Comment from Anne Johnston

Excellent

Wow, you certainly put a lot of time and effort into this. It is a very interesting read. Not sure that I want to figure out my Wisdom Quotient. Sorry I don't have an extra star but I hope this does well in the contest.

 Comment Written 02-Feb-2023

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reply by the author on 02-Feb-2023

Anne, thanks for the kind review.

Steve

reply by Anne Johnston on 02-Feb-2023

You are welcome

Comment from jacquelyn popp

Excellent

This is well written, you did a good job with the sonnets about the stages of life. I have no idea what my WQ score would be. I thought that your poem was interesting, and I enjoyed reading it. Thank you for sharing.

 Comment Written 02-Feb-2023

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reply by the author on 02-Feb-2023

Thank you. Glad you enjoyed.

Steve

Comment from dragonpoet

Excellent

Hi Steve,
This is a well done crown of sonnets about the stages of life and how the recur and how they effect your bank of wisdom. I like the nod to the Bible and you use of alliteration throughout. You are right about it being more light hearted than this form usually is.
Figuring out your WQ is as complex as this form.
Keep writing and stay healthy
Good luck in the contest.
Joan

 Comment Written 01-Feb-2023

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reply by the author on 01-Feb-2023

Thanks, Joan. I suspect at the time, and perhaps still today, I couldn't face the prospect of such a long work droning on in serious tone! I know that's what these pieces are supposed to be like, but where's the fun in that?

Steve

Comment from Frank Malley

Excellent

I have to admit that i don't like pedagogically centered poetry. Reading a piece that essentially spends hundreds of lines in multiple stanzas that exhort me to be this , to do that, to cherish this, to relish that - in this poem,there's a lot of skill evident in skillfully meeting the demands of the form and filling in all the content categories. Better poetry is about feeling consciousness, bringing sense and open eyes to the world. This skillful poem just purports to be a sophisticated mentor with a lot to say; I don't go to poetry for mentors of this order. I go to poetry to feel and imaginatively share life's astounding and strange experience, not to be instructed in how to do that.

 Comment Written 01-Feb-2023

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reply by the author on 01-Feb-2023

Thanks, Frank. I have to say that by and large I agree with you. Perhaps 'didactic' is the word that best describes the kind of poetry that you detest and I certainly don't cherish that kind of stuff either.

That being said, it is possible that you have missed the point to some extent in that this poem is basically a joke and humorous verse is in its own category. You are not meant to emerge from the process a better or smarter person, you are simply meant to get a chuckle to brighten your day.

If you could see your way to strip the poem of any intent to tell you how to behave, I believe you will be left with something of a parody of IQ Tests and an underlying theme that true wisdom comes from life experience - plus you should have a smile on your face!

Thanks again for wading through the piece and for taking the time to detail your opinion so clearly.

Steve

Comment from karenina

Excellent

Good gravy Marie, this form is enough to put my brain in traction! Yours is brilliant. My WQ score would be too depressing to figure out, so I'll just go with the flow...

Yelena convinced me to join in on this "Heroic" effort some years back and I am still recovering.

Really? I'd like to lobby to allow previous efforts back in just because they take a decade or two off one's lifespan...

Seriously, though. Great job. I'm understanding that you've gone all in and are planning to submit another one for this year's contest?

My word, you are one persistent poet!

A single sonnet taxes my muse.

I'll stand on he sidelines and applaud!

Karenina

 Comment Written 01-Feb-2023

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reply by the author on 01-Feb-2023

Thanks, Karenina.

Yes I have been coaxed (bullied?) to enter the new contest and so far not a word committed to paper, although today is my birthday so I am spared the usual run of chores and hope to find time to sit with blank pages in front of me. I have the germ of an idea moulded around a seven-part framework. That and a looming deadline may be enough to push me over the finish line!

Wish me luck!

Steve

reply by karenina on 02-Feb-2023

Good luck~ although I see you have talent aplenty so I think you'll do just swimmingly. And happy birthday to you!

Comment from JT traveller

Excellent

I agree with all of the above except the children part. Each to their own.

All in all a beautiful piece of prose, eloquently written and well delivered.

This was my favourite line about marriage,

"So hoist the mainsail, let the trade-winds fill
The canvas, pregnant with your dreams and goals;"

Such tender words.

 Comment Written 31-Jan-2023

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reply by the author on 01-Feb-2023

Thanks, Jacqueline (Jackie?)

You mean you don't think having children makes you wiser? Or do you simply disagree with some of the implied statements about children?

In any case, thanks again for the review and for picking out your favourite lines. Nice metaphor, isn't it?

Steve

Comment from harmony13

Excellent

This is a deep, interesting, descriptive and creative poem. I like how
this author wrote about each phase of life with details. Thank you for
the author's notes - I plan to do this calculation when I have more time.
I pondered on how hard it must be to write a Sonnet of this kind.
Great Poem - many parts of it made me smile!
Hope you are doing well....Maria

 Comment Written 31-Jan-2023

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reply by the author on 31-Jan-2023

Thanks, Maria! Do the calculations if you feel like it, but just remember this is mainly a joke, although I do stand by the claim that life experience makes you wiser On the other hand, I can think of a recent president with plenty of life experience who is definitely not wise!

Have a great day!

Steve

reply by harmony13 on 31-Jan-2023

Hi Steve,
Thank you for your response. I think life experience helps if you are willing to learn and look at your mistakes! I laughed when I read your comment about a recent president!
Have a great night!.....Maria

Comment from Sarah Das Gupta

Exceptional

This deserves more than six if only for the hard work and wit that have gone into it. There are touches of Kipling here but more tongue in cheek
then the Victorians /Edwardians would have tolerated! Love the notes too.

 Comment Written 31-Jan-2023

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reply by the author on 31-Jan-2023

Many thanks, Sarah! I am more than happy to be compared to Kipling - I love his sense of humour as displayed in The Just So Stories as well as in his poems. I'm glad you enjoyed this. I am still debating with myself whether to retain the light touch in the upcoming contest or whether to pen something deeper and more serious.

Steve

Comment from jake cosmos aller

Exceptional

masterfully done. You nailed the heroic chain of the sonnet form. I have only written a few sonnets; I have a hard time with traditional metrical poetry, just not my forte.

 Comment Written 30-Jan-2023

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reply by the author on 31-Jan-2023

Thanks, Jake. I appreciate the kind words and the extra star. Luckily meter has never been an issue for me so I can generally roll out the old iambic pentameter pretty much on cue.

Comment from Katherine M. (k-11)

Excellent

Oh dear, I come out with a Kish Minus being at 379 or so it seems (although I had no paper to hand so added up on my fingers. I may need to check it. But I think its right as I am over-educated so lost out totally because of that). Anyway the poem... I liked it very much even if it's a different one you're going to submit for the contest. I'll be rooting for this one. kay

 Comment Written 30-Jan-2023

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reply by the author on 30-Jan-2023

Thanks, Katherine. That was a bit of a mean trick in my system, wiping out anyone who was over=educated, wasn't it? In case you didn't spot it, my system was carefully designed to make sure that I got a high score.

Steve