Hi Chris, thanks for looking at Walking the Shore. As for that fourth verse, I had tinkered with it a bit before you looked at it, have tinkered a bit more since, and will no doubt go back to it again. I don't know whether this is really allowed on WOL! It isn't something that I've done before.

Hi Chris. Glad you liked Ghazal. thanks for commenting. As for learning another language...way beyond my resources of time and effort and probably brain power lol. Win x

Thank you Chris for your comment. (see Andy n)

Hi Chris, thanks for your interest in the book. It will be stocked in the Corner House Manchester and some other independents. Alternatively, email me your address and I will post to you a copy or you can pick one up through any of the writers at many of the poetry nights advertised on here. ThanksJohn x

Wow Chris - I really like 'Whisper'. Thanks :)

Chris. Ta for your comments on Anything Goes. In my head I hear Leonard Cohen singing it - with a Brummie accent, alas.

Hi Chris - many thanks for your kind comments on my 2 recent poems. all the best. B

Cheers Chris re-'used' agreed-and deleted-ta matey-Stefan.

Thanks for recent comments - xx

Well Juniper

First I must say how devastated I am that when I take the trouble to put on my most engaging smile and try to present myself to the world as the calm and engaging poet that I am my efforts are not appreciated. I will search for a picture that might be in accordance with the sensibilities of WoLadies.

>I quite like the idea of replacing spent bits with new, do the old get re-cycled?

Yes absolutely, that is why she drops her arm into the the recycling tray. It will be re-born as half a dozen eyes that will be dispensed in a plastic tray like eggs. They will gaze longingly at their new owner.

>But why are both arms being exchanged? or does it indicate a change of mind?

One arm is changed twice. The first time an arm is bought that is suited to the deed about to be carried out. Once that menacing and destructive arm has completed its criminal task it is returned to the recycling tray and a wickedness erasing, genteel arm is purchased and attached so that Narcissus might take her place in polite society and not be out of place.

Thanks very much for your comment. Sometime soon I will send you some info about West Kirby poetry, but the overwhelming burden of never ending work is such a problem.

Hi Chris, thankyou so much for taking the time to read and comment on Summer's Eve. I agree with your findings and if i'm honest, i prefer the first one too ;-)

I added a more detailed comment below the poem if you care to look.
Janet.x

There's something 'missing' with it - I will once I've worked out just what it is?!

Hi Chris...thanks for reading and commenting on "It Only Ends Once" :-) Take care. win x

I didn't think I put anything too obscure in it. Simply put it's about how removed or even cold some people are when terrible things happen to those around them.

I hadn't realised you were going for a sonnet/iambic pentameter. To be honest with you, unless a structure is bumpy, I don't tend to notice it, focussing on the message instead. Your poem flowed and having only done one sonnet-ish poem, I understand how difficult that is to achieve. It worked for me - I am just surprised it didn't get more comments - you can never figure WOL out sometimes...

Hi Chris, Thanks for reading and taking the time to comment on 'Coming Home Without You'. We have just had a marvelous week together (Me and Maisy). I have even done the washing up too! I think I will keep the cat thing in as it stands out by its hardness which I like. Win x

Hi Chris, : ) thank you for welcoming me back and for your kind comments on my recent ramblings/musings, Debz xx

Hi Chris & Isobel - "pearls"
Hi - Isobel - I agree that the chemistry has to be there - if it's not, then it's just not & you are wasting your time. I think internet dating etc can work if you're prepared to give it a go, play safe & look out for nutters & (for girls) the "quick shag brigade" - it worked for me - but you have to decide what works for you.
Chris - you are sooooo right! As long as the chemistry is there and you LIKE this person, you can work on the other stuff - none of us is perfect & to expect that is going to end in disappoinment. Also - dont give up on them at the first major hurdle; try & hang on in there - just staying together counts for a LOT - it's as if the more you give, the more you get back. And both have to be able to say sorry. I've known several other girls in my life who (had I been a bit more mature) might have been "the one". X

Thanks Chris :) I like 'Water Shortage'.. Thought-provoking indeed.

