Comments on: To Sylvia; Something Blue, Something New; Untitled

By: Micah

Micah — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 16:24:07 +0000

@ Maria Basile – Thank you so much for sharing and describing the secret pained desperate moments that visit us who cut to heal. Thank you, Dr. Charles, for knowing how much I would love this post.

By: Carrie

Carrie — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 19:10:23 +0000

What a wonderful idea, Dr. Charles. These poems are haunting in their imagery. So beautiful.

By: drcharles

drcharles — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 04:13:37 +0000

These are great ideas, and I will definitely incorporate a “reader’s choice” input into the final selections.
I figured I would narrow the contenders down to 10-15 poems, and then unleash the panel of judges.
I will figure a way to value and solicit reader opinion, wonderful idea.
Comments work well for now. Perhaps I will invite anyone who has commented to vote, with the commenter tally representing a 4th judge? Hmmm.
Next year I will have to hire a consultant to pull it off perfectly!
Keep the amazing poems coming!
~drc

By: bronwyn

bronwyn — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 01:19:57 +0000

I recently co-authored a post as a guest on the blog of a good friend– This post made use of a poem I’d written, and discussed it in relation to dualism, determinism, etc. My friend/ co-author and I also had many conversations about poetry generally…

One of the points I couldn’t resist was that ambiguity is an immensely powerful tool in artistic expression of any kind– the kind that interests me most being the written word, of course.

Reading the wonderful selections here reinforces the delight I find in ambiguity of expression, and my belief that what makes good poetry work is a multiplicity of meanings.

This is really shaping up to be a great exercise, my friend! I wonder only how you will be able to choose, with such a spread before you.

By: robin andrea

robin andrea — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 20:23:19 +0000

Yes, as Jackie commented above, this is awesome. I am surprised by the passion and beauty of the poems that have already been submitted to you. It’s like you have uncovered a secret cache of eloquence, that would have remained quiet had you not asked.

By: Jackie Fox

Jackie Fox — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 16:53:52 +0000

Dr. Charles,
I want to comment every time you post new ones and I know I shouldn’t, so let me just give you a blanket statement about how awesome this is. They’re all so wonderful. Of course I have favorites; poetry is supposed to be about “passionate preferences.” A couple of them have haunted me, which good poetry does.

This might be a lot of work for you, but maybe have a Reader’s Choice as part of your honorable mentions? Or–so you don’t have to get into formal vote tallying, maybe just a closing blog inviting comments on our favorites and selecting from the comments you receive?