Ranger26 Aug 2006

To me this is too long as a poem. If you were to turn it into prose it would work (and give you more scope for creativity). Alternatively, condense this until you're left with just the bare bones (removing a number of the pronouns would immediately cut this down). Dovina's much better than I at suggesting alternative ways of phrasing poetry so I won't try too much, but the gist of it is something like this:

(stanza 4)
Meals with my brother
Another room
No-one else
No time

In actual fact, that's probably more reduced than is necessary, but you see what I mean. Really, just go by the 'show, don't tell' idea. Give us the picture, let us work it out. At the moment it's very much your poem, your emotions. Turn it into our poem, our emotions - make us feel what you feel.

Let me know if you revise this, I'd be interested to read any edits :-)