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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: The Critique/Review (for writers) (05/06/10)
“Better is open rebuke than hidden love. Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses.” – Proverbs 26:5-6

It feels like a treasure, dear to my heart,
Is being ground to shivers—
But sanding is the only way
To shave away the biting slivers…

It feels like tasting bits of hell,
Like everything I dreamed is lost—
But refining is the only way
To purge the worthless dross…

It feels like I am slashed in pieces
Underneath the surgeon’s knife—
But operations are often needed
To save the retrograding life!

It feels like I have been betrayed
To hear a friend speak ill of me—
But if his assessment sprouts from love
’Tis not a touch of enmity.

It feels like life has been consumed
In scorching conflagration—
But sometimes even a forest fire
Is just the birthing of a nation!

Despite what I have felt
To see my heart so criticized,
I’ll keep each judgment as a jewel,
That I may learn, and become wise…
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Member Comments
Member
Date
Amanda Brogan
05/15/10
Great advice! How much wiser we will become if we heed the critiques that we recieve!
Beth LaBuff 
05/15/10
The is a gorgeous illustration of the Proverbs verse. I love your recurring lines, "It feels like…" and then "But…." This has such a powerful message!
Marilyn Schnepp 
05/16/10
This entry spells out how the Writer feels being critiqued; the benefits of being critiqued, and also how a writer can learn from it. Nicely stated in poetic fashion, hitting the nail on the head, Topic-wise. Creative, enjoyable read and well done!
Brenda Shipman
05/16/10
You truly get what writing means to a writer. These are our "babies" that we've birthed, and we're very touchy about what others say about them! Love the contrast between what you "feel", and what is true. Nicely done.
Mildred Sheldon
05/19/10
Beautifully written and very true. Sometimes critiques hurt, but if they are given in love than with God's help we can and do grow. We become better than we were.