I don’t mean to make a big fuss,

But there’s something I’d like to discuss,

There’s a contest arriving,

Where we’d like some contriving,

Of limericks sent in to us!

It’s no surprise that I like working with words. I’ve been a reporter, a playwright, a columnist and a PR guy. I’ve been a hopeless reading addict since the age of two and a half. Words and I are old friends, no matter how badly I torture them into twisted puns.

What has consistently amazed and delighted me is how many other people around here love words, too. And so, once again, we’re giving our customers a chance to play.

This year, LPC’s doing a limerick contest for Public Power Week (Oct. 4-10). If you’re not familiar with the observance, it’s an annual celebration of the communities like Longmont that enjoy the benefits of owning their own electric utility –  benefits such as low cost, high reliability, and a direct responsiveness to the community’s needs.  

That sounds sober and serious, I know. But public power also makes a lot of fun things possible, whether it’s the bedside lamp for late-night reading, the brilliant rooftop decorations on a winter night, or the movie classic your kids have to watch just one more time. So we like to celebrate it in fun ways. And since our haiku contest three years ago got one of our strongest responses ever, limericks seemed just the thing.

How do you play? The contest basics are here, but in simple form: write up a limerick about why you love Longmont’s community-owned power. Send it to us by mail, email, or Facebook private message by Oct. 10. And then we’ll draw two winners to get a $100 Downtown Longmont gift card. (And yes, we’ll even share some of our favorites online!)

So come on in. Give us your lines about our lines. The fun is waiting for you.

You have my word.