Sacred Songs Once Sung (see notes)
Contributions From Our Immigrant Artisans42 total reviews
Comment from Thomas Bowling
When it comes down to it, we are all the offspring of immigrants. Unless you are a native born Indian, your ancestors came here from somewhere else. I'm glad they had a place to go.
reply by the author on 11-Feb-2018
  |
When it comes down to it, we are all the offspring of immigrants. Unless you are a native born Indian, your ancestors came here from somewhere else. I'm glad they had a place to go.
Comment Written 10-Feb-2018
reply by the author on 11-Feb-2018
-
Hi Thomas. Yes, even those politically opposed to immigration are products of immigration and chain-migration. But, of course, to understand what you expressed takes the ability to think. I thank you so much friend. tom
Comment from Sandra Stoner-Mitchell
This is pure poetry! I loved it. I dashes down the page in such a lyrical, sing-song way, it's hard not to admire such work. We British do love to keep our old ancient things intact, and I'm glad we do. I'm really pleased you enjoy our heritage, but your country has much to admire. Your poetry should be in a book, and I hope you will do that if you haven't already done so. Well done, it was such a pleasure to read. :) Sandra xx
reply by the author on 11-Feb-2018
|
This is pure poetry! I loved it. I dashes down the page in such a lyrical, sing-song way, it's hard not to admire such work. We British do love to keep our old ancient things intact, and I'm glad we do. I'm really pleased you enjoy our heritage, but your country has much to admire. Your poetry should be in a book, and I hope you will do that if you haven't already done so. Well done, it was such a pleasure to read. :) Sandra xx
Comment Written 10-Feb-2018
reply by the author on 11-Feb-2018
-
Your comments are very kind Sandra and I am very moved by them. Yes, America has much to offer but what it has now to offer is owed in great part to what her immigrants did and gave to her heritage. To honor that contribution to the artistic humanity of the past, we are obligated to protect it and cherish it. The preservationists are fighting a losing battle with the capitalists every day. I thank you again for the generous comments and review. tom
Comment from Sandra du Plessis
A very well-written poem each nation and country have special monuments and memorabilia that are important to that nation but means nothing for any other nation.
reply by the author on 11-Feb-2018
|
A very well-written poem each nation and country have special monuments and memorabilia that are important to that nation but means nothing for any other nation.
Comment Written 10-Feb-2018
reply by the author on 11-Feb-2018
-
We must deserve to preserve and I am afraid we don't deserve much more here than we give. I thank you for a great review. tom
Comment from Dorothy Farrell
Hi - this is such a well written poem. Whenever I read anything of yours I always feel there is more than one poem in any one of yours. And this is the case here. An enjoyable read and your views are very interesting.
'This poem was written as reaction to our own anxious need to destroy monuments of artisan labor for profit and greed.'
"CAPITALISM is the extraordinary belief that the nastiest of men for the nastiest of motives will somehow work together for the benefit of all." -- John Maynard Keynes
A good poem - Well done. Dorothy
reply by the author on 11-Feb-2018
|
Hi - this is such a well written poem. Whenever I read anything of yours I always feel there is more than one poem in any one of yours. And this is the case here. An enjoyable read and your views are very interesting.
'This poem was written as reaction to our own anxious need to destroy monuments of artisan labor for profit and greed.'
"CAPITALISM is the extraordinary belief that the nastiest of men for the nastiest of motives will somehow work together for the benefit of all." -- John Maynard Keynes
A good poem - Well done. Dorothy
Comment Written 10-Feb-2018
reply by the author on 11-Feb-2018
-
I love you Dorothy. I have not thought of that quote by Maynard Keynes in so many years. I loved his economic theories and still admire those theories maintaining the eternal struggle against the opposing philosophies of anything for money and profit. Thanks a million Dorothy. You be a smart one kid. tom
Comment from Pantygynt
I have been at pains to point out to my classes how important are the final lines of a poem and your come along and demonstrate that very thing with a magnificent concluding stanza of real potency.
