Comment from Mustang Patty

Excellent

Hi, Craig;
Great job of describing the financial circumstances of England when Elizabeth I came into power. I think she was quite the talented queen and the worthy offspring of Henry VIII and all too-often misunderstood Anne Boleyn.

~patty~

 Comment Written 15-Jan-2018

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reply by the author on 15-Jan-2018

Thanks very much, Patty. I've never had a particular fondness for Henry, and always felt Anne was hard done by. Perhaps that view isn't as common as I thought. Much appreciated :) Craig

Comment from --Turtle.

Excellent

I enjoyed this poem... true story appeal with barbs of humor. Not overly serious, but I came away knowing a tidbit of information that I didn't know about that I believe rooted in my brain.

it was not a good time to be queen.
(He did make out nice with the backup death do us part clause... Nice start to this poem, effectively sets the tone and gives the historical anchor in time)

sadly Anne had no head (for commerce).
(Ha! I really liked this, witty... playful, great use of punctuation for effect and emphasis)

she found widespread financial backing.
(This part I found myself paying attention to... history in rhyme, and in a short time you set the mood, some fun, and then a neat bit of historical information, all while exposing a little-known word)

 Comment Written 14-Jan-2018

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reply by the author on 14-Jan-2018

Thanks, Turtle. I think it might be possible to write a book of poems based just on this particular King's "exploits". Cheers, Craig

Comment from BeasPeas

Excellent

This is very interesting. I didn't know about the lottery being started by Elizabeth. Good head on her shoulders (no pun intended) as daughter of Henry VIII. He did spend a lot of money. Much of it was on architecture and modernization (for the times) of design of buildings. Marilyn

 Comment Written 12-Jan-2018

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reply by the author on 13-Jan-2018

And wars. Thanks for checking it out, Marilyn - much appreciated. Craig

Comment from Gloria ....

Excellent

This is great, good fun. Some most witty lines, especially poor Anne's having no head for commerce, or other things either. How clever of Elizabeth to find a way to alleviate the debt that made everyone happy.

I haven't heard this word of history before but I know it will be coming in useful at some point in the near future.

Can't wait for today's new word.

Great job, Craig. Wonderfully written.

Gloria

 Comment Written 11-Jan-2018

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reply by the author on 11-Jan-2018

Thanks very much for the lovely comments, Gloria. I wasn't too thrilled about today's word, but we takes what comes :)

Cheers, Craig

Comment from Phyllis Stewart

Excellent

Great go is a great idea. The US should do this yearly with all surplus taken in to go directly to the national debt. I would buy a ticket. I think most people would. And all that money would add up over the years. Wonder why no one in the govt has thought of it.

 Comment Written 11-Jan-2018

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reply by the author on 11-Jan-2018

Thanks for reviewing, Phyllis. Your govt doesn't run lotteries? Ours does. Next to tobacco and liquor, which they pretend to want everyone to give up, but would go broke if they did, I think lotteries might be their biggest money-spinner. Then again, I think they are mostly at a state level. Cheers, Craig

reply by Phyllis Stewart on 11-Jan-2018

Yes, we have state lotteries. But we need a national one directed at debt payment.

Comment from Dawn Munro

Excellent

Oh! What a fascinating story-in-a-poem. I've never heard it before, but now I'll never forget it. :) Wonderfully entertaining, perfect meter and rhyme - what more could anyone ask?

 Comment Written 11-Jan-2018

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reply by the author on 11-Jan-2018

Thank you for the lovely review, Dawn. Very much appreciated - Craig

reply by Dawn Munro on 11-Jan-2018

It was my pleasure. :)

Comment from tfawcus

Excellent

I'm enjoying this set of poems. I've not heard of the great-go before and find the origin fascinating. Splendid understated humour in a couple of lines here, that I really appreciated! ("it was not a good time to be queen" and "alas, Anne had no head (for commerce)".

 Comment Written 11-Jan-2018

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reply by the author on 11-Jan-2018

Thanks very much for checking out my poem, Tony, and thanks for the kind words - Craig

Comment from Barb Hensongispsaca

Excellent

I love it, no head for commerce.lol
Nicely done and a cute way of giving a history lesson at the same time. Great flow and held my interest.

 Comment Written 11-Jan-2018

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reply by the author on 11-Jan-2018

Thanks very much, Barb. Much appreciated - Craig

Comment from Sandra du Plessis

Excellent

A very well-written poem/story about the origin of the lottery as we know it. Previously called great-goes. Starting with Queen Elizabeth who used this method to pay the debt her father accumulated in hid lifetime.

 Comment Written 11-Jan-2018

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reply by the author on 11-Jan-2018

Thanks for the kind comments, Sandra. Craig

Comment from Joy Graham

Excellent

This is awesome :) I love reading about Henry VIII and that song always pops into my mind when I read about him. "I'm enery the eighth I am I am. I got married to the widow next door. She's been married seven times before..." I love lotteries and would love them even more if I ever won one. Just once is all I ask. A couple of million would be fine. So now we know the rest of the story...

Joy xx

 Comment Written 11-Jan-2018

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reply by the author on 11-Jan-2018

I would love to see you win a couple of mil in the lottery, Joy - in fact, you can be the very next person after me! Thanks for the fun review, and for ensuring I'll have that silly song stuck in my head all day :) Craig