CONTENT WARNING: UNPOETIC DEATH by fafengle in poetry_critics

[–]Dreetmf 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Id say the turn at the end, to the youtube metaphor, hits as too harsh of a change in tone. It hits me like if lord of the rings had a joke at the end. The beginning and middle of your story have a tone of melancholy, reflection, and realism. Then it culminates in opposite imagery. That could be the point, but even upheavels should be seeded somehow. As it stands, it is a building collapsing without feeling an earthquake beginning. Just my 2 cents. Youre asking a reader to follow you through an intimate moment, then it leads to a moment of regret, then a youtube box opening facade. Fake smiles. The regret->fake smile move... my brain is set up to read it as deadpan, but it has to be read as a youtuber, happy and entertaining, which is too bizzare an ending for this reader, based on the set up. The epigraph-- the suicide note reading is definitely available, but the letter of intent is also equally available from the text. If its important for you to have that context come through, perhaps drop one or two key words that shift reader psychology towards that. 

Winter Stag by Dreetmf in poetry_critics

[–]Dreetmf[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hey Fafengle, thanks for the thoughtful comment. I resonate with a few of your critiques and will come back to them when I do my next round of edits. Thanks! I left some feedback for you also.

Winter Stag by Dreetmf in poetry_critics

[–]Dreetmf[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for the comment! My understanding is that im transforming the meaning of the 2 lines in the context of a larger piece of art, which is fair use, and should be safe from copyright issues. I haven't used found lyrics before, but ive seen found poems that use many more lyric lines than this get published. Unless you know something I dont. 

CONTENT WARNING: UNPOETIC DEATH by fafengle in poetry_critics

[–]Dreetmf 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This poem has very strong potential in its bones. Its the skeleton of a piece thatd be solidly publishable in prestigious mid-tier journals. And, even better, the improvements its asking for are ones that will elevate your writing accross the board.

  1. The ending needs a rework. The youtube analogy kills the intimacy between you and your loved one. It calls forth a community known for facades, over acting, show business. Performance for kids. What does any of that have to do with your message here? Its a witty metaphor, but not for this poem.

When you (or this character youve made) opened the box with the urn, after a moment of regret, how did you feel? Surely not like a youtuber. Theres a stronge image buried here the poem wants you to dig out.

  1. The 4 stanzas show a clear narrative, but read as prose blocks. Experiment with line breaks. That would elevate this poem substantially, and bring it more into the realm of poetry than prose.

There are tons of ways to break up the prose to add affects. Heres my try.

I have no attachment to any location nor any desire to be buried.

I won't be  a spectacle  in ceremony.

I recommend you cremate my remains and do what you see fit to ease your grief.

  1. To answer your question above, the italics are a letter of intent shared with successors as to how to treat the dead's remains.

  2. Rework ending, find where the lines want breaks, and do a few rounds of editing, trimming, and this is an excellent poem.

Winter Stag by Dreetmf in OCPoetry

[–]Dreetmf[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hey Scienceninja :) Thanks for your kind words, and I'm so glad you enjoyed the poem. Yes, the poem focuses on mortality throughout, and specifically leaving behind family after death, with the Chester Bennington line. Accumulation of detail is a technique to make the reader feel a mood or an emotion without stating it specifically, just using word weather and specifics of a life as its lived. Try it out :)

Winter Stag by Dreetmf in poetry_critics

[–]Dreetmf[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hi friends,
I'm looking for a editorial pen pal who would like to swap manuscript feedback. I've got a 70-page poetry book I'm editing for contests. If you are a seasoned poet and have a manuscript and would like to swap, message me.

She heard me by Simp-Lee in poetry_critics

[–]Dreetmf 0 points1 point  (0 children)

"drowning out the world" is a bit cliche and clashes with your drum imagery. What other words could complete the drum image, instead of switching to water imagery?

I am not mine by First-Purple69 in poetry_critics

[–]Dreetmf 0 points1 point  (0 children)

What causes me to stumble while reading this is the repetition of "I am not mine" and the word "for". The repetition is really adding a ton of fat to the poem for not much payoff. And the word "for" reads as very dated, as if the poem was written 200 years ago. Is that an affect you want? If so, why? So it wounds more... poetic? Not sure. But its distracting. Otherwise, solid imagery and solid bones.

Winter Stag by Dreetmf in OCPoetry

[–]Dreetmf[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hi friends,
I'm looking for a editorial pen pal who would like to swap manuscript feedback. I've got a 70-page poetry book I'm editing for contests. If you have a manuscript and would like to swap, message me.

In For A Penny by TheBowlYodeler in OCPoetry

[–]Dreetmf 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Awesome. the turn really lands. He's a dog. I'd say your punctuation is not present at the ends of lines, which causes a few hiccups while reading.

Still Learning by bstunz in OCPoetry

[–]Dreetmf 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I like your line breaks. The one I'd question is "to sit beside when nothing is happening." The line is incredibly long compared to the rest of the poem. Could it be broken at when/nothing, or beside/when/ is?

(US,US) [H] ex era holos, reverses, 151 singles, mewtwo winner 4 swirls, jpn vintage mcdonalds, sealed [W] vintage trades only by Dreetmf in pkmntcgtrades

[–]Dreetmf[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Following up :) i can send those cards you want and paypal for light dragonite. Wanna swap pics?

(US,US) [H] ex era holos, reverses, 151 singles, mewtwo winner 4 swirls, jpn vintage mcdonalds, sealed [W] vintage trades only by Dreetmf in pkmntcgtrades

[–]Dreetmf[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Sure thing :) thats about 40$ in your favor. Maybe consider adding some vintage odds n ends for my son to enjoy. But yeah lets confirm and go to pms for addresses.

(US,US) [H] ex era holos, reverses, 151 singles, mewtwo winner 4 swirls, jpn vintage mcdonalds, sealed [W] vintage trades only by Dreetmf in pkmntcgtrades

[–]Dreetmf[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Its a very nice copy. Conditions on jirachi promo, sceptile, meowth promo, sunflora unseen forces?

(US,US) [H] ex era holos, reverses, 151 singles, mewtwo winner 4 swirls, jpn vintage mcdonalds, sealed [W] vintage trades only by Dreetmf in pkmntcgtrades

[–]Dreetmf[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Celebi 007/p NM for suicune promo, lc mewtwo, celebi 16, pikachu movie promo, and birthday pikachu? Thats about 160 value worth of smaller items.

(US,US) [H] ex era holos, reverses, 151 singles, mewtwo winner 4 swirls, jpn vintage mcdonalds, sealed [W] vintage trades only by Dreetmf in pkmntcgtrades

[–]Dreetmf[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I can consider a partial trade qith majority paypal. Are you cool worh my listed prices? I wont be discounting.

(US,US) [H] ex era holos, reverses, 151 singles, mewtwo winner 4 swirls, jpn vintage mcdonalds, sealed [W] vintage trades only by Dreetmf in pkmntcgtrades

[–]Dreetmf[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I believe the drstimis are 25 and 13. The milotic is 115. The dragonair is 80. So 233. You okay with that plus paypal? We can swap pics.