Jonathan Moore

Member since March 4, 2008

Member for 18 years, 3 months

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111 Poems

2,084 Comments

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Most recent

The Weight Of Words

Posted Aug 25, 2019 · 50 lines · 8 critiques

The Weight Of Words

In my youth, words were an anchor,
defining the acceptable,
passing judgement on my actions,
and marking life's expectations.

In adulthood, they were purpose,
as I shaped the jagged pieces,
of failed assumption and regret,
into dreams I found worth living.

As a father, words were power,
to sweep away limitations
and pave the paths of my children
with unbound possibilities.

And now, as I approach twilight,

Read the rest of the poem Show less

the responsibility of
the phrases I choose to utter
are a solemn obligation.

But, much more important than that,
are the words I choose to embrace,
and the words I chose to reject,
and the words I refuse to hear.

This does not pause the clamoring,
of those who wish their tired demands,
would waver my resolution
and litter my soul with their greed.

But it provides to me a lens,
a grand perspective I use, to
filter the noise and sad ashes
that were never of consequence.

And there is peace to be found here.
A realization of purpose,
a final construct of wonder,
that defines my destination.

Original

In my youth, words were an anchor,
Defining the acceptable,
Passing judgement on my actions,
And marking life's expectations.

As a father, words were power,
To sweep away limitations
And pave the paths of my children
With unbound possibilities.

And now, as I approach twilight,
The responsibility of
The phrases I choose to utter
Are a solemn obligation.

But, much more important than that,
Are the words I choose to embrace,
And the words I chose to reject,
And the words I refuse to hear.

Jonathan Moore’s timeline

March 2023
03 Fri

Anniversary
15 years of membership
June 2020
13 Sat

Critiqued
"The Land of the Free Shooters, Home of the Killers" by @Edna Sweetlove
"This comment should be beneath you."
09 Tue

Critiqued
"BARBARIANS' FATE" by @scribbler
"Apparently the opinion in question is that anyone you dislike deserves to be murdered. This is not a conservative view. This is the view of a cult. I do not wish to continue this discussion as it is not a political disc…"
03 Wed

Critiqued
"BARBARIANS' FATE" by @scribbler
"I must state, this is a disappointment. Advocating the murder of those you disagree with should be beneath you. I believe those who have joined the cult the Republican party has become are dangerous and unbalanced. Your…"
January 2020
15 Wed

Critiqued
"Roasted Faraway (For Prof. Pius Adesanmi)" by @Izunna Okafor
"This is categorized as free verse but presented in a structured format. I would suggest full free verse. Without changing a word: Beyond the shrubs of Sahara Lifted a munt of brainy bond. Over the Mississippi of Ethiopi…"
13 Mon

Critiqued
"Rye Whiskey, Rye Whiskey (a sonnet)" by @Alan S Jeeves
"One of the things we must constantly watch for is sacrificing the flow to fit the structure we have chosen. It is tempting to do, and some folks get away with it. i never have, but some folks do. For me, the stilted gra…"
December 2019
01 Sun

Critiqued
"why not" by @WonderWoods
"I'm taking the first few lines and providing my thoughts on structure. One of the things i am doing is to use a decreasing/increasing meter. This creates a tension to the piece and pulls the reader through until the nex…"
November 2019
12 Tue

Critiqued
"why not" by @WonderWoods
"The focus here is dark. This in not a bad thing, merely a thing. With a dark focus, I find it preferable to build it slowly and let the ending crash against the expectations of the reader. My goal in a dark piece it to…"
October 2019
04 Fri

Critiqued
"PRISONER WITHIN" by @Ndubuisi Onyeacholam
"I like the stark realism and the hope. I'm a big fan of hope. Structure-wise, I feel it wanders with a shifting rhyme scheme. I stumbled when the rhyme scheme shifted, it caused me to pause to make certain i was reading…"
August 2019
27 Tue

