Writers Forum - WritingForums.com Home Rules FAQ Members Groups Calendar Gallery Search
» Sign Up «

Welcome to Writing Forums, one of the fastest growing writing communties on the web.

You are currently viewing our boards as a guest which gives you limited access to view most discussions, articles and photo galleries. By joining our free community you will be able to talk with other writers, get feedback on your work to improve your writing skills, discuss ideas, share tips & tricks, network and make friends!

Registration is fast, simple and absolutely free so please, join our community today!

If you have any problems with the registration process or your account login, please contact support.
  Search Forums
Lit.Org - Bootcamp for writers. Post your work and other writers review it, it's that easy.

Advanced Search



Go Back   Writers Forum - WritingForums.com > Creativity > Poetry
Register FAQ Members List Calendar Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read

Poetry Poems, Haiku & Tanka etc.

Reply
 
Thread Tools
Old 01-01-2005, 11:21 PM   #1
Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 7
Disco Stu
Send a message via AIM to Disco Stu
I Lie to Myself to be Happy

be gentle....



I lie to myself to be happy
Since I lost you
The time grows longer
The last time we were happy
You fell into an abyss
I lie to myself to think I don't miss you
Disappeared from me
How did your month go?
One Disaster after another.
But I finally got your letter
Save your courage, it's ok
Aren't you better off anyway?
Seal it with your tears
Oh, you could've used mine.
I lie to myself so everything's alright
Has it really been five days
But those last two nights
Yet your image is still burned in my head,
Aren't we both better off dead?
Disco Stu is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-01-2005, 11:53 PM   #2
Writing Machine
 
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: South Carolina
Gender: Female
Posts: 1,948
LoneWolf is an unknown quantity at this point
Send a message via AIM to LoneWolf Send a message via Yahoo to LoneWolf
"I lie to myself to think I don't miss you
Disappeared from me
How did your month go?"

"I lie to myself so everything's alright
Has it really been five days
But those last two nights
Yet your image is still burned in my head,"


In the first one, going from "Disappeared from me" to "How did your month go?" threw me, because it was such a big jump in subjects, and I wanted to add something in front of "Disappeared from me", like "Ever since you..."

In the second one, you left "But those last two nights" lingering a little...I wanted to add something onto them, I dunno what. Did you mean the last two nights you were together, or the last two nights she had left?? And you said "How did your month go?", but then said "Has it really been five days." I was kind of confused.

One last thing, in the second one, you can eliminate the 'Yet', since you already say 'But' in the line before. And the last two lines were halting to me, I guess you could say, because you rhymed two words so close to each other, which is out of character with the rest of the poem. Maybe something like,

" Yet your image is still burned in my head,
I lie awake again, thinking,
Aren't we both better off dead?"

Also, I didn't really get into the flow of this piece...sometimes it had a little rythm and then it fell apart, kind of. Maybe if you divided it into stanzas (is that right?) it would be more flowy and easier to read.

Wow, longest critique I've ever done! I hope I wasn't too mean!! I tried to be gentle...but overall, I did think this was a great poem...I can relate to it

ps: If anyone else reads what I wrote, will you please tell me if I did a good job? I'm always afraid to critique things!!
__________________
My aim is to put down on paper what I see and what I feel in the best and simplest way. --Ernest Hemingway
LoneWolf is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-02-2005, 12:07 AM   #3
Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 7
Disco Stu
Send a message via AIM to Disco Stu
thank you very much for taking the time to read and critic it like you did
that was the very first thing i wrote taht came to my mind
i have changed it substantially since then and after reading your thoughts

here it is...the second time around

I lie to myself to be happy
Staying on borrowed time
That night we kissed
The last time one of us was happy
Which one of us never was?
Where did you go?
You fell into abyss.

I lie to myself to think I don't miss you
A month you disappeared from me
How did it go?
One disaster after another, was yours better?
But I finally got your letter
Save your courage, it's ok
Aren't you better off anyway?
Seal it off with your fears
Throw it away with my tears.

I lie to myself to everythings alright
Five days ago I fell apart
You were never in it from the start
Hating you those last two nights
I find myself wanting to forget
Yet your face is still burned in my head
Aren't we both better off dead?

do you/anyone have anymore thoughts
Disco Stu is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-02-2005, 04:55 AM   #4
Prolific Writer
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 309
Rkay
Send a message via AIM to Rkay Send a message via Yahoo to Rkay
Well you guys,
we all gotta start somewhere.
Writers and critics are not born, they are made.
And if initially we feel we have not done well, we must continue.
One of our wise friends in this forum said, "suck it up" and move on!

Disco_stu, one of my main struggles is in getting apt titles on poems. And what I have found is if the title is suggestive or even metaphorical, the poem will usually reveal or unfold what the poem is about without having to bluntly say what it is with the title. This encourages the reader to participate in the poem and begin a pilgrimage of discovery.

I feel moved by the honesty of both the poem and LoneWolf's response to the poem. A sincere and truthful expression I find is always at the heart of good literature and communication in general. And As we grow and learn new skills we shall probably develop an increasingly sophisticated style and technique or writing and critiquing but if that lacks a sincerity and a deep love for people and the human experience it shall be empty and lack depth.

May you be encouraged and continue in your journey. You are not alone.

Ricky
__________________
Poets never die_____________________________________
Rkay is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-02-2005, 08:24 PM   #5
Writing Machine
 
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: South Carolina
Gender: Female
Posts: 1,948
LoneWolf is an unknown quantity at this point
Send a message via AIM to LoneWolf Send a message via Yahoo to LoneWolf
Well said, Rkay...

Disco_stu, it was much better. I think you should go back and read it aloud to yourself to get a good rythm. I always do that with all of my pieces. But keep on keeping on...I look forward to more of your works!
__________________
My aim is to put down on paper what I see and what I feel in the best and simplest way. --Ernest Hemingway
LoneWolf is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 09:04 PM.
Powered by vBulletin, Copyright ©2000-2007, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
LinkBacks Enabled by vBSEO 3.1.0


 
You are NOT Logged In.
User Name:

Password



Newsletter

Subscribe to Majestic
the official newsletter of Writing Forums and lit.org
Email:


Related Links

Link to Us:
Writing Forums - Discussions for Writers