Marty's Poetry - 1. To All The Boys I've Loved

10 hours ago, Parker Owens said:

I enjoyed your poetic story of loves found and faded. I hope you write more poetry and post it here. tim mentioned Live Poets and Zero to Hero; I’ll heartily second his suggestions. Great poem! More, please? 

Thanks for your feedback, Parker. It means a lot to me when authors/poets of your ability praise my work.

14 hours ago, AC Benus said:

I think this is a wonderful poem. The early loves touched me, and when when you mention one of them dying in a fire, it was heartbreaking. Also heartbreaking was Brian, but hopefully our civilization is advancing now so wanting to have kids is not the same as "wanting to be straight." Same-sex couples have been having kids for a long long time but now it's entering the common wisdom as "Yeah, of course. Two guys get married and want to start a family. That's natural." 

 

Thanks for sharing this. I look forward to seeing what you post next!

I understand what you are saying about wanting to have kids and the ability nowadays for two guys in many countries to marry and raise a family. However, in the context of this poem, Brian only said he wanted to be straight (nothing about wanting kids). In the chapter notes I said that at least part of the poem may have been autobiographical, but it is possible that the real person (if he even exists) on whom I based Brian's character actually was straight; or (perhaps even more likely) bisexual rather than gay. Maybe that could even explain why the poem says that "he'll always be my best mate"? Also remember that I am getting quite old. If Brian kept me sane in my thirties, that would have been back in the late 1970's and into the 80's, when society wasn't quite as accepting as it is nowadays.

Now, having said all that, many thanks for your comments on the poem! 😊 Writing can often be a lonely thing. Reader feedback really does makes it feel all that more worthwhile.

Uh huh, yes. You fooled me! You're an author! 

A good one, too. I can feel some years in this poem, some ups and downs, and a sort of acceptance of the way it has all been. I hope there will be more to add to it at some point. I love happy endings!

Back for more after dinner!

19 minutes ago, Geron Kees said:

Uh huh, yes. You fooled me! You're an author! 

 

A good one, too. I can feel some years in this poem, some ups and downs, and a sort acceptance of the way it has all been. I hope there will be more to add to it at some point. I love happy endings!

 

Back for more after dinner!

 

lol !

Thanks, Geron. 😊

(Not sure what you mean when you say that I fooled you, though...) 😕 😂

2 hours ago, Marty said:

lol !

 

Thanks, Geron. 😊

(Not sure what you mean when you say that I fooled you, though...) 😕 😂

Well, I thought you were a reader when you commented on my stuff. I should have looked first. 

Now I know better!

11 hours ago, Marty said:

lol !

 

Thanks, Geron. 😊

(Not sure what you mean when you say that I fooled you, though...) 😕 😂

9 hours ago, Geron Kees said:

Well, I thought you were a reader when you commented on my stuff. I should have looked first. 

 

Now I know better!

 

Ah, now I understand!  

The way I first read it made it sound as though you thought I had deliberately set out to fool you. Perhaps it's more a case of you fooling yourself. 😉

But, of course, I am a reader - as well as a writer. Reading is enjoyable. And one of the good things about reading stuff here on GA is the opportunity to comment, criticise (or perhaps critique would be a better word), and praise other authors' pieces of work. That's the payment, if you like. We're amateurs who write for the love of it - not professionals who get paid to write. Our payment is the feedback we receive from our readers. 

An author and a poet! I feel privileged to read your work.

1 minute ago, Mancunian said:

An author and a poet! I feel privileged to read your work.

And I'm looking forward to reading more of yours. 😊

5 hours ago, Marty said:

Ah, now I understand!  

 

The way I first read it made it sound as though you thought I had deliberately set out to fool you. Perhaps it's more a case of you fooling yourself. 😉

 

But, of course, I am a reader - as well as a writer. Reading is enjoyable. And one of the good things about reading stuff here on GA is the opportunity to comment, criticise (or perhaps critique would be a better word), and praise other authors' pieces of work. That's the payment, if you like. We're amateurs who write for the love of it - not professionals who get paid to write. Our payment is the feedback we receive from our readers. 

 

Yep. I fool myself all the time. It's part of being human. 

But I try not to let everyone know when I'm doing it!

Agree on the feedback. It's not the reason I like to write, but it is definitely a nice perk!