Stephanie Grace's (sapphirefaery) Reviews

Stephanie Grace

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1,984 Public Reviews Given

2,114 Total Reviews Given

26

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#3457246

Review of Genres

Review by Stephanie Grace

In affiliation with SIMPLY POSITIVE GROUP

Rated: E

| (5.0)

Review 1 of 2 from d_fishy5925 and "A&C Auction Rnd 5 CLOSED" [E]!

First Thought:
Diamante is one of my favorite forms and I cannot tell you how much I appreciate and love the nouns that you chose. I love that you didn't go with the overused light/dark or happy/sad, etc...

Feelings:
This is certainly not a very emotional poem, but you did capture the feelings of the genres, as well as your feelings toward them, I think, which is splendid!

Visuals:
This is a bit not applicable, though it does stir a few memories.

Technicalities:
This is so incredibly nit-picky that I'm almost ashamed to mention it ...almost. In the fourth line, I found myself switching the last two words on my third and fourth reads and I liked it better that way. I think that, not only because of the syllables in the words, but also to make the transition a bit smoother ...it just seems to flow better that way in my mind. This could definitely just be me, but I figured I should mention it anyway.
Then I go and read for my sixth or seventh time and like it as is. Something to think about, I guess, though.
In the form explanation, there's a missing period at the end of the final sentence.

Overall Thoughts:
You stuck very well to the form and captured the genres perfectly. I love the creativity of the "antonyms" as well as the word choice. A great read all around!

Rating:
Umm... Can I give six stars?

,
Stephanie Grace

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#3456700

Review of On The Clock

Review by Stephanie Grace

In affiliation with SIMPLY POSITIVE GROUP

Rated: E

| (4.5)

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Dawn: (Title, etc)
The title, description, and rating all fit perfectly, as do the chosen genres, however, Spiritual didn't quite click for me in this one. Yes, it's there, but I don't think that it's the predominant genre, so it being listed first kind of made me pause and think for a bit.

Sunrise: (Contents)
Everything flowed quite well with only a few little hiccups which may actually have been caused by personal twitches.

Your words were simple to follow and understand. I love the message contained within this piece. Not only is it reflective and thought-provoking, but it really jabs right at the core of a problem that many don't even realize they have.

Noon: (Imagery, Emotion)
Throughout this piece, I found myself nodding and agreeing. Any reader, I believer, would be able to relate to this with ease which is furthered by the imagery and emotion stirred as your words bring memories to the forefront of the reader's mind. To me, that is something truly special.

Sunset: (Suggestions)
Paragraph 2: And it... (This occurs more than once throughout the item;

This could be a personal twitch of mine, but I was taught that sentences should never start with and, so I figured it should be mentioned.

Paragraph 3: But...

Same as above, just with a different word.

Paragraph 6: this[,] and...

Since and is only linking two things together, I don't think a comma is necessary.
Paragraph 14: Because...

So, yeah, personal twitch with the sentence beginning with because, but, here, the sentence is actually fragmented since it says "because we..." but never says what occurs due to the listed choices that may be made. Honestly, I think that just nixing the "because" would heighten this whole paragraph.

Dusk: (Overall thoughts)
I love the message of this piece and found it quite well-written. Yes, I think a tweak here and there could elevate this article, but the words and thoughts that lie therein should be etched in stone and in the mind of all readers.

Write On!

Stephanie Grace

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#3456612

Review of The Gift of Independence

Review by Stephanie Grace

In affiliation with SIMPLY POSITIVE GROUP

Rated: ASR

| (4.5)

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Dawn: (Title, etc)
The title, description, rating (which could probably be "E"), and chosen genres all fit this story perfectly.

Sunrise: (Contents)
Everything was simple to follow and understand. I only detected a few little hiccups in the flow, but those could just be borne of my own personal twitches.

Noon: (Imagery, Emotion)
Everything was simple to envision, but what really made this come to life for me was the emotion. Not only could I feel for the narrator and his situation, but this really tugged on my heartstrings and made me think of how easily life can change ...both for bad and good, sometimes both so quickly that one has barely sunk in before your pushed the other way. The mystery surrounding the gift was wonderful. The buildup was fantastic! (By the way, I was getting extra-emotional because I was seeing the present and thinking it was a gift from a deceased child or something...).

Sunset: (Suggestions)
Paragraph 1: the house .... belongings

This could very well (and probably is) just me, but I felt like there might be a way to word this a bit better. Perhaps something like my house, family, and worldly possessions or some such?

Paragraph 2: flowers[,] or ... food[. But]

No need for comma here, I believe.

