Moods and Expressions

MOODS AND EXPRESSIONS by Nanci Reney.

A true measure of good poetry is its power to instill upon the heart and mind a capacity for memorising it and lovingly quoting it verbatim to others. Seamus Heaney may well be a Nobel Poetry Prize winner but few people can directly quote from memory any of his poems; the same goes for Ted Hughes. Now with Robert Frost it's a different matter altogether. Shall I compare thee, Nancy Reney, to those illustrious poets? Why not! There are many memorable and quotable lines to savour and contain in memory - with singing resonances - from this Collection of 53 poems. Too many to separate out individually and finely critique here. To do do so would damn the lot with faint praise. Suffice it to opine that your your range is wide and varied. I chose - The Waves - you succeed formidably here by invoking thoughts and sensations that anyone could readily identify with: the moods and expressions perfectly captured. A typo of (wonering) for wondering and (seaguls) for seagulls does not detract from a lovely composition that just requires those minor corrections. Poetess unparalled - "On me your voice falls as they say love should - with an enormous YES!" Backed.

Tony Brady - SCENES FROM AN EXAMINED LIFE - Books 1,2 & 3.

Moods and Expressions
Nanci Reney

Backed a few days ago Nanci and I've only had time to read some of it today. Beautiful stuff. I loved "In the Middle of Nowhere". Had a really creepy sensation reading it - it reflected my own thoughts and mirrored an activity I often engage in - as I am sure, most thinking individuals - perhaps at least those with the time to think. Your poetry is simply gorgeous. Effective, reflective, wise, intimate, elegant, eloquent - and so much more - feels like an old friend has written this as it speaks to me so powerfully. It's dynamic and powerful without being maudlin or overwhelming. It has beautiful rhythm, life, energy as you create a relationship between your poetry and art, the poetry transforming itself to art and further interacting with the lives of your readers on so many levels. I hope this goes far - you have a wonderful talent. Do contribute on our poetry thread here - threadid39925! We are hoping to self publish through createspace and it would be a real treasure to have a verse or two by you included therein. Happy to have placed this on my shelf and I wish you every success in getting it published.
Zan

Nanci,

I read your poems, and I re-read some, and I wondered at times who the "you" was, and who it was so honored as to be the subject of your musings.

What a beautifully melodic and rhythmic literary voice you have used to portray a wide spectrum of emotions. You have masterfully penned the mountaintops of elation and the valleys of morosity. I believe "Again" might have been among my favorites, but then reflections on things thought of your father was right up there also. Being 65 years old, a father and grandfather, your words had a special impact on me.

Were you speaking to me, the reader? can I take away your heart from these melodies of spirit? Are you reaching out to me or to some spectre of the mind that has on some occasion touched your soul with the scepter of a fantasy illusion never to be realized? Whatever your intention, it was beautiful, and warming, and delightful.

But then, I also was taken on a short journey into jealousy, anger, frustration, and perhaps even loneliness of heart. Your words so aptly depicted your feelings, as should any poet worthy of the name.

I found that your heartfelt, honest, and colorful word pictures rewarded the expectant reader with jewels worthy to be kept as prizes taken away from an encounter with a creative imagination and gifted word crafter.

My personal observations stem from being myself a poet. I think that a poet does more than just share thoughts or who bares a soul. A poet creates realities in the mind of the reader, and communicates on a level much higher than mere dialogue. A poet must have the ability to craft emotions as literary sculptures to be appreciated by anyone who might stop by for a visit, who would like to experience a smile, a warm fuzzie, a sympathetic or empathetic rhythmical kinship with things written. You have accomplished all of that.

Your work is worthy to be read and appreciated by a variety of readers across cultures and continents, because your words are universal as are your feelings. I give you a two thumbs up and a backing with pleasure.

PawPaw Mike LaRiviere
Eden's Door

Nanci, Poetry is a very precious gift. I say that as a fellow poet and like art, it has endless interpretation. It has healing powers both to the writer and the reade,r which adds to its beauty, and I can see this in your work.