Mixed meter can seem altogether choppy but not here. You have managed to blend the differences in much the same way as the architecture of different ages blends together in an English city with a Early English Perpendicular styled cathedral rubbing shoulders with Georgian town houses and Victorian verandahs.
I have just one point of criticicsm, your use of the verb "to do" as an auxiliary, interpolated purely for the purposes of adherrence to metre as here.
"These ragged rogues did bleed for real"
While this practice was once highly regarded it is now looked upon similarly to forced rhyme as it is in fact forced rhythm. There is always a better way round the problem. Might I suggest in this instance,
"These ragged rogues once bled for real"
reply by the author on 10-Feb-2018
|
I have been at pains to point out to my classes how important are the final lines of a poem and your come along and demonstrate that very thing with a magnificent concluding stanza of real potency.
Mixed meter can seem altogether choppy but not here. You have managed to blend the differences in much the same way as the architecture of different ages blends together in an English city with a Early English Perpendicular styled cathedral rubbing shoulders with Georgian town houses and Victorian verandahs.
I have just one point of criticicsm, your use of the verb "to do" as an auxiliary, interpolated purely for the purposes of adherrence to metre as here.
"These ragged rogues did bleed for real"
While this practice was once highly regarded it is now looked upon similarly to forced rhyme as it is in fact forced rhythm. There is always a better way round the problem. Might I suggest in this instance,
"These ragged rogues once bled for real"
Comment Written 10-Feb-2018
reply by the author on 10-Feb-2018
-
Brilliant review good friend. I don't really think about a line ahead of writing it. To be honest I often sing the poem as I write it. I always have and that's why I write alone. LOL
Your change to that line is perfect. When singing it I stressed the word 'did': 'These ragged rogues DID bleed for real.' I must have also heard, ahead of the word, the 'e' sound in 'bleed' which immediately alerted me to the word 'real'. The assonance device is a throw away, but the appearance of a forced meter conformity is, as you said, completely unneeded and your substitute flows smooth and unencumbered by the hint of forced rhyme. Another great teaching moment Professor Pantygynt. I thank you very much for making this homage to immigrant a far better poetic. tom
-
I am honoured! Actually the one time this verb's use this way is justified is when emphasis is implied e.g. "I did shut the henhouse door, Mom, honest I did!" Lol.
Comment from estory
The images here are stellar and the rigid framework serves as a monument to the architecture you speak of so eloquently. It really reminded me of Yeats' poem Sailing To Byzantium. In many ways, we seem to be going through a kind of Cultural Revolution here like China did in the seventies under Mao Tse Tung. In my opinion the country is badly fragmented and descending into little more than a loosely bunched collection of special interest groups. There is no leadership from the top, and competing special interest groups are drowning out the sense of nation and people. I am amazed at how much the country has changed in the last twenty or thirty years. Pasternak wrote of the Russian revolution as a storm, a necessary event brought about by natural forces in society, and I think his philosophy is very interesting. estory
reply by the author on 11-Feb-2018
|
The images here are stellar and the rigid framework serves as a monument to the architecture you speak of so eloquently. It really reminded me of Yeats' poem Sailing To Byzantium. In many ways, we seem to be going through a kind of Cultural Revolution here like China did in the seventies under Mao Tse Tung. In my opinion the country is badly fragmented and descending into little more than a loosely bunched collection of special interest groups. There is no leadership from the top, and competing special interest groups are drowning out the sense of nation and people. I am amazed at how much the country has changed in the last twenty or thirty years. Pasternak wrote of the Russian revolution as a storm, a necessary event brought about by natural forces in society, and I think his philosophy is very interesting. estory
Comment Written 10-Feb-2018
reply by the author on 11-Feb-2018
-
Pasternak had that unique ability to observe events, like the Russian Revolution of 1917, with a dispassionate eye. Almost like a modern and capable investigative journalist would, at least, attempt to relate to his or her subject. Again, you and I seem to see things the same way. Two days ago in a discussion with my wife I mentioned China's Cultural Revolution being similar to our own leadership vacuum that exists today. I also mentioned that when Hong Kong was returned to the Mainland, China actually began changes and experiments that diplomacy and economic pressures never achieved because China needed to maintain the cultural systems and economic systems in Hong Kong to
avoid the breakdown of Hong Kong and the mainland. China has used those systems as a kind of blueprint for the mainland and progress is being made. She is playing the West's game now and not doing to badly. Great review Roy. "Well it's a hard rains a gonna come" Bob Dylan. Thanks friend. tom
-
I'm not a supporter of the People's Republic, I think just the opposite is going on there. Democracy is being swept away. They don't want to sweep away the money though. Like over here, it is socialism for the rich estory
Comment from dragonpoet
I think you are right that we are losing our history when we tear down monuments to put up more skyscrapers or new modern neighborhoods. Losing the link to the past and what immigrants gave us probably strengthens bigotry. The poem starts out fast and furious but slows down when you switch to the destruction of the dream.
