10-04-2011, 10:27 PM
Hi John,
I don't mean to 'pile on' at all, but I did want to say that I don't write poetry to have it critiqued, I write poetry for the same reason I program computers and work with wood. In the end, I just want to feel like I've done a good job. When I ask for someone's opinion on a bird house that I've built, I never intend to break it apart and rebuild it if they don't like it, but their comments might help me build a better bird house next time. If their nit is something small like the color, though, I might repaint it, but mostly the advice is to make me a better bird house builder.
To me, that's what this forum is all about. Whether you edit your current poem or not, you will have gained insightful knowledge on how other people receive your work.
As far as taking ourselves too seriously, I think you may need to visit the sewer to see how wrong that is.
There are some personalities here. I think I speak for everyone when I say that you are very welcome here. Think of Todd's comment as a way to help you get better feedback. 
I hope to see more of your work, John. See ya around.
I don't mean to 'pile on' at all, but I did want to say that I don't write poetry to have it critiqued, I write poetry for the same reason I program computers and work with wood. In the end, I just want to feel like I've done a good job. When I ask for someone's opinion on a bird house that I've built, I never intend to break it apart and rebuild it if they don't like it, but their comments might help me build a better bird house next time. If their nit is something small like the color, though, I might repaint it, but mostly the advice is to make me a better bird house builder.
To me, that's what this forum is all about. Whether you edit your current poem or not, you will have gained insightful knowledge on how other people receive your work.
As far as taking ourselves too seriously, I think you may need to visit the sewer to see how wrong that is.
There are some personalities here. I think I speak for everyone when I say that you are very welcome here. Think of Todd's comment as a way to help you get better feedback. I hope to see more of your work, John. See ya around.