other's poems

it's hard to be a critic,
to say yes
or no to someone's poem,
going line by line down
the page.
what can be said, as friend
or foe,
to right the ship,
to bring it hope,
or praise.
time and time again,
you try, but fail, thinking
selfishly only of your
own collected words,
not theirs.
the images are fine,
you like
the metaphors and rhythm
of each stanza,
each line. it's done
you say, don't change a
thing.
send it and see what
this masterpiece brings.