Max grows up...
5-Line Poem (2-2-5-7-520 total reviews
Comment from karenina
Love this! From the image chosen to your five lines of humorous surrender of youth, this makes me smile. (Perhaps I'm biased since my youngest grandson's name is Maxwell/ aka Max.)
Here's hoping this does very well in the contest!
Karenina
reply by the author on 05-Jul-2024
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Love this! From the image chosen to your five lines of humorous surrender of youth, this makes me smile. (Perhaps I'm biased since my youngest grandson's name is Maxwell/ aka Max.)
Here's hoping this does very well in the contest!
Karenina
Comment Written 30-Jun-2024
reply by the author on 05-Jul-2024
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Thank you, Karenina! It pleased the judges too apparently - in fact I'm on a bit of a run in the contests lately!
Is your Max a suitable age to appreciate the Wild Things?
Steve
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He is 10 -- but we've read "Wild Things" together more than once!
I've noticed your (well-deserve) contest success! I'm very pleased for you!
Comment from barbara.wilkey
"Where the Wild Things Are" by Maurice Sendak was one of my favorite stories to read to my first graders. They loved that story. I enjoyed reading this contest entry. I want to wish you luck with the contest.
reply by the author on 05-Jul-2024
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"Where the Wild Things Are" by Maurice Sendak was one of my favorite stories to read to my first graders. They loved that story. I enjoyed reading this contest entry. I want to wish you luck with the contest.
Comment Written 30-Jun-2024
reply by the author on 05-Jul-2024
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Thanks, Barbara. I remember reading it to my own boys, one of whom was rather Max-like!
Steve
Comment from jessizero
This was a sad story about growing up, or that's how it sounded to me. I enjoyed your poem very much, and you got the syllable count right. Thank you for sharing, and best wishes to you.
reply by the author on 05-Jul-2024
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This was a sad story about growing up, or that's how it sounded to me. I enjoyed your poem very much, and you got the syllable count right. Thank you for sharing, and best wishes to you.
Comment Written 30-Jun-2024
reply by the author on 05-Jul-2024
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Thanks, Jessi. Yes, that's exactly how it was intended, but with a happy winning ending for me!
Steve
Comment from Marilyn Hamilton
Well, this is just fabulous! I loved it and the final line just makes it perfect! Very imaginative and unique. A great entry for the 5 Line Poem contest. Good luck.
reply by the author on 05-Jul-2024
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Well, this is just fabulous! I loved it and the final line just makes it perfect! Very imaginative and unique. A great entry for the 5 Line Poem contest. Good luck.
Comment Written 30-Jun-2024
reply by the author on 05-Jul-2024
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Thanks, Marilyn.
I was quite pleased with it in terms of the originality. It was just something that leapt out at me after I wrote the first two lines 'Are there no more...'
Judges liked it too!
Steve
Comment from Neonewman
Awe man! Where the wild things grow. That takes me back to better days. This is a great entry for this 5 line poem contest. Best luck in the voting and thank you for sharing, my friend.
God bless,
Steve
reply by the author on 05-Jul-2024
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Awe man! Where the wild things grow. That takes me back to better days. This is a great entry for this 5 line poem contest. Best luck in the voting and thank you for sharing, my friend.
God bless,
Steve
Comment Written 30-Jun-2024
reply by the author on 05-Jul-2024
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Thanks, Steve.
Nostalgia for many reviewers apparently, although some required my note to get the point.
Judges liked it too!
Steve
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Awesome! I'm happy to hear the judges liked it as well.
God bless,
Steve
Comment from Begin Again
Sort of a Peter Pan type of character, not wanting to ever grow up. Though the land of imagination can be a wonderful place except it needs to have it's levels of growth. Quite well done.
Smiles, Carol
reply by the author on 05-Jul-2024
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Sort of a Peter Pan type of character, not wanting to ever grow up. Though the land of imagination can be a wonderful place except it needs to have it's levels of growth. Quite well done.
Smiles, Carol
Comment Written 30-Jun-2024
reply by the author on 05-Jul-2024
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Thanks, Carol.
Yes, the similarity to the theme of Peter Pan struck me as well. Well spotted!
Steve
Comment from juliaSjames
Love your poem about transitioning from childhood. But it's also about the cycle of life isn't it? That discarded wolf suit ( real or imaginary) will be used again as another generation answers the question posed in your write. My grandchildren adored that book.
