Wyoming Starlings
Acrostic: Wyoming Starlings Ingratiate Themselves to You15 total reviews
Comment from karenina
I enjoy reading acrostics... It's rare they do not suffer in content or finesse because of the mandatory "letter" that must come next. Not so here! This is a pristinely written bit of poetry that enthralled and intrigued me! So good that had you not identified it as an acrostic that would have slipped by me!
I love every line....but:
"They are bustling bundles of energy,
Eager to spill the black beans."
Was perfect in every way!
Karenina
reply by the author on 01-Nov-2023
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I enjoy reading acrostics... It's rare they do not suffer in content or finesse because of the mandatory "letter" that must come next. Not so here! This is a pristinely written bit of poetry that enthralled and intrigued me! So good that had you not identified it as an acrostic that would have slipped by me!
I love every line....but:
"They are bustling bundles of energy,
Eager to spill the black beans."
Was perfect in every way!
Karenina
Comment Written 01-Nov-2023
reply by the author on 01-Nov-2023
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Thank you so much for your super review. It looks like you've reviewed everything I've posted for more than the past six months, ha ha.
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I have a curious tendency to be on the lookout for poems "on the brink" of recognized or ATB.
It's genetic or something!
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That's really nice of you. It's been over 10 years since I won a cash prize on this website, and I know it has something to do with getting more reviews for some of those bigger prizes. Thank you for considering poems that aren't currently promoted but are 'on the brink,' as you say.
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I don't review for the money...
I do think (as you said) many excellent posts seem not to make the contest "votes" or "of the month" nominations--that are truly deserving!
I don't see why that should matter...
Still, I loved reading and reviewing your work!
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Thank you, thank you, and thank you!
Comment from Ric Myworld
As I've often said, when it comes to poetry, I wouldn't know a sonnet from sorbet. But I always enjoy reading what others have to say, and hope that I can decipher their poems as they've intended them to be understood. Thanks for sharing.
reply by the author on 28-Oct-2022
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As I've often said, when it comes to poetry, I wouldn't know a sonnet from sorbet. But I always enjoy reading what others have to say, and hope that I can decipher their poems as they've intended them to be understood. Thanks for sharing.
Comment Written 27-Oct-2022
reply by the author on 28-Oct-2022
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Thank you for a stellar review.
Comment from Thomas Blanks
Okay, you outdid everyone on this. You made a silk purse out of a sow's ear. Starlings have always been considered the step-children at the bird feeders, tolerated by the homeowner so they could watch the red cardinals, blue jays, and goldfinches. Many of these American homeowners, whose ancestors immigrated from Western Europe, don't realize starlings came across the Atlantic in cages with their forefathers to remind them of home. If many of us were birds, we would be starlings!
reply by the author on 26-Oct-2022
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Okay, you outdid everyone on this. You made a silk purse out of a sow's ear. Starlings have always been considered the step-children at the bird feeders, tolerated by the homeowner so they could watch the red cardinals, blue jays, and goldfinches. Many of these American homeowners, whose ancestors immigrated from Western Europe, don't realize starlings came across the Atlantic in cages with their forefathers to remind them of home. If many of us were birds, we would be starlings!
Comment Written 26-Oct-2022
reply by the author on 26-Oct-2022
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What a perceptive review. I had not thought of your conclusion before. I guess that makes starlings American birds in an entirely different way. And thank you for the amazing six stars. I am grateful 100%.
Comment from Marienkiefer
These birds seem to be swarming the atmosphere. One gets the sense of them crowding and overwhelming the landscape, readers may sense that in your poem.
-Interesting adjectives you use to describe them in contrast with surrounding environment: cold, murky, glinting eyes, raucous, cocky, ragged, tattered, oily, scrappy, blunt...They seem dark and ominous against a Cherry-blue sky.
By stanza 3, readers could wonder how it is these birds are so loud, seeming to have something g to say. They do seem to makeup a large percentage of CBC-Christmas Bird Count, in Wyoming.
An interesting read. All the best.
reply by the author on 26-Oct-2022
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These birds seem to be swarming the atmosphere. One gets the sense of them crowding and overwhelming the landscape, readers may sense that in your poem.
-Interesting adjectives you use to describe them in contrast with surrounding environment: cold, murky, glinting eyes, raucous, cocky, ragged, tattered, oily, scrappy, blunt...They seem dark and ominous against a Cherry-blue sky.
By stanza 3, readers could wonder how it is these birds are so loud, seeming to have something g to say. They do seem to makeup a large percentage of CBC-Christmas Bird Count, in Wyoming.
An interesting read. All the best.
Comment Written 26-Oct-2022
reply by the author on 26-Oct-2022
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Thank you so much for reading and reviewing. It sounds like you also know something about birds in Wyoming.
Comment from Wendy G
What a great Acrostic, talking in exuberant and rich language about the starlings and their characteristics so very smoothly. It's also a stand-out free form. Best wishes for your clever entry.
Wendy
reply by the author on 26-Oct-2022
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What a great Acrostic, talking in exuberant and rich language about the starlings and their characteristics so very smoothly. It's also a stand-out free form. Best wishes for your clever entry.
Wendy
Comment Written 26-Oct-2022
reply by the author on 26-Oct-2022
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Thank you for such a compliment-filled review. Much appreciated.
Comment from Jumbo J
Hi Crystie,
The great thing about reading this beautiful rich poem is that, I read it without first reading it was an acrostic form... just went straight into reading and was thoroughly fixed in the deep-rich descriptive free verse before me that was wonderfully written. It was only on finishing my first read that I discovered the contest title. I had to make sure with another read... sure enough, there was more to this beautifully written free verse than first met my eye. How clever and may I say, skilful.
