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A Timely Intervention - Suzette Richards's Blog

About Suzette Richards
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Mission statement: I don’t use AI to generate or even tweak my poetry, because I am a better poet than it.

Poetry has been my passion since my retirement from an accountancy based career a dozen years ago. I currently live in South Africa and this rainbow nation has inspired many of my poems. I also have British nationality and embrace their grammar and spelling, but I read widely and am not fazed by strict grammar rules: A pavement/sidewalk; glasses/eyeglasses; judgement/judgment, et cetera; they are one and the same to me when I read poetry. To date, I have self-published a number of books, including the poetry anthology by international poets, © Time, 2014 ISBN 978-0-620-60578-6, and have been cited in many international publications, both poetry journals, as well as in scholarly handbooks. Some of my short stories have been published in international electronic publications, and one of my novellas had been short-listed for an Afrikaans SA publication.

I serve on the Board of Advisers, of Taleemi Baithak.

I have a number of poetic forms to my credit, notably, Suzette Prime (listed here on PoetrySoup), as well as Suzette sonnet.

My most recent books which include examples of my poetry as well as notes regarding poetry - available directly from me:

  1. © The Eutony of Words, 2018 ISBN 978-0-6399382-0-2
  2. © Docendo discimus, 2021 (Revised 2023) ISBN 978-0-620-95432-7
  3. © Flight of Thoughts, 2023 ISBN 978-0-6397-8880-7
  4. © Downtown - Poetic Devices, 2023 ISBN 978-0-7961-1968-1
  5.  © Rocking Poetry, 2033 ISBN 978-0-7961-2824-9
  6. NEW: moonwake - Suzette Prime poetry, ISBN 978-1-0370-1836-7(PDF). It is a collection of 61 Suzette Prime poetry spanning from 2012 (when I designed the poetic form), up till now.

A Timely Intervention

Blog Posted:3/2/2025 12:42:00 PM

Years ago I said that I would try to use the terminology associated with poetry – a type of shorthand, instead of long, complicated sentences that effectively says the same thing.

Poetry is like making something desirable: One need to be able to read the recipe ingredients and understand the method. I wrote some articles to expand the lexicon on here, eg juxtaposition, twist, etc.

One can’t make an omelette without breaking eggs. But I think I scrambled more brains than those I enlightened. It was a learning process for me as well and I was excited to share titbits with fellow poets.

I think that I got ahead of myself and in the process created an unnatural environment where poets felt lost amongst the jargon. Or like the kids used to say: ‘Too much information …’

Someone once said on here that writing poetry is an addiction. I agree and as such, the dirty dishes can wait.

Due to the kind intervention of a fellow poet, I will turn over a new leaf (you know who you are).

 Friendships mean more than being right all the time.

[Edit 6/3/2025]

FEEDBACK: I have now hit upon a very simple solution: I will in future gauge the level of difficulty of my contests by using Microsoft Copilot to evaluate it. This will be appended at the top of each of my future contests and will hopefully be of interest to the contestants. It uses tried and tested formulae that check for number of words and the vocabulary used, etc.

 Often contests (here and elsewhere) stipulate the age group that it is aimed at. How are we to judge a hodgepodge of entries for a particular contest with age groups all over the show? It’s like comparing a debate between Greta Thunberg and … Oh, never mind.



Please Login to post a comment
Date: 3/4/2025 8:54:00 AM
I’d say continue the good work. There is this story … Buddha came to give a discourse but refused to begin, stating that he was waiting for that one specific person who would profit from his words. It was a beggar, an outcast … much to the chagrin of the village elders! Who knows who will benefit? Be the rose that spreads its fragrance without evaluating the outcome.
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Richards Avatar
Suzette Richards
Date: 3/4/2025 10:18:00 AM
Thank you, Seeker. You touched my heart.
Date: 3/3/2025 6:53:00 AM
Thanks Suzette. It have always appreciated your blogs, even though I lost the path a few times. I fostered research on many occasions. :)
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Richards Avatar
Suzette Richards
Date: 3/4/2025 10:45:00 PM
I have now found a way around the 'language barrier' where AI now reword my contest descriptions to a more accessible (re literacy) piece. Thank you for your support, Linda.
Date: 3/2/2025 1:29:00 PM
Sweet blog, Suzette. I enjoyed the brevity and the cute pictures you included.
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Richards Avatar
Suzette Richards
Date: 3/2/2025 8:44:00 PM
Thank you:)

