Reviews from

The Old Red Fox

A Russian Onegin Stanza

29 total reviews 
Comment from dragonpoet
Excellent
Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

This poem shows the slyness of the old fox and gives a strong image
of the English countryside. You know its British because of the red jackets the fox hunters wore even if you didn't know what Quorn is.
Congrats on the third place finish in the contest.
Keep writing
Joan

 Comment Written 01-Oct-2019


reply by the author on 01-Oct-2019
    Hi Joan. Thank you for commenting on The Old Red Fox. It is the product of my FS class that Pantygynt teaches. I really appreciate your comments!!

    Melissa
reply by dragonpoet on 01-Oct-2019
    You're welcome, Melissa
    Joan
Comment from CrystieCookie999
Excellent
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This is a great story that seems to bring back images of yesteryear. I like these lines: Hounds milled about the master's court,
an eager, sniffing, restless sort. This definitely evokes an active image, with the hounds making sniffing, snuffling sounds as they range around, ready to start. Sounds like the Old Fox found a burrow or tunnel somewhere to hide out when the hounds were after him. I have not heard of a fox decimating an entire henhouse, but I suppose it is possible. The only live, wild foxes I have seen were trotting around a river bottom. Challenging form! I have never tried that Onegin stanza/Pushkin sonnet. Great share!

 Comment Written 01-Oct-2019


reply by the author on 01-Oct-2019
    Thank you so much. This Onegin stanza was the product of my class here on FS. We are learning European Forms and the different methods to write with complicated rhyming schemes. I do thank you for your lovely comments!

    Melissa
Comment from judiverse
Exceptional
This work has reached the exceptional level

This is truly exceptional. You give such a marvelous description of the morning. Everything seems so peaceful and serene. The old fox, a patient, sly creature, awaits his opportunity to attack the chickens. Even a fox has to eat. Great description of the hunt, but is seems like the clever old fox still has some tricks up his sleeve. In a way, I'm glad he escaped, but he'll surely be back on the attack. This should do wonderfully in the contest. I object to the fox hunts. judi

 Comment Written 18-Aug-2019


reply by the author on 18-Aug-2019
    I am so delighted you liked this Onegin Stanza, Judi. It was the last assignment for my class on European Forms. Jim (Pantygynt) is an exceptionally good teacher and used this form as the finale. It was tough, but a fun challenge too. Thanks so much!!

    Melissa
reply by judiverse on 18-Aug-2019
    You're welcome. It was very beautiful. judi
Comment from Gloria ....
Excellent
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This is just a terrific entry into the rhyming contest. I always enjoy poetry that tells a story too and your poem takes us right into the scene with the sly Old Fox snagging feast. While the hunter became the hunted he escaped, so a happy ending, at least for the red fox.

Never heard of the Pushkin sonnet before but it is a neat form for precisely this type of poem.

Best of luck to you with the Contest Committee. :)

Gloria

 Comment Written 12-Aug-2019


reply by the author on 13-Aug-2019
    Hello. I have been holding my breath waiting for your review of the Old Red Fox. You are so very good that I knew you would appreciate the difficulty of this form and I wondered what you would say... This was the last assignment for the Euro forms class. Jim had been chatting with a poet from the Ukraine and that poet brought up this Russian form. So... Jim included it in the class. It has been the most challenging thing I have done to date... This form is always used to tell a story. Thank you very much!

    Melissa
Comment from kahpot
Excellent
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Wow! this is another great form very complicated, your notes are much appreciated, I am glad the fox out smarted them throughout this excellent rhyme, I think you have mastered this form wonderfully, very well written and I love the artwork****kahpot

 Comment Written 12-Aug-2019


reply by the author on 12-Aug-2019
    Thank you so very much. I am really encouraged by your comments.

    Melissa
Comment from Janetsue
Excellent
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This is another excellent posting with a complicated form accompanied by a comment helping readers learn more about different poetry forms. The fox painting is gorgeous.

 Comment Written 12-Aug-2019


reply by the author on 12-Aug-2019
    Hi Spangle!! Thanks for your lovely comments. It was the last assignment for the European Forms class that ended last week. The Onegin Stanza is a puzzle, but it was so fun to figure it out. I appreciate your review, my friend.

    Melissa
reply by Janetsue on 12-Aug-2019
    :-)
Comment from Loren .
Excellent
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Out of sixes, already. Sorry, but it is so deserving. Not only does this have a rhyming magic to it, is also seems to flow with a melody. Again, I could picture everything and I think you caught the essence of the fox and his habitat perfectly. And, you taught your reader something along the way. Well done! Loren

 Comment Written 12-Aug-2019


reply by the author on 12-Aug-2019
    Hi Loren.... thank you very much for this review. It really encouraged me today.

    Melissa
Comment from Joy Graham
Exceptional
This work has reached the exceptional level

Hi Melissa,

I really enjoyed reading this poem :) You set a wonderful old world scene to me much like the old nursery rhymes.

I'm not sure I picked up on rhymes as I would have liked for a rhyme poem contest entry where rhymes should be featured. That's just me. I'm not sure I like the rhyme scheme of this poetry form.

For me, your setting and descriptions are outstanding.

Best wishes in the contest.

Joy xx

 Comment Written 12-Aug-2019


reply by the author on 12-Aug-2019
    Hi Joy. I am so glad you pointed out the things that you liked and did not like. This Onegin Stanza is an old Russian form where each piece of the puzzle is structured in some way. A vastly different approach from modern rhyming poetry. It was the last assignment for the European forms class that ended last week. Thanks so much!!

    Melissa
Comment from Y. M. Roger
Excellent
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Read another of this form earlier this morning that mentioned a 'novel' in this form... wow! Well, yours is not a novel, Melissa, but it is certainly a beautiful creation that sings and hums along, drawing the reader through with your imagery and rhyme... you even create just a bit of apprehension and intrigue, yet the old fox gets away again in the end!! ;) :) Thanx so very much for sharing and best of luck to you in the contest! ;) Yvette
Be sure to pop back in there and eliminate the gnome graffiti from your author notes, my lady! :)

 Comment Written 12-Aug-2019


reply by the author on 12-Aug-2019
    Hi Yvette. I really appreciate your comments and review. This was the last assignment for the European Forms class. Jim (Pantygynt) also posted an Onegin Stanza yesterday. I will edit the pesky gnomes. Ha.. thanks.

    Melissa
Comment from Sandra du Plessis
Excellent
Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

A very well-written Russian Onegin Stanza. The fox is not called sly for no reason, they are clever and often seem to fool the hunters and send them home empty handed.

 Comment Written 12-Aug-2019


reply by the author on 12-Aug-2019
    Thank you very much, Sandra!!

    Melissa