In the Eye of the Storm
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you.24 total reviews
Comment from dragonpoet
Hi John,
This is a well rhymed and metered poem. The aabb quatrains tell the story of how faith gives you strength and hope you can get through anything life throws at you.
Thanks for your service.
Keep writing and stay healthy.
Congrats on placing third in the contest.
Have a great day
Joan.
P S In case I haven't told you yet, I have just published a book title "The Interloper and other stories in prose and poetry" by Joan Pechter. I created a link to it on Amazon.com at the end of my profile.
reply by the author on 30-Oct-2024
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Hi John,
This is a well rhymed and metered poem. The aabb quatrains tell the story of how faith gives you strength and hope you can get through anything life throws at you.
Thanks for your service.
Keep writing and stay healthy.
Congrats on placing third in the contest.
Have a great day
Joan.
P S In case I haven't told you yet, I have just published a book title "The Interloper and other stories in prose and poetry" by Joan Pechter. I created a link to it on Amazon.com at the end of my profile.
Comment Written 30-Oct-2024
reply by the author on 30-Oct-2024
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Thank you, Joan. I appreciate your encouraging words and congratulations. I will definitely check out your book. I love the title...it sounds very interesting. Blessings to you.
John
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You're most kindly welcome on both counts, John.
Thanks for checking out my book. It you buy it, Please, tell me how you liked it.
Joan
Comment from Senyai
Hi John,
I am so glad I read your beautiful poem. Your presentation with photo to enhance was striking as well. Altogether your entry is a gem. Congratulations on such a fine testament of faith!
All the best,
Senyai
reply by the author on 30-Oct-2024
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Hi John,
I am so glad I read your beautiful poem. Your presentation with photo to enhance was striking as well. Altogether your entry is a gem. Congratulations on such a fine testament of faith!
All the best,
Senyai
Comment Written 29-Oct-2024
reply by the author on 30-Oct-2024
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Thank you, Senyai. I appreciate your kind words and congratulations. I must congratulate you as well. Your beautiful poem was a true inspiration and comfort to me. I love the line, "Faith is a horizon that a new life is just over the bend in time and space where there is a home for us." I can't imagine a more comforting thought or greater description of faith. Well done!
John
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You are most welcome, John
Truly your kind words mean so much.
Comment from Richard Frohm
John,
Outstanding poem! I do not know where to begin. It flows, it has meaning, the choices of the photo and font are all perfect. Well deserving a six star.
My main writing is short stories. Now and then I try poetry. Mostly because, for me, it is a challenge. Reading yours and the others, I have a long way to go.
I entered this contest as well and hope if you have time, you will read it. Not so much for the poetry, but the meaning behind it.
My two older brothers both served in Vietnam. My oldest (Don) was there in 1965 - 1966. He was a Navy Seabee. My middle brother (John) was in the 1st Cavalry Division from 1968 to 1969. Fortunately, for my mother's sake, I did not have to go. My middle brother may not have been wounded in Vietnam or killed. But Vietnam took thirty years of his life. He turned to alcohol to help with his nightmares. Thank God several years ago his Cav brothers came out to his home and convinced him to seek help. If not for them, he would have been dead by now. My brother is now the brother I knew before he left for Vietnam in March 1968,
Plus, the police department I worked for our chief was a Korean War veteran. He gave preferential treatment in hiring to veterans, especially Vietnam veterans. I worked with many veterans.
I care deeply for all veterans, but especially Vietnam veterans' such as yourself and my brothers. I have written stories based on what was told to me by my brothers and other veterans.
I hope that my attempts at telling stories in some ways do yours and the others justice and make a difference with the way people think of Vietnam veterans.
This is probably asking too much of you. Would you consider reading my stories? Your opinion of them would mean a lot to me. The last thing I would ever do is write something that was not worthy of the respect of men such as yourself.
At this point you can easily tell I write like I talk. A lot!!!!
Richard
reply by the author on 29-Oct-2024
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John,
Outstanding poem! I do not know where to begin. It flows, it has meaning, the choices of the photo and font are all perfect. Well deserving a six star.
My main writing is short stories. Now and then I try poetry. Mostly because, for me, it is a challenge. Reading yours and the others, I have a long way to go.
I entered this contest as well and hope if you have time, you will read it. Not so much for the poetry, but the meaning behind it.
