Comment from Becky Kern-Taylor

Exceptional

Very Very Good. I love the picture also. I do not pretend to be the writer you are but I have one suggestions. Replace "when" with "with" in both places. Sorry to be a critic but I just put it there and it felt better to me.

 Comment Written 05-Aug-2020

Comment from Lucy de Welles

Excellent

Artful and clever. A real winner. What an expressive picture. Hands and minds, in their various uses. Juxtapositioning. Solution seems to be in simple honesty...Simple, honest hand shake :)
Well done!

 Comment Written 02-Aug-2020

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reply by the author on 03-Aug-2020

Thanks for your review. Honesty is always the best policy... I remember when a handshake actually meant something.

Comment from Patty Palmer

Excellent

This is great! Although it shows how it really goes. If no one takes the time to think things out. It can make a small mind big if they come up with a big idea!
((((((((((((((((((((((((HUGS)))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))
Parry "Quack!"

 Comment Written 31-Jul-2020

Comment from The Death

Excellent

You deliver a nice message here. Clever word-play in the first and third line. Fine use of alliteration as well. The artwork compliments your words. Good luck!

 Comment Written 29-Jul-2020

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reply by the author on 29-Jul-2020

Thanks for your complimentary review.

Comment from Michele Harber

Exceptional

This is so you, Lisa May. I absolutely love your wordplay, particularly the very clever reversal of "little can be big" and "big can belittle." You capped it off with beautifully with the reference to "a small mind."

 Comment Written 28-Jul-2020

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reply by the author on 29-Jul-2020

Thanks so much for this super review. I appreciate your comments very much, Michele.
(I guess you've been a bit distracted lately - i'm looking forward to reading your next poem.)

Comment from Gypsy Blue Rose

Excellent

To Be Little or Big?
by LisaMay

Hello, Lisa,

Nice idea for your Contemporary tanka.

Your line has eight syllables and it's supposed to be seven....

when am/bi/ti/on's used wise/ly

 Comment Written 28-Jul-2020

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reply by the author on 28-Jul-2020

Thanks for your review. I counted the syllables as three. I checked on computer just now to verify and the website said:
How many syllables in ambition? 3 syllables
Divide ambition into syllables: am-bi-tion
Stressed syllable in ambition: am-bi-tion
How to pronounce ambition: am-bish-un

reply by Gypsy Blue Rose on 28-Jul-2020

Okay, I use howmanysillabus.com

reply by the author on 28-Jul-2020

That sounds like the same one i used;
www.howmanysyllables.com/words/ambitions

Comment from Sandra du Plessis

Excellent

A very well-written Tanka about human nature and how we can be deceived by the physical appearance of people. The big guy may have a soft heart while the small guy have an unforgiving heart.

 Comment Written 28-Jul-2020

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reply by the author on 28-Jul-2020

Thanks for your review!

Comment from Pam (respa)

Excellent

-Good image and
presentation, Lisa.
-A well written tanka
that meets the requirements.
-Good opening lines
an excellent pivot line.
-A very good message
in the concluding lines.
-Effective imagery and
alliteration, too.
-Good luck in the contest.

 Comment Written 28-Jul-2020

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reply by the author on 28-Jul-2020

Thanks for your supportive comments!

reply by Pam (respa) on 29-Jul-2020

You are very welcome, Lisa. You have a good way with words.

Comment from Bill Schott

Excellent

This tanka, To Be Little or Big, looks good and plays with the words so we can understand that people can succeed and not end up sucking.

 Comment Written 27-Jul-2020

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reply by the author on 28-Jul-2020

Thank you!

Comment from Elizabeth Emerald

Excellent

Ingenious wordplay! Big can belittle. Thanks for the footnotes--I'm pleased to have confirmation that this contest doesn't require the usual nature imagery--my entry's theme is also human nature. Nice work! Cheers. LIZ

Back with congrats--no surprise!

 Comment Written 27-Jul-2020

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reply by the author on 28-Jul-2020

Thanks for your positive review. Tanka purists get uptight about unconventional topics, but the contest notes did say to write about anything.