Topping my list of novel news of poetry this week is this story about a new contest in India, “Kavithai Sollungal”. Exclusively for subscribers to Reliance Phone Services, the kavithai is a poetry contest – with a twist. You phone in your entries. Poets will compete by dialing “1234″ on their mobile phones, and reciting a poem on a given subject of up to three minutes into the telephone. A poet can enter as many poems as they wish into their voice portal at a charge of Rs.6 per poem. It;s another attempt by Reliance Phone to offer their subscribers a little something extra. “Reliance has always endeavoured to weave a cultural network with its subscribers that touches their lives. The contest is another unique attempt to bring out the ingenuity and creativity of subscribers while giving them freedom of expressive communication,” said V. G. Somashakar, a Reliance CEO.

The prizes are better than the standard bragging rights and subscribers copies that are so often the only remuneration that poets win. The first and second prize winners will win a trip to Singapore, and the third and fourth prize winners will win a 29 inch color television set. Other poets will receive copies of books by Pa. Vijay.

Poetry by phone… imagine the possibilities. Ted Kooser ringtones, Patricia Smith and Donald Hall instead of muzak while you”re on hold, a daily dial-a-poem for inspiration when you need it. I”m just surprised Verizon hasn”t thought about it yet.