My sons loved the hairy womble that survived many moves in our peripatetic life until it vanished, possibly back to Wimbledon Common.
It's such fun to unpack the multiple meanings in your writes, Steve.
Good luck in the contest!
Blessings, Julia
reply by the author on 05-Jul-2024
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Love your poem about transitioning from childhood. But it's also about the cycle of life isn't it? That discarded wolf suit ( real or imaginary) will be used again as another generation answers the question posed in your write. My grandchildren adored that book.
My sons loved the hairy womble that survived many moves in our peripatetic life until it vanished, possibly back to Wimbledon Common.
It's such fun to unpack the multiple meanings in your writes, Steve.
Good luck in the contest!
Blessings, Julia
Comment Written 30-Jun-2024
reply by the author on 05-Jul-2024
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Searching for deeper meanings, that's what makes you one of the best reviewers out there! And sometimes, as here, you draw out one that was more in my subconscious than in my rational mind. I had in the forefront the sadness of Max selling the suit, but hadn't rationalised that of course the buyer of the suit would be a new Max.
Hardest thing about teaching poetry to highschoolers - getting them to dig beneath the surface. You have to have both understanding and insight to do that and it's a rare teenager who has one, let alone both!
PS we named our latest and current dog Womble. Many older people get the reference, but I was startled the other day to discover a student who knew all about the Wimbledon Common gang of eco-warriors.
Steve
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Thanks Steve! I appreciate your comments. And way to go Womble! Always remember you?re a womble 🎶
Blessings, Julia
Comment from Pam (respa)
-Good artwork and presentation, Steve.
-It has been a long time since I even
thought about "Where the Wild Things Are."
-You wrote a good poem with a good question.
-A good message about imagination and
what happens as children grow up. Some
will keep that spirit within them, and some won't.
-A good closing line showing the result for some
but maybe not for all.
-A good entry; good luck!
reply by the author on 05-Jul-2024
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-Good artwork and presentation, Steve.
-It has been a long time since I even
thought about "Where the Wild Things Are."
-You wrote a good poem with a good question.
-A good message about imagination and
what happens as children grow up. Some
will keep that spirit within them, and some won't.
-A good closing line showing the result for some
but maybe not for all.
-A good entry; good luck!
Comment Written 30-Jun-2024
reply by the author on 05-Jul-2024
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Thanks, Pam. Yes, it's all about the growing up and thus a little sad, although another reviewer has pointed out that it also represents the cycle of life, since whoever buys the suit must be another Max!
Steve
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You are very welcome, Steve, and thanks for sharing in your reply. That is a good point about the suit.
Comment from Tom Horonzy
Glad for the explanation in the author notes or I would have been as lost as The Lost Boys of Peter Pan which I thought this was to be upon seeing the picture selected. Afterwards I thought of The Boy Who Would Be King.
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reply by the author on 05-Jul-2024
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Glad for the explanation in the author notes or I would have been as lost as The Lost Boys of Peter Pan which I thought this was to be upon seeing the picture selected. Afterwards I thought of The Boy Who Would Be King.
This rating does not count towards story rating or author rank.
The highest and the lowest rating are not included in calculations.
Comment Written 30-Jun-2024
reply by the author on 05-Jul-2024
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Thanks, Tom.
Actually Peter Pan came to mind as I was writing and editing this. Unlike Max, he never grew up!
Steve
Comment from Rebecca Barnes
The ending reminds me of Hemingway's poem about Baby shoes for sale. A lost of innocence. In this case the child growing up and no longer indulging in imaginary play.
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The highest and the lowest rating are not included in calculations.
reply by the author on 05-Jul-2024
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The ending reminds me of Hemingway's poem about Baby shoes for sale. A lost of innocence. In this case the child growing up and no longer indulging in imaginary play.
This rating does not count towards story rating or author rank.
The highest and the lowest rating are not included in calculations.
Comment Written 30-Jun-2024
reply by the author on 05-Jul-2024
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Thanks, Rebecca, that's exactly what you are meant to get from this!
Wikipedia tells us that the 6-word story - not a poem - you refer to, was unlikely to have been written by Hemingway. Elements of the story were apparently around from the early 1900s but they were never linked to Hemingway until well after his death!
But yes, that very poignant tale was in my mind when I wrote this.
Another reviewer has pointed out that if Max sells his wolf suit then another Max will buy it and so the cycle will continue!
Steve