Content: poetry

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Those looking for a sarcastic or critical poem may be disappointed here. My kinder, gentler self took over for a little while. Comments always welcome.

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Two poems, "Dumpstered" by Odin Roark and "Wedding Song" by David Lehman (partially quoted below), sent me on a path of thinking about the same subject. This poem is at least a partial result of that process. Comments always welcome.

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There are many reasons for writing poetry. This may be one of the more common. Comments welcome.

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An observation made while on a recent journey. Traveling somehow sharpens my attention to the world around me. Miss Emily's line came to me as this episode concluded. Comments welcome.

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Almost every winter up in my North Country woods there's a brief break in the long winter action and we get a few warm days that remind us of the promise of spring. This one tries to get hold of those times. Comments welcome.

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Understanding our lives sometimes requires study outside of the usual places. Recent reading prompted these thoughts. Comments welcome.

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The holiday this week triggers a memory as it has each year since the day of remembrance was created. I always thought the holiday should have been placed on or close to April 4th. Comments welcome.

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Sitting in a hospital parking lot a week or so ago, just waiting. Saw an old guy struggling a little and my imagination took it a little further. Comments welcome.

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Another poem from an old notebook that I re-thought and re-worked. Comments welcome, as always.

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This was written some time ago and recent events prompted me to re-work it and make a few changes. Comments welcome.

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Taking a break from the serious dramatic poems. This is poetry-lite. I hope it goes down easy. I was just fascinated by the life of Emily Dickinson- Had to say goodbye to her. Have a great New Year all

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Being in a new place without a friend is a scary situation for everyone. Sometimes, when making friends, the right person isn’t around for you. People might not like the same things as you, you might not get along, the person might just like to be alone, and, even sometimes, people just don’t have a reason for not wanting to be friends. It’s okay to not make friends with the first people you meet. You just need to have patience to find the right friend for you! Join Squiggle the Tiggle in his quest to find a friend. The star shape eyed, sparkly nosed, and pudgy-bodied Tiggle must wiggle his way through sand, water, bubbles and mud in his search through the land of Pibnee. Along the way he encounters many creatures kind and unkind and many spectacular new places in Pibnee, before he finds the right friend for him. Any feedback is appreciated

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My final posting for 2011 as I'll be out of computer range for a week or so. Comments always welcome.

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An experiment. Comments welcomed.

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I am fascinated by the process of communication - online, through reading - however it happens. I love that moment of contact. I imagine a door that opens both ways. If only we could really look through that door! I guess in a way we do...

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Had an interesting encounter with a fellow at our local courthouse a short time ago. This little piece was inspired by that event. Comments welcome.

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Some time ago, as I was traveling, I met a fellow walking the same suburban nature walk that I was following. We stopped and chatted. I've tried to capture his tone and outlook in this poem. Comments welcome.

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First, I apologize for the irregularities of meter and rhyme in this thing. Secondly, I apologize for posting it on this most serious and erudite of writing sites. And finally, a little explanation. For several years I worked on this thing as a country song and then as a poem. It's hard to see the investment of intellect and dedication, I know, but it's there. Or here. This is especially for Memphis Trace. Comments always welcome. Please be gentle.

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New gadgets in the world of literature are meeting resistance in some quarters. Comments welcome.

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An allegory? Maybe, but don't ponder it too much or the thing falls apart. A little too simplistic, I think. Comments always welcome.

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Just a little something I thought of as I stepped out of the shower on this chilly morning. Comments welcome.

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A few lines inspired by the excellent poetry of Kay Ryan. Comments welcome.

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Cliche's and aphorisms contain their own, sometimes strange, wisdom. Comments welcome.

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The content of this poem is weak. Do you feel that the content is strengthened by the shape/format of the piece? Comments deeply desired.

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Some trial and error on the use of format. Comments welcome.

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This rewrite is trying to put what I 'think' I have learned to work. About the time I think "I've got it" I realized through others... Not quite Flo! But you getting closer.

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Another acoustic poem I have written, about, love, and seeing it before it's too late.

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Acrostic poetry form, where the first letters in the title start each sentence. from top to bottom.

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A little seasonal observation. Comments welcome.

