Goodbye Pretty Ricky
The Downfall of a popular performer.48 total reviews
Comment from Mastery
Good Day, my friend. this poem sounds like something very plausible. It may have even occurred, you know? You mentioned two big losses in this with James Brown and Elvis. It is well written, Nolan and I liked it. Bless you. Bob
reply by the author on 18-Apr-2021
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Good Day, my friend. this poem sounds like something very plausible. It may have even occurred, you know? You mentioned two big losses in this with James Brown and Elvis. It is well written, Nolan and I liked it. Bless you. Bob
Comment Written 17-Apr-2021
reply by the author on 18-Apr-2021
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Thank you Bob. I really appreciate your honest appraisal. I know that you won't tell me what I want to hear, but what I need to hear, Therefore I trust your comments.
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I am glad you feel that way, my friend. Bob
Comment from rspoet
Hello Nomi,
You've written an excellent story in a poem,
the sad tale of many actors who have "a hole in their soul."
I watched many interviews of actors by James Lipton, Actors Studio,
and there was a recurrent theme of loss - death of a parent,
broken families, instability...
You've captured that very well in your poem of Ricky,
the illusion of success and happiness, while underneath
there is that "hole."
Excellent poem.
Best wishes to you,
hope you and your family are well.
Robert
reply by the author on 18-Apr-2021
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Hello Nomi,
You've written an excellent story in a poem,
the sad tale of many actors who have "a hole in their soul."
I watched many interviews of actors by James Lipton, Actors Studio,
and there was a recurrent theme of loss - death of a parent,
broken families, instability...
You've captured that very well in your poem of Ricky,
the illusion of success and happiness, while underneath
there is that "hole."
Excellent poem.
Best wishes to you,
hope you and your family are well.
Robert
Comment Written 17-Apr-2021
reply by the author on 18-Apr-2021
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Thank you Robert. I appreciate your words of encouragement and well wishes for me and mine. May I extend the same to you and yours. It is always gratifying to have ones constituents offer words of praise and encouragement. Thank you so much.
Comment from Colleen The Garbanzo Bean
I think this is a beautiful, sad poem that leaves just enough to the reader's imagination. It shows the deep hurt being abandoned causes, even when Ricky was beautiful and talented. My favorite lines are "So, they left Ricky on the church doorstep, John ran to the right and Sue went to the left." This is a nice way of showing that the pregnancy divided the whole family. I also really like the repetition of "hole" to emphasize what is lacking. The semi-colon you have after performed should be a comma, in my opinion. I think all-in-all this is a five star poem if it weren't for the two lines that end "John" and "son." These rhymes are like a dissonant chord that really makes me uncomfortable, but that might be the way I pronounce those words, which might be different than in other parts of the country. Beautiful work!
reply by the author on 17-Apr-2021
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I think this is a beautiful, sad poem that leaves just enough to the reader's imagination. It shows the deep hurt being abandoned causes, even when Ricky was beautiful and talented. My favorite lines are "So, they left Ricky on the church doorstep, John ran to the right and Sue went to the left." This is a nice way of showing that the pregnancy divided the whole family. I also really like the repetition of "hole" to emphasize what is lacking. The semi-colon you have after performed should be a comma, in my opinion. I think all-in-all this is a five star poem if it weren't for the two lines that end "John" and "son." These rhymes are like a dissonant chord that really makes me uncomfortable, but that might be the way I pronounce those words, which might be different than in other parts of the country. Beautiful work!
Comment Written 17-Apr-2021
reply by the author on 17-Apr-2021
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Thank you for your honestly stated assessment. I appreciate your fine comments.
Comment from Sanku
This is a sad story. After making money he just disappeared .The hole in his soul could not be filled .may be there was someone whom he was missing .
I am glad this is fiction...
reply by the author on 17-Apr-2021
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This is a sad story. After making money he just disappeared .The hole in his soul could not be filled .may be there was someone whom he was missing .
I am glad this is fiction...
Comment Written 17-Apr-2021
reply by the author on 17-Apr-2021
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Thank you for your comments. I appreciate them.