I have read most of your poems and I do have my favorites some of them are "Joy", "Silence", "Simple Love", "The Day", "The Child" and "The Final Sunset"( I had notebooks just for sunset poetry, I wrote about the different sunsets across the country wherever I went)
Your poem Exisiting, like a few others would make great lyrics for songs.....

The thing about poetry is its honesty, you can't lie in poetry without it being revealed, its like trying to dance when your sad...impossible, you can sway or rock maybe but not dance, just like when you try and force or fake a poem it lacks the emotion, it just is.

Unfortunately what we lose when we read poetry is where the breaks or pauses go, that is why I think this would make a great audio book. It''s not to say we can't be moved by reading it, of course we are, but I feel we would be blown away by listening to your personal expression.

I have two poems in my book, and though people have commented on the impact, I know they are more powerful and moving when I recite them.

Your poems are very touching, extremely powerful and I can tell they have comforted you for many years...Well done God Bless Backed with both a smile and tears Patricia aka Columbia Layers of the Heart

Hello Nancy:

I like the care and love that you put into the dedications. That alone revealed the art of the author and set the tone for the collection.

I began to randomly jump from chapter to chapter and I was struck at your ability to communicate the deepest of anguish and frustration in such a beautiful manner. After several such poems, I was encouraged to encounter forgiveness, healing, and redemption in "Opening Doors" (Chapter 3).

I do pray that you continue to experience the balm of healing in every sphere of your life; and that future readers would likewise experience healing in in like circumstances in their own lives.

James

Poetry conveys feeling in a way that prose seldom does. Your poems are beautiful. It is notoriously difficult to have poetry commercially published, but luckily these days, you can make your own books, the poems perhaps interspersed with your best photographs. I can see this book of poems as a beloved family treasure.
Marj.

Nanci -

Moods and Expressions - poignant reflections, lovely rhymes and rhythms. This collection will touch many people and hopefully inspire someone somewhere - in the middle of nowhere – to also find words for their intimate experiences and find healing in expressing them. Thanks for the sharing. Refreshing an earlier comment here and taking the opportunity to gift your poems with stars :) Thanks for your support, Nanci. Pia

Five stars from me. Your poems are very strong, emotive and clever.

Good poetry is the ability to put the complex into the simple and I think you've really done it here. In my 'Everyman's Poetry' I try to reflect people's emotions and desires towards other people and you really achieve that here. If you would like to have a read of my poetry and let me know what you think, it would be much appreciated. You really have a raw desire to write and convey your emotions, hold on to that

best of luck

If I know you as a friend, I now know you as a poet. Your words bring out feelings and I wanted to call you and speak to this person, a new person I'm meeting for the first time. Congradulations on this work of art, I feel honored by the presence of you in my life.

Your Friend
Diane

Hi, I read 10 poems and the ones I liked the best are; Whatever it is and Just a dream. As an observation, some of your poems use the same first person pronoun a bit much, like starting too many stanzas with I, try mixing it up a bit with some other ways to reference the same meaning. Also, I noticed you did the same thing with the preposition, the in some poems. Just observations. The two poems I cited are not like that, so are more representative of clean poetic verse, my preference.
Thanks for inviting me to read it and I have ranked the book as well.
Roberta

I like this descriptive poetry. Reminds me of the introspection seen in so many poets before us. Well done.

Best,
Justis Call
Prestidigitations

I absolutely loved your book. The poetry was real and emotional--I could feel your pain. I write poetry also, but yours is so much better! Keep up the good work.

Hi, Nancy. It's Larry. I'm going to read your book soon. Love always.

