Interpretation...is it valid critique?

[milo]

It was the interpretation that led me to comment on the tone, and suggest the voice.

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My idea of interpretation is just different. So. Do I think that English should have to be translated? No

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And would the interpretation have been valid if it didn't bring useful crit, ideas, and comments on technical merit? IMO, no. If I had said(and only said): "sounds like a preacher is saying....yada yada", I'm sure it would have been useless.

you didn't comment on or mention your interpretation in the post. the crit was on technical merit. maybe you used your magic 8-ball© to come up with it. the world may never know . . .

....well, you got me there but I read it several times, I started to say "this line sounds like a baptist" and "this part sounds line fire and brimstone", but when the idea struck, well, at that point it all just seemed moot

eh, let's call it a tie. I think the point you wanted to make is that to do a proper critique you need to really read the poem and attempt to understand the original writer's intent and mine was that poetry is more about the vehicle than the transportation.

There is a good chance we are both right.