Exceptional descriptive powers, Keith.?

Comment is about Winter´s Icy Blast (blog)

Original item by keith jeffries

Subtle yet powerful lines.?

Comment is about Big Dusty Man (blog)

Original item by Alan Travis Braddock

This is, hopefully, a humorous pice. The more important message, however, is GET YOURSELVES TESTED, FELLAS.

Comment is about UP THE ARSE (1) (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

You’re right I’m a disaster. Thanks for the insight

Comment is about Built (blog)

Original item by Reggie

Hi John, pleased you liked it. Thanks!

Comment is about BOXES (blog)

Original item by john short

Thanks, fellas.
Brian - there is indeed a Part (2). Coming shortly.
Graham - I am persuaded by many of the contributions in Discussions that there are no rules in poetry. Hence this carefully crafted poem. “The Dark Side”!!!!????? How could you?????!!!!!

Comment is about UP THE ARSE (1) (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

Well!
There's not a lot of rhyming in this or come to that much of a stanza structure.

The nearest I can compare it to is Koan

It certainly gave me plenty to think about.

I'm just relieved (having initially only reading the title) you haven't gone over to the Filthy Dark Side at the Emirates!

Comment is about UP THE ARSE (1) (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

Jim told me it was The Royal Mail,the deed is done now.A post mortem is not necessary.You can blame Jim who is locked up.The rhyme is his crime.

Comment is about Freedom of choice (blog)

Original item by hugh

John - I note the use of (1)...does this mean there's a second instalment to come? Says he with bated (not baited) breath.

Comment is about UP THE ARSE (1) (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

Hugh - Sorry to be pedantic but post offices are not owned by Royal Mail. Can you think of something to rhyme with Post Office Ltd?

Comment is about Freedom of choice (blog)

Original item by hugh

You’re great. Good vision

Comment is about A Psychiatric Disorder (blog)

Original item by John E Marks

So true I’ve gone from poor left to rich right to poor don’t even vote anymore

Comment is about Austerity (blog)

Original item by Tommy Carroll

This is my best hack. i like it. It’s dark

Comment is about Man oh man (blog)

Original item by Reggie

That was a swing and a miss haha just reread this. Good ending tho. I kinda like this self criticism thing. Something I would never do unless anonymously. I like this site.

Comment is about Not him (blog)

Original item by Reggie

Distance is sadness’s

Comment is about Taught Me (blog)

Original item by Mikey V Kinsey

That’s what I’m saying I’m trying not to but don’t know how. I’m just winging it over here. Is that not cool?

Comment is about Listening to the Blues (blog)

Original item by Don Matthews

Always interested in a fellow rhymer's work Reggie, but your profile and the three pieces posted today are not rhyming pieces surely?

Comment is about Listening to the Blues (blog)

Original item by Don Matthews

Disagree. "Our" pockets not "Yours". It's up to me to pay more tax, not just them others.

Comment is about Austerity (blog)

Original item by Tommy Carroll

Good stuff I’m stuck in writing rhymes. Don’t know how not to. It seems sometimes the rhymes can dispose of the meaning for me. I try not to rhyme because i feel it loses sincerity so I’m looking to find help in not doing so. I just don’t know what kind of structure if any I should follow. I’m starting to think fuck structure and all that just put some words together and kinda leave some blanks and make it open to interpretation. I think art in itself is just that, making people relate on levels that you as the writer could never imagine.

Comment is about Listening to the Blues (blog)

Original item by Don Matthews

Don

There's not many
who would or could,
perhaps they should
write a good poem
on inability
to write something good

Comment is about Listening to the Blues (blog)

Original item by Don Matthews

Best poem I've read today, John. You could have written it for anyone, A universal and uniquely personal experience at one and the same time.

Comment is about BOXES (blog)

Original item by john short

Wise words, Trev. And a good poem to boot.

Comment is about Near-Death Experience (blog)

Original item by Trevor Alexander

Good rhyming Don. Don´t underestimate your ability as a poet. You have what it takes as can be seen through your many contributions.

Thanks

Keith

Comment is about Listening to the Blues (blog)

Original item by Don Matthews

Very pictorial, Ray. Nice work.

