1. osscreepy1 2. ernyoka1 3. digitalgrey So many excellent interpretations on a theme! My first choice was easy, because the picture grabbed me the first time I saw it, and the impression hasn't diminished with time. The photographs were excellent examples on the theme. BPMAC's entry tore my heart to bits, but I didn't feel it was proper to vote for an artist no longer among us - I do appreciate the sentiment, though! All of the entries had a story to tell - this is a wonderful theme gallery!

Thanks, Dialyn - There are some great interpretations there already!

Everyone, thanks so much for your input. It depressed me!
BUT, it did make it clear that I must get a newer machine, and gave me the idea of looking for rebuilts! One person's trash is another's treasure! Thanks to all - Tien

Processor: Intel Pentium II, MMX, ~266MHz
Memory: 384MB RAM

I need a PAYING job!

When I got this pc, they hadn't invented Giga ANYTHING!

/-;

For the good news, I have 33 more Mhz than I thought I had!

post it quick, please !!!

Nothing like another lump of depression before going to sleep... I hope your next write is an "upper."

canvas and caustics...
blood splatters petals
dripping into river styx
and acid rain seeps.

and the colors bleed ...
see them try to run!
absorbed by sun,
dried and immobile.

faded away

cruel cold death...
fragmented in crystalline frost!
forgotten froth feeding
the springtime of youth.

epitaph: they have bled me dry
and now I, but a mouldering
slime, sink into the depths
of time...

where gone the glory days
of childhood dreams?
grandeur and grandiose schemes?

promising ventures come to naught...
and all gifts given, promptly forgot!

acid etched and weakening,
and fibers stretched.

canvas and caustics -
all stories end.

Thanks to everyone - and sorry that I started this thread and then had pc problems and couldn't follow it. I am strapped for time until September, but am growing interested in the "critique buddy" idea. As oldrogue said, some of us really do want polite, helpful feedback so that we can improve. I'll be away much of this week, but will try to post links to my current project as Crescent suggested sometime tonight or tomorrow. Again, thanks to all for the input!

I'd be happy to have one or two objective readers who comment. Unfortunately, too often a circle of "friends" makes for rather meaningless pats on the back. But, I do hope you find a critique buddy group anyway - it is a start! My latest project doesn't meet your criteria, I'm afraid /-; but I have done some things for the challenges that might. As to the comments, a simple "I liked it" might be just the encouragement someone needs. Lol, I once wrote an editorial and a reader wrote a comment twice as long as my write, haha. ?Where is he now?

Thanks for the additional information. It may still take a while for assimilation. I look forward to reading the forthcoming submissions.

To add one last comment, thank you Shoshanna and Meico for providing me with feedback! (-: It is truly appreciated! ~Tien

I don't expect most of the readers to be professional writers, reviewers, or critics, but I'd still like to know if they responded favorably to something I've written, or found it offensive or worthless. Skills needed - ability to read... you have that skill! (-: At other writing sites, I've seen a lot more feedback, and much of it was actually beneficial! Again, it's just my opinion. PS - especially with poetry, I have to admit that often "I just didn't get it." But, by reading assorted comments, I gained insights through other people's interpretations. It becomes a much richer learning experience.

I have to admit, I don't have an instant grasp of this concept.

49 successful downloads proves there is interest. I also write by hand on paper first, but I like web publishing. It has enabled me to connect with people all over the planet. Still, I have to admit, I'd rather curl up with a good book than sit here getting eye strain.