Photo Album

[Gaia_Lorraine]

Photo Album
by Gaia_Lorraine©

I believe that love should last forever
All our past is written in our children
Without them history is nothing
I believe that you and I should not forsake
The love we once believed in.
On this page I see the recollection
Of our babes when we were daring
Their beauty is there to last and bind us
Living proof that you and I held such caring
Blanket white, their mittens building snowmen
All the joy is captured in their faces
Turn each page and watch them growing older
They were warm but now we are much colder
Without them we feel the empty spaces
And now we must decide
The album’s closed, the past has gone
For now you want new faces

The interesting aspect about this poem is that LIT has totally ignored it, almost as if it doesn't exist. Yes they accepted it, but that is all.
Then I submit it to the BBC and within ten minutes I receive a reply telling me that it is beautiful! The following night they read it on air and had a discussion around it!

Whose judgment should I trust?

 

[champagne1982]

Why would the opinions of Lit readers and operators be important? It's not a statement of quality, it's a pure lack of advertisement. We cannot comment or review that which we don't see. Do you read every submitted poem, every day? I don't, I can't... that's why we have volunteer reviewers and an open invitation to everyone that they list a poem worth reading on the New Poems Review thread here, in the parent forum.

It is a good poem.

 

[Gaia_Lorraine]

Why would the opinions of Lit readers and operators be important? It's not a statement of quality, it's a pure lack of advertisement. We cannot comment or review that which we don't see. Do you read every submitted poem, every day? I don't, I can't... that's why we have volunteer reviewers and an open invitation to everyone that they list a poem worth reading on the New Poems Review thread here, in the parent forum.

It is a good poem.

Partly my point, LIT is so inundated by poems and stories that there is a tendency for the submissions to be overlooked.
In no way do I blame the individuals, but the sheer size of this place means that it is inevitable.

 

[unpredictablebijou]

Whose judgment should I trust?

No one's but your own.

Lit is nice, Lit is a fabulous community, but if you want reviews, be sure to give them to others and get some attention, or you will get lost in the shuffle - and you may get lost in the shuffle anyway. Many do; it's a huge crowd in here. Being ignored doesn't mean your poem was bad, it means, as Champie said, that the reviewers are overworked volunteers and hardly anyone can read every single poetry submission every day. I really doubt that any of the wonderful volunteer reviewers would mind at all if you got into the New Poems Reviews thread, or anywhere on the poetry board for that matter, and said, "hey, I just put this up and I'd really like some critique and feedback."

At least you're not trying to get attention for a story; so many get submitted every day that the Authors haven't even tried to set up a review mechanism like we have here in the poetry area. Talk about getting lost in the shuffle.

congrats on the good review from the BBC.

bj

 

[Gaia_Lorraine]

No one's but your own.

Lit is nice, Lit is a fabulous community, but if you want reviews, be sure to give them to others and get some attention, or you will get lost in the shuffle - and you may get lost in the shuffle anyway. Many do; it's a huge crowd in here. Being ignored doesn't mean your poem was bad, it means, as Champie said, that the reviewers are overworked volunteers and hardly anyone can read every single poetry submission every day. I really doubt that any of the wonderful volunteer reviewers would mind at all if you got into the New Poems Reviews thread, or anywhere on the poetry board for that matter, and said, "hey, I just put this up and I'd really like some critique and feedback."

At least you're not trying to get attention for a story; so many get submitted every day that the Authors haven't even tried to set up a review mechanism like we have here in the poetry area. Talk about getting lost in the shuffle.

congrats on the good review from the BBC.

bj

Thank you bj, but I did have a bad experience here on LIT. Apparently (so I was told) I committed the ultimate sin and used the word Oe'r in a poem. So much so that a specific thread was set up to debate the issue and, in effect, ridicule my poetic style.

Because of this experience I now view the poetic circle within LIT as a black hole; poetry for poets rather than poetry for people.

In no way do I classify myself as a poet, let alone a good one. I just sing from my heart as best as I can.

 

[champagne1982]

Yes, it's all about you and not the poem or the word choice.

 

[Gaia_Lorraine]

Yes, it's all about you and not the poem or the word choice.

I hear what you are saying and thank you for your words.
I suppose the problem is my own rather than yours. I am not so dedicated to poetry that I want to spend my free time analysing my own or others. Yet, when the mood takes me, I love writing it.
It is a form of expression, like music or painting, where one hopes that another soul relates to the emotion that was being portrayed.

 

[Angeline]

I hear what you are saying and thank you for your words.
I suppose the problem is my own rather than yours. I am not so dedicated to poetry that I want to spend my free time analysing my own or others. Yet, when the mood takes me, I love writing it.
It is a form of expression, like music or painting, where one hopes that another soul relates to the emotion that was being portrayed.

I think you have a wonderful attitude and I respect it. There have been posters here over the years that browbeat people about commenting and imply that unless you analyze others and subject your poems to the same, you're somehow less serious or less of a poet. People have many reasons for being here and no one is less (or more) valid than another.

