Reviews from

Songs of Recovery

Viewing comments for Chapter 1 "The Shelter of Thorns"
A collection of poems around healing.

11 total reviews 
Comment from Carol Clark2
Exceptional
This work has reached the exceptional level

Congratulations on the win in the No Rules contest. This is a well deserved win. I like the comparison of our pain and hurt with that of the thorn, the stinger of the bee, and the grit that forms the oyster. Well done! Blessings. Carol

 Comment Written 05-Apr-2023


reply by the author on 15-Apr-2023
    Thank you very much for reading and reviewing! I really appreciate it and I apologize for the delay in response. I?m very grateful that you gave it the time of day. I hope you have a wonderful weekend.
Comment from MissMerri
Exceptional
This work has reached the exceptional level

A most beautiful and worthy winner for this contest. Congratulations and thank you for sharing this thoughtful and meaningful poem. I enjoyed it so much. I love your philosophy! And I have always enjoyed the lessons to be learned from nature. You have expressed this one so beautifully. I look forward to reading more of your work. MM

 Comment Written 31-Mar-2023


reply by the author on 01-Apr-2023
    Thank you very much for reading and reviewing! I really appreciate your time and attention to it. It was a poem that came out of a lot of thought, so I am very grateful it landed as well as it did. I hope you have a wonderful day.
Comment from karenina
Excellent
Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

Congratulation on your win. This is a perceptive and empathic verse that settles softly in my heart and makes me realize we all ought to be reconsidering our "realities."

" remember that even pain and hurt
can be healed by surrounding with growth--
without guilt or shame."

As a volunteer at a Battered Women's Shelter I see this shame all the time...and I know these women are doing their best with what they know to protect themselves.

(Each of them is a pearl ~ many have not sensed that yet)

Beautiful.

Wish I had a six left!

Karenina

 Comment Written 31-Mar-2023


reply by the author on 01-Apr-2023
    Thank you very much for reading and reviewing! I'm glad to hear that the poem rang true. I'm glad the women at the shelter have you, as well, and I hope they get to a place where they can realize that they are both a pearl and worthy of the safety they try and find for themselves. I hope you have a wonderful day. Thank you for your comment.
reply by karenina on 01-Apr-2023
    You are most welcome!
Comment from dragonpoet
Exceptional
This work has reached the exceptional level

Hi K.
This free verse poem reminds us that we are all a mixture of pleasure and pain. And both should be accepted to accept the whole person. It uses 3 well crafted extended metaphors that world well to describe how people deal with pain. We all do need our own safety nets.
Congrats on winning the contest.
Keep writing and stay healthy
Joan

 Comment Written 31-Mar-2023


reply by the author on 01-Apr-2023
    Thank you very much for reading and reviewing! I really appreciate it and I hope you enjoy your reading and writing. I thought it would be worth drawing attention to that need for safety and how just part of being a living thing it is, so I am glad it landed well. I hope you have a wonderful day.
reply by dragonpoet on 01-Apr-2023
    My pleasure, K. The need for safety is important for all of us in today's world.
    Have a great day.
    Joan
Comment from Contests

Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

A contest winning entry! A seven star rating from the Contest Committee for posting the winning contest entry.

 Comment Written 31-Mar-2023


reply by the author on 01-Apr-2023
    Thank you so much for reading and reviewing, and giving it a win. I really appreciate it!
Comment from Faith Williams
Excellent
Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

That is a thought-provoking poem. As in nature, beauty and pain can be found together, so they too are found together in our lives. While beauty can indeed be crafted from suffering and pain, sometimes that journey is long and arduous, and sometimes we strike out causing pain to others.
My favorite line was,
'We should remember too, the beauty here
is not in spite of the harsher parts;
instead, it is sheltered and completed by them.'
Thanks for sharing your lovely poem. Best wishes in the contest.

 Comment Written 04-Mar-2023


reply by the author on 11-Mar-2023
    Thank you very much for reading and reviewing! I apologize for the delay in response, it's been such a tumultuous week. I appreciate your time and well wishes in the contest. I'm glad it was enjoyable to read and I hope you have a wonderful day.
Comment from Maria Millsaps
Excellent
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I like how you use contrast to make your point. Without the dying of the seed, it doesn't bring forth life. There is a reason why roses have thrones, and bees string and something beautiful come from suffering...it's nature. It all plays into the mysteries of life.

Don't fool around with Mother Nature ð???. Great work.

 Comment Written 03-Mar-2023


reply by the author on 04-Mar-2023
    Thank you very much for reading and reviewing! I really appreciate your time and I hope you have a wonderful day!
Comment from the13thpoet
Excellent
Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

Hello K. Olsen a terrific Thursday to you, I hope this finds you well. I really enjoyed your No rules poetry entry, your perspective was very deep and profound. Yes I agree we all want safety. Good job and good luck.

 Comment Written 02-Mar-2023


reply by the author on 04-Mar-2023
    Thank you very much for reading and reviewing! I really appreciate your time and I hope you have a wonderful day!
Comment from Dolly'sPoems
Excellent
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I so agree with your free write. Some people in life have no boundaries, they steal from us and want to kill us for our possessions. We have a basic right to protect ourselves and build fences to keep such people out. We should not be ashamed to lock our doors and want to protect our families from the harsh realities of life. A poignant write, much enjoyed, a poem with a powerful message here, love Dolly x

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 Comment Written 02-Mar-2023


reply by the author on 04-Mar-2023
    Thank you very much for reading and reviewing! I'm glad you enjoyed it. I really appreciate your time and I hope you have a wonderful day!
Comment from Rachel Jamerson1
Excellent
Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

Your observations concerning nature in comparison with the lives of people are interesting. Everything needs protection from hurt and scars are a sign of healing.

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

 Comment Written 01-Mar-2023


reply by the author on 04-Mar-2023
    Thank you very much for reading and reviewing! I really appreciate your time and I hope you have a wonderful day!