Reviews from

Clustered Lilacs

The truth about lilacs across America's heartland

49 total reviews 
Comment from dragonpoet
Excellent
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Diane,
This is a well written free verse about why some lilacs were planted. I don't think these traditions are disturbing. I think it shows how flowers
have always given solace and beuaty to the sadness in life. And it does seem a good way to get rid of sewage smell and a way to use it as fertilizer.
Congrats on taking second place in the contest.
Keep writing
Joan

 Comment Written 05-Feb-2020

Comment from ExperiencingLiphe
Excellent
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My husband loves lilacs. We have a lilac tree right outside out apartment and he loves it...however it only blooms for a couple weeks. He has such a short window to enjoy it every year. I loved reading this. Great job

 Comment Written 01-Feb-2020


reply by the author on 01-Feb-2020
    Hello Friend!
    So pleased you enjoyed and my words resonated with you!
    I so love lilacs as well...

    Thank you!
    diane
Comment from BeasPeas
Excellent
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Hi Diane. This is a wonderfully written poem about the purpose of planting lilacs in certain locations. Very well done. I didn't know that. When I lived in a mountain town in California, I helped with the "lilac project" to plant lilacs throughout the small town from native runners that grew there. Marilyn

 Comment Written 01-Feb-2020


reply by the author on 02-Feb-2020
    Thank you, Marilyn.

    So pleased you enjoyed!

    diane
Comment from Mastery
Excellent
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Well done Diane. I am amazed. Lilacs afe my favorite flower. I crave their sweet fragrance this time of year especially.

I appreciage your pointing this one out to me. I would have missed out on a good write.

ps Please see the one below I won an award from the State of Michigan about ten years ago. It's called "Beautifully Bruised" Here it is:

"It's probably the sweet gift of spring
and lilacs that cause my addiction to purple.
that takes me to grandma's back yard,
where long sticks held up the clothesline,
and lavender towels danced in the lively breeze.

Somehow purple seems rare.

We drew a circle in the sand.
and each of us scattered oodles
of our least favorite marbles in the center.
there were very few purple ones,
I kept them in my pocket

I hid my purple crayons,
With my empty grape kool-aid packs.

It's really sad yet
beautiful and bruised blue,
I see now.
Purple has always been mine.
So be it then, the color I will inscribe with
my own death,

and Jesus

 Comment Written 30-Jan-2020


reply by the author on 30-Jan-2020
    Hello Bob!
    Oh! How I appreciate your well-crafted poem! There is such sadness expressed with incredible ease... I can see how it would be award-winning from the State of Michigan!
    I smiled when I read about the "clotheslines;" we don't see any of those where I live. How I miss the fresh scent of newly-washed clothes drying in the sunshine...
    And the line, "Purple has always been mine" speaks volumes.
    Thank you for sharing!
    And thank you for reading "Clustered Lilacs."

    Be well!
    diane
Comment from Bicpen
Excellent
Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

... It uses the story to lift the imagination of a time gone past into the present with the scent of imagery cast by the quill of a complete and welcomed format and rhyme scheme. The delivery suits the pace though lengthy it is a piece of deliberate education with a variable system of pictures conjuring the emotions to connect with the past to the present to engage further in the future. It has a well mounted description of symbolic freshness with a developed understanding delivering the protruding sentiment.

 Comment Written 29-Jan-2020


reply by the author on 01-Feb-2020
    Glad you enjoyed, Bicpen!

    Thank you!
    diane
Comment from Gert sherwood
Exceptional
This work has reached the exceptional level

Hello Mrs. KT
My what a beautiful poem about the lilacs when they are in full bloom. I loved the way you told us readers the reason
why they planted lilacs, is well worth reading to see why homestead enjoy the sweet scent of the blooms in the spring.
Gert

 Comment Written 29-Jan-2020


reply by the author on 29-Jan-2020
    Hello Gert!
    So wonderful to hear from you!
    I am honored by your exceptional rating and complimentary review.
    Such a unique story! I knew that lilacs were used to mask the odors from outhouses, but planting them over the graves of stillborn/miscarried children was new to me...
    So very pleased my words resonated with you!

    Thank you!
    diane
reply by Gert sherwood on 29-Jan-2020
    You are welcome Mrs. KT (Diane)
    Gert
Comment from Drew Delaney
Exceptional
This work has reached the exceptional level

Not only is this such an enlightening poem, but the words are well chosen, with excellent rhyme and rhythm. Good imagery is displayed too. I always appreciate learning more about the past and why certain things occurred. I did not know about this exactly. Thank you for sharing this knowledge of times past.
Drew

 Comment Written 29-Jan-2020


reply by the author on 29-Jan-2020
    Hello Drew!
    I am honored by your exceptional rating and complimentary review.
    Such a unique story.
    So very pleased my words resonated with you!

    Thank you!
    diane
Comment from Rosemary Everson1
Exceptional
This work has reached the exceptional level

Was your poem fiction or nonfiction? It was very touching. I never thought about how they buried their children years ago and used lilacs for an enchanting graveside flower. Loved your poem.

 Comment Written 29-Jan-2020


reply by the author on 29-Jan-2020
    Hello Rosemary!
    The poem is nonfiction.
    I am honored by your exceptional rating and thoughtful review.
    So very pleased my words resonated with you!

    diane
Comment from Bill Schott
Exceptional
This work has reached the exceptional level

This poem, Clustered Lilacs, reveals much and finds that the lovely lilacs both mark and take advantage of holes filled with fertilizer, and mark with reverence and beauty the sacred burial spot of lives never lived. Important and interesting news that I will ponder with each viewing of these favored bushes.

 Comment Written 29-Jan-2020


reply by the author on 29-Jan-2020
    Hello Bill!
    I am very honored by your exceptional rating and thoughtful review.
    I knew about lilacs being used to lessen the aromas from outhouses, but it wasn't until I did the research that I learned of lilacs sheltering the graves of babes...
    So pleased you enjoyed!

    Thank you!
    diane
Comment from Pearl Edwards
Exceptional
This work has reached the exceptional level

This is a beautiful poem telling the story of the original reason the lilacs were grown. I loved reading this, and the emotions you put into your words. Well done,
cheers

 Comment Written 29-Jan-2020


reply by the author on 29-Jan-2020
    Hello Pearl!
    I am honored by your exceptional rating and complimentary review.
    So very pleased my words resonated with you.

    Thank you!
    diane