 

[Gaia_Lorraine]

I think you have a wonderful attitude and I respect it. There have been posters here over the years that browbeat people about commenting and imply that unless you analyze others and subject your poems to the same, you're somehow less serious or less of a poet. People have many reasons for being here and no one is less (or more) valid than another.

I have met the brow-beaters and the experience was enough to put me off submitting and even writing poetry.
Thank you for the clean breeze of fresh air Angeline

 

[champagne1982]

I have met the brow-beaters and the experience was enough to put me off submitting and even writing poetry.
Thank you for the clean breeze of fresh air Angeline

And yet you came here and asked for opinions on a poem that was, to all reviews, excellent. I don't know what your point is except to rub your critics' faces in it. Brava... You had lovely things said about a lovely poem. (Is this where I put the misnomered rose emoticon thingie so that you interpret my words differently?)

 

[Gaia_Lorraine]

And yet you came here and asked for opinions on a poem that was, to all reviews, excellent. I don't know what your point is except to rub your critics' faces in it. Brava... You had lovely things said about a lovely poem. (Is this where I put the misnomered rose emoticon thingie so that you interpret my words differently?)

Ah, nothing has changed I see, still the same old aggressive attitude

 

[BooMerengue]

Good grief.

 

[champagne1982]

Ah, nothing has changed I see, still the same old aggressive attitude

At least it's not passive aggression. Get your 'tudes straight. I've only had good things to say about the poem you placed here.

 

[Anschul]

Having just left my two cents on SJ's thread about review committees and processes and stuff, here's two cents plain (a private reference for Angie and anyone else with Brooklyn or Eastern European roots) more...

Gaia, first of all, I love your poem. Those who here know me know how much my (and your) children mean to me and to all society. Children are God's gift. (except when they're not).

On the other hand, I'm completely with Champie on the subject of feedback, criticism, critique, and the like. I think this is an artist's site, and a craftsperson's site. I think we the poets (yes, you are a poet), participate here (or ought to) for the outlet of our emotions, of our muse, of our shit than no one else wants to hear. Anyone who expects anything more is just fooling themselves. This is not American Poetry Review, it is Literotica, and most of the people here found the place looking for porn, and found that this poetry thing is pretty cool, a place where we can hang out, share ideas, laugh, cry, and most of all, write.

You want criticism (no, make that critique), and that's perfectly fair, and clearly, you found it. I'd be way much happier with raves from the BBC than from Literotica.

And if you've had a bad experience with critics here, just remember who is here and why they came. There is a small, sick, wonderful bunch of beautiful people and poets here, but there are also a lot of angry, frustrated, envious, chauvinistic, misogynistic, (fill in your own adjective here............) people here who get their rocks off ripping other people's work, and poets (many, anyway), put an incredible amount of themselves in their poetry, as certainly you do. Getting ripped for a phrase ( or an "o'er") can hurt pretty badly if you have stuck a piece of your heart out here for us to see.

Lit is just one little place where poetry lives, and overall, a pretty good place if you can keep some perspective on what it is. A porn site with a wee bit of poetry in one little corner.

So if your skin is that thin, maybe this isn't the right place. But if you can see past the jerks (and they ARE out there, but then they are out there everywhere), we (at least I) hope you will keep writing here, for the fun, the creativity, the emotional outlet, the lunacy, and the camaraderie fostered by the ones you care for here. Blow off the jerks. They're here on a different agenda.

Just a thought...

Anschul

 

[UnderYourSpell]

Ah, nothing has changed I see, still the same old aggressive attitude

If you stuck around long enough to get to know the people in here you wouldn't make sweeping statements based on one hiccup. I've had a clash here and there but it doesn't make me damn everyone willy nilly and as far as Champagne is concerned she is my first port of call if anything troubles me

 

[Gaia_Lorraine]

At least it's not passive aggression. Get your 'tudes straight. I've only had good things to say about the poem you placed here.

As I mentioned in a previous post, I had a bad experience on LIT a couple of years ago which left me with a 'bitter taste'.
I suppose that my wrath was aimed at the establishment not you as a person, Nevertheless it was immature of me and I offer you my apologies.

 

[Angeline]

As I mentioned in a previous post, I had a bad experience on LIT a couple of years ago which left me with a 'bitter taste'.
I suppose that my wrath was aimed at the establishment not you as a person, Nevertheless it was immature of me and I offer you my apologies.

Champ calls them as she sees them but she has a good heart and I've seen her go way out of her way to help people with their writing. She's really a lovely person and the longer you stick around the more you'll see that.

I'm really happy you're here. I've always enjoyed reading your poems. The welcome mat is very much out for you here.