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MY new poetry teacher has demanded an Ode! Out of respect, I do my duty. My first Ode... I do believe the famous are quaking in their graves as a new poet of Odes has cometh forth. Any any all feedback will most likely go unheeded as why bother with such talent. I am an ODist! Flo

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Prompted by an essay I read some time ago. Comments welcome.

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The scene is Grandpa and grown-up grandchild sitting on Grandpa's porch. They're playing a sing-song rhyming game they've played for more than twenty-five years. Then Grandma comes out and breaks it up. I would really like feedback on the ending. I had a devil of a time trying to bring this to a close. Once you read it, you'll know why. I'm open for any/all suggestions.

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While considering things spiritual I looked up the dates of origin of the religions of the world and the dates when variations on those religions occurred. Interesting stuff. I though about a poem which incorporated that information but after a couple pages I decided that it was boring as the Congressional Record. So this poem came to mind and it seemed to fit the existing title. Comments welcome.

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Writing on writing. Our narcissism knows no bounds. Comments welcome.

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Sometimes a whole lot of hard work doesn't pay off at all. Comments welcome.

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Something from the notebook, revised and updated. Comments welcome.

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I worked on the rhythm of this piece for some time. It's one of my faves, but I want the reader to tell me if I've hit the right note.

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Shout out of love and appreciation to a strong, beautiful woman in my life.

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A reflection on places and their differences, or perhaps how they are similar. Comments welcome.

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1st draft. All types of feedback welcome.

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This is an old poem that is based on an even older short story that I never got around to finishing. Comments welcome.

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All suggestions for improvement welcome.

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All suggestions for improvement welcome.

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Got tired of how political operatives make drama out of problems that could be solved much more quickly if they weren't always finding ways to preen and posture for the tv audience. Also tired of folks who nearly kill others on the highways as they fiddle with phones and other devices. What a curmudgeon I am! And this poem proves it.

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Fooling around with seemingly related words can take us to some more serious musings. Comments welcome.

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Odin Roark has written many poems about his experiences with city life in recent months. And as always with Odin's work one is prompted to some personal reflection. And my mental meanderings after reading his poems set me to thinking about some of the cities I have known and experienced. These three little poems are the result of that thinking. Thank you Odin. Comments welcome.

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Another experiment. Comments welcome.

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Written from the point of an inanimate object. I am posting this poem and another for my friends on here to give feedback as to which would be better to submit to an anthology of the Gulf Coast Writers' Association. I can submit 2 items, poetry or short story or a combination. Tell me what you think.

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I've always thought that abstract poetry, like abstract painting, could be tossed off easily and since the rules are so vague as to be non-existent, who could say what was good or bad. Then I started looking into the work of some poets who collaborated with abstract visual artists and discovered that I might have been making false conclusions without real knowledge. Finally I decided to write something, as I usually do. So after several periods of mind clearing meditation I plopped myself down in front of a painting by a guy named Kandinsky called On White2. This is the result. Comments are welcome.

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This piece is made up of four separate poems, all written at nearly the same time, connected in some mysterious way. I suppose. Comments are welcome.

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Years ago taverns up our way served "short beer", a seven ounce serving of whatever was the cheapest draught, usually Utica Club, Genesee Cream Ale or Ballantine. When I attained legal drinking age a "short" cost a quarter. Last time I found a place that served one it was three times that price. This poem has been in one of my notebooks for a long time though in a much different form. Comments welcome.

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I read poetry, poetic criticism and biographies of poets quite regularly. And it seems I might be lacking some of the "street cred" that many of the great poets earned during their childhood years. My pain, anguish and sad experiences came along later in life. Last week I was sitting near the river, enjoying a refreshing beverage or two, when this poem came to my mind. Comments are welcome.

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Cutting back the vegetation on a river bank is not for the timid or weak. Ha! Some thoughts and observations that came to me as I was doing the job. Comments welcome.

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A meditation of sorts. Somewhat of a fusion of two thought patterns. Comments welcome.

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I took a women's studies English course in college in the mid 70's. This poem is a recently tweaked oldie, based on textbook margin scribbles jotted while being lectured on Woolf, Plath and Sexton. I think of the words in italics as those of the professor(s). Needless to say, not a happy topic or poem. Rhythm and rhyming's not my usual style. Several lines are based on writings by these poets. All comments appreciated.

