Thank you for your comments, David and Berry.
Berry, 19th century poetry is indeed interesting. I am glad you like the Brontes' poetry. I guess Wordsworth started us all off with his "writing in the language of men" so that everyone could understand it, but the older poets like Donne can also teach us much about form. You are right, often the poetry from the nineteenth century is melancholic - perhaps it was the rise in industrialisation frightening everyone into wondering what the future would hold. I'm not sure - also the rise of individualisation I guess.

David, thank you for commenting on so many poems. I agree, if you want comments on your own then it is only fair to comment on others - and you do learn a lot from looking at other people's poetry too. I lovereading what other poele have written. I often marvel at their talent too! I think your point about being adventurous and trying new forms and subejcts is a good one - and one which I must do more often! I am glad you appreciate constructive comments- not everyone does I think- and it is a good way of learning

Thank you both for your very interesting points!
Jo x

Jo,
I try to comment on as many poems as possible because I like to get comments on my work. Poems that are family-friendly are my favorite. I also like to see the poet trying something new in their poetry, whether it be in form or content. Negative comments are welcome with me, as long as they are helpful rather than insulting. (Not that you would ever insult anyone)... Hope this helps
Your friend,
David Fox

I like reading poetry in the style that I use and especially about very serious subjects or about the beauty of nature. Also I like to read poetry in the old english language liike the poetry of the Bronte sisters and poetry from any poet, male or female, from those days. Their style of writing warms the heart and is so colourful and melancholic at times.

Thanks Val - interesting thoughts. I hope you are OK though.

Jo x

I am sorry I haven't been reading poems lately, but I really haven't had the time to read all & didn't think it fair to only read a few. I can't seem to write any either at present, the last few months have been hectic & traumatic here.

I do like poems that rhyme best. Though some prose poetry is very moving.
You are all brilliant at writing, each one in a different way.
It is nice to get comments on a poem, whether positive or negative, constructive critisism is good I think.
It's good when the poetry writer answers a comment or comments made by other persons also. It shows they appreciate you taking time to read their poetry.
These are my thoughts on this thread.
It's a good one, Jo.

Thanks Eunice and for your encouragement too... so both you and Doreen like nature poems and poems that rhyme..... I will have to see what I can do then.....

I always love your poems Eunice, and Doreen your poems make me smile often.

Let's see what others say.

Jo x

Jo, here is my dollar's worth.

I try to comment on all new posts. Sometimes I do miss one or two.
I am particularly drawn to nature poems and my favourites are those which rhyme, although there are many unrhymed ones that I have really enjoyed.
Like Doreen, I think it is not too much for anyone to comment on a poem or two when posting their own. I enjoy reading comments on any that I post. It is encouraging to see that one does not post in vain. After all, the object of posting is to share one's words with others. If not, why would we do so?
I find long poems hard to concentrate on. The computer screen is not the easiest place to read these for me.
Often, when reading someone elses work, I wish that I had composed a line or used a metaphor that the writer has used.
I have not written much lately. I find that my mind is tired with all the sign language study, and time slips away. I will have to take myself in hand and make more effort in that regard.

P.S. I always enjoy your poems, Jo. Nothing wrong with your titles either.

Thanks for your interesting comments Doreen. It is good that you got help and encouragement when trying a new poetry form. I think it is helpful to learn from others though some poeple may feel that they don't need or want any help perhaps - not sure about this. I know I need help to improve!

Re the problem of new poems drifting downwards, - I agree that is a slight problem qs sometimes I have found wonderful poems which I had inadvertently missed previously. I try and read all new poems to give encouragement if I can and also because I like reading them. I do get sad when the few poems I write drift down the page without anyone reading them sometimes - as recently for example. This is why I try hard to read other people's because I know how I feel. Perhaps however the fault is my titles or my subject matter - I'm not sure.....I must work to improve.

I agree that courtesy at least could invite members to at least read and comment on a few before they post their own, though I realise some people are just too busy perhaps, or perhaps they feel no one would weant their opinions- which of course is not true at all.. Also not everyone wants to do this and of course it is not compulsory.

Anyway, thanks for your comment, Doreren. I hope some more comments arrive too.

Jo x

I think this is a good topic Jo.

I try to commrnt on as many as I can.

Rhyming poems are my favourites for reading and writing. But I have tried many other formats of writing

I like all different kinds of poems. and like it when a member does an unusual form poem

(i have actually tried a couple of form poems and the member actually gave me help and encouragement)

I personally do not like long lenghty poems.. that is maybe just me.

do not personally like the sad ones where everything seems black I love cheery and happy poems. Nature poems funny poems.about life/the past etc

I personally like the comments and if it is a negative comment i would see what I had done wrong. and try and correct the problem

A slight problem with the poems on here, A poem can sometimes get lost because normally people just read the top one or two poems. So the new poems just keep just going down the list.

also when people post I think it would be only polite to comment on at least one another poem if not two. Because they want people to comment on their own poem.For some people just write and do not lkeave many comments at all.

Does this help at all JO But this is just my opinion

I have had my say I await more comments now

As you know, besides our own writing, our site also enables reading of other members' work. Of course it is not compulsory to read anyone else's work at all. Nonetheless some people do, so I thought it may be interesting to find out what kind of poems members of the site like reading best. If any of us wanted to utilise this information, we could also then consider the audience we are writing for when we write our next poem.

So:

1)What is it about other people's poems which draw you to read them? Does the title attract you? Is the subject, style or length important at all?

2) What leads you to comment on a poem?

3) Does it matter to you whether or not anyone else reads your own poems or is it purely the writing of them which is important to you?

4) Do you like reading comments other people have made on your poems? If so do you like them to comment on your style, just leave a positive comment, or to comment on the subject matter? Would anyone rather people didn't comment perhaps?

5) Do you ever learn from people's comments and if so does it affect your future writing at all?


Can't wait to learn from your replies.

Jo x