THE CRITIC
Swimmer can be harsh on himself as he strives for perfection in pool

By Corey Friedman

NEW BERN, N.C.---New Bern swimmer Zac Smith expects to churn up some waves today as he sets out to silence his harshest critic--himself.

Disappointed with his time in the 50-meter freestyle, down just a tick from last year's, Smith is pinning his hopes on redemption today, when the Bears test their mettle in the 4-A regional tournament taking place this weekend in Raleigh.


Full Story

Published in Saturday's Sun Journal.

Search for Silence

By Eric Heppner

I long to find the music called silence
i sit in the pianissimo hours of the morning
longing for silence
the click of a jumping anole outside my windo
shatters the quest
yet as i strain my ears in another pursuit
the most beautiful sounds
wnader about the room
the leather chair clacks rhythmically
beneath my lethargic form
the steady hum of electricity
burns behind the lights turned off
the sudden frump of dirty clothes
that have waited all night to settle to place
the wondrous footfalls of a cat
who prowls the the early hours, never sleeping
the snap of a flea's mechanical legs
and the unsettling plop of it's landing space
yes, i have searched for silence
in the very dead of the morning
yet as i open my ears
hoping to find the room still
i find the unexpected, unheard sounds
hoping for an open ear

CONTEST CLARIFICATION

By "miscellaneous prizes," we mean whatever cheap crap Corey finds in his trunk, or possibly one of Eric's old shirts. Not that this should discourage you from entering.

We'll include some heavy-duty detergent.

RHUBARB CULT POETRY CONTEST

The Rhubarb Cult is proud to announce its first-ever poetry contest to inspire creativity and reward budding and accomplished poets with due recognition.

Entries may range from 75-500 words and may be written in any manner about any topic. Please submit your entries via e-mail before Feb. 10. Judging will take place on the 11th, and winners will be awarded miscellaneous prizes.

Winning entries will be posted on this blog for all to see. Good luck, and get writing!