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This is poetry of awarness and over comming racial obstacels and difficulty. This again is a poem to wake up the readers mind and third eye to see things as they are. Only then can we have a real change.

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Among the full and part time homeless guys in our town one fellow stands out. He's a stoic, perservering man and he's an interesting conversationalist. Comments welcome.

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A couple of recent hikes sent me back to Mr. W. Whitman for some guidance. This is the poor result. Comments welcome.

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A fine poem by one of the finest and most thoughtful poets on the site inspired this little piece. Comments welcome.

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On this site and others there are times when it seems that a lot of folks want to try their hand at writing erotic material. I'm no exception, I suppose. But if we're honest we all realize most of it is less than stellar. Comments welcome.

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This is something of an exercise I attempted to diminish the old block thing. Comments welcome.

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Some days, old and wise ain't got nothin' on young and stupid. That's all I'm going to say about that. Comments appreciated.

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Authors, poets in particular, love to write about the process of, and reasons behind their writing obsession. I'm no different I suppose. This one is in that vein and was reworked several times until it evolved to what you see. Comments welcome.

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Disposing of trash has become quite a science these days. Here are my observations on the process. Comments welcome.

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Trying to read and understand some modern poets inspired this little poem. Comments welcome.

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This one is a birthday gift (a day late) for a lovely lady and most excellent author. It's an older poem that I felt good about after some revision. Which fits, I guess. Comments welcome.

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A little insomnia isn't all bad. Comments welcome.

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A natural observation. Comments always welcome.

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An older, un-posted poem that I reworked a little. Comments welcome.

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This one has been reworked a couple times and it seemed ready for a little exposure. Comments welcomed.

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This is another in a series of "coming of age" memoir pieces that I'm working on. Comments welcome.

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Some have been calling these things prosetry which is okay, but an unsettling sounding word. I tried this one with punctuation and that is unsettling to me as well. This might be a true story for the most part. It happened a long time ago. Comments welcome.

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From the Ballad of the Bullet novel, A poem Anthony wrote in his bedroom as he prepares to confront Cree. Again, thank you and g-luck:)Z

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Just having fun with a brief brainstorm. With apologies to the master poets. All thoughts and opinions are appreciated.

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Any feedback welcome...

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Any feedback welcome...

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Some recent readings on the progress of knowledge combined with a bit of introspective meandering have contributed to this little poem. Comments always welcome.

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A few weeks back I noticed that the playgrounds of a couple of our area parks were busier than usual on weekday mornings. I guess folks who would normally be working were not. Comments welcome.

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Some mildly spiritual musing as I thought about how great it would be if prayer was an immediate and viable solution to the maladies of life. And in some ways I suppose it is. Comments welcome.

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Just a short poem I wrote concerning the personification of the emotional state mentioned in the title.

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Just getting ready to be off the site for ten days or so and wanted to get this tribute poem posted. You all may recognize the tireless reviewer and writer that garners these lines of praise. Comments always welcome.

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A little stream of consciousness poem for today. Comments welcome.

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On this site there is a serious thinker and author who constantly challenges us to dig deep into the nature of humanity and the cosmos. He has given me many hours spent in the contemplation of these mysteries. This little poem is the shallow outcome of some of that heavy thinking. Thank you O.R. Comments welcome.

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This poem is part of series I'm working on that is exploring modern computer and communications technology. Sometimes looking at the absence of technology may help define its presence. Comments welcome.

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Feedback appreciated.

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Feedback appreciated.

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This is an older poem that I finally wrangled into some sort of shape last week. Comments welcome.

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A recent article in a magazine, an idea from Spargo and a comment from Odin combined to bring form to some loose ideas that were percolating in my mind. Thanks to all. Comments welcome.

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This is the first Sestina I attempted. I loved the form so well, it has since become one of my favorites! I suppose this is a versioning of the sestina with less strict adherence to where the 6 words are encountered in each stanza. I'll be looking into revising this to follow 123456, 615243, etc. styling too. You'll get the gist of what I'm trying to say in the current form. Feedback appreciated.

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A novel in three parts. An intense piece that runs the gammut of emotions. An odd mix of street and commercial fiction. A thriller yet a mystery and filled with poetry throughout the theme. A war of art. This is a modern day view of a Greek hero. Inspired by religious mind control cults. A cult.VEIL.Experiment.Justice. Mind Control. Conspiracy. Survival.