I read 3, 14 and 18
I don't read much poetry, so I'm probably not best person to comment. I liked them though and I know how difficult they are to write.
small typo in 18, should be tossed and turned upon its shadow, no apostrophe
good luck
Charlie

Nanci. Absolutely right. Moods and expressions. I read a good few of your poems and looked for one that might be hopeful or uplifting. But I think I miss the point. What you have are deeply held feelings put into elegant words which need not necessarily be polly-anna cheerful. I did like The Day and the last line, 'putting the day to rest'. That was lovely. In the road already taken, I hoped she wouldn't turn back, but would find an adventurous new path. These pieces of writing are a good way of putting into words experiences of life and thereby relieving all sorts of issues. This is bravely done.
Backed,
Ann Mynard (Windshadow)

"Whatever it is you're looking for" is definitely my poem right now. Thank you fro writing from the heart and from your life experiences, Nanci. I can see these poems are meant to be songs, they will sound even better when accompanied by a melody. Is it an idea to try and get some musicians interested in your poems?
Please, one typo remark: I think it is important in the dedication that you missed an 'o ' in too soon (or was it too young, can't scroll back now I'm here!) The purists on this site (hear, hear!) mau judge you for this. I don't but I say it to protect you from them and because it is so right at the start of your book. Lots of success and love from Hannah

MOODS AND EXPRESSIONS by Nanci Reney.

A true measure of good poetry is its power to instill upon the heart and mind a capacity for memorising it and lovingly quoting it verbatim to others. Seamus Heaney may well be a Nobel Poetry Prize winner but few people can directly quote from memory any of his poems; the same goes for Ted Hughes. Now with Robert Frost it's a different matter altogether. Shall I compare thee, Nancy Reney, to those illustrious poets? Why not! There are many memorable and quotable lines to savour and contain in memory - with singing resonances - from this Collection of 53 poems. Too many to separate out individually and finely critique here. To do do so would damn the lot with faint praise. Suffice it to opine that your your range is wide and varied. I chose - The Waves - you succeed formidably here by invoking thoughts and sensations that anyone could readily identify with: the moods and expressions perfectly captured. A typo of (wonering) for wondering and (seaguls) for seagulls does not detract from a lovely composition that just requires those minor corrections. Poetess unparalled - "On me your voice falls as they say love should - with an enormous YES!" Backed.

Tony Brady - SCENES FROM AN EXAMINED LIFE - Books 1,2 & 3.

Hi Nancy,

I'm afraid poetry is not my scene.

However, I can see that there is some nice writing here and I'm sure it will find a market. Good luck with it.

Ron

In my opinion much better. Apart from a few minor adjustments to keep your rhythm going (I found a couple of the lines a bit too wordy) Opening Doors was a poem that really made me want to read more. Your structure was good in the poem and you had the odd rhyme thrown in there for good measure.

Then with Lights Out and Why I Cry to follow it up I found myself wanting to read your fourth poem Whatever it is you're looking for. Again, good imagery and the odd rhyme and aliteration thrown in there. The only thing I would look at is your line structure with it. My example being, with no punctuation after "There's no one to share your life with", "Your tear filled eyes fear" Caused me to stutter and broke the rhythm of the poem which i felt was going quite well up until that point because you want to continue the next line in the same breath and reading "There's no one to share your life with your tear filled eyes fear", I hope you can see what I mean.

Now at this point you have proven your worth to me (as a reader) as a poet and apart from if subsequent poems are all dire (which i HUGELY doubt) I will want to read this collection of poems through.

Kindest Regards
Alan Dartnall
~The Demon's Vengeance~

I wish to add to my earlier comment. Make poem 52 "Lights Out" or something similar to that standard of work as your first poem. That poem was superb

Kindest Regards

Alan Dartnall
~The Demon's Vengeance~

Hi Nancy,

On the whole a nice collection of poetry however, I have to admit that i was a tad disappointed. You convey your poems well and the issue i have is not with the content by with your structuring. This is coming from a shakespearian and someone who loves rhymes and feels that the essence of a poem is rooted with the ability to merge rhythm, rhyme and structuring flawlessly together, to which i see the potential of throughout your poetry, so far anyway, I don't see it come through with the message.

