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Is Your Reader a Foe Or a Friend

Do the thoughts of those who knew you well when you were young and full of life concern you now much farther down this road of struggles, pain and strife? Do they know your mind, the grit and grind that molded you like clay? Or look upon you as if nothing's changed since childhood yesterday? Do some words you write make them feel uptight igniting hidden feelings, Flowing unexpectedly, sending heads and minds through space and time, a 'reeling? All because you opened up some measure of truth dejour' Straight from the mind of the child who climbed tall trees by the old seashore. Where the summer breeze blew, and you once knew every shell on the sun-bleached sands where family and friends all gathered back then before life was all scheduled and planned. Back in the day when it was play, play, play cowboys and Indians for fun, Or King of the Hill and don't ever kill those dreams 'till the day you are done. Do they tease you at all or make you feel small for the poems you've personally penned (with a wink and a prayer from the Artist upstairs), is your reader a foe or a friend?

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I Am Anaya

Date: 7/30/2022 7:20:00 PM

Hi Terrall Martin, another sad truth, one wonders what they may think now. You are not alone in this. At times I wish to go back to the playful times in my youth, so much easier. Enjoyed this great piece! ~Anaya

Terrell Martin
Date: 7/30/2022 7:49:00 PM

Anaya, THANK YOU SO MUCH for your kind words of encouragement and understanding. Nice to know a fellow poet who "Gets it" in terms of how others may view our poetry (or prose). Thanks again my new-found poetic friend. Cheers, Terry (Or Terrell):

Jenna Logan

Date: 7/30/2022 2:31:00 AM

I wonder why some people view poetry in a negative light. Jealousy, perhaps? To be able to write with the ability you have is a gift, and it shouldn't matter what anyone thinks of it... except for you. If anyone chastises a poet's work, it's because he/she doesn't understand it, or is jealous. There should be no foes.

Terrell Martin
Date: 7/30/2022 5:16:00 PM

Jenna, I can't tell you how much that means to me...much more than you know. I'm reading a book called "Fearless Writing" by William Kenower, who talks about having the courage to write - regardless of what others may think or say. Guess I'm still a work in progress! PS: I think I saw YOUR picture next to the word "Gift or gifted" in Webster's Dictionary):

Jim Slaughter

Date: 7/29/2022 11:34:00 AM

Excellent piece, Terrell. With prose it's easy enough, I think, to separate the work from the writer. But poetry is usually too personal to do that so easily. I would say your readers fall more into the "friend" category.

Terrell Martin
Date: 7/30/2022 5:19:00 PM

Thanks ever so much Jim. I surely hope so but can't help but think that there will always be critics out there. But "Sa la Vi - Such is life" and the show (writing, that is) must go on!