Keep writing
Joan
reply by the author on 11-Feb-2018
|
I think you are right that we are losing our history when we tear down monuments to put up more skyscrapers or new modern neighborhoods. Losing the link to the past and what immigrants gave us probably strengthens bigotry. The poem starts out fast and furious but slows down when you switch to the destruction of the dream.
Keep writing
Joan
Comment Written 10-Feb-2018
reply by the author on 11-Feb-2018
-
Thank you so much Joan. Most honored. tom
-
You are so kindly welcome, Tom.
Joan
Comment from Gloria ....
This is real poetry, Tom. The strength in your cadence is remarkable and I'm drawn into your enthusiasm. We are a nation of immigrants too, and yes they did escape the brutality of religion that is blind and cannot see. But sacred, yes! Even that I stow away now from what I see as heathens hell bent on destroying everything for what? Liberty shining on the harbour enlightening the world.
Yes, yes and YES! Poetry doing what poetry should.
Gloria
reply by the author on 14-Feb-2018
|
This is real poetry, Tom. The strength in your cadence is remarkable and I'm drawn into your enthusiasm. We are a nation of immigrants too, and yes they did escape the brutality of religion that is blind and cannot see. But sacred, yes! Even that I stow away now from what I see as heathens hell bent on destroying everything for what? Liberty shining on the harbour enlightening the world.
Yes, yes and YES! Poetry doing what poetry should.
Gloria
Comment Written 10-Feb-2018
reply by the author on 14-Feb-2018
-
Ah, what a great review Gloria. I am humbled and honored. tom
Comment from MercurySeven
You amply demonstrate both sides of your poetic voice in this one, Tom. The first part is a lovely tribute to the original artists and craftsmen. Then you bring the hurt to those who seek to undo that legacy. It's such a shame people can't leave well enough alone. You haven't lost your sting, brother, or your powers of description.
I noticed just a few unwanted or missing apostrophes (though I could be wrong):
As engineer's electrified -- doesn't need one
Symbolic of the hypocrites custodial conceit. -- hypocrites'
And to the soldier's on the field -- doesn't need one
reply by the author on 14-Feb-2018
|
You amply demonstrate both sides of your poetic voice in this one, Tom. The first part is a lovely tribute to the original artists and craftsmen. Then you bring the hurt to those who seek to undo that legacy. It's such a shame people can't leave well enough alone. You haven't lost your sting, brother, or your powers of description.
I noticed just a few unwanted or missing apostrophes (though I could be wrong):
As engineer's electrified -- doesn't need one
Symbolic of the hypocrites custodial conceit. -- hypocrites'
And to the soldier's on the field -- doesn't need one
Comment Written 09-Feb-2018
reply by the author on 14-Feb-2018
-
Thanks a million Merc. Shall correct. tom
Comment from Janet Foor
A beautiful and heartfelt poem. There were many lines that spoke to me but my favorite line was: A living link to history that unifies the whole.
A timely message for us all to remember.
well done.
Blessings
Janet
reply by the author on 14-Feb-2018
|
A beautiful and heartfelt poem. There were many lines that spoke to me but my favorite line was: A living link to history that unifies the whole.
A timely message for us all to remember.
well done.
Blessings
Janet
Comment Written 09-Feb-2018
reply by the author on 14-Feb-2018
-
Thank you so much Janet. tom
