Reviews from

Free Verse Collection 2

Viewing comments for Chapter 6 "The Perfect Circle"
selections for seal submission

19 total reviews 
Comment from nordicgirl
Exceptional
This work has reached the exceptional level

I also did not personally know Alvin. But all of us knew of him and his influence and contribution. I did visit his profile as you suggested and was moved to tears. How humbling to see the kind of person that I am supposed to be. He still teaches just as your beautiful tribute says. NG

 Comment Written 08-Mar-2014


reply by the author on 08-Mar-2014
    You are too kind! Isn't his profile amazing? What a humbling experience. Barely a word about himself. I have to keep that in mind in everything I do, not just here but everywhere. Thank you kindly, mikey
Comment from juliaSjames
Excellent
Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

What an evocative imsge, Michael.

Thank you for sharing these poetic commentaries on Alvin's passing.

I was fortunate to be one of his students.

He did teach the rules - but, more important, he explained the reasons for the rules.

I will miss him.

 Comment Written 08-Mar-2014


reply by the author on 08-Mar-2014
    He was certainly well known to all of us here and that was for a reason. It is most moving to visit his profile. Hardly a mention of himself. Comment after comment about his students. So very humbling and such a lesson to me in what kind of a person I am supposed to be. A unique soul. mikey
Comment from nelliesellie
Excellent
Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

I love the picture. I love the poem. I like it when someone passes on their knowledge. I think that is a form of living forever. I am proud to use and share the knowledge my loved ones have shared with me. I have known people I try to emulate. These people sometimes never knew I existed. Great work.

 Comment Written 08-Mar-2014


reply by the author on 08-Mar-2014
    So true, there are a couple teachers that I wish I could look up and tell, "Hey, you know what, you taught me something that I took with me my whole life." Hopefully we have done that for someone too! mikey
Comment from Jean Lutz
Excellent
Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

I had planned to take a short form class from Alvin. Alas, I waited too late. I did take all of his classes offered in Biblical poetry. Now I must hone what he taught.

 Comment Written 08-Mar-2014


reply by the author on 08-Mar-2014
    It is touching to say the least to visit his profile page. Not a word about himself. All news of his students. Very humbling to discover the kind of person that I am supposed to be. Enlightening too. mikey
Comment from Nosha17
Excellent
Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

This is a lovely tribute, I did not know him, but he must have been much loved. I am unfamiliar with this style of poetry but it is effective, especially for a tribute of this nature. The illustration and word choice are lovely. Faye

 Comment Written 08-Mar-2014


reply by the author on 08-Mar-2014
    Hi. I'm not a haiku man. So, I did a haibun which combines prose and short form. I didn't know him either, but I have visited his profile and know of him due to his prominence here. He never mentions himself on his profile page only his students and their accomplishments. A wonderful and humbling experience to visit his little domain. A huge loss, but his students have learned a lot and will pass the knowledge along, mikey
Comment from amanda98653
Excellent
Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

I knew Alvin taught poetry but wasn't familiar with him. From all the tributes I've read so far, I know he was a very kind and brilliant person.

He will be missed.

A beautiful poem you've written there, Mikey.
Love these lines:

"each lucky student
burdened by gratitude's debt
becomes a teacher"

very philosophical and true

hugs

Amanda

 Comment Written 08-Mar-2014


reply by the author on 08-Mar-2014
    I didn't know him either. A visit to his profile is very humbling though. Everything there is about his students with hardly a mention of himself. A very humbling thing to see. mikey
Comment from Sandra Stoner-Mitchell
Excellent
Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

I didn't know Alvin as a teacher either, and thought this tribute to a man you didn't know as such, was a wonderful thought. I feel sad that he died so young, while still having so much to give. May he be happy now he is back with his beloved earth father and God. xsx Sandra

 Comment Written 08-Mar-2014


reply by the author on 08-Mar-2014
    From what I know it may be a wonderful peace that he needed more than we can know. It is certainly humbling to visit his profile and see the kind of man he was. Not a word about himself. All praises for his students. Still teaching after he is gone. mikey
Comment from Sankey
Excellent
Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

Great poem been seeing tributes to Alvin all over I guess he was an FS writer and teacher. Sorry I never knew him. Well done. maybe a little more contrast between background and font.

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

 Comment Written 08-Mar-2014


reply by the author on 08-Mar-2014
    I made it darker. Too hard to read I think. He was quite a guy from what I hear. I visited his profile and it was quite humbling. All praises for his students and not a word about himself. Young too, only 57. Missed his dad terribly. They're together now. mikey
Comment from seaglass
Excellent
Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

This format is beautiful a touch of the ancient. I didn't know Alvin or have a class from him but I have read the many tributes to him today. I'm curious...did he die suddenly?

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

 Comment Written 08-Mar-2014