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

May, Chinese Lanterns     In this unusually warm May even my ‘winter berries’, my Chinese lanterns, are in bloom. I can’t help but think of friends who have died these past few years      when these lanterns, known as 'guides for the deceased', tremble as if brushed by passing ghosts. Hi Bob, I rea...

Hi Frank, Don't know what you mean by trolls in this case. Siva gave a highly interesting link, hope you weren't referring to that. No trolls around here. Now about your critique, Frank. I can't possibly please everybody and if you think only peasants think of Earth as a "mother", well, so be it. I...

Hi Linda,
Thanks so much for your detailed suggestions. I've used some of them, did the tweaking a few minutes ago.
I'm glad you like my poem despite so many more tweaks that could be made.
I'll give the rest a thought.
Tx a lot, Gracy

Gracy I was reminded of this lecture.I listened to it yet again after reading your poem several times.Please listen to it when you are travelling to go shopping . https://www.google.co.in/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=15&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwj0hYHQpO7WAhVCO48KHZvkAeMQtwIIZDAO&url=http...

Maybe it's dadaism ? Anyway, I've just had the pleasure of listening to Tom Petty, so thank you for that, Bernie.
R.I.P. Tom Petty, who died about 3 days ago.
Best, Gracy


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s5BJXwNeKsQ

Hi! I fall for love poems, except when they're very badly written. There may be a few clichès in this one, but it's lovely and I wouldn't change much. I like the combination of flowers and love, as well as some nostalgia or doubts thrown in. The lines below really hooked me. Or as you read will you ...

... there was also the Dust Bowl – drought and dust storms swept across several states in mid-west America. This resulted in crops being very poor in these areas ... ผลบอล Hi there, I don't think we've met before. I'm fairly new here. And yes, I remember the Dust Bowl, that was a long time ago. I'v...

Love this one, Eira. I read it on another forum. Nice nostalgic piece, sounds so very real. I can see the characters moving around the scenario, each one attending to her/his role in the play. I agree that 'smooching' is out of date, but perhaps it's justified in that context, as the actions occurre...

I have a daughter with schizophrenia. This rings true, especially in the time frame dementia praecox. The revision is so much better; the N's difficulties give the poem more narrative, not just description. Good poem. Oh my, Billy, I also had a son with schizophrenia. Bernie's poem has led us to un...

Okay Gracy, I will ease off, why not use Pachamama , seems a really interesting word far better than Mother earth. You do what you like with this poem Gracy it is after all your poem. Thank you, Frank, for your new suggestions. I would have to use "Ñuke Mapu", which is the name used by indigenous p...

I've come late to the conversation, so I've had the advantage of learning a lot about Edvard Munch and his proliferate works of art, graphics, tempera paintings and much more. Thanks to Bernie, otherwise I would have been in the dark about this Norwegian artist. I may have seen his art in Oslo, but ...

Great, heartfelt words. Desperation. Personally, I have no problem with "telly" poems, so long as the words are deftly crafted and feelings expressed poetically. Many famous poems tell a tale without metaphors, etc. Kudos to you, Bernie. Nothing to nit... Maybe it's a long shot to compare the sackin...

Hi Frank, Mother Earth is used in my country. It has native origins. Pachamama. I'm leaving it as is, as well as the "over dramatisation" throughout. It's about time some poets dramatised about the devastation of our planet. Plenty of books do. Same as you, I write a lot to please myself. Whereas cr...

I've arrived a bit late here. The finished version is splendid. No nits from me.
And I had a good laugh!
I suppose your poem has already been sent off to IBPC, but just in case, I also want to nominate it.
Best, Gracy

Good one, Frank. I just don't think I get the last stanza. They land in Catalonia, but take a train from a place that's not there, fly off to Holland, I believe. Something to do with Catalonia if and when they decide to leave the E.U.? Enjoyed, but would love a few words to enlighten me. Gracy PS: B...

Nice to watch the evolution of this Gracy. Fine work. Thank you, Ken. I'm trying to pare it down. Did quite a lot of that. We'll see what I throw out next, or change completely. I've no intention of re-writing the whole thing. I like to move on and will be posting something totally different very s...

G--- ...As you haven't actually given any specific critiques to my poem lordie, i suggested you remove 15 lines. did you possibly miss that? of course not. you have chosen to ignore my heartfelt advice...LOL....well, you are a smart cookie and very able poet. my advice, make it personal. politics, ...

Hello Frank, :D I'm very glad you didn't send this one down the chute. I read it somewhere last year and thought -wow! I like it very much. It is such a moving story. It might need a few tweaks but I like the changes you have made so far, love 'chittering the roof slates.' One thing I notice is tha...

Hi again, Frank, I remembered the name of the book your poem reminds me of. "The Rape of the Fair Country", but I still forget the author. And I believe it's about Wales, not Ireland as I said before. It´s good to write for one´s own pleasure, like many other arts or activities. I just think that it...

Hi Frank, again, Well, here you have somebody who likes your poem almost as is. I'd just change the clichè words, such as howl. I don't think your poem is at fault for being a sort of tear jerker (sorry, Bernie), nor even for being a crowd pleaser. To amplify on that thought, I've realized over the ...

Hi Frank,
Thanks for returning and making suggestions.
I'm not sure whether putting the "blasts from the steppes" in reverse order would add more action to my poem, but I'll think about it.
I'm quite happy starting with "My man... etc.
Tx a lot,
Gracy

Hi Bernie, Many thanks for the extensive examples you've given me of famous, almost classic author's works. I read Grapes of Wrath many years ago. Loved it. Also Pearl Buck's The Good Earth. And I certainly saw On the Waterfront, with such a young and handsome Marlon Brando... LOL. I recently saw it...

Hi Frank, I think robots have already taken over the world. I'm saying this on the simple observation that politicians, world leaders, sheiks or whatever appear to have no feelings or empathy for ordinary people. Ordinary people are perhaps also becoming robots, or at least behaving like robots, bec...

Yep, nice imagery, Billy.
And no fillers, nothing un-needed.
It's like a painting, one just looks at it.
Having said that, not my style either. I tend to write long stuff, as some of you have perhaps noted.
Enjoyed,
Gracy