Hailing a ride from Wheels2U is easy.
Winning this year’s Westport Transit District poetry contest was not.
But 7 people persevered, penning “double dactyl” poems to earn gift certificates to restaurants of their choice.
For those who skipped English class: Double dactyl is a rhythmic, humorous poetic form consisting of 2 stanzas of 4 lines each.
- The first 3 lines of each stanza must follow a DUM-da-da DUM-da-da rhythm. The 4th line of each stanza follows a DUM-da-da DUM rhythm.
- The last line of the 1st stanza must rhyme with the last line of the second stanza.
- The first line is often a nonsense phrase such as “Higgeldy piggeldy” or “Jiggery pokery.”
- Extra credit was given for using “Wheels2U” in the poem; an additional bonus if one line in the poem is a single 6-syllable word.
The contest’s goal (besides fun) was to remind Westport residents, employees and visitors that Wheels2U — the on-demand app service for rides to the train, downtown and other spots — is easy, convenient and ($2) cheap.
Wheels2U
First prize goes to Carter Teplica.
The two second-place winners are Melissa Chang and Harris Falk. Finishing third are Trace Burroughs, Elllie Ferraro and Joan Issacson.
Honorable Mention goes to Saniyah R., a student in Homes with Hope’s After School Academic Program. Inspired by local poet Sylvie Middleton, children in ASAP showed their creativity, and entered the contest.
So, without further ado (and minus any clever rhyming introduction), here are the winners.
1st place: Carter Teplica
Higgledy piggledy
Streetcars helped Westporters
Home from the Saugatuck
Station of yore;
Wheels2U Westport now
Hyperconveniently
Takes you direct from the
Train to your door.
2nd place: Melissa Chang
Honkity beepity
What’s with the traffic here?
Post Road is jammed and the
Parking lot too.
Responsibility’s
Not mine this time ‘cause my
Car’s in the garage; I
Took Wheels2U.
2nd place: Harris Falk
Wiggly wallowing
Hankering halcyon
Easiest exodus
Elsewhere passport
Locally limitless
Speedily shuttleing
Transcendentality
Utmost Westport.
Third place: Trace Burroughs
Easily breezily
Riding low, riding high
Here’s Wheels2U Westport’s
Gift to us all.
Unconditionally
Easy to get on board
Westport Transit has
Answered the call.
Third place: Elyse Ferraro
Hippity hoppity
Wheels2U Westport is
So quick and easy
It wins the top spot.
No hassle, no gas fee,
No warming the car,
Satisfactorily skips
The car parking lot.
Third place: Joan Issacson
Waggity Westport
Wheels 2U riders
Heading to station
Coffee in hand
Unbelievably
So easy to book.
Nine rides completed,
Tenth’s free, it’s grand!
Honorable Mention: Saniyah R.
Jiggery pokery
Runaway spectacular
Spectacular galore
Glitter covered
Wheels2U comes for you
Bringing you to fashion
Automatically
Shimmer covered.
(For more information, and to download the Wheels2U app, click here. For more information about the Westport Transit District’s services for the elderly and people with disabilities, click here.)
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