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Free Verse Collection

Viewing comments for Chapter 12 "Pablo Neruda"
A collection of free verse poems

24 total reviews 
Comment from krys123
Excellent
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Cheers, Tony;
-I found this to be a very gripping and fascinating poem about a poet that now have been introduced to my repertoire of many poets that I have known. I will look further into his works to understand his writings and I want to thank you for his introduction.
-He seems to be a very revolutionary type of person who wrote against communism and suppression but I will have to look further into his works to understand thoroughly all of his intentions.
-Your poem was technically written very well and I truly enjoyed reading it.
-Thank you for sharing this, Tony, and take care and have a good one.
Alex

 Comment Written 15-Apr-2017


reply by the author on 15-Apr-2017
    Thanks, Alex. I hope you enjoy Neruda. He is perhaps most famous for his love poems. One of my favorite poets. He has a marvellous way with words.
Comment from barbara.wilkey
Excellent
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I have never heard of Pablo Neruda before. Thank you for educating me, again. You are good at that. I shall look him up and learn more. Great poem.

 Comment Written 14-Apr-2017


reply by the author on 17-Apr-2017
    Very many thanks, Barbara. I appreciate your positive comments. You will be well rewarded by glancing through Neruda's poems. He is one of the greatest wordsmiths that I know. Best wishes, Tony
Comment from rosehill (Wendy)
Excellent
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No sixes left but a seven might just be in order for this one. Your use of simile, metaphor and analogy is riveting as the poem flows down the page like lava and bears the heat of his anger. The juxtaposition of cupidity and voluptuous love is wonderful. Can't pick a favorite phrase, because they all are. - Wendy

 Comment Written 14-Apr-2017


reply by the author on 14-Apr-2017
    Lovely to have someone on site who catches the nuances! Interesting that you should speak of the lava flow, for my first line was originally: "His words flow like lava in his own language" and I still rather prefer that, but couldn't come to terms with lava 'eroding' rocks. Wishing you a very happy Easter, Wendy.
reply by rosehill (Wendy) on 14-Apr-2017
    And to you Tony.
Comment from Giddy Nielsen-Sweep
Exceptional
This work has reached the exceptional level

I'd like to watch that film, Tony. I read a lot about oppression in Chile. In particular I read about an Australian female doctor who was tortured, but I can't remember if it was the 70s or 80s or maybe the early 60s when I read it. Your poem is earlier of course but I would still enjoy reading it, especially if there's no torture! I thought the poem was outstanding, so imagistic, and he must've been a great poet. The last two lines are brilliant, Giddy

 Comment Written 13-Apr-2017


reply by the author on 14-Apr-2017
    Many thanks for your review and the six stars. Much appreciated! It was a strange film, part of a Film Festival here in Adelaide, and one that didn't paint a particularly complimentary picture of Neruda the man - though his mission on behalf of the people during the repressive 1940s in Chile was well portrayed. Certainly interesting to watch. No explicit torture in it, but it is suggested.
Comment from catch22
Exceptional
This work has reached the exceptional level

Hi T, this poem is as rich in imagery and smooth flowing as some of the love poetry as the master himself. A beautiful tribute to one of my favorite poets--filled with excellent characterization as well. Very lovely free verse as well.

 Comment Written 13-Apr-2017


reply by the author on 16-Apr-2017
    Very many thanks, catch22. Wonderful to receive the validation of your six stars for this poem. Always appreciated! Best wishes, Tony
Comment from Oatmeal
Excellent
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tfawcus,

This is a beautiful poem. I liked it very much. The descriptive words you chose are very good. It made for an enjoyable read. The flow was smooth. The theme well thought out.

There was nothing wrong that I could tell.

The words you chose worked very well.

I look forward to seeing you again.