There are a few schools of thought here about what we, as poets, "should" be doing. I'm with the school that says we "should" do whatever makes each of us happy. If that includes critiquing others' writing, fine. If that does not include giving feedback, that's fine, too. We each, individually, get out of the experience of this forum what we put into it. For some that involves critique and the road to publication and who know? I have real problems with the folks who in the past have riled everyone up suggesting that if you don't critique you're--I dunno--a baaad person. I'm with my bro Anschul on this one: Lit is a porn site that just happens to have a very active poetry corner. That's the sum of what it is. I, for one, have spent most of my life around people who couldn't care less about poetry so the opportunity to share conversation and ideas--and yes poems--with others who share my values is a great source of pleasure for me. Beyond that I vote for live and let live.

This forum will always have a certain amount of push and pull going on as to its purpose, but I've always been of the opinion that there's room for us all here and those with similar agendas will gravitate together and support each other. And that's just fine.

 

[Gaia_Lorraine]

Thank you all for your constructive comments, I am now a little older and a touch more wiser.
Hopefully the matter is now closed and we can all move on. I would rather be thought of as a poet than a shit-stirrer.

 

[Angeline]

Thank you all for your constructive comments, I am now a little older and a touch more wiser.
Hopefully the matter is now closed and we can all move on. I would rather be thought of as a poet than a shit-stirrer.

I've never thought of you any other way my friend. Hang out at the Bistro, do a challenge or start something new. Enjoy. You're part of the family.

 

[champagne1982]

As I mentioned in a previous post, I had a bad experience on LIT a couple of years ago which left me with a 'bitter taste'.
I suppose that my wrath was aimed at the establishment not you as a person, Nevertheless it was immature of me and I offer you my apologies.

Thankyou for your graciousness. Yes, I was a little growly in my response to your posts and for that I apologize. You are a wonderful poet and I like reading your pieces, too. Don't let my tugging at your scarf stop you from coming sledding.

 

[Anschul]

Thank you all for your constructive comments, I am now a little older and a touch more wiser.
Hopefully the matter is now closed and we can all move on. I would rather be thought of as a poet than a shit-stirrer.

Yes, you ARE a poet, and a damn fine one. We all (to the extent that I can speak for those who have participated in this interesting little theatric) think so.

I've never thought of you any other way my friend. Hang out at the Bistro, do a challenge or start something new. Enjoy. You're part of the family.

Yes, please, hang out at the Bistro. I'll fix you a dish of chocolate and strawberries, if I can pry the bowl loose from Bijou's muscular but beautiful little fingers

Thankyou for your graciousness. Yes, I was a little growly in my response to your posts and for that I apologize. You are a wonderful poet and I like reading your pieces, too. Don't let my tugging at your scarf stop you from coming sledding.

And finally, I'd like to add that my friend Champie has made me a better poet. She's tough, but she's honest. What else could you ask for around here?

 

[unpredictablebijou]

Yes, you ARE a poet, and a damn fine one. We all (to the extent that I can speak for those who have participated in this interesting little theatric) think so.



Yes, please, hang out at the Bistro. I'll fix you a dish of chocolate and strawberries, if I can pry the bowl loose from Bijou's muscular but beautiful little fingers



And finally, I'd like to add that my friend Champie has made me a better poet. She's tough, but she's honest. What else could you ask for around here?

*theatrical whine* Chef, can't you give her her OWN chocolate and strawberries?

Sorry. Feelin' a little greedy about those at the moment.

Welcome Gaia. Champie here's our finest angry bunny, and she really does kick my ass in only the best ways, seriously. I'm sorry that you had the early experience you had on Lit. I wasn't around so can't really form an opinion, but I will say that this is just a regular little community like any other, and some folks are easier to get along with and understand than others.

Meet the Village Idiot *extends hand* Do find your way to the restaurant. I've posted signs everywhere that say "Drama Free Zone."

bienvenue.

bijou

 

[Anschul]

*theatrical whine* Chef, can't you give her her OWN chocolate and strawberries?

Sorry. Feelin' a little greedy about those at the moment.

bijou

Hey, I'm just tryin' to get the bowl back once you get your tongue out of it (uhhhh......). And Darlin', ya got chocolate all over your face. MMMMMMMMMMM......... C'mere...

 

[unpredictablebijou]

Hey, I'm just tryin' to get the bowl back once you get your tongue out of it (uhhhh......). And Darlin', ya got chocolate all over your face. MMMMMMMMMMM......... C'mere...

Now quit that. If we're going to get chocolate all over the place, we better get into the bistro and not get this nice thread all sticky.


ask eluard about that pie fight sometime. I cleaned blueberry filling out of interesting places for DAYS.

bj

 

[Anschul]

Now quit that. If we're going to get chocolate all over the place, we better get into the bistro and not get this nice thread all sticky.


ask eluard about that pie fight sometime. I cleaned blueberry filling out of interesting places for DAYS.

bj

Sorry Darlin'. I just begin to quiver at the mere mention of chocolate. And then, to close my eyes and imagine...