Voice for Animals" essay contest is Thursday, March 2. First prize is $500, second is $250 and third is $100. Results will be announced May 31.

Go to hennet.org for contest rules, to read examples of past winners and for more information.

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