false 583850 52 female North Andover, MA 10/2007 12/2009 1040738 Dan Albergotti 678844 Matt Bell 35 106 97 true 5875270 read 2 true 1124251 currently-reading 7 true 1124250 to-read http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/255624-my-naked-self http://photo.goodreads.com/groups/1182288212p2/233.jpg 583850 Meg http://photo.goodreads.com/users/1257956390p2/583850.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/583850-meg Wed, 23 Dec 2009 07:47:43 -0800
Your poem is not part of you.

If it is it will likely never leave you and live on its own for others to enjoy. You've gotta detach, almost come to hate your poems. See the flaws. Hunt them down like blemishes.

I think the best way to look at ANY critique is with thanks. Because the person giving it took the time.

I also believe that all critque is valid/has a grain of validity to it. For instance, one of the 'mean' things Michael said was "BORRRINGGGG" or some such. Brigitte if you look at your poem, I don't know that I'd use Michael's word, yet the words you choose are pedestrian and cliche. They are everyday words. For me cliche is defined as ANYTHING THAT ANYONE HAS SAID BEFORE. You've got to say it new. You've got to say your poem about your Jesus as if you are talking, not to all of us who know Jesus, but to a world who has never heard the story. So therein lies the kernel of truth in Michael's rather blunt critque, the poem is about something that is clearly sacred to you. But for me, the reader, coming at it not knowing you or your passion, it is what I would call biege.

I am sorry if this seems harsh, it is not meant to be. I kind of think its harsh to offer meaningless critiques too. "Terrific" "Heartfelt" I'd rather have a big bitchy one like Michael's that I can print out and take back to the drawing table with my poem.

On the other hand this thread exploded into a he/said she/said thread with big words and who's right/ wrong crap and that seems useless for you too.

Now I seem like the big know-it-all-expert and I haven't even decorated my tree or Christmas shopped yet.

Haha]]> http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/251784-please-post-your-poem-for-the-january-goodreads-contest http://photo.goodreads.com/groups/1182288212p2/233.jpg 583850 Meg http://photo.goodreads.com/users/1257956390p2/583850.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/583850-meg Tue, 22 Dec 2009 18:01:45 -0800
Heart's a parasitic twin
calcified from the wounding.
A missing rhythm, hardened
other, the broken love story
between the warrior girl who
hunts the captor of her heart’s
imagination and the boy
who loves to run his
fingers the length
of her scars. ]]> Flowers for Algernon (Paperback) by Daniel Keyes]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/80058861 http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1166910991s/18373.jpg 583850 Meg http://photo.goodreads.com/users/1257956390p2/583850.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/583850-meg Sun, 06 Dec 2009 06:58:41 -0800 http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/17941-ruth-ruth http://photo.goodreads.com/groups/1182288212p2/233.jpg 583850 Meg http://photo.goodreads.com/users/1257956390p2/583850.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/583850-meg Sun, 06 Dec 2009 05:40:40 -0800
]]> http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/14994-is-this-good-poem-teachers http://photo.goodreads.com/groups/1182288212p2/233.jpg 583850 Meg http://photo.goodreads.com/users/1257956390p2/583850.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/583850-meg Sun, 06 Dec 2009 05:34:03 -0800
Check out this article about abstraction in poetry on poets.org, an awesome website btw. http://www.poets.org/viewmedia.php/prmMI...

This poem is not abstract really. Debra, I feel what your poem needs is focus -- that I believe, is what Ruth was looking for, this piece was clearly inspired by some awesome teacherly experience. What was that?

A poem like this tells me how to feel. I'd rather read a poem that makes me feel. Do you know what I mean?

Perhaps this seems harsh. But if as a collective, we are trying to look at our work critically then it does us no good if we use this forum as a mutual admiration society.

What this poem does have that is huge is soul. I kind of feel like it is inside out. If you can show me how these emotions of glory and love arose in you then perhaps you can evoke them in me as well.

I do want a picture. Use your poem camera and show me what only your eye sees.]]> A User's Guide to the Brain: Perception, Attention, and the Four Theaters of the Brain (Paperback) by John J. Ratey]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/79545646 http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1171003840s/81744.jpg 583850 Meg http://photo.goodreads.com/users/1257956390p2/583850.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/583850-meg Tue, 01 Dec 2009 12:19:49 -0800 http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/239139-publication-in-euphony http://photo.goodreads.com/groups/1182288212p2/233.jpg 583850 Meg http://photo.goodreads.com/users/1257956390p2/583850.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/583850-meg Tue, 01 Dec 2009 09:57:54 -0800 Everyday Zen: Love & Work (Paperback) by Charlotte Joko Beck]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/77428587 http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1223662942s/551592.jpg 583850 Meg http://photo.goodreads.com/users/1257956390p2/583850.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/583850-meg Wed, 11 Nov 2009 07:44:39 -0800 Poems from the Women's Movement (American Poets Project) by Honor Moore]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/77428408 http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1255670845s/6376233.jpg 583850 Meg http://photo.goodreads.com/users/1257956390p2/583850.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/583850-meg Wed, 11 Nov 2009 07:41:39 -0800