Love you,

Oatmeal

 Comment Written 13-Apr-2017


reply by the author on 17-Apr-2017
    Thanks, Camille. Appreciated! Tony
Comment from Mrs Happy Poet
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Yes my friend this is well written with such strong descriptive words which add strength to the poem I enjoyed well done regards Jill

 Comment Written 13-Apr-2017


reply by the author on 13-Apr-2017
    Many thanks for your review, Jill. A happy Easter to you! Tony
Comment from Mastery
Excellent
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Hi, Tony. Excuse my ignorance but ZI never heard of this man. Nor have I heard of the film, Neruda. (See....told you I was ignorant) At any rate it sounds like he was some sort of crusader and that has to be good.

sorru I never heard of the word "cupidity" either.

"and to undermine cupidity
with the voluptuousness of love."

It's wonderfully poetic no matter what, my friend. Blessings, Bob

 Comment Written 13-Apr-2017


reply by the author on 13-Apr-2017
    Hi Bob. I guess that, as a poet, I assumed that others would know of Neruda, though quite a few seem not to have heard of him. He was once described as "the greatest poet of the 20th century in any language", I think by Gabriel García Márquez, author of One Hundred Years of Solitude, a book that defeated me, I'm afraid, despite its fame. Cupidity means avarice or greed. I used it here as it has the same etymology as Cupid. Neruda wrote exquisite love poetry as well as championing the poor and downtrodden. In a sense, he defeated the ultra right-wing's lust for power with his own lust for life and for love, expressing feelings that resonated with the Chilean peasantry. Even in translation, his poems are amazing. I sometimes wish that I had enough Spanish to read and hear them in the original Spanish.
reply by Mastery on 13-Apr-2017
    Thanks for your time, Tony. Bob
Comment from ~Dovey
Excellent
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Hi Tony,

I love to learn about the prolific writers from the past through the selections here. It is a lot of the reason that I like to share what I learn in my reading in my author's notes. Your free verse poem is excellent and depicts his unique style in the face of oppression. This is my favorite stanza:

songs intoned in whispers
deep in the muffled snows
of mountainous
dissent;

What excellent imagery.
My only suggestion would be to share a bit of a brief bio in your author's notes for those who aren't familiar with him.

Thank you for sharing your free verse reaction to the film.

Kim

 Comment Written 13-Apr-2017


reply by the author on 13-Apr-2017
    Hi Kim. I guess I assumed that, on a poetry website, most others would know of Neruda, though quite a few seem not to have heard of him. He was once described as "the greatest poet of the 20th century in any language", I think by Gabriel García Márquez, author of One Hundred Years of Solitude. He wrote exquisite love poetry as well as championing the poor and downtrodden. In a sense, he defeated the ultra right-wing's lust for power with his own lust for life and for love, expressing feelings that resonated with the Chilean peasantry. Even in translation, his poems are amazing. I sometimes wish that I had enough Spanish to read and hear them in the original Spanish.
reply by ~Dovey on 13-Apr-2017
    I didn't mean that I hadn't heard of him. But, from my experience, especially with my NaPoWriMo pieces, I'm often surprised by which poets others here hand heard of or whose work they weren't familiar. William Blake is one that most recently comes to mine, and his poem, "The Tyger," is said to be the most anthologized poem in the English language. So, it was just a thought. :)
reply by the author on 13-Apr-2017
    Yes - I know what you mean. I do sometimes put fairly comprehensive notes in, and then I think, if I can take a couple of minutes to look this up on the internet, I guess that any readers who are sufficiently interested might do too! Maybe not! LOL
Comment from lyenochka
Excellent
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This is an excellent tribute to Neruda! I've only read a few of his poems. I didn't see the movie you referred to but I really enjoyed the one about his exile in Italy and how he befriends the mailman and teaches him about poetry. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=--7x9uWDvD8

 Comment Written 13-Apr-2017


reply by the author on 13-Apr-2017
    Thank you so much for this review, Lyenochka. I must follow your link, for I haven't seen that film. The one I saw was fairly recent, released in 2016, I think.