"The Middle of Nowhere." I found didn't have a structure to it or rather no real rhythm pattern for me to get lost in the poem. I honestly do not believe that this is the strongest poem in your collection. If this were to be published and I picked it up in the shelf. I would turn through and only glance at your dedication, which are lovely, and acknowledgements then to this as the first poem, I think i would put the book back down and walk away. I'm not trying to be harsh or rip your work but that is what i felt. I sat here thinking, do i want to look at the next one?

The second poem, "To a friend." Is a lovely poem with an equally as strong message to convey however, and again this is just my opinion, the rhymes were not always there. There were parts of it that I was really feeling for instance:

"You never let anyone tell you what to do
But now as you bend
Wishing your heart to mend
Don't walk away
I have something to say."

That was powerful. if the whole poem was similar to that I would be like, "Wow, I want to read more. I want to experience more of her soul." You've created that connection because when someone goes to read poetry, (and for blokes unless its to impress a woman,) people are looking for someone who can sum up how they feel within a poem from their own experiences. I feel that lies within the rhythm, rhyme and structure of your poem, the phrase i borrowed to puctuate my point proves it and I'm sorry, but as i said earlier your poems have the potential to REALLY convey what you mean however I just don't feel it on the opening two poems and i was really looking at poets, you would lose me by now.

And it would have been a shame. Because even though you aren't really rhyming your stanzas within it, (I know it sounds hypocritical, but sometimes so long as you have two out of the three, it works.) "Why I cry" is a REALLY powerful poem and I would never have read it. For those who have lost someone, you create a powerful connection with the rhythm and structure of the poem, which means that the rhyme isn't as necessary as in the previous two. I think this is partly due to the longer sentence structure, it allows the beat to do the rhyme's work (I hope that makes sense.)

Second stanza, after "his eyes lost their spark, your spark" works but you need to maybe revise the beginning of the next line because whilst reading i found that the beat stutters with the change of tense of "I cried." Which is a real shame because up to the point its really carrying me along. I'm really feeling the loss of your sister and how it affected you all.

Personally I would make that one your first poem, after a couple of revisions to improve the flow on the highlighted line and also "You won't be there to wave goodbye on Prom night" caused a stutter in the flow with me, this really does show me as the reader how good a poet you are which the earlier ones do you no justice. If you were wanting to keep them, I would hide them somewhere in the middle because by then, I've read some of your better work, you've proven to me that your collection is worth my time to read. So the weaker poems will not be as big an issue because I know by that point how good you are. You've created a connection with me and you are baring your soul which i can FEEL and that is the most important part of poetry. Unlike a story where i have the first few pages to get your attention and prove my worth. Poets are lucky if they get the first couple of poems. The first impression HAS to be good, otherwise your best work will never be heard which is a shame because the potential is certainly there.

I hope that you do not find me too harsh, I am not trying to put you down. Its just I feelt the first two poems let you down, when the third poem is really really good and like i said, I would never have known because I would have placed it back up on the shelf amongst the others and selected another.

I've decided to back it on the third poem, because I see the potential there for a good read. So i'm going to pretend that poem was the first one i read and not "The Middle of Nowhere" or "To a Friend".

Kindest Regards
Alan Dartnall
~The Demon's Vengeance~

I find this to be, on the whole, a very nice collection of poems of the ordinary - and I mean that in a good sense - you versify feelings that we have all shared, which are ordinary in that sense. Some of them particularly stand out: "The Sun", "The Road Already Taken", and "Nosy Bee" (watch the spelling, and also in another poem, "lightning" is misspelled). I would like to see you continue to grow and take risks as a poet - don't be afraid to let go of rhyme and meter and allow your imagination to run riot. The less successful of these poems feel too cool and controlled - prose that has been put into versified form. Don't be afraid to go into the frightening, the obscure, the dangerous. That's what poets are most needed for - as psychological pioneers.

I've read seven poems. They show how much you care about your loved ones and how aware you are of nature. I enjoyed them.