Received a critique
on The Weight Of Words from @Eumolpus
"I would drop the second stanza. It leads us off into a different abstraction of possibilities, I don't think they connect with the narrative below. I also dropped some "And"s, and a "much"- sounds tighter to me. This po…"
27 Tue

Received a critique
on The Weight Of Words from @Sparrow
"Your write is top line as usual, we expect nothing less. Now you left the room before uttering that last few lines, that I would like to see. Another stanza would complete the journey.. Yours Ian .."
27 Tue

Received a critique
on The Weight Of Words from @scribbler
"This has good bones. But it reads like prose to me. A bit of alliteration or other poetic devices here and there would help. And that last stanza........have you considered adding rhyme to the last couple of lines to in…"
26 Mon

Received a critique
on The Weight Of Words from @weirdelf
"It's just the last line really. A huge disappointment to a poem with so much intrinsic value. I think you were trying to say something almost the opposite. Actually, content-wise there are things strike me odd. Can you…"
25 Sun

Received a critique
on The Weight Of Words from @tyro
"I love the theme, and find the execution of the theme very good. "And now, as I approach twilight, The responsibility of The phrases I choose to utter Are a solemn obligation." This is my favorite stanza because it spea…"
25 Sun

Posted a poem
The Weight Of Words
"The Weight Of Words"
Open thread 50 lines
03 Sat

Received a critique
on The Thrumming in my Veins (Primal Poetry Workshop) from @Geezer
"with Jess. I do understand the poem and I can appreciate the thoughts and your emotion. I too, had a little difficulty in going deeper and getting it. It should be only vaguely connected thoughts that may or may not be…"
June 2019
21 Fri

Received a critique
on The Thrumming in my Veins (Primal Poetry Workshop) from @weirdelf
"but the content suggests you did not in fact go very deep, there is a lot of forebrain thought there. This sort of work definitely deepens with experience. Please try it several more times if you're up for it. No need t…"
21 Fri

Received a critique
on The Thrumming in my Veins (Primal Poetry Workshop) from @Patricia
"I really liked this poem. Especially the imagery. You must have gotten some good vision from the drumming. Bravo! B9Pat"
21 Fri

Posted a poem
The Thrumming in my Veins (Primal Poetry Workshop)
"In my blood I feel a calling"
Open thread 21 lines
11 Tue

Posted a poem
Ignorance and Stupidity Abound
"The song I learned:"
Open thread 16 lines
May 2018
28 Mon

New follower
@Jackweb
March 2018
03 Sat

Anniversary
10 years of membership
July 2017
28 Fri

Posted a poem
Misunderstanding One’s Endless Wisdom
"Insidiously, as joy tinged with salt,"
Open thread 19 lines
April 2016
05 Tue

Posted a poem
Belief, Perverted
"Religion, I find quite distasteful,"
Open thread 5 lines
March 2016
04 Fri

Posted a poem
The Repugnant Underbelly's Malicious Persona
""At least he's a Republican,""
Open thread 29 lines
January 2016
31 Sun

Posted a poem
Near Sunset, in the Spring
"By a lake,"
Open thread 10 lines
December 2015
07 Mon

Posted a poem
An Early Dusk with Single Malt
"In all the “Once upon a times”"
Open thread 24 lines
November 2015
04 Wed

Posted a poem
Reflections on an Uncaring World
"Our lives are assailed with tragedy"
Open thread 24 lines
October 2015
27 Tue

Posted a poem
Relaxing with a Dram of Scotch
"The sun splatters memories"
Open thread 12 lines
July 2015
20 Mon

New follower
@Eduardo Cruz
May 2015
24 Sun

Posted a poem
Retrospective in Clay: Epilogue
"Edited"
Open thread 8 lines
15 Fri

Posted a poem
A Retrospective in Clay: Interlude
"I open my eyes and I think of you,"
Open thread 14 lines
March 2013
03 Sun