Actually, after reading the rest of the sentence, keep the comma... nix the or.

Personal twitch, but I was always taught that sentences should never start with and, but or because. I think that replacing this period with a comma and taking away the capitalization of the b would help to ease my suffering.

Paragraph 3: [,] and

No need for a comma when "and" is only linking two things. (This occurs more than once throughout this story).

Paragraph 10: He or she

Two paragraphs prior, you pretty confirm the gender, so the or she part kind of threw me off a bit.

Dusk: (Overall thoughts)
This is very well-written and I love where you went with the prompt. I never knew where this was going and my attention was held quite strongly from beginning to end. I love that this left me sitting here and reflecting. That's a magical thing.

Write On!

Stephanie Grace

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#3452731

Review of The Painting

Review by Stephanie Grace

In affiliation with SIMPLY POSITIVE GROUP

Rated: E

| (4.5)

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Dawn: (Title, etc)
The title, description, rating and chosen genres all fit this item perfectly, though the description could possibly use a word or two of insight into the actual story...

Sunrise: (Contents)
Everything was simple to follow and understand. The flow was quite smooth and I did not notice myself stopping and re-reading at any time.

Noon: (Imagery, Emotion)
This definitely came to life before my eyes. Not only could I easily envision the painting, but I could see it moving as I witnessed your story unfolding. It was simple to not only understand the feelings of the narrator, but to feel for her. The feelings of loss, reflection, and regret tugged at my heart. Great job!

Sunset: (Suggestions)

Paragraph 2: and[,] quite frankly[,] - This could just be me, but I wonder about separating this phrase from the rest of the sentence with commas as it is added detail to the primary idea.

Also in the second paragraph, I think that the painting's title should be italicized. I could be wrong, but it might be worth a thought...

This is probably just a personal twitch of mine, but I was taught that sentences should never start with words like and or but which happens twice in this story.

Paragraph 6: [or] the last - Due to the presence of the word not I think that nor might be more appropriate in this instance.

Dusk: (Overall thoughts)
This is very creative and well-written. You used the prompt wonderfully and truly made it your own! This left me with a deep sense of longing which really made this story stick with me after I read it the first time. I love it!

Write On!

Stephanie Grace

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#3452716

Review of For the Love of the Stars

Review by Stephanie Grace

In affiliation with SIMPLY POSITIVE GROUP

Rated: E

| (4.5)

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Dawn: (Title, etc)
The title, description, rating, and chosen genres all fit this poem perfectly.

Sunrise: (Contents)
The abcb rhyme scheme worked well with your words without the rhymes feeling forced. The flow was quite smooth from beginning to end.

Noon: (Imagery, Emotion)
This was touching and I felt like it could be related to many different situations in life which is wonderful because it allows your words to really hit home for the reader. The imagery is vivid, especially as memories and faces from the reader's own life flood their mind's eye.

Sunset: (Suggestions)

This could just be me, but I felt like there was more to be said, somehow. I'm not quite sure where or how, but I felt like there was just something missing from the overall idea or story of this poem.

Dusk: (Overall thoughts)
This is well-written and I enjoyed reading it and all of the memories that it stirred within my heart and mind. You definitely manage to speak volumes in just a few lines and I love that.

Write On!

Stephanie Grace

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#3436356

Review of Listening to the Rain

Review by Stephanie Grace

In affiliation with SIMPLY POSITIVE GROUP

Rated: E

| (4.5)

Review 2 of 2 from and "WDC Power Reviewers Holiday Auction" by Maryann

First Thought:
I love that this poem left me sitting here, reflecting...

Feelings:
This poem, to me, had a lovely combination of both excitement and calm. For me, this was a great comfort as I tend to enjoy storms...

Visuals:
Not only did your words create some fantastic images in my mind, but this made a lot of memories rush back which I love!

Technicalities:

Stanza 2, Line 2: I wonder if a semi-colon might work better with your words than the present comma...

In Stanza 3, I counted Line 2 as one syllable shorter than the other lines and Line 3 as having an extra syllable...

While the abab rhyme scheme worked very well with your words to keep everything moving a long, I did feel like the flow could be just a little smoother somehow... Perhaps try reading this aloud and see where it leads?

Overall Thoughts:
I really enjoyed this poem and love the reflective feeling that it left me with. I think that this could really cause some readers to stop and think a little differently about storms and their feelings toward them. For me, few things are better than sitting with a quill and writing by the light of an oil lamp, especially to the sound of rain! (I could do without lightning though, LOL).

Rating:
I'm going with a 4.5 because I think the flow could be a little smoother, but I really loved this poem! I don't think it would take much at all for you to push this beyond 5.0!

