From: Angel<BR>
Date: 15 January 2001<P>

Jenna, I loved '      ' :) it was so very cute;)
<HR>
From: Angel<BR>
Date: 15 January 2001<P>

For a cool little talking dictionary, copy and paste link below. This Encarta link also offers a free course in French or Spanish:)<BR>
<BR>
http://dictionary.msn.com/Default.asp?newguid=B812D6342BDB4396928CCE1366187728
<HR>
From: scqueen<BR>
Date: 15 January 2001<P>

Michael ~ 'if my life should fall away'... well said. the owner of the company i work for was killed in a tragic accident alone this summer, in another state. his wife's first statement was that they left nothing unsaid, nothing unresolved, and had no regrets or 'i should haves'. that made such an impression on me that i'm trying to achieve that place in my marriage. because you just never know.
<HR>
From: slug<BR>
Date: 15 January 2001<P>

BK - forget the rules. i've been saying that for forever and then you went and wrote it down. I might just find myself inspired to write some kissy-face poetry now...<BR>
<BR>
deevaa - the pilot is haunting. but i have to say this: if it's going to be so beautiful every time you have to get something out - then go right ahead - and i'll read every bit of it.<BR>
<BR>
scqueen - i loved foxtrot. it's amazing when someone can capture the dance as the love affair that it is. any kind of dance - that you picked the foxtrot is evidence of your own playful nature. (my personal opinion is that the foxtrot is a playful dance)<BR>
<BR>
and<BR>
<BR>
guppy: malety (perhaps malady?) and maledom are both great. of course.<BR>
<BR>
and Gala - i agree - typos are enough of a deterrent for me to not read the poem.<BR>
<BR>

<HR>
From: the guppy<BR>
Date: 15 January 2001<P>

slug...thanks for the comment...i kinda like the maledom one, save for a couple awkward lines..."in whose arms hold escape?"...that one doesn't work so well...probably should have left out the "in"...<BR>
<BR>
gup
<HR>
From: Karen Shader   [email-masked]<BR>
Date: 15 January 2001<P>

Hello, if your readers would like their original poems done in hand lettered calligraphy with hand painted watercolor illustrations please visit my website:  www.kshaderdesigns.com<BR>
No copyrighted verse please <BR>
Thanks and take care!  :)<BR>
Karen  d/b/a Karen Shader Designs
<HR>
From: squeen<BR>
Date: 15 January 2001<P>

hey gup ~ you're starting to sound like your old self again.<BR>
glad to hear it in 'irresistible'...
<HR>
From: Ali<BR>
Date: 15 January 2001<P>

Michael~ Wow...'If my life should fall away'...was absolutely awesome...it really touched me...I love it...Wow.<BR>
<BR>
Blue today~ I really love the way you write...I especially love 'Sirius'...you write really well...=)<BR>
<BR>
Love and wishes, Ali
<HR>
From: Brandy ~ [email-masked]<BR>
Date: 15 January 2001<P>

Hi All~ I know that I am a fairly newcomer to this site.  I've only been posting for a couple of months.  And in the past week or so, I've seen some very disheartening comments posted.  I used to post on another site before this.  And everyone that did post there was very harsh towards one another.  When I first heard about this site...I read everybodies work and I read all of the comments that were posted becuase I wanted to see what type of group this was.  I liked what I saw.  How much thought people put into giving a genuine comment.  <BR>
<BR>
All of the works here, all of the poetry and stories and songs all come from somebodies heart.  I don't agree that anyone has a right to tell them if they think that its bad.  If you can't compliment someone...or give them helpful critisism, its like your mother has always told you...If you can't say anything nice, then don't say anything at all.  Rude and insensitive is not the way to go thru life.<BR>
<BR>
I'm sorry that I've ranted and raved now.  I just don't want to see this site turn into what the last site that I posted at.  I like coming here and reading uplifting and heartwarming postings and works.<BR>
<BR>
Thanks for listening and reading!<BR>
<BR>
Brandy
<HR>
From: Elaina<BR>
Date: 15 January 2001<P>

Michael~ I almost cried...'if my life should fall away' amazing, wonderful...I loved it.<BR>
<BR>
xoxo<BR>
elaina
<HR>
From: Galadrial<BR>
Date: 15 January 2001<P>

<BR>
<BR>
I don't recall having been unkind in any postings. I simply requested that posters have a little care. It's nice when poetry is a catharsis---but I believe the point of this site is poetry---not head shrinking. Sloppy spelling is no way to convey your message. It isn't a style, or "just you". I have written for money---and when an editor hits a typo, you better be Stephen King---or in the trash it goes!<BR>
<BR>
And I have encouraged a lot of people in there writing...I am not mean, nor am I arbitrary. The point is that writing is sweat, craft and talent. You either grow or you shrivel...and the choice is yours.<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
                                            Gala                                              
<HR>
From: Me aka niki<BR>
Date: 15 January 2001<P>

 2 Michael ~ I loved your last poem " if My life should fall away"<BR>
And the words you used realy went well with each other<BR>
Very nice poem that says so much truth and very well written:)
<HR>
From: me aka niki  [email-masked]<BR>
Date: 15 January 2001<P>

