Answers Comments

so touchy and telling. it moved from the inside. ten outta ten...........

This was a very touching poem Herbert.....Once we acept what will happen we become at peace with it.

Amberlee, I did put you on my list of very thin skinned poets. I think the French call it touché. It always amazes me when people get snappy the moment someone points out something they ought to have noticed in themselves. And probably did. H

Very well Herbert, sorry for the misunderstanding. Write in peace, you'll hear no more from me. Always, Amberlee

Amberlee. You are making the same mistake as others have. You r observation is sadly lacking. People do not have to vote. The entire issue was about cowards posting ONES from their dark corners and then run and hide. It never ceases to amaze me how loose people are with the truth. Me and the girl who started it? Who was that? If you would like to comment on my stuff or my ongoing 'battles' please call me by my first name (not an abbreviation) and please have your facts straight. I don't agree with you on the quality of the poem either but that's alright, Aunt Hulda said. Your comment today should an abysmal lack of care in the world of communication with others. H

hey Herb, how are ya? hehe, dare I really ask. This poem touches on a few truths, and yet I don't think it's one of your better pieces. I think all this bickering over poetry is pretty funny really. What I think is funnier is how we post our work on an online site and then call ourselves poets...and even funnier still, is the fact that because we have this status we feel it is our job to tell others when they are acting less than the part. Understand, this isn't meant to be offensive, it's merely an observation. If people don't want to vote they shouldn't have to, but they shouldn't belittle those who do. However, the same goes both ways speaking in general, perhaps this was a discussion that shouldn't have involved anyone but you and the girl who started it... I can say all this because I'm not even in the top 500 poets on this site...lol anyway, let's all move on...come to my house, we'll have peace over tea.. Keep writing world!

Why don't we just acknowledge that what really counts is the hit list of readers? On which count...

No Sonja. You are either unwilling or unable to grasp what this situation is all about. If you do not see that your comments were insulting (not just scathing which I do not mind much) then we did indeed grow up in two different worlds. If you had taken the time to read what I said as clearly as I could and which was understood with no trouble by others you would have found it hard to respond the way you did. I do not believe that no insult was intended. Your current comment says nothing. H

I am, to be honest, quite baffled that you could garner insult from that comment I made. I meant no insult, just to say that we should allow others their right to exercise a vote. If they choose not to make a comment it is obviously to avoid having to defend it through days of this kind of thing. The ego comment seemed appropriate, as everyone nowadays seems so sensitive to any criticism. It think more thick skin is needed by one and all. S. ps I can and would appreciate honest comment on my work, just as I exercise that right when I comment and other's work. There is little point in back-slapping all the time. A poet knows when a piece is good - and I have given many a complimentary comment on such. I make critical comments, which are generally appreciated on other sites, but here they are taken as an affront, which is quite frankly tedious. S.

Yes Jake you are right, it is time to move on. After admitting your previous mistake I wonder if you will own up to the other one. Sandra's diatribe against Sonja was in part triggered by Sonja's insulting comments directed at me. In addition, she may have found that Sonja also dishes out harsh critique on the works of others, accusing them of the very faults that she then indulges in in her own poems. I dabble in critiquing others and have only goodwill (?) and honesty on my side but do not consider myself an able critic. Few people are. Saying that Sandra proved herself no better than the vermin....is a bit unnecessary too. But that is enough of this. I know you mean well so let's all write some more poems. Then we can critique them and, ........ H

Very well written.Very touching poem.Loved it.Thank you.

Well, this as with all your work, is excellent and well said. a 10+. Now to address Sonja first. Sonja, all of us here welcome REAL critism, and discussions on our work. Several times Herbert and I have discussed 'bumps' in our poetry or lines that may be changed, etc. But simply rating a 'one' is not critism withouut an explanation, and I believe Herbert's poems are being read just fine, look at his ranking. Plus sonjs, you have left some pretty nasty comments on my work that I would not characterize as belonging in a 'poetry forum', they were in fact just mean and I ignored them. I have also noticed that you always have something negative to say even if it's just your notion of grammer. You, Poetry Hound and the like style yourselfs as great critics. Well, frankly you are not. Herbert is a very talented poet, so am I. It's not ego, we just get tired of being slamed out of jealosy. If we were indeed crappy poets we wouldn't be lister in the top 500 poets on this site day after day, week after week. The way it looks to me, you and your ilk are the ones with the egos.

Sonja: Your statement that I cannot berate anyone for their opinion is, of course, correct.(I am on the receiving end of beratings as you must know and I do not mind the ones that don't threaten outright harm or slander) . Intimating that my ego-drive is getting in the way of what the forum is all about is a statement that has me quite puzzled. My need for accolade is no greater than yours and that of many others, given the small fact that my ego is in the healthy range. I am not begrudging anyone the right to critique what I write but I find it very strange that you would in fact cover for those who hide in the dark, contact their friends and then let loose a barrage of 'ones' to reduce the number rating of the poem. These cowardly and infantile boys or girls (or in-betweens) do not have the guts to come out in the open to accompany their 'opinions' by a comment in writing. THAT was my point and I find it disturbing that you would misunderstand me in such a manner.Perhaps you were having a bad day. Rich Hanson and Kelly Vinal made some very sensible observations about these juvenile acts and I am, frankly, amazed to read your comments. As to my 'need for accolade' beginning to take away from the value of the poetry'? I firmly believe that NOTHING can take away from that. And I also do not believe that humility is the most valuable commodity of a poet. So, you can see that I do not consider your observations value for money, not even tuppence value. Perhaps re-thinking what you said might be wise, as I had expected better from you. H

Herbert, while I liked the poem but have not voted on it (because I feel too much currency is placed on votes on this site) I feel you cannot berate anyone for their opinion. This ego-drive defeats what a poetry forum is about. Should you not be happy that people see your work? The need for accolade is beginning to take away from the value of the poetry. Would you not agree? Surely negative comment (or indeed vote) would make a poet look closer at their work. Humility is the most valuable commodity of a poet. Just giving you my tuppence worth. S.

This is the truest reflection of life I have read. It is clear and precise and says it so well. Thanks Herbert for another outstanding piece of writing....10+ as usual Hugs Jan

It would greatly please me if the one who marked me down on this would have the courage to come out in the open and state his beliefs. I realise that the ten that this poem deserves might bother you but why the slime of cowardice? H

A moving poem. You're kinder to your father here than you are in many of your poems.

His eventual exceptance of death, all human beings will eventually arrive at that time unless we are taken suddenly, i have observed people who had to come to terms with there demise just like our growth as human beings you have built a poem around those very feelings quite well Warm regards allan

The relative lack of rhyming in the first part is intentional. His thinking becomes smoother as he begins to sense the answer. H