,
Stephanie Grace

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#3436345

Review of Early Morning Treats

Review by Stephanie Grace

In affiliation with SIMPLY POSITIVE GROUP

Rated: E

| (5.0)

Review 1 of 2 from "WDC Power Reviewers Holiday Auction" by Maryann

First Thought:
This left me with a big smile!

Feelings:
I found this poem to be very relaxing to read. Not only did you stir my emotions by bringing back my own early-morning memories, but the light, airy feeling of yours words really made me feel like I was in that special moment...

Visuals:
The imagery throughout this poem was very strong. Not only could I easily envision everything, but it all really just came to life before my eyes. The third stanza especially took me away!

Technicalities:
I did not notice any typos nor did any suggestions pop into my head. You stuck wonderfully to a 9-7-9-7 syllable count without any misplaced or missing beats. The abab rhyme scheme worked great with your words to give this poem a nice rhythm and flow without any rhymes feeling forced.

Overall Thoughts:
You captured a moment in each day that is full of possibility and hope and that really came through in this poem. I could feel that as strongly as I could if I was actually in that moment. Beautiful job!

Rating:
I'm going with a 5.0 because of how this made me feel. I loved it.

,
Stephanie Grace

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#3435458

Review of The Best Ghoul Ever

Review by Stephanie Grace

In affiliation with SIMPLY POSITIVE GROUP

Rated: 13+

| (4.0)

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Dawn: (Title, etc)
The description, rating, and chosen genres all fit this piece perfectly. The title fits as well, however, I did feel like you could come up with something better there...

The title (or maybe even just the exclamation point) made me immediately think that this would be a lighthearted piece.

Sunrise: (Contents)
Everything was simple to follow and understand. I detected a few hiccups in the flow, but nothing that really caused me to stop and re-read anywhere.

Noon: (Imagery, Emotion)
I definitely felt for the characters as I read and I really worried about where you would take this. The simple imagery kept everything simple to envision. Great job!

Sunset: (Suggestions)

Paragraph 1: long[-]difficult: I think that a comma might be appropriate here as this is two descriptions of the same subject.

Paragraph 1: [,]at time[,]: Comma before and after since this is added detail to the sentence?

Paragraph 2: I think the flow could be a little smoother here if you replace the comma after state with a semi-colon or period...

Paragraph 3: traumatic[ ]-a - missing space

Paragraph 4: trick and treater's - trick-or-treaters

Paragraph 5 feels like it could be combined with Paragraph 4. Also, the first sentence here doesn't really feel complete. I think was after Brad could easily smooth that out.

Paragraph 16: behind them[,]

Paragraph 17: [As] Brad...door[,]

Dusk: (Overall thoughts)
I found this to be creative and quite emotional. I'd love to see this expanded a bit as the ending felt a bit rushed (due to the word count restrictions of the contest, I'd assume). You truly have a wonderful story here and I'd love to see what you could with it without any restrictions. All around, I think this is a very creative tear-jerker!

Write On!

Stephanie Grace

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#3435450

Review of The Road Finally Traveled

Review by Stephanie Grace

In affiliation with SIMPLY POSITIVE GROUP

Rated: 13+

| (4.0)

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Dawn: (Title, etc)
The title, description, rating, and chosen genres all fit this item perfectly.

Sunrise: (Contents)
This was simple to follow and understand and flowed smoothly. It did, however, feel more like prose than poetry to me.

Noon: (Imagery, Emotion)
The imagery, to me, was quite reader-driven and brought up a lot of memories and thoughts which furthered the emotional impact of your words. I found the ending quite reflective in tone and it left me sitting here and just... thinking. Great job!

Sunset: (Suggestions)

Line 1: I think that a comma at the end of this line might improve the flow into Line 2...

Line 6: road[,]: I think that a semi-colon might be a bit more appropriate than the present comma as the subject in the second half is different from that of the first.

Line 19: heart[,]: The comma in this line kind of broke up the flow for me.

Line 26: see, [ ] - Extra space.

Line 29: then [ ] - Extra space

Okay, this isn't really a suggestion, but you have a line count of 36 lines at the bottom and I only count 29... Could be WdC spacing or something, but I figured I should mention it...

Dusk: (Overall thoughts)
I really love the truth in your words. Not only could I easily understand what you were saying, but I could feel your presence in every line. It's not often that people are willing to share so much and that, to me, makes this so much more special. I am glad that you were able to find happiness, my dear. You deserve no less!

Write On!