Anniversary
5 years of membership
December 2011
28 Wed

New follower
@infinite_dwarf
April 2011
29 Fri

New follower
@press
July 2010
09 Fri

Added to bookshelf
Suck free Poetry Volume 3: A Question of Caricature
"Jonathan Clyde Moore (2010) Suck Fre Publishing http://www.SuckFreePoetry.com The third volume in my collection of poetry"
06 Tue

Most-discussed work
Forever is Too Short a Word

37 critiques to date.
February 2010
28 Sun

Critique milestone
1,000 critiques given
July 2009
09 Thu

Added to bookshelf
Suck Free Poetry Volume 2: Prelude to a Battle of Wits
"Jonathan Moore (2009) Spewgilist.com http://www.suckfreepoetry.com This is the second volume in my poetry series"
March 2009
03 Tue

Anniversary
One year of membership
July 2008
07 Mon

Added to bookshelf
Suck Free Poetry Volume I: Flatearthers and Other Dreams
"Jonathan Clyde Moore (2008) Spewgilist.com Self published volume of poetry consisting of 40 poems of various lengths and styles. I was invited to act as a filler segment at a coffee house/ bookstore"
March 2008
15 Sat

Highest posting month
March 2008 — 7 poems
12 Wed

First critique offered
on "Love Lay Down" by @Beth
12 Wed

Added to bookshelf
Spewgilist.com
"Various (9998) http://www.spewgilist.com Spewgilist.com is an interview and review site that covers games and gamer culture from cards to boards to com"
06 Thu

First publication
When the Sky is but an Illusion
03 Mon

Joined Neopoet
Membership begins

First poem published 3 days later.

About Me

About me

Some people believe I have a hidden agenda, these people are not paying attention.

My background is in corporate IT. I've navigated the corporate world for nearly 40 years in companies as small as five employees and as large as more than a hundred thousand. Along the way I have held every imaginable position in the IT world from desktop support to Director. The perspective this gives me is that a good idea is always a good idea, no matter the origin. A poor idea is a poor idea and embracing it because it comes from a position of power is a mistake.

As with much of life, it is how we object to poor ideas that is critical. I have embraced the philosophy that it costs nothing to be polite and a kind deed is it's own reward.

Additionally, I will never take anything personally, no matter how it is meant. The reason is simple. There are a limited number of people whose opinion of me matters to me. Folks may intend to insult me, but I am not participating in that conversation as it hold no value.

I came to Neopoet looking for a workshop. I am a decent poet and an excellent editor. Neopoet has been an excellent community for me and I will continue to support it as I can.

Lastly, I live by one critical rule my father taught me.

"If it's not a competition, don't make it a competition."

In my interactions in this community, I will always strive to be collaborative and supportive of the work presented. If I offer critique, it is meant as observational and suggestive, never a demand or instruction. because Neopoet is a community, not a competition.

I trust you will find this community as welcoming and supportive as I have. If you do not, reach out to me or other advocates.

Location: Jacksonville area, FL, USA, USA

Favorite Poets

Keats

Kipling

Carroll

Yeats

Tolkien

Shakespeare

>> View all work

Contest Wins

This member has not yet won any contests.

Workshops

		Skill level:
Immersing the reader via imagery (Let's get started)	(syllabus)	Splash Pool	Started 2019-09-16	Concluded
Primal Poetry	(syllabus)	Plunge Pool	Started 2019-06-17	Concluded
Meet The Masters	(syllabus)	Shark Pool	Started 2015-06-05	Concluded
An Exploration of Style, Subject, and Critique	(syllabus)	Shark Pool	Started 2015-05-08	Concluded
Critique and Criticism	(syllabus)	Shark Pool	Started 2015-04-05	Concluded
To serve poet.	(syllabus)	Wading Pool, Splash Pool, Olympic Pool, Plunge Pool	Started 2014-05-22	Concluded
fixed verse – it's not a curse	(syllabus)	Olympic Pool, Plunge Pool	Started 2012-10-28	Concluded
Storytelling in Verse (sempiternal)	(syllabus)	Olympic Pool	Started 2012-09-29	Concluded