Comment from Pearl Edwards

Excellent

I love to read about your Alaska and your love for it really does come through. A great read about your seasons -I thought it would be winter and not so cold winter, but I was in for a surprise. Hockey and fishing, the midnight sun and then a little extra knowledge for us in your author's notes. Good read Kim.
cheers,
valda

 Comment Written 26-Apr-2016

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reply by the author on 26-Apr-2016

Hi Valda!

I'm really happy that you enjoyed this one. Nope, Hockey and Fishing lol that pretty much encompasses the entire year! :)
Thanks for all the fun comments! I appreciate you taking the time to read and review.

Kim

Comment from dejohnsrld (Debbie)

Excellent

This is very well done. Nine months of winter sounds like an awful lot. I think I best stay here where we have spring and fall as well. Well done, my friend~Debbie

 Comment Written 23-Apr-2016

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reply by the author on 23-Apr-2016

Hi Debbie!

It really depends on the year... the snow is mostly gone now and spring will green up soon! We changed out the winter tires today, so I'm banking on that! lol However... each year can be different. We had snow early in September, but overall, an unseasonably mild winter.

Thanks for the awesome comments!

Kim

Comment from lightink

Excellent

LOL! What an incredibly sweet and playful approach to the seasons!
Yes, by the middle of the poem, those seasons were pretty clear, my dear! ;)
And it was so much fun!
You built it up well... especially regarding the Alaska stereotype and how people are curious about it! Thank you for sharing!
By the way, I never wanted to visit Alaska before reading your poems, but you make me want to see it!

 Comment Written 21-Apr-2016

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reply by the author on 21-Apr-2016

Then you need to come and visit! :) I could show you the most amazing scenery! I highly recommend that everyone visit at least once in a lifetime. I am so glad you enjoyed the poem. If you're adventurous enough to visit in winter I'd even take you to hockey lol

Thanks for taking the time to read and comment, I loved your thoughts!

Kim

reply by lightink on 21-Apr-2016

Wow! Thank you form the offer
That winter is definitely not for me! :)
Maybe a summer when my son will be a bit bigger.
My husband would go crazy with his camera! :)

reply by the author on 21-Apr-2016

We usually have warm summer weather :) A camera is a must! :)

reply by lightink on 21-Apr-2016

I probably wouldn't see him until the end of the trip!
He does analogue photography! :)

reply by the author on 21-Apr-2016

I'm sure he would love it then! :)

Comment from I am Cat

Excellent

LOLOL... We've never been much for sports, but the fishing, there you go. Well, I say that, and then, we moved to San Antonio, and GO SPURS GO! ;) lol The NBA became our lives for awhile... back in 1999 when they won their first NBA championship and hey, they've been winning all kinds of things ever since... we were there for the first season of the Twin Towers... David Robinson and Tim Duncan (back when Tim Duncan had his FIRST year at the tender age of 20/21) wow!
So yeah, I get it. ;)
And yeah, I caught a 62 1/2 King salmon and a 60 lb King while I lived there. ;) So I know the salmon thing... and halibut... omg! The last time we came to visit in 2006, we shipped home the maximum in halibut and had ourselves SO much of it, we were SICK of it by the time we finished it all... NOT! ;) lol

Great poem, I loved it. ;)
We used to say, When the Termination Dust hit the top of "Ginn Mountain" (aka, The Chugach Range) then summer is terminated. ;) and also, "Wasn't Summer, the Fourth of July last year?" lol

Great job with this... I loved it! Well written and fun... especially if you've lived there. ;) mwah!
Cat
A virtual six for fun! lol

 Comment Written 20-Apr-2016

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reply by the author on 21-Apr-2016

Hi Cat!

Fun is what this one is all about! :) Thanks for the virtual six and sharing all the memories! I can see you smiling in the end! :)

Love the review, it is awesome!

*hugs*

Kim

Comment from Leineco

Excellent

LOL - in the beginning I thought the two seasons would be fishing season and no fishing season!!!

But I see your husband is a well rounded man. . .fishing and ice hockey!
(Sounds like you have your own Hockey Jones - lol)

This was a wonderful nod to John Updike's prolific writing :-)

 Comment Written 20-Apr-2016

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reply by the author on 20-Apr-2016

Hi Leineco,

Fishing and Hockey are common denominators in our household lol I could have told it as my perspective, but had some fun telling it through his :) I'm actually the one that sits on the Board of Directors for our UAF Alaska Nanooks Hockey team booster club, so yes, I'm totally entrenched. lol

Thanks for the taking the time to read and comment, I love hearing your thoughts!

