Reviews from

Sensational Discovery

You can't be anything until you know who you are...

43 total reviews 
Comment from Bill Pinder
Exceptional
This work has reached the exceptional level

You did it again with an exceptional poem. I love how you incorporated a crucial thought into this also. This world is way too consumed with staying busy and playing games and having to check your iPhone every minute. Many people have lost and are continuing to lose the art of communicating well and being able to be content with some quiet.
Bill

 Comment Written 16-Apr-2019


reply by the author on 17-Apr-2019
    Wow, Bill!! You just brightened my day, sir!! :) :) Thank you so very much for those lovely stars and for you comments... you are so very right about the art of personal IN-PERSON communication - it is an art suffering from starvation and the youth of today are feeding that starvation at an alarming rate. They can all be 'in a group' and simply share memes they find while they are ALL on their phones... it's kindof a "we're near each other but not really connecting". Much of their group interaction is done from the isolation of their own rooms while 'online playing' with friends.... it is a crazy thing! ;) :) Thanx for dropping by again -- appreciate your input!! ;) ;) Take care! :) Yvette :)
Comment from Sandra Elizabeth Williams
Excellent
Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

Hi Yvette, this is such an awesome and really clever 3-6-9 poem. It lays the foundation for silence then layers on the senses to achieve self discovery.

I love this! Best wishes in the contest!

 Comment Written 16-Apr-2019


reply by the author on 17-Apr-2019
    Thank you so very much for the awesome review, Sandra! :) This was the write of a teacher looking at a crazy end of a crazy year!! :) :) Glad you enjoyed -- take care out there! ;) Yvette ;)
reply by Sandra Elizabeth Williams on 17-Apr-2019
    You're welcome! And thanks for the wishes.

    Have a great rest of the week!
Comment from F. Wehr3
Exceptional
This work has reached the exceptional level

Nicely done, Yvette. I checked the syllable count and it looks good. I especially enjoyed the third stanza. I inhale calm a lot, lol. Best of luck in the contest.

Take care,
Russell

 Comment Written 16-Apr-2019


reply by the author on 17-Apr-2019
    Wow, Russell!! This is a surprise and a very welcome one at that -- I'm so sorry I'm so far behind on everything... I tried to catch up on reviews the past couple of days and now these, but the end of a school year is crazy ... add to that I've got all three boys graduating (law, undergrad, and high) plus 'moving' two of them and other big things... ugh! ;) ;) These stars really put a smile on my face, sir, and I do so thank you for them... I have to find time over the next few weeks to take my own advice - LOL!!! Take care out there, sir, and have a great evening! ;) Yvette :)
Comment from Dean Kuch
Excellent
Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

We have become a society so reliant on wi-fi and technology that I fear we've lost some of our abilities to interact with others socially, on a purely personal level and in face-to-face encounters with others
Everywhere you look someone, somewhere, is on a damn cell phone.
Don't any of the "Y" Generation ever just drive over to visit a friend just to hang out and spend time with them?
Soon, newborn babies are gonna be born with keypads under their skin and USB cable plugs embedded in the back of their skulls.
Now, with A.I. being introduced into the mix it's only a matter of time before we're no longer #1 on the food chain.
~Dean

 Comment Written 16-Apr-2019


reply by the author on 17-Apr-2019
    Dean, one of the biggest concerns of mine (actually ahead of the one expressed in this write) is the one you mention here: there's no true socializing anymore.... the kids don't get together and just chill anymore... they 'play' on their own personal computers at their own homes wearing headsets with mics... and the insane parents will tell you they're good with it because at least they know where their child is at all times and they don't have to worry...!!!! And, yeah, I look at them like they're from Mars or Jupiter or something.... what the hell? It is no wonder the 'empathy' you hear so much about isn't rooted in any kind of reality, it is totally just talk and words that resonates well over the headsets.... my students today almost seem to have trouble with 'in person' empathy, they don't know how to react to another's tears or anger, and, the scary thing? some of them don't seem to know how to deal with their own.... Instead of 'groups' of kids gathering together after school to wait on the bus/etc, they're on their phones 'by themselves'... just very, very disconcerting... and that was a few years ago when I was still full-time. Sigh. I fear that it's not the A.I. so much as a tyrant/tyrants [tech or social media or such] coming in and taking over before any one actually realizes it... :(
    Thanx for sounding off on this one -- good to hear from/interact with you again! ;) :) Take care! :) Yvette
reply by Dean Kuch on 17-Apr-2019
    You're welcome, Yvette, and you do the same.
    ~Dean
Comment from Gail Denham
Excellent
Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

Oh I do like this counsel. And you are so right. The fact that our four (or is it five) year old young granddaughter is so tied to her "programs" - sometimes the same over and over. but when we're together and there's a still moment, "what shall we do now Grandma?"

