Heavens Janice. I'm not talking about "niceness". I'm talking about modesty. Caution. Refraining from strident certainty. It's like restoring a painting or practising medicine. Do no harm. I agree that "sincerity is no excuse". I never thought it was. I said that about genuineness to fend off assumptions that I was advocating flattery. I am sometimes accused of that.
I was never at any stage talking about injustice. I've already said so several times. I say it again. No injustice. None. Absolutely not ;-)
John, I too prefer not to tangle with a poem which I don't find rewarding. An exception is if it's a simple metrical hitch in a poem which aims to be simply metrical. I did recently go OTT with an old friend but he knows I respect him and he has often unpicked my favourite samplers. Still...in retrospect, I wish I hadn't.
Pat, you say it so well. Thank you.
Clive, of course we take what we need. I have seen poems revised to death. The poet's fault? Yes and no. I have also seen poems improved out of sight so of course you are right. But so am I;-)
So are we all cried Thumper.
Last edited by Janet Kenny; 05-04-2009 at 06:53 AM.
Reason: I typed poets when I meant poems.
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