Comment from Barry Penfold

Excellent

Loved this Paul. Really good use of ryhming and the use of your friend's name as a centrepiece of such ryhming. He no dobut would be smilling down at your words. A great tribute .
Cheers
Barry Penfold

 Comment Written 15-Mar-2023

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reply by the author on 15-Mar-2023

Thanks, Barry. Carlton was a unique individual. Check him out on Google.

Comment from Mary Shifman

Exceptional

You are so right, Carlton Wendell was/is an inspiration. I was never a runner but as a Mainer, I certainly know the name. This is a great tribute. It also has great rhyme and meter and is a pure pleasure to read. Good luck in the contest.

 Comment Written 24-Feb-2023

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reply by the author on 24-Feb-2023

Thanks, Mary. I think I remember you living not too far away from me. I f you want to know a little more about Carlton, look him up on Google.

reply by Mary Shifman on 26-Feb-2023

You are welcome. Thanks for the tip.

Comment from strandregs

Excellent

Love your commentary and rythm.
And of course there is a chance we are related .
Me and Mendell.
Cause they hail from east Poland Russia and Romania.
And originate in Italy or Spain.
The love of running binds us in the genetic soup. Weird lot. :-))Z.

 Comment Written 24-Feb-2023

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reply by the author on 24-Feb-2023

Thanks for the review, strandregs. Take a look for Carlton on Google.

Comment from Wendy G

Excellent

A wonderful tribute to an extraordinary man, and a great friend. Your poem is well-constructed with perfect metre and smooth rhyme, and gives lots of biographical detail. I do hope this one does well in the contest. (Sorry not to have a six left.)
Wendy

 Comment Written 23-Feb-2023

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reply by the author on 24-Feb-2023

Thanks, Wendy. If you are interested, look Carlton up on Google.

reply by Wendy G on 24-Feb-2023

Thank you. I did, and he was an extraordinary man and an excellent role model for perseverance, as well as goal setting - and his amazing achievements. I am very glad you chose to honour him with this tribute.
Wendy

Comment from Ric Myworld

Excellent

Sorry about the loss of your friend Carlton. It warms my heart to know how friendships and admiration can cool the competitive spirit to nearly meaningless. Thanks for sharing.

 Comment Written 23-Feb-2023

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reply by the author on 23-Feb-2023

Thanks, Ric. Carlton was a special person.

Comment from Douglas Goff

Excellent

This is a lovely tribute to a veteran and a friend. It's awesome that you were able to enjoy him for so long!

I'm sure he appreciated you as much as you appreciated him. Thanks for sharing!

 Comment Written 23-Feb-2023

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reply by the author on 23-Feb-2023

Thanks, Doug. I miss those talks after the race.

Comment from patcelaw

Excellent

This is a beautiful tribute to Carlton Mandell. It is a good thing to have a goal in mind, and to have something to look forward to. I have never been a runner but I do enjoy walking this last year. I walked 1504 miles which is a one-year best for me I will be 85 on June 7 Patricia

 Comment Written 23-Feb-2023

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reply by the author on 23-Feb-2023

You are doing great, Pat. Keep putting in the miles.

Comment from Pam Lonsdale

Exceptional

I've been running marathons most of my life (I'm training for number 23), and I've never heard of him. I have heard of another very famous Maine runner - of course I refer to Joannie.

This was a lovely tribute to a man you seemed to have admired for far more than his athletic ability. Thank you for sharing that admiration with us.

I especially like your last stanza where you confess that you're "trying like hell to run in the footsteps of Carlton Mendell."

Well done, good luck with the contest.

Pam

 Comment Written 22-Feb-2023

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reply by the author on 22-Feb-2023

Thanks, Pam, and congratulations on your marathons. Please look up Carlton on Google. You will be impressed. You mentioned Joanie. She is my favorite athlete, and I am including all sports.

Comment from Julie G1

Excellent

Well done. This is a great response to the prompt. The choice of language and word pictures with such imagery was apt, and effective. The rhyming definitely added to the overall images. The use of the graphic also worked well for this reader. Keep on writing.

 Comment Written 22-Feb-2023

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reply by the author on 22-Feb-2023

Thanks, Julie. Carlton's spirit lives on.

Comment from Harriett Ford

Excellent

I like your theme and your rhyme scheme and rhythm are perfect.
A fitting tribute to a man you obviously admired. Tributes are usually over done and tend to be far more flattering than reality. You handled this topic well.

 Comment Written 22-Feb-2023

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reply by the author on 22-Feb-2023

Thanks, Harriett. Check Carlton out on Google.