Reviews from

Bookend Scholarship

A Shakespearean Sonnet for the contest

65 total reviews 
Comment from Twinsissy
Exceptional
This work has reached the exceptional level

I just exhaled!!
What a powerful poem and message.
To me the words, so carefully chosen, fit in all the right places. Were you studying the bookends as you wrote this? I truly have nothing to criticize or suggest - this is the best that I've read yet. Thank you Tony.

 Comment Written 17-Jan-2018


reply by the author on 17-Jan-2018
    Many thanks, Anne, for your kind words and for the six stars. Much appreciated! I have been mulling over this one for some time! I bought the bookends in the City Opera Thrift Store in Manhattan a couple of years ago - an absolute treasure trove of bric-a-brac, and they now have a home in our sunroom in Australia. Well travelled ducks! Best wishes, Tony
Comment from johnwilson
Exceptional
This work has reached the exceptional level

OK...I haven't read your work in awhile. This complete presentation (your pictures as well) was incredible. There's always a question within your work that you answer, giving me a delectable new work insight and thought pattern. This is so worthy of publication. Thank you, sir!

 Comment Written 17-Jan-2018


reply by the author on 17-Jan-2018
    Many thanks, johnwilson, for your kind words and for the six stars. Much appreciated, as always! It's good to hear from you! Best wishes, Tony
Comment from Sugarray77
Excellent
Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

I thoroughly enjoyed this poem. Thank you for sharing such a darling verse with us. The sonnet was well-written and the theme and photo were perfect. Well done.

 Comment Written 17-Jan-2018


reply by the author on 17-Jan-2018
    Many thanks, Sugarray, for your kind words. Much appreciated! It's good to hear from you! Best wishes, Tony
Comment from ameen786
Exceptional
This work has reached the exceptional level

Wow! This is a masterpiece! Simply outstanding and quite creative and to compose in a sonnet form...what a challenge; but you did it my friend. The last couplet is dynamite! Good luck!

 Comment Written 17-Jan-2018


reply by the author on 17-Jan-2018
    Many thanks, ameen786, for your kind words and for the six stars. Much appreciated, as always! It's good to hear from you! Best wishes, Tony
Comment from krys123
Excellent
Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

Cheers, Tony;
-there are many ways one can write an Ekphrastic poem and you particularly and artistically personified and made alive two Duck bookends. But, you did it in such a manner that had the two bookends having a romantically sensual liaison.
-Being written almost an the third person looking on these two characters having a romantic relationship is a very unique way of writing a sonnet.
-I understood your authors notes that you use the Queen's English, yet, as I also know, that Shakespeare did not perfectly rhyme everything, to say the least, and some of yours were as such. Even in a case like this it did not inhibit any of the enjambment's fluidity which flowed smoothly without any grammatical a syntactical brakes and the writing, the meaning and understanding of your work.
-I thought it was very clever of you to take your pictures and manipulate the conceptual theme and the topic to where the top picture had them apart and at the end they were kissing. Very creative.
-Thanks for sharing this, Tony, and good luck in the contest with your submission and take care and have a good one especially with all those that love you dearly.
Alex

 Comment Written 17-Jan-2018


reply by the author on 17-Jan-2018
    Many thanks, Alex, for your kind words. It's good to hear from you. I am overawed by the quality of your review and very much appreciate the time that you have invested into responding at such length. Truly appreciated. Best wishes to you and yours, Tony
reply by krys123 on 19-Jan-2018
    You are very welcome, Tony, and I appreciate your response. And do you know that my wife and I think about going to Australia and visiting and then we laugh about the 16 hour ride. Chuckle!
    Alex
Comment from Zue65
Excellent
Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

This poem deserved the recognition status, and the picture complements well the message of the poem. I like best the last two lines:" though books may teach us much, our hearts the crux, there is a deal from loving ducks." Thanks for sharing.

 Comment Written 17-Jan-2018


reply by the author on 21-Jan-2018
    Many thanks for dropping by to review, Nassus. Much appreciated. Thank you, too, for your kind comments. Best wishes, Tony
Comment from Pantygynt
Excellent
Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

It sometrimes amazes me what will inspire a piece of poetry. The argument is neatly and concisely set down in this excellent sonnet and, in case we didn't believe your hypothesis the second picture backs the volta up absolutely. A brilliant entry to this site contest. I'd wish you the best of luck, but really this is too good to need it.

 Comment Written 17-Jan-2018


reply by the author on 21-Jan-2018
    Many thanks for dropping by to review, Jim. Much appreciated. Thank you, too, for your very kind comments. Best wishes, Tony
Comment from Dorothy Farrell
Excellent
Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

Hi Tony, this is a treat to read, a perfect sonnet about the possible love affair of ducks - your book-ends. Clever idea! Great pictures. Written true to form with good abab rhyme maintained throughout. Excellent turn in the third and a great final couplet. Your iambic pentameter seems spot on. Good luck. Actually I do happen to love ducks. I like your bookends too. LOL. Dorothy x

 Comment Written 17-Jan-2018


reply by the author on 21-Jan-2018
    Many thanks for dropping by to review, Dorothy. Much appreciated. Thank you, too, for your very kind comments. Best wishes, Tony
Comment from Halfree
Exceptional
This work has reached the exceptional level

What a good read, well for me anyway. Second verse, wow. The first lines of that verse captured a lot, a thoughtful quiet line packed with emotion...feeling. I suspect by now you have gatherd that I liked the poem. Well I read a lot, like poems. Poetry is a demanding art form and I think you have a good grasp on the art of poetry. Well done...an absolute joy to read

 Comment Written 17-Jan-2018


reply by the author on 21-Jan-2018
    Many thanks for dropping by to review, Halfree. Much appreciated. Thank you, too, for the six stars and your very kind comments. Best wishes, Tony
Comment from Ogden
Exceptional
This work has reached the exceptional level

A quirky, unlikely, tongue-in-cheek, true-to-sonnet form, offering, designed to, and skillfully does, entertain. As intended, your sonnet, undeniably, represents a form of love.

Delightfully ducky, Tony!

Don (Ogden)

 Comment Written 17-Jan-2018


reply by the author on 21-Jan-2018
    Many thanks for dropping by to review, Don. Much appreciated. Thank you, too, for the six stars and your kind comments. Best wishes, Tony
reply by Ogden on 21-Jan-2018
    You're very welcome, Tony.