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Addressing the Soup: For Constance

I'm addressing the Poetry Soup community, not with divine words, for none of us come close to being righteous. Hurting the feelings of poets who have suffered a loss is an act of self-righteousness. Never would I try to stifle someone's poetic art The words and phrases from their every thought Most often their lines come from within the heart So, it would be cruel to say things to tear it apart. We fill pages writing about the change of seasons Love that was lost without the knowledge of reasons We honor flowers and holidays and our precious pets calling poems that honor them dumb; my ire it begets. I don't consider myself the stuff of nothing... not ever Nor do I find such insulting phrases to be clever. God has given gifts to poets to be put to good use One who writes insensitively is wrought with abuse

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Andrea Dietrich

Date: 11/15/2024 8:43:00 PM

I heard that you had written this poem. So sweet of you, Lin. That's a winner list I don't care to try for.

thriveni c mysore

Date: 11/6/2024 8:13:00 PM

I love to write on dumb dead cats, dumb flowers, dumb seasons, dumb living/dead birds, dumb trees. This world is in great danger without these dumb things living/half-living/divine/half-divine/dead/half - dead/stone-dead. Dear poet your write 'Addressing the Soup: For Constance' raises a serious question who is called a poet?

Lin Lane
Date: 11/7/2024 6:44:00 AM

And what would your answer be to your question, thriveni? Is there a definition that would suit everyone? Of course there is not, so what gives anyone the right to say a poem about a lost pet is not poetry? There's no dumb poetry, only dumb people who would say such a thing.

Terry Flood

Date: 11/6/2024 5:08:00 PM

Nice one, Lin. You inspired me to write ‘So This, My Cat’ a sonnet (as per the offending contest)… not the best sonnet ever written but hey, I don’t do sonnets ;-) actually, I confess to having written an entry for that very contest before your poem inspired me to actually read all the rules. Hmm… not entering that but, I will perhaps still post it.

Lin Lane
Date: 11/7/2024 6:42:00 AM

I've read your wonderful Sonnet, Terry and it's beautifully written. I'm honored to have inspired you to write something so expressive for Constance. Thank you.

Daniel Henry Rodgers

Date: 11/6/2024 4:27:00 AM

Oh, Dear Lin, and yes, our sweet Constance and the loss that she is grieving. I am so sorry that Constance dealt with such insensitivity, absolute meanness, and heartlessness. Yes, our God wants us to be loving, caring, motivating, and just a person of character. I pray the TPS intervenes and resolves this. Thank you for being such a good friend to her. All my love and hugs goes out to you and her. Autumn Blessings, My Dear Friend, Daniel

Lin Lane
Date: 11/7/2024 6:40:00 AM

Thanks for your thoughtful comments, Daniel. Nothing has been done by TPS to correct the issue. It continues that some people get away with hurtful comments.

Beryl Edmonds

Date: 11/6/2024 1:46:00 AM

Well said Lin, the sponsor has upset so many already, to remove the contest would be wise… Beryl

Lin Lane
Date: 11/6/2024 1:55:00 AM

Should be and it was suggested by a few but it remains. Thanks for your added thoughts, Beryl.

Michael Tor

Date: 11/5/2024 5:10:00 PM

Thank you Lin for expressing what everyone knows and the elephant in the room. This takes hate speech to another level. It's one thing to argue about a view but to ridicule or degrade what someone holds dear to their heart is cruel and unusual punishment. It is a form of bullying. It is a selfish and an uncaring act that only a narcissist can commit. To malign someone when they are suffering is the worst or close to worst a human being can be. I do not know who did this but if your reading this

Michael Tor
Date: 11/6/2024 4:52:00 AM

Yes Lin it is meant to the individual who wrote crude stipulations in their contest that hurt Constance feelings. This is the individual I am singling out. The administration I have been supportive of for many years but I am shocked that nothing has been done about this situation Lin. Will send you soup Mail.

Lin Lane
Date: 11/6/2024 1:53:00 AM

Michael, I'd like to make it clear that your message below mine is meant for the person who is responsible for having written crude stipulations in their contest rules, and not for me. It's been brought to the attention of admin and they've done nothing to remove it. No surprise there.

Michael Tor
Date: 11/5/2024 5:13:00 PM

Please get help. Your behavior is sickening. I can only associate it with a troubled mind. Someone who was abused all their life and is venting out against the world. Seek help its not too late, it might change your life for the good...

Abdullah Alhemaidy

Date: 11/5/2024 12:24:00 PM

Bravo!

Lin Lane
Date: 11/5/2024 12:30:00 PM

Thank you kindly, AA.

