Minnesota Poems
Viewing comments for Chapter 69 "Four Days While My Cities Burned"Poems About and Around Minnesota
10 total reviews
Comment from Sandra Stoner-Mitchell
Reading your poem, and then your author's notes made me really feel for you. How scary that must have been. I do agree that racism has to stop, there is lots of it world wide, but not all of it is against the black people. White people suffer racism, too. What I don't understand is how come the worst people who do more terrible things against the black community, are in countries that are ruled by the black people. You hear of mass killings, starvations, lots of terrible things.
I'm afraid things will get worse. I wrote a story for my grandson about ancient Egypt, and I was taken to task because I was 'ignoring' the slavery that happened in the building of the pyramids. Actually, he was wrong. Hollywood liked to make their films that way, but they were'nt slaves who built them. The people were paid a wage, and even had proper graves around the pyramids if any died whilst building them. Many graves of the builders have been found. Slavery was terrible, but today, there are just the few idiotic racists in the police forces, but you can't tar all police with that same brush, which is what seems to be happening now. Many coloured people are getting the top jobs that they deserve. I think your poem and authors notes are very well written, Tom. Well done. :)) Sandra xx
reply by the author on 30-Jun-2020
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Reading your poem, and then your author's notes made me really feel for you. How scary that must have been. I do agree that racism has to stop, there is lots of it world wide, but not all of it is against the black people. White people suffer racism, too. What I don't understand is how come the worst people who do more terrible things against the black community, are in countries that are ruled by the black people. You hear of mass killings, starvations, lots of terrible things.
I'm afraid things will get worse. I wrote a story for my grandson about ancient Egypt, and I was taken to task because I was 'ignoring' the slavery that happened in the building of the pyramids. Actually, he was wrong. Hollywood liked to make their films that way, but they were'nt slaves who built them. The people were paid a wage, and even had proper graves around the pyramids if any died whilst building them. Many graves of the builders have been found. Slavery was terrible, but today, there are just the few idiotic racists in the police forces, but you can't tar all police with that same brush, which is what seems to be happening now. Many coloured people are getting the top jobs that they deserve. I think your poem and authors notes are very well written, Tom. Well done. :)) Sandra xx
Comment Written 30-Jun-2020
reply by the author on 30-Jun-2020
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Thank you Sandra. You make some very good points. I note your Egyptian story well. So many people get history wrong. Many even get tgoday wrong. I appreciate your comments.
Comment from estory
You speak the truth. I agree with you. It is a terrifying thing to be caught up in and your piece brings it all to life in astonishingly vivid life. It's like being right in the middle of the riot. I never owned a gun either and am thinking the same thing. The government is paralyzed by fear of confronting these anarchists and being accused of heavy handed tactics. And that leaves ordinary citizens and businesses defenseless. The same thing happened here in Raleigh. But while I agree with you that all these sinister forces are at work, there is another even more sinister force behind it all; the big international companies that want to destroy national and racial cultures in order to create a new, global culture, a new global government, based on the Chinese authoritarian model. They have discovered in China that it works better for them. There's more money in it for them. They are the ones funding all this. estory
reply by the author on 30-Jun-2020
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You speak the truth. I agree with you. It is a terrifying thing to be caught up in and your piece brings it all to life in astonishingly vivid life. It's like being right in the middle of the riot. I never owned a gun either and am thinking the same thing. The government is paralyzed by fear of confronting these anarchists and being accused of heavy handed tactics. And that leaves ordinary citizens and businesses defenseless. The same thing happened here in Raleigh. But while I agree with you that all these sinister forces are at work, there is another even more sinister force behind it all; the big international companies that want to destroy national and racial cultures in order to create a new, global culture, a new global government, based on the Chinese authoritarian model. They have discovered in China that it works better for them. There's more money in it for them. They are the ones funding all this. estory
Comment Written 30-Jun-2020
reply by the author on 30-Jun-2020
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Thank you very much estory. You are right and that is also a major concern. I appreciate you reminding me because it is a very important piece of the puzzle.
