Good choice of material for the theme.
PS
My late brother-in-law John
Was always called Jack.
Now they're both gone -
So, no more craic!

Comment is about Jack (blog)

Original item by Taylor Crowshaw

A worthy and well researched addition to the theme.
Young kids used to play
With Jack In The Box;
Now old kids stay
With Jack In The Blogs!

Comment is about Jack (blog)

Original item by Becky Who

Wow, Jade, what a superb, fascinating interview, of an intriguing poet. I was interested in Jo's notion of 'letting her poems go', in contrast to those poets who can't leave them alone and keep changing them, even after publication. Thank you.

Comment is about None Of My Business: Jade Cuttle talks to Jo Burns (article)

Original item by Mike Took

I quite like Noel...I've even got similar boots as him.

Comment is about I'm a celebrity Haiku (blog)

Original item by kJ Walker

I can hear him saying this CBT. I think brief poems that make their point in only a few words are both brilliant and the most difficult to get right with such a small amount of material. this is bang on!

Comment is about My Dad Said (blog)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

A thoughtful and satisfying piece Jon, congratulations !
I liked the couplet style, effective in this case.

Ray

Comment is about The Write Out Loud Poem of the Week is ‘Words’ by Jon Stainsby (article)

Original item by steve pottinger

Keith

The lower case 'n' makes me wonder though...?

Comment is about Jack (blog)

Original item by Taylor Crowshaw

Methinks you worked backwards on this one KJ.

Comment is about The Alcoholic Benefactor (blog)

Original item by kJ Walker

It's nice that you've apologised to
Anyone with the name Jack
But you missed an apology to
Poets with poems also 'Jack'

(You're forgiven ?)

Jack Horner was quite opportunist
Wanted more than a plum in a pie
Went straight for the plum in sweet Mary
Got a boot in his foo, fum and fie (oops wrong nursery rhyme)

We've found out the perils of going
Up a big hill with a lass
Having more than the hill created bigness
Then he went for a roll in the grass

All Rhymers, all Clubbers have excelled here
With Jacks bouncing here, bouncing there
I didn't see one bounce out box though
Maybe in poetry that's rare ?

Well done all

Comment is about Jack (blog)

Original item by Becky Who

I can well recall playing Strip Jack naked for hours but we all remained fully clothed with a true sense of propriety.

Thank you for this poem Taylor. Well done

Keith

Comment is about Jack (blog)

Original item by Taylor Crowshaw

MC.,

I read with interest your comment which I also thank you for. Your use of the word handmaiden is very accurate indeed when summarising those who exploit war and gain from it. When considering both world wars in terms of cause and effect, there were no winners. Both conflicts ended in the slaughter of millions and a continent in ruins. Both victors and vanquished were forced to rebuild at immense cost leaving people to grieve for the loss of loved ones. If there are any winners then they are in the boardrooms.

Thank you again

Keith

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

Original item by Mike Took

Many thanks all your likes to Beno, Jon, Darren, Kate and Raven ! Greatly welcomed.

Ray

Comment is about THE ASSEMBLY OF MEN (blog)

Original item by ray pool

Don and Taylor,

Thank you for your comments. It is only recently that I have acquired a garden which necessitated some urgent work to clear vast quantities of undergrowth. In doing this I was amazed to find that I had disturbed a world hidden from view but full of life.

Keith

Comment is about Down Under (blog)

Original item by keith jeffries

I am still a poet in learning
To keep me there, right up to date
On how I can deal with these pesky
These pesky, annoying, devil incarnates

You must Brian be painfully aware
How important continued training is to me
Can't let myself (and my Australia)
Slide into obscurity

glug glug glug....?

Comment is about Mary and Jack (blog)

Original item by Don Matthews

Becky you've done a great job with this theme, though I would have expected a Jacques in there somewhere.

Comment is about Jack (blog)

Original item by Becky Who

Thank you so much, Kevin.

Comment is about The Write Out Loud Poem of the Week is ‘Words’ by Jon Stainsby (article)

Original item by steve pottinger

I love this.

Comment is about Jack (blog)

Original item by Becky Who

Congratulations on getting POTW for a second time. Sorry I missed the first one, I'll have to look through my back-catalogue to see if I can find it.

I really enjoyed this piece, especially the contradictions.


Cheers Kevin

Comment is about The Write Out Loud Poem of the Week is ‘Words’ by Jon Stainsby (article)

Original item by steve pottinger

And I thank you, Taylor. xx

Comment is about Autumn leaves to be reborn (blog)

Original item by Jon Stainsby

❤

Comment is about Jack (blog)

Original item by Taylor Crowshaw

Nice rhyming couplets Taylor.

Comment is about Jack (blog)

Original item by Taylor Crowshaw

So Don...no longer in training? You know it all?

(I'm playing devil's advocate.)

Comment is about Mary and Jack (blog)

Original item by Don Matthews

Sorry I forced you to change from that you originally intended Mark, but a decent substitute!

Comment is about JACK THE GIANT KILLER (blog)

Original item by M.C. Newberry

I've just been let down with a crash here
Strip Jack Naked's not what I thought
Turns out it's a game for the kiddies
And not for nude adults who cavort

I could take on your will to live
Explore further uses of Jack
But I'm also feeling a little bit tired-like
Almost time to go fall in the sack

zzzzzzz ?

Comment is about Jack (blog)

Original item by Taylor Crowshaw

Enjoyed this doggy tale..thank you.?

Comment is about It's A Dog's Life (blog)

Original item by Kevin Vose

A gently woven tale beguiling and beautiful. ?