Comment is about IN NORWAY 1976 (blog)

Original item by ray pool

I do indeed, MC. The irony, though, is that if you write in rhythm, as we both do, you can rarely say the exact words you want to say in the order you want to say them. Writing in a rhythm is a compromise with the language..

Comment is about THE WEALTH OF WORDS (blog)

Original item by M.C. Newberry

MC.,

Thank you for introducing the subject of mercenaries. In the early 1970´s whilst on secondment to the Armed Forces of the Sultanate of Oman I served alongside men who were ´on contract ´, as soldiers, seamen and airmen. These men considered themselves to be professional soldiers and indeed they were as many came from eilte regiments and Corps of various foreign armies. These men were not soley there for monetary gain but enjoyed being soldiers. Their contribution certainly influenced the outcome of the local conflict which secured the place of the Sultan. Whether they considered the moral implications of such service, one would have to ask them individually, but on the whole I would say that they were well intentioned.

Perhaps the moral responsibility for employing mercenaries comes from those who pay them. However, you raise a good point.

Thank you as always

Keith

Comment is about Poetry & The Great War, a series: 6 Victory? (article)

Original item by Mike Took

Good news, John. It didn't take me as long to ponder the question as I thought it would.

Sure, if I can soar, I'll take that!

which reminds me of a cartoon I once saw: two guys are looking at the crumpled form of Icarus sprawled in front of them. One says to the other, "Technically, he flew too close to the ground."

Comment is about an exploration (blog)

Original item by walkingman

That's a good question, John. And seriously, I want to take some time to ponder it and get back to you on that.

Thanks for commenting.

Comment is about an exploration (blog)

Original item by walkingman

Hello dk....I'm alive! I just saw your message. I laughed so loud my ribs hurt.

I have returned to NY and am very busy getting settled in. I miss WOL and look forward to joining in the fun soon. Be well!, Jane

Comment is about d.knape (poet profile)

Original item by d.knape

Thanks Taylor, took a couple of rejections to get it right though. But that's standard procedure. Glad you liked it.

Comment is about BOXES (blog)

Original item by john short

You've got it in one Hannah, as always! Thank you.

Ray

Comment is about A SOLDIER THAT CAME HOME (blog)

Original item by ray pool

But would you be content with floating when you can soar?

Comment is about an exploration (blog)

Original item by walkingman

Very true Tommy ?

Comment is about Austerity (blog)

Original item by Tommy Carroll

Beautiful ..well deserved poem of the week. Congratulations Alan..

Comment is about ‘Glenbrittle - the loch’ by Alan Travis Braddock is our Poem of the Week (article)

Original item by steve pottinger

I am a new-word shaper
I shape words to my taste
Creating words of wisdom
Queen's English do I waste?

If we let convention
Always govern us
We will never progress
So I make a fuss ?

Comment is about THE WEALTH OF WORDS (blog)

Original item by M.C. Newberry

Keith - the mercenary (soldier for hire) has always been a feature of warfare Many of the armies that won on famous battlefields had
their share of mercenaries in the ranks -and it may be that had it not
been for their presence certain outcomes would have been very different. Ireland had its "Wild Geese" - and there are surely
histories of other lands with disaffected fighting men willing to offer themselves out to a military bidder for whatever reason that was
acceptable to them at the time.

Comment is about Poetry & The Great War, a series: 6 Victory? (article)

