WHY CORRESPOND? - Tom Woody's Blog

I wrote once before on the importance of engaging other poets; sharing comments, faves and so forth. It appears that the issue is getting worse, not better. Why is this a problem that needs discussed again? Poetry Soup is an international poetry site with many active poets, not simply a poetry repository. Without lively correspondence, this site may increasingly become a place where small cliques interact only with one another or worse, a poem dumping ground (sadly, at least some already see it as such and dump freely without ever interacting with other poets). While some have defended the right to poem dump then run, I think we can do better. Here are some ideas. First, consider expanding your circle. Be on the lookout especially for names you've seen frequently but have yet to engage. Also, check the new poets list regularly to welcome and encourage new poets. Some may not respond or reciprocate, but you will have done your part. Contest sponsors, why not leave an encouraging comment on every poem that places? Fellow contestants can likewise leave an encouraging comment on each others' entries. There are so many opportunities to engage one another. Why not consider this: each time you post a poem make it your goal to immediately comment on two or three poems before signing off? One poetry site actually requires that a poster do so. There are some here who are really good at spending the time to encourage others. Let's make it our goal to imitate their fine example and make Poetry Soup a fun place where everyone (or as many as possible) feels encouraged. Tommy PS. One additional thought. When you do receive a comment on your poem, why not thank the commenter? After all, correspondence is a two-way street full of fun, twisty curves. PSS. Oh, and I've unblocked anyone I had previously blocked. A peace gesture. :)

Jacqueline Elston Date: 6/1/2025 1:43:00 AM I'v been thinking about your question Tom for a while. l think there maybe three reasons it happens, ie health, emotional and time. l love reading poetry, and wish l could comment on every single ones posted on PS. To me, every single one is worthy of some feedback. To me ,all poets write from the heart. whether good or bad grammar, they pour their hearts out. Sadly some judge bad grammar, or feel the structure is not good etc, so wont want to compliment the 'feelings' surrounding the poem. It's happened to me and it hurts . But l realise, they dont know my health circumstances. No 2, l see a lot of very emotional pain in todays poetry ... Login to Reply Tom Woody Date: 6/1/2025 9:50:00 AM That's the spirit! Jacqueline Elston Date: 6/1/2025 6:11:00 AM You are right Tom, l could have wrote 6 comments this morning. Actually l did...l wrote comments to 4 poems (as well as reply to your blog ) this morning, and got 1 reply, as well as your own, which is perfectly fine by me. l do know what you mean, we all need encouragement, but l think not all can reply or engage and that's ok with me too. Tom Woody Date: 6/1/2025 4:39:00 AM In the time it took you to write this wonderful comment you could have written brief comments on half a dozen poems. This blog was written to encourage those who would like more engagement. Even if it's just a few poems a day your words of encouragement may just make someone's day, and that makes it worth the effort Jacqueline Elston Date: 6/1/2025 2:17:00 AM . l agree, engaging with other poets is wonderful, but l think we are now living in a time that is rapidly changing for all, and that included PS. l think we cant change it, only accept it. What do other's think ? Jacqueline Elston Date: 6/1/2025 1:57:00 AM ..some poems l can see were so painful for the poet to write, that l just cant find the right words to respond. When l do , l know they may not be able to respond back. No 3.Time. l have loads of time, i'm bedbound , but l cant write or read 90% of the time. But the world is not me. It goes faster that its ever done in History, People cant stop to smell the roses. They want want to, but its now impossible for some. So l guess, its the time we live in...

Tom Woody Date: 5/22/2025 10:27:00 AM Just for the record: I'll never apologize (yes, I've seen some of the off-blog comments) for suggesting ways we can make PS a friendlier, more accommodating site for all, especially newbies. Not today, not tomorrow, not ever. This blog is for those who want more engagement and a better sense of community. As for the minority who don't, that's a free will choice. Everyone have a great weekend! Login to Reply

Zyrool Gifford Date: 5/22/2025 2:39:00 AM Hello Tom, this is a brilliant piece. I always wondered why people don’t reply to my comments. I think maybe they didn’t like it, so not wanting to continue upsetting them I read their work and don’t comment. Those who do comment on my work, if I received a notification I reply. If I didn’t reply, my sincere apologies. Login to Reply Tom Woody Date: 5/22/2025 5:08:00 AM It's all about reaching out and engaging one another. Making PS a real community. Thx Zyrool

