[Critique Group 2] Today's session and six years of critiquing

[James Rock]

Dear friends of Group-2,

If you are reading this email, I am finally getting my new computer
system today. Yes, after 52 days of decreased capabilities, it is
finally happening. I truly regret not being able to attend todays
session. I have enclosed my critiques so I can at least be there in a
small way. It has been an incredible learning experience to be part of
this group for the last six years. I have tried to send my critiques
both as  an attachment and in the body of this email. I sincerely look
forward to our next session in August.
Warm regards, Brad
***
7-28-22.Critiques for Group-2

1. Val’s 7-26 replacement piece:

A piece about a formerly highly valued relationship which has
profoundly soured. The relationship was with another female: friend,
mentor mind/heart connection with whom much was shared. The poet
doesn’t seem to understand why this person has abandoned the
relationship and her. A starkly rendered poem of uncomprehending loss.
Unfortunately the longer we live the more likely we are to have such
occur in our lives.

2. Leonard’s piece:

This piece works at multiple levels. It tells of a flourishing garden
which is maintained with love and work. It serves to provide
sustenance for an array of living things. There is the realization
that in spite of efforts to preserve it, there is an inevitable
sharing which sustains both its natural denizens and the gardener
himself. It tells of a special world of nourishment and harmony.

3. Alice’s piece:

A poem that paints a picture of a family historical saga using
acrostic structure. It is a very fitting piece for July 4th. It is a
story of hardship and triumph. “Did they take an enormous chance?” I
would say that they certainly did! However such is often necessary to
realize a dream and reap great blessings. Two questions: was
“braveness” used instead of “bravery” for the rhythm of two syllables
instead of three? Also, where in northern Italy is the Levone Valley?

4. Joan’s piece:

Crows are often seen as birds of ill-omen. This nicely constructed
piece composed of seven, four line stanzas with an AB-AB rhyme scheme
takes up this idea. They make a raucous cawing as a hawk stoops upon
its prey. The rapidity of same is both surprising and alarming. Is it
crow nestlings or something else that the hawk reaps? The instance of
ill-omen is that of the prey not of the hawk. This depicts one of
those things in nature that is difficult to easily accept. Just one
question: what does “wethers” mean?