Whenever Terror Strikes
A response to attacks77 total reviews
Comment from Mark Valentine
And now there is yet another mass shooting for us to absorb. Typically, I think of romance when I think of sonnets - the fact that you've chosen this for to highlight terror highlights that fact that this is not the way things are supposed to be. The terror-return to normal-return to terror cycle is so prevalent now - how timely that you capture this dynamic.
The line that stands out for me is "The dripping wax upon our skin in-kind/
recalls our lives will never be the same." It speaks to the fact that there is solidarity in our pain.
Timely and well-written.
reply by the author on 06-Nov-2017
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And now there is yet another mass shooting for us to absorb. Typically, I think of romance when I think of sonnets - the fact that you've chosen this for to highlight terror highlights that fact that this is not the way things are supposed to be. The terror-return to normal-return to terror cycle is so prevalent now - how timely that you capture this dynamic.
The line that stands out for me is "The dripping wax upon our skin in-kind/
recalls our lives will never be the same." It speaks to the fact that there is solidarity in our pain.
Timely and well-written.
Comment Written 06-Nov-2017
reply by the author on 06-Nov-2017
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Yes, Mark, timely, indeed. I began this poem two weeks ago to write about last year's Orlando shooting but on Saturday I focused on New York's truck rampage. Hours after I posted my poem on Sunday, a gunman killed 26 in a Texas church. Yes, my poem captures this cycle of terror, return to normal, and terror again.
Thank you for pointing out the line that stood out to you. That was the last line I wrote for my sonnet as I had already finished the first six and the last six lines. Thanks also for noting my selection of a form of poetry associated with romance.
Thank you for your review.
Comment from Sandra Stoner-Mitchell
Fear has taken over our lives more than at any other time in history. It is everywhere and it is invisible. The internet has helped this to happen and the media. I worry when I hear my grandchildren are off somewhere, will they come back? Not a nice way to live. You have done a wonderful thing here with your sonnet. It was an excellent way to share your thoughts on the human rights of everyone. Well done and good luck in the contest. :) Sandra xx
reply by the author on 06-Nov-2017
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Fear has taken over our lives more than at any other time in history. It is everywhere and it is invisible. The internet has helped this to happen and the media. I worry when I hear my grandchildren are off somewhere, will they come back? Not a nice way to live. You have done a wonderful thing here with your sonnet. It was an excellent way to share your thoughts on the human rights of everyone. Well done and good luck in the contest. :) Sandra xx
Comment Written 06-Nov-2017
reply by the author on 06-Nov-2017
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Thank you, Sandra, for your heartfelt review and for wishing me luck in the contest. I agree. I cringe to think about what future generation of children will experience at this increasing rate of terror attacks.
Comment from estory
This is really unusual subject matter for a sonnet, but I like to applaud innovation, and daring, and taking chances to stretch the forms. I think the sonnet form kind of makes this a bit more solemn, and that suits the theme here. That image of the wax on the skin is fresh and interesting. It kind of speaks of the lingering effect of these attacks, the feeling that we can never quite put them out of mind. I loved the ending. We kind of force ourselves to live on, we lose ourselves back into enjoying ourselves, but somewhere in the back of our minds, is this lingering nagging rememberence. and low and behold, today we are mourning another terror attack. When are people going to wake up and demand something gets done about guns? Don't people realize that 40,000 people a year are dying of gun violence in this country? This is like war. estory
reply by the author on 06-Nov-2017
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This is really unusual subject matter for a sonnet, but I like to applaud innovation, and daring, and taking chances to stretch the forms. I think the sonnet form kind of makes this a bit more solemn, and that suits the theme here. That image of the wax on the skin is fresh and interesting. It kind of speaks of the lingering effect of these attacks, the feeling that we can never quite put them out of mind. I loved the ending. We kind of force ourselves to live on, we lose ourselves back into enjoying ourselves, but somewhere in the back of our minds, is this lingering nagging rememberence. and low and behold, today we are mourning another terror attack. When are people going to wake up and demand something gets done about guns? Don't people realize that 40,000 people a year are dying of gun violence in this country? This is like war. estory
Comment Written 06-Nov-2017
reply by the author on 06-Nov-2017
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Yes, estory, even if people do something about guns, any terrorist can rent a Home Depot truck and drive it into a crowd or rig a rice cooker and blow up marathon runners. People got to do something about this culture of violence.