Quoth Theraven Date: 5/21/2025 9:04:00 PM Tom, You're overlooking one of the most important aspects of posting to PoetrySoup. Simply put, your works are instantly copyrighted. A friend of mine said she used to have to mail a paper copy to herself and let it remain in the envelope, unopened. The postmark protected the authenticity and creation date upon the chance anyone ever sought to plagiarize from some other published or unpublished media. We've come along way since then. -Richard Login to Reply Tom Woody Date: 5/22/2025 5:11:00 AM This is an amateur poetry site but if some feel comforted by a nominal copyright I have no problem with that, though it certainly won't prevent plagiarists from stealing your work anyway as many here, including myself, have already experienced. This blog was written for those who would like more engagement but just need a little prodding

Tom Woody Date: 5/21/2025 6:34:00 AM For those who feel comments and accolades are irrelevant and that writing is in itself its own reward let me just ask this: why post publicly? No, I think there's nothing more lonely for a poet than to write his/her heart out, post publicly, then get zero or little recognition for their hard work and effort. From the time we are very young, we crave commendation. We thrive on it. It's both natural and normal. Login to Reply Mark Massey Date: 5/21/2025 4:31:00 PM It’s interesting that you drew that conclusion from my comments. Thanks. Tom Woody Date: 5/21/2025 4:23:00 PM I read you loud and clear Mark, ie, you don't want commendation or recognition. I've supported you in the past but per your request I will cease. Wishing you all the best... Mark Massey Date: 5/21/2025 4:20:00 PM Tom, the world has always been callous and indifferent, no more now than the past. As you know I study war and humanity has not changed in eons. If sincere commendation or validation by a person is sought from strangers on a website, then something else is missing in their life. If you are pitying those that don’t find it here, don’t waste your time, most are not seeking it here. And, PS makes the perfect cloud to store stuff… whether it’s validated by members or not. Tom Woody Date: 5/21/2025 3:37:00 PM I think we're talking apples and oranges. But in any case, I agree that not everyone feels the same, nor should they. What I am saying is there is a growing coldness in the world, a callousness, an indifference. I for one choose to be a resistor of such a negative trend, even it it means I'm preaching to the deaf. I genuinely pity those who never experience the joy of sincere commendation in their lifetime, whatever their endeavors Mark Massey Date: 5/21/2025 3:29:00 PM I hear you Tom, but not everyone feels the same way. Not all crave the commendations of which you speak. It’s like feeding birds. When I do, I expect nothing in return from them and do so only to observe their beauty. They expect nothing more…nor do I.

James Marshall Goff Date: 5/21/2025 2:37:00 AM Time has shown me some poets reach out with a comment after posting a new poem 'specially when they (speaking for myself!) know a particular poet always returns to comment on your most recent work, I even know their response most likely to my poems, I know a few of you below actually what you're gonna say before you do, always makes me smile! Thank you I love it! Login to Reply Tom Woody Date: 5/21/2025 5:31:00 AM Hey Jimbo I know you used to be more active than of late. When I see one of your new posts in the new poems column I make it my goal to get over there and offer something of value. Thanks for your input

Connie Pachecho Date: 5/20/2025 9:34:00 PM Not every paper airplane can be a model airplane. Some are just folds of paper that enjoy streaming the living room and being noncommital. That's their blue skies so I don't look down at them at all. I applaud the comments, and would rather accentuate the good side of PS instead of dwelling on the storm clouds. Login to Reply Tom Woody Date: 5/21/2025 5:29:00 AM Pretending the sky is blue when it's grey won't make it any bluer. I'm of the opinion that the vast majority of poets who post their poetry publicly do so to get a measure of recognition. Let's be honest, we love it when we see that little green tag at the top of the page alerting us that someone has visited our work and left a comment. This blog is encouraging all to do more to correspond. And what Andrea said below applies, this is social media. The back and forth is what makes it tick

Charlotte Puddifoot Date: 5/20/2025 1:14:00 PM no doubt people do what they can..many of us are living with physical and mental illnesses, and struggling with difficult life circumstances..by the time i've battled doctors, social services and councils i've little mental energy left for anything else, some days i can focus on what i'm reading, some days i can't, but i do at least try to return comments if i receive them, though not always immediately..the 'poem dumping' we've spoken about before, idk why people do it, it just pushes everyone else down and off the list very quickly (maybe that's the idea)..i think the least a contest sponsor can do is comment on their winners, it's just basic good manners Login to Reply Tom Woody Date: 5/20/2025 1:31:00 PM Thanks for contributing and yes there are some with special circumstances. What gets me are those who post endless poems but seem to have little time to encourage others.

