Thanks Taylor for your appreciative comments. Glad you liked the poem, as I also enjoyed your apple poem.

Comment is about The Write Out Loud Poem of the Week is ‘The Dogs of Athens’ by John Short (article)

Original item by steve pottinger

Your skill in writing different types of pieces never ceases to amaze.

Comment is about A Poppy In Winter (blog)

Original item by Ian Whiteley

Now neurons look what you've gone done
You've muddled our MC
Crabtree and Evelyn body care?
Damn, gotta have a pee ?

Comment is about Thought-Jumps (blog)

Original item by Don Matthews

Thank you so much for those lovely comments. I have not posted on here for a few months, It's great to be back!

Comment is about Autumncalm (blog)

Original item by Chris Bainbridge

Thanks for the comments everyone. I think there’s a few of these I made up myself, but most someone or other has said about me sometime in my life! Hope you all enjoy the free download.

Comment is about One sandwich short (blog)

Original item by Tim Ellis

In western society we have a highly developed grieving process. For most people it is reasonably limited, but others can never seem to move on. The husband of my wife's cousin put his life on hold when his wife died 15 years ago. Everything of hers in the house is where she left it.

Comment is about Going (blog)

Original item by Douglas MacGowan

Not sure if Don will get the Crabtree connection MC.

Comment is about Thought-Jumps (blog)

Original item by Don Matthews

Hi John,
Yes the last apple was indeed inspired by the thoughts of not having found that special someone.
Although, it was only when I saw the last apple on my tree (pictured), that the idea came to me..

Comment is about john short (poet profile)

Original item by john short

Hang in there, Don. Out of mixed messages can come
some inspired delight! Now, I must get back on track here while I blame you for leading me to a bit of "Allo, Allo"!
Sorry if my brain's in a middle...
Must stop now - I'm in need of a puddle;
Oops, I meant a Jimmy Riddle -
Excuse a moment's mental muddle! ?

Comment is about Thought-Jumps (blog)

Original item by Don Matthews

Beautiful. Thank you for sharing. ?

Comment is about Autumncalm (blog)

Original item by Chris Bainbridge

Agree with BM's first line. Freedom takes its chosen path.
As for the rest - maybe, if white poppies had been seen to
"grow in Flanders Fields" - for that is the power of the red
poppy: for then and there, not just a blood-coloured token.
Peace is never argued against but when tyranny steps out it
needs more than fine words or emblems to confront and defeat it. That is the tragedy of all warfare. Pacifism is
only possible when it is won by force of arms against tyrants. Gandhi's version succeeded because his British
opponents fell far short of that definition. It would not have
succeeded against others in recent history.

Comment is about A Poppy In Winter (blog)

Original item by Ian Whiteley

Fantastic! So very well written

Keith

Comment is about The Pugs and the Siamese (blog)

Original item by eve nortley

A very good poem Ian.

The white poppy has come to prominence in recent times yet has been around in a small way for around 80-90 years. I have no problem with people remembering in their own way...I would not however like to see the dignity of the occasion diminished with more outlandish versions of the poppy.

Comment is about A Poppy In Winter (blog)

Original item by Ian Whiteley

Sounds like a society on the verge of dystopia. Either that or it's Rotherham.

Good one Ray.

Comment is about SUICIDE STREET (blog)

Original item by ray pool

Utter nonsense...which I love. Edward Learesque.

Comment is about The Pugs and the Siamese (blog)

Original item by eve nortley

Almost reads like a folktale! Very fun.

Comment is about The Pugs and the Siamese (blog)

Original item by eve nortley

Autumn is my favorite season, and your poem helps me remember why.

Comment is about Autumncalm (blog)

Original item by Chris Bainbridge

A charming poem about the enduring strength of love.

Comment is about Why Are We So Delicate? (blog)

Original item by Sarah Mae

Brilliant, Congratulations John on a well deserved poem of the week..?

Comment is about The Write Out Loud Poem of the Week is ‘The Dogs of Athens’ by John Short (article)

Original item by steve pottinger

A very intriguing slice of life as experienced in a no nonsense package. At one time Portugal had its fair share of wandering dogs I recall.

Clear and informative piece, John. Congratulations, well deserved.

