This Poem was Submitted By: Mell W. Morris On Date: 2004-02-08 16:14:08 . . . Click Here To Mail this Poem to a Friend!

To Listen to Music While Reading this Poem, just Click Here!

Click Here To add this poem to your "Voting Possibilities" list!


Every Poem An Autograph

I live in unsayable lights and any occurrence might recall: "Sursum Corda." Lift up your hearts, from the Latin of my childhood. Patterns of our youthful experiences, the 'then' episodes, are imprinted on our souls and 'now' events summon the paradigms of prior times. We never ripen fully nor age to a degree that relieves our reliving the ago. When we take pen to compose, an old haunting will taunt until restored in metaphors, residing in our lines. Our poetry arises from our past even when we think it ignored. Every strophe I read is a trophy of someone's life, now indelible, apprising then surprising me with a treble of sursum-corda sighs.

Copyright © February 2004 Mell W. Morris


This Poem was Critiqued By: Sherri L Smith On Date: 2004-02-29 22:45:54
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 9.58333
Hi Mell, Whe words you write here are so true. Most of my poetry stems from the events of my childhood. In the second stanza, L like the way you relate the "now" events that evoke those imprinted memories. When we take pen to compose, an old haunting will taunt until restored in metaphors, residing in our lines. Our poetry arises from our past even when we think it ignored. I find even my short stories have bits of my past in them no matter how I try to disguise it. Every strophe I read is a trophy of someone's life, how true this is. Mell you hit me right in the solar plexes with this one, thanks so much for sharing. Hope you and your loved ones are fine and well. Sherri