My two older brothers both served in Vietnam. My oldest (Don) was there in 1965 - 1966. He was a Navy Seabee. My middle brother (John) was in the 1st Cavalry Division from 1968 to 1969. Fortunately, for my mother's sake, I did not have to go. My middle brother may not have been wounded in Vietnam or killed. But Vietnam took thirty years of his life. He turned to alcohol to help with his nightmares. Thank God several years ago his Cav brothers came out to his home and convinced him to seek help. If not for them, he would have been dead by now. My brother is now the brother I knew before he left for Vietnam in March 1968,
Plus, the police department I worked for our chief was a Korean War veteran. He gave preferential treatment in hiring to veterans, especially Vietnam veterans. I worked with many veterans.
I care deeply for all veterans, but especially Vietnam veterans' such as yourself and my brothers. I have written stories based on what was told to me by my brothers and other veterans.
I hope that my attempts at telling stories in some ways do yours and the others justice and make a difference with the way people think of Vietnam veterans.
This is probably asking too much of you. Would you consider reading my stories? Your opinion of them would mean a lot to me. The last thing I would ever do is write something that was not worthy of the respect of men such as yourself.
At this point you can easily tell I write like I talk. A lot!!!!
Richard
Comment Written 29-Oct-2024
reply by the author on 29-Oct-2024
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Richard,
Thank you so much for your review and especially your sixth star. I really appreciate your kind comments.
I read your poem and, in regard to your poetic ability, I think the recognition ribbon and October's all-time best award speak for themselves. I have a hard time even getting my stuff recognized.
Your rhyming was excellent and your story was brilliant.
I've tasted a bit more of your work, and what I find so refreshing is your remarkable ability to tell the stories we veterans won't tell ourselves. And that's really important...to get the truth out. You have the ability to bring your stories to life, and not many writers can do that, at least to the extent you do. I look forward to reading a lot more of your work. I hope you might take a look at mine. I've written a couple of poems about Vietnam, " Reflections of Vietnam" and "Vietnam Memorial." I also have a story "Remembering Bobby" and a couple about WWII, "Going the Extra Mile" and "The Honor Flight of My Life."
I had two older brothers, both of whom were in the Navy. My oldest brother was on a ship off the North Vietnamese coast. His team's job was to make clandestine forays into North Vietnam to rescue downed pilots or retrieve their bodies. We were there at the same time, but I was a combat engineer about as far south in the Mekong
Delta as you could get.
I'm thankful your brother had the support of his buddies who helped him overcome the problems that many of our veteran brothers unfortunately succumb to.
I thank your brothers for their service, and I also thank you for yours. I was drafted into the Army and spent only two years in harms way. You made a career of laying your life on the line everyday, and those doggone downspouts can really sneak up on you.
I look forward to reading and reviewing your work. Again, I appreciate you reading mine and giving me such a generous review.
John
Comment from gramalot8
I for one appreciate your words,
I have personally been blessed with the help of my Heavenly Father.
He's been with me too many times to count... and I knew during those countless times He was always there to count on for me.
Thanks for sharing your message and good luck in the contest.
reply by the author on 27-Apr-2024
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I for one appreciate your words,
I have personally been blessed with the help of my Heavenly Father.
He's been with me too many times to count... and I knew during those countless times He was always there to count on for me.
Thanks for sharing your message and good luck in the contest.
Comment Written 27-Apr-2024
reply by the author on 27-Apr-2024
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I agee. He's been there for me in many a desperate hour. He promises to be with us and to never forsake us. I appreciate your insightful review and good luck wish. John
Comment from Alexandra Trovato
This is an excellent poem of Faith, and presentation. My own beloved dad who passed at 100. spent his life on the sea and was even a merchant marine pow during ww2 who helped his crew escape to the British navy. The image of such choppy seas brings back stories I heard from my dad. Faith in God brought him through every moment and trial of stormy seas, and I have learned to apply that to my life. Good work.
Best wishes,
Alexandra
reply by the author on 27-Apr-2024
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This is an excellent poem of Faith, and presentation. My own beloved dad who passed at 100. spent his life on the sea and was even a merchant marine pow during ww2 who helped his crew escape to the British navy. The image of such choppy seas brings back stories I heard from my dad. Faith in God brought him through every moment and trial of stormy seas, and I have learned to apply that to my life. Good work.
Best wishes,
Alexandra
Comment Written 27-Apr-2024
reply by the author on 27-Apr-2024
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Thank you, Alexandra. I'm glad my poem brought back fond memories of your dad who appeared to have a long and memorable life of faith. I come from from a long line of sailors; although I'm the black sheep of the family, having served as a ground pounder in the Army. I appreciate your insightful review and kind words. John
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My brother was a US Marine, so some people do serve on the ground. It's still service and you should be proud. Thank you for serving!