Kim

Comment from Stacia Ann

Excellent

Hi, Dovey: Thought I'd stop by.
The theme of the great outdoors is what strikes me most about the poem: the fishing, the seasons, the weather.
The imagery is very strong, notably that fresh fish, appealing to smell and taste. Even the blue and gold is a striking visual image. Oh, and the midnight sun (also blue and gold?)
Thanks for sharing this and sponsoring the contest!
Can I ask you a quick question here about the contest? I'd just like to know if there is a way to reorder chapters (I think there is, and I've decided to add a prose/nonverse prologue introducing the book.)
If you could tell me how or direct me to where I can find out, I'd appreciate it.
Thanks again.
All the Best,
Stacia

 Comment Written 20-Apr-2016

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reply by the author on 20-Apr-2016

Hi Stacia,

Thank you for taking the time to read and comment on my poem. The blue and gold references are the colors for the state of Alaska. Our flag is blue with the gold stars of the Big Dipper, and also the colors for the University of Alaska-Fairbanks (where we live) indicating the Alaska Nanooks Hockey Team. We got lucky, the St. Louis Blues team (NHL) that we've taken up rooting for also has the colors of blue and gold. (One of our players from last year is having a sensational rookie year with that team, so it is now our favorite. It's fun, we haven't ever followed the NHL like we are this season, and they are in the playoffs now.

As for re-ordering your chapter numbers, just edit each piece. You'll see at the top of the page where it says 'chapter number,' and it is very easy to just put in whatever chapter number you want for each piece. Don't worry about having more than one chapter with the same # while you are editing, that won't matter, and once you are finished they will all be in order. Adding the prologue is just as easy, just choose 'prologue.'

Thanks for the great comments.

Kim

Comment from Jannypan (Jan)

Excellent

This is great. I like your husband's 2 seasons. Your poem flows well. I like the 2 color presentation. Great use of rhyme, too. Your story is told well. Thank you for the lines about the Alaskan way of life. You make the reader want to visit to see/experience some of the things Alaska offers. That grilled fish sounds awesome. The notes are always appreciated. I like reading them to get an idea 'where this poem was coming from.'

Good job and thanks for sharing.

 Comment Written 20-Apr-2016

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reply by the author on 20-Apr-2016

Thanks for taking the time to read and comment, Jan! I appreciate hearing what elements 'spoke' to you in the poems. Part of the idea for the contest is to give the readers an idea of what the inspiration for each day was and I'm really enjoying offering the background for each piece. This was one of the easier poems, as it didn't involve a whole lot of research. (Since we live it every day, that is lol) I'm happy you enjoyed it!

Kim

Comment from Joy Graham

Excellent

It's nice to see a picture of your husband. I like getting to know my online poetry friends better. I guess my two grandsons are to learn about fishing this summer. It will be fun. Our Calgary Flames didn't make it to playoffs this year. I'm more keen on baseball and football as hockey seems to disappoint in recent years.

 Comment Written 20-Apr-2016

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reply by the author on 20-Apr-2016

Hi Joy!

We are having fun following the Blues this season as we have a player in the game. He's actually from Alberta, but we know him from the time he spent here at UAF. What an awesome young man! We're so happy to follow his success in the NHL. Fishing is so much fun, your grandsons will love it!

Thanks for taking the time to read and comment.

Kim

Comment from Barb Hensongispsaca

Excellent

Wow and very nicely done.
Excellent rhyming in abab form.
I love the notes you put on the author's notes to let us know more about the piece you write.

 Comment Written 20-Apr-2016

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reply by the author on 20-Apr-2016

Hi Barb,

Thanks for taking the time to read and comment. I think putting up the inspiration for each piece is part of the fun of the NaPoWriMo challenge. It gives the readers insight they might not get otherwise into the whole writing process. :)

I'm so happy you enjoyed this piece, even my husband liked it! lol

Kim

Comment from honeytree

Excellent

The art work is great
The words are great
What a place to be but cold
I guess it would be but fun times as well
Cold weather hits most countries on earth.

Great to read

Honey tree

I have no six

 Comment Written 20-Apr-2016

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reply by the author on 20-Apr-2016

Hi Annie!

Alaska is a wonderful place to live. We don't mind the cold temperatures and we love our hockey here! lol It keeps us busy during long winters! Thanks for taking the time to read and comment. A virtual six is always a great compliment! :)

Kim