Original item by Mike Took

The connection between heresy and bigotry interests me, and has
even more resonance in respect of attitudes towards such an
intrinsic part of human nature as sexuality. The religious appetite
for control via like-minded belief has certainly not advanced an
enlightened "live and let live" attitude in human behaviour. The
history of what is now defined as gay poetry (not long ago the word
had a different meaning <e.g. light-hearted> and its use has, in all fairness, somehow been purloined for today's vocabulary) has
in recent decades become a subject for serious study and
research, with its results opening eyes wide to what is laid before
them. But I suspect, that the homosexual "codes" - similar in
intent to acknowledge secretly, as in old Cockney rhyming slang -
was a habit that was hard to refrain from and had become almost
a language and recognition factor of its own, fondly retained like
a badge of honour in the face of persecution and a refusal to
understand difference due to the feeling of threat that it seemed to
indicate to others not of the same "persuasion".. Biblically, it is
interesting to think how Christ had a particular fondness for his
youngest disciple or so I seem to recall. Strange how the Church
as organised by Man so soon forgot the instruction that we should
love others as ourselves - but perhaps that frightens them and
emphasises feelings of self-loathing even more, encouraging
further (useful to power-seekers?) division in the ranks of humanity.
The Elizabethan age seems to have provided the advance guard
of poetry that made us aware of same-sex love, albeit on a higher
plane than the lusts and thrusts of the flesh, not that these weren't present, of course. John Cleland's later famous novel of the young
girl who came to town and had a sexual awakening via numerous encounters also contained a homosexual scene witnessed by her between two young men through a spy-hole in an inn, with the
contemporary reaction of shock and disgust that such an 'unnatural'
situation was possible. So, the sexuality and the various responses to it have apparently always been with us - and there
are still attacks (witness that reported by Wales' rugby player
Gareth Thomas only the other day) on those identified as "gay"
today. The road to full acceptance and tolerance winds on but
many more are joining in as time passes. And the full range of
human possibilities can only benefit - and thus benefit us all..

Comment is about A History of Gay Poetry, 1: A Bare Canvas (article)

Original item by Mike Took

Ha-ha, Brian. You took me straight back to the mockery of The Guardian newspaper (because of its print errors) that was indulged
in so mischievously by Private Eye magazine. If my memory is
accurate they referred to it The Grauniad.

Comment is about THE WEALTH OF WORDS (blog)

Original item by M.C. Newberry

Inspiring work evoking the rhythm of the sea?.

Comment is about ‘Glenbrittle - the loch’ by Alan Travis Braddock is our Poem of the Week (article)

Original item by steve pottinger

I do agree Mark, and it annoys me when WOL members are lazy when submitting something.

Their...Ive siad it!

Comment is about THE WEALTH OF WORDS (blog)

Original item by M.C. Newberry

I really liked these two parts

...bodies vibrating to the same frequency of life

And

...a water ballet of miniscule motions...

Comment is about Drowning in your eyes (blog)

Original item by eve nortley

Somehow in this poem you were able to take my past experiences of standing at the edge of the ocean, put them into words and hand them back to me. Thank you!

Comment is about The Sea in its Knowledge and Truth (blog)

Original item by Sam Khan-McIntyre

It sounds like my kinda place. Magic.
Beno.

Comment is about IN NORWAY 1976 (blog)

Original item by ray pool

A beautiful descriptive poem.

Hannah

Comment is about IN NORWAY 1976 (blog)

Original item by ray pool

Behind every public remembrance and display are real people, real soldiers who went to war and have seen conflict and have to live with it as best they can.
This poem describes so well the turmoil of that reality.
His 'footsore mind.'
Brilliant.

Hannah

Comment is about A SOLDIER THAT CAME HOME (blog)

Original item by ray pool

HI folks. If you can connect with a poem then what more can we ask? Much of writing is imagination, and so to have that dignified by those with true experience is always a wonderful compliment.
So thank you David especially. Jennifer, I'm glad you picked up on this, obviously you feel it, and likewise to Kate.

Thanks Ria, Marcin (new faces to me), Becky, Anya, John, Charlotte, Kevin for your bountiful support.

Many thanks. Ray

Comment is about A SOLDIER THAT CAME HOME (blog)

Original item by ray pool

I love this line from your sample

I decided that I was not Jewish enough to care.


I also like how you moved from style at the second-hand store to style in Jewish clothing. Well done!

Comment is about hk (poet profile)

Original item by hk

'A single chair in a glass prison'
Wonderful lines in this.
Wonderful, poignant poetry.

Hannah

Comment is about The Dance (blog)

Original item by Taylor Crowshaw

Thank you all for being so nice about my effort.
For what it is worth, I wrote the first stanza quite a long time ago and then added the other two 3 or 4 years ago. I often go over what I've written, things in non-rhyming verse sometimes seem better when given a rhyme structure after thinking a bit harder about what I'm trying to say.
Thanks again.
Alan

Comment is about ‘Glenbrittle - the loch’ by Alan Travis Braddock is our Poem of the Week (article)

Original item by steve pottinger

? perfect sense DK

Comment is about Leafless (blog)

Original item by d.knape