Comment is about Glenbrittle – the loch. (blog)

Original item by Alan Travis Braddock

Your poem echoes my thoughts so well Keith.
As I walk in the pine forest which surrounds me I see very little evidence of life. However I am aware of the abundance of life beneath my feet or hidden amongst the trees. Truly lovely poem. Thank you...?

Comment is about Down Under (blog)

Original item by keith jeffries

Hi Jon, I was on a train travelling home yesterday. I was thinking the scenery would make a beautiful poem, but nothing formulated.
As I read your poem it was perfect and brought to mind my journey.
You write beautiful evocative poetry and I thank you. ?

Comment is about Autumn leaves to be reborn (blog)

Original item by Jon Stainsby

Really funny Hugh it ranks high on my list of favourites..??

Comment is about Desire (blog)

Original item by hugh

Ahh....mothers. Lovely poem D.K. I can still hear my mothers cry from long ago and far away.."I heard that!!!"?

Comment is about Mother's Eyes (blog)

Original item by d.knape

Hilarious and so very similar to something my dad would have said. ?

Comment is about My Dad Said (blog)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

Bring it indeed Lynn..so true every word..?

Comment is about BRING IT (blog)

Original item by lynn hahn

Like it Neill..

Comment is about Finding love by flipping a coin (blog)

Original item by Neill Barnard

So poignant.. Beautiful Ray. ❤

Comment is about A SOLDIER THAT CAME HOME (blog)

Original item by ray pool

It certainly enthralled me M.C. ?

Comment is about JACK THE GIANT KILLER (blog)

Original item by M.C. Newberry

Funny honey..?

Comment is about Mary and Jack (blog)

Original item by Don Matthews

Wonderful Eric, a powerful poem. ?

Comment is about TRUMPET'S BLARE (blog)

Original item by Eric James

A wonderful tribute, your mother would be proud. Well done ?

Comment is about Proud (blog)

Original item by QueenJa'Mya Peters-Thornton

Maybe I could publish an anthology of similar kiddie/adult stories? A first for new-breed Aussie poets?....?

Comment is about Mary and Jack (blog)

Original item by Don Matthews

It's been a somewhat long silence and, maybe, it's not entirely necessary to address you each, individually, but it's preferable for me...

David, I'm absolutely sure that everyone of us is qualified to comment, no matter the slant from which we come. Though, I'll say, not all comments are created equal. I'm not sure how to justify that statement without either spoken word or a collegiate thesis--I just know it's true and I'm sure you feel the same.

Sal, I can't help but notice, by your comment, a certain detail I hadn't quite noticed in this way, before--perception of ever greater minutia is perhaps the reason why small children watch certain movies over and over.

Martin, I hadn't quite noticed the "mother knows best" line in this obvious way--she (he, it, they) can be quite insidious as we usually remain quite unaware of their collective voices until well past late adolescence.

And, Ray, I laughed when I heard your voice say, "fuck off"...I can only imagine that it is reserved for only a special few--more power to you.

Thanks for provoking thought--I need all the provocation I can get (?) from this distance...

Rachel

Comment is about sexism (blog)

Original item by nunya

Like reading Yeats if he had a viper's venom instead of a silver tongue.

You write your emotions well, but you superbly excel at explaining the pain behind the eyes. When Mehmed took the city, I doubt many waited around to see if he was going to spare their lives, especially with Great Bombards raining literal Hell down in antiquity before modern munitions took hold of the battlefield.

One can only imagine the terror witnessed as the skies tore open and the city endured nearly 2 full months of siege before falling to foreign hands. The last of an empire reduced with cannons and attrition. A 'well done' is so trite for the effort you put into your poems, I honestly cannot keep coming up with good things to say. Just know that I admire your writing in all its forms - it has something that none others do.

Keep writing my friend.

Comment is about Kōnstantinoupolis (blog)

Original item by John E Marks

Very well-crafted. It has, I think, a Byzantine feel to it.


I especially liked this part

Byzantine ethics are from within: Aristotle and

The Athenian school. We connect modernity with
Antiquity. We carry our philosophy in our souls.

Comment is about Kōnstantinoupolis (blog)

Original item by John E Marks

χάριν οἶδα σοι.

Thank you Charlotte.

John

Comment is about Kōnstantinoupolis (blog)

Original item by John E Marks

I enjoyed reading this!

Comment is about Wednesday April 9, 2014, 6:43 PM (blog)

Original item by hk

Nice one! What a fun poem.
Pity it's unlikely to get to its target, I don't think the White House reads poetry.

Comment is about The Trouble With Tribbles (blog)

Original item by David Lindsay

apologies for the late response everyone.

I wanted to précis the sense of sadness in looking back to a lost cause. I am so pleased it has been received well.

Thanks Taylor, my point exactly.

Thanks for being moved to write that Big Sal, appreciated.

True, Douglas, true. Thanks.

Martin thanks for spotting that opener. Always helps to have an interesting start I reckon!

Hannah, many thanks indeed.

I am heartily encouraged with so many likes, more than I ever had in three years of WOL. Sorry I won't name you all if you don't mind this time!!

Love Ray

Comment is about REMEMBERING (blog)

Original item by ray pool

Hi Hannah. Bless you, thanks.

Comment is about THE ASSEMBLY OF MEN (blog)

Original item by ray pool

Enjoyed this.

Hannah

Comment is about My Dad Said (blog)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

Each line has something to give.
Thoughtful, beautiful poem.

Hannah

Comment is about REMEMBERING (blog)

Original item by ray pool

Fantastic, beautiful poetry Ray.

Hannah

Comment is about THE ASSEMBLY OF MEN (blog)

Original item by ray pool