Poetry Forum

Many thanks, Fliss, Caleb, and John!

Best wishes,
M.

Hi, folks. I've got a poem today at Autumn Sky Poetry Daily. I hope you enjoy it.

https://autumnskypoetrydaily.com/2023/1 ... -j-elster/

HI Caleb. I, too, wish you well. I'm sure it will be fine, and then you'll be able to see way better!

Thanks, Caleb. Yes, the narrative is a bit complicated, but I'm glad you finally figured it out. I'm sure the man would have loved a tummy rub! Maybe even more than the dog. As far getting 3 poems out of this one, I'm not sure how I would go about doing that. By the way, I was trying out a new form ...

Hi Caleb, I like that poem, “Climbing,” a lot. Thanks for sharing it. When you say you only brought “sadness” and “need,” well, I won’t say anything about the sadness part, but as far as “need” (or “neediness”) goes, everyone has needs. I hate the word “needy” because, again, everyone has needs! I w...

Hi John,

Many thanks for commenting. I'm glad to hear the story came across well!
Regarding T. S. Eliot — yes, that's a remarkable coincidence.

Hope’s dog named Desi, a mutt with floppy ears, rolls over for a belly rub, head pressed against the fellow’s lap. But why the tears streaming down his mistress’ face? Her guest studies her, bemused. Desi deserts the couch. Something inside Hope’s psyche hurts. Overturned for a belly rub, head press...

Hi Caleb, I like the title too (as John does). The narrator seems to be a certain type of person who has regrets. It’s kind of a paradox. We attract what we are. Just last night I came across this article called “7 things people usually dwell on when they’re living in the past.” https://hackspirit.c...

Hi Caleb, Woody Allen doesn’t like nature either. When he takes breaks from his screenwriting, he goes on his treadmill. So he exercises but never outdoors. I like this little poem of yours. It has a melancholic feel. It’s a sort of answer to the Whitman poem, which is quite evocative. About relatio...

Many thanks, Phil, Caleb, and John! Phil - Yes, the editor's comment is really good. Caleb - I feel for those trees that your current landlord destroyed. I once lived in a place where, in the next yard over, a beautiful silver maple tree lost a large branch from the remnant tropical storm of a hurri...

"The White Oak"

https://autumnskypoetrydaily.com/2023/0 ... -j-elster/

A poem about a satellite of Saturn in The New Verse News.

https://newversenews.blogspot.com/2023/ ... ladus.html

Kongrats, Fliss! Now the only thing Koala needs is a friend named Kelly the Kangaroo.

Hi Phil, I completely agree with you about the “entertainment” factor being generally undervalued in poetry, yet is essential, not just in poetry but also in all the arts. I just commented on Fliss’s recent poem, by the way, which is definitely entertaining. You asked if I’m intending a book on thes...

Thanks very much, Phil and Morpheus. I appreciate your feedback. It’s nice to know that the poem is working in the ways I was hoping it would. I’m glad the serious topic and the humor are juxtaposed or balance fairly well, and that it’s not preachy (which is the last thing I would want). I’m happy t...

Thanks, Phil and Fliss!

When springtime comes to Aussieland and you’ve the urge to walk the strand with rascally Fido or frisky Rover, try not to stress the Hooded Plover, sandy-brown and black and white and sporting a bill that’s ruby-bright. You may detect a tubby pair plucking fleas from the beach’s hair or darting on p...

Of course, you could instead just change the title to something like "Chatbot Quatrain" and leave the lines all tetrameter.

Hi Morpheus. I love limericks, and this is a good one!

Miles

Hi Morpheus, I like it except for the last two words. It’s an archaic syntactic inversion: “course preferred,” which we would normally say as “preferred course.” I like Ray’s suggestion of “as your maker has preferred.” Also, you can’t really call this a clerihew in the strict sense of the term. Tha...

A delightful poem, Fliss. Congrats!

I enjoyed your poem, Caleb. Congrats!

Congrats, Caleb! A powerful poem, and quite moving.

Congrats, Caleb! That's a savvy poem about one's societal attitudes and feelings of empathy.