Comment from rosehill (Wendy)

Excellent

Here's to your younger-self ditty, which showed all the glimpses of humor, word play and clever crafting of the tale (or is that tail?) that we all have come to recognize as uniquely yours. An extra star for the environmental version it grew up to be. I too took about 40 years to return to poetry, and only really took it up in earnest when I found myself in the delightful land of FanStory. I keep promising to get back here more often, because each time I do, you have something to delight. - Wendy

 Comment Written 28-Nov-2021

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reply by the author on 29-Nov-2021

Many thanks, Wendy. Good to see you back here. In truth I have not been here that often myself...

Yes, even though I kinda knew I had that sort of verse inside me AND I often taught poetry at high school level, I never picked up a pen to write the stuff until I came to FanStory!

It would be good to see more from you!

Steve

reply by rosehill (Wendy) on 29-Nov-2021

I just posted my first ditty in a long time. I would like to hang here more often and do encourage myself to do so. I still lurk and read from time to time, but my muse seems to have taken the pandemic lockdowns quite seriously and is still social distancing from me.

reply by the author on 29-Nov-2021

I may borrow that excuse!

Comment from Allezw2

Exceptional

Egad, Lad! Almost serial limericks for the reader to peruse. thusly, truth is fed to the unwary, like the classical themes in the background music in the old Warner Brothers Looney Tunes. Nicely done, Fantasist.

 Comment Written 28-Nov-2021

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reply by the author on 29-Nov-2021

Thank you, especially for that extra star. Yes, it is a bit Limericky and I do have a book of those almost ready to go. just got to persuade my other half to illustrate them for me.

Hope all is well with you!

Steve

Comment from Seshadri_Sreenivasan

Excellent

This is a delightful poem and I enjoyed reading it. The author's notes were very helpful and it is a pleasant surprise that you wrote it while in school. The words flow freely and the rhymes brought a smile to my face. Thanks for sharing!

 Comment Written 28-Nov-2021

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reply by the author on 29-Nov-2021

Thanks, Seshadri. I am glad you got a smile out of this!

Steve

Comment from humpwhistle

Exceptional

Ah, you can't keep a good poet down--even after a forty-year hiatus. I do believe you were a prodigy, Steve. Before I read your notes, I was planning to thank you from bring poetry back to FS. Your turns of phrase are absolutely delightful. I appreciate the updated ending--era appropriate--but the original is just as satisfying.

I'll bet, with a little digging, you will find more long-lost pearls.

Thanks for a Sunday morning lift.

Peace, Lee

 Comment Written 28-Nov-2021

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reply by the author on 29-Nov-2021

Many thanks, Lee.

Nope I really think apart from the other little free verse piece that was in the same magazine I never penned another poem until I joined FanStory in 2010 - despite teaching poetry in my classes quite often.

Steve

Comment from E. Denison

Excellent

This is really great, Kiwisteveh. I do like the poem that you posted, but the author's notes just really hit it home. Great job with this "whale of a tale". Thank you for sharing this work and a bit about you as well!

 Comment Written 27-Nov-2021

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reply by the author on 29-Nov-2021

Thanks for the kind words.

Steve

Comment from Dawn Munro

Excellent

Ah, so the talent developed at an early age... As always, Steve, your work entertains me immensely. I only wish I could rate it as it deserves, but I have no sixes left. But it is a (*groan*) whale of a tale. (*silly grin*)

 Comment Written 27-Nov-2021

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reply by the author on 29-Nov-2021

Many thanks, Dawn.

I don't really know if I have improved over fifty years!

Steve

Comment from royowen

Excellent

I don't criticise Facebook, but then I don't go there much, only to write birthday poems for my family, plus sundry relatives and friends, but I have been told of unfortunate things some have written, it can be a little lethal at times, a dangerous medium, but a useful one as well. Great writing, you showed some promise at an early age. Written in 888668 and aabccb rhyming, well done, good job, blessings Roy

 Comment Written 27-Nov-2021

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reply by the author on 29-Nov-2021

Thanks, Roy!

Yes Facebook does have its uses - and also its dangers.

Not sure if my poetry has really got any better over fifty years. I do write a wider range these days...

Steve

reply by royowen on 29-Nov-2021

It doesn?t need much improvement Steve, if any.

Comment from Gypsy Blue Rose

Excellent

Blast From the Past
by kiwisteveh

Hello, Steve,

I only have Facebook to stay in touch with family and friends.

Some people use it to spray conspiracy theories...so awful.

I like your fun piem.

We still have environmental issues. :(

 Comment Written 27-Nov-2021

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reply by the author on 29-Nov-2021

Thanks, Gypsy.

Yes, Facebook should be FACESbook - there re definitely two faces there.

Steve

Comment from Tina Crute

Excellent

I can't believe you wrote this poem all the way back in school and didn't write again for so long. I, for one, am glad you came back to poetry. I thoroughly enjoyed this special, first published poem. I laughed a few times, at the comical rhymes, like moray and story, which I pronouced stor-ay while reading. Thanks for this fun and intelligent read!
Tina

 Comment Written 27-Nov-2021

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reply by the author on 29-Nov-2021

Tina, many thanks for the kind words. Yep, poetry wasn't that important to me for many years - even though I was an English teacher for most of those years!!

Now I have a new book of humorous verse out, but this one missed the cut.

Steve

reply by Tina Crute on 29-Nov-2021

You are very welcome! I enjoyed it!
Tina

Comment from Sherry Asbury

Excellent

What a happy conglomeration of poetic stuff. Fascinating story and such a long hiatus between poems - glad you are back because I love this Whale tale!! You have a sweet and funny poetic voice, and you threw in some lessons from my favorite book...(the Bible) -great stuff here!

 Comment Written 27-Nov-2021

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reply by the author on 29-Nov-2021

Thanks, Sherry.

Yep, poetry wasn't that important to me for many years - even though I was an English teacher for most of those years!!

Now I have a new book of humorous verse out, but this one missed the cut.

I also have a poem called "A Brief History of the Old Testament: in my portfolio somewhere. It starts off:
"I've nothing planned this week," God said.
"I'll start a project in my shed.
It's dark in there; Let there be light.
Hey! I've created day and night!"

Steve