This Poem was Submitted By: Ellen K Lewis On Date: 2007-01-14 13:20:27 . . . Click Here To Mail this Poem to a Friend!

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Woe To the Forgotten Poets!

Once laden with overflowing thoughts and feelings laid to paper with pen and muse; I've tried too hard and studied to learn  the proper formality, and I find a farce. And I am sorrowed by it's misuse. I've yet to discover a better way to pen the things I want to say, but I am stuck in no-man's-mind There is a truth yet for poet to find ...wisdom to be reknown. Simply stated; I have debated and return once more to bring back the love and desire for writing that I've always had before. The power of the poet, I have discovered not at all in the thoughts the words uncovered for surely we've heard them all before and there is nothing new to behold! but to have wisdom to see again. But there are people! There are genre's of people, tribes and scribes alike who have never known the simple pleasure to release one's tears and tiny wisdoms which can only be found deep within the lines of fresh poem.

Copyright © January 2007 Ellen K Lewis

Additional Notes:
I'll appreciate all editing and commenting!


This Poem was Critiqued By: James C. Horak On Date: 2007-01-27 14:15:05
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 10.00000
Well, to some extent, Ellen (though your poem elsewhere has a highly regarded poetic sensitivity and demonstrates high art in the expression of it, I would take exception to your last verse. Perhaps "genre's" (the plural form stays the same) is true...in that Philistines and people from Coventry are apt (at least thought so) to be generically lacking in such matters, "tribes" have, at almost every level back to Neanderthal, appreciated the poetic, at least in chant. The conduct of their life indeed was surrounded by a perception of spiritual framework that demanded it. So much so that today the African and Australian aborigine are among the most spiritually gifted on earth. And you can't be spiritual can you?...without the Muse? Your opening lines and stanzas address the vacuity left in the absence of Muse, don't they? Something/someone that comes to us like an unmet lover we never find by looking? Sometimes "wisdom renown" can be nothing more than making absolute truth and its clarity inescapable. Because, and here is my main point, we can lose in poetic sensitivity with progress just as we can be young to it. Still, you come out of the misaprehension finely, reflecting well on the wonderful relase "fresh poetry" can be to the poet. Finding the way to share its "virtue" with your reader is told you by the rare glimpses of newness discovered usually quite by incident. And that's the Muse. I think mine is a lady, but I'm not sure. You have an excellent facility with the line but a little too much contrivance apparent to rhyme (see?...you have me doing it.) Relax and you talent will come, just as the Muse to inspire newness to your expression of it. JCH


This Poem was Critiqued By: Claire H. Currier On Date: 2007-01-22 16:27:43
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 9.86364
Not good at suggestions poet nor for proper forms and wording...........I have read this more then once and it certainly reminds me of myself when I first began to write.....with pen in hand, night after night, waking from sleep, words scribbled for whoever to see.......the images created are so very real poet and the thoughts running still even though the words no longer flow..........you have given me room for thought, to sit back and take another look at the forgotten poets ...........I am eager to check your other critiques on this piece to see what others with knowledge have offered as suggestions for improvement, if any. Reads well to me and I thank you for posting, God Bless, Claire
This Poem was Critiqued By: marilyn terwilleger On Date: 2007-01-18 11:21:16
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 10.00000
Hi Ellen....Well penned poem that captures the feeling of all of us from time time. You said you would appreciate all editing, so I have a few thoughts. (And) I am sorrowed by it's misuse......I would delete the 'and'...don't think you need it. (but) I am stuck in no-man's-mind.................delete 'but' There is a truth yet for poet to find............you have a new sentence here but no period after 'find' ...wisdom to be reknown.......................also if you delete 'yet' and put an 's' on poet this will smooth the line The power of the poet, I have discovered...........you need a period after discovered not at all in the thoughts the words uncovered......this line is choppy and vague, not sure how to fix it.. ...maybe..'not all thoughts are words uncovered' for surely we've heard them all before and there is nothing new to behold! but......you ended 'behold' with (!) but did not cap 'but'...however it is not good to begin a sentence with 'but'....you could say ..'only the wisdom to see again' These are only suggestion for you to use or lose...with the exception of the punctuation. With just a little tweaking this will be a fine poem. You have written it in free verse so don't need to be concerned with a rhyme! cheers....Marilyn
This Poem was Critiqued By: Mary J Coffman On Date: 2007-01-14 14:21:06
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 10.00000
Ellen, This is wonderful! What a refreshing new view, of a subject we can all relate to, you present us with here. Yet, one cannot help but feel the "woe" withing your lines. Even a little frustration sneaks through, as well. Great title, by-the-way. Aptly stated for the body of this beauty! "....but I am stuck in no-man's-mind ....Love "no-man's-mind! Great play on words. There is a truth yet for poet to find ...wisdom to be reknown....." ...One can relate to the constant strive for this, as any writer would. Well said, indeed. "...Simply stated; I have debated...." Fantastic internal rhyme here :) Love it! Your last verse is outstanding. I wondered just a bit whether "Tribes and scribes alike" should be on one line...but after careful consideration - The way you have it broken is perfect. The pause created by the line break is wonderful there! Thanks so much for this excellent "personal" offering, Ellen. I so enjoyed reading this! One I think that anyone serious about their writing can relate to at one time or another. Brava. Warmest regards, Mary
This Poem was Critiqued By: Lora Silvey On Date: 2007-01-14 13:37:49
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 10.00000
Ellen, Your points and thoughts are well taken, I'd tighten it up a bit, get rid of extra words that aren't really needed, I think the last four stanzas could possibly stand alone. Wait and see what other feed back you get before you start to chop at it....LOL. I enjoyed the read, really like the concept but it does need some trimming IMHO. Keep writing, you do some great stuff. Warmest, Lora
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