Tree Climber
Iambic pentameter blank verse.70 total reviews
Comment from Grasshopper2
Andre,
I like the use of silver nitrate in the first stanza. I sense in the flow you have experienced the chemical smell of silver nitrate. Certain smells can instantly take me back, and it seems you, too. You have written with good and bad or happy and sad and done it well.
Michael
reply by the author on 04-Jun-2017
  |
Andre,
I like the use of silver nitrate in the first stanza. I sense in the flow you have experienced the chemical smell of silver nitrate. Certain smells can instantly take me back, and it seems you, too. You have written with good and bad or happy and sad and done it well.
Michael
Comment Written 04-Jun-2017
reply by the author on 04-Jun-2017
-
Yes, Michael, I took photography in college and never forgot the smell of those dark room chemicals. Including the good with the bad, the happy with the sad, made my poem successful. Thank you for noting that and for your generous review.
-
You earned it all.
Comment from Cybertron1986
Many deep and compelling stories summed up into a poem. Never thought I could read a poem that would have "silver nitrate" in it.
What I really enjoyed about your piece is the implication of life's many deep, enjoyable, and even painful, experiences. Some of which may be uniquely personal that you have vividly expressed. I don't run into these often. But, I am glad I did here.
reply by the author on 03-Jun-2017
 |
Many deep and compelling stories summed up into a poem. Never thought I could read a poem that would have "silver nitrate" in it.
What I really enjoyed about your piece is the implication of life's many deep, enjoyable, and even painful, experiences. Some of which may be uniquely personal that you have vividly expressed. I don't run into these often. But, I am glad I did here.
Comment Written 03-Jun-2017
reply by the author on 03-Jun-2017
-
Yes, Cybertron1986, a took and studied photography in college. The darkroom chemical of silver nitrate came to mind. Not only can I still smell it thirty years later but it aptly described the silver and gray tones of my picture while at the same time fulfilling my meter.
You are right--what makes this poem stand out is that in the center stanza I spoke about the darkness of my life at that period. This provides a stark contrast to my descriptions of tree climbing as a form of escape from the most painful experiences of my childhood. Most poets I have read on this site or heard at open mics either write an entirely humorous poem about their past or a confessional poem about their trauma. They seldom put the two side by side in the same poem, although in life you have the good experiences side by side with the bad.
Now this poem's journey here on FanStory has come to an end as the certificate has expired, making you the last six star review of about twenty that this poem has received. I deeply appreciate it. Now I am looking to submit this poem to publications and writing more.
Thank you for your kind thoughts and support.
Comment from kathleenspalding
Lovely iambic pentameter blank verse poem! Great use of imagery, storytelling, and memories. Loved the ending! Loved everything about it, actually. Great job!
reply by the author on 03-Jun-2017
|
Lovely iambic pentameter blank verse poem! Great use of imagery, storytelling, and memories. Loved the ending! Loved everything about it, actually. Great job!
Comment Written 03-Jun-2017
reply by the author on 03-Jun-2017
-
Oh, thank you, kathleenspalding, for your generous review. I am glad you loved everything about my poem.
-
You're very welcome
Comment from Treischel
An outstanding poetic reflection of exuberant youth climbing a tree. Fabulous imagery throughout. The flawless iambic pentameter made the lack of rhyme unnoticeable. Very poignant read.
reply by the author on 03-Jun-2017
|
An outstanding poetic reflection of exuberant youth climbing a tree. Fabulous imagery throughout. The flawless iambic pentameter made the lack of rhyme unnoticeable. Very poignant read.
Comment Written 03-Jun-2017
reply by the author on 03-Jun-2017
-
Yes, Treischel, my iambic pentameter is so flawless that several reviewers who felt the rhythmic meter of my poem assumed that it was rhymed. No, it's all in the meter and the words.
Thank you for your generous, six star review of my poetic reflection of exuberant youth. I am also glad you loved the imagery.
Comment from jusylee72
beautiful poem. Your writing has strength and beauty in it. I am glad you are writing more lately as I enjoy reading your poems. Thank you for the vocab lesson at the end of your poem.
reply by the author on 02-Jun-2017
|
beautiful poem. Your writing has strength and beauty in it. I am glad you are writing more lately as I enjoy reading your poems. Thank you for the vocab lesson at the end of your poem.
