Reviews from

Free Verse Collection

Viewing comments for Chapter 13 "At Morning Prayer"
A collection of free verse poems

49 total reviews 
Comment from Sandra du Plessis
Excellent
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A very well-written free verse poem. The story if an old horse who goes to a water hole early morning for his morning prayer just when the sun rises over the horizon.

 Comment Written 13-Jun-2016


reply by the author on 13-Jun-2016
    Thank you, Sandra. This was in memory of an old horse that lived out his final days on our farm a few years ago. A lovely animal that spent more than ten years in retirement with us before passing on at the age of 32. Glad you enjoyed it. Best wishes, Tony
Comment from Lisa Deverick
Excellent
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I always enjoy the plethora of details and description you give in a poem. This is a wonderfully written scene you have painted with your words, and a great entry for the free verse contest. (this reader is waiting for your next sonnet...haha)

 Comment Written 13-Jun-2016


reply by the author on 13-Jun-2016
    I enjoyed your review, Lisa! Perhaps there will be another sonnet or two on the horizon. One never knows! Best wishes, Tony
Comment from foxangie123
Excellent
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Oh my what a most perfect centurion write indeed. Wow this has so much meaning and metaphoric factoring in it. This is breath taking. It reads like one of those that were written in a cave with a quill pen. I wish I had six. Bravo.

 Comment Written 13-Jun-2016


reply by the author on 13-Jun-2016
    Fascinating comments, Angie. Thank you for an interesting and complimentary review.
Comment from nancy_e_davis
Excellent
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I simply love horses and miss having them. They are the noblest of animals. The imagery in your free verse poem
is very good Tony and I love the artwork you have chosen.
An old horse just glad to be alive welcoming a new day!
Well done. Nancy

 Comment Written 13-Jun-2016


reply by the author on 13-Jun-2016
    Thank you, Nancy. This was in memory of an old horse that lived out his final days on our farm a few years ago. A lovely animal that spent more than ten years in retirement with us before passing on at the age of 32.
Comment from barbara.wilkey
Exceptional
This work has reached the exceptional level

I really enjoyed reading this contest entry. It flowed smoothly and the imagines brought to mind as I read were wonderful. Good luck with the free verse poetry contest.

 Comment Written 13-Jun-2016


reply by the author on 13-Jun-2016
    Thank you so much for your award of six stars for this. I am always delighted to receive feedback that my free verse has hit the mark. I am never sure about it! Best wishes, Tony
Comment from bichonfrisegirl
Excellent
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Such a lovely free verse poem, Tony! I love the aura of stillness that your poem has created, both in the horse himself, in his surroundings, and in nature itself.

Vivid imagery is created for your reader. My favourite lines are:
"until the first sharp rays
break out above the hill
to bathe his ears in splendour
and then his back
brazing him once more a burnished bronze" ... I can almost feel the warmth of
the sun here.

A very lovely poem!

Connie

 Comment Written 13-Jun-2016


reply by the author on 13-Jun-2016
    What a lovely review, Connie. I am always delighted to receive feedback that my free verse has hit the mark. I am never sure about it! Best wishes, Tony
Comment from Dean Kuch
Excellent
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From the still and patient night,
there breathes a whispered breeze
to beckon him,
as it has done before.
... Excellent consonance and use of "b" sounds here, Tony ...

Loved the following ...
His chestnut coat
by night bedewed,
his head and neck held low
as if in prayer,
and there, stock-still, he stands,
..Super expressive, more than a bit melancholy ...


Still, this ancient horse stands still
as does the world and time,
his head now raised
to breathe a wisp of breath,
a soft grey incense
silvered by the dawn.

and then to hail this newborn day,
there starts a joyful chorus,
the orison of birds.
... Wonderful closing, utilizing very strong, eloquent word choices--an ending which features a glimmer of hope on the horizon.

All of us old "war horses" are put out to pasture, eventually. Hopefully, we have served our cause as well as our purpose, honor and our duty, admirably...
Best of luck to you in the judging.
~Dean





 Comment Written 13-Jun-2016


reply by the author on 13-Jun-2016
    Thank you very much for this close reading, Dean. I am always delighted to receive feedback that my free verse has hit the mark. I am never sure about it! A warhorse out to pasture? - yes, that's me! Best wishes, Tony
reply by Dean Kuch on 13-Jun-2016
    It's me too, Tony, LOL.
    You're more than welcome.
    ~Dean
Comment from Barb Hensongispsaca
Excellent
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Wow so very nicely done.
Old and tired yet by the light of day, strong and proud.
This piece flows so nice and easy to read, making the journey a nice piece.

 Comment Written 13-Jun-2016


reply by the author on 13-Jun-2016
    Many thanks, Barb. I am always delighted to receive feedback that my free verse has hit the mark. I am never sure about it! Best wishes, Tony
Comment from TPAC
Exceptional
This work has reached the exceptional level

Creative mind, writer expresses in this write thoughtful conveyances touching in conveyed soft warmth statements: endearing to mind in my opinion.

 Comment Written 13-Jun-2016


reply by the author on 13-Jun-2016
    Delighted you enjoyed this, TPAC, and thank you very much for the six stars. Most generous! Best wishes, Tony
Comment from MissMerri
Exceptional
This work has reached the exceptional level

It is so easy to see what you describe in this beautiful free verse, but seeing isn't enough in my opinion. A good free verse should also arouse strong emotion and your words do that as well. There is music here and creative beauty. This is simply a magnificent poem that will surely place at the top in this contest.

 Comment Written 13-Jun-2016


reply by the author on 13-Jun-2016
    What a heart-warming review, MissMerri! I'm absolutely delighted that you enjoyed this one so much. The image in my mind was of some time ago, when we looked after an old, retired horse on our farm, in his declining years. There was something almost mystical about the way he would go and stand on the dam wall just before dawn, and let the warmth of the rising sun wash over him. Kind regards, Tony.