Reviews from

On Writing a Crown of Heroic Sonnets

Not for the faint-hearted

61 total reviews 
Comment from Marillion
Excellent
Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

A tour de force, my friend, and I only wish I had a sixer for it. This is, in the sweet science, what they call a contender. Just an excellent example of how best to construct and display a crown, my friend. You wear it well, Tony.

 Comment Written 11-Mar-2014


reply by the author on 11-Mar-2014
    Many thanks for your review, David, and the kind words! You are always so supportive and I appreciate it.
Comment from DonandVicki
Exceptional
This work has reached the exceptional level

My word!!! This monumental sonnet must have taken you quite some time to compose and rewrite... Quite the engaging and fun puzzle to assemble. Well done oh poetic warrior, well done. Don

 Comment Written 11-Mar-2014


reply by the author on 11-Mar-2014
    Many thanks for your six-star review, Don, and the kind words! You are always so supportive and I appreciate it.
Comment from Eternal Muse
Exceptional
This work has reached the exceptional level

Oh, Tony, it was brilliant. There were parts of it that filled me with tears, and others made me smile, like mentioning my name in stanza IV. What an excellent use of the form - flawless iambic meter, lots of original thoughts, an exceptional use of language. Your reminiscences of your childhood and teenage years drew my own memories - how cruel kids are school were sometimes and how touch it is to survive when you are on a threshold of a child and man.

Loved these:

I fell into my teenage years enthused
To write the mixed up sentence of my mind,
I searched for meaning, trapped and quite confused,
A worthless soul, ill-fitted, ill-designed
For deeds that heroes did in dreams; bemused.
But then I saw a dragon, clear defined,
With sulphur smell a maiden he abused.
Enraged, I blushed to see him so unkind

And of course, these would appeal to any poet:

These are the things the lowly poet's for,
A window on the world for those with time
To think. Sometimes we lead you through a door
To worlds that lie beyond the ones we rhyme,
To worlds we wake and cast upon your shore.
When I have found some poet's words sublime
They've changed the way I looked at life before
When lost in all the dross of worldly grime.

A great artwork chosen for the poem, the picture is a little smudged, is there any chance of making it clearer? How perfect - a crown for the crown of heroic sonnets contest.

This is a tour de force achievement, my friend - and I love its light-hearted nature. I think it should do extremely well in the booths.

Thank you for joining our contest, lots of luck, blessings and love, Yelena


 Comment Written 11-Mar-2014


reply by the author on 11-Mar-2014
    Many thanks for your six-star review, Yelena, and the very kind words! You are always so supportive and I appreciate it. I have managed to re-load a larger version of the picture which is now much clearer.
reply by Eternal Muse on 11-Mar-2014
    Yes, I saw - the picture is crystal clear now! And how fitting the crown contest.
    You brought humor and lightheartedness into this contest. We needed it.
Comment from Cajungirl
Exceptional
This work has reached the exceptional level

WOW, what a well-written poem. I admire your poetic abilities. It was like reading something from Shakespeare. Best of luck in the contest.

 Comment Written 11-Mar-2014


reply by the author on 11-Mar-2014
    Many thanks for your six-star review, Cajungirl, and the kind words! You are always so supportive and I appreciate it.
Comment from kittykatnoel
Excellent
Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

You have demonstrated an amazing skill with rhyming scheme. I hardly feel that I am qualified to rate or make suggestions on this poem that is so well executed beyond my own abilities to perform. Thank you for sharing your writing and for your notes that teach me much.

 Comment Written 11-Mar-2014


reply by the author on 11-Mar-2014
    Many thanks for your review, KittyKat, and the kind words! You are so supportive and I appreciate it.
Comment from Righteous Riter
Excellent
Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

Good end rhyming. Good perfect rhyming with lack/back...fife/rife...lame/game...hate/gate...crown/frown...wink/sink...light/sight. Good description and alliteration. Good complimentary photo followed by a clear message that helpful authors notes.

 Comment Written 11-Mar-2014


reply by the author on 11-Mar-2014
    Many thanks for your review, RR, and the kind words!
Comment from buzclick
Excellent
Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

Very interesting read. Well crafted set of verses.
My favorite lines were in the first stanza:

But though I make that claim, I must be frank,
My wrinkled mind is largely still a blank.

Good luck on your contest.

 Comment Written 11-Mar-2014


reply by the author on 11-Mar-2014
    Many thanks for your review, Buzclick, and the kind words!
Comment from trimple
Exceptional
This work has reached the exceptional level

Ah Ha! So that's where you've been tucked away hiding.
At 'The Sonnet Crown Inn!' Drunk as a skunk I see from the consumption of its finest read wine 'The Alphabetical' special reserve.
I see that you have drank a considerable amount, but have managed to keep upright sufficiently enough to abide by the strict rules written by the heroic landlord himself, 'Lord longsonnet the V11!

I admire your skills Tony.
I had contemplated entering myself, but then....cough. :)

There are some serious contenders for this competition, but I feel from what is already released, they may well have to up their game, after reading this excellent example.

Your entry is a fine mixture of contemplation, adulation, self humiliation all wrapped up with love, and humor, with a big shinny bow of brilliance.

Fabulous fabulous fabulous.

kind regards
tracey:) .

 Comment Written 11-Mar-2014


reply by the author on 11-Mar-2014
    Many thanks for your six-star review, Tracey, and the exceedingly kind words! You are always so supportive and I appreciate it.
Comment from annp
Exceptional
This work has reached the exceptional level

this is truly a sonnet of Shakespearean proportions

I am far to ignorant to say anything on the rights or wrongs of any the aspect here

just enjoyed reading it

annp

 Comment Written 11-Mar-2014


reply by the author on 11-Mar-2014
    Many thanks for your kind review, annp, and for the 6 stars. Very much appreciated! So glad you enjoyed it!
reply by annp on 11-Mar-2014
    my pleasure
Comment from padumachitta
Excellent
Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

Hello my goodness what an epic. I really enjoyed reading it, though I had to re read a couple times. It certainly kept me wroking until the end. It is an amazing piece.

This rating does not count towards story rating or author rank.
The highest and the lowest rating are not included in calculations.

 Comment Written 11-Mar-2014


reply by the author on 11-Mar-2014
    Many thanks for your kind review.