In A Candle's Soft Glow (life's fabric)

Concrete or Shape Poem

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Author's Note

Constructive critique is always welcome! : )

Reviews

[William Michael Reeves]

Creative and unique. I like it! The reflection of the light at the base, yet the last line stays in shadow as it should. And references patterns which your form creates. Although, it may take more than the candles glow to warm the heart of one of your reviewers. He's tried to snuff out my flame as well. Your response is as honest as the review is rude. Some candles smother in their own wax. Your words are the all ... and right!

As I got to the end, and my old eyes needed to zoom, the text got really blurry. Maybe there's a way to make it clearer.

[Richard🖌]

Greetings, Bill 🙏

I'm thrilled you've found such favor in this Poetic Concrete (or shape) Form. Though they are often challenging, and can require patience and creativity to get right, they can also offer an author great satisfaction when completed.
Thank you for your empathy, My Friend, but no one will ever snuff-out my flame with words. We all see through our own eyes, and I respect everyone's "right" to express whatever they so see fit. Though, I may not always agree with their discernments or manners of getting them across, I'd fight for their right to express them.
I thank you most gratefully and humbly for approval of my expressions in response.
Concerning the blurry text, my headlights, too, are beginning to dim, and in as a much the the poem has been saved as a .png image, it would require redoing the entirety and completely replacing it with another. However, the penultimate and final lines read:
"I'd rather be happy and alive with the promise that "all" is right, than to be right!
That, to me, is the pattern from which to weave a comforting cloth of life."

Thank you, Dear Bill, for such a thought-filled, interesting review for this poem's bright glow of hope and promise! ⁓ Richard 🔥

[keith]

i am drawn to the melding of art and word
truly imaginative writing and presentation ...

however
your hypocrisy is so blatantly wrong
you criticized an offering of mine with disdain for my blending
citing there is more to poetry than pictures insinuating it was not poetry
you should practice what you preach

reposting from multiple years to garner more views is a cheap shot to all that put pen to paper
too lazy to pen new works or does your ego need constant feeding?

perhaps it is time for you to look into the mirror?

good fortune to you in your upcoming release

[Richard🖌]

Hi, Keith 🍎

I am so very pleased you found favor in this unique poetic effort … thank you, My Friend.
Then, things seem to have taken an ugly turn(?). Perhaps, you can enlighten me where I expressed disdain toward any one of your writings … you may have mistaken me for someone else; this does not sound like me. I know I have never felt disdain about anything I've read of yours. Plus, as a teacher, I'm not liable to be hypocritical toward anyone … I'm more likely to offer constructive help in some way.
I don't mind being wrong, My Friend, but I surely do not ever want to be judged wrongly by my respected peers.
Though, I have reposted older pieces for new readers' enjoyment and learning experiences, who do not take an opportunity to wander back into my portfolio, but it has nothing to do with laziness or the need to feed my ego … heavens knows I work hard to write for and design presentations for my readers' and students' enjoyment and as examples to be inspired and learn from.
This particular piece has not been read and reviewed for a very long time (4-6 years), and when it was just now reviewed, I noticed the font was so small it was hard to read, so I enlarged or updated it, but did not repost it as new. This poem's "Stats" information reads, "Last Updated on April 23, 2022." In fact, it's on page 18 (around 180 poems back) in my portfolio.
Unless a particular genre, form, or style of poem is requested, my writing comes from somewhere within, and I seldom know why or when it will come flowing out, and that's for me, but I NEVER share anything that is not meant for the reader's satisfaction and enjoyment … the real plus, for me, is that reviews usually offer an opportunity to interact and/or bond with my poetic peers and fellow members.
I don't want you to think I'm defending myself or that I'm offended, only that I would like for you to better correctly understand the poet and the man I am, and what my intention are when posting, reading, and reviewing others' efforts.
I'm not sure what sort of devious and unethical individuals you've run across, but you can rest assured I'm not one of them.

I'll always appreciate and respect your honesty and right to express it, Keith, but in the future I'd appreciate it if you will consider my comments above, before doing so.

With You, My Friend … never a dull moment! ⁓ Richard 🍃

[cheyenne s garcia]

How interesting this was to read. Made me think of my own writing. Enjoyed very much!

[Richard🖌]

Thank you, Cheyenne, ever-so warmly. : )

It is a joy to have pleased you with a bit of interesting enjoyment.

Blessings! ⁓ Richard 🍃

[Kathy Van Kurin]

'In a Candle's Soft Glow'
Richard,
Before a word is read your art's depiction set's the stage, the mood. Flicker of fire warms and inspires whether from a fireplace or candle or candles. I love a lit fireplace and here at our house it is true many a day. We have many limbs fall where we live and those limbs make wonderful crackly fires!. Thank you for your beautiful and thankful words for a simple part of life!
Blessings,
kathy

[Richard🖌]

Dear Kathy 🍂

Thank you most gratefully for wandering back through my portfolio to find this rare (in today's genre) Concrete or Forms poetry piece to read, view, and comment on.
Your personal imagery and warming thoughts shared let a bard know his efforts to please his readers have not failed.

You are most humbly welcome, Kathy ⁓ Richard 🍃

[GreenShoes]

WHOA!!!!!!!! THAT IS INSANELY BEAUTIFUL!!!!!

Wow, Wow, Wow, I love this!!

This is crazy good. In every way.

I agree with you wholeheartedly about candles.

Are your poems in a book, sold in stores? If not, they should be. You are so talented.

