Reviews from

Heart Cafted Poems - 2020

Viewing comments for Chapter 9 "Stranger's in my midst"
Musings of an old man -2020

26 total reviews 
Comment from Diana L Crawford
Excellent
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This is truly a spell-binding reflection! Many cannot even begin to see what took them to where they are today and never bother to even try to look for happiness. Thank you for exposing you life and heart in this fantastic write! xoxo

 Comment Written 02-Feb-2020


reply by the author on 02-Feb-2020
    Diana thank you, I believe, sometimes the stock delivery babies, just get the address wrong. So the baby just's learns to deal with it to the best of there abilities at the time. In reflection, I wouldn't change one hour, one minute one second.
reply by Diana L Crawford on 02-Feb-2020
    Maybe, and maybe such deliveries bring about the development of a person destined to do great things like you and your incredible talent for writing. xoxo
Comment from ExperiencingLiphe
Exceptional
This work has reached the exceptional level

I loved how open you were in this. I feel like I know you, you're not a stranger but a person I can be friends with. My husband and I don't plan on having kids. I was abused as a child and unless I know I can keep them safe then I don't want to put them in that circumstance. More than that though is raising kids is a 1000% commitment. I would want to get up and make them breakfast, cook them supper, bake with them, play with them, do sport things with them, etc...and I'm exhausted just thinking about it. But if you have kids you have to be 1000% committed. My sister has kids, and she doesn't discipline them or make them eat real food. They are going to be, they already are, messed up adults. I'm glad you were able to get help my friend. I had to do some mending with my parents about ten years ago as well. I sent my dad a quiz, I moved across the country so I mailed him a quiz. In it were questions like who was the person you lost that was the hardest to lose. What did you want to be when you were younger and so on. It was like 30 questions. He filled it out and sent it to me. It meant so much to me. I still have it. But all of those questions, I never knew the answers to. But the fact that he took the time, it meant a lot. None of us are perfect but it's nice that we can start over, whatever that means for each of us.

 Comment Written 01-Feb-2020


reply by the author on 02-Feb-2020
    Dear Friend, My heart aches when I read of familial abuse. So much tragedy comes to those who fight for survival, even if the survival is just to be seen in a family unit. I am so happy that your dad was thoughtful enough to complete the quiz. We who had to work harder at finding our way, I believe, are put in a place to share there journey so that others can see they are not alone, Such is the case with my writing, I am honored to meet you.
Comment from estory
Exceptional
This work has reached the exceptional level

I thought this was magnifiscent. You have that gift, that ability to observe the world and people around you, and that perspective of yourself, that makes good writers. And this is a terrific story. In fact, I think you should flesh it out, and turn it into a novel. This has all the hallmarks of a great novel; a host of troubled characters, and a journey of the soul, in this case, from darkness into light. Thank God you found our Lord Jesus Christ and have tapped into his grace and can live at last! Good luck with this. Write on! estory

 Comment Written 01-Feb-2020


reply by the author on 01-Feb-2020
    I am so honored by your review and your reflection. I have in fact started this work --if interested look at my three chapters Celtic Roots. I would welcome any and all critical insights.
Comment from ciliverde
Excellent
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This is quite an amazing life story, and an interesting reflection of what makes a person a stranger (and dangerous...). I can't compare my childhood to yours, although we were all afraid of my father, who acted like an alcoholic even though he wasn't one.

Your use of strangers using the apostrophe is not correct, as shown here - living with the stranger's in your own family. It should simply be "strangers" - your title too.

Well done, it is an uncomfortable story to read, but an important one,
Carol


 Comment Written 01-Feb-2020


reply by the author on 01-Feb-2020
    Carol, Thank you! My intention in the writing of this was to hopefully reach someone who may feel trapped and has the need to know that they are not the reason or the source of the troubles and can rise above it all, God never expects people to suffer so. I had the apostrophe correct and another commenter said I was wrong, I knew you are right so I am changing it back, thank you for this validation.
Comment from Carl DeVere
Excellent
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This is a well-written narrative about a challenging life and it's progressing from humble beginnings to a fairly responsible level that still is plagued by estrangement. I liked that there was a conclusion and a final victory over some demons. Others may not be that fortunate...a tale well told.

 Comment Written 31-Jan-2020


reply by the author on 01-Feb-2020
    Carl, thank you for the validation. My intention in the writing of this was to hopefully reach someone who may feel trapped and has the need to know that they are not the reason or the source of the troubles and can rise above it all, God never expects people to suffer so.
Comment from Mia Twysted
Excellent
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To grow up thinking of your parents as strangers is hard. You never get a true feel for your history beyond what you have lived and this can be hard as a child. And although you may have had trouble in your journey you seem to have figured it out and come out on top.

 Comment Written 31-Jan-2020


reply by the author on 01-Feb-2020
    My intention in the writing of this was to hopefully reach someone who may feel trapped and has the need to know that they are not the reason or the source of the troubles and can rise above it all, God never expects people to suffer so.
Comment from BeasPeas
Excellent
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This is an excellent biographical account of your life. It's well written and coherent. I particularly like this description of your father:
"I felt at times like, for some nefarious reason, my father simply didn't have a beginning, he just was."
Best of luck in the contest with this fine entry. Marilyn

 Comment Written 31-Jan-2020


reply by the author on 01-Feb-2020
    Marilyn, thank you for the validation. The purpose behind this honest reflection is I truly hope someone caught in the midst of strangers can read this and look at the fact we have God in our midst always.
Comment from Melody Koch
Excellent
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The part about your mother made me cry, my dad and grandpa did not have a very good relationship for 10 years, and my uncle and my grandpa still don't have a good relationship.

I am always awkward around strangers and I feel that everyone is judging me no matter what I do.Thank you for writing this poem.

 Comment Written 31-Jan-2020


reply by the author on 31-Jan-2020
    Melody, I hear aches to read your words. Families are at times very difficult and all we can do at the end is to be true to our own selves and try to set a different course in life. Thank you for reading and commenting on my work.
Comment from Barbaraj1
Excellent
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You have written a personal sad story, but it has an upbeat and inspirational ending. You had a very dysfunctional family. But through therapy and religion, you found yourself.

 Comment Written 31-Jan-2020


reply by the author on 31-Jan-2020
    Barbara, In light of all the things we do go through life dealing with, if we can find God where where in this, we survive to carry the torch forward. Thank you for reading this piece and I did intend it to be upbeat, because my life has been so!
Comment from royowen
Excellent
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This is quite a confession, you and I are not terribly dissimilar, although being acquainted with a man who drank himself senseless...me, one day one has to admit what he is, however distasteful that may be. God met me, or rather, ambushed me, and then His disciples came out of the woodwork, I was a gambler, drunk, and smoker, but yet, show me hope, and I've never done any of these things since, I'm so glad for my kids, wife and grands, but that's another story. Well done my friend, very brave sharing, well done, blessings, Roy

 Comment Written 31-Jan-2020


reply by the author on 31-Jan-2020
    Roy, my brother of the real life! Thank you for your authentic voice. I know we are never alone in our wilderness. I am certain, in my case, I had lessons that needed to be learned to set out a different course for my progeny
reply by royowen on 31-Jan-2020
    Well done