Reviews from

Thy Grace

A Crown of Sonnets

78 total reviews 
Comment from lola29
Excellent
Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

Alvin, oh how I wish I had six stars to give this one. Your poem is absolutely spectacular. You are indeed a master of poetry. This one must be published.

 Comment Written 22-Jan-2010


reply by the author on 23-Jan-2010
    You are so kind. I do plan on looking into publishing it after receiving such good reviews.

    By the way, It's actually very easy to change the review or rating of a work at any time. I do it often on Sunday when I receive my allotment of two six stars reviews. Of course, each time I do that, I lose a six star rating for the week beginning on said Sunday.

    Go to My Menu in the upper left hand corner of the screen. Scroll down to My Feedback and from the drop-down menu, select Reviews I Wrote. All the reviews you have written will come up, and you scroll down to the one you want to change. Click on Edit Review in the lower RIGHT hand screen of the review; you then can change the wording of the review or the rating.
    Of course, I am not asking you to revise the review or the rating; I am just explaining how it can be done after the factâ??it's helped me correct many a mistake.

    Thanks for calling this poem spectacular.
Comment from anabelle
Exceptional
This work has reached the exceptional level

This is absolutely beautiful, Alvin. What a work of art you've created here. I found so many aspects of religion portrayed here: from antiquity to the modern, to the global and spiritual whole, to the personal.

Very beautifully done. Thanks for sharing.

Regards, anabelle

 Comment Written 22-Jan-2010


reply by the author on 23-Jan-2010
    Thanks for the exceptional rating and noting not only the depth but also the breadth of the poem. I truly appreciate it.
reply by anabelle on 23-Jan-2010
    Always a pleasure. :-)
reply by the author on 23-Jan-2010
    Thank you.
Comment from bruceg
Excellent
Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

I am not a professional reviewer, but I do know what I like. It was bit long, but then that is probably what it's length supposed to be. I like what you have done here, your religious and spiritual aspects. It's not hard to see the quality in you as a person and I praise a person who shares their affinity for the Lord and the Word, thank you for being who you are and giving what you have.

Bruce

 Comment Written 22-Jan-2010


reply by the author on 23-Jan-2010
    Yes, a Crown of Sonnets has to be seven sonnets of eighteen lines, at least in this case. Thanks for a great review.
Comment from BarnCat
Exceptional
This work has reached the exceptional level

Alvin -- this is stunning (worthy of a six but I've none to offer). Moreover, itis the ony one of these sonnets I have been able to read through to the end. You recognize that the sonnet form was created during a period when language and syntax was very different from today's, and have used well the appropriate language skills to further your concept. Well done -- the work you put into it shines. Deborah

 Comment Written 22-Jan-2010


reply by the author on 23-Jan-2010
    Yes, I was quite concerned to keep the reader's interest throughout. After all, it is 112 lines (with some repetition.) I am glad to know I have done so.

    By the way, It's actually very easy to change the review or rating of a work at any time. I do it often on Sunday when I receive my allotment of two six stars reviews. Of course, each time I do that, I lose a six star rating for the week beginning on said Sunday.

    Go to My Menu in the upper left hand corner of the screen. Scroll down to My Feedback and from the drop-down menu, select Reviews I Wrote. All the reviews you have written will come up, and you scroll down to the one you want to change. Click on Edit Review in the lower RIGHT hand screen of the review; you then can change the wording of the review or the rating.
    Of course, I am not asking you to revise the review or the rating; I am just explaining how it can be done after the factâ??it's helped me correct many a mistake.

    Thanks for noticing my attention to language and syntax. I worked very hard to make sure that this sounded and read like it was written before the end of the reign of Queen Anne.
reply by BarnCat on 23-Jan-2010
    Hi Alvin -- this poem will get my first 6 of the week! I hope you will not be offended, but after reading your sonnet, I was able to hear the measure and meter for the first time. I put up an irreverent sonnet -- the first I've written -- after "hearing" yours. I may even try my hand at a "real" one someday. Thank you for continuing to inspire me to stretch and reach higher. D
reply by the author on 23-Jan-2010
    Thank you. IF you PM me, the name of your, ahem, irreverent sonnet, I'll review it...
    Thanks again.
Comment from Blue Danube
Excellent
Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

Hello Alvin:
It has been my pleasure to read this crown of sonnets, a poem to be savored and read many times over.
I don't have SIX stars to give you right now but will rate again when I can raise the number.
Hope "Thy Grace" reaches many people who can experience the love in your words which touch the heart and elevate the spirit.
Beautiful, Alvin!
Blue

 Comment Written 22-Jan-2010


reply by the author on 23-Jan-2010
    Thanks for all your help today with this poem. It would not have been as successful as it was today without your generosity. Thank you again.
reply by Blue Danube on 23-Jan-2010
    Hello Alvin:
    Glad I was an instrument able to help today.
    The success is all yours, Maestro.
    Blue
Comment from Eternal Muse
Exceptional
This work has reached the exceptional level

I am left quite speechless after reading this. A soul is truly bathed reading these brilliant spiritual sonnets, executed to perfection of form, substance and expression. This work is so profound, and in addressing it to God, it becomes divine. Your use of old English is very appropriate.

I was especially impressed by these:

Thou didst create the heavens and the earth;
No matter where I went, there Thou wert found--
Assuring me of my own soul's self-worth;
Thou wert above the sky and underground.

My winters I spent studying Thy Word;
Both Jesus Christ, my Lord, and Scripture, too.
I knew my prayers to Thee were always heard;
I read the Holy Torah of the Jews--


I loved the above lines, though in the work of that caliber it is hard to single out isolated verses or lines.

Magnificent work! Thank you so much for joining this contest, I am very much impressed.

 Comment Written 22-Jan-2010


reply by the author on 23-Jan-2010
    Thank you for your review. Of the two stanzas you quoted, the first is one of my favorites.
reply by Eternal Muse on 24-Jan-2010
    I upgraded the rating to a six a few minutes ago. It's Sunday, and we are given more sixes today. I felt very bad I couldn't award it when I first reviewed the work.
reply by the author on 24-Jan-2010
    Thank you for doing that. I am most appreciative.
Comment from anabellapongasi
Excellent
Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

Hi Alvin,
This is quite an impressive work of seven sonnets in one. I like your topic and it is very well written. I am not a qualified technical reviewer so I can not see anything wrong with it except maybe this line:
He suffered, buried, and was killed with thieves--
I don't know but I don't think it sounds right to be buried first before being killed. :)
Very nice work. Best wishes in the contest!
Anabella

This rating does not count towards story rating or author rank.
The highest and the lowest rating are not included in calculations.

 Comment Written 22-Jan-2010


reply by the author on 22-Jan-2010
    You are so right; what was I thinking? I have corrected that place and added a bit of alliteration. How does it read now?
reply by anabellapongasi on 22-Jan-2010
    scourging, yes, perfect :)
Comment from cheyennewy
Exceptional
This work has reached the exceptional level

Hi Al....this is the most accomplished poem I have read in a long time. The theme is well done and carried throughout. I doubt if I could ever write a crown of heroic sonnets as staying focused would be my bane. I love the "old world" words you used..I thought of some of the old masters when I read them. Speaking or the old masters they would say you have done this well. Brovo and you get my last six....chey

 Comment Written 22-Jan-2010


reply by the author on 22-Jan-2010
    You are more than kind. I know it doesn't pay much now, and I wasn't getting many reviews, but you made my night (I even interrupted preparing dinner to check to see if there were any reviews.) How can I thank you enough?
reply by cheyennewy on 22-Jan-2010
    You just did!