A Man Of Few Words
My favorite man who ever lived.29 total reviews
Comment from Ulla
What a lovely tribute to what appear to have been a lovely father and a lovely person over all. A man of few words. I must admit with my little knowledge to poetry, which is next to none, I did think an ode had to be written in verse. But that doesn't take anything away from your story. Well done. Ulla
reply by the author on 07-Jan-2016
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What a lovely tribute to what appear to have been a lovely father and a lovely person over all. A man of few words. I must admit with my little knowledge to poetry, which is next to none, I did think an ode had to be written in verse. But that doesn't take anything away from your story. Well done. Ulla
Comment Written 07-Jan-2016
reply by the author on 07-Jan-2016
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Thank you. Nope, this ode was different, they wanted a short story instead. I always thought it was done in poetry form too.
Comment from Scarbrems
Oh, dear. Pass me a tissue, I've got something in my eye...What a beautiful tribute to your father. So glad I see you've won the contest. Such love pours out from these words.
My father is a man of a million words. Chatty chap, my dad. But when it comes to emotions, he doesn't speak out at all. He never talks of his sorrows, even though just lately he has a lot. I don't see him often, we live a distance away, but tonight I'll call him, for who knows how much longer he'll be there.
reply by the author on 07-Jan-2016
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Oh, dear. Pass me a tissue, I've got something in my eye...What a beautiful tribute to your father. So glad I see you've won the contest. Such love pours out from these words.
My father is a man of a million words. Chatty chap, my dad. But when it comes to emotions, he doesn't speak out at all. He never talks of his sorrows, even though just lately he has a lot. I don't see him often, we live a distance away, but tonight I'll call him, for who knows how much longer he'll be there.
Comment Written 07-Jan-2016
reply by the author on 07-Jan-2016
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Thank you. It sounds like you love your dad very much too. I could write about my dad all day but the contest only allowed 500 words.
Comment from jpduck
'I loved him with all my heart and still do today.' . . . Yes, and it shows brightly in this delightful memoir.
Typos/SPAGs. (Square brackets indicate suggested deletions, and asterisks, suggested insertions):
'but we knew if he did*,* the old willow switch was not a nice thing'
From Author Notes: 'I hope I inhe[i]rited it from my father.
reply by the author on 07-Jan-2016
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'I loved him with all my heart and still do today.' . . . Yes, and it shows brightly in this delightful memoir.
Typos/SPAGs. (Square brackets indicate suggested deletions, and asterisks, suggested insertions):
'but we knew if he did*,* the old willow switch was not a nice thing'
From Author Notes: 'I hope I inhe[i]rited it from my father.
Comment Written 07-Jan-2016
reply by the author on 07-Jan-2016
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Thanks. I will take your suggetions.
Comment from scd41
Your essay is a nice tribute to your father. A misconception prevails that a lot of words is necessary for being effective in achieving desired results. The adage 'Action speaks louder than words' supports this. Your father had his style of disciplining you or behaving with others without speaking much which got him kudos. Congrats to you for the well-deserved win.
reply by the author on 07-Jan-2016
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Your essay is a nice tribute to your father. A misconception prevails that a lot of words is necessary for being effective in achieving desired results. The adage 'Action speaks louder than words' supports this. Your father had his style of disciplining you or behaving with others without speaking much which got him kudos. Congrats to you for the well-deserved win.
Comment Written 06-Jan-2016
reply by the author on 07-Jan-2016
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Thank you. I could write about my father forever. He was a huge influence to me.
Comment from Sis Cat
Congratulations on your exceptional ode to your quiet father. You painted a portrait of him and of a different time. Although he appeared reserved, he had a reassuring constant presence many children with absent fathers would crave. I am glad he inspired your love of reading.
Once again, congratulations on your well-deserved win.
reply by the author on 06-Jan-2016
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Congratulations on your exceptional ode to your quiet father. You painted a portrait of him and of a different time. Although he appeared reserved, he had a reassuring constant presence many children with absent fathers would crave. I am glad he inspired your love of reading.
Once again, congratulations on your well-deserved win.
Comment Written 06-Jan-2016
reply by the author on 06-Jan-2016
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Thank you. That was an easy piece to write. I could write about my father all day.
Comment from raineywriter
A nice piece, but to me it doesn't qualify as an ''ode'', as an ode is a poem in a specific form - originally one meant to be sung.
The meaning is certainly clear and concise. You've conveyed your feelings for your father well, and described him in a way that makes me feel I know more than a little about him. Sad that you lost him so young, but lucky you to have him for 19 years. Mine died when I was just 6 weeks old. I never knew him, but I sure missed having a father to love, and at 64 I still envy other women their memories of their fathers.
For me, the weakest part of this piece was the opening. It didn't hook at all. I saw no reason for ''An ode to my father''. I would have just started with a clear identifying statement about your father - something like ''He was a man of few words. My father was one of the quietest people I've ever known.''
Maybe instead of ''ode'', ''tribute'' would be more accurate and appropriate?
This rating does not count towards story rating or author rank.
The highest and the lowest rating are not included in calculations.
reply by the author on 06-Jan-2016
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A nice piece, but to me it doesn't qualify as an ''ode'', as an ode is a poem in a specific form - originally one meant to be sung.