Ray

Comment is about The Write Out Loud Poem of the Week is ‘The Dogs of Athens’ by John Short (article)

Original item by steve pottinger

I was interested in the author's mention of lyric writing
connecting to the "discipline" of poetry. Those familiar
with the former in the hands of practitioners like Hart, Porter, Harburg, Hammerstein and Lerner will realise that
it is an art form in its own right, requiring as much
discipline as any poetry. In fact, Alan Jay Lerner, whose
mastery is never better experienced than in his work for
"My Fair Lady", could take weeks to decide on a single line
to meet his satisfaction whereas late poetry often seems
to have been dashed off to "impress", neglecting efficiency
and economy in the effective use of language to achieve
a lasting grateful memory in the minds of recipients.
JF Keane's comments about the poets of the past and the
lessons they represent are valuable, and whilst poetry
has the luxury of "testing the water", it should never lose
sight of what value these lessons hold if the medium is to continue to mean anything of lasting worth to succeeding generations.

Comment is about Re-introducing Poetry in Higher Education (article)

Original item by Mike Took

Clever Ray..I like this a lot.

Comment is about SUICIDE STREET (blog)

Original item by ray pool

To DM, BM and TC - your kind comments are much appreciated. There must have been many who fell even as
the Armistice arrived.
There is a touching item on today's www.msn.co.uk home
page from Quentin Letts about this "Remembrance" week
and what it means across the country. Well worth reading.

Comment is about LAST CHARGE (blog)

Original item by M.C. Newberry

Lovely a great sense of loss portrayed in your poem.

Comment is about Miraculous (blog)

Original item by Douglas MacGowan

I agree both beautiful and tragic..❤

Comment is about LAST CHARGE (blog)

Original item by M.C. Newberry

Keep those pesky neurons in check Don ?

Comment is about Thought-Jumps (blog)

Original item by Don Matthews

thanx for the likes folk - and remember - STAY AWAY FROM THE CLOWNS! :-)
Ian

Comment is about That Which Autumn Leaves (REPOST with Audio) (blog)

Original item by Ian Whiteley

thanks for commenting on 'that which autumn leaves' Mark - I adapted it from a short story I wrote about 15 years ago - so, like a vampire, it's already had 3 lives in the form of short story, poem and audio - I guess I should get round to doing a video and give it another life :-)
Ian

Comment is about M.C. Newberry (poet profile)

Original item by M.C. Newberry

Cheers Hannah, a bit of fun for the Winter Solstice!
Thanks.

Comment is about THE HOUSE OF USHER (blog)

Original item by ray pool

I'm always wary of writing about the overall philosophy of the engagements of war; so I started from a detail and worked out with whatever came to mind. Everyone can decide as I like to leave room for thoughts.
Just to say thank you all for reading and commenting.

David, Des, Hannah, Big Sal, Jon, Anya, Taylor, Jennifer and Ann.
Appreciated.

Ray

Comment is about DREAMS AND LIES (blog)

Original item by ray pool

Small verse but great content....?

Comment is about Sunspot (blog)

Original item by d.knape

A cornucopia of nature's revelation, like a brimming basket of goodies. A nice read Ann.

Ray

Comment is about Trees (blog)

Original item by Ann Kershaw

Like the rhythm and thyme..keep them coming..always the right time for good poetry?

Comment is about Night (blog)

Original item by Daemon Cantrell

My name is, Big Sal, and I support this message.?

Comment is about Sunspot (blog)

Original item by d.knape

Like an epitaph torn from a wall in "The Walking Dead" or another horror show. Kinda reminded me of "Saw" with the camera line.

Nicely done, even late Halloween poems are worthy of being read year-round. (I say that so my own will stay relevant?)

Nice one Daemon.?

Comment is about Night (blog)

Original item by Daemon Cantrell

I support this poem in its simplicity and humor-
the sun winks back.

Comment is about Sunspot (blog)

Original item by d.knape

There is some validity to this perspective but think about it: do students proceed in maths, science or engineering by making their own way without reference to the accreted genius of the ages? If they did, half the population would be buried under rubble. The classical techniques of poetry have the same value they always did. Shakespeare's great soliloquies work because he was acquainted with these techniques (metre, rhyme, alliteration, assonance, etc.) and knew when and where to deploy them to achieve sublime effects.

