In agreement with Keith. I whispered this aloud and found myself speeding up and slowing down at different moments. Urgency and calm all mixed up. Well done.

Comment is about Sit Down My Friend (blog)

Original item by Jason Bayliss

I do like this

Comment is about The Box Dwellers (blog)

Original item by keith jeffries

Jason,

this poem conjures up various scenarios in my mind. The urgent necessity for reasonable dialogue between two people but also the imperfection which exists in all personal relationships and the need to address matters calmly. Beautifully and sensitively written.

Thank you
Keith

Comment is about Sit Down My Friend (blog)

Original item by Jason Bayliss

Honest and emotional. I really like this. I love the fact that even though you paint a really sad, tough picture, you also paint a pragmatic, hopeful future. Thanks for sharing. Loved it.

J.

Comment is about Her Will (blog)

Original item by Melissa Wayner

Sorry to anyone that read and liked the original, had to edit, I just thought the last half of the last line was weak and it's been bugging me for ages.?

J.

Comment is about Incline Lupine (blog)

Original item by Jason Bayliss

There are so many 'us' these days and so many 'them'. We are all us to someone and them to someone else. Great poem.

Comment is about You Ain't One of Us! (blog)

Original item by Charlie White

Jason that final stanza sums it all up for me. We can spend so much time chasing childhood fantasy and missing the point. Yet I do find that some of those fantasies that I have experienced in my life have helped me to write. Or maybe its just a sense of imagination. At any rate a great poem.

Comment is about Fairytales (blog)

Original item by Jason Bayliss

Charlie
I am not sure what to say
this poem reads aggressivly - defiantly even -but I think it is sad
am I alone in this?

It is about discrimination and hurt and is very hard hitting.

It gives a lot to think about.
Dorothy

Comment is about You Ain't One of Us! (blog)

Original item by Charlie White

I enjoyed reading this poem
- and then I went back and really read it - and loved it -
- and then I went back and really read it again and lived it.
It's magical.
Dorothy

Comment is about Clouds (blog)

Original item by Vautaw

Ray my son (now estranged) is in his mid fifties, I still have his teddy, i still have him.

Dorothy

Comment is about CHILDREN'S TOYS (blog)

Original item by ray pool

A bit late back on this, sorry folks.

Thank you all for your likes: Frances, Rachel, Anya and Dorothy.

David, I understand what you say mate. I was astride two camps as I often am, trying to draw out all the strands of feeling. It's nice to be followed in that trend, and your nose for it is faultless. Thanks a lot.

Ah Kate - also my mum's name! I like to give respect to all subjects I foster, glad this resonated.

Thank you

Bless you Rich. This just came out of the blue.

Cheers all.

Ray

Comment is about THE DISTANCE OF AGE (blog)

Original item by ray pool

Trevor,

Prior to sleep I pass through a period as you have described. Somewhat muddled yet coherent. The seeds of future poems and prose.

Thank you for this

Keith

Comment is about I DREAM IN POETRY (blog)

Original item by trevor homer

That is such a beautiful and profound poem!
"Hold on, there's more."
Just ?

J. x

Comment is about Clouds (blog)

Original item by Vautaw

I wonder how times over the millenia we have looked at each other across the divide and asked those questions?
Love this.

J. x

Comment is about Super Snow Moon (blog)

Original item by Vautaw

A very clever little poem, but with a lot explicit and implicit emotional depth and honesty. Really like this a lot.?

J. x

Comment is about Soul mates (blog)

Original item by mona s

Thanks, Don. I note the wonderful success of Aussie race mare Winx with that extraordinary total of Group One race wins. .

Comment is about THE RACING STABLE (blog)

Original item by M.C. Newberry

Thank you my beautiful poet friends. I truly appreciate your feedback. ? It will help me select my first collection of poems and now thanks to you, I know to include audio! ?

Comment is about Dear Poet (blog)

Original item by Vautaw

Ray, I'm currently exploring the unknown and the unconventional as preferred ways of approaching life - so, something we must face, yes, but something I am choosing to face (if you can face something while walking backwards??)

Comment is about Still Walking Backwards (2) (blog)

Original item by Hazel ettridge

Thank you for wishing a hug on me, Kate. I love hugs and can never get enough.

Comment is about Still Walking Backwards (2) (blog)

Original item by Hazel ettridge

Enjoyed all comments - thank you.

Comment is about Walking Backwards (blog)

Original item by Hazel ettridge

Awe, thank you so much Jason! I appreciate your encouragement and support. ? Poetry is my passion and I am honored to share it with you. ❤️

Comment is about Vautaw (poet profile)

Original item by Vautaw

Hi Keith - thanks for your 'Listening To Neil Young' comments, pleased you like it. I sense we have a modernist approach to poetry, as illustrated by your work such as Faces In The Shadows - 'who live on the fringes of light' and Etiquette - 'nostalgia plays a long symphony'. good stuff mate,

Comment is about keith jeffries (poet profile)

Original item by keith jeffries

That first verse is pure gold Phil. It's the key to the whole poem. Great to hear uplifting words like this.

Ray

Comment is about Spring (blog)

Original item by mentalelf. Philk.

Well done Don. The sad fact is that when God signs everything off anything can happen. IMO. A mafia don would have the same function.

Ray

Comment is about Our Thoughts and Prayers Are With You (blog)

Original item by Don Matthews

A poem about bravery in the face of the unknown, something we all must face at some point and hopefully be the wiser for it.

Nice idea, Hazel.

Ray

Comment is about Still Walking Backwards (2) (blog)

Original item by Hazel ettridge

On this Sunday each poet read one poem from the Great War then bringing a different take with a modern theme when reading the second. I tried to capture this feeling on the hundred years that had passed it was indeed a time to reflect.