The meaning is certainly clear and concise. You've conveyed your feelings for your father well, and described him in a way that makes me feel I know more than a little about him. Sad that you lost him so young, but lucky you to have him for 19 years. Mine died when I was just 6 weeks old. I never knew him, but I sure missed having a father to love, and at 64 I still envy other women their memories of their fathers.
For me, the weakest part of this piece was the opening. It didn't hook at all. I saw no reason for ''An ode to my father''. I would have just started with a clear identifying statement about your father - something like ''He was a man of few words. My father was one of the quietest people I've ever known.''
Maybe instead of ''ode'', ''tribute'' would be more accurate and appropriate?
This rating does not count towards story rating or author rank.
The highest and the lowest rating are not included in calculations.
Comment Written 06-Jan-2016
reply by the author on 06-Jan-2016
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Thanks. The contest said this could be in story or poem. I noticed none of the other contestants did a poem ode either. I feel your rating is unfair considering the contest rules. Also mine was the only one that was written as an ode. It won the contest.
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Congratulations on winning the contest. That's great. I'm sorry you feel the rating was unfair. It was based on my opinion, and opinions can never be wrong but they are often misguided. The rating was not influenced at all by the fact that it was a story, not an ''ode'', because I saw that the guidelines were confusing. I didn't see any other entries to this particular contest. When I read, I can only give feedback based on how the piece comes across to me. Others will always disagree.
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Yes, you must use your own judgement in these contests. I just wanted to point out that this was more of a short story than a poem type ode. Thank you for your honest opinion.
Comment from Kareau
This is a very beautiful piece about your father. I liked the repeat in second to last paragraph of "a man of few words" as in the beginning, I think it ties the whole piece together. I would agree that kids now a days don't have the opportunity of a lot of family time. My dad was every night, one of my favorite memories was of him playing softball with me and the neighborhood kids.
It looks like you are doing very well with your writing, I peeked at your portfolio, a lot of ribbons there! I live in Michigan, too, in Dimondale, I'll have to look up where Hesperia is located.
I hope your husband is doing better and you get that book written this year.
reply by the author on 06-Jan-2016
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This is a very beautiful piece about your father. I liked the repeat in second to last paragraph of "a man of few words" as in the beginning, I think it ties the whole piece together. I would agree that kids now a days don't have the opportunity of a lot of family time. My dad was every night, one of my favorite memories was of him playing softball with me and the neighborhood kids.
It looks like you are doing very well with your writing, I peeked at your portfolio, a lot of ribbons there! I live in Michigan, too, in Dimondale, I'll have to look up where Hesperia is located.
I hope your husband is doing better and you get that book written this year.
Comment Written 05-Jan-2016
reply by the author on 06-Jan-2016
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Thanks. I never heard of your town either. What part of Michigan is it in?
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The lower peninsula, it is a little southwest of Lansing.
Comment from Nan Beeson
All I can say about your tribute to your father is that it is so sad and beautiful at the same time, it made me cry, and I will be ninety in March. You are a very lucky young lady and I am so happy you are aware of what a great dad you had, and especially that you are very grateful.
I say this because my dad hardly never ever talked to me, and I never sat on his lap or heard him say he loved me. I do remember once, though, when he let me blow out a match he had lit for his Lucky Strike Cigarette. I was ecstatic and thought he was the best dad in the world.
reply by the author on 06-Jan-2016
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All I can say about your tribute to your father is that it is so sad and beautiful at the same time, it made me cry, and I will be ninety in March. You are a very lucky young lady and I am so happy you are aware of what a great dad you had, and especially that you are very grateful.
I say this because my dad hardly never ever talked to me, and I never sat on his lap or heard him say he loved me. I do remember once, though, when he let me blow out a match he had lit for his Lucky Strike Cigarette. I was ecstatic and thought he was the best dad in the world.
Comment Written 05-Jan-2016
reply by the author on 06-Jan-2016
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Thanks. I'm so sorry your dad experience was not too good. My dad never told us he loved us but we just knew he did. He showed us in so many little and big ways.
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I am so happy for your fond memories of him. Mine have turned into fond memories also.
Comment from mermaids
I enjoyed reading your story, it is about another place and time. I like how your father owned a farm and was around for you everyday, he may have been quiet but he was there for you. I like how he was a reader and instilled that in you. Great story.
reply by the author on 06-Jan-2016
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I enjoyed reading your story, it is about another place and time. I like how your father owned a farm and was around for you everyday, he may have been quiet but he was there for you. I like how he was a reader and instilled that in you. Great story.
Comment Written 05-Jan-2016
reply by the author on 06-Jan-2016
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Thanks. Our whole family was a reading family. Maybe mom encouraged the reading to keep us quiet. LOL
Comment from Adri7enne
What a lovely tribute to your father. I feel I got to know what kind of a quiet man he was. A man who never had to eat his own words. I really enjoyed the read. Good luck in the contest.
reply by the author on 05-Jan-2016
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What a lovely tribute to your father. I feel I got to know what kind of a quiet man he was. A man who never had to eat his own words. I really enjoyed the read. Good luck in the contest.
Comment Written 05-Jan-2016
reply by the author on 05-Jan-2016
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Thank you. My father was a rare and great man. We all loved him.