Edit 6: Eventide
#5
HI, here are some comments for you:

(08-14-2017, 03:15 PM)alexorande Wrote:  Eventide--I like the title for not only its meaning but the "tide" part which makes me think of an element of the beach.

I. The Beach
Could dreams from the crib 
And memories of my youth 
Be blent into a silent chaos? --This is subjective on my part but I think you need to pay much more attention to your openings. This compound question is a flat way to open a poem. There's also the fact that line 2 is vague and line 3 has the abstraction of silent chaos. I could live with some of that if the opening was more evocative. Hopefully, I won't be overstepping by giving you an example just to help with clarity (I'll keep most of your ideas intact except for L2 which is to vague to be salvageable in my opinion).

Crib dreams like blown sand
castles crumbling
into silent chaos

I would suggest moving from questions to an evocative image if you can.
 
In an artless time--I like artless time 
Of chasing brine-dripping gulls--probably dripped would be the better tense. Nice image 
Alongside my sister, 
I found comfort in the song 
That the waves crooned--I very much like crooned and this sequence the blending of song and crashing waves into memory.
From the lips of my--Not an effective line break here. Consider pulling Grandparents up. My isn't a strong enough word to hold the focus.  
Grandparents.
 
Must've been why their calls--You've already introduced crooned and song, calls is too much. Think about not drawing attention to the vehicle for the music anymore just focus on the effect. 
Seemed but the sand in the wind--These first two lines have some clunky phrasing. 
    which stirred Muhly grass 
    and tossed finer hair;--compact, lovely two lines here.
Seemed but the fragrance--line reads awkwardly. 
    from which sea slushes on rock.--lovely phrasing "sea slushes on rock" 
We run, hopefully not on their patience,--seems too self-aware for a child in the moment. This feels like adult remembering and clarification. I'd cut it. 
But run till we meet all-shades-of-blue's--Condensing the sequence to We run till we meet all shades-of-blue (probably lose the 's) would likely be stronger.
Drowsy tug. Time to settle down.--Instead of the second phrase, describe the action. 
 
II. The Room
It's just like the sun to say-
"Time to settle down"
But it's hardly out, isn't it? 
So those words go to my grandparents; 
Of course, we comply:
Hop in the shower, ripen up, and get dry. 
Then we would tune into
The fantastical Blue's Foster Home cartoon 
Grandma, in her gown, reads
Abraham Lincoln's biography. 
Grandpa, quiet as he is, 
Is already asleep.--I'm not sold on anything up to this point in this section. This has a and then this happened feel to it. 
Just as the moon would say--This line is the first one that drew me back.
"Time to settle down"--Not a strong enough refrain for the repetition.
Of course, we comply 
With the ease of the 
Shore's ever-sweet lullaby.--These two lines could be salvaged. 
Then off goes the lamp. --and then this happened (see what I'm saying?)
 
A temporary stay at temporal ban. 
 
I confounded this thought 
With dreams and existence, 
Warped meditation. 
And though the value of this 
Is blotted out so beautifully, 
I am as sure as eggs are eggs --Again this feels like it's trying to hard. I would consider cutting everything up to this line.
Eventide at that beach was born 
Out of love 
For when decrepitude comes.--These last three lines have some promise.
I know that's probably a bit much for mild. I hope it helps some.

Best,

Todd
The secret of poetry is cruelty.--Jon Anderson
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Messages In This Thread
Edit 6: Eventide - by alonso ramoran - 08-14-2017, 03:15 PM
RE: Eventide - by ellajam - 08-14-2017, 07:10 PM
RE: Eventide - by alonso ramoran - 08-14-2017, 11:07 PM
RE: Eventide - by nibbed - 08-15-2017, 03:53 AM
RE: Eventide - by Todd - 08-15-2017, 04:58 AM
RE: Eventide - by alonso ramoran - 08-15-2017, 10:32 AM
RE: Eventide - by billy - 08-15-2017, 11:07 AM
RE: Edit 2: Eventide - by alonso ramoran - 11-10-2017, 07:43 AM
RE: Edit 2: Eventide - by Knot - 11-11-2017, 12:00 AM
RE: Edit 2: Eventide - by alonso ramoran - 11-11-2017, 01:26 AM
RE: Edit 2: Eventide - by Knot - 11-11-2017, 02:21 AM
RE: Edit 2: Eventide - by alonso ramoran - 11-11-2017, 02:48 AM
RE: Edit 2: Eventide - by nibbed - 11-11-2017, 05:46 AM
RE: Edit 3: Eventide - by alonso ramoran - 11-11-2017, 11:42 AM
RE: Edit 3: Eventide - by nibbed - 11-12-2017, 12:41 PM
RE: Edit 3: Eventide - by alonso ramoran - 11-12-2017, 09:46 PM
RE: Edit 6: Eventide - by alonso ramoran - 10-30-2018, 04:24 AM



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