Comment is about Re-introducing Poetry in Higher Education (article)

Original item by Mike Took

And not just in HE, perhaps?

This article serves as encouragement to us all to keep writing, Patrick. Your most important point, for me, is "The perception... is that poetry is something other people do, those with talent".

Indeed so. We all have talent of some sort, but self-confidence or personal circumstances oft preclude our using it. The current plethora of possibilities that now exists for all to have a go at writing poetry and share it with others is helping overcome such barriers, and enabling the less-confident to drop that prefix.

As you go on to suggest, we can be forgiven for thinking that those arcane references are added to identify the poet to as a member of some elite class known as "poet", a kind of poetry freemasonry closed to the rest of us.

McGough, Henri and Patten helped change all that with the publication of their seminal 1967 anthology, The Mersey Sound, praised for its “accessibility, relevance and lack of pretension”, republished by Penguin in time for the 50th anniversary celebration at the Liverpool Playhouse as reviewed on Write Out Loud: https://www.writeoutloud.net/public/blogentry.php?blogentryid=64358

And people who have started their poetry 'career' nervously reading out their words for the first time at one of the abundant open mic nights are finding their way onto degree and MA creative writing courses. People like Stockport Write Out Loud’s Linda Cosgriff, here telling us about enjoying her MA, and having a drink with Carol Ann Duffy: https://www.writeoutloud.net/public/blogentry.php?blogentryid=71307.

Comment is about Re-introducing Poetry in Higher Education (article)

Original item by Mike Took

What I like about this poem is the way it confounds the usual expectations of Athens as the cradle of civilization. Instead we have buses, buskers and delinquent dogs!

Comment is about The Write Out Loud Poem of the Week is ‘The Dogs of Athens’ by John Short (article)

Original item by steve pottinger

Pas mal du tout, je reckon.

Comment is about A Cup Of Franglais (blog)

Original item by Trevor Alexander

Beautiful cover. I will pick up my copy in the next couple weeks and post my own pic of it. ?

It reminds me of a Bob Ross painting.

I also like the title change.?

Comment is about received_176306736572335.jpeg (photo)

Original item by Taylor Crowshaw

Smile for the day.?

Comment is about ISN'T THIS LIFE (blog)

Original item by Aneri Halani

Very poignant. It seems to work on more than one level but it could be about the loneliness of the person who doesn't find a partner (?)

Comment is about The Last Apple on the Tree (blog)

Original item by Taylor Crowshaw

Behave you pesky neurons
Yes you I'm talkin' 'bout
Now you've 'ttracted Brian
Do I have to shout? ?

Comment is about Thought-Jumps (blog)

Original item by Don Matthews

Hi Keith,

Thanks for your comments. Yes, Athens is a city of contradictions - the high culture and the low behaviour, but it's also a city with an extremely strong musical tradition which documents a social history. A bit like Liverpool or New Orleans or Havana and that's why I kind of love it. I call it the haunted city because its 20th century history is alive everywhere. Even the contemporary kids still use the street slang of the the old 1930s Rembetika guys.

Comment is about THE DOGS OF ATHENS (blog)

Original item by john short

Those pesky neurons again Don!

Comment is about Thought-Jumps (blog)

Original item by Don Matthews

Hi Stu,

Just read your sample poems and they are sublime. Don't know how you do it. It's not often I think " I wish I'd written that" but really I'm thinking that now. I wouldn't mind buying your first collection.

John Short

Comment is about Stuart Buck (poet profile)

Original item by Stuart Buck

Comment is about Stuart Buck (poet profile)

Original item by Stuart Buck

MC.,

Thank you as always for your interest. I shall look forward to reading this. As the week progresses I am reading once again many of the war poets and one book I find as a great resource is ¨Up the Line to Death ¨, by Brian Gardner who composed the anthology. I am sure that this coming Sunday will see us both standing before our respective monunments to pay tribute to those brave souls who gave their all.

Thank you again.

Keith

Comment is about Poetry & The Great War, a series: 5 Harsh Realities (article)

Original item by Mike Took

A tragic story told in a simple way. No need for obscure language or hidden meanings. Good one Mark.

Comment is about LAST CHARGE (blog)

Original item by M.C. Newberry