Notes About The Poem

Word Tigers

My word tigers I train with chair in hand
and meter's whip. Good syntax I require,
true spelling, decent rhythm - I demand
they jump iambically through hoops of fire.

An excerpt of the sonnet "Taming Tigers"

poetrywordsrhyme

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John Hamilton

September 21, 2020 at 7:37 AM

What an amazing metaphorical write congrats John on a nice win! Jumping Iambically through hoops, what an imagination!

John Watt

September 21, 2020 at 10:31 AM

Thank you, my friend! Had to find a way to work my favorite animal into a poem. Enjoy your day, John

Anisha Dutta

September 20, 2020 at 9:55 PM

EXCELLENT. Enjoyed the stanza. Congrats on your win.

John Watt

September 20, 2020 at 10:37 PM

Thank you, my friend. I'm so glad you enjoyed, and I appreciate you coming by with kind words.

Sigrid Ermine

September 20, 2020 at 9:48 PM

John, oh wow, far out!! Huge Congratulations, this verse is excellent! Very keen to read the Tigers version full. Generally I don't love poems about writing poems, but here you have inserted the analogy, which works one thousand percent. You are definitely whipped thoroughly by those strict tigers on a regular basis...!

John Watt

September 20, 2020 at 10:32 PM

You always give such enthusiastic comments, Sigrid. If I didn't know better I might be fooled into thinking I really know what I'm doing, haha! Seriously, your words are much appreciated, all the more as I admire your writing. Blessings to you Down Under ~ John

Kim Rodrigues

September 20, 2020 at 5:39 PM

Funny how I was going to say oh yes...again...and realized I had said it before such is the magnificence of your Rithimus Divisa! Congratulations, John!

John Watt

September 20, 2020 at 8:53 PM

Rawr!

Elaine George

September 20, 2020 at 3:33 PM

Great enty. Many congrat's on your win, John. ~ Elaine

John Watt

September 20, 2020 at 4:24 PM

Nice to share the winner's list with you today, Elaine. Your poem excerpt of overcoming death is very touching. ~ John

Andrea Dietrich

September 20, 2020 at 2:07 PM

Soooo awesome. Hurrah for your win!

John Watt

September 20, 2020 at 4:23 PM

And for your #1 win as well! Huzzah! Thanks for celebrating with me.

Jeanne Mcgee

September 20, 2020 at 10:41 AM

A master for sure. Congrats John on your fine win.

Sam Kauffman

September 20, 2020 at 9:01 AM

Grrrr-eat!!! This is a reflection of your creativity and mastery of words as a wordsmith my friend! Wonderful metaphor! But I thought we were rooting for the Padres! One win to go. Sunday blessings to you. Congratulations!

John Watt

September 20, 2020 at 4:22 PM

Thanks for the Tony the Tiger reference, Sam! It was nice sharing the winner's list with you today. SO much emotion packed into your 4 lines of Grace. P.S. I have several friends from Michigan so I don't mind rooting for the Tigers also!

Line Gauthier

September 20, 2020 at 4:12 AM

Bravo, John. Congrats on your podium finish with this most deserving excerpt.

John Watt

September 20, 2020 at 4:20 PM

I appreciate your comment today, my friend. Your kind words always mean so much.

Gregory Richard Barden

September 20, 2020 at 2:22 AM

Ha! I smiled when I read this one, and smiled again just now when discovering it was YOURS - great stuff, all the elements that I look for, and the considerations which some just keep ignoring, (though I keep reiterating, lol) ... loved the analogy, the imagery, and the bite of using this gorgeous-yet-fearsome animal as your metaphorical instrument - superb, sir!! Blessings and many thanks for entering, Brother! :o) <3

John Watt

September 20, 2020 at 3:40 PM

Greg thank you from the bottom of my heart for deeming this worthy of a win, and for your really encouraging comment. I was thinking of you as I wrote the original, and how much I admire your precision with words in the meaning, meter, rhyme, and rhythm. Thanks for sponsoring and following up with such generous encouragement. Blessings ~ John

Kim Rodrigues

September 3, 2020 at 12:19 PM

Oh yes! I wrote today of tigers and posted a picture from last week at a Minnesota zoo. Each of your lines are great. Definitely a contender! Roar!

