Ghost Ship
Elegy for the thirty-six killed in the Ghost Ship fire.69 total reviews
Comment from jusylee72
I enjoy the way your mind makes connections in your authors notes. i did need to understand the mythical background of this poem to understand it . It truly helped. i can also see why you thought to compare the two.
reply by the author on 13-Dec-2016
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I enjoy the way your mind makes connections in your authors notes. i did need to understand the mythical background of this poem to understand it . It truly helped. i can also see why you thought to compare the two.
Comment Written 12-Dec-2016
reply by the author on 13-Dec-2016
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Thank you, jusylee72, for your review and comments. In my upcoming public performances of my poem, I have been considering giving a brief mythological introduction to Kharon because most people will not know him by name but by sight.
Comment from Dustin Etting
Absolutely amazing! I can't even imagine writing something like this. Such depth in the story, but then when you read the inspiration for the poem; it just makes it that much more amazing. Outstanding job!
reply by the author on 13-Dec-2016
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Absolutely amazing! I can't even imagine writing something like this. Such depth in the story, but then when you read the inspiration for the poem; it just makes it that much more amazing. Outstanding job!
Comment Written 12-Dec-2016
reply by the author on 13-Dec-2016
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Thank you, Dustin, for your generous, six star review. I actually visited the memorial people left outside the ruins of the Ghost Ship warehouse where thirty-six people died. The ideas I gleaned from the mementos and tributes people left behind cemented the direction I wanted to take my poem. Thank you for your review.
Comment from lyenochka
Thank you for this beautiful for tribute. It was heart-wrenching to learn of it on the news. Although we treasure the arts, so many artists can barely make ends meet. I like how you use the name the warehouse was given and tie it to the mythical vessel across the River Styx. Thanks also for your wonderful notes that clarify and educate.
reply by the author on 13-Dec-2016
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Thank you for this beautiful for tribute. It was heart-wrenching to learn of it on the news. Although we treasure the arts, so many artists can barely make ends meet. I like how you use the name the warehouse was given and tie it to the mythical vessel across the River Styx. Thanks also for your wonderful notes that clarify and educate.
Comment Written 12-Dec-2016
reply by the author on 13-Dec-2016
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Yes, lyenochka, that was brilliant on my part to tie the name of the warehouse with mythical Kharon who ferried the first ghost ship. Nationwide, landlords of warehouses fear another Ghost Ship and increased code enforcement so much that they are evicting artists from warehouses and slums. This is heartwrenching all around. Thank you for your generous, six star review.
Comment from mvbrooks
What a powerful poem and your descriptions -- youth, rebels...our families, our friends...lend a sense of reality. While not naming the individuals, you have made each of them more real to us. The idea of the ferryman being able to bring back people we loss is incredible (as in incredibly creative and incredibly/not to be believed). Wonderful tribute to those who were lost and to those who grieves these lost lives.
reply by the author on 13-Dec-2016
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What a powerful poem and your descriptions -- youth, rebels...our families, our friends...lend a sense of reality. While not naming the individuals, you have made each of them more real to us. The idea of the ferryman being able to bring back people we loss is incredible (as in incredibly creative and incredibly/not to be believed). Wonderful tribute to those who were lost and to those who grieves these lost lives.
Comment Written 12-Dec-2016
reply by the author on 13-Dec-2016
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Yes, mvbrooks, in Greek mythology, Kharon ferries the souls of the newly dead. I imagined myself begging Kharon to bring them back. I even offered to pay their return passage. I am glad that you found my tribute to be "incredibly creative." Thank you for your generous, six star review.
Comment from sanejane
My heart goes out to you and your community. I can't imagine your devastation.
But the treasures we most desire to keep
are the people whose lives enlivened us,
but whose deaths deaden us.
Beautiful words, but it's a tragedy that you had cause to write them.
reply by the author on 13-Dec-2016
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My heart goes out to you and your community. I can't imagine your devastation.
But the treasures we most desire to keep
are the people whose lives enlivened us,
but whose deaths deaden us.
Beautiful words, but it's a tragedy that you had cause to write them.
Comment Written 12-Dec-2016
reply by the author on 13-Dec-2016
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Yes, sanejane, I would prefer that there not have been a tragedy for me to write about, for me to visit the memorial outside of the burnt out ruins and wonder What if? I would not be doing my job and duty as a poet if I did not speak about the tragedies of life.
