I remember when I was young, reading comments by my favorite authors wherein they praised their editors for improving their work. Later on, I had much the same positive experience when senior personnel edited my work in the Navy. So while I may sometimes argue for a point or turn of phrase, I recognize the need for a good editor, for the author is often too close to the work to see the problem.

You’re quite right about the image — I should have included one. Thanks :)

A side note and question on the poem — I submitted it to a contest at the Pacific Northwest Writers Association, and the critic returned it with the admonition that (in so many words) the wording was not sufficiently accessible for the modern reader. He took particular exception to the use of the word “demur”. I know what I want to believe, but I have to ask — was he right? I truly dislike using the phrase, but should I “dumb down” my wording in order for my work to be more accessible to the people? Or is it more a matter of knowing my target audience?

Again, thank you so much for publishing my poem — it really means a lot to me.