Comment from hollyinvesuvianite

Excellent

What a perfect ten! Please accept a virtual six! What a wonderful tribute to your father- that ending is so hard-hitting but yet delicately beautiful. And, last but not least, what a beautiful and perfect sonnet. Still trying to figure this form out for myself, because i love it so much. I wrote a poem once describing my father as a tree as well. Great work! Holly

 Comment Written 12-Jul-2012

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reply by the author on 12-Jul-2012

Thank you, Holly - glad you enjyed the poem. Sonnets don't come naturally to me - I really have to work at them which is why I was surprised to snatch this contest win against tough opposition.
Steve

Comment from Melspoems

Exceptional

Wow!! This is an excellent sonnet and a very moving tribute to your father.
Great use of metaphor describing the life of the tree, great meter and rhymes too. Easy to see why you won. Congratulations!!!

 Comment Written 11-Jul-2012

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reply by the author on 12-Jul-2012

Thank you for the great review and the six stars. I didn't expect to win this as it's not really the genre I feel happiest in and the competition is always tough, but I'll take the $100 any day!
Steve

Comment from Contests

A contest winning entry! A seven star rating from the Contest Committee for posting the winning contest entry.

 Comment Written 11-Jul-2012

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reply by the author on 12-Jul-2012

Thank you!
Steve

Comment from Fishcake

Exceptional

What an amazing poem. As I read it for the first time, I wondered if it was about a relation or close friend of yours, then after finishing it, I realised it could have been about a person or - indeed a tree. I loved the phraseology. Very well done.

 Comment Written 08-Jul-2012

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reply by the author on 09-Jul-2012

Thank you so much for the kind review and the six stars.
Steve

Comment from Wes Guptill

Exceptional

You have delivered another superb performance, sir. The wording gripped me, and I found myself sitting close by the sapling, silent as I witnessed its growth to a majestic tree. Crouched in the farthest reaches of that tree's shade, I watch the passage of time take it to heavenly heights, then watched with sadness and longing for younger days, as the wind and the hands of time bent and stooped this lovely thing into a shell of its former self....

Now, see, you've gotten me started off into a melancholic ramble... Even more prof that this is a stunning piece of craftsmanship.
Skoal! Skoal!

 Comment Written 08-Jul-2012

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reply by the author on 09-Jul-2012

Thank you so much for the enthusiastic review and the six stars - much appreciated - you may be a poet's dream audience if, as you say, you are so affected by the words of a sonnet...
Steve

Comment from Just2Write

Exceptional

It seems today, the poet's muses are longing for the days when poetry had reverence and clout. This one is no exception with its inference to George Pope Morris' 1830 poem - Woodman Spare That Tree.
You pull this Sonnet off beautifully as it uses the tree metaphorically to symbolize an aging person, who has far outlived themselves.

Exceptional write, my dear poet. This contest is bringing out some phenomenal talent. Yours among them.

 Comment Written 08-Jul-2012

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reply by the author on 09-Jul-2012

Thank you so much for the wonderful review and the six stars - much appreciated. Apart from the oft-quoted first line, I don;t know the 'Woodsman' poem and I wouldn't have been able to name the poet...
Regards
Steve

reply by Just2Write on 09-Jul-2012

it was the very first environmental poem - although, I'm sure the author didn't realize that at the time:


WOODMAN, spare that tree!





Touch not a single bough!





In youth it sheltered me,





And I â??ll protect it now.





â??T was my forefatherâ??s hand

5



That placed it near his cot;





There, woodman, let it stand,





Thy axe shall harm it not.









That old familiar tree,





Whose glory and renown

10



Are spread oâ??er land and seaâ??





And wouldst thou hew it down?





Woodman, forbear thy stroke!





Cut not its earth-bound ties;





Oh, spare that aged oak

15



Now towering to the skies!









When but an idle boy,





I sought its grateful shade;





In all their gushing joy





Here, too, my sisters played.

20



My mother kissed me here;





My father pressed my handâ??





Forgive this foolish tear,





But let that old oak stand.









My heart-strings round thee cling,

25



Close as thy bark, old friend!





Here shall the wild-bird sing,





And still thy branches bend.





Old tree! the storm still brave!





And, woodman, leave the spot;

30



While I â??ve a hand to save,





Thy axe shall harm it not.

Comment from N.K. Wagner

Excellent

A life well-lived, Steve. You've created a moving memorial to a strong and loving father. Sadly, the Woodsman takes us all. Well done. :) Nancy

 Comment Written 08-Jul-2012

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reply by the author on 09-Jul-2012

And he's getting closer all the time. Is that an axe I can hear being sharpened..... :o))

Steve

reply by N.K. Wagner on 09-Jul-2012

RUN!!! :D N

Comment from BadEducation

Excellent

A great sonnet which its story of the transition of the oak from green pastures to fallen trees made it a very likeable read. I hope you do well in the contest. I enjoyed reading it and reviewing it too.

 Comment Written 08-Jul-2012

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reply by the author on 09-Jul-2012

Thanks for the kind words.
Steve

Comment from Scarbrems

Excellent

This is a touching metaphor for the life of a man. The imagery is excellent and this flows very well. I do not know if this contest has been judged yet, but if not good luck

 Comment Written 08-Jul-2012

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reply by the author on 09-Jul-2012

Thanks for the kind words.
Steve

Comment from Mary Ann MCPhedran

Exceptional

A good and well written poem. I love the story within the poem I love the way you rhyme and yet it tells the tale of the tree. Thanks for sharing. Mary

 Comment Written 08-Jul-2012

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reply by the author on 09-Jul-2012

Thanks so much for the review and the six stars - much appreciated.
Steve