05-10-2013, 11:50 PM
Hi mark
Thanks for posting this. I often feel the same way. I find that a lot of the time I would like to post a comment but then I don't because I just feel that I’m missing something and my suggestions seem so weak compared to the imput of others or I just plain don't get it. And yes it frustrates me also.
I'm not so great on punctuation and tend to leave this to those who seem to revel in being punctuation police.
I guess my advice would be to try and just go for it, regardless of how little you understand or get a particular poem. I have days where my confidence is at zero and I have so much self doubt about my ability to be even remotely poetically competent, that I feel completely locked down...but then everyone is normally so gracious and if I put a comment out there, more often than not I find a jolly message by way of thanks commenting on the helpfulness of whatever it was I said. I guess (for me I have decided) there will always be someone smarter, more insightful or just plain more gifted (etc) than me, but the important thing is to just take pleasure in what you discover and to join in at my own level and to try not to worry or compare myself to others. (Easier said than done).
Sorry if this was not actually the sort of help you felt you needed. I will be watching this space myself to see if anyone has something more specific to offer.
Thanks for posting this. I often feel the same way. I find that a lot of the time I would like to post a comment but then I don't because I just feel that I’m missing something and my suggestions seem so weak compared to the imput of others or I just plain don't get it. And yes it frustrates me also.
I'm not so great on punctuation and tend to leave this to those who seem to revel in being punctuation police.
I guess my advice would be to try and just go for it, regardless of how little you understand or get a particular poem. I have days where my confidence is at zero and I have so much self doubt about my ability to be even remotely poetically competent, that I feel completely locked down...but then everyone is normally so gracious and if I put a comment out there, more often than not I find a jolly message by way of thanks commenting on the helpfulness of whatever it was I said. I guess (for me I have decided) there will always be someone smarter, more insightful or just plain more gifted (etc) than me, but the important thing is to just take pleasure in what you discover and to join in at my own level and to try not to worry or compare myself to others. (Easier said than done).
Sorry if this was not actually the sort of help you felt you needed. I will be watching this space myself to see if anyone has something more specific to offer.