From 'Theirs' To 'Mine' Poem by Julia Klimenova

With these words, Julia the jewel, I think you speak for lots of us here on PH. You certainly speak for me. Thanks for lending my stalled Saturday morning a philosophical note. Warmest regards, Gina.

Mary Oliver, in her manual 'A Poetry Handbook', wrote that in order 'to write well it is entirely necessary to read widely and deeply. Good poems are the best teachers.' Reading poems written by others often spark off new ideas and give inspiration for our own poems but what we write will not be a slavish copy but something entirely original, and this poem expresses that superbly - and with your usual wonderful economy of words.

Excellent poem. I find the ideas and thoughts of others, the simple turn of a phrase, serve as a springboard for my own imagination.

Wonderful. I have the same fears - but that last line has just allayed them. Excellent write. Hugs Anna xxx

i surely can identify with ur poem.........i guess many more can................ liked it..........excellently written........ ;)

Julia, such honesty and sensitivity - your poetry is very much missed. Know that your words and images inspire others. In a wonderful way, through poetry, we are all one...

Poetry written from the heart redeems everything.Our life is a vessel overflowing with experiences, thoughts, visions, knowledge... that are all absorbed from outside.A fresh vision is a rarity...unless we wipe out all that we absorbed and begin anew.Like a child....we must be reborn....

True words indeed. Great poem. I often think, 'Has it already been said? ' And, more often than that I ask myself, 'Is it any good? ' We poets are sometimes an insecure lot, but then again maybe not when we ask others a half world away to comment on a poem.

I don't suppose there is a writer alive who does not wonder if we are writing our own words or just rehashing someone else's thoughts, but this is so well put that it sure made me feel better. Maybe I had an original thought after all! Scarlett