Keith D Trestrail Date: 5/20/2025 3:36:00 AM I too have unblocked my haters in an act of solidarity with you. A weight has been lifted, I feel so…so…so…actually I feel nothing but my hope is that people cease with condescending clichéd cut and paste comments. If you can’t be genuine then don’t comment at all, otherwise it’s all just puffery. Login to Reply Rob Carmack Date: 5/20/2025 6:26:00 PM Too many connections with too little time this life, praying I wake on the right side of the next. Keith D Trestrail Date: 5/20/2025 4:29:00 PM Maybe you’re not plugging it in right or maybe you need a new connection? Rob Carmack Date: 5/20/2025 4:00:00 PM That's what she said. Keith D Trestrail Date: 5/20/2025 3:41:00 PM Rob, after all these years I’m amazed your mic still works. Tom Woody Date: 5/20/2025 1:56:00 PM @ Rob. Whatever makes ya feel better Rob Carmack Date: 5/20/2025 1:52:00 PM I didn't have anyone on block, but I added a few and then took them off block so as to be a part of this! *mic drop* Tom Woody Date: 5/20/2025 12:21:00 PM Reads like a Timothy Leary moment ;) Keith D Trestrail Date: 5/20/2025 5:58:00 AM Then there’s the mutual admiration societies and the groupthink groupies in their hot air balloons. Sorry, had a Joe Biden moment. Tom Woody Date: 5/20/2025 5:37:00 AM There's all kinds of comments. Some like to quote line after line making for a rather lengthy comment but in the end not really saying much. Others leave a standard "lovely poem" and then hightail it. I try to be genuine (which gets me in trouble at times). Main gist: just interact folks. Enjoy the ride

Unseeking Seeker Date: 5/19/2025 8:20:00 PM To simplify, let us say, we can at least post a comment on poems we genuinely like or where we wish to offer words of solace, if so drawn. It would be hypocritical to simply copy-paste niceties merely as social etiquette. Also, we each probably only read poems either related to topics of our interest or penned by poems who we follow. Login to Reply Tom Woody Date: 5/20/2025 5:34:00 AM With the new ones I'll usually make a brief comment then welcome them to PS. On the other hand, I'm not one to simply leave a "lovely poem" comment. Sometimes I use humor. I'm just me

Quoth Theraven Date: 5/19/2025 5:57:00 PM Tom, This one isn't easy for me. As you pointed out, this issue comes up every now and then. For my part, I'm just as guilty as anyone. I'm sorry for this. I don't know why, but sometimes the words just don't come. Even for wonderful poets with pen and hearts of gold I've come to know over the years. So many talented people on PoetrySoup, from a variety of cultures, each with gifted poems. Each with their own story to tell. Some that leave a mark; an enduring impression. Makes me wonder at the lives others have lived. They all deserve better. One thing I want to add, lucky for all of us there's also a "Fav Poem" button. I just checked the ones I've left, all 74 pages of them. -Richard Login to Reply Tom Woody Date: 5/19/2025 6:01:00 PM I know you've been around a long time. I've seen you make some comments but we all could do better. As for faves, I really only fave a poem that hits me hard. I don't ever want to get into a tit for tat fave thing like used to occur with the rating system. As a result I don't get a lot of faves, which is fine

Victor Buhagiar Date: 5/19/2025 1:05:00 PM What should one do when I comment on some poets who never reply? Or write to a newbie who does not return a comment? Login to Reply Tom Woody Date: 5/19/2025 1:25:00 PM I know it happens to me all the time. I try to give them the benefit of a doubt but after a while I weary of one way relationships and I'll let them go

Kim Rodrigues Date: 5/19/2025 12:53:00 PM Thank you, Tom! I try to go at commenting from different angles…sometimes all current poems, new, POTD, Community list, people who comment on mine, contest results, Poems of poets I follow, occasionally friend builder, contest results…so many ways and do comment on at least the winner list when running a contest. Too bad there’s not a way to see who everyone is after the contest is over. Login to Reply Tom Woody Date: 5/19/2025 1:04:00 PM I see you everywhere Kim. Hopefully the ones needing a little prodding will read this blog

Andrea Dietrich Date: 5/19/2025 11:25:00 AM I sure wish I had your time to do all this, Tommy. Are you retired? I have met many newbies this year. Thankfully I found them thru contest winner lists or from them reaching out to me and commenting. I said it before and I will say it again. You have to read other poets in order to get read yourself. Newbies who get this are the smart ones who gain success here or anywhere else . Login to Reply Andrea Dietrich Date: 5/19/2025 11:42:00 PM Thanks. You do so well catching newbies. Tom Woody Date: 5/19/2025 11:56:00 AM You have a fine reputation for correspondence Andrea. I see you around

Beryl Edmonds Date: 5/19/2025 11:13:00 AM Thank you Tom, taking your advice on board… Beryl Login to Reply Tom Woody Date: 5/19/2025 11:56:00 AM Me too Beryl