I've already backed- but wanted to let you know that I really enjoyed your work. My favorites are Opening Doors (I can relate to learning to love yourself and finding peace); also, You Had To Look (kind of funny in a morbid way- because we've all had friends that it blowed to be friends with- and you finally just get sick of) and Ruthie's Garden (very courageous to bare your soul like that- Gardens are personal and reflect the gardener. When my grandfather passed on- we watched as every fruit tree he planted on the property, 5 total, got sick and died- strange but true- so I can relate to the sentiment). Good Luck with this wonderful endeavor. And thanks again for your support on "No Do Overs..."
Carla Marie

You have written some very beautiful and moving poems. I especially related to This is Why I Cry, as I too recently lost a very close friend who had a teenage daughter, so that one really touched me. You have some very heartfelt emotions and subject matter and I love your writing style.
Best of luck
Rachael
Dreamscape

Chapter 14,15,16
A charming collection of poems that I am happy to back.

nit in ch 15 - withi ts food – with its food.

Tony
Life Bringer

Terrific work - someone commented on it as "melodic." Agreed.

Backed!
Justis Call
Prestidigitations

Nice work. I particulary love chapter 8. The Rose. Backed. Also, thanks for your support
Carla Marie

Hi Nanci
How did I miss this before?

Well never too late to read such beautiful words. My favorite is "To a Friend"
Your words are inspiring and makes us remember the true meaning of life. It is uplifitng and caresses the hardened emotions that we are embedded and embittered with.

Best of luck

The Mind Setter

Hi Nancy,
I read several of your poems tonight . . . "Why I cry," really touched my heart, especially in light of the beautiful dedication you wrote to your sister. I am sorry about your loss, your grief resonates from the pages.
On a lighter note . . . you have very simple elegance that leaves your poetry open to interpretation, an element which can be difficult to achieve . . .
Thank you for bringing your book to my attention, and good luck.
Cly (Hybrid)

Hello Nanci, Thank you for opening up your heart to your readers. Every poem here has a poignancy which is truly touching. The title is 'Moods and Expressions': as a reader, I would love to see the other side of your writing. Moods come in different guises and you have such a way with words that I believe a few lighter poems would turn your really excellent book of poetry into a first class one. Having said that I loved the Groundhog poem. BACKED with pleasure. Thank you for backing A PASSING STORM and for your comments.
Good luck and best wishes to you.
Phyllis
A PASSING STORM

Nanci, heartfelt and enjoyable. Smiled at the Groundhog. Backed. CW (To Save the Sun)

Nanci,
Your poems are filled with so much emotion that it is hard to comment. They are i think very specific to you and your story. They are full of sorrow joy and anger (Mr Groundhog in particular!). I have read straight thru til chapter 12.
I wish you the inner peace you seek and much joy in your life
:)
Diane

Hi
I really liked the poems I have read so far. I will come back again and again (if i can find the time)
I'll back it too
ATB
Terry

Glad to have come across this, poetry's not my usual thing. Intriguing and moving - like the different takes on themes e,g, seasons, aspects of relationships, across the poems. Will return to dip in- good luck

You have a lot of nice thoughts and images here. I spent time out of the middle of nowhere, doing much the same thing. You have an honest voice, which I believe is important in poetry, and your language captures both the physical environment and the emotions you're focusing on.

My criticism would be your punctuation. Punctuation controls cadence, more so than the actual words and the line breaks. Besides their typical roles in joining together words into a thought, and separating thoughts from one another, punctuation tells your reader when to breath and how long to pause.

Oscar Wilde once said that he spent half of a day putting in a comma, and the other half of the day taking it out. I think he may have been exaggerating, but I do appreciate where he was coming from.

I wish you luck getting published. The world is a better place for its poets.

Nanci - I have read your beginning dedications and some of your work. My life seems to have followed a simialr path and I too write poetry when emotions are running very high or very low. Very happy to back your work.

