Comment from Alan K Pease

Exceptional

From many poems of yours I have found that you can put light into darkness by drawing out the despair and replace it with a story of quintessential style. Aliteration remarkable, melancholy is your present muse's appearance, but strength in detail. Sorry that you are ill.

 Comment Written 12-Mar-2014

---

reply by the author on 15-Mar-2014

Thanks, Alan, I appreciate the sentiments, and your awesome review.

Comment from Dorothy Farrell

Excellent

A very good entry for the Mirror contest entry. Extremely well written. Line 3, stanza 3 - pain's tears singular, or pains' tears if plural. Some very good alliteration - 'flirtatious, frivolous fancy' - 'fate foretold' - very well told but surely fictitious - 'a leering monstrosity' - surely not - but it makes good reading. Good Luck in the contest. Regards Dorothy

 Comment Written 12-Mar-2014

---

reply by the author on 15-Mar-2014

Thanks, Dorothy. I really appreciate that. It lost miserably, but it sure was fun to write!

Comment from Lovinia

Excellent

Hi Dean

Well altogether too scary. I thought it was bad when I looked in the mirror ..... in day light!! lol

I can hear Richard Burton laud these words in fine dark foul brew of fetid breath. What flavours of Poe as I wend my way through the deepest dark of melancholy ... indeed I too have seen this vision in the gilded framed image of my once favourite mirror. Alas and alack the mirror broke in my move here, along with my other favourite once ..... a dab sign ... or a good omen??? I've just been given another encased in gemstones of amethyst. Perhaps the view will be different in this one ... I have yet to hang it.

Certainly an Ode to the man with a whole lot of black soul .... I'm having visions of zombies and voodoo dolls. Bouts of madness, melancholy and despair to the greatest depths of the macabre .... know it well. Brilliant in execution, extremely intense to read. Seems I have come with no six left. Superb, oh so dark. Hugs - Lovinia xoxox

 Comment Written 12-Mar-2014

---

reply by the author on 12-Mar-2014

Thanks for the awesome and highly entertaining review, Lovinia. That was superb! When someone gives me an insightful and thought provoking response to something I've written that is as deep in thought and emotion as this is, that is reward enough for me, my friend. Sixes? P -s-s-s-s-s-s-saw! Who needs 'em!

Thanks again, I'm sincerely grateful.

Comment from Joan E.

Excellent

Thank you for sharing your process and resulting poem. I admired your intriguing title and your use of alliteration throughout the poem, plus the mesmerizing presentation. Your alternating rhymes in these quatrains are quite effective, along with your images like "pupils," "sentry," "cancer" and "waves". Best wishes in the contest. Cheers- Joan

 Comment Written 12-Mar-2014

---

reply by the author on 12-Mar-2014

Thank you, Joan E. I'm very glad that you liked this one!

Comment from Glasstruth

Excellent

Hey! Is Poe a favorite of yours? The mirror can be deceiving since our eyes see what the mind wants to. This has much to do about evil and fear. Enjoyed the excellent rhyming whish is unforced. Well done! Les

 Comment Written 12-Mar-2014

---

reply by the author on 12-Mar-2014

Poe? A favorite of mine? How'd you ever guess, Les? (LOL)

Thanks, I appreciate the kind comments.

Comment from IndianaIrish

Excellent

I really enjoyed the Poe-ish style in your poem, Dean, and especially the feelings of evil and fear that lurk between the lines. This is a wonderful poem for the mirror contest.
Smiles,
Indy : )

 Comment Written 12-Mar-2014

---

reply by the author on 12-Mar-2014

Thank you, Indy. I appreciate that. Congrats on winning the 100 word dash on the "first kiss" prompt. Good work!

reply by IndianaIrish on 12-Mar-2014

Thanks, Dean ... You're so kind. I'm so pleased people enjoyed it enough to vote for it. No matter how many times that happens, it still surprises me and makes me feel so good!
: )

reply by the author on 12-Mar-2014

;}
I know what you mean.

Comment from LoannaLois

Excellent

Sometimes when you read something...several times, in this case, you cannot comprehend the gift given that person. To be able to write that...you were surely gifted. That 5 is really a 10

 Comment Written 12-Mar-2014

---

reply by the author on 12-Mar-2014

Thank you very much, L.Lois. I appreciate that, sincerely.

Comment from MagKing

Excellent

A fine poem from you indeed without doubt!
You did well with the piece!
I can see the rhyme scheme:
The first rhyming with the third and likewise the second with the fourth, in each and every stanza in the piece.
Lovely done!

MagKing

 Comment Written 11-Mar-2014

---

reply by the author on 11-Mar-2014

Thanks, MagKing. I'm really glad you liked it my friend!

Comment from pipersfancy

Excellent

I've always had a vague mistrust of mirrors, Dean. Your poem has done nothing to alleviate my fears! I think you captured something of Poe's style here - the language used is appropriate to the subject and that ominous undercurrent of other-worldly danger is felt throughout. (BOO! YIKES!) I also like your rhymes - I think they work well! One point of technicality to consider, when using direct quotations, you need only the quotation marks OR the italics... it's incorrect to use both!

Good luck with this entry in the contest! It's a good one!

Christina

 Comment Written 11-Mar-2014

---

reply by the author on 11-Mar-2014

Thanks, Pipe, I appreciate the awesome review. The contest has ended, and I tied with Maureen for third place. Still, it was fun to participate.

Thanks for the info on the italics, as well. I will fix that right away.

Comment from Janet Foor

Excellent

Yikes! "O' apocryphal apparition", I cried, "converse no more!"
This is a clever take on the mirror poem. I loved it, unique and quite quintessential.
Well done and good luck in the contest.

 Comment Written 11-Mar-2014

---

reply by the author on 11-Mar-2014

Thanks for that glowing review, Jmf4119, and for the good luck wishes. I appreciate that.

The contest is over, and it got slammed. But, oh well. At least it was fun.

Thanks again, an check the voting booth for the results...if you're interested.