My Past Blog Posts

 
Blood Moon Eclipse - Light or Shadows
Date Posted: 3/11/2025 12:46:00 AM
A Timely Intervention
Date Posted: 3/2/2025 12:42:00 PM
On a more serious note
Date Posted: 2/23/2025 5:40:00 AM
Weekend Wacky Limericks
Date Posted: 2/22/2025 3:34:00 AM
Saints and poets maybe – The Bride Trilogy challenge
Date Posted: 2/14/2025 12:37:00 AM
Saints and poets maybe
Date Posted: 2/9/2025 4:24:00 AM
According to the poem’s meter is stressed
Date Posted: 1/25/2025 9:53:00 PM
Poison - an analogy
Date Posted: 1/12/2025 11:08:00 PM
Be Happy and Merry
Date Posted: 12/21/2024 9:45:00 PM
Which is worse - AI or Plagiarism?
Date Posted: 12/8/2024 11:13:00 PM
Bring in the Clowns
Date Posted: 12/2/2024 12:04:00 AM
Cyber bullying
Date Posted: 11/29/2024 1:22:00 AM
Future Trends in Poetry
Date Posted: 11/26/2024 11:15:00 PM
Jack and Jill
Date Posted: 11/22/2024 9:52:00 PM
Counterintuitive versus Juxtaposition
Date Posted: 11/8/2024 10:11:00 PM
Sunday Simile Smile
Date Posted: 11/3/2024 1:39:00 AM
The Philosophy of Meliorism
Date Posted: 11/2/2024 12:26:00 AM
Illuminating Poetry
Date Posted: 10/26/2024 1:35:00 AM
When Words are not Enough
Date Posted: 10/19/2024 10:22:00 PM
Gratitude blog
Date Posted: 10/17/2024 4:20:00 AM
Mamba 16 – Honouring Africa-centric haiku
Date Posted: 10/12/2024 11:24:00 PM
Han Kang - Nobel Prize in Literature 2024
Date Posted: 10/10/2024 7:31:00 AM
AI is NOT a teaching aid for poetry
Date Posted: 10/5/2024 7:17:00 AM
Message from Eileen
Date Posted: 9/22/2024 9:34:00 PM
Pie-in-the-sky - NEW CONTEST
Date Posted: 9/15/2024 12:42:00 AM

