[Roger Slater]

It seems to me that what the poem wants to be about isn't so much the beauty of the landscape, but the task of conveying and preserving that beauty in words. I think the poem wants to be sort of like Wilbur's "An Event," but Wilbur explores the relationship of language and experience, and this poem simply presents us with the poet's predicament in running out of words yet wanting to "sponge" the feeling of beauty with paper (a creative but ungainly image).

I don't mind Stow being in Maine, but I think that saving "Stow" for the last word of the poem puts too much emphasis on the particular place and pulls us away from the poem's focus on searching for words. The poem doesn't seem intended to be a tribute to Stow per se, but the ending makes it seem so.

[John Whitworth]

Well, I've never heard of either place so it's fine by me.

[Toni Seger]

I think it's exquisite. It attempts to capture that inexpressible feeling of awe when you reach a mountain top, after an exhausting climb, and can barely take in the sight, let alone, articulate it.

The poem stays with me, almost hauntingly. It's very visual as well as very charming.

"attempt to sponge the feeling’s sparkling flow
with paper..."

I keep rereading it because it's very enjoyable and it brings me back to that WOW!! moment which is what most hikers say when they reach the top of an awesome summit. BTW, it's also not uncommon for people to think about God at such moments, even if they normally don't.

I also think, it takes a lot courage to try and turn 'WOW!!!!' into a classical terza rima sonnet.

This one accomplishes that with considerable, yet subtle skill.

[Toni Seger]

Sharon, the last word can't be snow. If it were, the purple mountains would have to be white and there wouldn't be any birds. None of which would work. This is clearly a warm weather hike. The choice of a very small town is also deliberate. The opening sentiment embracing nature from the top of a mountain travels down to the tiniest town.

[ross hamilton hill]

Would've been a lot better with fewer Ss, runs out of inspiritation as it progresses.

[Michael Cantor]

This one didn't appeal to me at all. The host of trying-too-hard but uninspired modifiers strangles the poem.

summit’s fingertip
clear blue

teasing gust
starry spaces,
universe undwarfed.

dreamless, purple-mountain faces,
perfect coil

inklings’ freshening cascade,
feeling’s sparkling flow

high reaches

Particularly in a sonnet, where every word counts, these don't. And then, it turns out (I think) to be one more poem about poetry, even if peripherally.

[Martin Rocek]

Yes, I am one of the naysayers. It tries too hard in too conventional ways. Not my favorite.

[Ann Drysdale]

Well, maybe I'm getting the wrong end of this, but it set me smiling and at the end I laughed in delight - Oh, you naughty sonneteer!

"From the Top" is a strange title; made me think "da capo" and set me looking at the poem in the light of "and again" until I see the upper bit as deliberately "over the top", the turn into "how am I to get this down on paper" complete with tinkling inklings, as a dig at those who do, and the couplet (with, for me, an echo of Frost) brings it, literally, down to earth with a knowing grin.

I may regret having written this; if I have misunderstood you, I am sorry - forgive me. But from now until the declaration, I can see it my way, can't I? (smiling as I write).

[Catherine Chandler]

Ann,

I think you've nailed it! There are signs everywhere -- esp. the purple in the purple-mountain faces. And yes, da capo, from the top, as in, "Here we go again!" -- another frilly sonnet !

And the assertion in L9 is too funny: the placement of the turn at L10 and the stanzas (neither Petrarchan, Spenserian nor Shakesperean) sort of "tangled" into terza rima.

Ha Ha, now I get it! Sort of a take on Millay's Renascence, written when she was all of 19 (though it wasn't a sonnet) while looking out from the summit of Mount Battie in Camden, Maine.

[Charlie Southerland]

Simple title, gets right into the poem. I love the lyrical aspects of this. The turn begins with L10, but is a bit murky, I think. Still, the wistful use of language overall is neat. The final couplet really works for the emotional highs and lows it delivers. It is a poem one has to think about a little. Top 5.