Reviews from

Modern Ways

Short Poem - Nine Lines

26 total reviews 
Comment from fastdigits
Excellent
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In but nine lines you have written of the world we live in, a world where the sound of the human voice has been substituted by text and email and the personal touch, the warm feeling the sound of laughter brings has been extinguished; sadly, that is the world we live in. And then there are sites like the one you are on now, where the sound though not heard, the words that are written are full of meaning, words that come from deep within each of us. Welldone

 Comment Written 03-May-2018


reply by the author on 03-May-2018
    Hello fastdigits, thank you for your great review and for sharing your thoughts. Yes, the world has gone numb. It is amazing how the people on our FS site are closer, have heartfelt, deeper feelings, and know the heart of other, more than many of their family members and so-called friends. The internet and texting is a wonderful invention when used as intended. Email has brought people who have drifted away closer, but on the other hand, email and texting have managed to drift people apart. For the most part, gone are the days when "we" look another person in the eye or "whisper" in their ear. Relationships are lived via texting, emails, and face time ... relationships are also broken via text and emails. And now my after-thought - lol ...

    "And so ...
    the world waits once more
    for the tender touch of a hand,
    eyes that longingly meet,
    and a gentle whisper
    that says I love you"
    ... And that's all she wrote ~ LateBloomer ~ Enjoy the final arrival of spring and this gorgeous warm weather.
Comment from RodG
Excellent
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I really like how that glorious painting of a slow-moving brook contrasts with the message of your poem: that we are too busy with our own self-centered lives to communicate with those we love until it is too late.

 Comment Written 03-May-2018


reply by the author on 03-May-2018
    Hello RodG, thank you for your great review and for sharing your thoughts. I truly appreciate the time spent. LateBloomer
Comment from Dean Kuch
Excellent
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If we are fortunate enough to have our parents still with us, as I am, then we should realize just how lucky we truly are.
There can be no regrets with things left unsaid if we take the time to communicate with our parents while they are still with us, in this Earthly realm.
Once they cross over to the other side, it's too late.
Life is far too short to put it off.
Nicely done, Margaret.
~Dean

 Comment Written 03-May-2018


reply by the author on 03-May-2018
    Dear Dean, Thank you for your wonderful review and for sharing your thoughts. Indeed you are a lucky man to still have your parents in your life. I was not so lucky. My dad died at age 50 - Cancer, and my mother at age 66 - Cancer. My children never had grandparents (except my mom for a few years.) My husband also lost his parents at a very young age. I can remember (now I'm sharing) being at work and co-workers were complaining that they "had" to go and visit their parents for Sunday dinner, and they were so annoy. On the other hand, I secretly wished that I had parents to have Sunday dinner, especially since my husband was unemployed at the time ... there would have been lots of left overs and kisses to take home - lol. Oh well. Perhaps they thought their mother would live another 10 years or so, and they would do a catch-up. Thank you for your review and for sharing. LateBloomer p.s. Have you been away?
reply by Dean Kuch on 03-May-2018
    I couldn't agree more, Margaret.
    Yes, I had open heart surgery to repair two leaky valves.
    I also had to have 3 stents put in.
    It's been a struggle but I'm getting stronger.
    Warmest wishes,
    ~Dean :)
reply by the author on 03-May-2018
    Dean, best wishes on your continued recovery. Is that why you left NJ? I had my six-month check up with my Oncologist last week. I'm now 18 months in remission -- a reason to be joyful and thankful. Stay well. Margaret
reply by Dean Kuch on 03-May-2018
    Yes. I had to retire so I moved back home to Ohio.
    In remission...that's great!
    You'll be in my thoughts and prayers.
    ~Dean
reply by the author on 03-May-2018
    Just thank God that you are out of NJ. High taxes, corruption, etc.
Comment from Sandra du Plessis
Excellent
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A very well-written poem that tells a lot about our priorities. Sometimes I think people choose to be too busy to avoid contact with others until it is too late then they regret their actions, feeling sorry for themselves.

 Comment Written 03-May-2018


reply by the author on 03-May-2018
    Hello Sandra du Plessis, thank you for your great review and for sharing your thoughts. I truly appreciate the time spent. LateBloomer
Comment from G.B. Smith
Excellent
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The /Author Robert Jordan wrote recently
"Death comes to us all; we can only choose how to face it when it comes." I want to wash his feet and thank Him for a wonderful life. My life had been a bed of reoses
Bear

 Comment Written 03-May-2018


reply by the author on 04-May-2018
    Hello G.B. Smith, thank you for your review and for sharing your thoughts. I truly appreciate the time spent. LateBloomer
Comment from Joy Graham
Excellent
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Hello LateBloomer,

