A Brutally Honest Psycho-analytical Sonnet With A Preface ( for Canuckster)

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Dr.Moose1
Member Elite

since 1999-09-05

Posts 3448
Bewilderment , USA

0 posted 2002-01-16 05:59 PM

Canuckster,
Too often when I reply I immediately get defensive ( which doesn't make much sense, does it?)
You and others have taken their valuable time to offer suggestions as to how I might improve a certain piece( for which I am grateful) and I( more often than not)reply like some jerk with an attitude.
Come to think of it, maybe I am a jerk with an attitude, but I'm working on that also. Hence(archaic) this one's for you with my sincere thanks,
Doc

He claims it is his work he would improve
yet oft' when he's critiqued he takes offense.
A stance from logic that's so far removed
the writer hopes this will help it make sense.

Perhaps his stubborn pride gets in his way,
a common failing of most human-kind.
Yet, more that that, there is that he must say,
at times, his fierce ambition makes him blind.

And so he is beset by paradox,
this writer who would desperately improve,
creates, time and again , those stumbling blocks,
that pride and arrogance won't let him move.

An introspective study of the facts,
perhaps humility is what he lacks?

Canuckster
Member

since 2002-01-09

Posts 285
New Mexico, USA

1 posted 2002-01-17 09:50 AM

Dr.,

I took no offense and I understand completely.  Critique is always a risk because there is the very real danger that it will be received as criticism of the poet rather than an objective reading of the poem.

I am probably better at critiquing others poetry than I am in writing my own at times and I feel that dichotomy personally.  There's many a time I've offered suggestions and before I hit the send button, a voice in my head rises up and lets me know that for all my fluster and supposed knowledge, I couldn't do any better and in fact probably am not at the same level.

E-mail and bulletin boards have an inherent risk that the communication will infer a level of tone that comes across as terse or dismissive.

I appreciate that you took the time to write this beautiful sonnet and to receive my prior comments as intended to be helpful.  They were and the wonderful thing about critique is that the recipient can take it or leave it.

It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance and to be the beneficiary of being able to see your work which is very good indeed.

Bart

Dr.Moose1
Member Elite

since 1999-09-05

Posts 3448
Bewilderment , USA

2 posted 2002-01-17 05:57 PM

Bart,
A pleasure to make your aquaintance also. You raise some valid points about the nature of communication in this fast paced world. I'm glad my comments were only viewed as terse. Yours are welcome anytime so long as when you see me acting like a jerk again, you let me know. See, if I call myself that, it saves other people all that trouble.Thanks again.
Doc

[This message has been edited by Dr.Moose1 (01-18-2002 07:27 PM).]

Nan

Administrator

Member Seraphic

since 1999-05-20

Posts 21191
Cape Cod Massachusetts USA