 2 Mandy G~ Sleepless love was so nice<BR>
I related to it in every way<BR>
Wow
<HR>
From: Toklas<BR>
Date: 15 January 2001<P>

Since we are in the groove of thinking about making posts that are not glaring with errors, let me offer this:<BR>
<BR>
its= possessive as in "its paw was black"  <BR>
 it's =  a contraction of "it is" <BR>
<BR>
ellipsis... = something you only use if you are indicating missing words. A mark or series of marks (. . . or · · ·, for example) used in writing or printing to indicate an omission, especially of letters or words.  <BR>
<BR>
Punctuation is NOT decorative. Poets who use ellipsis and don't know what a comma, colon or semi-colon are, might as well hang a sign on their foreheads;  the sign would say    "Inexperienced poet here."<BR>
<BR>
Other things that shout "inexperience" and will send publishers into orbit. <BR>
<BR>
Unless your name is  ee cummings or the like, DON'T<BR>
- Capitalize every line<BR>
- DO capitalize grammatically. What the heck is wrong with "I" capitalized?<BR>
<BR>
(I am sorry we do not have a way to re-post comments in case of  error.  I will copy paste from word processor from now on so that I can catch typos. )<BR>
<BR>

<HR>
From: jan pearce<BR>
Date: 15 January 2001<P>

just wondering if we might get a link at your romantic site.  we have two offerings:<BR>
http://jsmagic.net/hearts and for valentine's day:  http://jsmagic.net/valentine.<BR>
 <BR>
thanks.  would be glad to exchange links if you will send us your logo.<BR>
 <BR>
thanks,<BR>
jan<BR>
[email-masked]
<HR>
From: sarah [email-masked]<BR>
Date: 15 January 2001<P>

i understand that it is important for "grammar" to be correct or what not.<BR>
<BR>
i understand that it is important for sentences to convey a thought concisely.<BR>
<BR>
and maybe some people are aspiring to make writing a career, and maybe there are others who do make writing a part of their living, maybe professionally.<BR>
<BR>
i do not capitalize my i's.<BR>
<BR>
i use ellipses.<BR>
<BR>
this place is not a submission to an editor.<BR>
<BR>
this place is not a place to write to justify your style to others.<BR>
<BR>
none of us here have the same style, we are all different.<BR>
<BR>
maybe there are a few that don't capitalize perfectly.<BR>
<BR>
or others who create their own style that doesn't jive with others.<BR>
<BR>
i have others here at home who can edit my things, and i edit them and have them edited if they are to be submitted to an editor.<BR>
<BR>
this is a place of free expression good will to all and harm to none.<BR>
<BR>
not a place of anal retentiveness.<BR>
<BR>
allow a little freedom before you lose a bit of the creativity that makes this place special.
<HR>
From: sarah, again.<BR>
Date: 15 January 2001<P>

this is bugging me...<BR>
<BR>
i never thought i would hear these type of things here, it isn't even about mispellings.<BR>
<BR>
it's turning into this professional thing, where we all have to be professionals instead of writers.<BR>
<BR>
am i delusional to still think there is a difference?<BR>
<BR>
yes we can all shape up on our spelling.<BR>
<BR>
but to degrade someone for grammar, which usually does poetry not break all grammatical rules anyway as it is????<BR>
<BR>
poetry doesn't fit into such rules.<BR>
<BR>
emotions, which normally rule poetry, do not live by rules.<BR>
<BR>
i do not think in periods comma semicolons or colons.<BR>
<BR>
i do not think with periods or with capital letters.<BR>
<BR>
i think as i am, and write as i am.  not as a english teacher who one day will stamp a big d on my paper because i failed to do as i was told.<BR>
<BR>
poetry is freedom, poetry is not "inexperienced poet here"<BR>
<BR>
i don't write with editors in mind.<BR>
<BR>
i wish this wasn't bugging me, but it is.<BR>
<BR>
end of ramble.
<HR>
From: Toklas<BR>
Date: 15 January 2001<P>

For those of you who want to just spew emotions without regard to writing intelligibly, have at it.  I am sure no one will stop you.   <BR>
<BR>
Poetry is not emotion. It is a craft. There is nothing anal retentive about carrying on a discussion of the poetry here.  If people don't want comments, they should not post. <BR>
<BR>
Poetry is language. Language has a grammar. For those of us here who love poetry for itself, attention to the basics is where it has to start. Anyone can learn those basics if they are not too lazy to pick up a grammar book or use a spell checker.<BR>
<BR>
Too suggest that only those of you who want to pepper us with incorrectly spelled grammatical aberrations, carry the only point of view here, is simply absurd.  <BR>
<BR>
If you only want to play touchy feely with your friends here, you can do that, no one will stop you.   But some of us want to actually write and read good poetry.  The sign on the door says "poetry." Why would anyone WANT to write or read bad  poetry?  Poetry that is riddled with errors, cliche and abstractions does not appeal to anyone. <BR>

<HR>