I live far away from my 90 year old mother, but I try to get home to visit her when I can. She has my two sisters to get her out shopping and to appointments. She is in her own apartment and does her own cooking.She calls herself a tough old bird. I remember when my dad was in the nursing home and some of the seniors had nobody to visit them. That is a shame, but I guess people have their reasons. My mom used to visit my dad and she would chat with all the seniors in the hall along the way before she finally got to my dads room. It seems my husband is the same way when we visit my Uncle. They figured out what time he comes for a visit and all keep a watch for him. My uncle grabs for the coffee that David brings him and says the others wish he'd bring a coffee for them too lol! My Uncle says they can get their own coffee lol. My Uncle has been moved to a Personal Care Home today so we will have new faces to see when we visit him. We live about ten minutes from him so we'll get there more often. I can't wait to see it as its a new building about one year old. Anyway, your poem made me feel guilty, but I do what I can. My mom is my everything and we talk on the phone every Sunday.

Joy xx

 Comment Written 02-May-2018


reply by the author on 03-May-2018
    Hello Joy, When senior are in nursing facilities, they cannot get out, so we need to bring the world to them. I think you hubby might have to get a Dunkin Donut box of coffee and treat the ol' folks - lol. Joy, thank you for your great review, and don't feel guilty - just pencil your calendar for a visit with mom. She'll be thrilled. LateBloomer
Comment from ameen786
Excellent
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As a father and grandfather, I know what you mean my friend; your gravitating poem does resonate with me loud and clear; thanks for sharing.

 Comment Written 02-May-2018


reply by the author on 03-May-2018
    Hello ameen786, thank you for your view. I wish you more calls and visits. Sincerely, LateBloomer
Comment from Jannypan (Jan)
Excellent
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So sad that the grown kids could not/would not find time for a personal visit. Now, they have to live with that. But if their behavior is any indication, they seem to not care. Good job expressing your feelings with your poem LB. You did a great job. Thanks for sharing & caring. Jan

 Comment Written 02-May-2018


reply by the author on 03-May-2018
    Hello Jan, Bingo ... you hit the nail on the head. They don't care. My friend was divorced in the day when women did not get their fair share. The children gravitate towards the father who has the big house, big boat, and big bank account. What can I say ... life is not fair. LateBloomer
Comment from Jesse James Doty
Exceptional
This work has reached the exceptional level

So poignant and right on! I love the poem. So short, yet tells it like it is. I like how you wrote as the narrator. As if it were you. It comes across more personal that way. Each line speaks to the too busyness of so many adult children when it comes to calling or even visiting their elder parents. I live in a senior housing complex, and not a day goes by when, an ambulance's siren blows and shows up, and then leaves with no siren on, as there is no hurry anymore. Some of the residents don't ever even leave their rooms. Others walk with their walkers down the hallways, listlessly waiting, and wanting more, than what is in store for them. It is sad and disheartening. Their caregivers are their whole life, and often take the place of family in their lives. Anyway, I digress. I want to say that your Author's notes are fantastic in their observations of reality for so many older people. Many of them don't have cell phones to text, or computers to see facebook. They feel completely alone. Obviously, this poem has resonated with me. Thank you for speaking to so many who are too busy to call or visit their parents. One call or visit can make so much difference in an elder person's life.
Take care, Jesse

 Comment Written 02-May-2018


reply by the author on 03-May-2018
    Hello JJ, thank you for your great review and commentary ... Their caregivers are their whole life, and often take the place of family in their lives. Many times, strangers are kinder than family. I live in an area where they are many senior and adult communities (55+). One sad thing that I have witnessed is when the elderly senior is afraid of their caretaker ... afraid to disagree with anything they say or do, especially if the caregiver is a family member. it's a very sad situation. We can do better for our Veterans, and I think that we as a Society can do better for our elderly, senior population. Thanks for dropping by my writing pad and sharing your thoughts. LateBloomer
reply by Jesse James Doty on 03-May-2018
    Yes, sometimes the caregiver takes advantage of their role in the senior's life and can be abusive. Because they are the only one in their lives, they can be afraid to disagree or stand up for their rights. If the family took more interest in their elder parents lives, this could be remedied. Elder abuse is a terrible and a very real situation. This is a tragic and sad commentary on our society and the way we neglect our senior population. Thank you for caring, and responding to my review.
    Jesse
Comment from Artasylum
Excellent
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Yes thank you. Not only do we need to call we need to meet up with our loved ones and friends. Have a dinner, no phones. Such a tragedy happening and it is sucking the life blood out if humanity. thanks for this. yours, diana

 Comment Written 02-May-2018


reply by the author on 04-May-2018
    Hello Artasylum, thank you for your great review and for sharing your thoughts, especially ... it is sucking the life blood out if humanity. Sadly, the truth. All this texting has people "tiptoeing" around each other and avoiding eye contact. Once again, thank you for the great review and for stopping by my writing pad. LateBloomer
reply by Artasylum on 04-May-2018
    My Pleasure!