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Critical Analysis #2
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ChristianSpeaks
Member
since 2006-05-18
Posts 396
Iowa, USA

0 posted 2007-05-14 11:45 AM



Haven't written in a while, but let me know what to do with this one. Thanks.

Dane


It’s strange to me how
All the light can
Focus in one place on such
A sunny day when tears stream
At such a right angle.

Through all the dark of hair
And paint
And Hot Topic shopping spree,
The brilliance and clarity of sorrow
Stood our like a star
Or Christmas light that
Wasn’t told to maintain its uniformity.

I pushed through the group
Aggravated by inconvenience
But slowed when driving past
Realizing the itinerant nature
Of the two sides of the same coin.

© Copyright 2007 Dane Barner - All Rights Reserved
oceanvu2
Senior Member
since 2007-02-24
Posts 1066
Santa Monica, California, USA
1 posted 2007-05-18 06:27 PM


Hi Dane!  I like it, don't cry!  I'm going to get into it.  Please don't be offended.


The Girl Crying Outside the Mall.

It’s strange to me how
     (This is not a partucularly strong   first line.  If it wasn't strange to you, you might not have noticed it in the first place.)

All the light can
Focus in one place on such
     (Think about "all the light focuses in one place on such..."

A sunny day when tears stream
At such a right angle.
     (Think about:  "A sunny day. (Her) tears stream..."  Now you've personalized it, and made it about "The Girl Crying at the Mall.)
    

Through all the dark of hair
And paint
And Hot Topic shopping spree,
    (Think about compression:  Through all the dark of and paint and shopping spree...) "Hot topic" doesn't seem to add a lot.  Maybe a more powerful image?)

The brilliance and clarity of sorrow
     (I think the poem talks about "her" sorrow.  It doesn't hurt to talk about what you are talking about.)

Stood our like a star (.)
(A) Christmas light that
Wasn’t told to maintain its uniformity.
    (Look to the music of the lines.  What can you do with compression?

I pushed through the group
Aggravated by inconvenience
      (You've lost the specificity of the girl/sunshine/sorrow images and brought it down to you.)

But slowed when driving past (.)
     (You've gone from pushing through the crowd-- walking -- to driving with no transition.

Realizing the itinerant nature
Of the two sides of the same coin.
     (OK, the thought is great and it is germane to the sunshine/sorrow contrast. "Itinerant" sounds nice indeed, but may not be the appropriate adjective.  And again, I'd think about bringing it back to the Girl Crying Outside The Mall.)

You have the skills to make this work at a less ambiguous level.  I don't try to be a pain in the butt, but I was born to edit.

Keep on truckin'.  Best, Jim


ChristianSpeaks
Member
since 2006-05-18
Posts 396
Iowa, USA
2 posted 2007-05-21 11:55 AM


I appreciate your response. I'll look into the changes.

Dane

oceanvu2
Senior Member
since 2007-02-24
Posts 1066
Santa Monica, California, USA
3 posted 2007-05-22 09:16 PM


Hi Dane!  You do good work which I enjoy and appreciate.  You have very much to offer.

Best, Jim

dwgpoet
Member
since 2007-03-05
Posts 122
FL, USA
4 posted 2007-05-28 02:49 AM



Good Day,

Oceanvu2 has given you ample editing ideas.

Maybe the poem can start with the second paragraph; mixing the first paragraphs thoughts in a (image line)/ altenating (thought line)/(image line)/(thought line)

For instance:


Through all the dark of hair
And paint, It’s strange to me how
at the hot hobby of a shopping spree,
all the light focuses in one
place with such brilliance,
such clarity of sorrow
on a sunny day when tears stream
like a star
Or Christmas light never
told to maintain its uniformity
at such a right angle.

JenniferMaxwell
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Member Elite
since 2006-09-14
Posts 2423

5 posted 2007-06-12 01:36 AM


Hi Dane. It's been a while.

Have to say this is one of my favorites by you. Before I post my comments may I ask if you're working on revisions? I don't want to toss something into the mix that might throw you off.

ChristianSpeaks
Member
since 2006-05-18
Posts 396
Iowa, USA
6 posted 2007-06-12 11:50 AM


Jennifer-

It has been a while. Nice to hear from you. Right now I'm trying to finish the school year. We have 3 days left and my kids are going crazy. But that is to be expected. I always enjoy your comments. Please add anything you can. Thanks for the read

Dane

JenniferMaxwell
Deputy Moderator 1 TourDeputy Moderator 1 TourDeputy Moderator 1 Tour
Member Elite
since 2006-09-14
Posts 2423

7 posted 2007-06-13 05:52 PM


Hi again, Dane.

There are images and lines in this that I really love, for instance, the way you described how light illuminated the darkness...focused on “the brilliance and clarity of sorrow” (love that phrase!), and “through all the dark of hair/and paint/”is absolutely brilliant!

A couple of lines that threw me off were “Hot Topic shopping spree”, “wasn’t told to maintain its uniformity”. The word itinerant doesn’t seem to fit quite right with the “same coin” phrase. Also, tears streaming at a right angle seems a bit much.

My suggestions would be to build the light/dark contrasts in S1 and S2 and in S3, drop all the ” I” references (and the “to me” in S1L1) and draw you conclusions more in keeping with the tone of S1 and S2.

There’s a lot to like in your poem, Dane, and, unless your satisfied with it, I’m going to nag you about polishing this up a bit in rewrite.


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