Comment from Joy Graham

Exceptional

Very nice story that I could picture perfectly. Excellent flow of repeated lines that blended perfectly. I love the fantasy of dancing with Fred Astaire, though I heard he was very fussy about who he would dance with. Your fantasy makes me slightly jealous because I'm not a good dancer :) Congratulations on winning this contest. Your poem is truly outstanding!

 Comment Written 25-Mar-2015

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reply by the author on 25-Mar-2015

Hello Joy and thank you for taking the time to read and review my little pantoum. I find the puzzle both fascinating and frustrating and I'm glad that you think I succeeded in keeping it moving despite the dreaded repeats. Much appreciated. - Wendy

Comment from Treischel

Excellent

A delightful read full of passion, fashion, and dance. You execute the form seamlessly in a flowing description of aging and remembrance of what once was. The repeated lines are well crafted to create a smooth handoff to the transitions. The theme is well planned. Nice touches of lots of alliteration - from far, my mind, waltz with, past peeling, i in gold gown, sneer saboteur, face form. The chair provides a touching image. I can see why you won.

 Comment Written 17-Mar-2015

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reply by the author on 17-Mar-2015

Thank you so much for the thoughtful, thorough review. I truly have a love-hate relationship with these pantoums. The puzzle of them both fascinates and frustrates me. I am glad you think my hours were well spent. - Wendy

Comment from Carolyn 'Deaton' Stephens

Excellent

Congrats on your most worthy win. This is a great poem with such human interest. It tells a strong story of one who is confined to a wheelchair but still dances in her mind.
Well done, Carolyn

 Comment Written 16-Mar-2015

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reply by the author on 16-Mar-2015

Thank you so much Carolyn for taking time to read and review my words. - Wendy

Comment from Bill Schott

Excellent

Hi, I was wondering if this a poem that was published here before, or is a new creation. I seem to remember reviewing this same poem months ago. The idea of the narrator confined to a chair before the dancers, and the painting used, give me a sense of déjà vu. The reason I ask is that I thought we couldn't do that. If we can, I've got oodles of re-treads I'd like to re-utilize.

 Comment Written 15-Mar-2015

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reply by the author on 15-Mar-2015

Hi Bill. Thanks so much for the read and review. This was written and finished just a day or so before the contest deadline. But you are correct that we are not allowed to recycle and they are quite vigilant about that. So, deja-vu it must be. (not even going to try to put the accents in. When I do it always comes out looking like a swear word.) - Wendy

Comment from dragonpoet

Exceptional

This is well deserving of the win. Congratulations.

This tells of a woman who takes her fate in a wheel chair and sees that she can still dance and look beautiful doing it.

I like the almost impressionist artwork.

Keep writing

dragonpoet

 Comment Written 15-Mar-2015

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reply by the author on 15-Mar-2015

Thanks so much for taking a look at my poem. I appreciate the extra star too! - Wendy

reply by dragonpoet on 15-Mar-2015

No problem, Wendy

Joan

Comment from Carrie Carson

Exceptional

Fabulous, I love to whirl and dance regardless of any physical limitations. This is so well done, so glad I stopped in to see it. :) Carrie

 Comment Written 14-Mar-2015

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reply by the author on 14-Mar-2015

Thank you Carrie for the read and review. I am glad you came to the dance. - Wendy

Comment from Adri7enne

Excellent

Gee, that's nice, rosehill! I can understand your winning that contest. It's a beautiful pantoum, with the repeating lines descending down the lenght of the poem. I loved the visual images of the old woman in the chair, fantazising about waltzing with Fred Astair. How lovely! Congratulations on the win!

 Comment Written 14-Mar-2015

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reply by the author on 14-Mar-2015

Thank you so much for the read and review. I am a total Fred Fan but one of the world's worst dancers. It is a good thing that we can imagine isn't it? - Wendy

Comment from Debra White

Excellent

Hello :)
Congratulations on winning the Pantoum contest!
I had not seen your delightful entry until now and I can see why this has been selected as the winner. Truly lovely. Perfect meter, adherence to form and the subject just pulls at my heart. I love how you refer to 'age' as 'life's saboteur'.
Kindest regards, Debra :)

 Comment Written 14-Mar-2015

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reply by the author on 14-Mar-2015

Thanks so much Debra for the kind words. I have such a love-hate relationship with this form. It started out with a very different goal, but I'm glad I listened to the little voice that pushed me in this direction. - Wendy

Comment from Contests

A contest winning entry! A seven star rating from the Contest Committee for posting the winning contest entry.

 Comment Written 14-Mar-2015

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reply by the author on 14-Mar-2015

I humbly accept the seventh star and appreciate all the effort that went into judging the contest. I can only imagine how difficult it is. Thank you for the read, the review and the recognition. - Wendy

Comment from rhymelord

Excellent

Dear Wendy,
Excellent example of the rigour in rhyme and metre necessary to present a pantoum and a soul searching subject to boot. I do hope it is only poetic licence, or the fact for example that your cat is on your lap, that you "cannot leave this chair".
Regards
Reg

 Comment Written 13-Mar-2015

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reply by the author on 13-Mar-2015

Thanks so much Reg for the read, review and kind words. I am perfectly mobile, thank you, but not as often as I should be. To much time in the creative chair, not enough brisk walks. - Wendy