Stephanie Grace

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#3434378

Review of Winter Solstice

Review by Stephanie Grace

In affiliation with SIMPLY POSITIVE GROUP

Rated: E

| (4.5)

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Dawn: (Title, etc)
The title, description, rating, and chosen genre all fit this poem perfectly.

Sunrise: (Contents)
The aabb rhyme scheme worked well with your words to give this poem a nice rhythm. Everything was simple to follow and understand and flowed smoothly from beginning to end.

Noon: (Imagery, Emotion)
The imagery is well-done as, not only could I envision what was being said, but plenty of memories and images rushed to the forefront of my mine. This had a nice thought and reflective feeling. I'm sure for many people this will also stir up that feeling of rebirth and hope that can come with the winter solstice and the days getting longer again, but, for me, I mourned a little bit... I love winter and long, cold, dark days!

Sunset: (Suggestions)

In Line 2, I wonder if heaven's should be capitalized...

I love this and how it does express a full thought, however, I did feel like there might be more that could be said. This could, of course, just be me though.

Dusk: (Overall thoughts)
I enjoyed this poem. I think that you managed to say quite a lot in only four lines. You summed up the feeling of the Winter Solstice quite well which is wonderful since I think that was your intention!

Write On!

Stephanie Grace

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#3434116

Review of Anniversary Reviews

Review by Stephanie Grace

In affiliation with SIMPLY POSITIVE GROUP

Rated: E

| (5.0)

I can't believe I've never rated/reviewed this before!

This forum is very well-organized. Rules and expectations for the participation and clearly stated and simple to understand. I did not see any typos and I can't even image anyone being able to come up with a suggestion for improvement!

The idea behind this activity, to me, is incredibly original and a great glimpse at your creativity!

I love that this gives such a variety of ports to not only review, but to celebrate! That celebratory feeling can definitely be felt and understood in this forum. With such a wide range of choices every month and so few restrictions, this is an activity that anyone can enjoy --and that everyone should participate in! I love it!

,
Stephanie Grace

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#3434108

Review of Write Stuff

Review by Stephanie Grace

In affiliation with SIMPLY POSITIVE GROUP

Rated: E

| (4.5)

HAPPY WDC ACCOUNT ANNIVERSARY FROM "Anniversary Reviews"

TITLE, ETC:
The title, description, rating, and chosen genres all fit this poem perfectly.

FORM & FLOW:
The aabba rhyme scheme worked great with your words to give this a nice, fast-pace rhythm without any of the rhymes feeling forced. The flow was pretty smooth from beginning to end though I did feel like a more consistent syllable count might make it even smoother. It wasn't like I felt a complete stumble anywhere, but, in some lines, I could definitely feel the extra or missing beat.

IMAGERY & EMOTION:
This was incredibly fun to read and something that I'm fairly certain every member of WdC could relate to and thoroughly enjoy. The imagery, of course, is pretty reader-driven as he/she relates and can envision him/herself during writing. Both aspects really made this poem a delight to read for me!

SUGGESTIONS & TYPOS:

Stanza 2, Line 1: The comma at the end of this line felt a bit unnecessary to me as the thought is carried into the next line.

OVERALL & RATING:
This was so much fun and had me smiling all the way through, even as my own writing frustrations came to mind. I'm going with a 4.5 only because I think the flow could be a smidgen smoother, but, really, I'd love to give it a 4.85.

Thank you for the smile!

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#3434040

Review of Mail Thy Love to Me

Review by Stephanie Grace

In affiliation with SIMPLY POSITIVE GROUP

Rated: E

| (5.0)

Poetry Review 3 of 3 from Jace and "WDC Power Reviewers Holiday Auction" by Maryann

First Thought:
This was very touching!

Feelings:
I found this be quite charming throughout... without being overly mushy.

I really love the buildup and how I found myself hoping for the right response/ending. Great job!

Visuals:
Well, of course the picture helped, but I think there's enough imagery in your words to the point where it's not even needed for the reader to see it all. Personally, this brought back quite a few memories for me (which might or might not be why I can never walk past my parents' mailbox without checking it... even on Sundays. LOL).

Technicalities:

I did not notice any typos nor did any suggestions pop into my head.

Overall Thoughts:
You stuck wonderfully to the form (which can be a... pain) and no rhymes felt forced. Everything was simple to follow and understand and the flow was smooth from beginning to end. What I loved the most is how this was tugging on my heartstrings as I wondered which way this would go. I also love that this tells a complete story. What more can I say? I loved it!

Rating:
Umm... Do you really need to me explain this rating after reading my overall thoughts?

