the REVIEW (our craft)

Quatrains in Iambic Pentameter

the REVIEW

Reviewing is an art few master well …
the ones who do, pass on our art intact,
inspiring 'long the way whom they might tell,
because they realize the cards are stacked.

For every poet reached in a review,
so many more are left upon the page,
complaining how their work was torn into;
such is the fodder of indignant rage.

So many verses I’ve critiqued when read,
on many more there’s never left a word.
Thus, passed on by, left as they were, instead,
for reasons some may think are quite absurd.

Shhh! Listen well, you might just understand:
I may say nothing if there’s too much wrong,
or if a poet feels they’re highly grand;
and, never when a writer is not strong.

When sensitivity controls the mind,
it cannot grasp a lesson that’s been shared;
nor, can it know reviews are not unkind;
critique was left because someone had cared.

Most share for praise and pats upon the back,
while fewer really wish for honesty.
They tout for help, not that their poems lack;
if told they do, give thanks with brevity.

See? That which makes reviewing so worthwhile,
are those rare few who never will abscond;
instead, take everything to heart and smile,
correct mistakes, then graciously respond.

Through issues all corrected they transcend,
form bonds with other poets 'long the way …
thus, learning well from those who comprehend;
these best will pass along our craft one day.

So, be prepared when those who light the path
hold high their lanterns bright that you might see;
inside your poets’ hearts resist all wrath …
one day your skills will know high mastery.


Richard W. Jenkins
© 2015

Author's Note

During my earnest and sincere efforts to help my fellow-poets correct issues in their poetry and better their skills, seems my praise and encouraging comments somehow got missed or disregarded, and in result I've inadvertently raised the ire of a fine poet; thus, I thought it best to make my take on reviewing known, and to make it clear what my motives generally are when giving a review.

Constructive critique for my poetry is always welcome and preferred. ; )

Reviews

[emipoemi]

Un - be - lie - vable! This is exactly what I stand for! So many divas have blocked me because they didn't want to be told their work needs fixing up.....and I, too "say nothing if there's too much wrong." My friend, you are a poet in the flesh. You can definitely use some tweaking on some rather banal grammatical aspects, as well as when and where beats should land (one line in this one has "someone" landing on the wrong sylLAble....but that also might simply be dialectal). This is otherwise fantastic! True to form and message! Well freaking done! (also love the Mickey Holmes image).

[Richard🖌]

Thank you for reading this piece … I really enjoyed the content and depth of your own poem, "Critique" addressing this same issue.
Seems we are on the same wavelength when it comes to reviewing and learning from those who have been there before us, lighting the way, teaching others how to lay their own foundation to build their endlessly various and creative poetic edifices upon.
The word "someone" in its static state is actually spondaic (dead) in stress, allowing it to be used either trochaic or iambic, depending on its intended inference, as in this piece "SOMEone" (ANyONE/SOME uNIQUE one, etc).
"Banal"?
Definition: trite, hackneyed, clichéd, platitudinous, vapid, commonplace, ordinary, common, stock, conventional, stereotyped, overused, overdone, overworked, stale, worn out, timeworn, tired, threadbare, hoary, hack, unimaginative, humdrum, ho-hum, unoriginal, uninteresting, dull, uninvolving, trivial; informal old hat, corny, cornball, played out; dated dime-store; rare truistic, bromidic.
Ha-HAH! I think I'm beginning to understand how you might have gotten blocked by some few of the more sensitive … LOL!
The spirit of this piece is not to be "original", but to deliver a message in lawman's terms, to convey a definite idea to everyone who reads it. As you say, not all is about technicality, SOMEthings must be understood by feeling, eh?
The Mickey Mouse image: See what I mean by a picture or illustration helping set the mood? I was looking for something appropriate to represent the idea of what I was going to say, to help set a lighter mood/ambience, and accidentally came across it when I typed images for investigating into my Google search bar … saw it and knew it was just right.
Glad you found good favor in this one, and I always appreciate your candid commentary, too … I have learned as much (if not more) by teaching and listening, as I have by studying. In fact, most all I've learned in life came from SOMEone or SOMEthing outside myself.