I particularly liked the first poem. I thought it was very clever in giving hints about the context. At first I thought the writer was going through the house of the departed sister mentioned in the dedication. Then I reaized it was actually the writer's childhood home - revisited and now reinhabited/reclaimed. Very clever. I enjoy your simple direct sincerety.

Good luck with your project. See you at the ED.

Sincerely,

Will

Nancy thanks for backing The Collector. i am going to back your poems and will comment later this weekend once I have given them fuller attention - have kids all about me in the daylight hours!!

David
The Collector of Tales

Moods and expressions
Backed
Eveleen
(Turning a new leaf)

Dear Nanci Reney,

To be a poet in any age is impossible. To be a poet now is only for the strongest of the strong and that lovely New Hampshire poetess is you. Keep your spirits grounded in that magnificent granite state -- home to the greatest American poet Robert Frost -- and live free or die, but viva la Nanci Reney and her glorious words.

Your authonomy sister in words and mutual feelings for Ground Hog and much more.

Best wishes for Moods and Expressions and backed.

GK Stritch
CBGB Was My High School

I am curious to know why a NH gal would take a look at CBGB, so if you have a moment please drop me a line.

Absolutely beautiful. What more can I say. Eunice - The Temple Dancer.

I really enjoyed reading the poetry you have here. Very emotional and reaching. I don't really know what to comment other than that I believe these are good because they provoke a range of reactions and I believe good poetry does that. Poetry is not something I think I can critique in a harsh way because it can be written in so many different styles and on so many levels. Any poetry that can provoke a reaction is to me, strong poetry. I wish you luck in the ratings. Backed.
Jenny

Good after noon Nanci. Read some of you poems. Nice stuff. I like to dabble in poetry myself.

Nick
Invasion from Within

Hi Nancy,

I like reading poetry and I most especially enoyed yours. Well done. I found Ground Hog delightful and needed a giggle!
Cheers
Bobbee
Kali's Daughters

A fellow New Hampshirite! I too, live in 'le granite state! I love poetry but only dabble in it as far as writing goes. The rythym and prose are top notch. I am not a professional poetry critic but I am a consumer and I loved it!
Carrie
The Darkwood Tales: Demouri's Defeat

I love roses, and this one touched me particularly. Thanks for the read.

Nice. Lonely, and nice!

I really like poems and these are some of the better ones I have read in a while! :)

MOODS AND EXPRESSIONS - 8/5/2010

These are very touching poems, as they should be. It is easy for the reader to understand the emotion. I like the vivid descriptions and commonplace subjects. I notice, though, that some of the words just don't quite fit the moods of the poems. Some of them are a bit stark in presentation in spite of the rich emotion. Some better word choices would soften the lines for more fluid reading, and the sounds of the words themselves could mimic what they represent. I realize one has a great deal of latitude with style in poetry, but punctuation still assists the reader in correctly interpreting the meaning of the poem. In many of these poems, commas that would give pause or emphasis are missing.

You have a very vivid imagination and and eye for details. Good luck with your work.

Marc - Where's The Ivy

Nanci - Just checked out the first few chapters of your poetry as promised. I really can't comment on your work as poetry really isn't my thing but i'll back your work as it looks like its written from the heart, and as with most things creative, its the heart that matters. Regards.
Adrian Lee

Nancy, you said you used to play the guitar and sing, and I think this comes over in your poems. The themes you address are deep and universal, and your feelings come through, but while I feel they would make really good songs, I'm not sure if they quite work as poems for reading off the page. Call me old-fashioned, but I like poetry to have a bit more rhyme and rhythm than most of yours have, and it would be easier to feel the rhythm if they were accompanied by music - guitar, piano or whatever, but obviously something gentle. You have a poetic soul, but it hasn't quite translated into the written word - yet . It may still happen, and I admire you for trying so honestly, and for putting your work out there for others to share. Best of luck.
PS Why don't you sing and play the guitar any more? It seems a pity not to ...

nanci- you are one talented poet - finally I was able to return to all you uploaded and I have to say it is one of the best collections here! Backed again with pleasure.

Liz
The Cheech Room