Reviews from

Heart Crafted Poems - 2022

Viewing comments for Chapter 73 "Survival Instincts"
Musings of an old man - 2022

27 total reviews 
Comment from Pearl Edwards
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You've done well with your Cascade poem JLR about survival instincts not only in Nature but also with us humans. Your repeated lines work well. Cheers
Valda

 Comment Written 17-Aug-2022


reply by the author on 17-Aug-2022

    Valda, thank you very much, Your kind words are soothing,
Comment from karenina
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You pen this cascade with such flair! The alliterative introductory line pulled me in immediately! What seems functional and lovely in nature could well be a death grip in a relationship, however! You've made this point very well. Very effective, making that final line a smaller font...

(teenier, tinier... indeed...)

Karenina

 Comment Written 15-Aug-2022


reply by the author on 15-Aug-2022
    Smiling back!
reply by karenina on 15-Aug-2022
    I always enjoy your poems...

    I just reviewed your free verse!

    Ah, to sleep!

Comment from Frank Malley
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"Survival Instincts" is a poem that compares survival to gripping, and the picture that accompanies the poem shows a vine with its tendrils ready to entwine and grip something. It's August, and in New York, upstate in the Catskills, vines are fiercely grabbing everything they can. My cucumber vines in the garden grab the fence that keeps out the deer; on the walk down my street, it's possible to see where a huge blanket of grape vines has covered everything growing behind it. Nature takes, ferociously, and also grips with great strength, a reality that this excellent poem captures.

 Comment Written 15-Aug-2022


reply by the author on 15-Aug-2022
    I appreciate the similarity you are experiencing, thanks for the positive validation. Have a great week!
Comment from Paul McFarland
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I needed a couple of reads for this one, but in the end, I came to appreciate it. I have never tried "The Cascade". I must give it a go sometime.

 Comment Written 15-Aug-2022


reply by the author on 15-Aug-2022
    Pail, I look forward to reading the one you put up! Thanks for the review.
Comment from Pam (respa)
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-Nice image.
-Effective imagery and repeating lines.
-The first line is the one I like best
with the alliteration and word picture you create.
-A good concluding verse, as well.
-Well done.

 Comment Written 15-Aug-2022


reply by the author on 15-Aug-2022
    Thank you very much Pam!
reply by Pam (respa) on 15-Aug-2022
    You are welcome, Jim.
Comment from Boogienights
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An interesting form of poetry, I like it very much. A very interesting subject as well, I can relate to this in life. Now that I know about this, I may try to cascade some words myself. Thank you for sharing. :)

 Comment Written 14-Aug-2022


reply by the author on 15-Aug-2022
    Boogienights, I look forward to reading one of yours soon!
Comment from Tom Horonzy
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Thanks for the explanation of what a cascading piece is expected to entail but better is the content and flowing words. I especially love line one. Good luck, and thanks for sharing.

 Comment Written 14-Aug-2022


reply by the author on 15-Aug-2022
    Tom, thanks much!
Comment from June Sargent
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What a thought-provoking cascade poem that highlights nature's strength and determination to survive - but then that tenacity is contrasted with the choking, deadly clutch of a toxic friend who will squeeze the living daylights out of us! I have known a few and am very careful now about distancing myself from their tendrils! I enjoyed your response to the club challenge! Well done.

 Comment Written 14-Aug-2022


reply by the author on 14-Aug-2022
    June, thank you! I suspect we all have at one time or another, had an all-consuming friendship. Then, if we are wise we learn to set boundaries.
Comment from RainbewLatte
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Wow. The way this poem ends. And unless I'm totally off and wrong, the shrinking of the end text really adds an effect, the ellipses, it feels like such a full and complete end to the entire work/piece. Wow has always been such an underwhelming word I find myself trying to avoid using but this poem has undeniably left me awe-struck. Thanks for sharing. All the best and so much love.

 Comment Written 14-Aug-2022


reply by the author on 14-Aug-2022
    Jonathan, thank you! I do appreciate that you picked up on the shrinking ending line.
Comment from GWHARGIS
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I was amazed at the subtle innuendo of the weed that though it looks fragile holds tight to its host. Then it is compared to a lover or someone who is clinging, not because of love but the need to possess. This was a multi leveled poem that made me think. Be cautious of the lover or friend whose clutch, was a wonderful way to say be careful of thosevwho want to consume you and use you. Well written and echos a harrowing tale.
Gretchen

 Comment Written 13-Aug-2022


reply by the author on 14-Aug-2022
    Gretchen, thank you for your thorough review and comments.