[Richard🖌]

Oh, Karen!
What lovely and ingratiating sentiments … you are very sweet, and It so pleases me you enjoyed this little piece so enthusiastically, as it was a challenge (as I know you know) to create, but an enjoyable one, too.
I have a book coming out soon; it is in the process of publication in soft cover and hardback, and all the rest on the internet options … eBook, iBook, Kindle, etc.

Your praise sweeps me … thank you for the sensation! ⁓ Richard : )

[Willard Wells]

Richard, a very fun read and candles do set a mood. Unfortunately when I read this I flash to a vision I have seen so often of a woman with a lite candle, playing with the was. I think I saw it most in the '60's and '70's. May have something to do with the drugs. hahaha Great read and format. Very creative.

[Richard🖌]

Thanks for your interesting commentary, Willard.

True, candles have been involved in so my life-altering events and situations, it is virtually endless, their places in history and everyday life.
Causing fires and destruction, warming hearts, minds, and souls, a source of light for reading, operating, boiling heroin,crack cocaine, or meth amphetamine beneath a spoon or fold of tin foil before cooling and injecting in a drug abuser's vein, at church mass, weddings, or funerals, for composing music, writing books, poetry, etc; even as a poem, itself, as illustrated here … so very many uses one would be hard-pressed to name them all.

Thank you for the read, the praise, and for sharing your thoughts and remembrance!
May the flame of happiness bless your eyes and heart, My Friend! ⁓ Richard

[Cryingkate]

What a great surprise to find this.
I can feel the creativity burning in this.
It must of been a wonderful bunch of fun creating it.
i must try it sometime.
Thank You for sharing your different forms of poetry.
I was never that interested in poetry so much as song writing:however,
after following your works, i find this little hint of desire growing in me to explore it more.
The desire is slowly growing.
Thank You, connie

[Richard🖌]

Hi, dear, sweet Connie! : )
How wonderful your words of interest in poetic forms bless my desire in inspiring others to try the different poetic forms that teach and help better broaden poetic skills, creating a more thorough enjoyment and experience in the craft and art of poetry.
As a teacher of poetry, there is no higher reward or pleasure I could ask for.

As you say, it was "a wonderful bunch of fun creating it", along with a bunch of patience … LOL!
One of the most rewarding aspects of the concrete form, is the challenge in getting it just right, and I hope you will try it; please, let me know if/when you do, so I can enjoy it with you.

I, also, know that slowly growing desire … I thank you for that, too, Connie! ⁓ Richard

[Cryingkate]

Your excitement only encourages me more :-)
Thank you , It's a warm feeling knowing that you really enjoy sharing my desires.
Your so kind and thoughtful.
I will indeed try soon.
Connie

[Misture]

I am not very familar with poetry, but I shall try with the best of my ability to write a constructive analysis. I shall first judge the visual form. The overall shape of the candle itself is simple, but of a good format. The colour scheme is also very fitting. However, the glow shape is too wide. I do understand you attempted to imitate a glow, but the length and the colour scheme need to be alternated in order to achieve that effect. The core needs to be white rather than yellow as it is the light source. I'd advise you to make the colour of the last two lines of the outline more duller. But considering you follow a colour scheme, I think it would be better if the glow as less broad.

Now I shall judge the poetry. In general it has nice imagery and a simple language which fits the atmosphere of the poem. The cadence of the second stanza does need to be changed. I'd advise you to replace "because" with "for" to keep the assonance consistent. The sentence structure of the third stanza seems incorrect in comparison to the other sentences.
I do like the language. I especially like the line: "When its flickering beauty sets the air, our hearts and the very breath of wonderment aglow". Very evocative.

I hope this review was fair and constructive to you. :)

[Richard🖌]

Your review is very "fair and constructive", and you've helped make this a better piece of poetry art with your keen eye, honest critique, and bit of sincere thought and attention put into how deliberately and affectively your comments will reach me … wonderfully so … exactly the kind of honest, well-intended, and caring review we need more of.

I hope I've sufficiently done enough to appeal more suitably for you by changing the third line and the flame's glow, even though I left the third stanza alone to deliver the message I am after (yet agree with you about it, too).

Thank you so very much, Dear Poetess, for your care and attention to detail, and surely for your sincerity and honesty, and your praise is more than enough to gratify a bard's hopes for appreciation and inspiration … you are a shimmering jewel in a candle's soft glow! 〜 Richard

[Misture]

I am very glad to hear my input was constructive to you. And the format of the concrete poem certainly does look better. But you did not need to change the original background colour. It was very fitting. But that is only a minor detail. As aforementioned I like the atmosphere and message of hope. And thank you for the compliments, I sincerely appreciate it.

[L. Michelle Corp]

Shortly after posting my review, many new meanings arose in my mind. Like I said; thought provoking. Well done.

[Richard🖌]

Thank you sincerely, Michelle.
I am doubly gratified and deeply humbled! 〜 Richard

[L. Michelle Corp]

Very thought provoking. I say this because, everything in this poem is a candid revelation. To me, it represents the sustenance that nourishes us, yet we pay it little to no mind until we have that revelation; an epiphany that hopefully ceases our neglect for the flame's humble function. The flame requires no gratitude yet without it we are helpless. I hope my interpretation makes sense!

[Richard🖌]

So much is revealed in the mesmerizing enchantment of a flame, Michelle, as the knowing in your words so elegantly expresses, and it is for these reasons the lit candle chose me to express its spirit.

Most warmly and gratefully … hugs to you! 〜 Richard