,
Stephanie Grace

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#3433994

Review of Nostalgia

Review by Stephanie Grace

In affiliation with SIMPLY POSITIVE GROUP

Rated: E

| (5.0)

Poetry Review 2 of 3 from Jace and "WDC Power Reviewers Holiday Auction" by Maryann

First Thought:
Diners are a big thing around here so this was just a natural fit for me.

Feelings:
I love how this poem carried such a sense of ease to it. I felt comforted and relaxed as I read your words.

Visuals:
Not only did you capture the photograph perfectly, but your words recreated it in my mind's eye with great ease. I could easily envision everything as the diner came to life around me. To add to both the emotion and imagery, memories just came flooding back and left me smiling. I couldn't help but think of all the elderly people around here that have their diner that they've visited together for years... When I worked at a diner, those stories and traditions were always incredibly touching and you really managed to capture that here.

Technicalities:

Line 2: The comma at the end of this line broke up the thought a bit here for me since the same thought is carried from this line to the next.

Line 3: This could just be me not interpreting this right ...or not thinking of the right definition of wax (I'm taking like... to increase, basically), but I felt like nostalgia might work better than nostalgic. Again, could be me.

In the first two stanza, the fourth line feels like a separate yet connected thought... I wonder if semi-colons might be more appropriate than commas at the end of lines 3 & 7...

Overall Thoughts:
You stuck wonderfully to the giving form! I did not count one misplaced syllable nor did any rhymes feel forced. The flow was pretty smooth except for those little hiccups mentioned above. This was very touching and hit home for me... I love that.

Rating:
I'm going with a 4.5 because I think that a second look here and there could improve this poem, but, really, I think that you could easily push this poem beyond a 5.0 rating. I love it and all the comfort I found within your words.

,
Stephanie Grace

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#3432287

Review of Winter's Colors

Review by Stephanie Grace

In affiliation with SIMPLY POSITIVE GROUP

Rated: E

| (5.0)

Poetry Review 1 of 3 from Jace and "WDC Power Reviewers Holiday Auction" by Maryann

First Thought:
Very.... festive!

(Bah humbug, Sir, Bah Humbug!)

Feelings:
This was actually quite relaxing to read and I wished it hadn't ended!

Visuals:
This was definitely the strongest aspect of this poem. Not only did you do a beautiful job of capturing the given image, but I could easily envision the scene without the image. As an added moment of joy, this also brought up a different memory for me of the Christmas tree a few years back (Okay, like 12 years...) where the red were bows tied to it... It was a simple tree... Until the kittens knocked it over one night.

Technicalities:

This is so incredibly superficial, but "growing" text kind of made me twitch.

It really gave a feeling, to me, like the last would be a predominant feature and really have a "bam" to it, but I don't think that truly happened; It all worked together...

Overall Thoughts:
You stuck wonderfully to the form and your word choice was superb! The imagery really took me and, even with my great fear/hate of birds, I loved this!

You really captured the moment beautifully. It was simple to understand and flowed smoothly... I love it!

Rating:
Hmm.... If you'd chosen the image, I'd give you a 1.0 just because I hate birds, but I give you a 5.0 because I think you handled the prompts perfectly and, for me, brought up a happier image, so I love it.

,
Stephanie Grace

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#3432120

Review of Idyll

Review by Stephanie Grace

In affiliation with SIMPLY POSITIVE GROUP

Rated: E

| (5.0)

Poetry Review 3 of 3 from 🌕 HuntersMoon and "WDC Power Reviewers Holiday Auction" by Maryann

First Thought:
I live in a place where diners tend to play a significant role in just about everyone's life, so I felt right at home reading this poem! (Just about everyone I know, at some point, had their diner that visited with certain people on a weekly basis... Apparently, we're big on dinners here. LOL... Explains why there are so many around here too!).

Feelings:
Not only could I easily understand the feelings relayed throughout this poem, but I found myself smiling as it stirred up some of my own emotions. The reflective tone really made it come to life and hit home for me.

Visuals:
You did a wonderful job of setting up the scene but not being so direct as to make this one specific place. Readers can easily be brought to their favorite diner while reading and your words will fit nicely no matter which diner they choose. I love that!

Technicalities:

I did not notice any typos nor did any suggestions pop into my head.

Overall Thoughts:
This poem is incredibly charming and I really felt at home reading it. You stuck wonderfully to the form (Thank you, again, for adding an explanation of it). Everything was simple to follow and understand and the flow was smooth from beginning to end without any rhymes feeling forced.

Rating:
I can't think of one reason to give this any lower than a 5.0 rating. This is just...wonderful! I love it!

