Reviews from

The Winter Fishing Fleet

Another Heroic Sonnet

59 total reviews 
Comment from Zue65
Excellent
Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

You are really the King of verse in this category. You shine best in this poetic style. I like best the last two lines: At times the bravest hearts may skip a beat, but there are those at home who need to eat. Superb lines.

 Comment Written 29-Jun-2016


reply by the author on 07-Jul-2016
    Very many thanks for your review of The Winter Fishing Fleet, Nassus. I'm a little behind with my responses as it's been a particularly busy couple of weeks for me. However, I very much appreciated your very kind comments. Best wishes, Tony
Comment from Jannypan (Jan)
Exceptional
This work has reached the exceptional level

Tony,
I enjoyed your sonnet. I enjoy your work. You are a master at writing. I like the vocabulary you used for this poem. I understood some but not all of the words. Thanks for the notes.

I like 'watercolor sky' and the reference about the shore birds standing on sticks [legs].

The artwork is awesome and so perfect for your well written words. This seems to be as authentic as those 16th century sailors were reading your sonnet.

Good job and thanks for sharing a great work. Jan

 Comment Written 29-Jun-2016


reply by the author on 07-Jul-2016
    Very many thanks for your review of The Winter Fishing Fleet, Jan. I'm a little behind with my responses as it's been a particularly busy couple of weeks for me. However, I very much appreciated your lovely comments and the six stars. Best wishes, Tony
reply by Jannypan (Jan) on 07-Jul-2016
    No need to apologize. Jan
Comment from GWHARGIS
Excellent
Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

Loved that this poem took me on a trip on the seas. I liked the imagery. The line about the briny grave was wonderful. Great job. Gretchen

 Comment Written 28-Jun-2016


reply by the author on 07-Jul-2016
    Very many thanks for your review of The Winter Fishing Fleet, Gretchen. I'm a little behind with my responses as it's been a particularly busy couple of weeks for me. However, I very much appreciated your comments. Best wishes, Tony
Comment from I am Cat
Exceptional
This work has reached the exceptional level

Wow, I"m lucky to be able to be the 26th in yet another great poem of yours! of course, this one would have soon gotten the 26th anyway, without me, but I'm pleased to be here first! lol
lots of 'goodies' in this , Tony!

words I've never even heard before, or would have even thought about! wow! Of course, the sea isn't my 'thing' except to look on in awe... and boats, yeah, boats aren't my thing either, except I like them. lol
lots of alliteration, assonance, and some great word play here that just sounds so fun and great onomatopoeia throughout.

At anchor now, a jousting host of masts
slop-wallow as they slacken off their stays.
(slop-wallow? lol... I've no idea what that is... and yet, I do!)

A watercolour sky, when sunlight casts
an aureole through mists to backlight bays
where bar-tailed godwits stand on jointed sticks,
in estuaries ablaze with winter's glow
and dunlins spear small shrimps on mudflat slicks
'mid shallows left by ebbing tidal flow,
but how this calm belies the banshee yell
of North Sea winds swept from the Russian steppe
when Herring Buss and Doggers ride the swell.
(wow! So much meat in there! the internal rhyme of bays/ablaze/left by/belies)

These winter fishing fleets that strain and schlep
their laden nets of mack'rel, cod and skate
have weathered fearsome storms with mighty waves
when fishermen themselves are tossed as bait
for kraken monsters, deep in briny graves.
At times the bravest hearts may skip a beat,
but there are those at home who need to eat.

(and I think the second half is even BETTER than the first, just the intercourse inside my mouth and throat.. LOL clicked and clacked and made gutteral sounds... I think I died the small death just reading it! LOL I realize it wasn't MEANT to be orgasmic, but damn Tony, why ya gotta write like that? LOL GREAT sounds and fun stuff with the mouth, teeth, tongue, lips, cheeks, and throat!
Well done! I loved it. ;)
Cat

 Comment Written 28-Jun-2016


reply by the author on 28-Jun-2016
    What an exceptionally lovely review, Cat! I'm all out of thumbs, so will you accept a hug instead?
reply by I am Cat on 28-Jun-2016
    I'd like that better any day, Tony. ;-)
Comment from EBC62
Exceptional
This work has reached the exceptional level

All I can say is.....Exceptional, tfawcus and thank heavens for your glossary.
The centuries past exude from this sea poem and your use of the old English terms simply make it magical to read in this day and time. The artwork is superb and illustrative.

Please tell me, HOW did you get this inspiration? Where did you learn all the 16th century terms you included?? This poem also speaks to me of heavy research or a keen perception of maritime industry and history!

