These are the comments I have received, both good and bad...
Date: Mon, 18 Mar 2002 09:08:48 -0600
Hi Steve, I read a lot of your poetry. Liked most of it.
I laughed when I saw your birthday....my birthday is Nov. 12....
You have a beautiful family. I enjoyed your pictures.
Thanks for the web page
Sharon
That's ok Sharon I don't like some of it too Glad you enjoyed a little bit
March 20, 2002
Steve
Have you considered submitting your poetry to poetry.com? I heard they have a contest and pay $1000. I could check the details for you if you like.
T.
Dear T. (My Sister)
The Poetry.com agenda is to accept the poetry of people (good or bad) which they publish on the web and compile into books. Once your poetry is included in an unpublished book they ask you to buy the book at a prepublication price. Of course they have money to award, gathered from such exploits I could submit each of my poems and all would probably be accepted and I would be then inundated by requests for my money for books, books, books. I submitted to poetry,com one of my best poems and received no more that a simple thank you and request for $$$$. per copy for a book. I was also published years ago in such a book published by and for missionaries. (yes I did buy the book for $24) Everyone seems to have a unique twist to this age old money making device. On the flip side... Poetry.com does in fact boost the confidence of many otherwise poor poets thereby inspiring them to write more (if not better) This is a good thing for the arts actually! I really do not see poetry as being such a marketable commodity. Even well respected poets sell comparatively few books. I do not see poetry as my way of making it big. I just enjoy it. I had a friend that loved fishing so he became a pro at it. Soon he hated fishing. Poetry is my outlet for expressing who I am and what I feel. I share this with others as my contribution to society and life. ....steven
Steve,
I really liked the Blue Horizon self portrait poem. Yesterday I subbed for an English III Honors class and one of their assignments was to read and write a couple of paragraphs on what a particular poem meant to them.
Anyway, I was imagining how the class would interpret your poem. Do you mind if I give the teacher your website to read your poems?
You are very good at writing. It is the kind of poetry that is hard to put down and that you can really relate to.
Love, T.
Hey Lil Sister You may pass the site on to your class and be my guest Maybe they can improve on it
March 22, 2002 9:59 PM Thurs
Steve,
It is an honor to meet such a soulful, passionate and
romantic poet like you. Your style is unique but
realistic. Your fondness of life's realities makes the
artist in you more interesting. The simplicity of your
verses reaches the very depths of the heart...and the
serenity of your soul catches every spirit in love.
Thank you for this opportunity of meeting such a
wonderful person in you. God Bless......
always,
your filipina friend, Ludy
Ludy if you were not to be married I would swim to the Phillipines and ask you in a heartbeat!!! Good luck with your new life. Your fiance is a LUCKY GUY!!!
May 15, 2002 Hi Steve!
I'm sorry it took so long to get back to you but this is the first time I've had time to sit down and look at your web sight and respond.
Your website is just beautiful. I read through your poetry this morning and what a way to start out the day!! You are truly talented in many ways. Thanks for sharing your works.
Well, I need to get something done today so I will close for now.Thanks again for sharing your poems. I'm sure you lift lots of spirits!
Take care, Steve and Jo
Thanks for being the best neighbor at a craft show I ever had!!! Sorry I chased away all your customers but then again my sales were down this year too HMMMM I wonder???
March 21, 2002 Authors Note:
There are times when I become discouraged so I come to this place and read the comments here. It lifts my countenance and provides me with a sense of value again. I talk to so many people each day via the Internet and I know that in many ways our lives touch even if we never meet. I do not often have a chance to really say how much I feel towards those who support my work by their constructive comments, but you all have in some way made my life better even if your comments were negative. Humility is a virtue too.
...steven
Date: Sat, 11 May 2002 08:40:25 -0700
Subject: LOVE the poetry page....
Oh my. Your poetry page was amazing. 100% amazing. The wood work you do is indescribably beautiful. I was truly in awe. You have a rare and precious gift and I always thought that men who worked with their hands probably lacked the capacity to express themselves with words. You are an anomaly (in my paradigm, anyway), as you are very expressive, articulate and warm. Rose Thornton
Yes it comes from cussing all those slivers
Date: Sat May 18 2002 Time: 17:37:01
Hi again, Steven,
You truly are a sensitive poet who knows how a woman feels as well as a man, which, of course, you happen to be. I appreciate your style and clarity. I especially liked "The Dance."
