On Forgotten History

[Vistaldust]

On Forgotten History
From musket sprays to cannon waves
Echoes cry out from silent graves
From gunners grips to cold steel ships
Generals cry out from hardened lips

Did they ever know their fate was so clear?
They wore the code which brave men hold dear
Arlington knows the courage it keeps
Buried below, the soldier sleeps

The battles still rage in a veteran's soul
Louder than a lecture hall's picture show.
We hear of the past with ageless depiction,
But hold of its essence as though it were fiction

[milo]

Posting 6 poems for critiques and 2 comments on others (1 of which was "very clever") doesn't really seem fair, does it?

The critical forums are not like a McDonald's where you drive up and order a hamburger. They are more like a bank, where you make your deposits and earn dividends over time.

[Vistaldust]

Posting 6 poems for critiques and 2 comments on others (1 of which was "very clever") doesn't really seem fair, does it?

The critical forums are not like a McDonald's where you drive up and order a hamburger. They are more like a bank, where you make your deposits and earn dividends over time.

Are you the yard boss?

[milo]

Posting 6 poems for critiques and 2 comments on others (1 of which was "very clever") doesn't really seem fair, does it?

The critical forums are not like a McDonald's where you drive up and order a hamburger. They are more like a bank, where you make your deposits and earn dividends over time.

Are you the yard boss?

I am asking you:

Do you think it is fair for you to spam the site with your writing without offering anything in return?

It is a fair question. Maybe you should think about it.

[newsclippings]

It's better if he scolds you than one of the mods. It's written all over the forum. Critique before you post your own. Otherwise it's just plain selfish.

[Vistaldust]

Posting 6 poems for critiques and 2 comments on others (1 of which was "very clever") doesn't really seem fair, does it?

The critical forums are not like a McDonald's where you drive up and order a hamburger. They are more like a bank, where you make your deposits and earn dividends over time.

Are you the yard boss?

I'm very new and trying to figure out how to get along on here. It's obvious I need to learn the do's and don't s. So try not to let m spoil your day. Okay?

---

Posting 6 poems for critiques and 2 comments on others (1 of which was "very clever") doesn't really seem fair, does it?

The critical forums are not like a McDonald's where you drive up and order a hamburger. They are more like a bank, where you make your deposits and earn dividends over time.

Are you the yard boss?

I am asking you:

Do you think it is fair for you to spam the site with your writing without offering anything in return?

It is a fair question. Maybe you should think about it.

No, I don't think it's fair

---

It's better if he scolds you than one of the mods. It's written all over the forum. Critique before you post your own. Otherwise it's just plain selfish.

Okay

---

Posting 6 poems for critiques and 2 comments on others (1 of which was "very clever") doesn't really seem fair, does it?

The critical forums are not like a McDonald's where you drive up and order a hamburger. They are more like a bank, where you make your deposits and earn dividends over time.

Are you the yard boss?

I'm very new and trying to figure out how to get along on here. It's obvious I need to learn the do's and don't s. So try not to let m spoil your day. Okay?

---

Are you the yard boss?

I am asking you:

Do you think it is fair for you to spam the site with your writing without offering anything in return?

It is a fair question. Maybe you should think about it.

No, I don't think it's fair

---

It's better if he scolds you than one of the mods. It's written all over the forum. Critique before you post your own. Otherwise it's just plain selfish.

Okay

I don't know how to critique a poem. I don't know what to look for. So maybe I should not be on here.

---

It's better if he scolds you than one of the mods. It's written all over the forum. Critique before you post your own. Otherwise it's just plain selfish.

How about if I just start over and approach this the right way. I really don't know how to read poetry. I am trying, but it is difficult. I hate to admit that, but there it is.

[milo]

Posting 6 poems for critiques and 2 comments on others (1 of which was "very clever") doesn't really seem fair, does it?

The critical forums are not like a McDonald's where you drive up and order a hamburger. They are more like a bank, where you make your deposits and earn dividends over time.

Are you the yard boss?

I'm very new and trying to figure out how to get along on here. It's obvious I need to learn the do's and don't s. So try not to let m spoil your day. Okay?

---

Are you the yard boss?

I am asking you:

Do you think it is fair for you to spam the site with your writing without offering anything in return?

It is a fair question. Maybe you should think about it.

No, I don't think it's fair

---

It's better if he scolds you than one of the mods. It's written all over the forum. Critique before you post your own. Otherwise it's just plain selfish.

Okay

---

Are you the yard boss?

I'm very new and trying to figure out how to get along on here. It's obvious I need to learn the do's and don't s. So try not to let m spoil your day. Okay?

