Comment from GregoryCody

Exceptional

Wow this is good. Great open and really strong close. Your voice is sad and powerful in this, to me. The cadence is there and it flows really nicely. These are some standouts to me.
Time worm mountain
Grizzled bears
Meadowlark

Great work and well deserving :)

 Comment Written 19-Jan-2019

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reply by the author on 21-Jan-2019

Thank you, Greg, much appreciated,
Carol

Comment from Mastery

Excellent

Hi, Carol. Long time since I have reviewed. I seem to have hit a blah moment in my writing too. Just one of those things, I guess.

I liked your poem here:

"I want my mother back
with her lake-blue loving eyes and old soul,
just as she used to be."

Emotional stana for sure. Blessings. Bob

 Comment Written 19-Jan-2019

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reply by the author on 21-Jan-2019

Thanks so much, Bob.
Carol

Comment from Linda Engel

Exceptional

I can relate so much to this beautiful poem. I want nothing new. This sounds like my kind of room, my kind of land, my kind of life. It struck my heart when I read the line "I want my mother back". Mine has be been passed away almost six years. There are so many more questions for her. I would have treated her differently.
Your poem spoke to me to so many ways. Beautiful and meaningful. I enjoyed so much.

 Comment Written 19-Jan-2019

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reply by the author on 21-Jan-2019

I think many of us feel this way, especially about loved ones passed beyond our reach. Thank you for this review :))
Carol

Comment from Gloria ....

Excellent

Gee Carol, you free verse is just getting sooooo good. This is a magnificent poem, and I want to share those things too.

A clear, concise and image-filled write that invites us into your thoughts.

Brilliant from to finish.

Gloria

 Comment Written 19-Jan-2019

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reply by the author on 21-Jan-2019

Thanks, Gloria, I really appreciate your comments,
Carol

Comment from Ms. Snyder

Excellent

Wow - beautiful and so profound. And I was right there along with ya. I liked the way you described almost everything in this poem. I really liked the dog snores like prayers as I miss my old dog. It was a beautiful line. Great poem. Cheers, Fonda

 Comment Written 18-Jan-2019

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reply by the author on 18-Jan-2019

I love my old dog, although we have three younger ones as well - it's a lively household. Thanks so much for the review,
Carol

Comment from lyenochka

Excellent

I like the yearning for the old, the comforting and familiar. I like the list of things from the shoes, quilt and dog and the "time-worn mountain" which brings us back to the freshness of childhood when everything was "new."

 Comment Written 18-Jan-2019

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reply by the author on 18-Jan-2019

Thank you, I was recalling my childhood in Montana when we lived on the side of a mountain like the one I described.

Carol

Comment from Mark Valentine

Excellent

Random thoughts.

I'm going to start a company named "Venerable Shoes" - comfortable, sensible footwear marketed to the 50 + demographic.

Though I often think of you as hip surfer girl, it's nice to see this side of you.

"I want my mother back" stopped me in my tracks. My mom is in the next room. Her dementia gets worse with each passing week. It is a sad way to end one's life. I feel your pain.

I wish I had a six.

I don't know many Russians and Turks, but "grizzled" seems to be a fitting adjective. (also "drunk").

You are the best writer on this site.

There is a direct correlation between one's age and how often one wears sweaters. I'm not sure when this happened, but at some point my wildest fantasy became sitting next to the fireplace in a sweater, reading. (sorry, Maggie.)

"I'd run out into the new morning and never look back." As poignant a line as you'll find.

 Comment Written 18-Jan-2019

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reply by the author on 18-Jan-2019

You discovered my secret, I'm really not very hip and I do love old shoes. My mom is alive still, but yesterday didn't recognize or acknowledge me at all. For many years she was my best friend. I did not know your mother also has dementia, I apologize for somehow missing that - and she's in your home. I know how hard that is. The Russians are Gogol, Lermontov, Dostoevsky, the Turk is Orhan Pamuk and the grizzled is us.

Thank you, Mark, for such a great review and somehow being so very comforting and funny at the same time.

Carol

Comment from LIJ Red

Excellent

"The moving finger writes and having writ moves on," so Fitzgerald paraphrased Omar Khayyam. My Dog is grey-browed and snores....I can very much relate to your free verse.

 Comment Written 18-Jan-2019

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reply by the author on 18-Jan-2019

Thank you so much, I do enjoy your reviews. Our oldest has always been grey, but he's got white in the grey now too :)

Carol

Comment from Treischel

Excellent

A colorfully descriptive Free Verse poem that paints its tableau in the broad strokes of vivid memories and wistful yearnings. My favorite lines are:

I want grey-haired dogs to lie beside me
with snores like prayers.
I'd light the lamp and browse through piles
of carefully hoarded books,
sipping phrases like spirits:

 Comment Written 18-Jan-2019

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reply by the author on 18-Jan-2019

Thanks so much,Tom.
Carol

Comment from rspoet

Excellent

Hello Carol,
There is a sad beyond words,
but if any could come close
yours are the softest touch possible
memories do transform in time
I wish you well in trying times, my friend
Wish I had stars for your exceptional writing
Robert

 Comment Written 18-Jan-2019

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reply by the author on 18-Jan-2019

Thank you, Robert, your kind words are enough. They tell me what I need to know about the poem :))
Carol