David Kavanagh

Date: 11/5/2024 10:47:00 AM

I agree with Lise below, a little boycott usually starves these people of the attention they crave, yesterday I wrote a poem about a photon, I mean it barely adds up to nothing, how dumb can you get? you have shown great support for Constance here Lin, I’m sure she will be delighted with the feedback too, cheers David

Lin Lane
Date: 11/5/2024 12:14:00 PM

Scientific knowledge is not dumb, David. I learned something I'd not previously known. Constance has supported many poets here over the years, including me in a time when I needed friends. That kind of support for each other should be the norm, and never should any of us be made to feel that any subject we write about is trite, and worthless. It's a matter of respect that we should show fellow poets.

Constance La France

Date: 11/5/2024 10:34:00 AM

Lin, thanks for doing this poem on my behalf and that of my beautiful 'dead' cat. It is well done. That person's contest is the most hateful contest I have ever seen on PS. Several people including me are reporting that person, hoping to get it removed. Not sure if that will happen, probably not, but if not it will be interesting who is on the winning list, those people I will not have much respect for, Constance

Lin Lane
Date: 11/5/2024 12:17:00 PM

Constance, you're so very welcome. I'm sure most of us have lost a beloved pet, and the pain in heartbreaking. I'd expect nothing to be done by admin, but let it play out and please know that you're a special poet to many here.

Lise Clendening

Date: 11/5/2024 8:45:00 AM

The best way to put out a fire is not to give it oxygen. Be kind, be kind, be kind!

Lin Lane
Date: 11/5/2024 9:05:00 AM

Smothering one is quicker.

Tania Kitchin

Date: 11/5/2024 6:45:00 AM

Lin, a great poem and message. I hope those who are making such hurtful, insensitive, and rude statements by comments or contest sponsors, realize that it is not welcomed on PS. We are all here to support each other. A fav for me.

Lin Lane
Date: 11/5/2024 9:08:00 AM

That’s the way the site should work. Making a remark like that was sure to be read by Constance who supports contest sponsors. Not this one. Thanks for adding your thoughts, Tania.

Chris Green

Date: 11/5/2024 6:30:00 AM

You know, why can't everyone just be nice to each other? It seems like such a simple thing to do. I read the comment below and guess what, not everyone wins contests and maybe favorites are played at times...who cares? It's just poetry and we poets showing off our art. Not everyone likes everything they see or read. I do not know what your poem is referencing in particular but, being mean has no place on a poetry site or any for that matter. If you don't like something, move on. Just be nice!!

Lin Lane
Date: 11/5/2024 6:43:00 AM

Hi, Chris. It IS a simple thing to do for people who care about the feelings of others. You see it as I do, if you don't like the way contests are run, don't enter. Check your soup mail, please, and thanks for commenting.

John Lawless

Date: 11/5/2024 6:27:00 AM

the ART of poetry is to write, to use our keyboard brushes to create, to enshrine, to humor, to weep ... openly...to seek solace in the catharsis of poetic release in verse.

Lin Lane
Date: 11/5/2024 6:40:00 AM

You are exactly right on all accounts, John. For someone to say they wouldn't dare stifle a poet and then do just that with exceptions, cruel ones at that, is abusive to me.

Tom Cunningham

Date: 11/5/2024 6:19:00 AM

Wow, had to look for myself, there are some heartless ******** on this earth. You can't get any more insensitive than that. I too have lost a pet so I know how Constance is feeling right now. This needs to be POTD, so a FAVE from me.

Lin Lane
Date: 11/5/2024 6:27:00 AM

I agree with you calling that person "some heartless ********." Whatever that was, Tom I'm sure it was earned. Thanks for your kind thoughts for Constance and for the fave.

Jan Allison

Date: 11/5/2024 6:11:00 AM

Well written Lin, I'm absolutely appalled someone can be so publicly insensitive especially following Constance's loss, and try to curb people from writing on such subjects as the death of a much loved pet. Perhaps soup admin can deal with issue as it has caused such upset and it just isn't acceptable on so many levels-( hugs jan xx

Lin Lane
Date: 11/5/2024 6:25:00 AM

Thanks, Jan but it's much more likely that I'll be the one they reprimand for writing this one... suvate'... so be it. Why anyone would write something so callously inconsiderate is beyond my understanding.

Di11y Da11y

Date: 11/5/2024 6:10:00 AM

It's definitely not the right thing for someone to have done but I hope that TPS will address it. I had a little look and it looks like it might be a backlash to NAs in contests. I think people assume when they see the same names in winners lists that the outcomes are predetermined rather than those people have spent months or years honing their skills to place in contests. Whilst it's not something that can be tolerated they may need compassion if they feel that strongly about PS contests.

Lin Lane
Date: 11/5/2024 6:21:00 AM

I will always show compassion for one who shows it to others. Those words were inappropriate and hurtful. If the feeling of showing favoritism was the incentive, it will be interesting to see how the judging of that contest goes. People who often win contests deserve it because of the reasons you gave. I'll not be entering that one. Thanks for your thoughts, Dilly.