Please note: The following is only my opinion, and is no way meant to be taken seriously, or as a reflection of you and/or your work.
Hello! You entered your poem in the same contest I did, so I thought I would give a small helpful (hopefully!) review.
First of all, I love the subject matter. I can tell you have a great affection for your stepfather, and I love that you wrote a poem for him. Also note, I am writing this poem under the assumption that you are actually writing about your stepdad (give the bit you wrote in the description). If this is a fictional account (I have written many poems in the first person that never actually happened to me), feel free to alter or disregard my advice where appropriate.
Acrostic poems can be hard to write, especially as the first letter of each line has already been, by default, chosen for you. That said, I think you did a good job filling the acrostic. However, I do have a few things that I believe could be changed.
"Just six years old I was" I understand the limits of acrostic poems, but this line reads a little awkwardly for me. Perhaps I just have Star Wars on the brain, but it seems like something Yoda might say. Instead of ending the sentence there, perhaps you could flow it into the next line? Maybe:
Just six years old, I was
on the swingset in the park when he appeared.
This is just an idea, of course, and not to be taken as how I think the poem should read.
"Nice enough to buy me stickers." I love this line! As a child, I loved stickers, and would feel like one million bucks whenever I got more to add to my collection.
"And" Given the length of your other lines, this one seems a bit short. Perhaps you have struggled with this already, but maybe you could put another memory here? Maybe:
And give me yesterday's stale bread
To feed the squirrels at the park.
Again, this is just an idea. You should put whatever memories into the poem you cherish the most.
"He married my Mum the next
Autumn"
See what I wrote with the "and" line. The break in this sentence seems a bit awkward. When I read a poem, I read the breaks as pauses. He married my Mum the next (pause) Autumn. Read it aloud and you'll hear what I'm hearing. Try putting the entire sentence on the "h" line, and then put another line, about the wedding or about your stepdad, below (try to keep it focused on your stepdad though. While a few words about the preacher, your moms dress, or the people at the wedding might be nice, I think it would distract from the fact that this poem is about you and your stepdad). Maybe:
He married my Mum the next Autumn,
a smile on his face the day through.
(Just an example. When my parents married, my dad was grinning ear to ear the whole day [I wasn't born yet, but my parents have told me, and I have seen pictures]. Maybe your stepdad or mom has a nice picture memory they would like to share?)
"Not my Dad, but always my Dad; John". I'm not sure if you intended to write the line like this, or if it was merely a typo, but the repetition of the word "Dad" doesn't quite get the point across, in my opinion. Maybe you could alter it to show the affection you have for your stepdad? Maybe:
Not my father, but always my Dad; John
or even
Not my dad, but always my Daddy; John.
Just something to show that while he didn't father you, he is your dad in every other sense of the word.
Thanks for reading this rather long review, and I apologize for being so long winded! I had fun reading your poem, and wish you well in the contest. Write on!
Morgan Lynn |