John Watt

September 3, 2020 at 1:10 PM

Thanks for the kind comment and for the new word for a tiger purr, "Rawr"!

Gershon Wolf

August 13, 2020 at 6:54 PM

This is just great, John! You certainly have a knack for making dull grammar alive with excitement! And I'm not lion!! Health and Happiness, Gershon

John Watt

August 13, 2020 at 10:48 PM

Thank you un-lion for your un-roar of affirmation. You certainly know how to tame the savage beast yourself! Grace and Peace ~ John

Jan Allison

August 12, 2020 at 8:18 AM

You made me smile ... sometimes it is so hard to tame the beast John!:-) hugs jan xx

John Watt

August 12, 2020 at 9:07 AM

Oh, you are so right, Jan. Some days harder than others, and some days impossible! Hugs ~ John

Caren Krutsinger

August 12, 2020 at 12:03 AM

You truly do want the best. It is clear. Good luck in Greg's contest John.

John Watt

August 12, 2020 at 9:06 AM

Thanks for the thoughtful comment, my friend. God bless your day ~ John

Arturo Michael

August 11, 2020 at 12:45 PM

Wow...a disciplinarian...sometimes I feel chained by words...in those times I break the rules...I go with the feeling...Nice combination of lines here...

John Watt

August 11, 2020 at 1:18 PM

Thanks for the visit, Arturo. I explore that more in the full poem and realize in some of my writing I lose the feeling by clinging to the technical side. I agree with you, it's got to have heart. Blessings, my friend.

Andrea Dietrich

August 11, 2020 at 11:44 AM

LOVE your chosen four lines, John. I sure hope this is a winner for you! Will Soup you shortly.

John Watt

August 11, 2020 at 1:18 PM

Coming from a fellow tiger tamer, I deeply appreciate your words of encouragement, Andrea.

Jennifer Proxenos

August 11, 2020 at 11:43 AM

Taming the tiger with whip and the requirement for good syntax and good spelling and decent rhyme is an awesome comparison - very clever - masterfully we can attain this, and perhaps jump through hoops of fire. Blessings and hugs, Jennifer

John Watt

August 11, 2020 at 1:19 PM

You have filled my cup with kindness and goodwill today, my friend. Thank you so very much for the reads and lovely comments. Hugs ~ John

Michelle Faulkner

August 11, 2020 at 10:32 AM

Your vivid imagery here is stellar, with a dash of danger thrown in! Sometimes composing is like leaping words through hoops of fire, (love that part) wishing you the best for the contest, John!

John Watt

August 11, 2020 at 10:38 AM

Thank you for the blessing of your wonderful words, Michelle! Your multiple comments have made my day.

Maureen McGreavy Pigeon Tart

August 11, 2020 at 9:43 AM

oh FUN! Good luck in the contest! xomo

John Watt

August 11, 2020 at 10:22 AM

Thank you PT!

Anne-Lise Andresen

August 11, 2020 at 6:53 AM

- No easy task ... it takes patience - Best wishes in the contest, John :) - hugs // Anne-Lise :)

John Watt

August 11, 2020 at 8:11 AM

I know you can relate, dear poetess. Thank you for the lovely comment. Hugs ~ John

Jenna Logan

August 11, 2020 at 4:20 AM

Your comparison between taming a tiger and finding the right words in fantastic. There are times when we can't get them to do what we expect, but when they do, we feel like we've tamed the beast! Well chosen excerpt, John.

John Watt

August 11, 2020 at 7:19 AM

Thank you for the compliment, Jenna. I know what you mean about that great feeling when the words actually do what we hope. Appreciate you and your words ~ John

Word Tigers

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