This Poem was Critiqued By: Wayne R. Leach On Date: 2004-02-27 19:27:59
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 9.33333
An excellent job! The alliteration is great, and the last lines of the center 3 stanzas, and L2 of the 3rd, are jewels with their internal rhymes. The enjambment is fascinating. You really know how to use the tools of the poet. A clever switch in stanza 5, to jump the rhyme from L1's "apprising" to L2's surprising. Loved every bit of this. Unless "unsayable" needs a hyphen, I see no need for change. Best wishes for success.
This Poem was Critiqued By: Erzahl Leo M. Espino On Date: 2004-02-25 03:53:11
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 9.85714
Hi Mell, There are a lot of beauty in your work here Mell! From the title alone, I am already spelled by its depth. Patterns of our youthful experiences, the 'then' episodes, are imprinted on our souls and 'now' events summon the paradigms of prior times. --- I fell in-love by the profundity of your language here. The contrasting “’then’ episodes” and “‘now’ events” comes dramatically. Very true in every sense! To continue it with: “We never ripen fully nor age to a degree that relieves our reliving the ago” supports your first second stanza. This is timely, appropriate and fitting. Life is full of mystery, we always (somehow) learn from it…either good or bad. As they said, “it’s a continuous learning process!” “When we take pen to compose, an old haunting will taunt until restored in metaphors, residing in our lines.” --- You wrote this phrase / line with so much authority. As a poet, I can perfectly relate to your ideas / views here. “Our poetry arises from our past even when we think it ignored.” --- This line / phrase justified our hidden message within our lines / phrases. And sometimes, we are not aware of its meaning / intensity because the writing flows naturally. “Every strophe I read is a trophy of someone's life, now indelible, apprising then surprising me with a treble of sursum-corda sighs. “ --- I second demotion with you Mell! “Every strophe I read is a trophy of someone's life” is my favorite line. I love the wisdom it brings to me. Yes, what we write somehow reflects who we are. It reminds me of your last month winning entry “A Life Sentence”, on how boldly and bravely you share this piece. Your strength is an inspiration! Your words / pen is a teacher, especially for a learning amateur poet like me. Thanks for your generosity! Not to mention the likeable “rhyming” pairs that I truly enjoyed: “relieves our reliving”, “haunting will taut”, “strophe I read is a trophy” and “apprising then surprising”, --- These are cleverly done! Thank you for another display of your masterpiece! For me this is a winner…top-notch! Thanks for posting this for our enjoyment! Keep them pouring! As always, Erzahl :)
This Poem was Critiqued By: Carolyn Minsker On Date: 2004-02-14 05:47:50
Critiquer Rating During Critique: Unknown
This is a dreamy sort of poem, when I read "I live in unsayable lights", my mind turns the phrase this way and that way with wonder. "and any occurrence might recall (lift up your hearts)" it was with relief I received the explanation, especially considering I have yet to solve the mystery of the unsayable lights and why 'any occurrence' recalls.. and then some comprehension, when in strophe 2 you remind us that where we were is how we came to be here. It is a unique concept to consider that we might 'ripen' (love that) to the point where we do not rely on the tried and true defenses developed in childhood. The first time I read your verse, yesterday, I wanted to say, oh! isn't that true! I think so too! Each poem *is* an autograph! that you crafted this one so artistically and then ended it with the lilt of your own recollection's music. "Every strophe I read is a trophy of someone's life, now indelible, apprising, then surprising me with a treble of sursum-corda sighs". Lifting up our hearts! A pleasure to play with the poem. love, Carolyn
This Poem was Critiqued By: Turner Lee Williams On Date: 2004-02-11 13:16:22
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 9.83333
Mell--Almost a poem of address. This piece reeks of originality and uniqueness(smile)and has schema(s) written all over it: the use of prior experience/knowledge to deal with current situations. The assorted rhymes (lights/might; episodes/souls; paradigms/times; will/until; restored/ignored; strophe/trophy; apprising/surprising) and apt descriptors (unsayable; patterns; episodes; imprinted; summon; paradigms; compose; taunt; restored; residing; trophy; treble) creates vivid imagery of what we as poets are ultimately about. Then of course there is my favorite line(s): "Every strophe I read is a trophy of someone's life, now indelible, apprising then surprising me with a treble of sursum-corda sighs. This one struck me the most emotionally; from this day forth, I will conduct by reviews in a different light (even if my critiques remain the same-smile). The title is well suited for the context and contents. Poet, you've superbly presented a capsule description of human life. I throughly enjoyed perusing this piece. Thanks for sharing. TLW a
This Poem was Critiqued By: Claire H. Currier On Date: 2004-02-10 07:53:35
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 10.00000
What a lovely title.....Every Poen and Autograph..........indeed how true....when I first began writing my mom used to tell my sister to be careful what she said around me for it would be written down in poetic form for the world to see.......and she was right.....most of the time anyway......mom's own life's experiences came forth and some of her choosen words were pretty good........ A trophy of someone's life....I do like the sound of that and the images it brings forth for there are so many of us who think our lives are worthless....having no meaning or productivity when indeed it is filled with life, love and meaning....and to share just a bit of it is wonderful......nicely structured, good word flow, images appear in many way as one travels down along with the emotions these images produce.... Thanks for posting my friend, for using your God given talent to share with us the wonders of life and the statement each of us make throughout our journey back home. I pray you are feeling better and that soon you will make that journey to the sea and enjoy all that it gives to you in each roll of the wave. Till then be safe and God Bless, Claire
This Poem was Critiqued By: Thomas Edward Wright On Date: 2004-02-09 23:50:14
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 9.75000
Hi Mell- First- Congratulations on your strong and runaway first place performance last month! Bravo! Second - you continue to explore this theme of the source of our themes and use of language and the inner workings of the art of writing. Your unique style lends a crisp and clean treatment here, with the telltale signs of Mello dripping over the cake like a thick frosting we have no doubt from whose pen this arose. We are all caught up in re-writing the old stories, in a dialogue with the poets of the past and our limited selves adorning the steep and filling shelves of the eternal library. Enjoyed. Pacé (see Forum for details on that é!)
This Poem was Critiqued By: Joanne M Uppendahl On Date: 2004-02-09 13:36:54
Critiquer Rating During Critique: Unknown
