Comment from honeytree

Exceptional

Loved the art work very much
amazing in what arrives on shore
and what leaves the shore
human beings of many nationalities
different way how many human beings live.

Honey tree

 Comment Written 17-Oct-2016

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reply by the author on 19-Oct-2016

Very many thanks for taking the time to review my work, Honey Tree. I was interested in your comments and delighted that you enjoyed the photograph, which was of a boat village in Hong Kong. I very much appreciated your six star award. Best wishes, Tony

Comment from Jackarrie

Exceptional

Hi
I love your poem, it is such an enjoyable read. The rhyming is very good, the descriptive words are excellent I felt I was there witnessing it all. exceptional
Mary

 Comment Written 17-Oct-2016

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reply by the author on 19-Oct-2016

Very many thanks for taking the time to review my poem, Mary. I was delighted to hear that you enjoyed it, and I appreciate your award of six stars. Best wishes, Tony

Comment from briannaellison

Exceptional

Great rhythm! The rhyming is very good too, it doesn't trap the poem but helps it flow. I love the repetition - "God alone knows where." Overall, a very intriguing poem, it really draws the reader in.

 Comment Written 17-Oct-2016

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reply by the author on 19-Oct-2016

Very many thanks for taking the time to review my poem, Brianna. I was delighted to hear that you enjoyed it, and I appreciate your award of six stars. Best wishes, Tony

Comment from June Sargent

Excellent

What a study in contrast. The air scented with frangipangi floating over rotting detritus. This is the real world, not the one describe in colorful travel brochures. It was an eye-opening journey to God knows where. Through the eyes of a journalist, without the trimmings. Thanks for sharing. It was thought-provoking.

 Comment Written 16-Oct-2016

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reply by the author on 20-Oct-2016

Thank you very much for this perceptive review, June. Much appreciated! Best wishes, Tony

Comment from Giddy Nielsen-Sweep

Excellent

This rolls off the tongue with a pleasant rhyming and metering, Tony. I thought I was reading some special form when I started. I thought the story was interesting, but the wedding gown a little distracting. A lot of ominous factors peep in, like the poisoning. Agent orange? There are too many uncomfortable truths about the Vietnam war. I felt it in your poem. So the wedding gown was probably connected to the soldiers coming ashore for shore leave, of course, sorry, I'm a little slow, Giddy:))

 Comment Written 16-Oct-2016

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reply by the author on 20-Oct-2016

Thank you very much for this interesing review, Giddy. Much appreciated! I wasn't actually thinking of the Vietnam War, but can see how it might apply. There were plenty of American servicemen in those days on R&R both up in Hong Kong, where the photo was taken, and down in Singapore, where I was based with the RAF at the time. Best wishes, Tony

Comment from Drew Delaney

Excellent

This poem is filled with wonderful imagery.

I love the rhyme. You didn't mention the form and I wondered whether there was one followed as the rhyme suggested.

Lovely piece of writing.

Drew

 Comment Written 16-Oct-2016

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reply by the author on 20-Oct-2016

Thank you very much for your review, Mike. Much appreciated! No, although this was rhymed, it wasn't written to a specific form. Best wishes, Tony

Comment from BlueTiger

Excellent

Great job. The rhyme scheme flows pretty well throughout, and the attention to detail paints a vivid picture of the scene. The repetition of the last line really works well.

 Comment Written 16-Oct-2016

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reply by the author on 20-Oct-2016

Thank you very much for this kind review, Blue Tiger. Much appreciated! Best wishes, Tony

Comment from DonandVicki

Excellent

A lovely poem Tony. It takes me back to the Orient. The photograph reminds me of the boat people in Hong Kong harbor. Well done.

 Comment Written 16-Oct-2016

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reply by the author on 20-Oct-2016

Thank you very much for this interesting review, DonandVicki. You are right, the photograph was of one of the boat villages bordering Hong Kong harbour. The poem was, however, more about my memories of Singapore in the 1950s. Best wishes, Tony

Comment from Pearl Edwards

Exceptional

Great write Tony. You have well described a world, a life so different from what most of us know. The broken doll so loved by a child that has nothing.
A one- eyed beggar's squatting - love that very emotional verse.
cheers Tony, very well done with this one,
cheers,
valda

 Comment Written 16-Oct-2016

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reply by the author on 16-Oct-2016

Thank you so much for this generous review, Valda, and for your six-star award. I lived in this part of the world for some time, both as a child and later as an adult in the armed forces, and so I know it quite well. Delighted that I was able to transmit something of the ambiance in this poem. Best wishes, Tony

Comment from l.raven

Excellent

HI Tony, when you think you have it bad...look at this picture...and yet these women, men, children live like this everyday...a broken doll to bring make a child smile...until a sailor comes on shore...very well written my sweet friend...I look at the picture Tony...and know just how blessed I am...love Linda xxoo

 Comment Written 16-Oct-2016

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reply by the author on 16-Oct-2016

Thank you so much for this kind review, Linda. I lived in this part of the world for some time, both as a child and later as an adult in the armed forces, and so I know it quite well. Delighted that I was able to transmit something of the ambiance in this poem. Best wishes, Tony

reply by l.raven on 16-Oct-2016

you are so welcome Tony...no I can say I wouldn't want to live there...and best wishes to you as well...xxoo Linda