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	Posts: 105Threads: 17
 Joined: Nov 2013
 
	
	
		Would appreciate feedback on this poem.  Thanks.
 This is edited based on feedback
 
 
 Old Age
 
 This day dwells in darkness, doubting itself,
 And when night falls no one notices –
 Not the black dog sleeping in the alley,
 His twitching feet running in dreams;
 Not the languid lovers behind striped curtains,
 Mistaking the other’s limbs for their own;
 Not even the bright-bloused lilies,
 Their thin necks straining upward,
 Like shorts-clad tourists in the town.
 
 
 This day, weary of countless demands,
 Full of encumbrances,
 Has worn you to the edge of life.
 While no one was watching, you dwindled away.
 Your languor, listless like the days,
 Your curtained eyes unfocused.
 Like the evening dreading the sunset
 You linger and gasp,
 Bending down towards the night of mourning
 
		
	 
	
	
	
		
	Posts: 2,360Threads: 230
 Joined: Oct 2010
 
	
	
		 (11-10-2013, 01:05 AM)beaufort Wrote:  Would appreciate feedback on this poem.  Thanks.
 
 Old Age
 
 This day dwells in darkness, doubting itself,
 And when night falls no one notices –
 Not the black dog sleeping in the alley,
 His twitching feet running in his dreams;
 Not the languid lovers behind striped curtains,
 Mistaking the other’s limbs for one’s own;
 Not even the bright-bloused lilies,
 Their thin necks straining upward,
 Like shorts-clad tourists in the town.
 
 
 This day, weary of countless demands,
 Full of encumbrances,
 Has worn you to the edge of life.
 While no one was watching you dwindled away.
 Your languor, listless like the days,
 Your curtained eyes unfocused.
 Like the evening dreading the sunset
 You linger and gasp,
 Bending down towards the night of mourning
 
With the minor nit (and this is a style choice on my part) of cutting the second him in L4, this is one of the better poems I've read on here. It seems publishable right now. Sorry I couldn't find any issues with it, probably a poor effort on my part.
	 
The secret of poetry is cruelty.--Jon Anderson
 
		
	 
	
	
	
		
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 Joined: Nov 2013
 
	
	
	
		
	Posts: 426Threads: 41
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		Really interesting read, seemed fresh and heavy at once, in a very good way. Minor comments below.  (11-10-2013, 01:05 AM)beaufort Wrote:  Would appreciate feedback on this poem.  Thanks.
 
 Old Age
 
 This day dwells in darkness, doubting itself,
 And when night falls no one notices –
 Not the black dog sleeping in the alley,
 His twitching feet running in his dreams;
 Not the languid lovers behind striped curtains,
 Mistaking the other’s limbs for one’s own; "their own" would be grammatically correct here
 Not even the bright-bloused lilies,
 Their thin necks straining upward,
 Like shorts-clad tourists in the town. I like shorts-clad a lot, until I read it aloud, and then it becomes a bit clunky.
 
 
 This day, weary of countless demands,
 Full of encumbrances,
 Has worn you to the edge of life. love that image
 While no one was watching you dwindled away. comma after watching
 Your languor, listless like the days,
 Your curtained eyes unfocused.
 Like the evening dreading the sunset
 You linger and gasp,
 Bending down towards the night of mourning need a full stop
 
Lovely. Thanks for sharing.
 
-justcloudy
	
_______________________________________The howling beast is back.
 
		
	 
	
	
	
		
	Posts: 105Threads: 17
 Joined: Nov 2013
 
	
	
		 (11-10-2013, 04:15 AM)justcloudy Wrote:  Really interesting read, seemed fresh and heavy at once, in a very good way. Minor comments below.
 
  (11-10-2013, 01:05 AM)beaufort Wrote:  Would appreciate feedback on this poem.  Thanks.
 
 Old Age
 
 This day dwells in darkness, doubting itself,
 And when night falls no one notices –
 Not the black dog sleeping in the alley,
 His twitching feet running in his dreams;
 Not the languid lovers behind striped curtains,
 Mistaking the other’s limbs for one’s own; "their own" would be grammatically correct here
 Not even the bright-bloused lilies,
 Their thin necks straining upward,
 Like shorts-clad tourists in the town. I like shorts-clad a lot, until I read it aloud, and then it becomes a bit clunky.
 
 
 This day, weary of countless demands,
 Full of encumbrances,
 Has worn you to the edge of life. love that image
 While no one was watching you dwindled away. comma after watching
 Your languor, listless like the days,
 Your curtained eyes unfocused.
 Like the evening dreading the sunset
 You linger and gasp,
 Bending down towards the night of mourning need a full stop
 Lovely. Thanks for sharing.
 
 -justcloudy
 
 
Thanks for the feedback - I appreciate it and will keep working!
	 
		
	 
	
	
	
		
	Posts: 105Threads: 17
 Joined: Nov 2013
 
	
	
		Thanks for your reply - appreciate it...
	 
		
	 
	
	
	
		
	Posts: 2,360Threads: 230
 Joined: Oct 2010
 
	
	
		Well, I've been reading this, and do see one thing you probably may want to consider. I think there may be some confusion when you transition fro this day to you. I'll make one minor adjustment to the strophe breaks below that may fix it.  (11-10-2013, 01:05 AM)beaufort Wrote:  Would appreciate feedback on this poem.  Thanks.
 This is edited based on feedback
 
 
 Old Age
 
 This day dwells in darkness, doubting itself,
 And when night falls no one notices –
 Not the black dog sleeping in the alley,
 His twitching feet running in dreams;
 Not the languid lovers behind striped curtains,
 Mistaking the other’s limbs for their own;
 Not even the bright-bloused lilies,
 Their thin necks straining upward,
 Like shorts-clad tourists in the town.
 This day, weary of countless demands,
 Full of encumbrances,
 Has worn you to the edge of life.
 
 While no one was watching, you dwindled away.
 Your languor, listless like the days,
 Your curtained eyes unfocused.
 Like the evening dreading the sunset
 You linger and gasp,
 Bending down towards the night of mourning
 
Just a thought.
 
Best,
 
Todd
	
The secret of poetry is cruelty.--Jon Anderson
 
		
	 
	
	
	
		
	Posts: 105Threads: 17
 Joined: Nov 2013
 
	
	
		This reads much better, thanks.  Seems so obvious when someone else points it out.  I don't know why I get stuck on stanzas needing to be the same length. I appreciate your help.  Linda
	 
		
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