one trick pony

2026-04-22
you have such a gentle way with your words ~~~ the lightest touch ~~~ word perfect

2026-04-22
A pleasure to read and contemplate.

2026-04-15
These three poems are raw and powerful and troubling, but the end is strong.

AI told me what "sanyasa" means, or an AI interpretation of it. It helps me better understand the poem.

2026-04-15
A nightmare.

Powerful poetry, devastating.

2026-04-14
This hints of a complicated relationship, a darkness not usually found in your poems.

I may be mis-reading, it's an impression.

2026-04-13
Eastern thought suggests that the past is dead, the future is yet to be born, there is only now.

Yet, so often we long for the past and have hope for the future. It's the now that we too find lacking.

Which seems to be what your poem is about—finding happiness wherever it may be, in this case you mourn the loss of "then", "then" holds the potential for happiness.

If only . . .

2026-04-13
Found art is the often the best art.

2026-04-12
. . . the romance continues (though an uphill battle)!

I, too, like the Milton references, and why not—life is nothing if not two steps forward, one step back—paradise lost and regained, and . . . to be continued!

2026-04-10
I'm entranced, somehow the words became cinema, the Welsh valley, the Valley accent, the textures and odors, all the details of your aunts, the swag being carried up the mountain, it became very real to me, Allen, this child's perspective, real and unreal, memories vivid and memories confused by time.

It's very hard for me to relate to this, my own childhood so different, but there are some things which are universal when it comes to families and memories, and memories were trigged, particularly of my grandparents' homes, and their voices, and their unique characters.

It's nice to read prose on poetbay, it's a different way of telling a story, and, in this case, most apt.

Thank you for sharing.

2026-04-09
Such a simple, but profound, expression of love. Beautiful.

2026-04-07
I've enjoyed this series so much. They have innocence and the honesty of youth—poems of romance, of life.

2026-04-07
Surreal and brilliant and expressive, the inanimate has . . . a soul ~~~

I like this so, so much (bookmarked).

2026-04-06
A very interesting reflection possibilities. I take this to heart—all the what-ifs that life presents.

2026-04-06
I just poured my morning cup of sweet tea, then read your poem. Perfect timing, and a beautiful poem to begin this sunny, warm day.

2026-04-06
One of my favorite things is searching the poetbay archives, reading the poems of members who are no longer on the site. The archive of poems is a treasure.

Your poem is, as always, generous and kind and hopeful. I, too, hope her dreams are coming true.

2026-04-05
despite the aridity, this is very rich in images and suggestion.

2026-04-04
This is beautifully written, and lovely to read.

2026-04-04
When I was young I had a habit of "stepping out of myself," that is, seeing myself objectively in time and place. In that way I differed from the youth in your poem. I was aware of time and time passing, and appreciative of the limit of time.

This has given flights, glimpses, of those times and places I haven't thought of in a long time, and I'm glad to be thinking these thoughts.

Anything that takes my mind away from the horrors being committed daily by my rotting country is good.

2026-04-04
the sincerity of these, and the reality of them, take me in completely ~~~

2026-04-02
There is a lot of wisdom and innocence in your young writing.

2026-03-25
I see a painting which says love, and a poem which explains the love.

Beware the muse, she often arrives unexpectedly!

2026-03-25
This is a wow poem if ever there was one. It sings! It's a musical!
It's a history! It's Reet Petite!

2026-03-25
So much is being written these days about consciousness, what is it, can plants and animals, and even molecules and inanimate objects have consciousness?

In my mind, living within a forest all my life, I see plants and animals as a community, a whole, dependent on one another. Does a tree feel pain when it is cut, does it have consciousness? Does the community feel the loss? Very much so, I think, not in the way we do, but there is no reason to assume we, humans, are the sole proprietor of consciousness ~~~~

I appreciate this poem for what you're saying, and saying so well, and the questions you ask.

2026-03-19
This has a pleasing haiku-esque essence to it—a peaceful essence.

Which is most welcome, believe me.

2026-03-16
The poem is alive and vivid—your chagrin is palpable. Words said aloud which cannot be taken back—still ringing in your ears (at least until c.2005.

2026-03-16
This is very touching, and true, to me. A beautiful, wistful, poem.

2026-03-14
Lexington S. C. ?

A lovely portrait of your town, it sounds like you landed in a very sweet spot.

2026-03-14
these are harrowing words ~

2026-03-11
"We fall to rise again." is such a simple notion, but so helpful, especially when the world seems so self-destructive. It gives hope, and hope keeps us going.

It's true, we go through life stumbling and picking ourselves up, and, doing our best to help others pick themselves up.

Thank you for your poem.

2026-03-08
The world needs strong women to oust the broken but powerful men. Lead us to a better world!

Wishing you a positive International Women's Day, Ann.

2026-03-03
Another sweet, dreamy, romantic story. Does a happy ending await?

2026-02-17
You seem to be describing the sublime, that is existence, and beyond existence as we know it. We know something of the sublime which our earthly existence offers, what your words convey exceeds want we can imagine.

That is how I read your words, though I've tangled up my own words try to explain my thoughts!

2026-02-17
It's lovely to be loved,
and lovely to acknowledge that love, as you have.

2026-02-14
I appreciate every word of this poem, it rings to true to me. Thank you.

2026-02-11
I'm liking this a lot:

"Singing whenever I want to
fall in love with everybody
who shows me his or her soul"

Seems about right to me, a good way to live life.

2026-02-07
I don't mean to be dramatic, but this takes my breath away.

Bookmarked, printed, read and reread and will read again.

2026-02-06
You have a good understanding of American political history and disfunction.

2026-02-06
We will find out if words, such as Billie's, and others', are enough.

2026-01-27
The perfect poem to bring warmth
on a cold and white winter's day.

2026-01-26
ADD has its advantages, if one of the symptoms is writing in a style all your own, that is compelling, funny, interesting, non-sequitur, free-range, erudite, topical . . .

It's a gift.

2026-01-22
it's morning now
i did, predictably, have terrible dreams

sigh ~~~

2026-01-02
Your love of writing, and the process of writing, comes through loud and clear, while careful word, line, and rhyme choices make the poem uniquely your own.

Which is an uptight way of saying: this is a writer's poem, and a reader's delight!

2026-01-01
My imagination had fun bringing the scene to life, imaging the players, what it was that causes the tension, then the realization that whatever it was, it no longer carried such weight.

I really enjoyed this, thank you for sharing.

2025-12-31
I welcome your warm sentiments!

Happy New Year to you and your family and friends,

jim

2025-12-29
I cannot begin to imagine your life
but your emotions ~~~ maybe

2025-12-29
It's an excellent question. Countless books of philosophy try to answer that question.

2025-12-28
I suspect your gentle way, your eloquence, is heard.

2025-12-28
~ your capacity for exuding love is unbounded ~

2025-11-30
That you keep poetbay alive and thriving through the pain is a miracle, a miracle for us, the members of poetbay.

Thank you, and thank you to those who are helping with the site behind the scene.

2025-11-09
Melinda, there was a member on poetbay named "josephus". I think you and he would have gotten along very well, and appreciated each other's works and sentiments. I'm saying this because I think you might enjoy reading some of his poems, especially his latter poems as they concerned end-of-life thoughts.

Your approach to the seasons of life, and winter as a time of fading light, literally and metaphorically, is touching and true. I admire your writing and the way you see this time in your life, and what awaits—calmly, knowingly, sensibly, honestly.

Sincerely,
jim