I'm somewhat the same in that I like to keep bus y- but. I do sit quietly too.
good poem and good counsel

 Comment Written 16-Apr-2019


reply by the author on 17-Apr-2019
    Thank you for the review here, Gail -- just be sure to plan out some projects like gardening or baking or even painting out on the back patio/big chalk drawings on the driveway where a hose can clean it all up... LOL! :) Fun, not much 'work' for us older folks, and no phones or programs! :) :) Take care out there, ma'am, and have a great week! ;) ;) Yvette :)
reply by Gail Denham on 17-Apr-2019
    thanks - we'll have an Easter egg hunt here in our yard after church - keep them outside - now that the weather's better (not good yet but better)
Comment from James Upshaw
Excellent
Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

What a great message here! I love that you are encouraging the reader to spend some time in quiet meditation to get in touch with oneself. This is a beautiful poem and you have worded it beautifully!

 Comment Written 16-Apr-2019


reply by the author on 17-Apr-2019
    Thanx so very much for stopping in and for your review, James -- great to hear from you! :) Know that you are welcome to stop by any time (contest or not!) ... always a seat on the front porch open for ya!! ;) :) LOL! :) Take care out there and have a wonderful remainder of the week! :) :) Yvette
Comment from Ms. Snyder
Excellent
Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

Hi Yvette,
Okay - I am here - too bad - well not too bad - 6 spot on reviewing is pretty darn good! I haven't gotten my stuff done - had a crap week with a starter on my car/battery/car not working/sharing rides/ helping people/talking to people who needed a shoulder - Beautiful teacher I have been MIA for the most part because life has been in the way and talk about being still - well I have have been being still waiting on people to pick me up!!! and I started to say MRW - and CQ - that you have 15-15-15 then 6! If you were a 15th reviewer, it would be 15-15-15-15 - which would be kind of cool - but then a 6th reviewer is awesome!!! We gotta get you in top 10 for sure - you certainly deserve to be there!!! I will keep pushing and reading your stuff when I get the energy to read and review again - it took me forever to clear my inbox as I had over 200 messages from being away with the hand stuff - and I need to get more 6s - I was mentoring a girl last week who signed on and was killing it on the 70 words or less circuit. I had to help her - because she was phenomenal!!! I didn't want her to get discouraged and some idiot - that can't write gave her a 3 - so I had to talk her off the ledge as she was someone I read right off the bat - and saw her talent and thought wow - She was emerging quickly but he was going to drive her away fast! I had to tell her to keep going and was helping her promote. So basically - that was some of what I was doing... Nothing special. Her name is Sandra Montanino. Also Country (her husband passed and I have been just shooting the breeze to pass some time - so that she doesn't drop off entirely from Fan Story and also so she doesn't feel completely excluded from life. She's in her 70's and she has lost her mate, so I feel like I have some things in common with her. I know some of the emotional sides of what she is experiencing. Other than that I have been working on a little ditty that I hope to share soon that will be something that I want you to have eyes on this week. I hope I get enough FS money to promote by Wed at the latest - it just has gotten away from me. If you don't see it and are too busy - I may have to point it out to you specifically - you will see why... LOL - Thanks for checking in and I am reviewing and replying to knock out two birds with one stone. BTW Kerri's Pinterest here was quite the abstract and it drew me to the poem! The poem is exquisite and of course, my Virtual Six and I love the form! Only one critique (I wish you would either change the middle or the top color to either offset the color on the bottom or to make it all the same color scheme. It is some OCD carry over or something. But I think it should cascade. So if you could find one shade different for the middle I think that would be so cool! Beautiful idea and sentiment and I am going to invoke it - right after I say - Cheers, Fonda

