Poetry Forum

Thanks for asking, Phil. I’ve written non-rhyming poems, but most of my work either has meter or rhyme, or both. I recently co-wrote a book called Dogged: A Verse Novel with my writing partner Joan. She was mostly the storyteller and I was mostly the poet. During our nine-month collaboration, I expl...

Thanks very much, Tony and Phil! I'm glad you enjoyed it. Phil - Thanks for liking "slap." Tony - Yes, it's remarkable how some animals can live so long. The Greenland Shark poem references a quahog clam called "Ming," which was 507 years old when scientists froze it (which unfor...

Two poems of mine appear today in Sparks of Calliope.

https://sparksofcalliope.com/2024/10/31 ... -elster-2/

Thanks, Phil!

Best wishes,
Martin

Hi everyone, I'm pleased to announce that a verse novel I wrote with my writing partner, Joan Axelrod-Contrada, is now live on Amazon. It's called Dogged: A Verse Novel (Martin Elster and Joan Axelrod-Contrada). Here's the link: https://www.amazon.com/DOGGED-Verse-Novel-Martin-Elster/dp/B0DB45S579/r...

Thanks very much, Caleb!

Thanks, Phil!

A poem in The Dirigible Balloon.

https://dirigibleballoon.org/poem/His-Poems-Were-Kites

Many thanks, Fliss, Caleb, and John!

Best wishes,
M.

Hi, folks. I've got a poem today at Autumn Sky Poetry Daily. I hope you enjoy it.

https://autumnskypoetrydaily.com/2023/1 ... -j-elster/

HI Caleb. I, too, wish you well. I'm sure it will be fine, and then you'll be able to see way better!

Thanks, Caleb. Yes, the narrative is a bit complicated, but I'm glad you finally figured it out. I'm sure the man would have loved a tummy rub! Maybe even more than the dog. As far getting 3 poems out of this one, I'm not sure how I would go about doing that. By the way, I was trying out a new form ...

Hi Caleb, I like that poem, “Climbing,” a lot. Thanks for sharing it. When you say you only brought “sadness” and “need,” well, I won’t say anything about the sadness part, but as far as “need” (or “neediness”) goes, everyone has needs. I hate the word “needy” because, again, everyone has needs! I w...

Hi John,

Many thanks for commenting. I'm glad to hear the story came across well!
Regarding T. S. Eliot — yes, that's a remarkable coincidence.

Hope’s dog named Desi, a mutt with floppy ears, rolls over for a belly rub, head pressed against the fellow’s lap. But why the tears streaming down his mistress’ face? Her guest studies her, bemused. Desi deserts the couch. Something inside Hope’s psyche hurts. Overturned for a belly rub, head press...

Hi Caleb, I like the title too (as John does). The narrator seems to be a certain type of person who has regrets. It’s kind of a paradox. We attract what we are. Just last night I came across this article called “7 things people usually dwell on when they’re living in the past.” https://hackspirit.c...

Hi Caleb, Woody Allen doesn’t like nature either. When he takes breaks from his screenwriting, he goes on his treadmill. So he exercises but never outdoors. I like this little poem of yours. It has a melancholic feel. It’s a sort of answer to the Whitman poem, which is quite evocative. About relatio...

Many thanks, Phil, Caleb, and John! Phil - Yes, the editor's comment is really good. Caleb - I feel for those trees that your current landlord destroyed. I once lived in a place where, in the next yard over, a beautiful silver maple tree lost a large branch from the remnant tropical storm of a hurri...

"The White Oak"

https://autumnskypoetrydaily.com/2023/0 ... -j-elster/

A poem about a satellite of Saturn in The New Verse News.

https://newversenews.blogspot.com/2023/ ... ladus.html

Kongrats, Fliss! Now the only thing Koala needs is a friend named Kelly the Kangaroo.

Hi Phil, I completely agree with you about the “entertainment” factor being generally undervalued in poetry, yet is essential, not just in poetry but also in all the arts. I just commented on Fliss’s recent poem, by the way, which is definitely entertaining. You asked if I’m intending a book on thes...

Thanks very much, Phil and Morpheus. I appreciate your feedback. It’s nice to know that the poem is working in the ways I was hoping it would. I’m glad the serious topic and the humor are juxtaposed or balance fairly well, and that it’s not preachy (which is the last thing I would want). I’m happy t...

Thanks, Phil and Fliss!