Comment from jaded831

Excellent

Magical, seeing someone in the afterlife, eases our grief on them dying. At my age there are more people dead than alive. I can wait for the reunion, but once we are together again, what a blast.

 Comment Written 12-May-2024

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reply by the author on 12-May-2024

Thank you!
Interesting that my choice of the word 'hereafter' gets some readers to jump immediately to the afterlife. Other reviewers have taken it much more literally as referring to any point in time after this one. That opens up different possibilities with regard to the possible meaning of the poem.
Steve

Comment from Gloria ....

Exceptional

Wonderful entry into this contest. It rhymes, there is emotion and plenty of sparks.

I wish you great luck with the contest committee.

Gloria

 Comment Written 11-May-2024

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reply by the author on 12-May-2024

Thanks, Gloria - I appreciate the extra star.

I think it was the rhyme that tickled me the most especially fly/I which is a little unexpected.
I had to choose between an alternative last line 'in tears and laughter'
as opposed to the one I ended up with:
'What tears! What laughter!'

I asked my wife for her opinion and then overruled her. What do you think?

Steve

Comment from dragonpoet

Excellent

Hi Steve,
I like this terse poem about the growing of a love relationship.
Congrats on placing third in the contest.
I like the artwork.
Keep writing and stay healthy
Have a great rest of your weekend.
Joan

 Comment Written 11-May-2024

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reply by the author on 12-May-2024

Thanks, Joan.
There are two schools of thought as to the real meaning of the poem. Some readers clearly take the word 'hereafter' to mean in the afterlife.
That's fine by me. I like it when my poems are open to interpretation.

Steve

reply by dragonpoet on 12-May-2024

My pleasure, Steve. I like poems like that too.
Joan

Comment from barbara.wilkey

Excellent

Thank you for sharing this contest entry with us. I enjoyed reading. I am sure sparks will fly when we reunite with our loved ones in Heaven. I can't imagine they won't. Good luck with the contest.

 Comment Written 11-May-2024

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reply by the author on 12-May-2024

Thank you!
Interesting that my choice of the word 'hereafter' gets some readers to jump immediately to the afterlife. Other reviewers have taken it much more literally as referring to any point in time after this one. That opens up different possibilities with regard to the possible meaning of the poem.

Steve

Comment from Mark Jackson

Excellent

This poem seems to be the celebration of a great friendship. Either that or a couple of pyromaniacs out on a joint mission. I prefer to picture the first. good luck in the contest.

 Comment Written 11-May-2024

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reply by the author on 12-May-2024

Thank you.
Your second interpretation blows this wide open.
I can offer a third which a number of reviewers have chosen - it refers to people meeting again after death...

Steve

Comment from Dolly'sPoems

Excellent

I heard the laughter and the tears here after this reunion Steve and I enjoyed the frivolity and the joy. Good luck with the contest, I always love fireworks, love Dolly x

 Comment Written 10-May-2024

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reply by the author on 12-May-2024

Thanks, Carol.
Fireworks can be fun - or not!
That's the philosopher in me coming out!

Steve

Comment from lyenochka

Excellent

That is a wonderful thought! We are blessed to know our loved ones in this life but in Heaven we'll truly rejoice in seeing one another - what reunion! I enjoyed your internal rhymes (fly and I; hereafter-laughter).
Best wishes in the contest!

 Comment Written 10-May-2024

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reply by the author on 12-May-2024

Thank you.
Thank you!
Interesting that my choice of the word 'hereafter' gets some readers to jump immediately to the afterlife. Other reviewers have taken it much more literally as referring to any point in time after this one. That opens up different possibilities with regard to the possible meaning of the poem.

Steve

reply by lyenochka on 13-May-2024

It could be a cultural difference because in American English - "the Hereafter" is the afterlife unless used in a courtroom situation.

reply by the author on 15-May-2024

Ah yes, but I didn't say 'the' hereafter, nor did I capitalise it. I don't think it's an American thing. Webster says 'after this in sequence or in time' and actually has a different entry for 'the hereafter'
Anyway, I knew there was ambiguity there and that's fine...

Comment from Tom Horonzy

Excellent

Have we
Both been invited to the same party?
I have not
Yet received mine
But I remain hopeful if not faithful
Hvgcffycfchvrxyvctcrxtcrchgdjftdrxrcfcctxrcygych

This rating does not count towards story rating or author rank.
The highest and the lowest rating are not included in calculations.

 Comment Written 10-May-2024

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reply by the author on 12-May-2024

Thanks, TYom.

No invite? Looks like you will miss oput on the fireworks!

Steve

reply by Tom Horonzy on 12-May-2024

I can only hope

Comment from tfawcus

Exceptional

I like the line break pause after 'when' that sends your reader galloping in to the joyous second and third lines. Impeccable rhythm. The hereafter suggests this to be a meeting in paradise. A fine entry to the contest.

 Comment Written 10-May-2024

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reply by the author on 12-May-2024

Thanks, Tony.
Suggests, but not necessarily...
Reviews reveal an interesting split between this life and the next.

Steve

Comment from juliaSjames

Exceptional

Hello Steve

I've been on a break ( to quote Ross in Friends) and it's good to read your brilliant work again

This short poem could just as easily have been an entry for the Emotions contest or for Faith. I love it. Unforced rhyme and metre, vibrant images and imagery, nuanced meaning - could be lovers or family parting on this earthly plane or saying a heavier farewell .
It's always hard to know how the CC will decide but I see this doing well.

Good luck!

Blessings, Julia

 Comment Written 10-May-2024

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reply by the author on 12-May-2024

We were on a break! To quote him again. Impeccable timing then, because this, I believe, is only my fifth poem of the year, so you have to be alert to catch me.
Anyway, wonderful to see one of my favourite reviewers back here.
What a great review! There has been an interesting reviewer split between the earthly plane and the heavenly one. You may be the only one to mention both.
I appreciate the extra star.

Steve

reply by juliaSjames on 12-May-2024

You gotta have timing !
IMO it?s the mark of a great poem when readers make it their own by disagreeing about its meaning. Or maybe I?ve just been composing haiku for too long LOL

Blessings, Julia