Reviews from

Writings From the Heart

Viewing comments for Chapter 2 "storm warning"
A book of Poetry & Writing

178 total reviews 
Comment from Peter Burger
Good
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Yeah, it's me again. I see you changed settings. Refreshing. I like your other poem better. You might want to somehow separate "mountain" and "all" with a punctuation. It's two separate ideas unclearly merged. "carries me high warm smiling faces." Sounds awkward.

 Comment Written 14-Jun-2010


reply by the author on 14-Jun-2010
    thank for the comments peter
Comment from rama devi
Good
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HI Gary--

This is a beautiful and well penned poem. I enjoyed reading it. Sounds wonderful read aloud. The cadence and rhyming are excellent and the theme and circumstance skillfully depicted. Love the closing on the high note of grace.

I would love to see this shine to its full potential, and on a technical level I it needs some fine tuning.

It works fine to have minimal punctuaiton, avoiding periods. But there are a few spots where the missing in-line punctuation gives a bump in the flow and makes the reader have to read twice to get the pauses. Since you have in-line punctuaiton elsewhere, I think if you add it in these spots noted below it would improve the flow and fix the spag issues.

Also, as you have opted not to use periods or caps in all sentences except the first and last, it is my humble suggestion for your consideration to avoid the cap in first line and period in last line in order to keep it consistent.

Reviewing notes and suggestions- (in parenthesis)


As I sail this moonlit sea to home, a storm has found me out on my own

this sea is a mountain I'll have to fly(,) white caps of fury, so hard to survive

screams'(no ') from this monster advise me to go hide, but no place to run as time's on her side

a crack from the mainsails, mast down to stay, dead in the water, no time to pray

calls to the coastguard, no one to hear,(;) lights in the night sky, as flares drift (remove extra space) so clear

radios stop working, time being denied, water is freezing as I push outside

swim from the rigging as she turns to die, slowly slips under(dash or semicolon) I say goodbye

time has stopped ticking in her watery grave, I'm all alone with this monstrous rage

danger has passed me, I'm out of fight, flashes of my loved ones revolve through this night

slipping beneath now, tears fill my eyes thinking of love(d) ones I leave far behind

but someone has caught me, carries me high(,) warm smiling faces with glows in their eyes

I have come home now, at rest in this place(;) T(t)he Sea, and its Sailors, we sail in God's grace.

one more suggestion-

screams' from this monster advise me to go hide,

Slightly bumpy cadence in this line when read aloud. Removing one syllable might fix it---maybe try-

screams' from this monster advise me to hide,

the intensity of the circumstance and emotional charge is tangibly felt while reading,. A superb poem---would love to see it polished!

Warmly, rd

 Comment Written 14-Jun-2010


reply by the author on 14-Jun-2010
    thanks for your welcome review rama devi and the comments i will get around to make the change when i get back from offshore Gary
reply by rama devi on 14-Jun-2010
    Thanks for your nice reply, Gary. How exciting that you are offshore! The ocean is a poem in itself---no wonder you write great poems!

    Warmly, rd
reply by the author on 14-Jun-2010
    thanks again rd yes sometimes i need help when writing...Gary
reply by rama devi on 15-Jun-2010
    You already have talent, passion and originality.

    Technique and craft will come with time and experience. I am pleased to see more receptivity on your part to the constructive critique process--that is where the real value in reviewing comes, not in empty stars! When I look at my own poetry five years back, i'd give it three stars---mediocre even when spag free. it is because of the critique process that my own writing has grown and the feedback from experienced reviewers is a big factor in my own progress. I just like to pass on what was given to me freely.

    Sometimes when first coming here people think a lower rating with feedback is hurtful---destructive. Actually, CONSTRUCTIVE CritICISM is just that---positive and helpful!

    You show great potential, Gary!
    Keep up the great work.

    Warmly, rd
reply by the author on 13-Jun-2014
    made all the change and reissued thanks
Comment from zoocq
Excellent
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Absolutely beautiful...sad and scary at the same time. It is almost an analogy of how we struggle our way through life...until we let go and seek help from a higher source. Wonderful!

 Comment Written 14-Jun-2010


reply by the author on 14-Jun-2010
    thank you zoocq for your review and comments GW
Comment from Kathryn Varuzza
Excellent
Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

Wow!
I am impressed!
I love the sound of your words.
They flow so well, and smooth.
I would give you another 6 star but I just gave you my last one on your other poem.
I like the photo.
Nice title.
Good rhymes.
I like every word but especially the first 4 lines and the last 2 lines of your poem.
2 spags: 3rd line: screams' should be screams
4th line from the bottom: love ones should be loved ones
Great job.
Kathryn

 Comment Written 14-Jun-2010


reply by the author on 14-Jun-2010
    thank you for your welcome comments and review Kathryn
reply by Kathryn Varuzza on 14-Jun-2010
    you're welcome.
Comment from Auroraboreal800
Exceptional
This work has reached the exceptional level

What a beautiful and sad, in many ways, poem. From the very beginning you are able to capture the attention of the readers. The metaphors in this writing are just the perfect ones to defined all the storms situation and your tension and feeling... Is this poem autobiographical?
Thank you very much for sharing, I really liked it!

 Comment Written 14-Jun-2010


reply by the author on 14-Jun-2010
    thank you for your welcome review and comments Auroraboreal GW
Comment from luisestable
Average
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The problem here and there are one of two, or I should say one of the problems is that I do not know if this should be a poem, a prose poem, or a piece of prose. It was in the poetry category, so maybe you intended it to be a poem, what kind I do not know. It reads like a piece of prose in construction and division of lines and also in the punctuation and length of the lines of sentences, for they are more like sentences than poetic lines.

The language is not bad, but the division of this is more indicative of prose writing than an good attempt to try to write poetry.

Take care now!

Luis

 Comment Written 14-Jun-2010


reply by the author on 14-Jun-2010
    great Luis now i need to come read some of your
Comment from medicnate
Excellent
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A very well written poem that keeps the readers interested and wanting more. The poem flows well and gets its point across. Very well done.

~medicnate~

 Comment Written 14-Jun-2010


reply by the author on 14-Jun-2010
    thank you medicnate
Comment from jwlee211
Excellent
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I really like your descriptions of the storm. I also can feel the frustration and the worry of the character in the midst of the storm Great work

 Comment Written 14-Jun-2010


reply by the author on 14-Jun-2010
    thank you jw for the review
Comment from jason456
Excellent
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What a frightening, yet tender and sad, message in a beautifully written poem. I can feel you words and your faith as I read this. Great job!
Patti :)

 Comment Written 13-Jun-2010


reply by the author on 14-Jun-2010
    thank you Patti for the review and comment
reply by jason456 on 22-Jun-2010
    It was my pleasure. Patti :)
Comment from Kellytr
Excellent
Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

deepwater, I have friends who have had a similar experience. It must be one of the most frightening scenarios, to find yourself in an vast ocean at the mercy of nature and especially at night. You tell this story well - a great build up to the final rescue. Well done! Kelly

 Comment Written 13-Jun-2010


reply by the author on 14-Jun-2010
    thank you Kelly for your review