It takes more than that to snap this trigger. Besides, your queen would prefer a paradelle to a pummeling, whereas I find them about the same.

I’ll say it one more time, please listen. It does seem a tad short, but you’d not like the outcome of a longer version.

Again, I wonder why you spend so much time on these comments. Your points could have been stated with 10% of the words, or I’m missing something. Yes, I will take your suggestion of using characters sometimes to say the unsupportable stuff. Yes, I tell more and show less than most readers like, and maybe I’ll decide someday to conform to their wishes. Yes, I state my personal views in some of my poems. Btw, I like poems that contain real feelings that strike chords of resonance within me. And yes, that is an unsupportable attitude.

Many people do good works because they feel obligated – by religion, ethics, return of favors, etc. Goodness of heart is a quality that breeds good works from within the person’s nature. Senses are sharpened to understand pain in others because of this quality .

Senses do not usually sharpen with age. Her senses were sharpened, I believe, because her good heart needed perception of pain in others to fulfill its desires, somewhat like a blind person sharpens her sense of hearing.

So do I, and it looks painful when I see those contorted hands at work.

Thank you.

He doesn't sound so, but of course you know.

Your characterization of me is childishly thought out. How do you know that the "I" in any of my poems is me talking, self-rightously as you accuse? I wrote a poem recently (maybe I'll post it) called My Wife, which tells of her insensitivity to a man's needs. As a married may, you may find my manly views either ace or dim, maybe self righteous. In another poem I said that I think heaven is a good expectation. You miss the point of the show-verses-tell arguement that keeps repeating here on Poemranker. A poem written in the first person often states a position, but not necessarily that of the poet. You tell me to put any views that I do not personally hold into the mouth of a "character." What if I do, and what if I don't? As near as I see, this simplistic evaluation of my work is all thay you have said. In case you're wondering, I write a silly poem once in a while because it's fun.

Some poets write their first-person only as views they truly hold. Over time, they instill in their readers a picture of themselves which can become quite accurate. Sometimes I wish for that, but not often. I could be a dog, a democrat, myself, or a self-rightous prude. Everyone is self-righteous.

This is a strange comment, because of where you posted it. Dan has his mailboxes, why don’t you use them? You probably refer his Hollywood Shoeshine Boy, and your interpretation is too simplistic.

Knowing your usual subtlety, I look for other meanings. Dan has posted far fewer poems in the last few months than I have, so your comment, “writes loads of poems,” must refer to me. You could have said so. I accept that I have not learned much and therefore often find it easy to finish a poem and move on to the next one. I think I have improved through the process.

Thank you, and please feel as free as zodiac to speak directly. No, I take that back.