Comment from nancy_e_davis
Tom, I agree. It isn't merely criminals causing the riots and damage to the cities. This is a plan to cause a civil war in the U.S. and if we Americans don't stop them it will happen. We need our Police. They stand between us and this sort of behavior every day. God Bless them. Well done. Nancy:)
reply by the author on 30-Jun-2020
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Tom, I agree. It isn't merely criminals causing the riots and damage to the cities. This is a plan to cause a civil war in the U.S. and if we Americans don't stop them it will happen. We need our Police. They stand between us and this sort of behavior every day. God Bless them. Well done. Nancy:)
Comment Written 30-Jun-2020
reply by the author on 30-Jun-2020
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Thank you Nancy. I totally agree that we need to stop it and stand up with our voices, efforts, and vote. I appreciate the review as well as the stars.
Comment from Cybertron1986
Powerful and defining read. I like the expression of voice here. It projects a strong emotional reaction for the reader. You supplement many great perspectives with vivid imagery. Beautiful
reply by the author on 30-Jun-2020
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Powerful and defining read. I like the expression of voice here. It projects a strong emotional reaction for the reader. You supplement many great perspectives with vivid imagery. Beautiful
Comment Written 29-Jun-2020
reply by the author on 30-Jun-2020
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Thank you very much Cybertron. I appreciate your supportive comments.
Comment from Wabigoon
Treischel--
Reading your rethink of recent events is really too much. You totally ignore that there has been endemic racism in this country and police departments that has, yes, boiled over into the riots you have witnessed. You act as if there is no underlying cause! Are you crazy! Yes, apparently, you are. Racism has been boiling under the surface for a hundred years and yet you fail to see it. I agree, there were "anarchists", white, involved in the violence, but the event was NOT caused by them. Racist cops killing a man for no reason is the cause of the event, which, you, are apparently unwilling to see.
Best
Wabigoon/Jeff
reply by the author on 30-Jun-2020
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Treischel--
Reading your rethink of recent events is really too much. You totally ignore that there has been endemic racism in this country and police departments that has, yes, boiled over into the riots you have witnessed. You act as if there is no underlying cause! Are you crazy! Yes, apparently, you are. Racism has been boiling under the surface for a hundred years and yet you fail to see it. I agree, there were "anarchists", white, involved in the violence, but the event was NOT caused by them. Racist cops killing a man for no reason is the cause of the event, which, you, are apparently unwilling to see.
Best
Wabigoon/Jeff
Comment Written 29-Jun-2020
reply by the author on 30-Jun-2020
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Thank you Wabigon. I equally noted the underlying cause of this single action by one officer that has hijacked a valid cause. I also agree it was a horrid miscarriage of justice, and that those involved should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. . But to claim it is sytstemic racism is a lie. All lives matter. Black lives matter. Cops lives matter. But BLM is itself a dangerous racist organization. Bent on destroying our society and killing cops. Black on black violence is the underlying issue far greater than policing. In any case, there is no excuse for the rioting. None.
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Treischel--
Thank you for the reply. I watched footage of another incident of what is being claimed as cop violence against a black kid. Maybe there were reasons for the suspicions, but, I think, unfortunately. there is "rage" boiling beneath the surface of all of these events. Elijah was the name of the kid killed, again, by choke holds, so it is not just one event. I understand your concerns for "your" cities, which, MPLS, I have lived in for years when younger, and was married in.
But, sorry, I think there are underlying reasons for the rage that erupts into riots, horrorifically sad as they may be. (f there was a statue of a Confederate "Hero" on my street or at the center of my block at the police station, I would want to tear it down. I would pass it with resentment every day. That is what I am talking about...and a president who all but gets in bed with the Ku Klux Klan to get elected from the south.
What, really, do your think we are seeing?
Best
Wabigoon/Jeff
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I understand your sentiments. We just disagree as to what they are. But I respect your viewpoint. On thing though. Richard Bird was the grand kleegle of the KKK, Joe Biden gave the eulogy at his funeral.
