h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Entry: For My Son - A47087562
Author: minorvogonpoet - U3099090

Do you think this counts as a 'better' Valentine?

If not, I'm not bothered, as I want to have a go at a 'rising' one too.

It does it for me. Once upon a time I would have dismissed it in a dash.
But now I am responsible for three young lives and cannot bear the day I have to let them fly.

I love the orange puddles and the fragility of a boy on a bike. Has he got a paper round?

Thanks, Trout.

He's older than that and cycling hundreds of miles a week to work. I still worry about him and his Dad's worse!

Letting go is the hardest thing.

The 'better' isn't immediately obvious to me, though I can think of two ways it might fit - that it's 'better' this way, letting go, however difficult. Or he'd better be ok.

But I love the poem. The fragility, and the free-flying of cyclists is so clear, and the letting go is matter for thought. My sister and b-i-l both cycle a lot, I try not to think about it sometimes. N was out cyling at 10.30 at night the night before last in snow and ice ... b-i-l, and also my boss for that matter, owe a great deal to their helmets.

I'll forgive the Stretcher judges their evilness, just on the basis of this one poem.

No matter how big he is, I can feel that the bike will always be nothing more than polished string to you. It tears (rips) me the reader. That's the consequence of stretching ain't it?

There's the sense of you getting better at suppressing the worry of knowing your son is out in the dangerous world, trusting him to do his cycling sensibly and as safely as he can manage. The love and concern comes through very strongly and the images are clear.

Very good

I love the splitting of the sonnet into 2 parts - the first a vivid description of "you", and the second your own reaction and self-talk.

Certainly "better" than any of the drivel in the card shops!

Thank you everyone.

I did mean 'better' in the sense of learning to let go.

This is a very good poem about the concern of a mother for her son, which is vividly described from her point of view. The view is evocative of a certain way of life.

I don't see the connection between that and the concept of 'better'.

I don't really see it as a Valentine, either, but maybe I don't understand Valentines?

Interpreting the challenge is a problem, isn't it?

They said 'To tie in with Valentine's Day, we'd like you to come up with a love poem.'

They didn't actually ask for a Valentine - at least in the usual sense. I reckon the wording leaves it open to any type of love. Whether that was intended, dunno.

Love poem. Good deal.

This is *definitely* a love poem.

Hmmm...*looks at dog*...hmmm...

From the dog's p.o.v. ... ?

Interesting thought.

What those judges deserve, if you ask me

It's a wonderful poem mvp. I am a mother, and I can relate to it. I, too, am trying to let go. It is difficult because you can't rationalize the process - you'll just always be a mum, worrying.

It looks as if I'll have to choose between entering 'For My Son' and not worrying too much about the terms of the competition; or submitting the 'rising' Valentine I'm working on.

And I'm waiting to see your Valentine from the pov of a dog!

Thanks Merry.

I've changed the end of this, because I was lecturing another Stretcher-case on the merits of avoiding abstractions in poetry and realised that I'd got two huge ones in my last line.

The new version at least has 'better' in it!

I'm going to take the plunge and submit this one. To me it's a better Valentine because it's about loving better: loving enough to let go.

If the judges don't like it, so be it.

Nice changes.

And it's a poem.

Ms GB