Comment from Teri7

Excellent

Craig, This is a very well written poem. I am like you in that I don't want to know the future ahead of time. In my eyes it is all in the hand of God and that is good enough for me! Blessings, Teri

 Comment Written 31-May-2018

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reply by the author on 31-May-2018

Many thanks for the lovely comments, Teri. Have a wonderful weekend! (I know it's a way off for you, but it's Friday afternoon here). Cheers - Craig

Comment from Mustang Patty

Excellent

Hi, Craig;

A wonderful little poem about the ability to see ships before they come into view AND a look at the problems with being able to foretell the future. I've always wondered if fortune tellers can foretell their own deaths. That would be freaky,

Thank you for sharing another new word - it doesn't look like it would have anything to do with 'sight,' but the 'nau' does lend itself to nautical. Great job, as always,

~patty~

 Comment Written 29-May-2018

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reply by the author on 29-May-2018

Wonder no more, Patty - the only thing they can foretell is that your wallet will be lighter after a visit :)

Thanks very much for the great review - Craig

Comment from Jannypan (Jan)

Excellent

Craig,
I enjoyed your poem. You did a great job expressing your thoughts. Good job with the rhyme & great picture. I don't wish to know what will happen each day. You are right. We need to enjoy each like it will be our last. Good job & thanks for sharing. Jan

 Comment Written 28-May-2018

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reply by the author on 29-May-2018

Thanks for the thoughtful comments, Jan. Much appreciated - Craig

Comment from lyenochka

Excellent

Sounds wise. All the stories that involve knowing the future all ends very badly. I was surprised at the "land sighting" part of the definition as the word only shows the Greek for boat and to see. Good rhyming pentameter verses all throughout.

 Comment Written 28-May-2018

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reply by the author on 29-May-2018

My book only refers to the ships, but I notice that more than one dictionary has expanded the definition to the one I gave. I think the important thing is the ability to know something is there we can't see - or alleged ability. Many thanks, Craig

Comment from Pamusart

Excellent

Hi Craig. This is one of my favorite subjects for poetry. Do we really want to know our future. Would it make a difference if we could change it? What about space and time continuum? Surely the changes we made to our own lives will change other lives. Anyhoo. Got me going. I liked your rhyming scheme. Thank you for sharing.

 Comment Written 28-May-2018

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reply by the author on 29-May-2018

Contemplating that subject does my head in these days, Pam. My old brain isn't capable of imagining how it could be possible to change the future. One thing I do find interesting is an idea I've been hearing a lot about lately, that being how little we understand the nature of time. I'd always thought it was fairly straightforward, but apparently not so. Either way, I'm with you. I don't want to know what tomorrow will bring - good or bad. Cheers, Craig

Comment from Sandra du Plessis

Excellent

A very well-written poem. It is better not to know what the future may bring to us. Live each day as if it is the last because tomorrow may never come for us.

 Comment Written 28-May-2018

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reply by the author on 28-May-2018

Thanks very much, Sandra. Very true words, Craig

Comment from Harry Smith

Exceptional

Beautifully written is this poem that is filled with lots of imagery and emotions which speaks about life and being alive. The new word nauscopy is new to me. The stanza I liked the most is the last stanza. Exceptionally well written.

 Comment Written 28-May-2018

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reply by the author on 28-May-2018

Thank you very much, Harry, for the wonderfully kind assessment. The last stanza is my favourite, too, and seems to be the popular choice. Most grateful - Craig

Comment from Gloria ....

Excellent

This is a fine poem in excellent metre and rhyme, but you haven't developed your poetic "argument" around the actual meaning of the word nauscopy so the poem lacks the brilliant clarity of your usual standard. The premise being the land already exists and isn't some future event, it's simply a navigator with some unusual ability, perhaps a curvature of the lens that allows to see around the Earth's curve. So that's really quite different than predicting events that have no yet occurred.

When you figure out the lottery thang, let me know because then a person could publish and pay people to read their work. ROFL.

Nevertheless a fine poem and fun to consider.

Gloria

 Comment Written 28-May-2018

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reply by the author on 28-May-2018

Hi Gloria,

Perhaps a bit more backstory in the notes might have helped. Bottineau, the guy who "invented" nauscopy used to take bets on when and where the next ship to cross the horizon would be. In other words, he was predicting future events. He claimed it was "science", but in so far as I can tell, there was no real substance behind these future predictions. In those aspects, it bears some resemblance to other forms of fortune-telling. At least, that was my thinking.

Thanks for the kind and thoughtful review.

Craig

reply by Gloria .... on 28-May-2018

Ohhhhhh, well thank you for letting me know because now my universe is back in the right order again. :))

Comment from nancy_e_davis

Excellent

Nope, I never did want to know the future. I have enough worrying about it not knowing. LOL Not really , I try to stay positive and let the Good Lord run interference for me.

So keep your precognition to yourself,
and leave the tarot cards upon the shelf;
yours is a game that I don't want to play,
I'll take this life and live it day to day.

Absolutely! Well done. Nancy

 Comment Written 28-May-2018

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reply by the author on 28-May-2018

Thanks very much, Nancy. I appreciate the kind words. Craig

Comment from Joy Graham

Excellent

My last visit with a coffee grounds reader was amazingly accurate. She told me things that I thought she was full of coffee beans. The aha moments when these bizarre things came true was astounding. She appears to be gone now, but I wonder if she could read her own future? Sadly, she told me I wasn't going to win the lottery. Dang!

So your poem and word of the day set my little mind to thinking. That's exactly what good poetry should do. At least I think so.

Are there really people that can see land over the horizon? That'd make a great character in a book or movie.

Well done, Craig!

Joy xx

 Comment Written 28-May-2018

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reply by the author on 28-May-2018

From what I can gather, there was no real basis to this claimed ability, Joy. A bit like... oh, never mind ;-)

It would be a fun thing to be able to do, wouldn't it?

reply by Joy Graham on 28-May-2018

I always feel foolish for having reviewed your work when you reply back.

reply by the author on 28-May-2018

I'm perplexed. I really enjoy your comments, Joy, and try to convey that. So if I've said things that cause offence, then I guess that's stupid carelessness on my part, or an inability to express myself properly. Maybe I need to stick to "thanks for reviewing". I'm sorry.

reply by Joy Graham on 28-May-2018

I think I'm just struggling to get back into the old routine, and finding I'm still not feeling 100% yet. I lay the blame on myself. You're terrific. Don't change anything.