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Poems from a Pensive Poet

Viewing comments for Chapter 9 "The Ballad of John Howland"
Verses from my heart

30 total reviews 
Comment from Bill Schott
Exceptional
This work has reached the exceptional level

This is a great poem that I know has special meaning to you and, I guess, ten million others. The Pilgrims movements from England to Holland and eventually to America are an important part of our history.

 Comment Written 17-Mar-2021


reply by the author on 17-Mar-2021
    Thank you for reviewing this poem. I have had fun tracing family history and I do a little research to realize they had lived in Holland for a while.
    Beth
    B
Comment from rspoet
Exceptional
This work has reached the exceptional level

Hello Beth,
What a wonderful ballad of the Speedwell and Mayflower
with excellent rhyming and meter.
It is interesting how one person, John Howland (sounds a lot like Holland),
has a family tree that branches out to include so many.
We've trace our ancestry and found many interesting facts too.
Well done.
Good luck in the contest.
Robert


 Comment Written 13-Mar-2021


reply by the author on 14-Mar-2021
    Thank you so much for the review and nice comment. I've been interested in family history for a few years now. It is a lot of fun discovering where you DNA come from. Thanks for six stars.
    Beth
Comment from flylikeaneagle
Exceptional
This work has reached the exceptional level

Beth ************ stars for you and your family line! My hubby is from the Gees - look up Sally Gee during the time of the tea party vs England.
God has his eyes on us. Glad he saved John. Family stories are fun!
Beautiful rhymes. flylikeaneagle ****************

 Comment Written 13-Mar-2021


reply by the author on 14-Mar-2021
    Thank you so much for the lovely review. Family stories are fun. I so pleased you reviewed my poem and decided it was worthy of six stars. Bless you.
    Beth
Comment from AnnaLinda
Excellent
Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

Beth,

You did a really superb job on your rhyming poem that tells the entire story of your ancestor so well. It's a perfect poem of history. John was
saved after being washed overboard. Wow! Ten children surely did multiply!

This historical poem surely displays your talent as a poet.
Very memorial indeed! I have a couple ancestors from the
Mayflower as well. One was William Brewster (his wife).
He was 54 when he took the trip on the Mayflower.
He was clergy and a printer. He also lived in Holland for
awhile. In their case, they did not like the fact that their
children were losing their English heritage.

This poem holds a lot of interesting history for your family
and for our country. I enjoyed reading your notes as well.

I think in the following line you need an 's' for plural for
"separatist"

"These pilgrims were called *Separatist."

Thanks for sharing and I'm happy my review
will award this an all time best.

Anna

 Comment Written 13-Mar-2021


reply by the author on 14-Mar-2021
    Thank you Anne. I really appreciate your delightful review. Yes I have read some thing about William Brewster. I'm sure he and my ancestor were well acquainted.
    Beth
reply by AnnaLinda on 14-Mar-2021
    Probably.

    The other relative was a business owner and did the accounting for the colony.

    Apparently he might have skimmed off some $$. Oh well...He still made out in life...3 wives. Maybe this explains some things in my life. lol
Comment from zanya
Excellent
Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

This is a superb ballad, a veritable history lesson contained within its stanzas - how interesting to discover lineage with the passengers on the Mayflower- wish I had 6

 Comment Written 13-Mar-2021


reply by the author on 14-Mar-2021
    Thank you so much for a great review on my poem. I appreciate that you think it worthy of a 6.
    Beth
Comment from barbara.wilkey
Excellent
Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

I believe who we become is a combination of all that came before us. Thank you for sharing this wonderful contest entry. I did enjoy reading. I would like to wish you luck with the contest.

 Comment Written 13-Mar-2021


reply by the author on 14-Mar-2021
    Thank you, Barbara. I appreciate the lovely review of my poem.
    Beth
Comment from Goodadvicechan
Excellent
Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

I learn something new. Thank you for sharing this story with us. You must have done some research work. You deserve all the credits...

I believe things happen for a reason. It is good they found their land.

Thanks for sharing.

 Comment Written 13-Mar-2021


reply by the author on 13-Mar-2021
    Thank you so much for the review and comments.
    Beth
Comment from WalkerMan
Exceptional
This work has reached the exceptional level

It must be fascinating to you and your own offspring to know that you have an ancestor who arrived on the Mayflower despite nearly being lost at sea when a wave washed him overboard, then survived long enough to sire a family of ten whose descendants now number about ten million. Clearly, the history of our country means more to you now than what we read in books or were taught in school. Your poem reads smoothly with good abcb rhyming, and covers the key details of John Howland's blessed adult life; and the notes fill in the background. Superb, and most aptly illustrated.

 Comment Written 12-Mar-2021


reply by the author on 13-Mar-2021
    Thank you so much for the excellent review. I really enjoyed reading your comment and I very grateful for your help.
    Beth
reply by WalkerMan on 14-Mar-2021
    You are most welcome, Beth. Thank you for sharing this aspect of your family history with us, as it makes the Mayflower and subsequent events far more than just a story from the past. -- Mike
Comment from Jean Lutz1
Exceptional
This work has reached the exceptional level

Let us never forget why we are here. History is being revised. Let us now show courage. For those who do not wish to stand for our freedoms -- let us wish them well on their sail or flight back home. Wonderful art to compliment your poetry.

 Comment Written 12-Mar-2021


reply by the author on 12-Mar-2021
    Thank you so much for the review and the comments. I'm delighted that you have given me one of six stars. I really appreciate it.
    Beth
Comment from Lyn Peters
Excellent
Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

You not only managed to write an excellent rhyming poem for the contest, but you managed to turn the work into a history lesson! Awesome job! Thanks for sharing a portion of your ancestral history in the form of a beautifully written poem. All the best to you with this contest entry.

 Comment Written 12-Mar-2021


reply by the author on 12-Mar-2021
    Thank you so much for you review and nice comments. I'm grateful for your support and good wishes.
    Beth