I will send you the poem tomorrow:-)Thanks a lot for appreciating the music, Chris!

Hi Chris, I can send you an mp3 of "African Mothers" if you wish. Otherwise, it is also possible for me to send you the whole CD. How's that? BTW I like your poem very much!

Butt away Chris - I'm not an overly private person or I wouldn't be having this conversation! You are right - I doubt that true soul mates really exist - there are just people who are slightly more suited or can adapt to each other, find happiness in the everyday...
I married my exact opposite - would never do that again - I know what I desperately don't want, at least LOL! I now have a pet hate of yellow post-its and paper clips - figure that one out!

Chris dear, It's actually through your note in Woman's Weekly ?how long ago, that I enrolled, so thank you lovey. Mary G

Just read your lovely poem Play Me. I wrote a poem ages ago on a similar theme, to my mind anyway ('cept it sounds like in your poem there is a lover present). But I don't think anyone got what I was talking about. I think it was called Two Love Songs, and I had Sheherazade music in the back ground and that lovely Klimpt sleeping lady as my photo. I was going to call it Masturbation Song but chickened out! Maybe I should repost with new title! I'm sure I'd get more comments then! And do excuse me if I am barking up the wrong tree in my interpretation of your beautiful poem. I do like the way you use the musical terms. They are sensual and poetic in themselves. xx

I've enjoyed reading and commenting on all the poems Chris. I've found it a fascinating exercise - the same subject covered in totally original ways by so many...

I did like your poem and am glad that someone from Admin came on board. Hope you are having a better day today - I get days like that too! xx

I'm most disappointed you removed your Pandora poem. I was planning to put a comment on it this afternoon - my mind was too worn out last night.
For the record, I thought it was quirky and original. I liked it a lot. x

gmomes can duff up daleks easy peasy

Hi Chris - thanks for the kind coments ("later than you think").B

Hi Chris,

Good to hear from you - and thanks for looking in and comments on "social." Harrison eh? Flattery will get you everywhere!

Regards,
A.E.

Hi Chris, thanks for looking at ';-P' Win x

Chris - re discursive apathy comment - may I nominate you as queen of the entire world? I am sure it would be a better place!! I agree with and appreciate all you say. Hoorah! xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Thank you Chris for your comment. : )

hello - thank you for your kind comments on Withdrawal xx

thanks for comment on dolls...still thinking about your cyberspace connections...its amazing how much we can poject onto another person or even thing.most of my boyfriends are far more interesting in my head than they could ever be in real life.
ive also always loved the way those hot sex chat lines are staffed by 'older' ladies in their rollers and dressing gowns going on saying 'oh yes im in black lacy knickers' and all that...hilarius!

Thanks for your comment Chris - I do appreciate it. It was an odd poem - not sure where it came from really - but structure was never given much thought LOL
Isobel x

Hello Chris and thank you for commenting on "eighteen". The word secret was the most sensitive I could think of for pubic. I needed to qualify hair as I didn't mean hair in general. I hope this explains, it was a tricky adjective though.

Chris, I wish I knew when poetry is really personal. It is a poet's aim and skill to make us feel strongly about the chosen subject. I make an effort to separate the poem from the poet, to show the poet real respect by not presuming he/she must be living an experience in order to write about it. Do other poets who commented know you one-on-one, so that this was like a 'chat' thing?

Hello Chris, I used to tap and ballet dance, but had to give up tap because my parents couldn't afford to pay for me to attend both. But I do love the tippety tap of a good shuffle-hop-step -- maybe we should start up a WOL tap dance section to accompany poems? We could tap out the rhythm and syncopate the rhyme.

