Get Your Premium Membership

A Gentle Nudge is not a Critique - Suzette Richards's Blog

About Suzette Richards
(Show Details...)
Bloggers Photo

Mission statement: I don’t use AI to generate or even tweak my poetry, because I am a better poet than it.

 

Poetry has been my passion since my retirement from an accountancy based career a dozen years ago. I currently live in South Africa and this rainbow nation has inspired many of my poems. I also have British nationality and embrace their grammar and spelling, but I read widely and am not fazed by strict grammar rules: A pavement/sidewalk; glasses/eyeglasses; judgement/judgment, et cetera; they are one and the same to me when I read poetry. To date, I have self-published a number of books, including the poetry anthology by international poets, © Time, 2014 ISBN 978-0-620-60578-6, and have been cited in many international publications, both poetry journals, as well as in scholarly handbooks. Some of my short stories have been published in international electronic publications, and one of my novellas had been short-listed for an Afrikaans SA publication.

I serve on the Board of Advisers, of Taleemi Baithak.

I have a number (14 to date) poetic forms to my credit, notably, Suzette Prime, 2012 (listed here on PoetrySoup under Types of Poems), as well as The Tesla 3-6-9, 2017, and Suzcrostic, 2021 (listed under New Poetic Forms here on PoetrySoup), Suzette sonnet (Suznet), 2023 - introduced via an article here at PoetrySoup, as well as the brand new Suzette Swan Arc, 3  April 2025. These all resist AI imitation.

My most recent books which include examples of my poetry as well as notes regarding poetry - available directly from me:

  1. © The Eutony of Words, 2018 ISBN 978-0-6399382-0-2
  2. © Docendo discimus, 2021 (Revised 2023) ISBN 978-0-620-95432-7
  3. © Flight of Thoughts, 2023 ISBN 978-0-6397-8880-7
  4. © Downtown - Poetic Devices, 2023 ISBN 978-0-7961-1968-1
  5.  © Rocking Poetry, 2033 ISBN 978-0-7961-2824-9
  6. NEW: moonwake - Suzette Prime poetry, ISBN 978-1-0370-1836-7(PDF). It is a collection of 61 Suzette Prime poetry spanning from 2012 (when I designed the poetic form), up till now.

A Gentle Nudge is not a Critique

Blog Posted:7/13/2025 3:17:00 AM

A gentle nudge is not a critique; it’s an invitation to join the conversation.

We poets know the thrill of the first draft—that delicate dance of impulse and imagination, typos and truth. But what happens after we hit ‘submit’? Sometimes, silence. Sometimes, applause. And occasionally, someone offers us a nudge.

Not a rebuke. Not a rewrite. Just… a tap on the creative shoulder.

Too often, nudges are mistaken for criticism. But what if we saw them instead as signs of life in this poetic ecosystem? A nudge says: I read you. I heard you. I wondered what would happen if…

It’s an invitation to engage, not defend. To reflect, not recoil. To grow together, not in isolation.

Whether it’s a comment suggesting a fresh line break or a contest prompt that dares us to write with one eye closed and the other teary, it’s all part of the magic. Nudging builds bridges between our minds. And in a time when many voices echo but few truly connect, that bridge is sacred.

So next time you receive a nudge—thank it. Or better yet, pass one along. Who knows what poetic wonder you’ll inspire?

Let’s keep the dialogue going. Imperfect. Authentic. Alive.

Happy quills!

Su



Please Login to post a comment
Date: 7/13/2025 11:39:00 AM
Thank you
Login to Reply
Date: 7/13/2025 8:50:00 AM
Suzette,I am forever grateful to Debbie Guzzi for the 'polite nudge' she gave me ( circa 2011) to move on from 'short forms' to longer poetry which resulted in me developing my own individual 'open' organic style in 2012.Cheers Debbie.
Login to Reply
Date: 7/13/2025 8:31:00 AM
You are asking highly emotional people to be civilized...I wish it could be so "fragile the heart that is insecure"...
Login to Reply
Date: 7/13/2025 8:21:00 AM
What a wonderful blog. I have often had poet friends point things out to me and I'm so grateful because I want to hone my craft. Usually they are typos. I have this system on my phone where I can quickly get words out by connecting letters. My fingers fly...I don't click each one so, typos are a plenty!! Content is another matter... we can either take the suggestion or leave the work as is. The important thing is dialogue and learning. You have such s way with words, dear. LOVED how you wrote this blog. Wish I had that gift of choosing the right word for the right thought! :)
Login to Reply
Manassian Avatar
Eileen Manassian
Date: 7/13/2025 8:21:00 AM
You can nudge me anytime!!!! :)
Date: 7/13/2025 7:31:00 AM
Encouraging blog, Su. Let the nudging begin!
Login to Reply