Lines such as these, elevated the fullness, the girth...
Angels, but tattered, black, more than a little
Ragged, but talkative, friendly.
Scrappy, they remain like oil on water...
If anything, the two 'cold scarcity' and 'thrive' references in the same verse kept catching my eye, had me questioning of, could you have used a similar description without repeating?
But for me, the way you turned the phrasing around only reinforced how resilient these little warriors are.
Totally enjoy reading your exceptional free verse poem that in actuality, is an acrostic-free verse executed brilliantly.
The metaphors sprinkled just right... the alliteration throughout added the richness, none better than the last line...
Unitedly loud and lustrous in stubborn stamina.
All the very best in this contest Crystie.
With our thoughts we create...
the appreciation of nature.
Kind regards,
James.
reply by the author on 25-Oct-2022
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Hi Crystie,
The great thing about reading this beautiful rich poem is that, I read it without first reading it was an acrostic form... just went straight into reading and was thoroughly fixed in the deep-rich descriptive free verse before me that was wonderfully written. It was only on finishing my first read that I discovered the contest title. I had to make sure with another read... sure enough, there was more to this beautifully written free verse than first met my eye. How clever and may I say, skilful.
Lines such as these, elevated the fullness, the girth...
Angels, but tattered, black, more than a little
Ragged, but talkative, friendly.
Scrappy, they remain like oil on water...
If anything, the two 'cold scarcity' and 'thrive' references in the same verse kept catching my eye, had me questioning of, could you have used a similar description without repeating?
But for me, the way you turned the phrasing around only reinforced how resilient these little warriors are.
Totally enjoy reading your exceptional free verse poem that in actuality, is an acrostic-free verse executed brilliantly.
The metaphors sprinkled just right... the alliteration throughout added the richness, none better than the last line...
Unitedly loud and lustrous in stubborn stamina.
All the very best in this contest Crystie.
With our thoughts we create...
the appreciation of nature.
Kind regards,
James.
Comment Written 25-Oct-2022
reply by the author on 25-Oct-2022
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Thank you so much for reading this today. I had another reviewer comment on the word 'scarcity.' So I will go back and look at that for sure now. The six stars was like icing on the cake, hurray!
Comment from royowen
Oh my, such a great post, an acrostic and a half, you've done a great job with this poem my friend. They do seem a little cocky and exuberant, they don't seem to care what one might think of them, they are most upbeat of birds, this is beautifully written Crystie, I love the upbeat tribute to their survivability. Beautifully written, blessings Roy
reply by the author on 25-Oct-2022
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Oh my, such a great post, an acrostic and a half, you've done a great job with this poem my friend. They do seem a little cocky and exuberant, they don't seem to care what one might think of them, they are most upbeat of birds, this is beautifully written Crystie, I love the upbeat tribute to their survivability. Beautifully written, blessings Roy
Comment Written 25-Oct-2022
reply by the author on 25-Oct-2022
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Thank you for your super generous six-star review! I am delighted you liked it.
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Most welcome
Comment from Ulla
Wow this is quite the Acrostic, I have to say. But I liked it and a lot. It's unusually long but you have done a great job. I wish you all the best in the contest. It's so good to see you back. Ulla:)))
reply by the author on 25-Oct-2022
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Wow this is quite the Acrostic, I have to say. But I liked it and a lot. It's unusually long but you have done a great job. I wish you all the best in the contest. It's so good to see you back. Ulla:)))
Comment Written 25-Oct-2022
reply by the author on 25-Oct-2022
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Thank you so much for reviewing and your five stars in a row, much appreciated.
Comment from robyn corum
CC,
HAHAHAHA! It sounds like you're describing a group of Mean Girls. hahaha I love that metaphor for their behavior - it brings their personalities clearly into view.
Have you ever seen a starling murmuration? I saw my very first this past summer. Mesmerizing!
Thanks! Good luck!
reply by the author on 25-Oct-2022
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CC,
HAHAHAHA! It sounds like you're describing a group of Mean Girls. hahaha I love that metaphor for their behavior - it brings their personalities clearly into view.
Have you ever seen a starling murmuration? I saw my very first this past summer. Mesmerizing!
Thanks! Good luck!
Comment Written 25-Oct-2022
reply by the author on 25-Oct-2022
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I did see a relatively small one of those a couple of years ago. I thought it was a starling convention. They settled in the trees in the middle of my town. Thank you for reading and reviewing!
Comment from judiverse
What a wonderful shout-out to the starlings. You portray them as true survivors--cold, ice, scarcity, they are able to handle it. You relate how Wyoming isn't friendly to the starlings, but you do an excellent job of showing the qualities that make them survivors. Your starlings and ingratiate stanzas show them to be scrappy, communicative with other starlings, energetic, independent, etc. I like your comment likening them to middle school students. Your "you" stanza was a bit confusing to me. It sounds like the trees are loud and lustrous. Great imagery in this, and best of luck in the contest. judi
reply by the author on 25-Oct-2022
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What a wonderful shout-out to the starlings. You portray them as true survivors--cold, ice, scarcity, they are able to handle it. You relate how Wyoming isn't friendly to the starlings, but you do an excellent job of showing the qualities that make them survivors. Your starlings and ingratiate stanzas show them to be scrappy, communicative with other starlings, energetic, independent, etc. I like your comment likening them to middle school students. Your "you" stanza was a bit confusing to me. It sounds like the trees are loud and lustrous. Great imagery in this, and best of luck in the contest. judi
Comment Written 25-Oct-2022
reply by the author on 25-Oct-2022
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Oh, I better go back and look at that. Thank you for your thoughtful review.
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You're welcome. judi