Thankyou for commenting on my poem Chris

Merci beaucoup Chris for loving my poem 'Is it not enough...'
I enjoyed writing it... and being overly dramatic ; )

Francine x

Thanks for your comments on St Leonard's, Chris, and glad it struck a chord. My daughter took us on a walk round the area when we were visiting her, and I was very impressed by the view the church commanded up on the hill. I also made a pilgrimage to the Old Boar's Head during the same walk, although unfortunately it wasn't a WOL night! Greg

Hello, I hope last Friday was absolutely wonderful! I know you had millions of things to do and I hope they all got done and that you're now relaxing and recharging. Huge congratulations again. Hatta xxx

Hello Chris,

Yes, thank you, the slam was brilliant, and everyone was very kind and welcoming :))

Fatima xx

Hello Chris, I have returned! So rev-up the langues de chats, load up the angel delight and open a tin of fruit cocktail. Thank you for... well, you know what you did. I've gone from :( to :D

Helo Chris,

Thank you so much for your gracious comments... were you referring to the Goblin's Market??



Once again so many thanks

Augusta xx

Hi Chris, thanks for your comments on where have your hands been? and two bar headache. I was aware of the apparent religious imagery although it wasn't consciously intended. I have no religious background belief or education and in a sense my personal view of religion is that it is filthy corrupting and deeply upsetting in all its forms, so to that extent perhaps the three verses are not so incompatible! Glad you enjoyed them.

John

Hello Chris, ta for your kind words on First to Depart. Appreciated.

Hi Chris,
Thanks for comments - Dave
Enjoyed your war is such a cliche poem - just read a series of world war one poems. At that time everything rhymed and was true to form. Now things are different. Words are more important than ryhymes. I think yours does it well.

Hi Chris - thanks as ever for the feedback - i took your advice re the sing me to sleep tory too - when i re read it there was one paragraph which didn't make sense!

thanks

steve x

I went into the garden but... was it the garden? No, hang on, I went swimming and got banned for going in the water with a trowel and a trug and a ho ho ho on a dead man's boxy thingy .

Thanks Chris for replying to my comment on scar. Glad that you and Janet approve. I love poems that feed your imagination and leave you to see it's meaning as an individual as it helps others with their own artistic outlet which may very well vary from that type of poetry into more topical/ less ambiguous poetry or other veins such as painting or play writing or if one were to write a novel/ novella. It was refreshing and inspiring reading 'Scar'.

- Josh

Hi Chris, thanks for your response to my comment on your 'scar' poem.
I keep getting carried away when commenting sometimes and worry afterwards as to whether i've gone too far in appreciation of the content as i understand it by dissecting/interpreting. :-)

I love Josh's comment too because he brought out the wider picture whereas i felt the depth.

Janet.x

Will there be more in the fairground series? You ask.
Yes, I answer
BTW you're in the next one
lol

That you for your comment on 'Wall of death'

Thanks Chris,
glad you enjoy 'panning for vibes' - the music is by Conrad McQueen. Once again well done for putting some pointers out there for poets re: performance etc and so on, and I'd certainly tend to agree with the keeping it 'brief' intro angle as well (...although one may be able to get away with the odd longer explanation here & there just so long as it rhymed I s'pose;) ...'Owning' your space does help and with a little practice anyone can do it. You are right about control too... I think this is especially important regarding the audience, and although I personally tend to draw the line at Teslar cages and mesmerization, giving them money and so on... seat belts are also pretty good too.

toodle pip

Hello there! errr, the attic is locked x x x x Hows things Chris

Hi Chris
Thanks for the nice comment.
The poem came from the recent Copenhagen climate talks, during which I heard a scientist say that we are only 2 degrees away from an irreversible climate change.
But I've always liked the 6 degrees of separation idea, but sadly it's only 2 centigrade.
Thanks again for the interest taken
Steve

Probably just a spooky co-incidence that your first poem is already a requiem. I always think of Faure.

Loved 'Close'. I think there's a few of us here who are still trying to write something erotic...and failing. You have succeeded.

: )

Jx

Hello Chris, I thought I recognized the words as well. Anyway welcome or welcome back, whatever fits.

Hi Chris - weren't you here before? If so, welcome back, I seem to remember I liked your poems! Like "I had a name" a lot. Enigmatic! xx