Thank you for your heartfelt review and for pointing out the line about the wax. That was the last line I wrote for my sonnet.
Comment from Sanku
fear and terror will always follow when terrorists loom large every where and when men on the streets show their anger with gunshots.
candle light vigils, prayer meetings and with 'distracted smiles' the living goes on with life.
A very touching poem
reply by the author on 06-Nov-2017
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fear and terror will always follow when terrorists loom large every where and when men on the streets show their anger with gunshots.
candle light vigils, prayer meetings and with 'distracted smiles' the living goes on with life.
A very touching poem
Comment Written 06-Nov-2017
reply by the author on 06-Nov-2017
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Thank you, Sanku, for your review of my touching poem on fear and terror.
Comment from bluedragon776
Hey Cat,
Thanks for writing and sharing this poem. I think you're right on point about how people relax again after an attack. It's almost like nothing happened in the first place. Not that people should live in fear, but we must all be vigilant and aware. Good luck with the contest.
reply by the author on 06-Nov-2017
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Hey Cat,
Thanks for writing and sharing this poem. I think you're right on point about how people relax again after an attack. It's almost like nothing happened in the first place. Not that people should live in fear, but we must all be vigilant and aware. Good luck with the contest.
Comment Written 06-Nov-2017
reply by the author on 06-Nov-2017
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Yes, bluedragon776, we tend to relax after attacks when we should be more vigilant. Thank you for your review and for wishing me good luck with the contest.
Comment from RGstar
I like to see sonnets written with the aura of language, Elizabethan, preferably, as I think with modern sonnets, if looking, we find the turn, iambics and regimented structure most will not even see, so for me, the aura of language is its charm. However, that is not a downgrade for your excellent work here my friend, on the contrary. You have delivered a heartfelt piece, worthy of its structure. Good areas of relevance depicted to the theme, as well an eye opener to the various.
You have done well here. By the way, I also submitted 3 poems....my first ever, though it is not competition. I will think whether or not to become a member, for there must be positive.
Nicely done, Andre.
Good luck with this.
RG
reply by the author on 07-Nov-2017
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I like to see sonnets written with the aura of language, Elizabethan, preferably, as I think with modern sonnets, if looking, we find the turn, iambics and regimented structure most will not even see, so for me, the aura of language is its charm. However, that is not a downgrade for your excellent work here my friend, on the contrary. You have delivered a heartfelt piece, worthy of its structure. Good areas of relevance depicted to the theme, as well an eye opener to the various.
You have done well here. By the way, I also submitted 3 poems....my first ever, though it is not competition. I will think whether or not to become a member, for there must be positive.
Nicely done, Andre.
Good luck with this.
RG
Comment Written 06-Nov-2017
reply by the author on 07-Nov-2017
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Yes, RG, Elizabethan. For two weeks I studied the Middle English poetry of Chaucer's Canterbury Tales, The Pearl Poet's Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, and Thomas Malory's Le Morte D'Arthur as I began to write a twelve stanza epic on terrorism. But after five pages of drafts and restarts, I could not make the poem work. I turned to Shakespeare's sonnets for help in creating a modern sonnet on terrorism.
Thank you for your detailed review of my heartfelt poem. I wish you much success with your submission. This poem will allow me to submit five. I will tell you if they accept any, particularly this one.
Thanks again.
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Good luck, Sis. I only 3. It wiill be fun to see if any are accepted. I would be equally happy for yours as mine, ecstatic for both ours.
Best wishes
Comment from dragonpoet
This is a nicely written sonnet that should do well in the contest. It clearly expresses the emotions of fear and loss we all feel when terrorism takes it lives away. It leaves clear images of the attacks. It seems that terrorism is on the rise since 9/11 and it seems to be a rampant disease.