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Most of the time I handle the laundry chores around our house. The modern way is good enough for me but once in a while I use a clothes line. Nostalgia, I guess.

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As always, your feedback is appreciated.

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I'm at a loss when it comes to poetry critique so I trust you know what to say. I suppose I'm most interested in how the poem affects you. Then again, I'm always interested in how my writing affects you.

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Something I noticed about birds today.

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"I read the news today, oh boy" Lennon & McCartney

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A little winter pondering. Comments welcome.

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This one started last fall and got finished next to the fire last week. Comments welcome.

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An observation of the season. This will probably be my last posting this year as we are heading for the cabin Christmas day. My very best wishes to all TNBW members for a Happy Holiday season. And a heartfelt thank you for your continuing kindness. jb

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A posting on the forums. An inspiration. Thank you FlowingPencil.

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Serious again here. A phrase that has been wiggling around my brain for some time got worked out in this poem Comments welcome.

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Clearing my head of cliches by passing them all on to you. Comments welcome.

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Sometimes as a senior citizen I'm questioned or chided about the effects of time on intimate aspects of life. Here is a retort, of sorts. Comments welcome.

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One from an older notebook, revised after some recent reading and study. Comments welcome.

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I wrote this as a somewhat whimsical view of writing poetry. Just looking for reactions. Thanks, Rick

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A pre-TNBW, many times re-worked, poem. Comments welcome.

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A first person story loosely based on reality. Did this in a memoir style, without dialogue. Comments welcome.

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A simple nature poem. Comments welcome.

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Mostly real. Comments welcome, as always.

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Just a couple of Haiku-style poems. I am not trying for an exact imitation, since English syllables do not really correspond to Japanese moras (or "on"). Just going for the "feel" of the Haiku.

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Not sure it works, these things rarely do for me. All comments welcome.

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I entered this poem in Poethood's Change of Scenery contest. It was one of three that I entered and we should find out the contest's winners and who will be published in the book that will come out of the contest next week. It is one of the longer poems I have written and, so far, the only sestina.

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In the long traditions of poetry rain has been an important device. It is the rare poet that has not done something with that all too natural phenomonon. Comments welcome.

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It's an old story. Comments welcome.

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Images from a recent poem from Sara Basrai combined with an observation I made on my walk earlier today. The result was this. Thank you Sara. Comments welcome.

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Early this year I heard a news report on CNN about a sentence carried out somewhere in the Middle East. Certain details seem to linger in my mind. Comments welcome.

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This is not a novel it will be a book of poetry. Spargo Postle and Sara Basrai are in the process of putting a poetry love story project together. All reviews for Sara's poems will be written by her and placed on the site by Spargo. All copyright for the individual poems written by each poet remains the copyright of the writer.

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I swear, this is the last memoir type poem for a good long while. Comments always welcome.

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Stuck in memoir mode at the moment. Be patient. Comments welcome.

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Seems like I'm exploring some memories lately in recent poems. Comments always welcome.

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Some memories seem to fly into consciousness on darker nights. Letting them loose is probably necessary but not usually a permanent solution. Comments welcome.

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On a recent morning I was sitting near the river with coffee in hand earnestly trying to study a book by Heidegger and these lines came into my head. Comments welcome.

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A couple weeks ago I ran into an old friend, a musician, playing in a small bar in a small town. He's quite an accomplished player and singer, though he never had more than regional success. He plays blues and rock with his current band but he can hold his own in many other genres. This poem is for him and, in a sense, about him.

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This not a novel - This is / will be a pocket book of poems. All and every feedback will be gratefully accepted.

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Quite a number of years ago I learned that some of the most relevant lessons of life can be found in the minds of those who have lived through a whole lot of years. And from those lessons come fodder for the work of a writer. This little poem tries to honor that principle. Comments welcome.

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A traditional theme I suppose. Comments welcome.

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All comments welcome. Feel free to read my other poems today so that you know where this one is coming from.

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Please read the intro to this in the body of the work. All comments are welcome.

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Just a bit of verse about the aggravation of writing

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Thirty plus years ago I worked a short time for a big university doing the purchasing of material for the chemistry department. It was an interesting job but the lunch "hours" were much more interesting. Comments welcome.

