Ladies and Gentlemen, I was just thinking about this post, and I feel that it's prudent to say a few things.

First and foremost, the sensibilities of our audience are of paramount importance to me personally, and to the group as a whole. We do not want to offend people or create an environment that would make parents of younger children uncomfortable. After all, our original mission was to create family-friendly entertainment, and I will not disregard that lightly.

Thus - and this is the important part - if you are in any way offended by the content found here, if you know of someone who might be offended, or even if you simply know of a line that we've approached without crossing, please send me an email with a little note about it. While I cannot reasonably promise to bow to everyone's wishes, I do feel comfortable promising that I will take everyone's input very seriously, and will personally respond.

Thanks!

--Alex Markley

First I must ask: Why does it say Sample at the top of the poem? Is this not the whole thing? Please say it isn't and that the whole poem includes a happy ending.

Okay, here are my comments. It's a great poem! I don't usually like to read sad things, because they make me sad. Having said that I must applaud your work. There are a number of wonderful phrases here.

You comfortable liar.

This is a very good, understated line. It contrasts with the overstated emotions throughout the rest of the poem and thus really grabs attention. It is also the only stab that the victim takes at the false friend. The only retaliation. And even that sounds so plaintive. The writer seems to be truly astonished at the actions of the betrayer.

It left me feeling that I'd like to meet this false friend, and do something unkind to them for you. (SangMing's mother instinct kicks in. Beware.)

Just keep swimming!