My Recent Poems

Date PostedPoemTitleFormCategories
3/11/2025 In a Pickle Free verseanalogy,satire,
3/10/2025 Light and Shadows Suzette Primeanalogy,philosophy,
3/9/2025 Thinking about Aladdin Sane Free verseanalogy,
3/6/2025 raven Haikunature,symbolism,
3/1/2025 Kiss the Ring Free versesatire,
2/26/2025 Giving a Cat a Pill Limerickcat,humorous,
2/22/2025 A Fly on the Wall Free versepolitical,satire,
2/21/2025 A Vine in Winter Free verseanalogy,winter,
2/21/2025 broken blood moon Haikuanalogy,moon,nature,
2/16/2025 Cyril Ramaphosa Clerihewafrica,humorous,
2/16/2025 The Soldier’s Covenant Prose Poetrybaby,war,
2/13/2025 Undergrowth with Two Figures - Van Gogh Free verseanalogy,
2/11/2025 A Blues Sonnet for Jan Sonnetafrica,conflict,endurance
2/7/2025 The Bride's Dreams Prose Poetrydream,love,
2/7/2025 The Bride Prose Poetryfeelings,flower,sunset,
1/22/2025 The Reluctant Bride Prose Poetrylost love,
1/10/2025 humanity Suzette Primephilosophy,science,
12/22/2024 A Woman's Longing Otherlonging,love,water,woman,
12/19/2024 Where Tides once Gossiped Sonnetemotions,imagery,inspirat
12/14/2024 Dandelion Suns to Moons Sonnetflower,life,metaphor,natu
12/2/2024 Aging rocks Crystallineage,
11/27/2024 Divine Madness Sonnetreligion,
11/26/2024 fierce sun Tankaintrospection,nature,summ
11/15/2024 The Event Horizon Verselife,memory,
11/11/2024 Less is More Crystallinephilosophy,
11/9/2024 Jolted by Twilight Suzette Primenature,
11/5/2024 as long as - Monokunature,
10/31/2024 Burning Love Letters Free verselost love,nostalgia,
10/23/2024 yellow light Haikuanimal,spring,
10/21/2024 twilight silence Tankanature,
10/20/2024 Swans Pleiadesbird,
10/18/2024 wAlls In dAlI Ekphrasisart,philosophy,
10/15/2024 Here we go again Limericksatire,
10/15/2024 Haunted Cemetery Rhymehalloween,humorous,
10/12/2024 My Truths Verseliterature,myth,relations
10/10/2024 BALLAD OF ELEANOR RIGBY Balladmusic,
10/8/2024 Life is a garden Suzette Primeanalogy,birth,death,flowe
10/2/2024 Avarice Enclosed Rhymeanalogy,
9/28/2024 Stranded in Peace Quatrainnature,
9/26/2024 Insidious AI Concreteintegrity,poems,poetry,po
9/13/2024 Pie-in-the-sky Versesatire,
9/3/2024 The Scent of Words in the Air Shapeinspiration,poetry,
8/15/2024 The Co-dependent Pantoumaddiction,
7/25/2024 a loveliness Senryulanguage,nature,
7/10/2024 Mother said --- Versehumorous,mother,
7/8/2024 The Earth from a Distance Sonnetnostalgia,
7/5/2024 Lingering Dusk Free verseallegory,analogy,flower,n
6/14/2024 A Child of Light Otherdaughter,
6/5/2024 Cave canem Suzette Primefear,
5/31/2024 Layers of Life Enclosed Rhymelife,remember,
5/13/2024 Love Lauded in Song Free verseromance,
5/13/2024 The Truth in Time Sonnethorse,mythology,
5/9/2024 Silence of the Sea Otherpeace,
5/6/2024 Love Sonnetlove,pain,
4/6/2024 From Purgatory to Paradise Haibunafrica,nature,
2/23/2024 The Last Leaf Tankaautumn,feelings,friend,im
2/20/2024 To everything there is a season Otherlife,nature,seasons,
1/29/2024 On a Thesaurus Diet Suzette Primeanalogy,nature,philosophy
1/23/2024 The Wind Teased Sijoloss,
11/3/2023 Moonwake Suzette Primemetaphor,nature,philosoph
10/16/2023 The Rocking Chair of Memories Suzette Primeanalogy,memory,metaphor,p
9/10/2023 The Dilatory Thought Verseintrospection,
8/25/2023 Through the Keyhole Iambic Pentameterdream,fantasy,
8/8/2023 View From Basement Flat Dramatic Verserelationship,
7/27/2023 When Doves Cry Terzanelleeulogy,
7/26/2023 You Shall Reap What You Sow Ekphrasisart,
7/8/2023 Graceful Lily Sonnetpoetess,
6/21/2023 Thalassophile Alexandrinesea,
6/14/2023 Recombobulating Chaos Free versenature,
5/25/2023 The Seeds of Time Quatrainanalogy,introspection,met
5/24/2023 The Moon By Day Sonnetromance,
5/8/2023 Discord and Peace Ekphrasisanalogy,anger,angst,child
4/22/2023 If a Tree Should Fall Suzette Primedream,philosophy,
4/19/2023 Like Burnt-Out Logs Heroic Coupletemotions,simile,
4/18/2023 An Attenuated Tree Branch Personificationimagery,metaphor,nature,
4/12/2023 Verismo Suzette Primeanalogy,introspection,met
4/6/2023 A Tree Tankaanalogy,image,nature,
4/5/2023 The Welkin - and - the Influences Juejuanalogy,nature,
3/19/2023 Alone Suzette Primeanalogy,inspiration,metap
3/9/2023 A Waste of Space Proseculture,introspection,lit
2/15/2023 Passion - Metaphorical Realism Suzette Primeart,extended metaphor,pas
1/30/2023 Dare To Take a Stand - Zettie's Sonnet Sonnetmetaphor,
1/30/2023 I Dance With Shadows - Yclept Sonnet Sonnetanalogy,city,dream,metaph
1/29/2023 An Evanescent Life - Xaxa Sonnet Sonnetdeath,extended metaphor,l
1/25/2023 Dusk At the Beach Sonnetbeach,friendship,
12/9/2022 By the Silvery Light of a Moon Sonnetmythology,romance,
11/12/2022 Either Way Sonnetanalogy,nature,parody,sat
10/6/2022 Redamancy Lament Suzette Primeafrica,analogy,grief,lost
9/23/2022 You Are the Music Sonnetlove,poetry,
9/9/2022 Thank You Ma'Am - In Memoriam Queen Elizabeth Ii Sonnetdeath,funeral,grief,in me
7/20/2022 Ignorance Is Bliss Quatrainwisdom,
7/16/2022 The Cup of Life Rubaiyatdeath,life,philosophy,
6/12/2022 The Original Mistake Villanellephilosophy,
3/4/2022 Blinded By War Kimoconflict,war,
1/15/2022 The Perfidy of Memoirs Free verseinspiration,memory,
12/11/2021 Withered On the Vine Terzanellehumanity,
10/18/2021 2 Lunes Otherlost love,poetry,seasons,
9/15/2021 What Are Words - a Florilegium Poem Otheranalogy,emotions,literatu
8/15/2021 Out of the Darkness Sonnetanalogy,introspection,
7/24/2021 Circumlocution - Venn Diagram Free versemath,relationship,