,
Stephanie Grace

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#3432104

Review of Betrayal

Review by Stephanie Grace

In affiliation with SIMPLY POSITIVE GROUP

Rated: E

| (5.0)

Poetry Review 2 of 3 from 🌕 HuntersMoon and "WDC Power Reviewers Holiday Auction" by Maryann

First Thought:
I think that, with this poem, you took the old "Save our Earth" message and truly made it your own.

Feelings:
The first stanza of this poem had me smiling and feeling relaxed... then that changed and I could feel fear and mourning in your words. Wonderfully done, my dear!

Visuals:
While the picture present in this item naturally caught my eye, I think that the description and imagery in the poem was even stronger. It represented the photograph quite well, but also felt darker and... creepier to me which really took the image in my mind to a whole new level.

Technicalities:
I did not notice any typos nor did any suggestions pop into my head.

Overall Thoughts:
Thank you for including a description of the form (I really didn't feel like having to look it up right now...)! You stuck very well to the form and I didn't count one stray syllable nor feel that any of the rhymes were forced. Combine all that with the strong imagery and wonderful message and you get...

Rating:
I have no choice. This took me away and said a message that I have heard over and over in such a new and enchanting way that I would lose sleep if I didn't click 5.0! I really loved this poem, dear!

,
Stephanie Grace

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#3432096

Review of Christmas Haiku

Review by Stephanie Grace

In affiliation with SIMPLY POSITIVE GROUP

Rated: E

| (4.5)

Poetry Review 1 of 3 from 🌕 HuntersMoon and "WDC Power Reviewers Holiday Auction" by Maryann

First Thought:
I think this is adorable ...and very easy to relate to!

Feelings:
Not only could I feel the love behind the words, but also the pride with which it was received. You captured a moment in time that is definitely gone too fast. The innocence and beauty of such a present is definitely clear in your words.

Visuals:
Well, of course the picture makes it even easier, but I could easily see the present from your description as well.

Technicalities:

Since this is not about nature, I think that you're better off calling it a Senryu.

Overall Thoughts:
Your word choice is great and I love how this not only stirred my feelings, but also kicked up a few forgotten memories. You stuck wonderfully to the 5-7-5 count and really captured the whole essence of receiving the gift.

Rating:
I'm going with a 4.5 because I felt like the ending could be stronger somehow... I'm not sure how, with my brain, it could just be the "a" being present which tends to feel like a filler in such small, syllable-based poems.

In all honesty, though, I loved this... it almost made me like Christmas for a second there!

,
Stephanie Grace

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#3431196

Review of They're all like that

Review by Stephanie Grace

In affiliation with SIMPLY POSITIVE GROUP

Rated: E

| (5.0)

Review 3 of 3 from kiyasama and "A&C Auction Rnd 5 CLOSED" [E]!

First Thought:
I'm not a car person either, though I love mine... This poem, though, just felt real. I mean, yeah, it's not quite praise, but it doesn't show too much of your dislike.

Feelings:
This had me nodding and smiling all the through, though I could detect a bit of suspicion/mistrust toward the cat.

Visuals:
Through great descriptions and simple imagery, it was simple to see everything in my mind's eye.

Technicalities:
The flow was smooth and the dash of rhymes gave this a good rhythm. Everything was simple to follow and understand. The only thing that kind of caught me off-guard was in lines 2/3. The comma at the end of line two made it feel like line 3 would be furthering the same description (of the coat), but it doesn't... Maybe replace it with "and"? Oh! And, at the end, there are two periods, I think you may have meant to put three...

Overall Thoughts:
I thoroughly enjoyed this poem! It's lighthearted and gave me a good laugh at the end! It's also incredibly true, which is always nice.

Rating:
Sure, those two little things distracted me, but I'm still going with a 5.0. (I didn't think anything could make me laugh with the mood I'm in, so that alone says A LOT to me!).

,
Stephanie Grace

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#3431187

Review of Soulful

Review by Stephanie Grace

In affiliation with SIMPLY POSITIVE GROUP

Rated: E

| (4.5)

Review 2 of 3 from kiyasama and "A&C Auction Rnd 5 CLOSED" [E]!

First Thought:
This is definitely a very soul-baring poem!

Feelings:
It was simple to understand the feelings throughout this poem as my own were stirred. Thank you for letting me experience the ending again... It's been a while since I've been there.

Visuals:
I think the main visual aspect came from memories that were stirred which I really love in a poem.