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A gentle (I hope) really bad poem with a politically pertinent (I hope again) question. The future, such as it may be, needs a move away from kneejerk political irrationalities of the past. I wish not to offend only to prod forward.

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A brief treatise on agoraphobia. tear it up please:)

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A late evening walk last fall prompted some notes that led to this little poem. Comments welcome, as always.

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A while back I took my mother up to her Golden Age club so she could play pinocle with her cronies. I hung around for a short time and learned a little bit. Comments welcome.

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Birds are feeding heavily now as they ready for their fall journey's. This observational poem takes note of that regular phenomena. Comments welcome.

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In a coffee shop a while back I overheard bits and pieces of a conversation between a young man and woman. Jotted some of it down and filled in the rest with conjecture. Sometimes I'm such a voyeur. Comments always welcome.

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The utility of some man made objects is really quite wonderful. Notes from a walk in the woods at night. Comments welcome.

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Two little poems inspired by recent days away from things. The first a Haiku, the second a little more free. Comments welcome.

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See the little paragraph at the start of the poem for information regarding my inspiration and intentions. Comments always welcome.

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Thanks to Mr. Harold Bloom poetry critic and author for this idea. He quite likely wouldn't like this little poem but that's okay. I sometimes disagree with him as well.

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Poem - All feedback is welcome

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Any and all

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A little return to a natural subject. Comments welcome as always.

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Putting honesty in what we write is probably the hardest part of the whole deal. Comments welcome.

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A few years ago my wife and I were looking for a house to buy. We visited this one and I made a couple of notes. We didn't buy the place but I did get this poem from it. Comments welcome.

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This poem was built, over a two month period, from some bits of overheard conversation and a re-reading of some essays by authors of the "Beat" era. Comments welcome.

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Self explanatory I suppose. Most today would call Lindsay a minor poet. Comments welcome.

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An effort to escape the writing doldrums. Comments welcome.

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Had a brief conversation with a hotel employee recently. He left me with this impression. Comments welcome.

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This was a go at writing a short story idea in poem form to flesh it out. Falls apart at end but this gave me direction for short story.

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one from the notebook, only a couple years old. comments welcome.

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This one has existed in several versions, none posted here. This is the clumsily punctuated form. Biographical to a large degree. Any and all comments are welcome.

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On my walk today I wondered about all the great men and women who had original ideas and this idea literally unrolled into my head very much as it appears here. The force was with me writing as Obi Wan then the evil side invaded my mind and I lost control, or was it visa-versa?

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a poem about a reader, that simple...i was just playing with some ideas.

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I saw a sketch at a local sidewalk art sale some time ago and made some notes. This is the resulting poem. Comments welcome, as always.

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A whimsical look at the nature of time. Comments welcome.

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A few years ago I received a lovely edition of James Audubon's "Birds of North America". There are beautiful illustrations of many now extinct species as well as those that populate our world today. Comments welcome.

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The muses call out to us all, for all our lives...

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I've had this one knocking around for a year or more. It seems like an appropriate time to get it out. Comments welcome.

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An observation on how a not so hot real time in history has become a recreational activity. No offense intended to RF participants, just a thought. Comments welcome.

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New to site and this interface is driving me crazy... anyway i think I got the dang poem posted. Long story... I don't write poetry but was criticizing a poet on another site and wrote her what I thought she should do to make her poem and in doing this I wrote a fragment of a poem. Anyway she wrote back and told me it was the best and most sincere criticism she she'd ever received, then suggested I work out the bugs in this poem. Maybe we are a poetical team in the making. Anyway i had fun and to me it makes sense to me. Aloha

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A small experience in a semi-wild place. Comments welcome.

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I'm not really happy with this as it feels self-serving and more than a little pompous so some constructive comments will be appreciated. Or let me know if I should just delete it entirely. Thanks.

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A little nature poem left over from last year that I've reworked several times. Comments welcome.

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What happens when we see something written in a forty plus year old notebook. Comments welcome.

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Correne Johnson, 18, is all the things most women never want to be: Overweight, illiterate and unloved. And she is being molested by her Aunts fiance. She uses her addiction to the Oprah Winfrey show and Oprah's TV wisdom's to challenge her Oppressor. These actions could either end her life or save her.