I think you have the potential to be a truly accomplished, master poet … just my considerably educated opinion, after reading over twenty of your pieces … thanks, guy! ⁓ Richard ; )

[TinaM201549]

I want to thank you kind Sir, for your reviews. I'm honored and grateful for your time and understanding. Tina

[Richard🖌]

As a teacher, it is my obligation to help any poetry friend who seeks and asks, Tina!
You are most humbly welcome! ~ RJ

[Richard🖌]

Take a bit of time, please, to read the Villanelle at the URL below, as it is an important example of our current efforts:
http://www.writerscafe.org/writing/RichardJ/1584637/
Woodsprite ⁓ (gentle fantasy)

[JayceeC]

Richard, I stumbled onto this from Chris's feed. I'm glad I did. Not only is this well written in a classical structure, but it also gives me a clear view of who you are as both writer and reviewer.
I also agree with your authors note and will update my profile. My original site was one that encouraged critique, not just comments. As it grew, others came in who didn't like the idea, but it was based on the fact that the better you are at critique, the better writer you will become. Eventually there was a menu that let the writer choose, what type of critique. Mine generally was set to "unbiased review" or "nitpick" At one point, I copied the twelve critique guidlines from there and posted into my authors notes here. It did improve what the type of comments I recieved.
I still have those who only leave a few short lines, and that is fine, too. But sometimes, you want more, when your questioning a point in your work. I generally consider my work here to be a fluid working copy.
After this, I am sure other like minded writers will find you.
JAN

[Richard🖌]

What a marvelous review, Dear Jan!
I would have expected no less from such a skilled poetess as yourself.
With your high caliber of poetry in every form and style your undertake, I know you've studied hard and received many critiques that helped you get there, and I know of all the phases one must navigate themselves through to overcome overblown ego and delusional pride in order to even be able to listen to the point of learning, and to develop willingness to adapt and change in order to improve your skills … much has to be let go of and much has to be learned to be on the atmospheric level which you stand.
You are a poetess' poetess, a poet's poet, masterful master of your pen … immensely intelligent and flexible, as true mistress of our craft must be.
One has but to read what you wrote here to understand my words and sentiments about you.
Thank you ever-so gratefully, Dear Lady-Texan … most reverent hugs 'n smiles! ⁓ Richard

[JayceeC]

Your glowing accolades make me blush. I think the key to improvement it to surround yourself with people who you feel whose work is better than your own. I have been blessed that I have found such within my own writing circles and communities. It's only through looking and understanding the complexities of other writers, that I have been able to learn and grow. Thank you for being such a willing part of the process.

[Richard🖌]

Jan,
That you consider me as such spreads a glowing smile across my world … thank you! ⁓ RJ

[Chris]

chuckling here... so many peeps do have that tendency toward taking the short view when it's their thoughts' perceptions at risk. Seems theirs is often the only ...understanding and shade of mind that may grace an existence. And God forbid you make a public notice of an oversight - that means though you actually read the piece you paused on a bit of nothing and questioned the author's intent.

...and other fancy thoughts.

[Richard🖌]

Yes, Chris,
Reviewing and earnestly trying to help a fellow-poet can often be quite a touchy ordeal … thank you, my new friend, for your thoughtful words in review of this modest piece! ⁓ Richard

[Chris]

Content is always an author's choice. Editing is normally a paid task in the writing world. Spell-check is a hateful tool that assumes way too much and authors seem to forget real words can be misspellings of their intent. My own pet peeve is when the same typo's are found by many over several weeks and are still there if you return.

[Richard🖌]

"Content" is what an author wrote and shared on a poetry site with the rest of the world to attain reviews and help in bettering their craft; this is often stated in the content on their profile page and in the purpose of almost all poetry sites on the internet, and should a poet not wish helpful critique of their work, they should let it be known on their profile page. The efforts of a caring and well-intended review is aimed at helping one's fellow-poet improve their skills, the purpose many on these sites come for.
I have been a teacher of poetry for many years, Chris, and there are those who want no help whatsoever, but (as I am sure you know) there are, also, those who post hoping for more than simple pats on the head or pretentious, meaningless kudos.
From reading your profile page, I discern our poetry careers have been quite similar, serving on all the sites, published here and there in anthologies, etc; writing for many years, and so forth.
Yes, you are absolutely right that when we point out little things like misspellings and other glitches and the poets gives thanks, but weeks later they are still not corrected one has to wonder about the true value of a review.
Thanky ou for sharing your thoughts in discourse, my new friend.

[Chris]

Podiums are tools we've both used to lean against while not hiding behind... Hi Richard. We've walked our talk and in others shoes as well. I like people and interaction. I ask hard questions because we already know the answers to the easy ones. I'll talk with people in private to discuss perceptions but "understandings" I give in public so each knows what came through and what didn't. - But that's me.

[Richard🖌]

The you, I'm already becoming to like, enjoy, and respect!
Thank you, Chris! ~ RJ

[Annie Gryphon]

It's nice to see my 2 dear friends are getting to know eachother ...
In these days i think a lot about the quality of reviewing and of course, profound critique is a precious gift and should always be welcome. I often write short stories and they are hard work, with hundreds of corrections, reading again, starting new, correcting again. But for me poetry is more an expression of the moment. A wild little bird that refuses to be domesticated. I always love to read your comments, but mostly i don't change my words, although i keep in mind what you said, respecting it for the next time. maybe.
best wishes to both of you, Chris and Richard!