Technicalities:
The free verse form worked well with your words to keep everything simple to follow and understand. The flow was fairly smooth, though I did detect a few small {i]hiccups in the flow. These could just be me, but they did give me pause, so I wonder if there are better alternatives...
Stanza 1: facade fortress
This is probably just be me, but this phrase really caught me up. Maybe I'm thinking of different definitions, but this just didn't fully work for me...
Stanza 1: Indolent to
This was another phrase that caught me up as I don't think that I've ever seen indolent used in this way (i.e. with "to")...
Stanza 2: Lines 1 and 2
The first two lines of this stanza are an incomplete thought. While the idea is clear, the thought is incomplete. Again, it could be just me, but my brain kept going to Outwardly,/there is/ a degree... Internally:/ suffocation...
Stanza 4: Lines 1 and 2
There was a shock in the change here, maybe just reverse these lines to smooth out the transition of feeling?
Stanza 5; Line 5: Until...
While this word is very appropriate to the situation, the presence of yet in the preceding line really gave it a much a different feel for me; it truly could change the meaning of this line. My first thought is ending the stanza at the preceding line and then, replacing "until" with "when" and combining that to the final stanza. Or "Then".???

Overall Thoughts:
I really enjoyed this poem and how revealing it is. It tells a complete story and is loaded with well-relayed emotion! Wonderful job!

Rating:
I'm going with a 4.5 because I think that a few more minutes of attention could really allow this poem bloom into its full potential, but...really, just a few minutes, like three.

,
Stephanie Grace

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#3431186

Review of Soulful

Review by Stephanie Grace

Rated: E

| (4.5)

Review 2 of 3 from kiyasama and "A&C Auction Rnd 5 CLOSED" [E]!

First Thought:
This is definitely a very soul-baring poem!

Feelings:
It was simple to understand the feelings throughout this poem as my own were stirred. Thank you for letting me experience the ending again... It's been a while since I've been there.

Visuals:
I think the main visual aspect came from memories that were stirred which I really love in a poem.

Technicalities:
The free verse form worked well with your words to keep everything simple to follow and understand. The flow was fairly smooth, though I did detect a few small {i]hiccups in the flow. These could just be me, but they did give me pause, so I wonder if there are better alternatives...
Stanza 1: facade fortress
This is probably just be me, but this phrase really caught me up. Maybe I'm thinking of different definitions, but this just didn't fully work for me...
Stanza 1: Indolent to
This was another phrase that caught me up as I don't think that I've ever seen indolent used in this way (i.e. with "to")...
Stanza 2: Lines 1 and 2
The first two lines of this stanza are an incomplete thought. While the idea is clear, the thought is incomplete. Again, it could be just me, but my brain kept going to Outwardly,/there is/ a degree... Internally:/ suffocation...
Stanza 4: Lines 1 and 2
There was a shock in the change here, maybe just reverse these lines to smooth out the transition of feeling?
Stanza 5; Line 5: Until...
While this word is very appropriate to the situation, the presence of yet in the preceding line really gave it a much a different feel for me; it truly could change the meaning of this line. My first thought is ending the stanza at the preceding line and then, replacing "until" with "when" and combining that to the final stanza. Or "Then".???

Overall Thoughts:
I really enjoyed this poem and how revealing it is. It tells a complete story and is loaded with well-relayed emotion! Wonderful job!

Rating:
I'm going with a 4.5 because I think that a few more minutes of attention could really allow this poem bloom into its full potential, but...really, just a few minutes, like three.

,
Stephanie Grace

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#3430752

Review of The Last Snowflake

Review by Stephanie Grace

In affiliation with SIMPLY POSITIVE GROUP

Rated: E

| (4.5)

Congrats on being featured in the "Simply Positive Review Forum " !

First Thought:
I found this to be very relaxing and it left me reflecting ...which I love!

Feelings:
I went through everything from happiness to contentment to excitement to sadness and back around again while reading this.

Visuals:
The imagery truly felt like the backbone of this piece to me. I could see it all coming to life before my eyes as I read!

Technicalities:
Everything was simple to follow and understand, however, there were two little places where I felt a minor hiccup in the flow:
Third Portion, Fifth Line: swaying....breeze is added detail, so my brain automatically thought there should be a comma before and after this phrase.
Sixth Portion, Fourth Line: like...snowflakes Same as above, but the comma after the phrase is there, just not the one before.
The only other thing that I could think to mention here is the final line... It's an incomplete sentence which, I know, doesn't quite matter with prose, but I think that connecting it more to the preceding line (i.e, just removing the period) would really add more power to it and make the thought feel more complete... Could just be me, of course... Many things are...