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Forgetting that humans have a place in the Natural World can be dangerous. Biblical cautions about stewardship may be more than out of date platitudes. But civility and harmony need to also be part of the balance that humans bring to that order. Those that would profit from nature must also be the strongest proponents of wise stewardship. Political posturing and unfounded shouting to secure long careers in powerful places is as dangerous as any disaster, natural or manmade.

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All feedback welcomed

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I recently came across in a large collection several poems dealing with the more mundane bodily functions and their products. So I decided to contribute to this sub-genre from an outdoors/nature perspective. Comments welcome.

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On a warm day not long ago I was fortunate enough to have this happen on my daily walk. Comments welcome.

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A passel of poems are percolating, partially penned but persistently petrified about being published. To pummel this poetic paradox I offer an interim observation which came easily hopefully freeing the blockade. All comments welcome.

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A commentary on reading poetry and criticism of the same. I think Mr. Logan would suffer apoplexy reading my scribblings. Some on this site he would find meritorious, but not many. All comments welcome.

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Observation on an April morning. An exercise to get me writing again. Comments welcome.

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This little poem has been percolating in one form or another for a couple of years. Easter seemed like an appropriate day for it to appear. Comments welcome.

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Some observations on this breezy Spring day. Comments welcome.

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Early this morning, before the anger set in, this little piece arrived. Maybe it was my mind receiving a gentle reminder. Comments welcome.

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Lots of really fine serious poetry on the site in recent days. Though I'm not a serious poet, in many ways, I offer this for your consideration. Comments welcome.

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For all you city dwellers "peepers" is a colloquial name for several species of frog that have a high pitched style of croaking. And of course we all know what bull frogs sound like. Comments welcome.

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A little lightness to start the week. Comments welcome.

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With special thanks to Sara B. for the last line of this simple poem. Comments welcome.

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Another springtime poem. Comments welcome.

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Everyone loves Spring. Some more than others. Comments welcome.

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Found an old textbook, History of Modern Philosophy, while cleaning out a closet. Spent some time chewing the fat with a couple of the boys while I waited for clothes to dry. They helped me with this little poem.

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Doing a little carpentry this weekend. Comments welcome.

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This is a bit of nostalgia about returning to my hometown in Massachuetts. It is the source of many of my stories and characters. I owe it a lot. This poem is something else that grew from there.

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She's been around for quite some time but I, in my plodding way, just found her. A true poet worthy of much finer tribute than this little verse.

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This arrived during a winter walk in the Brandywine Valley. Comments welcome.

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Hunting has long been a part of the American natural world. A whole lot of folks don't like it. I don't do it anymore. Comments welcome.

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This poem might be about a tree, but somehow I think not... Any comments are welcome. Thanks.

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This all transpired more than a year ago. This past fall I saw the same deer with a pure white patch of hide where her open wound had healed completely over. Comments welcome.

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A small tribute to TNBW. Comments welcome.

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This is a purging, a catharsis that I needed to do so that I can move on to other projects. Comments welcome but not necessary.

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A few warm days brought about these observations. Comments welcome.

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Some words written down is some sort of order. Comments welcome.

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Several recent posts on the site have dealt in a poetic way with the creative process. This is my minimalist take on the subject.

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Inspired by a comment on one of the site forums. Feedback welcome.

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A Haiku, or two, and something else entirely.

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Sometimes the forecast is wrong, but not this time. Two feet and rising here today. All comments welcome.

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Something of a sestet, sort of. On writing. Comments welcome.

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A January weather event inspired this one. Comments welcome.

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This is an old poem about a trip to a desert oasis where I sought to find something. I knew it was there, I just didn't know what it was. Any comments are welcome.

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Lot's of driving lately so it seemed like a good time for this. All comments welcome.

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An addition to the Nature Series inspired by a question from a gracious reviewer.

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I had been thinking about this place I found in one of my rambles through the woods and couldn't find a way to start the poem. Then Flo wrote a lovely Haiku which gave me the first line. Thank you Flo for allowing this piece to take shape and get free from my head.

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One for the herpetologist and one for the paleontologist

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My feeble effort - one for the calendar, one for the birds.

