The PigPen's Resplendent Kaffeeklatsch

[milo]

If some perspective from a new member is useful: I understand the emphasis on critique and participation, it's essential - vanity fair is no good for the reader or potential poet. Your promotion of that is why I joined. However, insisting those that know no better - as once I'm sure was the case for you all - should know better, and then using that as critique to justify why the site might not be working, is not the means to encouraging new people to better poetry; if that is what you want?

I had some critique on my first post, for which I'm very grateful (thank you) and it will help me develop the piece - but so far, I've seen little in the forums that'd encourage those new to poetry to think it can be the joy it can be - where is the room for: hello, I know this probably isn't great, but I have something to say - how do I start to do that like the poems I read?

I'm sure the burden on moderators is tough, so I don't mean to belittle that, but if there is anyone out there that wants the forum to thrive again: I might suggest trying to focus on enjoying poetry and language for sake of . .enjoying poetry and language - mods and all. Then building up to workshops and improvements again from there.

I actually do love this idea.  We had, for a bit, a newbie area where it was more open to this exact concept but nobody wanted to be a newbie so nobody posted in it.

Of course anyone can post as they will in the "fun" forum or in the "Miscellaneous" forum where they aren't necessarily looking for critique but to share the joy of poetry.

I am not sure if I am reading you right though, is this what you are looking for?

Thanks for comments, I love to hear what the newbies have to say

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also, if you were so inclined, post them right here!!!  I will be sure to offer affirmation

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Every day  I watch the "who's online" stripe
at the bottom of the page
and I see a new member so I check

to see what they are up to -
they are checking out the "No Permissions Page"
they continue examining it as if

exploring
finding the new nook in
the "No Permissions Page"

Like a child finding that small
clearing in a copse of trees
where the sunlight angles in

that everyone else has forgotten
much like skinned knees
and birthday cake

they never make it past
the "No Permissions Page"
to where I am waiting for them