Thanks Kate G

Comment is about Walk on Blue (blog)

Original item by Nigel Astell

Great sense of loss and stripping back. Enjoyable and authentic !

Ray

Comment is about Adobes (blog)

Original item by d.knape

This is beautiful and sombre

Comment is about Walk on Blue (blog)

Original item by Nigel Astell

Dorothy,

Raspberry Ripple Ice Cream does the trick

Keith

Comment is about Our Thoughts and Prayers Are With You (blog)

Original item by Don Matthews

Wise words Dorothy, I went to great lengths to be neutral in my delivery and not try and influence peoples thinking. The theme of the poem was a simple reportage of press interviews except for the last verse which is speculative based on what I know to be public opinion.

Comment is about Ee By Gum (blog)

Original item by John McDonough

Oh! how I love this one

When I listen to you beautifully read audio I feel shivers down my spine.
You 'spoke' to all of us - but it is intimate for each of us.

I am not sure if that sentence says what i am trying to say but I know that you will understand what I mean.
Dorothy

Comment is about Dear Poet (blog)

Original item by Vautaw

God Almighty, Tom, you're good! That first stanza is just outstanding. The whole piece is brilliant.

Because I feel I 'know' you well enough to comment, do you really mean 'rye' smile' or did you intend 'wry'? I'm not really sure. It tripped me up, and I had to start again. But maybe you did it on purpose, like a little hidden 'bomb'.

Kate is right. This deserves many readings because it is so 'rich'.

Comment is about Letter From The Lake (blog)

Original item by Tom

At fifteen I was considerd to be an adult - "you've made your own bed now you lie on it" was the attitude of the day.

But perhaps that is not very fair in this case - and there is an innnocent child here whose needs should be put above all else.

Perhaps the ticking time bomb should be contained indefinitly while experts try to diffuse it.
Dorothy

Comment is about Ee By Gum (blog)

Original item by John McDonough

Beautiful, sad and beautiful!

J. x

Comment is about (blog)

Original item by Erin N. Buckley

Thank you Victoria, "A tormented soul with so much passion." I was never short of passion. Love it.

J. x

Comment is about Dear Poet (blog)

Original item by Vautaw

Oh dear! - that was such a rant - sorry -- I need chocolate.
Dorothy

Comment is about Our Thoughts and Prayers Are With You (blog)

Original item by Don Matthews

Don
I agree with Keith's comment I also agree with Kate.

I am consumed with anger towards the Church not just for myself, but for all the pupils that passed through the faith school that I attended. I feel that the Church knew that it was not good enough.

The school boasted four classes, the boys left at eleven ( God forbid that we should mix)
The 'senior' class was made up of eleven to fifteen year olds all sharing the same work.
With no qualified teachers this was not a good grounding for life.

Don your poem gave me goose bumps it exposes the hypocrisy of the Church and mocks it in a way that I have always wanted to do.
Thank you - you have said it all.

Dorothy

Comment is about Our Thoughts and Prayers Are With You (blog)

Original item by Don Matthews

If you're talking about publishing mate, count me in for a copy.?

J.

Comment is about city of birth (blog)

Original item by Martin Elder

Like Stu, I'd like to go on the pre-order list as well, please. ?

Comment is about city of birth (blog)

Original item by Martin Elder

Don, this is spectacular and very... observant? I wish I could find the words. It's one of those poems I wish I'd written. For those left damaged by the Church, including members of my own family, I think there is catharsis in work such as this. Stick it up 'em. Give em something to think and pray about.

Comment is about Our Thoughts and Prayers Are With You (blog)

Original item by Don Matthews

This says so much and is complete in itself, yet is very much a sequel, and possibly a prequel for a continuing journey. The words are weighty, and even though they speak of uncertainty, there's real deliberation in this. Simply wonderful Hazel, though I feel instead of commenting, I should be giving you a hug.

Comment is about Still Walking Backwards (2) (blog)

Original item by Hazel ettridge

So much said in so few words. Love this one.

Comment is about Dear Poet (blog)

Original item by Vautaw

Don,

A truly excellent poem indeed. Good rhyming and relevant. This poem is a prayer in itself for a spirit of integrity instead of deceit. Well done matey.

Thank you for this
Keith

Comment is about Our Thoughts and Prayers Are With You (blog)

Original item by Don Matthews

I can hear the horses cantering in your lilting lines MC

Well done

Comment is about THE RACING STABLE (blog)

Original item by M.C. Newberry

This is so good

Comment is about Dear Poet (blog)

Original item by Vautaw

Nice to hear the sport's still alive John
Your joggers keeping ritual alive
When passing a patch of your heather
They can't resist down in to dive ?

Comment is about Why Haven't We Been Invited To Our Neighbour's Sex Party? (blog)

Original item by Don Matthews

Oh gosh I adore this.

Comment is about Dear Poet (blog)

Original item by Vautaw

Thank you Steven. ?

Comment is about Dear Poet (blog)

Original item by Vautaw

No Sex please Don, we're British
We're awfully squeamish and skittish
Except for our beloved doggers
Who willingly whip off their joggers
For a roll and grope in the heather
Irrespective of the cold or the weather

Comment is about Why Haven't We Been Invited To Our Neighbour's Sex Party? (blog)

Original item by Don Matthews

Thanks for your comments keith. I wandered if you could connect my experience with your own first day in the forces? Of course we all have many first time events. Comments appreciated. Phil.

Comment is about keith jeffries (poet profile)

Original item by keith jeffries