Spirit and Integrity - Leon Stacey's Blog

Hola!  I recently received a comment about losing my spirit and integrity because of some of my latest poetry.  Although, a man or woman may love God, it doesn't mean he or she is not confronted, tempted and tried.  It also does not mean that he or she will always triumph.  One's greatest success can come from one's greatest failure.  Poetry Soup is a community where an individual can express his or her on life, the lives of others, or a fictional life.  I think we sometimes forget that artists have imaginations as well as personal experience.  If a man or woman exposes dark secrets or light truths, let us not assume we know anything but their art.  It could be from the past or present.  It could be make believe.  Also, why should an artist have fear that others will think every poem he or she writes is from his or her own personal lives.  Our spirit and integrity will always be tried as long as we remain human.  We have enough trouble each day as it is; let's not add more of it on one another.  We can be candid about each other's work without biting each other.  We can critique each other's poetry without criticizing one another.  I enjoy critiques.  I don't enjoy attacks.  Let every person work through their imaginations or personal experiences and support them as a family and a community of neighbors.  Thank you for your time.