Poetry- Writing and Reading

Online poetry communities, in their simplest sense, are sites you join to share poems and to meet other poets who also share an interest in poetry. However, finding an exceptional poetry site, dedicated to its poets, is not quite that simple. With so many poetry sites out there, how do you choose which one is best for you?

1. Membership Fees: Some poetry communities say they are free, once you join, however, you have to “upgrade” for additional features. Other poetry sites rely on donations, and advertisements. Look for a site that is no more than $35.00 annually. Bottom Line: Find a site that only charges you ONE fee to use EVERY feature on the site.

2. Site Features: Look for a site that has tons of features, not just a few lame areas of posting and reading poetry. A good rule of thumb is this: For every $2.00 you spend annually, you should find ONE UNIQUE Feature of the site. If you are willing to spend $40.00, then you should get at least 20 UNIQUE Features. Bottom Line: Find a poetry site that offers as much bang for your buck as possible.

3. Communication System: An online poetry community should be a community. An internal mail system, and an active Bulletin Board–a place where poets share ideas–is a must. Bottom Line: Find a site that has a few ways poets can communicate.

4. Feedback System: Examine not only HOW you receive feedback, but the QUALITY of that feedback. Will you simply be getting brief comments? Is there a point system in place? Does that point system address areas of analysis that are important to you? Bottom Line: Find a site that has a quality review system that provides you the feedback you are looking for.

5. Recognition Programs: Most poetry sites function as a fancy bulletin board for posting poetry. A solid poetry site encourages friendly competition, and a way for you to measure your progress. Being able to rise up the ranks, gain recognition from your fellow poets is not only fun, but rewarding. Bottom Line: Find a site that encourages several recognition programs and poet rankings.

6. Site Layout: A poetry site should be clean, inviting, friendly, and easy to navigate. Many sites are just the opposite: laden with ads, thousands of words, and links that bring you everywhere but where you ought to be. Bottom Line: Find a site that is clean, fairly devoid of ads, strong linking and ease of organization.

7. Poetry Database: Most online poetry communities lack meaningful poetry research tools. A site that provides its poets with as many links to resources as possible, is one has your best interests at heart. Bottom Line: Find a site that helps you learn poetry forms, movements, history, poets, etc., one stop shopping if you will.

8. Awards: Poor sites have either no award system, or a poor awards system. Quality sites invest in their members. Would you rather win a quality award, or receive certificates, magnets and bumper stickers in the mail?

Bottom Line: Find a site that is dedicated to giving back to its community in the form of quality, timely awards.

9. Support: So often I hear poets lament the fact that “no one seems to be behind the wheel.” A quality site responds promptly to its members, usually less than 48 hours. Send a trial email, see how long it takes to hear back. Bottom Line: Find a site that responds to your concerns, questions, or suggestions within 48 hours.

10. Free Trial: Avoid any poetry site that does not give you AT LEAST a 7 day free trial. You should be able to access ALL the site features, not just a few teasers. Bottom Line: Find a site that allows you a generous, all access FREE TRIAL, so you can fully understand its community.

Finding the right online poetry community doesnt have to be difficult. If you asked me what ONE thing I would look for it is this: The more features a poetry site offers its poets, the more likely your experience is going to be a great one.

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We all cherish our friends, family and those around us. Just as we experience the joys and warmth of togetherness, we should also be ready to face the pain of separation and death. However it is never easy to get over someone with whom we may have shared so many wonderful experiences. Writing a poem in such instances may provide an outlet for the poet to vent his hurt an emotions.

While attempting to write the bereavement poem, it is always advisable to begin writing in prose. Doing so one can easily note down all the important aspects one would like to cover. If directly writing a poem, the poet could get so easily carried away with the natural use of metaphor and abstractions in poetry, that the end result might prove to be a hazy replica and may not cause the reader to fully appreciate the work. Also one needs to be able to control oneself and not flow with the thoughts, to something unimaginable. One needs to draw the line between whether we would want to write something that is correct to others or true.

A good method followed is to make notes in a diary in prose about the pain you are experiencing. You can treat this as an outlet to let your feelings flow through. This will help you to collect all your thoughts and not miss any important happening. Some people also use the method of writing an unsent letter describing all their feelings to the person concerned. After pouring your heart out, you will come face to face with so many things you may not have noticed earlier. You will be able to say so many things you might not have uttered earlier. You will realize when all your thoughts have been covered. Now you can sit and weave these writings in your poem. You will notice the poem running parallel to all that you may have written in prose.

Generally, we write bereavement poems for a eulogy or a funeral service. Even I f you are facing a time crunch begin by writing the prose piece first. You will find that it enhances the feel of the poem and also saves time finally. Take your time and try to note the minutest of details. If you do not do so you may be cheating both yourself and the poem itself of the richness of your emotional integrity.

It is ultimately your decision about how you want the poem to shape up. You may write a form poem i.e. an ode, sonnet, use meter and rhyme or employ a free verse. At the end of the poem, you will surely experience an inner sense of peace. You will find the anger following through. Remember to depict the pain in all its brutality but also hope for healing in equal measures. You should leave the reader with a serene feel. After all, death is but a part of life.

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Wedding Toast Speeches can be the part of a wedding reception that you just aren’t looking forward to. “What on earth am I going to say?” you may be thinking to yourself. Well… help is on its way!

Marriage is a beautiful bond between two people and Wedding Toasts are the best way to express fond memories and the finest wishes you have for the newly wed couple. Whether your toast is humorous, endearing, or a combination of the two–all eyes will be on you during your toast so you need to make it as effective as possible. If the lot should fall upon you to give a wedding toast speech, you need to be prepared.

Your toast is meant to convey a message of hope. Its a kind of send-off. You’re encouraging the bride and group to start their lives together as one. You can use your toast to tell a story, or bring the guests on a trip down memory lane. If you’re the best man of the wedding party, you may wish to pick up a book on wedding toast etiquette. Its always nice to state how long you have known and loved the couple. Your toast does not have to be very long , but it should express genuine warmth from your heart.

While wedding toasts are very common, it can be difficult to give a great toast if you’ve never done it before. Sure, you see the movies where toasts are spoken as if they are poetry, seemingly with no forethought or effort. But this is not reality.

Search your library or even the Internet for some great quotes about weddings to incorporate into your speech. You also need to know something about the newly weds. If you know that the couple really likes a certain poet, or a particular movie, or have a favorite book or other interest, see if you can capture some of the memorable lines or concepts from the above and somehow incorporate these ideas into your speech. Remember that even the most practiced celebrity plans for any and all public appearances and speaking, so plan for yours to make sure that your thoughts come out as well thought out as they should be!

There are several important moments during a wedding celebration when wedding toast speeches are made. Generally, this is the usual order in which toasts are made:

The Best Man The Groom To His Wife Father of the Bride Father of the Groom

Normally, the best man gives the first wedding toast speech at a wedding reception. For most, it is probably the hardest and scariest wedding duty, but probably the most important as well. He is the friend of the groom and welcomes the bride. Use it as a special moment to wish them every happiness but with the reminder that it takes effort to succeed. But try not to be too serious here - use picturesque language or lines from well known songs to illustrate the point in an inspirational way.

There are some things you should never do for a wedding toast speech. Don’t get intoxicated - it wont give you courage, only ruin something that should be memorable. Don’t use foul language, especially if children are present. Never mention former lovers or spouses of the newly weds. Don’t intentionally embarrass the bride or groom - it is their day, not yours.

Follow these steps and you’ll find that you can make it through those few moments of pressure to give Wedding Toast Speeches that the bride and groom will thank you for.

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