I am preparing to perform my poem at open mics and tributes throughout my community. The stanza you noted is the one I emphasize the most by slowing down my recitation.
Thank you for your review.
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Your performances will help to get the grief out. I hope you raise a lot of money - it's all you can do.
As you're a performer, have you thought of adding audio to your posts at some point?
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I have thought of adding audio, but have opted to add videos to many of my posts. I have three to four performances coming up in the next six days. I am bound to film one of them. Stay tuned.
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Will do.
Comment from Irish Rain
Sorry to hear of this. I don't read the paper, and turned off our cable, so I never know the news, unless I happen upon it. A tragedy, blessings and prayers to all...
reply by the author on 13-Dec-2016
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Sorry to hear of this. I don't read the paper, and turned off our cable, so I never know the news, unless I happen upon it. A tragedy, blessings and prayers to all...
Comment Written 12-Dec-2016
reply by the author on 13-Dec-2016
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Well, Irish Rain, I am glad my poem brought you the news from my part of the world. As I turn off my TV more, I find myself learning the news from what people are writing on FanStory. Thank you for your review and condolences.
Comment from davisr (Rhonda)
What a beautiful tribute to the lives lost in this horrific fire. That you knew some of them is terrible. I'm sorry for your loss, and for the loss to the artistic community at large. It was a dark trajedy.
Rhonda
reply by the author on 13-Dec-2016
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What a beautiful tribute to the lives lost in this horrific fire. That you knew some of them is terrible. I'm sorry for your loss, and for the loss to the artistic community at large. It was a dark trajedy.
Rhonda
Comment Written 12-Dec-2016
reply by the author on 13-Dec-2016
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Thank you, Rhonda, for your review of my beautiful tribute for a dark tragedy. I appreciate your condolences, too.
Comment from Ella25
An excellent poem based on Greek mythology where Kharon, the god of underworld takes departed to the underworld. A coin/coins were placed on eyelids of departed souls to pay the fair to cross the river. Cerberus, the dog of Hades with three heads, guards the door to the underworld. I am a history/mythology lover. My history teacher was my muse. Thank you for sharing Sis Cat. Blessings, Ella
reply by the author on 13-Dec-2016
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An excellent poem based on Greek mythology where Kharon, the god of underworld takes departed to the underworld. A coin/coins were placed on eyelids of departed souls to pay the fair to cross the river. Cerberus, the dog of Hades with three heads, guards the door to the underworld. I am a history/mythology lover. My history teacher was my muse. Thank you for sharing Sis Cat. Blessings, Ella
Comment Written 12-Dec-2016
reply by the author on 13-Dec-2016
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Oh, thank you, Ella, for your review. I am glad my poem jazzed up a history and mythology lover such as you. Thank you for your review.
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It was truly a pleasure to read your work. Ella
Comment from royowen
Poems and letters in memoriam are particularly thoughtful acts of kindness, a great rod projecting honour through words and expression to leave an eternalised, an indelible memory and handprint of a person on this earth's surface it lasts longer than footprint or handprint on a wall, well done beautifully written on expressive language, blressings, Roy
reply by the author on 13-Dec-2016
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Poems and letters in memoriam are particularly thoughtful acts of kindness, a great rod projecting honour through words and expression to leave an eternalised, an indelible memory and handprint of a person on this earth's surface it lasts longer than footprint or handprint on a wall, well done beautifully written on expressive language, blressings, Roy
Comment Written 12-Dec-2016
reply by the author on 13-Dec-2016
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Thank you, Roy, for your glowing review and kind thoughts about indelible memory. It is always an honor to hear from you. Thanks.
Comment from Mustang Patty
This poem flows well, but the subject matter hurt my heart. You've done a great job of imagery, and named the souls lost well.
Thank you for the thought and imagery you've created here. I hope the fundraisers go well.
~patty~
reply by the author on 13-Dec-2016
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This poem flows well, but the subject matter hurt my heart. You've done a great job of imagery, and named the souls lost well.
Thank you for the thought and imagery you've created here. I hope the fundraisers go well.
~patty~
Comment Written 12-Dec-2016
reply by the author on 13-Dec-2016
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Yes, Patty, I hope the fundraisers go well, too. I am rehearsing my poem and am looking forward to sharing it. I am glad that the imagery of my poem struck you. Thank you for your review.