My Past Blog Posts

 
A Gentle Nudge is not a Critique
Date Posted: 7/13/2025 3:17:00 AM
Tonal Slippage – The Ins and Outs
Date Posted: 6/30/2025 4:45:00 AM
THE AI-BRAIN SYNDROME SYMPTOMS
Date Posted: 6/26/2025 3:09:00 AM
JUDGING GUIDE FOR SPONSORS
Date Posted: 6/20/2025 1:10:00 AM
Suzette Swan Arc - Contest Finale
Date Posted: 6/14/2025 12:12:00 AM
Suzette Swan Arc and AI with Examples
Date Posted: 5/25/2025 6:00:00 AM
Lost in Translation
Date Posted: 5/21/2025 3:17:00 AM
Elements of Nature - Suzette Swan Arc Poetry
Date Posted: 5/14/2025 11:20:00 PM
Klein’s Vase Verse - A New Poetic Form Freer than Free Verse
Date Posted: 5/7/2025 12:54:00 PM
Free Verse – How Free is It?
Date Posted: 4/26/2025 11:37:00 PM
Gender Influences on Contests
Date Posted: 4/20/2025 2:54:00 AM
Memento on the Moon
Date Posted: 4/9/2025 12:26:00 AM
Tariffs on Penguins Limerick
Date Posted: 4/4/2025 7:02:00 AM
Light or Shadows
Date Posted: 3/25/2025 1:55:00 PM
Blood Moon Eclipse - Light or Shadows
Date Posted: 3/11/2025 12:46:00 AM
A Timely Intervention
Date Posted: 3/2/2025 12:42:00 PM
On a more serious note
Date Posted: 2/23/2025 5:40:00 AM
Weekend Wacky Limericks
Date Posted: 2/22/2025 3:34:00 AM
Saints and poets maybe – The Bride Trilogy challenge
Date Posted: 2/14/2025 12:37:00 AM
Saints and poets maybe
Date Posted: 2/9/2025 4:24:00 AM
According to the poem’s meter is stressed
Date Posted: 1/25/2025 9:53:00 PM
Poison - an analogy
Date Posted: 1/12/2025 11:08:00 PM
Be Happy and Merry
Date Posted: 12/21/2024 9:45:00 PM
Which is worse - AI or Plagiarism?
Date Posted: 12/8/2024 11:13:00 PM
Bring in the Clowns
Date Posted: 12/2/2024 12:04:00 AM