 Comment Written 15-Apr-2019


reply by the author on 17-Apr-2019
    Yeah -- I can't even imagine what my OCD brain would do with 200+ messages in an inbox!! :) Last weekend, I had just over 60 and I was NOT comfortable!! ;) ;) Wow -- you have been a busy bee, Lady F! :) I hope she appreciates you 'talking her down'.... and I heard about Country's husband when she posted. You have a big heart, ma'am, and I admire your dedication. :) :) :) I look forward to reading your 'ditty' this week... this is my 'end of the year' craziness beginning with regular school stuff plus three graduations, two 'movings', and my youngest has his big art show of the year next weekend.... so, I'm about to be 'out' more than 'in'. :) :) You take care of you out there, and thanx for dropping by, Beautiful Lady! ;) :) Yvette
    P.S. Interesting new portfolio pic... missed seeing your smiling face. :) ;)
Comment from Debbie Pope
Excellent
Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

This is lovely Yvette. I wish that you could have had two more stanzas to complete the use of your senses. My favorite is Inhale...Calm
let its strength sustain you. Before I read this, I was thinking of skipping yoga tomorrow. I am so busy. The quietness of yoga is strengthening though. I need to reflect on my better qualities--not my nervous self. Thank you for this poem.

 Comment Written 15-Apr-2019


reply by the author on 16-Apr-2019
    No skipping yoga! :) ;) Funny how many folks actually equated this to yoga.... well, I've never done yoga, but this one was written at the end of (a long!) last week and all I wanted to do was to breathe and listen to nature talk to be out there on the front porch!! :) :) Three weeks plus exams... keep telling myself I can do this! :) ;) Thanx again, for the wonderful review, and you had better go to yoga today! ;) ;) Yvette
Comment from Jesse James Doty
Excellent
Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

This is wonderful advice. Not just for young people but for all of us, no matter what age. I like your notes as much as your poem. They match each other extremely well. It's good to know your personal experience with young people in a classroom setting to see what motivated your choice of phrases. Your choice of phrases is excellently done. It sounds spiritual, without being too much so. My favorite lines are the first of each set. "Touch...Silence" "Taste...Stillness" and my most favorite, "Inhale...Calm" these together, say volumes in just a few words. The image you chose, entitled, "Sense the Wonder" is lovely and fits this piece perfectly. I know what you mean about sitting, or just being with, your nothingness. I do that nearly every day, in the early morning and early evening. This lesson is universal in its applications for all of us. Sit with your silence. It may be difficult at first, but you learn a lot about who you are inside. Thank you for sharing this lovely gift.
Take care, Jesse

 Comment Written 15-Apr-2019


reply by the author on 16-Apr-2019
    Liked those 'weird combinations' did you, sir? :) LOL! Yeah -- I went for the 'get the reader's attention' but still convey what I was really trying to on the message.. so glad you enjoyed it! ;) :) You know, I wrote this one at the end of a long week last week ... sitting out on the front porch, looking for that peacefulness! :) ;) Thanx for your analysis and your feelings on this one.... it's always so good to know that I get 'real' from you, Jesse -- take care! :) ;) Yvette
reply by Jesse James Doty on 16-Apr-2019
    Hello Yvette
    I so appreciate your compliment of my being "real" with you. That front porch sure sounds inviting to sit a spell. Your advice, and concern, for the young people of today, is very real. Our planet depends on them. I hope they can get real. Enjoy your week!
    Jesse
Comment from trimple
Excellent
Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

Good evening, Yvette

Your poem aims towards the youngsters who seem to be obsessed with keeping up appearances. Sadly, it isn't just the young. I had to go and stay in Beverly Hills last year, I don't think I saw one real nose or natural breast all week!

Your poem suggests that people take a moment to still themselves and reflect on what they truly are.

Nice

kind regards

tracey

 Comment Written 15-Apr-2019


reply by the author on 16-Apr-2019
    Thanx for stopping in for a review on this one, Tracey -- always appreciated! :) ;) Take care and have a great week! :) Yvette
reply by trimple on 16-Apr-2019
    You too, Yvette