Comment from Dawn Munro

Excellent

OH! I LOVE this! What a great poem! This is a form I've never used, so I'm going to bookshelf this poem as an example to work from if I try - wonderful!!! Best of luck in the contest.

 Comment Written 20-Sep-2014

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reply by the author on 21-Sep-2014

Thanks, Dawn, and thank you for slipping it into your bookcase as well. You might want to have a look at the leader, though, and use theirs as a better example. Carousel, it's called, and it is kicking our butts!

reply by Dawn Munro on 21-Sep-2014

Oooh, thanks for the tip - I'll check it out.

Comment from seaglass

Excellent

The message in this poem is true and proven. Forgiveness is the gift that keeps on giving and we can pay it forward. Grudges laden the spirit.

 Comment Written 20-Sep-2014

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reply by the author on 20-Sep-2014

True, we hurt no one but ourselves when we harbor hatred in our hearts, seaglass.

Thanks so much for your wonderful comments. :}

Comment from giovannimariatommaso

Excellent

Helps heal old wounds/hatred; alliteration, good poem, great picture. Yes one act of forgiveness can pierce the Universe of universes and change worlds! Gogyoshi follows the rules for this writing prompt. Good luck in the contest.

 Comment Written 20-Sep-2014

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reply by the author on 20-Sep-2014

Thank you very much, giovannimariatommaso. I sincerely appreciate your encouraging review. :}

reply by giovannimariatommaso on 20-Sep-2014

Y/W GMT

Comment from Saucey

Excellent

What a wonderful way to shed light on a misunderstood subject of forgiveness, it's not just saying, "I forgive you" but actually releasing that person, keeps us from hatred, bitterness as well as strife, it keeps the channels open for blessing to flow, I like this write, thanks for sharing.

 Comment Written 20-Sep-2014

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reply by the author on 20-Sep-2014

Thanks, Saucey. I really appreciate your kind comments.:}

Comment from 9999pool

Excellent

Many harbor hatred and find themselves hurt and bruised -- unable to get out of the crutches of hatred that somehow cemented them to their own misery.
Hate is a like a knife in our heart. We will continue to bleed as long as our act of forgiveness fails to materialize.
Forgiveness is a divine virtue and only those who are truly angelic can learn it and practice it. Smiles.
Great write and well expressed.
Best wishes for the contest.
Cheerio, best, Ritchie. :))

P.S. Great new profile pic, :)

 Comment Written 20-Sep-2014

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reply by the author on 20-Sep-2014

Thanks so much for your uplifting and most positive review, Ritchie. As this one is really bombing out in the voting booth, I appreciate all of the encouragement given.

Thanks so much again, my friend.

Be well. :}

reply by 9999pool on 20-Sep-2014

I have send the bomb and you will need a few more votes to win this one, smiles.
Looks like the carousel horse is spinning faster - could be the pic. But your message stands out better and more prominent, smiles.
Cheerio, Ritchie.
Good luck.

reply by the author on 20-Sep-2014

Thanks, Richie, and a lot more votes I'm afraid, LOL. Ah well, you win some, you lose some.

Thanks again, my friend. I truly enjoyed your beautifully written poem. :}

Comment from adewpearl

Excellent

stunning presentation of your poem
good use of enjambment
excellent alliteration in helps heal
good assonance in break the chain of hatred
strong imagery in that line too
a most insightful observation conveyed with good economy of language
Brooke

 Comment Written 20-Sep-2014

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reply by the author on 20-Sep-2014

Thank you, Brooke. This was my first-ever attempt at writing a gogyoshi, and it sure shows in the contest results, LOL.

Live and learn, right?

Thanks so much for the kind review. :}

reply by adewpearl on 20-Sep-2014

Hey, everyone starts somewhere, and the one about the frog prince charming just charmed the pants off me, so it stole my vote from you and everyone else :-) but it's like comparing apples and oranges - I was more in the mood to smile than think about insightful observations - doesn't make your poem any less successful :-)

reply by the author on 20-Sep-2014

Thanks, Brooke, and I really do appreciate the encouragement. :]

Comment from Matoshka

Excellent

I love this and your picture. To forgive indeed breaks the bonds of hate or anything from the darkness. I so loved it. Blessings and good luck in the contest.

 Comment Written 20-Sep-2014

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reply by the author on 20-Sep-2014

Thanks very much, Matoshka. I truly appreciate your kind words. There's little hope for me in this contest, I'm afraid. Perhaps next time.

reply by Matoshka on 20-Sep-2014

You are so welcome, even if someone reads it, its a sucess. I never win, but enter anyway. LOL Blessings

Comment from mauial

Excellent

Good thoughts about forgiveness and in keeping with the prompt to be as concise as you can be in getting the message across to the reader.

 Comment Written 20-Sep-2014

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reply by the author on 20-Sep-2014

Thank you, mauial. I tried my best to adhere to your contest rules by keeping it very brief. This was my first ever attempt at writing a gogyoshi poem, and I hope I did the format justice, as well as your contest.

Thanks you for your kind comments.

Comment from rjuselius

Excellent

this is a nice philosophical statement! it really hits the spot! i agree whole-heartedly with your premise!
thank you for sharing!
good luck in the contest!

rebekka x

 Comment Written 19-Sep-2014

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reply by the author on 20-Sep-2014

Thanks, rebekka x. You are very kind, and I appreciate your encouraging comments.. :}

Comment from Jannypan (Jan)

Excellent

I like the great message in your poem. I like the format. You have a very interesting way to display your work. I would change nothing. Good job and good luck in the contest.

 Comment Written 19-Sep-2014

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reply by the author on 20-Sep-2014

Thank you, jannypan, I do try to be different, and offer those who care enough to read what I've written something exciting. However, based on the way it is doing in the contest right now, I am beginning to think that maybe I should have taken the same road as everyone else.

I appreciate your encouraging words just the same.:}

reply by Jannypan (Jan) on 20-Sep-2014

I do not believe that voters vote on technique. They vote on popularity.

reply by the author on 20-Sep-2014

Then that means that I am extremely unpopular, LOL...

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reply by Jannypan (Jan) on 20-Sep-2014

???????????????

reply by the author on 20-Sep-2014

You said that you believed voters chose their vote based on popularity. So, since my entry is bombing, and if what you believe is true, then that means that I am extremely unpopular here.

reply by Jannypan (Jan) on 20-Sep-2014

join me on my island where no one knows me my entries usually finish in the bottom third or lower**** I am sorry if you thought I was somehow saying your entry was not good. I liked the black/white format and the break between the lines where the picture was placed. That is what I meant by being interesting. It was not to criticize.

reply by the author on 20-Sep-2014

No, I never thought that. I felt your review was quite positive, a veritable breath of fresh air and just the encouragement I needed to keep trying harder. I was referring to those who vote in these...supposedly "blind" contests, but not about you in any way.

No worries, my friend, and I do appreciate your encouragement, jannypan. :}

reply by Jannypan (Jan) on 20-Sep-2014

I believe you have to be a long time member of this site to have a chance of winning. That is not me. I see the same people entering most of the time and usually one of them wins. Newcomers have only a slight chance IMO. I have posted some really decent work that usually gets 1 vote--mine. I have sponsored several contests, but I did not exclude any past winners. Maybe next time I will when I build up enough 'points' to pay for being a sponsor.

reply by the author on 20-Sep-2014

That might be a good idea, jannypan. It would certainly give those who have never before win a contest here a better chance of winning. I think that's a splendid idea. :}

reply by the author on 20-Sep-2014

That might be a good idea, jannypan. It would certainly give those who have never before won a contest here a better chance of winning. I think that's a splendid idea. :}