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Good fortune is a fragile thing. Comments welcome.

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Visiting the D.C. area this past weekend we witnessed this amazing natural display. Comments welcome.

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A trek to the store after a snowstorm. Comments appreciated.

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I was standing and looking at the way the grass bent under the weight of the snow, thinking about that, when I was interrupted. This poem appeared shortly after that. I don't know where it came from and should probably find out and send it back. Comments appreciated.

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Francis of Assisi, simple, complex, real.

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The problems with creation.

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Poets and sex. A less than fruitful union.

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How some things get tossed away.

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A couple of deer, some moonlight. Things get written.

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Heard some beautiful a capella singing in the busy local mall tonight and listened for a little while. The Mennonite way of life, lived in the midst of a secular world, must be a challenge. Though not as immersed in their own culture as the Amish, they adhere to a pretty plain and humble path. Their singing perfectly exemplified their religious beliefs.

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I was cleaning out my notebooks from this past summer and came across two entries that propted this poem. Comments welcome.

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I wrote this a while back but was reminded of it with today's storm, so here you go. Comments welcome.

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On writing poetry. Comments welcome.

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A minimal poem for the season. No rhymes, very little sentimentality.

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Nearly finished with this series. This one is free verse minimal approach. Comments welcome.

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What an odd-grouping I make. Explains my craziness! I was greatly inspired by a poem on this site and I adapted it to my life. Thank you Alan! I hope you don't mind ;) (and I can see myself adding to this)

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Why do dreams have such power?

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A minimalist attempt.

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Some reasons to stop driving so much.

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Another in the Nature Series which will soon be complete.

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This happened this past summer and, according to experts, is a much more common occurrence than we would have thought.

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Memories, really old ones.

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A little introspection. Written a while back reworked a little today.

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Lyon Mountain, Northeast Adirondacks, New York

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A little something for my dear wife.

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Free verse nature poem, outside my nature series. Trying to create a feeling of an experience with very few words.

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Just for fun.

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For all its wonders Modern Medicine still depends on caring people.

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Who would have believed that an almost one year old child would care about a surprise party? Mom and Grandma maybe.

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Inspired by an overheard conversation.

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Naruto is my favourite Manga (and Anime) I thought I'd post this in case anyone does read it. It's an amazing story. This particular poem is about the Demon Fox which was sealed into Naruto when he was a baby. In parts it's Naruto speaking to the Demon inside him - and about the isolation and rage that comes from the Demon. Most likely no one will understand this - ohwell! I enjoy writing fanfic poetry, so I was compelled to post. Ask anything if you like. :D

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For my favorite nature photographer.

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Observations on a sunset. Written after meeting with an academic friend who is a glib but not unkind critic.

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Inspired by some friends in the music business who sometimes need a word of encouragement.

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A summer hike, a quick retreat.

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Finding Nature in all its rawness in unlikely places.

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In memory of R. V. a family man first.

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A Compulsion Obeyed.

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Inpiration came from a visit to an an abandoned open pit mine in the Adirondack Mountains.

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another entry in a series of Nature poems.

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part of a series of Nature poems

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A question for the ages.

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thoughts about writing.

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Some of the usual things are really amazing.

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daily life can be a philosophical journey

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Been re-reading some of my favorites, inspiration struck.

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Don't know where this came from. It felt like I was writing it for someone else, hence the title.

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Inspired by my favorite type of music. Does the rhythm fit?

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This is a small take on my kids soccer life. Its not exactly like this but... any feedback would be appreciated and watch out for some saucy language.

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This is about my experiences as a landlord. Any feedback would be appreciated. Thanks

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Just what people think any feedback would be appreciated

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A little humorous poem from the chauvinist and conservative that I can sometimes be. Just in fun.

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An observation after a recent visit. Although I prefer pure adulation I am open to any and all feedback.

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No feedback neccessary, I just felt like writing this after recently losing our dear black Lab, Jet. I miss him.

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Hopefully humorous poem on aging.

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overcoming a block

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Two score and ten years ago I was reading the classics. Dickens, Hugo, Dumas, Chaucer and even the Bible were available in the fabulous format of the comic book and they were called (of course) Classic Comics. Fortunately my reading of the classics only started at that base point. But I remember those comics and have written a little poem to honor them.