Comment from jake cosmos aller
I like this fictional bio pic poem of a famous singer's rise and fall. I can see clearly where he came from and the anguish in his soul from being abandoned at birth. well done
reply by the author on 17-Apr-2021
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I like this fictional bio pic poem of a famous singer's rise and fall. I can see clearly where he came from and the anguish in his soul from being abandoned at birth. well done
Comment Written 17-Apr-2021
reply by the author on 17-Apr-2021
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Thank you so. Clearly fame is a poor substitute for love and acceptance.
Comment from Ben Colder
You did well with this as I have often wondered why people who become famous with such great talent take their own lives. Someone wrote live fast, love hard, and die young and leave a beautiful memory. Why?
reply by the author on 17-Apr-2021
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You did well with this as I have often wondered why people who become famous with such great talent take their own lives. Someone wrote live fast, love hard, and die young and leave a beautiful memory. Why?
Comment Written 17-Apr-2021
reply by the author on 17-Apr-2021
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Good question. If the thing you are missing is the thing you desire most, financial success will never be enough.
Comment from Bluesatinbutterfly
I really enjoyed this poem. I am sure it did happen on a few occasions, more's the pity. Poor Pretty Ricky. I particularly liked the line "Ricky made money, but he had a hole in his soul,"
reply by the author on 17-Apr-2021
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I really enjoyed this poem. I am sure it did happen on a few occasions, more's the pity. Poor Pretty Ricky. I particularly liked the line "Ricky made money, but he had a hole in his soul,"
Comment Written 17-Apr-2021
reply by the author on 17-Apr-2021
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Thank you so much. Being abandoned and rejected by your parents creates a hole that can never be filled.
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I agree, but sometimes having to stay with your parents is equally as soul destroying.
Comment from Elizabeth Emerald
Thanks for the note--I was racking my brain to figure out who he is/was--intriguing theme--Ricky as a metaphor for ruined lives--perhaps a composite of sundry such lives.
reply by the author on 17-Apr-2021
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Thanks for the note--I was racking my brain to figure out who he is/was--intriguing theme--Ricky as a metaphor for ruined lives--perhaps a composite of sundry such lives.
Comment Written 16-Apr-2021
reply by the author on 17-Apr-2021
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That is exactly correct. At least that was the message I was aiming for. So many famous and successful people end their lives because when the thing you want most is not obtainable, what good is wealth and or fame?
Comment from Jay Squires
I thoroughly enjoyed this poem, Nomi. Of course I thought, until I read the notes, that it was the band leader and husband to Lucille Ball to whom you referred, though I never considered him a singer, but more as a comedian, Lucy's straight man. Your poem, though, depicts an entertainer who is illustrative of many a lost soul who reached fame before knowing who they were inside. consequently they kept packing on layer after layer of fiction to their fame until they had nowhere to go. Great job, my friend.
reply by the author on 16-Apr-2021
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I thoroughly enjoyed this poem, Nomi. Of course I thought, until I read the notes, that it was the band leader and husband to Lucille Ball to whom you referred, though I never considered him a singer, but more as a comedian, Lucy's straight man. Your poem, though, depicts an entertainer who is illustrative of many a lost soul who reached fame before knowing who they were inside. consequently they kept packing on layer after layer of fiction to their fame until they had nowhere to go. Great job, my friend.
Comment Written 16-Apr-2021
reply by the author on 16-Apr-2021
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Thank you, I love your brilliant assessment of my poem.
Comment from dragonpoet
This sounds like a story of lot of young performers that can't handle fame and the drugs that usually go with it. The picture reminds my of George Michael.
I found one error, I think sue should be capitalized in line 8
Keep writing and stay healthy.
Joan
reply by the author on 16-Apr-2021
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This sounds like a story of lot of young performers that can't handle fame and the drugs that usually go with it. The picture reminds my of George Michael.
I found one error, I think sue should be capitalized in line 8
Keep writing and stay healthy.
Joan
Comment Written 16-Apr-2021
reply by the author on 16-Apr-2021
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Thank you Joan, I appreciate your kind comments.
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No problem, Nomi
Joan
