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Reviews For August 23- August 30

1. ***** "Father's Love" by Charlie Mann
   I gave Charlie's poem a five. The feelings that it transmits are there in us all, and it brought that familiar mist to my eyes that good, emotional poetry does. Alice In Wordland

2. **** "I Want" by Alice Bateman
   Alice- Can I relate! Scary. Have you fibromyalgia, too, or simply getting on? FMS means pains from head to toe, so maybe I read too much in it. Liked it----don't usually like poems that rhyme. Good one. Gerri

3. ***** "Take Two" by Ashley Presutto
   It also takes insanity to make purity obvious. LOL Very Good. Well written, flows very well and is right to the point! I have to give her a 5 star rating. Jack Mann

4. ***** ""by Stu Engle
   This is great and well written. Mr. Engle stated what many of us feel but can't put in type. Thank you for writing it! I rate it 5 stars!!! Jack T. and Jo Ann Mann

5. ***** I Want By Alice Bateman
   Good Author, good subject, weak prose! Jack Mann

6. * Elvis By
   Poor subject matter, poorly written, Doesn't make much sence! Sorry. Jack Mann

7. ***** "Michael Eugene Chapman" By Charilette Rai Sweeney
   Truly heartfelt, feelings well transfered to reader, well written. Very Good! Jack Mann

8. ***** Holding Hands by Loyal Wray
   "The use of phrases instead of complete sentences at the beginning of each paragraph, plus the use of ... helped set the mood of this piece. Excellent author!" PJ

9. ***** Liz By Diana Keeton
   No matter how many times I read this, even knowing the ending, I am captivated. PJ

10. ***** The Travelling Wall By John A. Wilson
    The repetitive description of the avoidance at going to the wall was very effective in deepening my emotion. However, the typos (as in: " I remember him sitting on a bench behind the firing line working in his range book. I didn’t even know that he had been in country"and again later in the piece) destroyed it all. ...The story was one I've avoided reading since it came on line; but I'm glad I didn't today. Very powerful. PJ

11. ***** "Super Bowl Nonsense" By Terry McLain
    "That was great!!!!!!!!!!!!! I loved the satire. So typical of interviewers and interviewees. Such a typical reaction of team owners to their losses. 'Wish you could put this in their faces as a mirror, so they could recognize what they are doing. So funny! " PJ

12. ***** The E.T. Connection By Geraldine Cook Davis
    Beautifull! You did a great job telling it like it was and evoking all the emotions of the times you wrote about. Ann Cook

13. ***** Free To Be Me By Sherry Ermish
    Very good! Great therapy for the one that wrote it and the one that reads it. Jack Mann

14. **** "The E.T. Connection" By Geraldine Cook Davis
    The language was clear, concise,and moved at a good pace. She set up the connection between she and her father then carried theirs to E.T. The ending made me almost cry. Carol Roth

15. **** Liz By Diana Keeton
    I don't mind the language--it did make her real. Diana's piece was extremely touching. I especially liked the way Liz's voic changed slightly when her son saved her then went back to as she was before when she spoke to Jake again. Beautiful. Carol Roth

16. ***** My Baby BoyBy Jack mann
    This is about "My Baby Boy" by Jack Mann. I'm giving it a five. Anyone with children can related to this well-done ode to Jack's baby boy. Alice In Wordland

17. ***** A Little Girl By Pamela Nekolny
    Pam- Touching, so true. Liked content, organization of piece. Tone just right. Would you consider ending with--she's dead, and then repeat two eyes, ten toes, etc. Excellent commentary 5 points Gerri

18. ***** Holding Hands By Loyal Wray
    Loyal--your narrative gives me a good reminder to appreciate the seemingling little things that make life a gift. Liked the tone. Liked the content. Read over your fragments; sometimes they work, sometimes they confuse--as in second paragraph. Grammer is always the last i care about, except when it makes the reading unclear. Gerri