---

I am asking you:

Do you think it is fair for you to spam the site with your writing without offering anything in return?

It is a fair question. Maybe you should think about it.

No, I don't think it's fair

---

It's better if he scolds you than one of the mods. It's written all over the forum. Critique before you post your own. Otherwise it's just plain selfish.

Okay

I don't know how to critique a poem. I don't know what to look for. So maybe I should not be on here.

it is not hard, but like anything worth doing, it takes time. Here are some useful tips.

1. Read through a poem around 10 times before rushing to hit the "reply" button.
2. On the first pass, try to enjoy the reading. Note lines, expression, word choices, etc. that you like.
3. On the second and third reads, try to pick out things that detract from your enjoyment (awkwardness, poor scansion, line breaks etc) weird grammar or syntax, poor spelling, cliches.
4. On your fourth and fifth reads, try to analyze why the writer picked /specific/ words. Are there double meaning? Symbolism? If the writer picked orchids at a funeral instead of irises, why?
5. Use google. There may be some words or concepts you are not familiar with.
6. What is the central metaphor? Does the word choice the author used complement it? Does it contrast it?
7. See #6 and consider if the writer was trying to use thesis/antithesis, perhaps for allegorical or satirical intent. (note - all Shakespearean sonnets should use thesis/antithesis in the final couplet>
8. Read once more to enjoy the poem. Feel the rhythm, say the words out loud.
9. Make a recording of the poem and listen back to it. Note areas that give you problems in the reading.
10. Comment"I liked this" and rush to post another poem of your own.

[newsclippings]

Are you the yard boss?

I'm very new and trying to figure out how to get along on here. It's obvious I need to learn the do's and don't s. So try not to let m spoil your day. Okay?

---

I am asking you:

Do you think it is fair for you to spam the site with your writing without offering anything in return?

It is a fair question. Maybe you should think about it.

No, I don't think it's fair

---

It's better if he scolds you than one of the mods. It's written all over the forum. Critique before you post your own. Otherwise it's just plain selfish.

Okay

---

I'm very new and trying to figure out how to get along on here. It's obvious I need to learn the do's and don't s. So try not to let m spoil your day. Okay?

---

No, I don't think it's fair

---

Okay

I don't know how to critique a poem. I don't know what to look for. So maybe I should not be on here.

it is not hard, but like anything worth doing, it takes time. Here are some useful tips.

1. Read through a poem around 10 times before rushing to hit the "reply" button.
2. On the first pass, try to enjoy the reading. Note lines, expression, word choices, etc. that you like.
3. On the second and third reads, try to pick out things that detract from your enjoyment (awkwardness, poor scansion, line breaks etc) weird grammar or syntax, poor spelling, cliches.
4. On your fourth and fifth reads, try to analyze why the writer picked /specific/ words. Are there double meaning? Symbolism? If the writer picked orchids at a funeral instead of irises, why?
5. Use google. There may be some words or concepts you are not familiar with.
6. What is the central metaphor? Does the word choice the author used complement it? Does it contrast it?
7. See #6 and consider if the writer was trying to use thesis/antithesis, perhaps for allegorical or satirical intent. (note - all Shakespearean sonnets should use thesis/antithesis in the final couplet>
8. Read once more to enjoy the poem. Feel the rhythm, say the words out loud.
9. Make a recording of the poem and listen back to it. Note areas that give you problems in the reading.
10. Comment"I liked this" and rush to post another poem of your own.

You're killing me.

[Vistaldust]

Are you the yard boss?

I'm very new and trying to figure out how to get along on here. It's obvious I need to learn the do's and don't s. So try not to let m spoil your day. Okay?

---

I am asking you:

Do you think it is fair for you to spam the site with your writing without offering anything in return?

It is a fair question. Maybe you should think about it.

No, I don't think it's fair

---

It's better if he scolds you than one of the mods. It's written all over the forum. Critique before you post your own. Otherwise it's just plain selfish.

Okay

---

I'm very new and trying to figure out how to get along on here. It's obvious I need to learn the do's and don't s. So try not to let m spoil your day. Okay?

---

No, I don't think it's fair

---

Okay

I don't know how to critique a poem. I don't know what to look for. So maybe I should not be on here.

it is not hard, but like anything worth doing, it takes time. Here are some useful tips.

