Oh, Brother! Why Forsook You Life With Elves? by Allee
Nerdanel · 28 May 2010 · Chapter 1: Oh, Brother! Why Forsook You Life With Elves?
What a beautiful poem. I love sonnets - it's probably my favourite type of poem to compose, and you've done a great job with the meter and rhyme scheme. I also love how you express Elrond's deep sorrow, and yet show how he comes to some resolution in the end - how they never truly will be parted, for they're some how always together, eternally.
MithLuin · 19 February 2007 · Chapter 1: Oh, Brother! Why Forsook You Life With Elves?
I like how it moves from grief and questioning to acceptance. It is hard to get closure in such a short space without it sounding contrived, but I think you've pulled it off! Well done.
Author's reply
Thank you for your kind comments. I agree--it's difficult not to sound contrived when moving to some sort of emotional resolution in so few words. I'm glad you think I pulled it off! Allee
docmon · 23 July 2005 · Chapter 1: Oh, Brother! Why Forsook You Life With Elves?
how wonderful! your sense of rhythm is terrific, and the bittersweet feeling of this poem pulled at my heartstrings.
Author's reply
Thank you for your kind words. I'm so pleased that you enjoyed it! I'm glad that I managed to convey the bittersweetness as I'd hoped. Thank you for taking the time to read and review.
Dreamflower · 18 July 2005 · Chapter 1: Oh, Brother! Why Forsook You Life With Elves?
Very well done. I love poetry that has discipline to it, and sonnets fall into that category. These musings by Elrond fit very well into the sonnet framework.
Author's reply
Thank you for taking the time to read and review this sonnet. I'm very glad that you enjoyed it. I like poetry with discipline, as well, and that's the very reason that I chose to write this poem as a sonnet. It's a challenge to try to stay true to what I want to say while preserving the meter and rhyme scheme--a good exercise for both the mind and the soul!
Armariel · 17 July 2005 · Chapter 1: Oh, Brother! Why Forsook You Life With Elves?
A well-crafted and moving sonnet. I almost expected it to be a bit hokey, just from the title, but it wasn't--far from it. The meter and rhyme scheme work together without being too predictable, and it all flows. Very well done!
Author's reply
I agree with you about the title--I'm really not wild about it! But since sonnets traditionally have the first line used as the title, and since I wanted to keep the first line as it was, I was kind of stuck. I keep warning people who say they're going to read it, "Okay, the title's a bit wierd, but when you read the sonnet, you'll understand." I think that in and of itself, the title comes across as melodramatic, but when you read the sonnet, you see that it's real heartfelt emotion (well, at least I intended it to be). I'm glad that you thought that it wasn't too predictable--you're right that sometimes trying to work within meter and rhyme scheme causes a poem to be predictable, and I did wonder about that with this sonnet. By the way, I am usually a short story writer and am just trying to develop my poetry skills . . . I do find that writing poetry is a nice break from short stories. It stretches me and forces me (in a good way!) to find new and unexpected ways of saying something. Thank you for taking the time to read and respond!