Comment Written 02-Jun-2017
reply by the author on 02-Jun-2017
-
Thank you for your review and for praising the strength and beauty of my poem. I am glad you enjoyed reading it.
Comment from Gert sherwood
Hello Sis Cat
thank you sharing your perfect Blank verse sonnet.
You have shown us the proper way to write to me difficult form of sonnet.
Gert
reply by the author on 02-Jun-2017
|
Hello Sis Cat
thank you sharing your perfect Blank verse sonnet.
You have shown us the proper way to write to me difficult form of sonnet.
Gert
Comment Written 02-Jun-2017
reply by the author on 02-Jun-2017
-
Yes, Gert, it is my limited experience that iambic pentameter blank verse is more difficult to write than sonnets, which is probably why we seldom read it on FS. It took me five days to write mine. Thank you for your review.
-
Yes, Gert, it is my limited experience that iambic pentameter blank verse is more difficult to write than sonnets, which is probably why we seldom read it on FS. It took me five days to write mine. Thank you for your review.
-
You are welcome SisCat
I know I gave one a try and finally gave up
Great blank Sonnet
Gert
Comment from Bucketlist
What a metamorphosis! You show how talent, belief in yourself, and positive attitude can overcome a negative beginning.
I liked the transition from one to the other in the poem.
Trisha
reply by the author on 02-Jun-2017
|
What a metamorphosis! You show how talent, belief in yourself, and positive attitude can overcome a negative beginning.
I liked the transition from one to the other in the poem.
Trisha
Comment Written 02-Jun-2017
reply by the author on 02-Jun-2017
-
Oh, thank you, Bucketlist, for your generous review. The middle stanza in which I stated my absent father, my mother raising five kids alone, and arsons who set our home afire gives my poem a narrative arc allowing for my metamorphosis. Thank for noting that stanza.
-
No problem at all
Comment from Pquack
This is a hauntingly beautiful telling of your young life. Very descriptive and so many emotions. A young boy just wanting to be his innocent self and then ugliness crept in. But in lieu of it all what a wonderful , productive amazing poet and person you have become. What character :) Please , write on!
reply by the author on 02-Jun-2017
|
This is a hauntingly beautiful telling of your young life. Very descriptive and so many emotions. A young boy just wanting to be his innocent self and then ugliness crept in. But in lieu of it all what a wonderful , productive amazing poet and person you have become. What character :) Please , write on!
Comment Written 02-Jun-2017
reply by the author on 02-Jun-2017
-
Oh, thank you, Pquack, for your generous review. I have been haunted every since I rediscovered this photo in our old family photo album. I found it hard to believe that I was that kid standing in a plum tree in full bloom and bending myself back until my head was upside down. I found it harder to believe that kid survived that childhood to write this poem. Thank you for your generous review. I will write on.
Comment from SusanWJames
I enjoyed the rhythm of your poem ... even though I got a little lost but the section about "recalling" things was very strong! Good luck on your quest to the #1 spot.
reply by the author on 02-Jun-2017
|
I enjoyed the rhythm of your poem ... even though I got a little lost but the section about "recalling" things was very strong! Good luck on your quest to the #1 spot.
Comment Written 02-Jun-2017
reply by the author on 02-Jun-2017
-
Oh, thank you, Susan, for your generous review. I am glad you enjoyed my poem's rhythm. I have no design nor capacity to achieve the #1 post in the poet rank because I only write one poem a week and not two poems a day like others ahead of me in the poet rank. I find solace in writing the best poems I can--quality over quantity--and in enjoying the reviews of fine people like you. Thanks again.
Comment from ronnie k
Thank you for allowing me to no only share your childhood wonder but allowing me too releases memories that hurt I thought but after this review I say to myself their my memories and I blessed to have some.
reply by the author on 02-Jun-2017
|
Thank you for allowing me to no only share your childhood wonder but allowing me too releases memories that hurt I thought but after this review I say to myself their my memories and I blessed to have some.
Comment Written 02-Jun-2017
reply by the author on 02-Jun-2017
-
Yes, Ronnie, I am stunned and heartened at how my poem released the good and the bad memories of so many reviewers. We have all been that tree climbing kid who had a troubled life. It is a blessing to have memories. Thank you for your review.