Sandi
I think I can remember how a woman feels but then again it has been so long (LOL) It may come back to me
Date: Wed May 22 2002 Time: 15:47:41
Hello steven...Came across your website today while surfing for poetry. May I say you have done a wonderful job both poetically and graphically. I particularly enjoyed your photos and biography. I too was born in the 1950's and reading about your grandmother and lifestyle growing up sure brought back some fond memories for me. Poetry is my passion and I find your poetery uplifting. I too dabble in writing and though I may never become a Bronte or Keats, what
I write comes from the heart and fills my days with endless pleasure.
Kassanna
Wow Did you know my Grandma too??? COOL!!!
Date: Tue May 28 2002Time: 00:00:30
I like the works by everyone, especially the author...It's been a long time since I have read such inspiring poems... The artwork of the signs is amazing... My compliments to the artist.... Good idea about the submission of poems to the author also....
Louise
Thanks Louise, You are a rare gem among people. I appreciate your friendship
Date: Tue Jun 04 2002
Steve - I thoroughly enjoyed viewing your webpage and reading (feeling) your poetry. Thank you so much for sharing it with me! I also enjoy writing poetry and your style mimics my own. Poetry touches each of us in so many ways, it's value can't be measured. Fond memories resurface, friendships and faith are renewed, and love fulfilled. Isn't it amazing how much power a tender poem can bestow? Keep writing!!!
Best Wishes from a Fellow Poet Cynthia May Thomas
Thank you for your kind remarks I tried to mimic John Wayne though. I will practice harder
Date: Mon Jun 17 2002 Time: 05:15:32
Hello Steve, I read some of your works and browsed your web pages...very impressive it all is. You have done some excellent work.
Countrygirl
Seems more like playing than work to me . This is too much fun!
Date: Tue Jun 18 2002 Time: 15:46:13 6-18-02, Tuesday
Steven, Your creativity is captivating, your tenderness evident and inspiring, and your passion for life so beautiful one might dream of sharing a part of it with you.
Searching for depth---Misty in small town USA
Who knows......Sometimes dreams do come true
Date: Tue Jun 18 2002
Time: 18:27:50
:) Linda
(steve smiles back:)
Date: Fri, 21 Jun 2002 18:27:14 -0700 (PDT)
I am amazed that someone who writes as you do does not have a very special involvement in their life. I am compelled to share the poems that ... thus far ... are ones I especially enjoyed. The first one "The Dance" was so sweet, not only because of the words, but because of the surrounding of it's writing ... you actually wrote the poem as you watched them ... that is very sweet. I enjoyed "Knight's Tale" and "Friend or Foe" as I feel I would have made a very fine maiden in that day. "Reflections" and "Magic Glasses" were very deep
and I related to them on a personal level. "Mountain Meadow" was nice, but the notation you made about the photograph and your grandmother Dorothy was very touching. I stopped reading at "The Library" because you dedicated it to the 7th Grade at Watson Chapel
High School ... I am from Pine Bluff, so that definitely caught my eye.
I have to ask ... with all the romantism of yourpoetry ... who has inspired it on a personal level? You must have loved very deeply or desire to do so.
Deby
Much of my poetry is inspired by my observation of people and some is born of my desire to love and be loved. Is this not the desire of every persons heart? My personal pages elaborate on the inspirations of my writing more fully than I choose to relate here
6/22/02
I love your poetry!! it is great, speaks the truth and can relate with all people, from all walks of life. Keep giving us more to read!
someones1
Thank you for your kind comments. I appreciate you friendship and loyalty
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06/20/02 http://www.geocities.com/tammie382002/tammiespoetrypage.html. I'm really glad you enjoyed my poetry and I hope you will be back to look at more.I checked out your site and really enjoyed it. I did'nt have time to look at everything but I'll be back again to read more
Thanks again, Tammie
06/21/02
Loves Deepest Secret is phoenominal thought and I would like to post it to my website if I could kindly ask your permission. I will also post a link to your site if you will include a link to mine steve hodgin
06/23/02
That would be great. It makes me feel good to know that you really liked my poem and if there is any more that interest you feel free to post any on your site. I will be glad to add a link to your site Thanks again for the compliment. Tammie
06/24/02
Dear Readers, I will add Love's Deepest Secret to my guest pages "Poet's Post". This is one of the more insightful poems about love I have read
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