Reviews from

As I Sip on My Chardonnay

The horrors of war disgust and frustrate us all.

30 total reviews 
Comment from nomi338
Excellent
Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

There eventually comes a day when the bottle must be put away. Certain problems must be dealt with in one way or another, Those who care must do whatever they can to assist their brother. Fight if that is your way, if not then perhaps you can call on God for help as you in good faith take a knee and pray.

 Comment Written 22-May-2023


reply by the author on 22-May-2023
    Thanks so much for your review. Yes, there are times when one must do what they can. I hope you have a great day and take care.
    Regards
    Barry Penfold.
Comment from harmony13
Excellent
Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

The author's words are upsetting, true, descriptive and creative. Our world is not in a good place today. Especially with the war going on in Ukraine! The author expresses the words of this poem with details without any hope in sight! Thank you for the author's notes - they speak volumes! The artwork goes well with these words. I like the format the author chose for this poem. Hope you had a good weekend!....Maria

 Comment Written 21-May-2023


reply by the author on 22-May-2023
    Maria,
    Thanks so much for reviewing my poem and glad you liked it. Yes, the world is in a bit of a mess. But maybe, just maybe it will be able to be resolved. Take care and have a great day.
    Cheers
    Barry Penfold.
Comment from Debbie D'Arcy
Excellent
Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

Your verse says it all, Barry! When I first read the title I thought this was going to be a fun and soothingly reflective post. So, firstly, well done for hooking me into this otherwise uncomfortable message about the world's tragedies and the cruel dilemma of the individual's paralysis in the face of it all. Your conclusion in the end is to stop the sipping and join the fight simply because the world has left no alternative. Thanks for sharing this thought-provoking and well constructed verse. Debbie

 Comment Written 20-May-2023


reply by the author on 21-May-2023
    Debbie,
    Thanks for taking the time to read and review my poem. Glad you enjoyed it despite the sad topic. Please take care and have a great day.
    Regards
    Barry
Comment from kiwisteveh
Exceptional
This work has reached the exceptional level

Barry, I like this a lot. The antiwar theme is clearly an important one as the conflict in Ukraine drags on and the nightly display of death and destruction on our TV screens continues.

Your repeating lines rub in the stark contrast between life there and the safe and secure life that the rest of us lead. I was just starting to think you might have carried that too far when I noticed the subtle changes in the repeated phrase in the last few stanzas, leading to that climactic finish.

Very well done indeed - deserves to be widely shared.

Steve

 Comment Written 20-May-2023


reply by the author on 21-May-2023
    Steve, once more thanks for the six stars. Really means a lot to me. Yes,a sad topic but it was a poem that was going around my head for some time. Finally, got it out on paper.
    Take care and have a happy day.
    Regards
    Barry Penfold.
Comment from Kerry Foley Robinson
Exceptional
This work has reached the exceptional level

This is an outstanding free verse poem, my friend. Wow! What a powerful and profound, read.

I enjoyed this immensely.

I wish you the best of luck sounds like a winner to me.

- Kerry

 Comment Written 19-May-2023


reply by the author on 19-May-2023
    Kerry,
    Thanks so much for a six star review. Much appreciated. Glad you enjoyed it . This poem has been going around in my head for quite some period of time and I finally got it onto paper.
    Take care and have a wonderful day.
    Regards
    Barry .
reply by Kerry Foley Robinson on 19-May-2023
    I'm certainly glad you did. It's beautiful.
    Enjoy your day!
Comment from Monica Chaddick
Excellent
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This is a well written poem having to deliver such sad messages. It is such a shame what our world has come to. Yes, I would imagine for those that are able to do something, the decision is hard. Great job writing.

 Comment Written 18-May-2023


reply by the author on 19-May-2023
    Monica,
    Thanks for taking the time to review my poem. Glad you enjoyed it and yes it would be a very difficult choice to make. Take care and have a great day.
    Regards
    Barry.
Comment from Aiona
Exceptional
This work has reached the exceptional level

I like the structure of the poem. There is a structure, even though it's not one I'm familiar with. It has some end-rhyme, which makes it easy to read. Sometimes when I read free verse, it just seems like someone rambling prose. But, this is definitely a poem, not prose. The content of the poem is interesting as well. It is hard to tell if the person is being sarcastic, when they say they're "okay." Then towards the end, it does seem as if they weren't being sarcastic, but are now being affected. What jostles someone to do something? This poem poses that very interesting question.

 Comment Written 17-May-2023


reply by the author on 18-May-2023
    Aiona. Thanks so much for the six stars. Very much appreciated. Yes, what does make someone do something.? Is it a feeling of obligation because you are highly trained in combat situations? Or simply wanting to try to right a wrong as much as you can.>
    Anyway, whatever the answer, you have a good day. Take Care
    Cheers
    Barry Penfold.
Comment from Sanku
Excellent
Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

We can only jut stare helplessly at the terrible visuals and make proper sounds of sympathy .Impotent rage is of no use and the greed forpower and money is too strong for us to fight.
in what way can we influence the powers that be?

 Comment Written 17-May-2023


reply by the author on 17-May-2023
    Thanks for taking the time to read and review my poem. You ask an important question. My answer is unfortunately a bit depressing. We cannot influence the powers that be unless there is a combined political will of a large individual group. Where is that group?
    Take care and have a good day.
    Cheers
    Barry Penfold
Comment from jake cosmos aller
Excellent
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very powerful and moving poem about watching the war unfold in a distant land wondering if you should volunteer your service and go to the front lines.

 Comment Written 12-May-2023


reply by the author on 13-May-2023
    Thanks Jake for taking the time to read and review my poem. I had the concept running around my head for awhile. It was time to put it on paper. Take care and have a good day.
    Regards
    Barry Penfold.
Comment from Jesse James Doty
Excellent
Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

Apathy is prevalent among the upper-class and middle-class people of this country. But it is the lower class who do not sip their chardonnay instead they go to war and die for their country. I believe the repeating line works well in this free verse poem. But after a while, it works against the idea that those of us who had to fight went anyway and went whether we had a cause to fight for or not.
Thanks for asking the tough questions!

 Comment Written 12-May-2023


reply by the author on 13-May-2023
    Jesse,
    Thanks for taking the time to read and review my poem. I agree that it is the lower class that end up taking the brunt of the fighting. The poem is about the choices that may be open to a few of the elite.
    Have a great day.
    Barry Penfold.
reply by Jesse James Doty on 13-May-2023
    Choices are only open to the elite and nobody else.
    Jesse