19. *** "Why Can't We Just Get Along" By Jack Mann
    Jack- I certainly believe in your theme of unity. I am confused about first paragrahp, don't understand what you are saying. Perhaps a re-organization would help. Again, believe in unification, and liked your last line. Gerri

20. **** Cricket's Revenge By R.L. Walker
    Ha Ha Ha Very good! Jack Mann

21. * Pops By Guy Walsh
    Good subject, poorly written! Jack Mann

22. *** Snigamaha By Guy Walsh
    at first I thought that you wrote a stream of conscience piece, where you write whatever comes into your head, then flush out ideas. But, I see some good stuff here. First, I love the image of the "fat christmas sow". Then your comment on bad thoughts--"they hang around loitering like me in the streets"--yes, how true--I like ". . . they will become more like me only myself alone a boulder in the stream unwilling to move, and the closure--"there must be energy that bonds us to each love" one of my favorite themes--confused by some of the text, but what I got was worth while. Good for you! Gerri

23. **** Dark Lord Rising By Diana Keeton
    Good subject matter. Point comes across well but lacks quality of form. Touches the soul! Jack Mann

24. **** Believe Me, My Dear By Carol Roth
    This reader "felt" progression through the emotional spectrum: "Joy, Love, Sadness, Gratitude." I found myself struggling with "Cortes," as rhyming word. Try a substitute word, to eliminate mental effort, and bring in "Cortes" elsewhere. I sensed a "unique, and rare" person. Nicely done! R.L. Walker

25. ***** "Life Goes On" By Jack Mann
    While appearing to be a clever, short rhyming poem, closer inspection finds a difficult theme, with simplicity disguising the reluctancy common to us all: that of facing our own mortality. Glenda St. John

26. **** "A Gentle, Soft Rain" By R.L. Walker
    What a nice idea of the gentle, cleansing rainfall. The tone was gentle. Well done piece. Carol Roth

27. ***** "58,000 Names" By John A. Wilson
    They WERE the lucky ones! When a poem can touch another's heart, then it has done it's job. Very good in every respect. Jack Mann

28. **** "A Little Girl" By Pamela Nekolny
    I liked the style you chose to write this. It was set at the tone and pace of the happenings. It was effective Diana Keeton

29. ***** "Life Goes On" By Jack Mann
    Jack, an excellent poem. A good reflection and summation of life for everyone who is aging, and a very good message for all. Alice In Wordland

30. ***** "My Hero" By Colleen Sweeney
    A touching story that made me cry at the end. Jessica Sayer

31. ***** "How To Nurture A Violent-Free Child" By Peggy Butler
    As the parent of three teenage sons, I think the author gave some really sound advice, especially about parents bearing responsibility for the acts of their children. Although I don't believe in corporal punishment, when my boys were younger I did give them a swat on their rear ends to get their attention. Unlike some parents I feel that kids respect parents more when they dish out some sort of discipline, instead of allowing them to do as they please. Corey Badwin

32. ***** "Why Can't We Just Get Along" By Jack Mann
    Jack Mann's "Why can't..." This very important message is delivered in true poetic style. If people would only listen... Alice In Wordland

33. ** "Mary Lavender" By Carol Roth
    I think there is a message here but it is unclear. It also doesn't flow smoothly which is a must for me. Sorry! Jack Mann

34. ***** "Why Can't We Just Get Along" By Jack Mann
    Thought-provoking, interesting style promotes the theme of this piece of work. Concise words dedicate the professionalism in the poem. Looking forward to more from this author. Glenda St.John

35. ***** "Father's Love" By Charlie Mann
    Interesting rhyme and meter here that affords the reader with the comfort zone desired when thoughts rebound to each our own mortality. Looking forward to reading more from Charlie! Glenda St.John

36. ***** "My Hero" By Colleen Sweeney
    The poem had a very nice rythm and very visual word choice. I could almost see the rain. Lee-anna Gould