My Recent Poems

Date PostedPoemTitleFormCategories
7/12/2025 Echoes of Poets Lyricloss,poems,poetry,poets,
7/11/2025 This Limerickhumorous,
7/8/2025 Lament for Lost Voices Elegyloss,poets,
7/8/2025 Lost Light Verselost,
7/7/2025 Your Face in the Scudding Cloud Trioletemotions,
7/3/2025 Fit In Free versechange,
7/2/2025 Chiaroscuro Otherappreciation,
6/28/2025 Kicking over the Traces Otherpoetess,
6/23/2025 An AI Walks into a Poetry Contest Villanelleparody,
6/21/2025 Morning Coffee Prose Poetrysatire,
6/18/2025 Crwth Englynmusic,
6/15/2025 Limerick - My Nemesis Limerickhumorous,introspection,
6/14/2025 The Duality of Fatherhood Otheranalogy,father,
6/8/2025 Seaborne Longing Otheranalogy,grief,
6/6/2025 Indispersed Echoes Otheranalogy,nature,
6/4/2025 Suzette' s Swan Otheranalogy,bird,nature,
5/26/2025 weeding the herb garden - dadaku Haikunature,
5/26/2025 flower petals - dadaku Haikuanalogy,nature,
5/24/2025 In the Autumn of Life Otheranalogy,
5/19/2025 Excire Otherintrospection,
5/17/2025 Fire Othernature,
5/16/2025 Air Othernature,
5/15/2025 Earth Othernature,
5/14/2025 Water Othernature,
5/7/2025 Liquescent Marmoris Otherfamily,introspection,
5/7/2025 No Way Out Otherintrospection,surreal,
5/3/2025 Starlight Eyes Otheranalogy,introspection,per
4/30/2025 Purple - An Analogy for Deception Suzette Primeanalogy,
4/27/2025 Cultural Mores Mirror Free verseintrospection,
4/23/2025 Oenomel Free verseanalogy,childhood,mother,
4/17/2025 Left Unspoken Quatrainmom,
3/24/2025 Memento on the Moon Alexandrineanalogy,introspection,
3/11/2025 In a Pickle Free verseanalogy,satire,
3/10/2025 Light and Shadows Suzette Primeanalogy,philosophy,
3/9/2025 Thinking about Aladdin Sane Free verseanalogy,
3/6/2025 raven Haikunature,symbolism,
3/1/2025 Kiss the Ring Free versesatire,
2/26/2025 Giving a Cat a Pill Limerickcat,humorous,
2/22/2025 A Fly on the Wall Free versepolitical,satire,
2/21/2025 A Vine in Winter Free verseanalogy,winter,
2/21/2025 broken blood moon Haikuanalogy,moon,nature,
2/16/2025 The Soldier’s Covenant Prose Poetrybaby,war,
2/13/2025 Undergrowth with Two Figures - Van Gogh Free verseanalogy,
2/11/2025 A Blues Sonnet for Jan Sonnetafrica,conflict,endurance
2/7/2025 The Bride's Dreams Prose Poetrydream,love,
2/7/2025 The Bride Prose Poetryfeelings,flower,sunset,
1/22/2025 The Reluctant Bride Prose Poetrylost love,
1/10/2025 humanity Suzette Primephilosophy,science,
12/22/2024 A Woman's Longing Otherlonging,love,water,woman,
12/19/2024 Where Tides once Gossiped Sonnetemotions,imagery,inspirat
12/14/2024 Dandelion Suns to Moons Sonnetflower,life,metaphor,natu
12/2/2024 Aging rocks Crystallineage,
11/27/2024 Divine Madness Sonnetreligion,
11/26/2024 fierce sun Tankaintrospection,nature,summ
11/15/2024 The Event Horizon Verselife,memory,
11/11/2024 Less is More Crystallinephilosophy,
11/9/2024 Jolted by Twilight Suzette Primenature,
11/5/2024 as long as - Monokunature,
10/31/2024 Burning Love Letters Free verselost love,nostalgia,
10/23/2024 yellow light Haikuanimal,spring,
10/21/2024 twilight silence Tankanature,
10/20/2024 Swans Pleiadesbird,
10/18/2024 wAlls In dAlI Ekphrasisart,philosophy,
10/15/2024 Here we go again Limericksatire,
10/15/2024 Haunted Cemetery Rhymehalloween,humorous,
10/12/2024 My Truths Verseliterature,myth,relations
10/10/2024 BALLAD OF ELEANOR RIGBY Balladmusic,
10/8/2024 Life is a garden Suzette Primeanalogy,birth,death,flowe
10/2/2024 Avarice Enclosed Rhymeanalogy,
9/28/2024 Stranded in Peace Quatrainnature,
9/26/2024 Insidious AI Concreteintegrity,poems,poetry,po
9/13/2024 Pie-in-the-sky Versesatire,
9/3/2024 The Scent of Words in the Air Shapeinspiration,poetry,
8/15/2024 The Co-dependent Pantoumaddiction,
7/25/2024 a loveliness Senryulanguage,nature,
7/10/2024 Mother said --- Versehumorous,mother,
7/8/2024 The Earth from a Distance Sonnetnostalgia,
7/5/2024 Lingering Dusk Free verseallegory,analogy,flower,n
6/14/2024 A Child of Light Otherdaughter,
6/5/2024 Cave canem Suzette Primefear,
5/31/2024 Layers of Life Enclosed Rhymelife,remember,
5/13/2024 Love Lauded in Song Free verseromance,
5/13/2024 The Truth in Time Sonnethorse,mythology,
5/9/2024 Silence of the Sea Otherpeace,
5/6/2024 Love Sonnetlove,pain,
4/6/2024 From Purgatory to Paradise Haibunafrica,nature,
2/23/2024 The Last Leaf Tankaautumn,feelings,friend,im
2/20/2024 To everything there is a season Otherlife,nature,seasons,
1/29/2024 On a Thesaurus Diet Suzette Primeanalogy,nature,philosophy
1/23/2024 The Wind Teased Sijoloss,
11/3/2023 Moonwake Suzette Primemetaphor,nature,philosoph
10/16/2023 The Rocking Chair of Memories Suzette Primeanalogy,memory,metaphor,p
9/10/2023 The Dilatory Thought Verseintrospection,
8/25/2023 Through the Keyhole Iambic Pentameterdream,fantasy,
8/8/2023 View From Basement Flat Dramatic Verserelationship,
7/27/2023 When Doves Cry Terzanelleeulogy,
7/26/2023 You Shall Reap What You Sow Ekphrasisart,
7/8/2023 Graceful Lily Sonnetpoetess,
6/21/2023 Thalassophile Alexandrinesea,
6/14/2023 Recombobulating Chaos Free versenature,