Mell: Congratulations on your prize-winning poem! For January, and without a doubt, again in February. This is one of my favorite themes - a writer's poem, a poem for poets -- 'ars poetica' - Horace wrote many of them in Latin and poets have followed ever since. I live in unsayable lights and any occurrence might recall: "Sursum Corda." Lift up your hearts, from the Latin of my childhood. Someone said that one good line is worth a lifetime's work. Maybe in some instances, a phrase - like "unsayable lights" qualifies as a faceted diamond of thought. The first five words in the first line, "I live in unsayable lights" took me out of myself and into my soul's realm. You deftly "lift up" a reader's heart with your first quatrain. Impossible to read this poem without entering into a heightened state of reflection. The titular reference to every poem as a "autograph" is so true it rings in my bones. So here I am, surrounded with ineffable light, with Latinate words resonating like bells, with a sense of kinship with the speaker and all writers. The title confirms a deep belief of my own, and a continuing discovery - one which cannot be tapped out or completed. It is the state of yearning which makes writers write that you address here. It is the me that no one knows, including myself. Your signature poem, this "autograph" expands into multitudinous lines of calligraphic revelation. Patterns of our youthful experiences, the 'then' episodes, are imprinted on our souls and 'now' events summon the paradigms of prior times. "I have listened hard and let this poem inhabit me" Edward Hirsch once wrote. I am going to read and reread this poem as it has much to teach me. It is not an easy, sentimental nor imagistic poem, but one which finds me exploring within the framework of 'then' and 'now'. We never ripen fully nor age to a degree that relieves our reliving the ago. When we take pen to compose, an old haunting will taunt until "reliving the ago" is parallel with "I live in unsayable lights." And you continue, and I try to analyse. I feel a bit like I am approaching a vast musical improvisation by capturing the notes on paper and lining up the sixteenth, eighth and quarter notes and dot-dot-dot counting them, when what I most need do is lean back and let them float over me. restored in metaphors, residing in our lines. Our poetry arises from our past even when we think it ignored. Every strophe I read is a trophy of someone's Your symphonius "restored/metaphors/poetry/ignored/strophe/trophy" leans into a "treble of sursum-corda sighs." "even when we think it ignored" penetrates my swoon into etymological rhapsody. It challenges me to listen to what is stirred by your poem -- which seems one half of a dialogue meant for every reader. Once more, you illuminate that which may be "restored in metaphors" and for this, once more, my soul-deep gratitude and kudos. Another offering from one of TPL's most passionate, gifted writers. "Every Poem an Autograph" has given me a lasting euphoria, with no side effects but inspiration, as welcome as the first caressing breeze of spring. Brava! All my best, Joanne
This Poem was Critiqued By: Joanne Duval Morgan On Date: 2004-02-09 11:29:58
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 9.00000
Neat composition Mell, it's all true, life is indelible, all those fractured pictures of a past we encompass in poetry is an autograph of maybe our alter ego's trying to relive a pleasant memory of a picture frozen in time, or contrar, it drives the hurful memories onto paper to relieve the hurt, many aspects of what comprises our personalities are rememberances of times past, each one indeed an autogrraphy. Now will you believe me when I say you belong to the top spot that it's not a put on, but an evaluation of an artists skill to paint so vavidly for the readership, and that skill extends to your formats, of course the use of vocabulary, written in excellenty poetry phrases. Just as this poem doe, profound thoughts related in poetic form. It all makes sense, and you are not trapped inside a box, but a free thinker that uses the art form so brilliantly. Excellent writing always receives acclaim, and I'm proud you continue to surpass the norm, and share these inward memories, for in them much of the readship can identify. It flows from your pen, you are indeed fortunant that God graced you with this skill....of course I love the intent, the presentation, and the easy read for understanding, and I know you don't feel well, and yet you surpass......wonderful, Love friend/girl, Jo
This Poem was Critiqued By: marilyn terwilleger On Date: 2004-02-08 21:10:05
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 10.00000
Hi Mell, I was just about to go upstairs and watch the Gloden globes when I took a peek at my new list and here you are...if I don't critique it now it will sail off into the unknown poetry heaven..or whatever. This one is so true and I relate to it easily as so much of what I write is from personal experience...yes an autograph of our lives of the ups and downs of everyday living...some good some bad...'then' episodes...'now' events what a perfect way to describe life expiences. Poets do speak of their 'youth' and 'prior' times, we draw from what we know and paint the pictures with words on paper. We never age enough not to relive our 'ago' as it has imprinted itself on our brains and souls and the poets of the world must write these passions down in order to remember the good and releave the bad. I have never heard the phrase 'sursum-corda' but you have worked your poetic magic once again in it's use here. I will be surprised if you have not written another winner...but the month is young and I will wait, with thirst, to read your next submission as I know there are more strokes of your pen lying in wait to dip into the ink of your talent. Blessings...Marilyn
This Poem was Critiqued By: Irene E Fraley On Date: 2004-02-08 19:36:23
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 1.00000
Lovely poem. This is one of those teaching poems that informs and educates us about ourselves and the poet. The past is reflected in our present as surely as we would not be who we are without it. I like the "voice" of this poem which speaks to us simply about one thing most basic to our poetry. The working out of old lessons on a new canvas. I like the positive ending stanza, as it sees to me there is a hidden chord of gratitude being sounded. (I could be projecting though!) I see no reason to change this poem. It reads well, really says something important and sounds a hidden song to boot! Thanks Mell, Rene
This Poem was Critiqued By: Jordan Brendez Bandojo On Date: 2004-02-08 18:16:37
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 1.00000
Hi Mell, This one is another wonderfully significant piece! Your theme is always a BIG hit to this reader. I know everyone can relate to this piece and title itself "Every Poem An Autograph" is undeniably catchy. The words you used here are simple but straight to what it meant to be. The only new phrase to me here is "Sursum Corda." Lift up your hearts, from the Latin of my childhood....very interesting phrase! The reality you speak in the second strophe. It is practical and universal. Simple idea makes this reader realize and ponder things over in my life. "When we take pen to compose, an old haunting will taunt until restored in metaphors, residing in our lines." ----Simply brilliant! And the ending is even more brilliant! Please allow me to paste this input again: "Every strophe I read is a trophy of someone's life, now indelible, apprising then surprising me with a treble of sursum-corda sighs." ---with a nice sibilance! Mell, this is you again, no wonder! Keep writing! JOrdan
Poetry Contests Online at The Poetic Link

Click HERE to return to ThePoeticLink.com Database Page!