Reviews from

Black Shape Confusion

A Shakespearean Sonnet

19 total reviews 
Comment from Debbie D'Arcy
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Congrats on your 2nd placing! Well deserved! And what a verse! It's really quite creepy and Poesque. And I love the originality of the theme and the way it evolves from darkness to light and the revelation that this ominous sight is in fact a small bird. Your author's notes are also a great addition. And of course the tantalus also relates to a decanter case (in the UK anyway). I'm learning a lot from your fine sonnet. Well done! Debbie

 Comment Written 06-Apr-2024


reply by the author on 07-Apr-2024
    Thank you very much Debbie. I am pleased you enjoyed my poem and gave such a nice review.
Comment from Pam (respa)
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-Very nice artwork and presentation.
-Your notes are appreciated.
-A well written sonnet with a good topic.
-A very good opening verse sets the scene.
I particularly like "a kite of lost black silk."
-A good follow up in verse two as you
wonder about the site you had seen.
-A very good turn as you see the wings
and good reference to the mole, and
a very good image about the "evening song."
-A very good closing couplet.
-Congratulations on your second place finish;
I am honored to share the distinction with you.

 Comment Written 06-Apr-2024


reply by the author on 06-Apr-2024
    Thank you very much Pam. As I am honored with you. I appreciate your detailed review.
reply by Pam (respa) on 06-Apr-2024
    You are very welcome and I appreciate your reply.
Comment from dragonpoet
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Hi Treischel
This is a well done sonnet which shows that sometimes we are scared by things that turn out to be nothing. Shadows don't always have to be bad.
In fact sometimes they can be good. I like the Rorschach Test metaphor.
Congrats on placing second in the contest.
Keep writing and stay healthy.
Have a great weekend,
Joan

 Comment Written 06-Apr-2024


reply by the author on 06-Apr-2024
    Thank you Joan for a wonderful review and the congratulations as well. Ay your weekend be joyful.
Comment from Jim Wile
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Very nicely done sonnet about a confusing image which isn't understood at first and only later becomes clear as to what it was. Causing a certain amount of anguish as often the unknown does, it turns out to be nothing to have feared but a bird in the tree.

This is often what plagues mankind--a fear of the unknown. Just as Chicken Little feared the sky was falling when he was struck on the head by a falling acorn, we tend to think the worst. Unfortunately, because disaster and negativity sells, the media often serves to exacerbate our fears by hyping up what eventually proves to be nonsense.

A very interesting sonnet pointing out this tendency of man. - Jim

 Comment Written 27-Mar-2024


reply by the author on 28-Mar-2024
    Thank you, Jim for your very astute observations on the core essence of this sonnet. I appreciate your time to read and review my work.
Comment from RodG
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How often do we misconstrue what we see? The Speaker in your sonnet thinks he sees many things before he recognizes the truth: a bird inhabits his tree. I especially like your allusion to Tantalus. And your meter is smooth. This sonnet was a delight to read. Rod

 Comment Written 27-Mar-2024


reply by the author on 28-Mar-2024
    Thank you so much for your wonderful words and observations, RodG. Yes, you did catch the essence completely. So very glad that you liked it. I am pleased you felt the reference to Tantalus was a good one.
reply by RodG on 28-Mar-2024
    My pleasure.
Comment from Barry Penfold
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Enjoyed this entry. Nice image and thanks for the notes. Good rhyming and nice flow. Well done and thanks for sharing. Best of luck in the contest. Take care and have a wonderful day.
Regards
Barry Penfold.

 Comment Written 27-Mar-2024


reply by the author on 27-Mar-2024
    Thanks you Barry for your comments and best wishes,
Comment from Brenda Strauser
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This is a beautiful poem. Blackbirds were never my favorite bird, I don't know why. I have some blackbirds coming to my feeder everyday. I like the way you described the blackbird. Well written poem. Great job.

 Comment Written 26-Mar-2024


reply by the author on 26-Mar-2024
    Thank you Brenda. Most of our blackbirds here are red-winged. I appreciate your review and comments.
Comment from papa55mike
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It's like a whiff of Poe meeting a Shakespearean sonnet to be offered to the gods of Olympus. What a wonderfully written poem, Good luck in the contest!
Have a great day, and God bless.
mike

 Comment Written 25-Mar-2024


reply by the author on 25-Mar-2024
    Thank you Mike. I appreaciate how well you untangled my poetic threads.
Comment from gramalot8
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Great Sonnet. I have always been fascinated with those ink blot tests. Sometimes it is amazing what differences people can see from just one image. I must say that my initial reaction was it being a blackbird. Guess I passed your test. Lol Good luck in the contest.

 Comment Written 25-Mar-2024


reply by the author on 25-Mar-2024
    Thank you gramalot8. You indeed did pass as a blackbird is the best interpretation. Lol.
Comment from teafor2
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Treischel, for sure the verbiage/colloquies are of Old English, of which no
modern wordsmith uses...However, this rhyme scheme ABAB, CDCD, EFEF,
GG, is shared by The Elizabethan Sonnet, The English Sonnet and The Shakespearean Sonnet...The tone of scribe's work is more satire/humor for
protagonist (angst) finding out that he's duped by a bird:) Good luck in the
contest. teafor2

 Comment Written 25-Mar-2024


reply by the author on 25-Mar-2024
    Thank you teafor2. I appreciate you comment s and observation.
reply by teafor2 on 25-Mar-2024
    You are quite welcome. teafor2