Comment from Mrs. KT

Excellent

Hello, Melissa!
Oh, my goodness!
Simply beautiful in form and message!
I read your offering three times = just lovely!

Merriest of Christmases to you and yours, Melissa!
Thank you for sharing!
diane

 Comment Written 21-Dec-2023

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reply by the author on 21-Dec-2023

Thank you sweet Diane. I really appreciate your encouragement. I sincerely wish you all a wonderful Christmas up there in the great, white North. :). Hugs!

Melissa

Comment from Jacob1395

Excellent

I think it is sad that we seemed to have lost our connection to nature, but your poem does a brilliant job of showing how we can become one with nature again. A well written piece.

 Comment Written 21-Dec-2023

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reply by the author on 21-Dec-2023

Thanks so much, Jacob... much appreciated!

Melissa

Comment from royowen

Excellent

There's one thing that always moved the compassion of Jesus, and that was the plaintive cry of the heart, He gazed upon the crowd and discerned sheep without a shepherd, in His case the Shepherd of shepherds, well done, Blessings Roy

 Comment Written 21-Dec-2023

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reply by the author on 21-Dec-2023

Hello sweet Roy. Thanks so very much!

Melissa

reply by royowen on 21-Dec-2023

Bless you

Comment from Paul McFarland

Excellent

Verry nicely done, Melissa. When I am at camp, I hear the wailing of the loon, and like you indicate, it puts me in a different state of mind. Good luck in the contest.

 Comment Written 21-Dec-2023

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reply by the author on 21-Dec-2023

Hey there Paul.. thanks so very much, my friend.

Melissa

Comment from Navada

Excellent

I think you've fulfilled the requirements of the prompt very well. Your metaphor of the man-made shackles works well, as does the internal rhyme of tune and croon. Your imagery is beautiful. I like the run-on effect of the terza rima as well, although I wasn't sure whether we were to write just one tercet or more? Thanks for the share.

 Comment Written 20-Dec-2023

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reply by the author on 21-Dec-2023

Hello Nevada. Thanks so very much!!

Melissa

Comment from lyenochka

Excellent

Loved how you show us that we can feel nature's empathy with our own unspoken feelings in this Terza Rima! I especially liked the description of the loon's song as "lonesome cadence of a loon." Best wishes in the contest!

 Comment Written 20-Dec-2023

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reply by the author on 20-Dec-2023

Thank you so very much, Helen. I have a special fondness for the loon and its lonesome call. Much appreciated!

Melissa

reply by lyenochka on 20-Dec-2023

Me, too. It's so cool and a little spooky!

Comment from poetwatch

Excellent

I will not lie, Melissa. I haven't the foggiest idea what a Tercet Trifecta is. I looked it up and it's three in a row (I Think). Anyway, You got the Terza Rima and it is good. You got internal rhyme and the three amigos, animals, nature, and humanity. And the metaphor-- old, man-made shackles fell from me/and I was one with Earth and Sky.

 Comment Written 20-Dec-2023

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reply by the author on 20-Dec-2023

hello Jose. I made the mistake of thinking a 'Trifecta' meant 3 stanzas... Janis, the contest sponsor, contacted me saying it was supposed to be one stanza.... oops! I looked up tercets and saw that three of them in a certain rhyme scheme makes a Terza Rima, so I went with that. It's been a while since I wrote one of those. I really appreciate you taking the time to review this piece. Hugs, my friend.

Melissa

Comment from Tom Horonzy

Excellent

I am not going to do a review
Regarding the rules
Of the contest
But will say I found Your
Entry superlatively pleasing
From my point of view. ð???

 Comment Written 20-Dec-2023

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reply by the author on 20-Dec-2023

Thanks for ignoring the rules... apparently I didn't do it correctly, but she is letting it slide. I am really happy that you liked it Tom. Hugs, my friend.

Melissa

Comment from Dolly'sPoems

Excellent

I enjoyed the sentiments, rhymes and flow here Melissa. A skilful post from a talented pen, a joy to read, love the ending, we never stop learning, love Dolly x

 Comment Written 20-Dec-2023

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reply by the author on 20-Dec-2023

Thanks so much. I have a fondness for loons and their call. You should look them up and listen to them if you aren't familiar with their sounds. hugs!

Melissa

Comment from June Sargent

Excellent

I do love the imagery of this poem. The rhyme scheme works and I can sense the joy of being at one with nature. Poetry to me has always been about content, not the mechanics. well done!

 Comment Written 20-Dec-2023

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reply by the author on 20-Dec-2023

Hey June. Thanks for your wonderful review. As you know, it is in three tercets.. I thought the word 'Trifecta' meant 3 stanzas... my bad, but she let it pass. Hugs!

Melissa