My Photos


Fav Poems

PoemTitleFormCategories
I To Poisonous Honey Free verselife,
The Usurper King Dramatic Monologueidentity,satire,
O Charming Rhymehumorous,valentines day,
O April Free verseappreciation,april,beauty
The Grey Suzette Primeintrospection,
Earth Prayer Verseprayer,
Summer Peak Haikusummer,
Unsure the Shore Sonnet8th grade,beach,bereaveme
Prime Crime - Bt Than-Baukdream,horror,
Hall Pass Sonnetlove,
Fiery Events Haikufire,love,
Best In Show Dodoitsuwinter,
The Wait Rhymebody,devotion,truth,
When the Chemistry Is Gone the History Does Not Matter Free verselove,
Love In Love With Love Sonnetlove,spiritual,
Lit By Love Quatrainloss,love,strength,
Floating Shards of Dream Free verseanalogy,lost love,pain,
Blemished - a Coin Poem Otherpain,
Telegraph Pole Potd Imagismimagery,
Courtney Mae Or Courting May Sonnetmay,
Rebirth Me Prose Poetryhope,mental illness,
Poet's Honeymoon Collaboration With Joanna Daniels Rhymefantasy,imagination,
Pulchritudinous Rhymeart,
I Died Sonnetallusion,anger,angst,
Bantu Free versepoetry,
Ashes - Edvard Munch Ekphrasisart,inspiration,
The Forming of Thoughts Rhymeangst,
A woman called house Free versehome,
Salvations Rests Behind True Faith's Gold Door Sonnetappreciation,art,bible,ch
Debacle Rhymeconfusion,evil,history,
Pearl-Prayer Sijoemotions,heaven,life,long
apologies for the truth Suzette Primephilosophy,senses,
Vanishing Point Free verseangst,anxiety,heartbreak,
Love Hurts - Bound by Love, Broken by Fate - POTD Balladfate,lost love,rainbow,ro
The Narcissist Who Saved Himself - Cynthia Howard - collaboration with Ink Empress Ekphrasisart,
thoughts drift to sirens Free verseart,
Amberina Ballerina, Whatever Verseintrospection,
To Whom Does This Come Haibunanalogy,deep,i am,
Les peupliers bleus - Andre Brasilier Ekphrasisart,
No Longer Quatrainbetrayal,recovery from,
Roots and Dandelion Dreams: A Mother's Heart Ekphrasisheart,love,mothers day,na
Misty Blues Quatrainlost love,solitude,
Clover's In the Bottom Right-Hand Corner Doing the Best with What Circumstance Brought Her Ekphrasisart,extended metaphor,
Not for Contest - Impact of AI on poets Rhymeart,
Domenico Gatti - Purita Ekphrasisart,
Sea Shore Night Sijonature,sea,
Humanity Rhymehumanity,perspective,scie
Yesterday's Wishes Free verseanxiety,
Reason I Believe Free versehow i feel,
Undergrowth with Two Figures Ekphrasisart,love,nature,paradise,

Fav Poets

PoetCountry 
James Marshall Goff United States Flag United States Read
Richard Lamoureux Canada Flag Canada Read
Susan Woodrow Fiji Flag Fiji Read
Robert Lindley United States Flag United States Read
Brian Strand United Kingdom Flag United Kingdom Read
Susan Ashley United States Flag United States Read
Andrea Dietrich United States Flag United States Read
Eileen Manassian _Not Listed Flag _Not Listed Read
Christuraj Alex India Flag India Read
Quoth Theraven United States Flag United States Read
Runa Pradhan India Flag India Read
Christopher Flaherty United Kingdom Flag United Kingdom Read
Sara Kendrick United States Flag United States Read
Hilo Poet United States Flag United States Read
Judy Reeves United Kingdom Flag United Kingdom Read
Mark Frank South Africa Flag South Africa Read
Gordon Mcconnell United Kingdom Flag United Kingdom Read
Joanna Daniel India Flag India Read
Di11y Da11y United Kingdom Flag United Kingdom Read
Frederic Parker United States Flag United States Read
Mark Massey United States Flag United States Read
Timothy Ray United States Flag United States Read
Charlotte Puddifoot United Kingdom Flag United Kingdom Read
Christina Bowring United Kingdom Flag United Kingdom Read
Arlo Parker United States Flag United States Read
A Yorkshire Poet United Kingdom Flag United Kingdom Read
Thomas Lee Rhymes United States Flag United States Read
Sam Kauffman United States Flag United States Read
Linda Alice Fowler United States Flag United States Read
David Crandall United States Flag United States Read
Maria Williams Australia Flag Australia Read

Book: Radiant Verses: A Journey Through Inspiring Poetry