Comment from Pam (respa)
-Great artwork and nice presentation, John.
-A well written poem with effective imagery and rhyme.
-I like the theme of the ship and the storm.
-A good beginning with "raging waves"
and being in the eye of the storm.
-The third verse is like a volta in a sonnet and
I like the reference to your "little ship."
-A very good concluding verse.
-A very good entry; good luck in the contest!
-I like your profile pic, too.
reply by the author on 27-Apr-2024
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-Great artwork and nice presentation, John.
-A well written poem with effective imagery and rhyme.
-I like the theme of the ship and the storm.
-A good beginning with "raging waves"
and being in the eye of the storm.
-The third verse is like a volta in a sonnet and
I like the reference to your "little ship."
-A very good concluding verse.
-A very good entry; good luck in the contest!
-I like your profile pic, too.
Comment Written 27-Apr-2024
reply by the author on 27-Apr-2024
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Thank you, Pam. Your review was very educational. I had to google 'Volta in a Sonnet' to understand your comment. I appreciate your kind words and good luck wish. The profile pic is of a little cabin couched in the Blue Ridge Mountains. John
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You are welcome, John. I have to look up some words, too, once in a while:) I am glad you appreciated my comments and thanks for sharing about the picture. It looks very nice. I am familiar with the area. My father's side of the family was from VA. He grew up in the western part of the state; I can't think of the town right now.
Comment from Mark Jackson
That is an interesting take on the eye of the storm, I have always seen it as the period where you sit in your already stricken ship waiting for the inevitable. I noticed that you used a contraction for watery which drew my attention to your use of syllables. This was interesting usually a syllable count is in a pattern as yours is but I have not seen this 8,8,9,9 used before. An all-together intriguing poem written with style and grace.
reply by the author on 27-Apr-2024
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That is an interesting take on the eye of the storm, I have always seen it as the period where you sit in your already stricken ship waiting for the inevitable. I noticed that you used a contraction for watery which drew my attention to your use of syllables. This was interesting usually a syllable count is in a pattern as yours is but I have not seen this 8,8,9,9 used before. An all-together intriguing poem written with style and grace.
Comment Written 27-Apr-2024
reply by the author on 27-Apr-2024
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Thank you, Mark. I was wondering if anyone would pick up on my syllable count and usage. You covered the waterfront with your astute and comprehensive review, which is much appreciated. John
Comment from Douglas Goff
This is very good, John. The picture is somewhat mesmerizing and fits your piece well. Plus the color-scheme is a nice fit.
Good job on the My Faith Poetry entry. Good luck!
D
reply by the author on 27-Apr-2024
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This is very good, John. The picture is somewhat mesmerizing and fits your piece well. Plus the color-scheme is a nice fit.
Good job on the My Faith Poetry entry. Good luck!
D
Comment Written 27-Apr-2024
reply by the author on 27-Apr-2024
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Thank you, D. I appreciate your kind words and good luck wish.
John
Comment from Karen Cherry Threadgill
It's all in perspective isn't it? I have faith in a great many things. I trust and I love. I am unable to understand how some folks think these things are unnecessary. Good writing. Karen
reply by the author on 27-Apr-2024
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It's all in perspective isn't it? I have faith in a great many things. I trust and I love. I am unable to understand how some folks think these things are unnecessary. Good writing. Karen
Comment Written 27-Apr-2024
reply by the author on 27-Apr-2024
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Thank you, Karen. Your words are so prophetic and true. Why people lack such understanding is beyond me. Maybe as God's word says, they don't have eyes to see or ears to hear. I appreciate your review. John
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Some folks still think that if we wish hard enough they won't have to actually put in any actual work to get things done.
Have a good week. Karen
Comment from Dolly'sPoems
Staying in the eye of the storm might be easier than leaving it and you created a dangerous and tricky situation here John, does this ship make a run for it and risk capsizing? Have faith in the run. A fun post, love Dolly x
reply by the author on 27-Apr-2024
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Staying in the eye of the storm might be easier than leaving it and you created a dangerous and tricky situation here John, does this ship make a run for it and risk capsizing? Have faith in the run. A fun post, love Dolly x
Comment Written 27-Apr-2024
reply by the author on 27-Apr-2024
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Absolutely, it does, Dolly! With God at the helm and Christ's watery footsteps as a guide, there's no way it will sink. I appreciate your review. John