1. Read through a poem around 10 times before rushing to hit the "reply" button.
2. On the first pass, try to enjoy the reading. Note lines, expression, word choices, etc. that you like.
3. On the second and third reads, try to pick out things that detract from your enjoyment (awkwardness, poor scansion, line breaks etc) weird grammar or syntax, poor spelling, cliches.
4. On your fourth and fifth reads, try to analyze why the writer picked /specific/ words. Are there double meaning? Symbolism? If the writer picked orchids at a funeral instead of irises, why?
5. Use google. There may be some words or concepts you are not familiar with.
6. What is the central metaphor? Does the word choice the author used complement it? Does it contrast it?
7. See #6 and consider if the writer was trying to use thesis/antithesis, perhaps for allegorical or satirical intent. (note - all Shakespearean sonnets should use thesis/antithesis in the final couplet>
8. Read once more to enjoy the poem. Feel the rhythm, say the words out loud.
9. Make a recording of the poem and listen back to it. Note areas that give you problems in the reading.
10. Comment"I liked this" and rush to post another poem of your own.

Thanks a lot for the help. I appreciate it. I didn't intend to start off on this site as a new "irritant". I was a bit overexcited, I guess. But I see this can be a really great site to learn and perhaps contribute as well.

[milo]

I'm very new and trying to figure out how to get along on here. It's obvious I need to learn the do's and don't s. So try not to let m spoil your day. Okay?

---

No, I don't think it's fair

---

Okay

---

I don't know how to critique a poem. I don't know what to look for. So maybe I should not be on here.

it is not hard, but like anything worth doing, it takes time. Here are some useful tips.

1. Read through a poem around 10 times before rushing to hit the "reply" button.
2. On the first pass, try to enjoy the reading. Note lines, expression, word choices, etc. that you like.
3. On the second and third reads, try to pick out things that detract from your enjoyment (awkwardness, poor scansion, line breaks etc) weird grammar or syntax, poor spelling, cliches.
4. On your fourth and fifth reads, try to analyze why the writer picked /specific/ words. Are there double meaning? Symbolism? If the writer picked orchids at a funeral instead of irises, why?
5. Use google. There may be some words or concepts you are not familiar with.
6. What is the central metaphor? Does the word choice the author used complement it? Does it contrast it?
7. See #6 and consider if the writer was trying to use thesis/antithesis, perhaps for allegorical or satirical intent. (note - all Shakespearean sonnets should use thesis/antithesis in the final couplet>
8. Read once more to enjoy the poem. Feel the rhythm, say the words out loud.
9. Make a recording of the poem and listen back to it. Note areas that give you problems in the reading.
10. Comment"I liked this" and rush to post another poem of your own.

Thanks a lot for the help. I appreciate it. I didn't intend to start off on this site as a new "irritant". I was a bit overexcited, I guess. But I see this can be a really great site to learn and perhaps contribute as well.

You are not being an irritant, you obviously are very excited about poetry and you have some talent and that is great. It is in my best interest (and yours) for you to become a /contributor/ to the site, not a /user/ of the site so I am trying to gently steer you in the right direction so you don't stomp off in a temper tantrum like so many "pop-ins" we get through here daily.

Hopefully you stick around and become a contributor.

[Vistaldust]

it is not hard, but like anything worth doing, it takes time. Here are some useful tips.

1. Read through a poem around 10 times before rushing to hit the "reply" button.
2. On the first pass, try to enjoy the reading. Note lines, expression, word choices, etc. that you like.
3. On the second and third reads, try to pick out things that detract from your enjoyment (awkwardness, poor scansion, line breaks etc) weird grammar or syntax, poor spelling, cliches.
4. On your fourth and fifth reads, try to analyze why the writer picked /specific/ words. Are there double meaning? Symbolism? If the writer picked orchids at a funeral instead of irises, why?
5. Use google. There may be some words or concepts you are not familiar with.
6. What is the central metaphor? Does the word choice the author used complement it? Does it contrast it?
7. See #6 and consider if the writer was trying to use thesis/antithesis, perhaps for allegorical or satirical intent. (note - all Shakespearean sonnets should use thesis/antithesis in the final couplet>
8. Read once more to enjoy the poem. Feel the rhythm, say the words out loud.
9. Make a recording of the poem and listen back to it. Note areas that give you problems in the reading.
10. Comment"I liked this" and rush to post another poem of your own.

Thanks a lot for the help. I appreciate it. I didn't intend to start off on this site as a new "irritant". I was a bit overexcited, I guess. But I see this can be a really great site to learn and perhaps contribute as well.

You are not being an irritant, you obviously are very excited about poetry and you have some talent and that is great. It is in my best interest (and yours) for you to become a /contributor/ to the site, not a /user/ of the site so I am trying to gently steer you in the right direction so you don't stomp off in a temper tantrum like so many "pop-ins" we get through here daily.

Hopefully you stick around and become a contributor.

I believe I will. I have the feeling I'm going to get to know you, well, milo. Thanks for your time.