Comment from Anne-Marie brison
excellent. great job. I love your word use!!! incredible!!! awesome job!! and thanks Soo much for sharing this!!!
reply by the author on 30-Jun-2020
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excellent. great job. I love your word use!!! incredible!!! awesome job!! and thanks Soo much for sharing this!!!
Comment Written 29-Jun-2020
reply by the author on 30-Jun-2020
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Thank you Ann marie. for this fine review.
Comment from Alcreator Litt Dear
I like this poetic fusion poem and have enjoyed the free flow of thoughts, nice word visuals and realistic word imagery; well said, well done; enjoyed the read; thank you for sharing this. Keep writing. ALCREATOR
reply by the author on 30-Jun-2020
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I like this poetic fusion poem and have enjoyed the free flow of thoughts, nice word visuals and realistic word imagery; well said, well done; enjoyed the read; thank you for sharing this. Keep writing. ALCREATOR
Comment Written 29-Jun-2020
reply by the author on 30-Jun-2020
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Thank you for your encouragement ALD.
Comment from Joan E.
I am so sorry you had to endure such chaos and four unimaginably terrifying days. I must say, I do not believe that owning a gun is the answer--it could be turned on its owner.
Your poem captured the intense emotions and introduced me to the Poetic Fusion form, combining rhymes and free verse plus probing questions. Your imagery is vivid and quite thought-provoking. Be safe and well- Joan
reply by the author on 30-Jun-2020
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I am so sorry you had to endure such chaos and four unimaginably terrifying days. I must say, I do not believe that owning a gun is the answer--it could be turned on its owner.
Your poem captured the intense emotions and introduced me to the Poetic Fusion form, combining rhymes and free verse plus probing questions. Your imagery is vivid and quite thought-provoking. Be safe and well- Joan
Comment Written 29-Jun-2020
reply by the author on 30-Jun-2020
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Thank you Joan. Good point about guns. I vacillate on it, but fear this may turn worse. I appreciate your excellent review very much. I'm sure things in California as looking very upsetting to you as well.
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Things are turbulent everywhere. And the CoronaVirus adds to our anxiety. Take good care of yourself- Joan
Comment from Sandra du Plessis
A very well-written heartfelt and very sad fusion poem about the riots and destruction of your city and left you all helpless to stop these monsters that destroy and devour everything in their path.
reply by the author on 29-Jun-2020
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A very well-written heartfelt and very sad fusion poem about the riots and destruction of your city and left you all helpless to stop these monsters that destroy and devour everything in their path.
Comment Written 29-Jun-2020
reply by the author on 29-Jun-2020
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Thank you Sandra. You observation is very correct. They are monsters. Thanks for the review.
Comment from Pantygynt
I was intrigued by this form and wondered why the 'rhymed stanzas were of different lengths (1x8 lines, 3x7 lines and 2x9 lines). It seems that the philosophy of the form is that it is driven by the the desired content rather than by a set form, much as is free verse. I also noted your predilection for rhyming tercets coming to the fore on several occasions.
The apparent random elements matched the apparent mindlessness of the 'mob'. I use that somewhat archaic word advisedly as being most suitable on this occasion. We seem to have them too.
reply by the author on 29-Jun-2020
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I was intrigued by this form and wondered why the 'rhymed stanzas were of different lengths (1x8 lines, 3x7 lines and 2x9 lines). It seems that the philosophy of the form is that it is driven by the the desired content rather than by a set form, much as is free verse. I also noted your predilection for rhyming tercets coming to the fore on several occasions.
The apparent random elements matched the apparent mindlessness of the 'mob'. I use that somewhat archaic word advisedly as being most suitable on this occasion. We seem to have them too.
Comment Written 29-Jun-2020
reply by the author on 29-Jun-2020
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Hi Jim,
You are correct. It is driven by the content more so than the format, and ascribes variation similar to a free verse poem, which it almost blends into. Only you would notice such detail, the tercet rhymes and line count variations. I am pleased you caught them. Thanks for the review.
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Good to have you back, Tom.
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If I notice these things it largely due to your teaching.
