35 Comments
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Marcia Abboud's avatar

Heartbreaking 💔 You bring the sorrow to life, dear Harry, and the hope too 🤍

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Ann Marie Steele's avatar

I love hearing this read!

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H. R. Sinclair's avatar

Thank you Ann!!!

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Mark Armstrong's avatar

One of the most moving poems I've ever read. Thank you for sharing, and please keep going another day, and another, and another. 👍🙏

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H. R. Sinclair's avatar

Mark, I appreciate you so much. Thank you for hearing my words and holding space for me. 💛

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H. R. Sinclair's avatar

💛 💛

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Just Kayla's avatar

❤️ This was beautiful spoken. I'm glad to be touched by it.

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H. R. Sinclair's avatar

Thank you J! I’m glad to have put it out there.

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Debdutta Pal's avatar

I do not deserve this, but that's not going to stop me from experiencing it again. ♾️

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H. R. Sinclair's avatar

The rules preemptively break themselves for Deb

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Lawrence Elliott's avatar

A modest suggestion for the last line: I spoke today a wish the boy goes another day.

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Lawrence Elliott's avatar

A modest suggestion for the last line: I spoke today a wish the boy goes another day.

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H. R. Sinclair's avatar

Oooo I like that, that is a profound ending line.

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Lawrence Elliott's avatar

Another option might be to just get rid of that hanging last line, as I feel you have already expressed that sentiment and concern just prior. I think the last hanging line is forced and sort of attaches an unnecessary hope, not quite a Hallmark ending, but moves in that direction. The poem is so powerful, and if you are suggesting you are looking at yourself, then that seems equally unnecessary. Just my thoughts, you're the writer, but I've done edits for novels and poems, only to offer another point of view.

Oh, you say "hand" in the sand, might you want "hands" instead? I think it reads better. Yours, Lawrence

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Edward Swafford's avatar

I think this would’ve been a more appropriate quip for DM’s, perhaps?

He has me to look over his work. Can you write and formulate like I can?

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Lawrence Elliott's avatar

I'm new, and you are right, my comments should have been sent as a dm, but I didn’t know how to do that.

I'm not sure I know what you mean by “Can you write and formulate like I can?” If my comments were presumptive or out of line, I apologize. I didn't mean I wanted to become an editor of his poems. I only meant that I've provided feedback or edits to many writers in the writer’s groups I've been a part of. Perhaps I might have said it more clearly. I always appreciate feedback that includes suggestions on how I might rephrase something or might delete something. Again, if I offended you or the author, mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa.

My best,

Lawrence

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BJ Dawson's avatar

Beautiful, poignant, and sad. I'm glad you spoke to him.

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H. R. Sinclair's avatar

Thank you, BJ. Me too.

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Jozef Cain's avatar

Dope! I love this. Spoken word is one of my favourite things in the world. And a really powerful poem, Hazza. Keep on, keepin' on. One Love.

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H. R. Sinclair's avatar

I’ve always loved spoken word but I really need to get better at it. I want more emotion in the way I say it. As soon as there’s a camera on I’m a monotone robot 😂

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E.R. Davis's avatar

Video!!! What an awesome treat and such a wonderful poem!

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H. R. Sinclair's avatar

Thank you angel E!!! 💛

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Lawrence Elliott's avatar

If a genre of the poetry of suicide existed, Sinclair's voice clearly rises and resonates with what is often said when someone dies too young from taking their own life.

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Edward Swafford's avatar

Harry is the voice of a generation.

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Lawrence Elliott's avatar

So true, he is a linchpin today to the Romantic poets' past.

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H. R. Sinclair's avatar

Stop it you two you’re gonna make me blush. Thank you Lawrence and Ed for such kindness! 💛

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Lawrence Elliott's avatar

Blushing is a good catalyst for insights, enjoy the praise, as deep down that's what all of us muse hope for. 💜

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Luna's avatar

Your rhythmic poem immediately drew me. I am left knowing I need to read more.

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H. R. Sinclair's avatar

Thank you Luna! I’ll make sure there is more coming, then :D 💛

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Shayne Buchwald-Nickoles's avatar

beautiful. heartbreaking

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H. R. Sinclair's avatar

Thank you Shayne! 💛

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Jill Eng's avatar

Absolutely powerful. The writing but also the reading resonates each sentence I could feel the emotion. Bravo!

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H. R. Sinclair's avatar

Thank you, Jill. I appreciate you always 💛

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Edward Swafford's avatar

A consummate professional in every sense. This poem (and your follow-up in Part II) is stellarrrrrrrrrrr.

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H. R. Sinclair's avatar

Big love brother ❤️

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