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--></style></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink="#954F72" style='word-wrap:break-word'><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>Thanks Chris:</p><div><p class=MsoNormal>I will review the comments this evening and repost tomorrow or as soon as I get something more comfortable.</p></div><p class=MsoNormal>I did think the Latin was a little out there, overkill, but it is a biblical quote I pulled ,from a reference I should check out and will indeed do that.</p><p class=MsoNormal>I think it actually translates as I Shall Fear No Evil.</p><p class=MsoNormal>So the spectors in my soul will be cast out when I die as a result of Christ Plucking me Up and I will be healed so I don’t fear the end.</p><p class=MsoNormal>There is a logic to the headless woman the sightless eyes and the illumination but let me walk through the logical flow since I didn’t like that line either.</p><p class=MsoNormal>It was suppose to preface the quote redemption that would be indicated by me having no fear of my death since the spectors would be gone when Christ took me in.</p><p class=MsoNormal>That was the idea but it just doesn’t sound right, not the right word, sigh.</p><p class=MsoNormal>The word gender is the correct word when thinking of the traditional roles the male and the female play in a more strictly cast relationship with well defined responsibilities for each.</p><p class=MsoNormal>I did think some readers may associate the word gender and the pain with being gay, could be, I have known a gay person since grade school and they were always gay – born that way it seems and never accepted and even reviled by much of society.</p><p class=MsoNormal>But that is not the underlying theme of this poem.</p><p class=MsoNormal>I have yet to think of another better word or sentence yet.</p><p class=MsoNormal>You were right on, 70 years or more ago this word would have been perfect when a mans and woman’s roles were well defined by society.</p><p class=MsoNormal>Today, it holds the same meaning for specific situations.</p><p class=MsoNormal>But it does seem to have been overtaken by more recent populist interpretation surrounding various forms of unconventional sexual relationships.</p><p class=MsoNormal>I’ll think that one over as well to see if I cant filter it somehow.</p><p class=MsoNormal>Again, thanks for the help, very good points indeed.</p><p class=MsoNormal>Richard R. Thomas (Rick USA)</p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div style='mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal style='border:none;padding:0in'><b>From: </b><a href="mailto:stylist@nfbnet.org">Chris Kuell via Stylist</a><br><b>Sent: </b>Tuesday, May 31, 2022 12:22 PM<br><b>To: </b><a href="mailto:stylist@nfbnet.org">Writers' Division Mailing List</a><br><b>Cc: </b><a href="mailto:ckuell@comcast.net">ckuell@comcast.net</a><br><b>Subject: </b>Re: [Stylist] My First Poem</p></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Hey Rick,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>This is pretty dark, which I’m sure was your intention. It has a very gothic feel, although the gendered roles line makes me think it’s meant to be more contemporary—or perhaps, things are much the same as they were long ago?<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>With the chorus, I’m not so sure this works as a poem, but certainly makes me think of song lyrics. I can’t say I understand the forgiveness/redemption that you mentioned, although I’m not familiar with the words in the last line. I’m also a little puzzled by the headless woman having eyes that illume, but perhaps that’s artistic freedom.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I don’t have more to offer—perhaps the poets will. I’d be curious to hear the lyrics put to music, and I think that’s a good sign.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Chris<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>