~EBC~


 Comment Written 28-Jun-2016


reply by the author on 28-Jun-2016
    Thank you so much for this review EBC and for your six stars. I had to do quite a bit of research for this one, although I am familiar with the atmosphere of the East Anglian coast, not only from having had a step-sister living in that part of the world but from the enjoyment of Turner's remarkable paintings.
Comment from penelopehart
Exceptional
This work has reached the exceptional level

Beautiful poetry tfawcus! Birdlike words and descriptions such as 'bar tailed godwits', 'jointed sticks' and 'mudflat sliks' are onomatopoeic and I can hear the sound of the 'flats' just before the tide turns at the end of a day. Smell the salt. Feel the light.
Then your moving, changing, sea- crashing verse is like the weather and the sea themselves. Kraken monsters no less.
Your ending is heroic, brave and human, not asking for adjectives at all, like a real hero.
Do hope you're putting a book of verse together.

 Comment Written 28-Jun-2016


reply by the author on 28-Jun-2016
    Lovely review, Penelope! So affirming and much appreciated! Thank you very much for the six stars. I currently have two books of verse up on Amazon, published by the Gininderra Press here in Adelaide and am about two-thirds of the way towards a third collection. I am published under my full name, Antony Fawcus, rather than Tony. Best wishes, Tony
Comment from krys123
Exceptional
This work has reached the exceptional level

Hello Tony;
-what can I say but your heroic sonnet is exceptionally composed and has been imagery far beyond anything I could write which has a distinctly clear and most definitively expressive and vividly and demonstratively descriptive imagery: "but how this calm bellies the banshee yell of North Sea winds swept from Russians steppe when Herring Buss and Doggers ride this swell."
-None of your intricately rhyming words were forced labor which was helpful in the fluidity of your reading and writing.
-Each of your well-placed rhyming words were contingent and supportive of the meaning and concept of each and all of your lines which was helpful in the making the rhythm and reading flow smoothly.
-Rhythmic metering iambic pentameter and along with the cadence, timing and tempo make your reading clear, fluent and very easy.
-Even the fishing boats in the picture were very supportive, appropriate and relative to the conceptual theme of your writing.
-This intriguing and well described piece of poetry in a story book form of a sonnet enriched the curiosity of the reader to understand the intricacies of the hardships of this society's way of life.
-Thank you for sharing and posting this Tony in may the Lord be with you always and especially thank you for a wonderful read.
Alex

 Comment Written 28-Jun-2016


reply by the author on 28-Jun-2016
    As always, a most affirming and thorough review, Alex, and so very much appreciated. Thank you, too, for the six stars. Best wishes, Tony
reply by krys123 on 02-Jul-2016
    You are so very welcome Tony you may not have a Fourth of July but have one anyways for me.
    Alex
Comment from nancy_e_davis
Exceptional
This work has reached the exceptional level

This is brilliant Tony.I love stories of the sea and I love sonnets and I do like this form. Thank you for the notes, I needed them as many of the words were foreign to me. The life on a fishing boat is hard and dangerous but as you say. There are those at home to feed. Here's a six my friend. Love it! xx Nancy

 Comment Written 28-Jun-2016


reply by the author on 28-Jun-2016
    Lovely review, Nancy! So affirming and much appreciated! Thank you, too, for the six stars. Best wishes, Tony
Comment from johnwilson
Exceptional
This work has reached the exceptional level

Ha..I loved that ending. Another truly descriptive piece (more of a Lewis Carroll poem if I hadn't read the author notes) from your pen complementing the painting you chose. I could actually feel the gulls swirling. I'm so glad I'm on this site at the same time you are writing so I can start my morning with a briny slap!

 Comment Written 28-Jun-2016


reply by the author on 28-Jun-2016
    I am truly flattered b your kind words and praise! Delighted, too, with the six star accolade! Best wishes, Tony
Comment from bichonfrisegirl
Excellent
Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

Hello Tony,

Your poem paints a vivid picture of what perils of nature (both in the form of storms and sea monsters) some must endure in order to earn a living in the fishing industry so that others will be fed. I loved your wording, and some stand-out lines for this reader are: "but how this calm belies the banshee yell" and "when fishermen themselves are tossed as bait". Thanks for your author notes too ... always good to learn some new things. :)

Connie

 Comment Written 28-Jun-2016


reply by the author on 28-Jun-2016
    Lovely review, Connie! So affirming and much appreciated! Best wishes, Tony