Jilly and I both won the Orange Challenge! And I must confess that the prize did incite me to try. Second Place went to Birdie, and Pris and Jack earned Honorable Mentions. Jenni and Jack selected the winners, and Didi will be posting reviews of the poems on Friday. I expect the review to mention the brilliance of rhyming mustache and heartache.
And, Watermark was reviewed last week by The Weblog Review. Unexpectedly, one of these reviewers, Arthur, provided what is basically my first poetry review:
When I first read the title I thought to myself, “Well, that’s just great. I think I’d rather be stabbed in the eye with a fork than read somebody else’s poetry.”
With such a terrific beginning, I hope I would have liked the review no matter what he said. This is what he said:
Sharon Brogan’s work redeems all of the tacky, cliché, and downright boring poetry that I have been exposed to. Her poetry is honest and refreshing; it takes us to a place where we have all been, but frequently forget about . . . All of these aspects of her life can be seen as themes throughout her poetry; themes that are at the same time universal to everyone and personal to Sharon . . .
The poetry is at the same time simple and complex, full of pining and contentment, searching for the past and living in the present. Sharon writes with a sensual style, that makes her images easy to see and feel. She often writes about a desire to return to the comforts of nature, a lover’s arms, and childhood. Her ability to write about these things in a way that we can all relate to, makes her poetry accessible to even the most novice of readers.
. . . Sharon’s poetry, along with her blog, is an attempt to capture that single moment in time that “arises, still clear and bright, white against a blue sky.” (Pelicans feeding in the Slate River…)
. . . Her writing and poetry take us all to a place we long to visit and return to.
It is wonderful to have a sympathetic reader. Watermark itself also fared well with him, but not so well with the second reviewer. I will write about this another time.
Later -- Slipped through a brain hole: Anni chose my Snapshot 08 December to add to Poet's Corner at fieraLingue. It has been an encouraging month for this poet.
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congrats sb! your poetry *is* good, ya know...;~))
Posted by: jenett | 21 December 2004 at 02:21 PM
Congratulations to you and Jilly. Well done!
Posted by: Jack | 21 December 2004 at 02:59 PM
Congratulations - especially for the great review! Your poetry IS all that, of course. I also think that if they give out awards for "most colorful sidebar" you should probably win.
Posted by: Dave | 21 December 2004 at 05:37 PM
Alright Sharon !!! You deserved it . Keep it up and Poetry Magazine will publishing your poems.
Posted by: Cathy | 21 December 2004 at 05:58 PM
Congratulations on your poetry prize!
Posted by: Robin | 21 December 2004 at 07:02 PM
Congrats! Your poem is beautiful.
Posted by: Birdie | 21 December 2004 at 10:20 PM
Congratulations SB. I've "known" you such a little while, but so appreciate the gift of words you freely share. May i also add my wish for the sweetest of blessings to fall upon your hearth and home this Christmas and the coming new year.
Posted by: Anne | 22 December 2004 at 10:37 AM
Congrats to you too! And have a happy holiday new year etc etc and stuff. :)
Posted by: Jilly | 22 December 2004 at 02:09 PM