Keep writing
Joan
reply by the author on 06-Nov-2017
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This is a nicely written sonnet that should do well in the contest. It clearly expresses the emotions of fear and loss we all feel when terrorism takes it lives away. It leaves clear images of the attacks. It seems that terrorism is on the rise since 9/11 and it seems to be a rampant disease.
Keep writing
Joan
Comment Written 06-Nov-2017
reply by the author on 06-Nov-2017
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Yes, Joan, terrorism appears to be on the rise. Two weeks ago I began writing about last year's Orlando nightclub shooting but on Saturday I changed focus to last week's New York truck rampage. Hours after I posted my poem, a gunman killed 26 in a Texas church.
Thank you for your review and for wishing me well in the contest. I will keep writing.
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No problem.
Joan
Comment from DR DIP
Andre this is a very powerful and necessary piece of poetry in a world gone mad with acts of terrorism and lunacy. Why only this morning I heard of yet another mass killing In America. This time in a small Texas town in a church of innocent worshippers 26 people died in this senseless killing with no motif.
Your poem highlights this in a way that everyone can and will understand
When will it end...when will it end
dip
reply by the author on 07-Nov-2017
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Andre this is a very powerful and necessary piece of poetry in a world gone mad with acts of terrorism and lunacy. Why only this morning I heard of yet another mass killing In America. This time in a small Texas town in a church of innocent worshippers 26 people died in this senseless killing with no motif.
Your poem highlights this in a way that everyone can and will understand
When will it end...when will it end
dip
Comment Written 06-Nov-2017
reply by the author on 07-Nov-2017
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Yes, Dip, when will it end? On Saturday I wrote this poem mentioning the New York truck rampage. Several hours after I posted my poem on Sunday, a gunman killed twenty-six in a Texas church. The sonnet contest deadline is March 5. How many attacks will happen between now and then? I do not know.
Thank you for your generous, heartfelt six star review.
Comment from Kazzawin
It is a sad reality of our time that covers the media and instils in us a fear our generation is having to get used to.
What I like about your poem is that you have captured what it is to be in that moment and the ensuing sadness, along with the fear...then the acceptance and return to normality. All the memories of the innocent lives taken temporarily scratched from our minds in an effort to move onward through life. Until the next time..
I like the simplistic flow of this, encapturing the dark subject so uppermost in our thoughts in this time in history.
Good luck : )
reply by the author on 07-Nov-2017
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It is a sad reality of our time that covers the media and instils in us a fear our generation is having to get used to.
What I like about your poem is that you have captured what it is to be in that moment and the ensuing sadness, along with the fear...then the acceptance and return to normality. All the memories of the innocent lives taken temporarily scratched from our minds in an effort to move onward through life. Until the next time..
I like the simplistic flow of this, encapturing the dark subject so uppermost in our thoughts in this time in history.
Good luck : )
Comment Written 06-Nov-2017
reply by the author on 07-Nov-2017
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Yes, Kazzawin, until the next time. These attacks happen so frequently now that it is hard to return to normality. One must always be vigilant, even in church, while biking, or attending a country music concert.
Thank you for your heartfelt review of my poem on the sad reality of our time.
Comment from rjuselius
this is a brilliant tribute to our veterans dear andre! i think you have captured the essence of what tragedy warfare is. this should do quite well.
thank you for sharing!
good luck!
blessings!
rebekka x
reply by the author on 06-Nov-2017
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this is a brilliant tribute to our veterans dear andre! i think you have captured the essence of what tragedy warfare is. this should do quite well.
thank you for sharing!
good luck!
blessings!
rebekka x
Comment Written 06-Nov-2017
reply by the author on 06-Nov-2017
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Thank you, Rebekka, for your generous, six star review and for your original interpretation of my poem. I originally wrote about terrorism but your interpretation of my poem being a tribute to veterans fit as well., because warfare is a tragedy.
Thank you also for wishing me luck and blessings.
