Poetry Forum

Now that I know who Penguin is, I hope you'll include that explanation as a footnote when you submit the poem for publication. I'm looking at the poem again. "Every day there’s birthday candles for someone I’ll never know" Just a question of grammar: Shouldn't that read ... Every day there...

So "nostos" means "homecoming" in Greek? I know that some of the books of the Bible are written in Greek, but using a Greek word seems odd. However, naming the poem "Nostos" will certainly make me look more erudite than I am. Google Translate isn't giving me "homec...

Congratulations, Phil.

Thanks for looking in, John. I thought this poem would be up your alley since God is in it. "You've got 'about' becoming 'of' in your clauses, you might want to stick to one preposition." Originally I had this: bleating about splendid lands, about better meals to be had, ... but then I rem...

No need to look at Homecoming if you don't want to.

I think you should participate freely here, though keep your new-poem posts to a level where the few members who are participating can keep up. If you are not feeling wanted here any more, that's not coming from me.

I like the poem, John. I think is works very well. One thing, though. It says that the baby is playing peak-a-boo, but isn't it the mother who is playing peak-a-boo? Isn't it the mother's hands that are opening and closing? ========== Sorry to bring up one of my own poems, but I thought you might li...

Maybe this is just my usual denseness, but I'm not grasping the poem -- though I do like the language.

Who is the Penguin?

Thank you, guys, for voting that I not trash it.

I write so few poems that I really can't afford to trash any poem that I can fix, so I am going to try to fix the poem. Your criticisms are spot on.

I think you made some good observations, Ray. Thank you.

Now that I read it again. I think it should go in the bin.

Things That Won’t Stop Until They Stop My heart won’t stop doing the jitterbug. I’m not sure why it’s so much alive, constantly moving like a hyperactive child. This is my old age, time to relax, so why is part of me always at a dance? It needs to conserve itself for important things, like when tha...

Thank you, Phil. That was lukewarm, but I'll take it.

I'm surprised John isn't saying something. He's the Godman.

Well, you're intelligent enough to be able to evaluate a poem on a subject that doesn't interest you. But you shouldn't say more unless you want to.

Thank you, Phil. Besides that, does the poem work for you?

This is the type of poem that doesn't quite say straight out what it's about, but expects the reader to apply his own interpretation. It took me a few readings, but I finally did that, and now the poem has meaning to me. My suggestion is to eliminate a few extraneous words: Now The tramps are sittin...

Lost and Found God is pleased to be mocked, something not well understood, for his greatest joy is in reunions, those homecomings when his rebellious sheep wander back from their reckless ventures, bleating about splendid lands, of better meals to be had, and making audacious demands, but also reme...

So who sang the Hippie song? It doesn't sound like Gabriel. When posting a song, it would be helpful to mention the singer.

Congratulations, John. Interesting poem.

That's Peter Gabriel ??? It sounds nothing like the Peter Gabriel I've been listening to. From what I can see of the picture, it doesn't even look like him. He must have come out with that when he was very young.

Reminder: Other people are free to post their favorite songs here.

Thanks so much for looking in again, Phil, and for taking the time to read the previous version to make a good comparison. Yes, I love the new ending. It's a keeper for me. "but it keeps me lying awake at night" -- I can't let go of that line. But I also miss the bare legs ending. I'll see...

Congratulations! Good poems, Phil.

I have re-imagined this poem with a new ending. I hope you'll take a look.

I just noticed the videos you posted, John, but I'm going to bed, so I'll listen to them later. In the mean time, here is Peter Gabriel's "Your Eyes". He has performed this song multiple times, and it is always a big production when he does. If you haven't heard it, I think you'll love it....

Thanks, Phil.

In my world, more is more. I know you don't see it that way. However, sometimes "more" is "too much". Finding the balance is the problem. Actually, I think I just improved it a bit.

Version 4 posted, not as reduced as you all wanted, but slightly more concise.

Thank you, John!