Below are some of the wonderful letters and feedback I have received. It is very gratifying to know that people not only read my poems but also relate to the feelings and emotions expressed in them.
Thank you all for your kind words.
For a while now, I have been trying to get my thoughts together about the book of poetry by Rod Walford, One Hour Before the Dawn. My heart was so touched by Rod's work. In all of his poems, I felt an understanding. I could actually relate to them. It is very rare for an artist to tap into your heart, but that is what Rod has done. Tap into my heart. Life is so short and we take so many things for granted, but Rod's work brings all my hopes and desires right to the top and makes me think about everything.
I feel so blessed to have read this book. It has made me a more humble person. I have always been aware of everyone's feelings, but there are times when we all need a wake up call - to get back in touch with all our feelings, hopes and desires.
Sondra Schlossberg 2005
Rod - I swear, one day kids are going to study you at school, the way we did the Highwayman, and Ellergy in a Churchyard. Storm is very beautiful. 'Cruel rain in glassy needles.' I really liked that.'Learned survival's sleight of hand.' Fantastic image.
It's an honour and a privilege to see its first light.
Rhonda Bartle
New Zealand (Katherine Mansfield Award winning author)
I am a 25 yr old woman here in USA and I am a writer too. Well, I am a
journalist. Award winning. I also have recieved the honor by the Coca- Cola
company in award for my short story and poetry. I am usually hard nosed at
work I have read. In college I spend hours pondering over work. I am immune to
stop and think and inc pieces in my life for a few seconds and go on to the
next. But you....for some reason I cried at your pieces. I went to a book
signing the other night at Barnes and Noble where I am an assistant to an
author...I brought your work. I tried to rant and rave, but everyone was too
busy to stop and read any of it.
Good Grief, Mr. Walford....Well Done!
Mindy Copeland
Finally managed to get around to reading all the other entries
in each category and it's easy to see why “One Hour before the Dawn” was
judged a winner. It's sensitive and sad without being overly
slushy or maudlin and better than in a lot of short stories I've
read. You carefully lead the reader along to a place in time
that envelopes them. Beautiful work. A real winner.
Lisa-Dawn Bertolla
Essex, England
Dear Rod,
It is well past time I wrote and congratulated you on your poems. Another
pops up before I take action. And now I see some are gaining the extra
recognition they deserve in other places!! Congratulations!
Ann Pascoe
Dear Rod,
Just to say I visited your page this morning and enjoyed your poetry very
much.
Julie Leibrich
Dear Rod:
I was just passing my lunch hour at work browsing your site and I write to
congratulate you on a beautifully observed and deeply moving poem, "Deep
Regrets". I hope you don't mind, but I have printed it off and have it
displayed on my office wall, so that my colleagues may be moved to thought
and compassion also.
Liz Philpot
Hello Rod,
We are extraordinarily pleased to announce the winners of the first
semi-annual Webstatic poetry contest. We received 439 entries from
312 writers for this contest period.
First Place - Rod Walford - One Hour Before the Dawn
Second Place - Duane Dodson - The Thing of Our Love
Third Place (tie) - Amy J. Vallis - Shadow
Third Place (tie) - J.R. Willett - Message in a Bottle
Dear Rod,
You are very kind in what you have said about my recent poems. It really
does mean a lot to have such feedback from someone as talented as yourself,
whose own poems are obvious masterpieces. The other day, I read your two
poems ("Timeless" and "Storm") and was most impressed by them. The vivid
description of time wasting away pebbles to sand between your toes was
brilliant. You are by far one of the better poets who contribute to this
site and so to receive such a favourable reaction from you is extremely
encouraging to me.
Joseph Fone
The Lily - I loved it. It is by far the best poem I have read in a long time. I am
going to put a link to it from my home page.
The rhyming! The poem just sings! It rolls off the tongue effortlessly when
read out loud.
Thankyou for sharing that vision with the rest of us . . .
J.R.Willet
Re: Poem “The Prostitute”I was reduced to tears. I read from wife's perspective and could not bear the burden of her knowledge of the sins of the husband. How moving this poem was. Good show!
Linda Whitesell
Oh! Your poems are so beautiful! They touched me deep inside. Please do let
me know if you write any more poems in the future.
Thank you for your poems,
Mubina Hamid U.S.
Rod,
For someone "new" to writing poetry (re: your biography at Webstatic),
you certainly do it better than most! Unlike my own poetry, yours has
a "story-telling" style, which I very much admire. I have read all the
poems you submitted to Webstatic (I think "A Stable Friendship" is
perhaps my favorite.) and look forward to reading more.
Warm wishes,
Kathleen (Kathie) Preddy U.S.A.
Today I am 'working from home' as I have been given time to do lots of marking etc. However, this morning I made the mistake of looking at your website! I have been transfixed for hours, feeling incredibly proud of my uncle! Every poem of yours conveys such beautiful messages...they should be shared with the world. I hope that, one day, you will receive the recognition you deserve. Reading your work makes me feel very humble and content.
Thank you!
xxxx
Amy Parker Sussex England
Dear Rod These are the best I have read.......ever. Kathy Seccombe Papakura New Zealand
