Comment from Karen Cherry Threadgill

Excellent

Perfectly lovely. But, although snow can be pretty to look at the cold pretty much makes my life cruddy. Cold is not my friend. But, I can appreciate others enjoyment of it.
Well written. Karen

 Comment Written 17-Jan-2025

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reply by the author on 17-Jan-2025

Thanks, Karen. When winter arrives, our porch closet is stuffed with cold weather clothing.

Comment from CM Pickard

Excellent

Love how this poem captured the duality of winter - both the harshness and beauty. The rhyme fits the theme and adds to the reflective tone. There are a few familiar images used that in a less skilled hand would become cliche but you've avoided this by writing them in a way that feels fresh. Good work

 Comment Written 17-Jan-2025

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reply by the author on 17-Jan-2025

Thanks, CM. I think we are going to be experiencing the harshness in a day or two.

Comment from harmony13

Excellent

The author's words are engaging, descriptive and creative. I pondered
on these words and although I live in Florida now - I miss the days in
New York sitting by the fireplace watching the snow come down. The
author seemed to capture the beauty of the snow as well as the freezing
temperatures of winter!
Hi Paul, Happy New Year - hope you are doing well. Maria

 Comment Written 17-Jan-2025

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reply by the author on 17-Jan-2025

Thanks for the review, Maria. My wife talks about Florida every once in awhile, but I prefer the four seasons of Maine.

Comment from Aussie

Exceptional

Wanna swap? We are in a heatwave, last week it was 37c. I liked your descriptive poem, it gave us a look at both seasons. I have never seen snow. The winter wonderland must be beautiful. K XX

 Comment Written 17-Jan-2025

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reply by the author on 17-Jan-2025

Thanks, Kay. I complain about the cold in winter and the heat in summer.

Comment from Nellys1983

Excellent

Nice sonnet for the competition. I enjoyed the rhymes. I hate the cold of January and certainly dream of warm days in summer and can't wait to be by the beach in the sun. Good luck in the competition.

 Comment Written 17-Jan-2025

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reply by the author on 17-Jan-2025

Thanks, Nelly. The cold in January is brutal sometime, and February can be the same.

Comment from dragonpoet

Excellent

Hi Paul
This is a well done sonnet though it is not it its usual format of 3 quatrains and one couplet. It does have strong imagery and emotion of the cold and beauty of Winter and out wish for warmer weather.
Keep writing and stay healthy
Good luck in the contest
Have a good weekend
Joan

 Comment Written 17-Jan-2025

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reply by the author on 17-Jan-2025

Thanks, Joan. I entered it in the correct format, but it didn't turn out that way. I have, sense then, edited it.

Comment from Pam Lonsdale

Excellent

I like the imagery of a hungry wood stove needing to be fed.

Lots of lovely rhymes in this sonnet, Paul, and you give us a clear picture of the winter - both its good side and its bad.

I'm just happy not to deal with it anymore.

Good luck in the contest - there are lots of entries into this one:-)

xo
Pam

 Comment Written 17-Jan-2025

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reply by the author on 17-Jan-2025

Thanks, Pam. We gave up the "hungry woodstove" for an oil furnace a number of years ago.

Comment from June Sargent

Excellent

There is snow on the ground with possibly more to come this weekend. So January will be a month of hot soup and cocoa. But spring is just weeks away. I can dream of sand and sun...

 Comment Written 16-Jan-2025

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reply by the author on 17-Jan-2025

Thanks for the review, June. You are an optimist about spring.

Comment from Michele Harber

Exceptional

No, this is not tit for tat, Paul. This is a lovely sonnet that truly deserves a 6. You've followed the sonnet rules perfectly, from the abab, cdcd, efef, gg rhyme scheme, to the use of iambic pentameter. Your rhyming words are very well chosen, and I love the picture you paint.

I really enjoyed how you personified the "hungry" wood stove that "must be fed."

As someone from a city (New York) that does get snow (although, I'm sure, not as much as you get in Maine or got in New Hampshire), I fully understand the image of "a wonderland of white." For the short time it lasts in NYC, a blanket of snow, especially on the trees, is the most lovely sight.

Good luck in the contest. If I do lose to you, at least I'll know it wasn't because mine was bad but because yours was so good.

 Comment Written 16-Jan-2025

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reply by the author on 17-Jan-2025

Thanks, Michele. Snow is pretty until it gets to be two feet deep.

reply by Michele Harber on 18-Jan-2025

Not true. It's beautiful at two-feet deep--when you're inside by a nice warm fire and have nowhere to go, and someone else is handling the shoveling!

Comment from Alexandra Trovato

Excellent

A good sonnet and presentation. I'm new to sonnets, myself, but I believe you did well. The image presentation supports your sonnet. I enjoyed reading this. Best wishes, Alex

 Comment Written 16-Jan-2025

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reply by the author on 16-Jan-2025

Thanks, Alex. I was never a fan of sonnets, but one of the FanStory members shamed me into trying one. Now I do one every once in awhile.

reply by Alexandra Trovato on 16-Jan-2025

I've attempted it now, honestly, and it does grow on you. It's good that a someone encountered you, here. You certainly created a good sonnet. Alex