[Richard🖌]

I will always respect the poet's wishes, Jasmine, if they are known, but I know of no boxes to find this information … where are they

[Braden Freeman]

I agree with you. I do take it to heart when critique is arrogant. However, I enjoy conversing with people like you, people who have so much to pass on.

[Richard🖌]

Ah, Braden!
You do so truly bless my humble effort to explain how and why I reach out to my fellow-poets and lady-poetesses on their paths, with honest and earnest assistance along the way.

Bless you for your encouraging comments and for reading my attempt at reaching out! ⁓ Richard

[Cherry Pepperweb]

Your review and kind critique was very helpful and I'm very grateful you took the time.
I plan to go back and edit to incorporate your suggestions. I typically save that for a rainy day though.

[Richard🖌]

Thank you, Cherry,
I love rainy days, when the sounds of outer life are softened and the only sounds are the patter of drops on the leaves outside my window or the tin porch roof … such private, peaceful feeling, and comfortable moments to work one's poetry.

I love the positive, pleasing touch of your review … thank you again, dear poetess! ⁓ Richard

[Cryingkate]

Hello Richard,

Your writing sounds so very old, as Olde English perhaps. Very knightly sounding in fact.
I think I could enjoy the sound no matter what you said.
It sorta sounds like a healing lullaby to me. Oh so sweet familiar.

[Richard🖌]

Goodness, Kate!
I am so very-very sorry, Dearest! Please, accept my apology; I've no idea how your marvelously gratifying review of praise, appreciation, and understanding got by me. I must have been asleep at the wheel, or in my case, at the pen … LOL!
Thank you so very much for blessing me and this truly meaningful poem with your words of beauty and "knightly"praise … blush!
Hugs to you, Kate! ⁓ Richard

[Daydreamer]

There are poets who look for critiques in order to improve their craft and others who want to share and connect.

Then you have your silent poets who write for the sake of writing... I imagine they aren't looking for a response just a nod like I see you...

[Richard🖌]

How insightfully correct you are, DD.
Which are you?
You see? How are we to know what the writer's goals and expectations are when they post their efforts, unless they make a statement on their profile to inform us.
When a writer joins a site, such as this, one of the aspects of the site's purposes is to share and receive helpful critique from fellow writers, in the hope of improving their skills.
Still, there are many of us with varying intents and ideas when we join, and during our tenure on a writing site, most of us will change our outlooks considerably, while the few will hold firm, either welcoming or rejecting input from others, or thanking them politely and simply ignoring an edit by virtue of whatever they may have offered, etc; then, the writer may think the offered critique is less than helpful, but all too often won't divulge this to the reviewer, for whatever their numbers of reasons might be.
DD, I suppose … with our obvious depths of vision … we could share our understandings with many enlightening and enjoyable lines, and I would immensely welcome that.

However, DD, for now, I most warmly and gratefully thank you for reading my all-important poetic message, and for sharing your truly enlightening and enjoyable thoughts … thank you sincerely! ⁓ Richard

[Relic]

~Many times I've been shunned for my reviews when the writer was too sensitive to handle my opinions. I never do it as a 'know it all' but rather someone who sees what appear to be obvious flaws in the writing. Usually the writer doesn't pay attention to me which is fine. I just move on.

I think it is always good to learn from others we know are more experienced. It's helped me in the past with the way I write. Like you though, I don't always say anything.~

[Richard🖌]

You are so right, Relic,
We can put it out there, but it's up to the author to accept or reject positive critique from those of us who care enough to give it honestly, thoughtfully, considerately, and with good intent in out motives.
Some are happy with their efforts and simply do not want their work scrutinized or messed with, for whatever their reasons are, and that is okay, because it is their privilege, but they should say something to that effect in a message on their profile so we do not unknowingly offend and give wasted efforts
No one wants to purposely offend, discourage, or irritate anyone … most of us are here to share, learn from one another, and enjoy ourselves in whatever way(s) we wish.
Truthfully, everything we know came from someone else in one way or another, even if we believe our skills and knowledge are original to ourselves.

Thank you, Relic, most sincerely and gratefully for your insightful and relatable review, My Friend! ⁓ Richard

[J. J. Nightingale]

Again Richard... at the bottom of the Writing section, there are boxes to check, if a Critique or just a Review is wanted...

[mattavelli]

I love it, Richard. Maybe make a "Richard Was Here" calling card. :)

[Richard🖌]

Thank you so much, Matt.
Not a bad idea, but you know what most folk do with "calling cards" … LOL!
I always enjoy your sense-of-humor (sometimes) … ha-hahhh! ⁓ Richard