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caroline
Senior Member
since 1999-08-16
Posts 1218
http://members.xoom.com/belladona123/index.htm

0 posted 1999-08-22 08:46 PM


Midnight Echo

I still look at your picture on the wall...
I never could take it down even after
I knew you were gone.

I kept all of your letters to me
bound in a velvet ribbon… the same
sweet softness you had in
your eyes when you looked at me
each evening when we shared our
experiences of the day.

I keep the recording I have of your
voice on the answering machine.
I listen to it tell me you love me
and that you'll be home soon…

The waiting is over
but you didn't come back even
though there were only two days
left to cross off on the calendar.

I live with your silver chain
around my neck, the clasp welded
holding the charms that were not
charmed though they were your identity.

In my dreams I hold you tight against
me once more before you leave
and remember your kiss…
Some nights I still awaken with a
scream trapped in my heart,
the same one that I heard when
they knocked on my door
dressed in uniforms the same
blue as the midnight that finds
me missing you…and they said
"we regret to inform you…"

Your last I love you echoes
through the empty bed
while I wait for this war
so long past to finally be over
that I may rest again in
the arms of my soldier.

caroline
all rights reserved

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The only man worth your tears will never make you cry...

© Copyright 1999 Caroline - All Rights Reserved
JP
Senior Member
since 1999-05-25
Posts 1343
Loomis, CA
1 posted 1999-08-23 10:52 AM


Cannot critique that which was so eloquently stated.

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Yesterday is ash, tomorrow is smoke; only today does the fire burn.
JP



caroline
Senior Member
since 1999-08-16
Posts 1218
http://members.xoom.com/belladona123/index.htm
2 posted 1999-08-23 10:31 PM


Ohhh, thank you. I wrote this in response to a photograph of a young widow who was wearing her husband's dog tags 'round her neck. I can never forget her face. I wanted to do her pain some small justice. I hope I have.

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The only man worth your tears will never make you cry...

Brad
Member Ascendant
since 1999-08-20
Posts 5705
Jejudo, South Korea
3 posted 1999-08-24 04:51 AM


I agree that this is very well done and powerfully stated. I might want to change the title and change some of the phrasings:
sweet softness -- actually that's the only one as I reread it. Your casual style is a fine contrast to the emotion in the piece.

One more thing: it still seems a little too general. What about the individual quirks or idiosyncracies we all have? Why not try to make these two more diverse or special?

Again, I enjoyed it very much.

caroline
Senior Member
since 1999-08-16
Posts 1218
http://members.xoom.com/belladona123/index.htm
4 posted 1999-08-24 05:03 AM


Thanks Brad....I had a really hard time with the title. I never was satisfied with it, but couldn't seem to come up with anything else. I didn't want to stray into her idiosyncrasies as I wanted to keep the focus on missing her husband. I felt like more detail would detract from the bare-bones ache one feels when faced with a loss of that magnitude. The original draft was much longer, but I cut it to keep a natural simplicity of lying in bed at night thinking. I really appreciate your comments, it helps immensely! Thanks

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The only man worth your tears will never make you cry...

pen of passion
Member
since 1999-08-11
Posts 234

5 posted 1999-08-24 09:45 AM


Perhaps for a title: Trapped in My Heart.
I agree the poem was excellent.

caroline
Senior Member
since 1999-08-16
Posts 1218
http://members.xoom.com/belladona123/index.htm
6 posted 1999-08-24 04:57 PM


An excellent title...I think I will take you up on it! Thanks so much! I was tearing my hair out over the title and I can't afford to lose much more of it! Consider the title changed.

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The only man worth your tears will never make you cry...

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