My Photos


Fav Poems

PoemTitleFormCategories
The Usurper King Dramatic Monologueidentity,satire,
I To Poisonous Honey Free verselife,
O April Free verseappreciation,april,beauty
Summer Peak Haikusummer,
Prime Crime - Bt Than-Baukdream,horror,
Unsure the Shore Sonnet8th grade,beach,bereaveme
O Charming Rhymehumorous,valentines day,
Hall Pass Sonnetlove,
The Grey Suzette Primeintrospection,
Earth Prayer Verseprayer,
Fiery Events Haikufire,love,
Best In Show Dodoitsuwinter,
The Wait Rhymebody,devotion,truth,
Love In Love With Love Sonnetlove,spiritual,
When the Chemistry Is Gone the History Does Not Matter Free verselove,
Lit By Love Quatrainloss,love,strength,
Floating Shards of Dream Free verseanalogy,lost love,pain,
Rebirth Me Prose Poetryhope,mental illness,
Courtney Mae Or Courting May Sonnetmay,
I Died Sonnetallusion,anger,angst,
Poet's Honeymoon Collaboration With Joanna Daniels Rhymefantasy,imagination,
Ashes - Edvard Munch Ekphrasisart,inspiration,
A woman called house Free versehome,
Bantu Free versepoetry,
Salvations Rests Behind True Faith's Gold Door Sonnetappreciation,art,bible,ch
Debacle Rhymeconfusion,evil,history,
Pearl-Prayer Sijoemotions,heaven,life,long
Stolen Nights Coupletangst,dark,light,morning,
Back Against The Sea Coupletangst,death,introspection
Apollo and Daphne by Bernini A collaboration with Di11y Da11y Ekphrasisart,perspective,
Forgotten Dreams Versedream,
Vanishing Point Free verseangst,anxiety,heartbreak,
I Write of Love Rhymelove,romantic love,
I Write Of Love A Collaboration Lyricdedication,emotions,love,
Amberina Ballerina, Whatever Verseintrospection,
Love Hurts - Bound by Love, Broken by Fate - POTD Balladfate,lost love,rainbow,ro
To Whom Does This Come Haibunanalogy,deep,i am,
Roots and Dandelion Dreams: A Mother's Heart Ekphrasisheart,love,mothers day,na
No Longer Quatrainbetrayal,recovery from,
Misty Blues Quatrainlost love,solitude,
Sea Shore Night Sijonature,sea,
Clover's In the Bottom Right-Hand Corner Doing the Best with What Circumstance Brought Her Ekphrasisart,extended metaphor,
Reason I Believe Free versehow i feel,
Humanity Rhymehumanity,perspective,scie
Undergrowth with Two Figures Ekphrasisart,love,nature,paradise,

Fav Poets

PoetCountry 
James Marshall Goff United States Flag United States Read
Richard Lamoureux Canada Flag Canada Read
Susan Woodrow Fiji Flag Fiji Read
Robert Lindley United States Flag United States Read
Brian Strand United Kingdom Flag United Kingdom Read
Susan Ashley United States Flag United States Read
Andrea Dietrich United States Flag United States Read
Eileen Manassian _Not Listed Flag _Not Listed Read
Christuraj Alex India Flag India Read
Quoth Theraven United States Flag United States Read
Runa Pradhan India Flag India Read
Christopher Flaherty United Kingdom Flag United Kingdom Read
Sara Kendrick United States Flag United States Read
Hilo Poet United States Flag United States Read
Judy Reeves United Kingdom Flag United Kingdom Read
Mark Frank South Africa Flag South Africa Read
Gordon Mcconnell United Kingdom Flag United Kingdom Read
Joanna Daniel India Flag India Read
Frederic Parker United States Flag United States Read
Mark Massey United States Flag United States Read
Timothy Ray United States Flag United States Read
Charlotte Puddifoot United Kingdom Flag United Kingdom Read
Christina Bowring United Kingdom Flag United Kingdom Read
Arlo Parker United States Flag United States Read
A Yorkshire Poet United Kingdom Flag United Kingdom Read
Thomas Lee Rhymes United States Flag United States Read
Sam Kauffman United States Flag United States Read
Linda Alice Fowler United States Flag United States Read
David Crandall United States Flag United States Read
Maria Williams Australia Flag Australia Read
Paige Hind United States Flag United States Read
Ink Empress Maldives Flag Maldives Read

Book: Reflection on the Important Things