The Portrait of Zool

I swear I replied to you Rev... oh well... I agree with you. Perhaps 'ugly' has more emotional impact, but on the other hand 'boring' may carry more artistic honesty to the authors message, thus more poetic impact.

Thanks everyone. Yes, it is a great day.

I have a suggestion for the last stanza. For more emotional impact, and fitting in more with the implied 'perceived negative visual reflection' idea, I would suggest "You are ugly" instead of "You are Incomplete". Of course I am not actually saying you are ugly, I don't even know what you look like, I am just trying to drive home what I think you are trying to say in your poem. 'Incomplete' sounds wishy washy to me, and I think pulls an opportune punch out of the poem. Having read a lot of author interviews over the years, I will always remember what Stephen King said: "Never pull your punches". Just my two cents.

For some reason I thought this might be a complicated question, like: Briefs or boxers? but instead you want to know if I would peel at a nude beach. Heck NO! Believe me, you don't wanna see me naked. I would stick out like a carrot in a turnip salad. Err, forget that last simile.

The last line is good, but the wording is odd... Can't really think of any suggestions though. I especially appreciate this because it is now official, I have custody of the boys.

Is the real you the angry you? or is there something else, something that you feel anger empowers you to show... Good poem.

Can I enter? I don't know you. ;p

For a long time I thought it would be great to be able to change a person's mind - to convince them of the evil of their ways or to grow into what I thought was a particularly positive direction. But now I would settle for just being able to make up my own mind. I think the power of our own intent is our most miraculous power, and while I'm not sure just how we are defining 'supernatural', I feel it is definitely divine.

Hmm... lessee... I've lost my family and my wife (and my home, the whole kit and kaboodle), so that's not it. Stolen by a two legged animal, so I know what you mean there. But, been there done that... Been bitten by spiders, nearly drowned in the sea, beaten senseless, stepped on rattlesnakes, fell out of a high tree, spent months alone, had the skin scalded off my face, faced the unknown... Loss of love, injury, threat, constant fear, isolation... eh, if it doesn't kill you, you get used to it. I guess there's really nothing to fear but fear itself, as the old saying goes.

Immortalis! Well met indeed.

Loved your poem - this was inspired by your title, and echoes of the sentiment. Hope you don't mind.

*Instead* We could have made a family and explored life together But instead you split it. We could have watched our children grow and made a home But instead you broke it. We could have taken what we made and made a new place for it But instead you lost it. You thought you had me beat You told me there was nothing I could do but your own guilt brought you down Your own uncaring remained true the little children grew up one day and saw right through you You were chasing that dream I don't judge you for that but it turned out to be a lie so why dig deeper down that hole that did nothing but make you cry? Everything is gone it's a brand new day but I've learned from which way the four winds blow leading me to a new family, a new home, a new life a new show you go home alone to the cold comfort of what could have been but now never will be wastefully instead.

Oh My Gawd! http://www.themightypen.net/public/style_emoticons/default/ohmy.gif It seems I had left the game durring the period this went on. Hmm... I never realized the trial went that far... I may have to revisit that one day...

I'm sorry to say I haven't read it up to now - I suck. Anyway, I still haven't read it through (I am re-stuckoing my back wall) but what I can see is that it could use a little editing, but daaaaaamn that's good! You rock! I will read it through at my first opportunity, and report with notations.

(When I think of marching shadows, I see that scene in Snow White - Hi-ho! lol) The world rejoices with the Pen today - It's your B-day! All the best!

(LOL! Very Lewis Carrol of you Wyv. )

Yes! Happy B-day you MAD King you!

Happy happy B-day!

How about Kiki DeBucket or Mort Demise? Hmm...

Zool rapidly dons his hugproof vest before braving the onslaught - but it is too little too late. Master P's hug crushes the vest in a single embrace. "Aww, hope you're feeling better, big guy."

Welcome back! Run away! Run away!

depression: It sits on you like a constipated Rhino.

What is interesting to me is how everyone's different answer puts everybody elses answer into perspective. I think everything everyone has mentioned is very important, and at some time or another is the most important thing, but it's interesting to me to read the different answers, and to think about them, and to think, yeah, that IS the most important thing... and then think how they all relate, and affect our relating to each other... and then move on to the next.

I think the *single* most important quality in any relationship is honesty. Not just the honesty of conscience, which tells a person to be truthful, but I mean the honesty of consciousness, which means always speaking and listening from the heart, and always presenting one's true self in whatever situation one is in. Without it, intimacy is impossible And from there, anything is possible..

Woohoo! That's some smooth storytelling setting me in an epic direction! Great post Sal - I hope I'm up to it LOL!