Comment from Green Lake Girl

Excellent

Yes indeed, the signs are here that our planet is in trouble. Hard to believe that man could cripple something so valuable. The very thing that provides life to us is the thing that is being destroyed. Doesn't make sense, does it?

Your photo is eerie. The tree looks like a corkscrew. Yikes!

 Comment Written 09-Jan-2016

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reply by the author on 09-Jan-2016

Thank you. Yes, isn't that an anazing tree.

Comment from Pantygynt

Excellent

That is a remarkable idea and an amazing piece of creative visualisation. I love. It has resulted in a concise warning against the pollution o our planet in so many unspecified ways.

 Comment Written 08-Jan-2016

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reply by the author on 08-Jan-2016

Thank you Pantygynt. I spotted that tree on a golf course through the window of a coffee shop, and just had to go investigate it.

reply by Pantygynt on 08-Jan-2016

I bet it put you off your stroke. Lol.

Comment from Joan E.

Excellent

I am pleased you saw a deformed hand in that tree and let your imagination lead you into this social commentary. I admired your use of the Octogram form and your rhymes. Here's to saving our planet- Joan

 Comment Written 08-Jan-2016

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reply by the author on 08-Jan-2016

Thank you Joan. Amen.

Comment from Amy Greta

Excellent

Wow, your poem actually made me scared and it had such an eerie feel to it...a trait of a great poem: spark emotion in the reader. Then reading your notes, I was so impressed that the picture of the tree inspired this most creative and well structured piece. You are so imaginative. You also send a powerful and important message that is not thought of often enough.
Excellent!
Amy

 Comment Written 07-Jan-2016

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reply by the author on 07-Jan-2016

Thank you very much Amy for your comments and enthusiasm.

Comment from His Grayness

Excellent

Thanks to this brilliant poet for another compelling lesson of poetic construction, so well presented in example. The message also contains valuable and ponderable matters related to out management of God' gift of our environment and I would recommend this reading to anyone....poet or not! Cheers: HIS GRAYNESS; Vance

 Comment Written 07-Jan-2016

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reply by the author on 07-Jan-2016

Thank you Vance. I appreciate that very much.

Comment from Douglas Paul

Excellent

I agree with the observations you make in this poem. It describes the state of our world pretty well from a spiritual standpoint. I am pretty new here and trying to learn, so really liked you expanations of this form of poetry. Thank you

 Comment Written 07-Jan-2016

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reply by the author on 07-Jan-2016

Thank you Douglas. Welcome to the site. You'll find I almost always describe the poetic format that I use.

Comment from Dawn of Tomorrow

Excellent

I'm thinking he's got a pretty good grasp on it already. Nice format, I think these two lines seem a bit rough in comparison to the rest of the poem

He promised that he would take it,
if humans failed to keep it fit.

Wondering if you could work those a little bit. I also noticed your syllable count is off in line 6 of that first stanza you have 10 syllables.

 Comment Written 07-Jan-2016

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reply by the author on 07-Jan-2016

Thanks Dawn, I reworked it a bit.

Comment from chcbeck

Excellent

I loved the content, and the style it's written in. Your author notes are Truly helpful and makes me want to have ago. Thank you for sharing.

 Comment Written 07-Jan-2016

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reply by the author on 07-Jan-2016

Thank you chcbeck. It's one of my favorite forms. Definitely give it a go.

Comment from Sandra du Plessis

Excellent

You are so right, that looks like a hand and it can only represent the devil. He is taking our planet because we don't care about it at all, we seeking already for another planet

 Comment Written 07-Jan-2016

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reply by the author on 07-Jan-2016

Thank you Sandra. My point exactly.

Comment from I am Cat

Excellent

Hello Tom,
I love how different people see different things in artwork. I can't see what you see, but then, I can't really see the real photograph.
I like octograms... I'm not a huge believer in the devil, humans, yes... and yes, we are definitely destroying our earth... but it will be ok, to my mind. However, it may fight back and kill us. LOL
Your poem is well written (of course) and well presented and for me, the photograph has a lovely calm about it.
There's something about decaying wood that is beautiful to me. ;)
Well done,
Cat

 Comment Written 07-Jan-2016

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reply by the author on 07-Jan-2016

Thank you Cat for your comments and observations. I just modified the picture since your review. A thought a vignette might show up the hand better. Not actually rotted wood, just strange striations of the bark. If you don't like rotted wood, you definitely won't like my dragon's head poem, when I write it. I understand you spirit squeamishness. You've been through hell.

reply by I am Cat on 07-Jan-2016

Actually I said that I DO love decaying wood

reply by the author on 07-Jan-2016

Oh yeah. I guess I misread that. Lol.