New York Pitch Conference Reviews, Algonkian Writer Conferences, and Poetry Forums

Spot on. I'd like to nominate this for IBPC

Eight years ago Bernie. It placed in IBPC.I joined my first forum in 1999. I still recall the first poem I posted It was duly savaged, and justifiably so. I don't believe you can teach someone to write, but ggou can teach them what poetry is. The people on those forums kept commenting and I kept lis...

Bob, I think it's unique to do a series, very imaginative. There are SO many phobias which most people do not readily recognize by name, its clever. But the poem Itself has to be strong since there's a good chance the average reader eill Google the title before reading the piece. Good on you for cha...

You're cotrect about the sociologost.I volunteer at a shelter.

It's cyclical. The battering followed by the honeymoon period.

I've read a lot of poetry on DV from victims.
I wanted to portray an abuser.

Thank you as always Bernie.

Frank. Most venues dont consider a contest as being published. IBPC is good in that a published poet judges your work. I suggest you try Prarie Schooner, one of the most respected that still allows submission by e mail. Dozens of Push art noms from this site. Cortland Review is also a semi tough ven...

Two in the morning and the upstairs neighbors are at it again. It's too hard to tell who's ahead, for the enemy is not flesh and blood, but the Prince of the powers of the air. It does no good to complain. I think of you drunk, hair an apostasy of tangles, screaming always screaming how you wish I w...

I nominate it for IBPC

Frank. I think this the best of yours I've read. The stanza breaks are masterstroke,
the language is superb.An excellent, well crafted poem.

Frank. I'm getting a lot of Hiroshima from this. Or just Anglo stereotypes, I'm unsure. Its a cool fantasy piece.Would suggest repetition of "could not be"in opening stanzas a bit cumbersome. You seem to change tense with "unpleasant for him" without introducing "him". Suggest use of more futuristic...

Ha. Clever indeed.Agree with Frank about jaundiced. My opinion: Dr Frankenstein gives it all away. Might be better to spend a bit more on describing the monster with modifiers that "hint" such as bolts in its neck. Let the reader get it in the end. You could say "it's creator" Leave a little mystery...

Bernie Bob Frank Billy.

Thank you. I wrote this as a prequel to an earlier poem about God withdrawing a rib from Adam. I love poems with Biblical themes

Billy thank you for the nom. Coming from you, it means a lot

There were Swiss forced labor camps for Jews. Eventually Switzerland rescinded its amnesty policy for Jewish refugees, turning them back at the border. I think though, the poem refers to atrocities committed on the German side of the border under guise of allowing the Jews to nbelirve they would rec...

Well..
You aren't boasting.

Congratulations

You sometimes write as if you're an artist painting a scene. Your visuals do not overwhelm as I've seen I'm other poems.

You do a nice job in balancing imagery with surprising interactions (English foot).

This is lovely

Billy. Ominous poem. Having had by pass surgery, this sounds a lot like a stroke.

It doesn't matter either way.
Love "settled in a warm spot where others have laid down their lives."

I get how tired the narrator is, how easy to slip away.

Well done, but dark.

In the beginning he had no frame of progeny, no personal history. Just a man, new-made, risen from mud, alone. Glimpses of them in the underbrush, foraging the tall grasses, tops of trees, creatures like him insomuch that they moved, lived, and breathed, but it ended there. At dusk he struck a fire ...

This is my favorite of the series. I question
entitling by stanza, poem is strong as is.

Bob, I think it's fine as is. Opening scene very realistic in that Jews were generally very placid and subservient on these train rides.

I think you need the opening stanzas to offset the muted horror of the following ones. Just my opinion. Nice work.

My nom for IBPC

Yes Bob, this is a good slice of life piece

Thanks for your insight Billy.

Thanks Billy and Bernie.

Like I say, it's minor.

Thanks Frank. Since this was written in jest, I'm not going to revise it. There are traced of a real woman in there.

All Atlantic hurricanes originate from the
continent of Africa as hot Sahara winds meet the moisture of the ocean.

Thanks for reading

Frank. Love it. We Americans never had to contend with the aftermath of war in our homeland.

The only tiny crit I could possibly have is the religion of "we." I don't see how to avoid it.
Nice Job with strawberry jam and tomatoes re: the title.

Last line is best, imho.