Overall Thoughts:
While reading this, I really felt like I was just watching it and I love nothing more than watching the snow fall through my window. To add to that, Cherry Blossom Trees are my favorite, so this was truly heavenly for me to experience and I thank you for that. It is very well-written and creative and I just love how it came to life. Wonderful!

Rating:
I'm going with a 4.5 because of those little nit-picky things I mentioned, but, really, I absolutely love this and would love to see it in print with illustrations!!!

,
Stephanie Grace

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#3428896

Review of My Own Tongue

Review by Stephanie Grace

In affiliation with SIMPLY POSITIVE GROUP

Rated: E

| (5.0)

Review 2 of 2 from kiyasama and "A&C Auction Rnd 5 CLOSED" [E]!

First Thought:
This is a very strong piece!

Feelings:
I could easily detect the strength behind your words; that declaration of want and that you will take what you want really caught my attention. Perhaps it is meant to be more mournful, but I didn't get that... I got the strength.

Visuals:
This is not an incredibly visual poem, but it did bring some images to the forefront of my mind. Of course, the lack of true imagery is NOT a bad thing... This poem is just more vocal than visual and I actually really loved that aspect of this poem.

Technicalities:
Everything was simple to follow and understand and the flow was smooth from beginning to end. Of course, my brain wants punctuation throughout since there's a comma in the first line, but the flow is not so bumpy that it truly calls out for it. The only real suggestion that popped into my head would be italicize ({i} and {/i}) the letters when they are meant to be read as themselves. This, of course, could just be me.

Overall Thoughts:
I really loved this poem. It's power and strength really captivated me. It is a wonderful tribute to not only your native language, but also to your culture and YOU. Beautiful job... What more can I say?

Rating:
This left me feeling empowered and strong and I could feel your pride in every line. The ending was truly wonderful... Really, how could I sleep tonight if I didn't click 5.0 for the rating?

,
Stephanie Grace

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#3428891

Review of Caffeine

Review by Stephanie Grace

In affiliation with SIMPLY POSITIVE GROUP

Rated: E

| (4.0)

Review 1 of 2 from kiyasama and "A&C Auction Rnd 5 CLOSED" [E]!

First Thought:
Take out the boiling and you have my love, my Diet Coke!

Feelings:
This is a great dedication to your favorite drink. Not only did this make me think of my mother and her constant coffee-drinking, but I could easily understand how you feel toward the drink... and, even better, I was able to experience drinking it through your words.

Visuals:
This definitely stirred up plenty of images in my mind. I could easily envision the liquid from your descriptions, but the memories that came to mind made it even more special. This definitely came to life as I read.

Technicalities:
You stuck well to the 5-7-5 syllable count and the flow was fairly smooth, though I did feel like it could have been a little smoother. Everything was simple to follow and understand, though, so there was no major hindrance. The third line was where I first stumbled... it felt like a bit of a jolt as it expresses a different aspect of the drink from the first two lines. Also, I know that punctuation is a matter of personal preference, but I really think that it could make the flow even smoother throughout this poem...

Overall Thoughts:
I really enjoyed this poem. Your word choice is very good and this is well-written. I think that you got it all across wonderfully and I thank you for the experience!

Rating:
I'm going with a 4.0 because of the feeling that the flow could be smoother, but I really enjoyed every second of reading this poem! I think that you could easily push this beyond 5 stars!

,
Stephanie Grace

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#3428622

Review of To Scrabble For Words.

Review by Stephanie Grace

In affiliation with SIMPLY POSITIVE GROUP

Rated: E

| (5.0)

Review 1 of 3 from kiyasama and "A&C Auction Rnd 5 CLOSED" [E]!

Title, Description, Etc:
The title, description, rating, and chosen genres all fit this poem perfectly.

Form & Flow:
The abcb rhyme scheme worked very well with your words to keep everything moving along without any rhymes feeling forced. The varying syllable counts was noticed, but it didn't seemed to hinder the flow for me (which kind of surprised me since that can really create bumps sometimes). Everything was simple to follow and understand.

Emotion & Imagery:
Everything was simple to envision which kept me smiling (Thanksgiving this year, my nephew said he could beat me at Scrabble... he didn't realize what he was getting into. LOL. His sister tried to warn him...). Aside from the happy memories that this brought up, your words alone had me smiling with their lighthearted feel.

Suggestions:
The only thing that I noticed was the comma at the end of Line 3; it didn't feel necessary to me.

Overall Thoughts:
I LOVE the creativity throughout this poem. You really gave Scrabble a whole new life and your message was really astounding. I never thought of it that way before and it left me reflecting --and definitely agreeing. The whole poem is very well-written and the ending just really blew me away... What more can I really say?

,
Stephanie Grace

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