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A conversation with some men from a logging crew in an Adirondack coffee shop last winter prompted this little ballad. There are always two (or more) sides to every issue, aren't there?

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Free verse impressions of a good day.

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Growing old sucks.

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Teaching in the rural south during a hurricane, back when I was a lot younger. An abbreviated memory.

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A tribute poem to a real poet.

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The cumulative thought from my mountain bedroom and from spending time camping out at our property on the Continental Divide.

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Staying overnight on grandpa's farm beside the Arkansas River and sleeping on the screened porch... Feedback? Just wanting you to enjoy it for the simple memory it is.

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It has to do with feelings and the pain they cause us. It's quite abstract, yet symbolic. I'm not sure what the title should be. You can suggest something if you feel you might have an idea. thanks for reading :D

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I think this one is pretty self-explanatory.

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Any and all feedback welcome!

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Any and all feedback welcome!

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This is a short and simple poem; any and all feedback welcome!

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This was originally a lyric to a song I worte. I did a little cut and paste to make it look somewhat like a poem. As most of you know, I am a very poor poet. But sometimes the muse insists at the risk of her going on extended vaction if I do not comply. A little Psychology 101 mixed with a little humor. It's meant to be a little bit of fun. It suffers significantly from a technical POV. But my very best poetry is pretty bad. Hope you enjoy it.

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I really do hate mornings. I thought I'd share that disdain with you. Any and all comments welcomed.

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Watch out for the Boogie Man !!

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I'm the manager of a book department and this happened yesterday at work. I hope to never forget this man, but just in case I wrote this.

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As some of you know by now, my wife is extremely ill and will never get better. She has almost died three times in the past 15 months. Her entire family is in Bakersfield, California. She is here in St. Louis. She depends on me for just about everything. Sometimes it leaves me overwhelmed and I doubt my abilities to give all that she needs. I wrote this originally as a song last year and had it recorded this past August. It was a cathartic process for me. I have slightly modified it for this poetic version. As far as feedback, any comments you would care to make are welcomed. Thanks for reading.

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This is just a bunch of silly nonesense that I wrote a few years ago. As I have previously mentioned, there is nothing deep or thought-provoking about my poetry. It's all extemporaneous with little or no rewrite. Just let me know if you found it slightly amusing.

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My Writing Life.... Hopefully a better writer after being on this site and paying close attention to feedback and the work of others. Many have read this already so for those who haven't that might want to. All feedback is welcome. We all have our stories about how we feel about writing and how writing affects us and those we reach out to. I encourage all writer to do this exercise. Why do you write?

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A bit of Silliness

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I'm interested lately in doing strong brief pieces. Yet, does this stand on its own? Would you change anything? This is on the edge of erotic so I'm warning you now. It doesn't cross over but it is close.

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When I can't sleep and I'm going too fast, I need to slow down, rest but I can't, I just can't. Here is one of those nights.

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This poem is how we never feel like people really see us, both the good and bad.

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Stanza three--is the last line workable? Is it too much alliteration? This is a play on the idea of the Tinman.

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Words and intimacy...what a combination

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Something I read today impressed the hell out of me.

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The rules for composing chaiku are simple and straightforward: four syllables or four words – or both – per line. A chaiku may consist of one line or of four lines (a quatrain) or of several quatrains. Any style – lyricism, humor, nonsense, satire, etc. – is allowed. Rules for writing haiku are varied and complex. In addition to the three-line, five-seven-five syllable count, haiku by one definition requires reference to nature, preferably to a season, and is generally confined to the here and now. Other genres written in the haiku form are customarily designated by another name. Disregarding the requirement for specific genre and content in haiku, how do the two forms compare in their ability to express a concept concisely? The following pair of poems was written to explore this question. Reviews expressing a preference and giving reasons for preferring one form to another would be welcome.

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just what every girl needs, a Jack in the box. Enter in Halloween poetry contest

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The Univ. of WI at Milwaukee has an open mike session every second Wednesday of the month which I attend on the odd occasion. There is an energy that permeates from each poet that can be electrifying at times. This is my attempt to capture some of that enthusiasm...tell me what you think.

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Inspired by comments from XUXIKI

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There's nothing quite like waking up on a Sunday morning with love by your side.

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