This is an edited version of a previous poem in a series. Just wanted to see what folk made of it.

For some reason, the 'together' seems to want to place itself in a weird position. That wasn't intentional.

Comment is about Clocks (blog)

Original item by Laura Taylor

Very well sung. Made me laugh. You should do stuff for the news quiz!! Lol.

I laugh but it's a proper serious issue . Satire is a very useful tool to address failing politics.
There will be a lot of very sick people this winter due to poor air quality. There will be many extra deaths and bereft families. Not such a happy Christmas for them?
Sorry to be so heavy.
Beno.

Comment is about THE LAST NOEL (blog)

Original item by ray pool

This is a new kind of read for me. I'm new in to poetry. I really like this. Really, really liked it. It's got a real rhythm and music to it. Real attitude too. I need to read it some more. Might get back to you with some more comments later. Thanks very much Jarvis. Beno.

Comment is about Breathe. (blog)

Original item by Javis T.

Thank you Jon,your comment is appreciated.

All the best des

Comment is about Leaving Ambiguity (blog)

Original item by DESMOND CHILDS

Touching tribute to a special pet lost. Very thought provoking.

Comment is about The Life and Death of Special Kitty kitty (blog)

Original item by old shoes

Keep it up man, and thanks for the feedback, always appreciated. If you haven't already, you should consider compiling your stuff into an anthology.

Comment is about Breathe. (blog)

Original item by Javis T.

Cool poem. I bet it'd look good overlapping a picture like the one you have next to it, especially with the imagery.

Comment is about Back To Infinity. (blog)

Original item by Javis T.

Hi Martin,

Thank you so much for your kind words. There is nothing quite like the critique of one's peers to provide reassurance that you're on the right track.

It is a privilege to be able to provide enjoyment (and receive appreciation!) through this excellent online community, and beyond.

Chris

Comment is about 'Great White Heron' by Chris Hubbard is Write Out Loud Poem of the Week (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

HI Jon. So pleased you appreciate this one, as it is all about mood really. I think you got close to the intention with your comment. It always chokes me to read goodbye in a poem so perhaps I used it as a sort of indulgence !
Hope you're well .

Ray

Comment is about LAST JOBS IN THE GARDEN (blog)

Original item by ray pool

Hi Ray
Beautiful wording. Love the way you personalise the intent of the soil especially and the plane as a silver pen is an amazing image.
Maybe the crisp goodbye is a way of masking feelings? Or maybe not.
Anyway, a lovely poem mate.

Comment is about LAST JOBS IN THE GARDEN (blog)

Original item by ray pool

Thank you so much ☺️

Comment is about His Writing (blog)

Original item by Chiari Warrior Soldier

Hi Desmond
Interesting poem. Says a lot without the need for over explanation.
Great last three lines which sum up the fragility of the situation very well. Nice one.

Comment is about Leaving Ambiguity (blog)

Original item by DESMOND CHILDS

Thank you,

I'm so glad you did feel it all the way through and I do so much appreciate the nice comment back on it and please have a great day Patrick D Ortiz ☺️☺️

Comment is about His Writing (blog)

Original item by Chiari Warrior Soldier

I'm sorry Suki but I'm leaning on David's excellent impression to do justice - bit jaded at the moment, but I will say this is an enlightening experience (no pun indended)with all the hallmarks of your fervent imagination.

Beautiful imagery out of such a simple item!

Ray

Comment is about The Pylon And The Scarf (blog)

Original item by Suki Spangles

This is what I would call muscular John. A sort of no nonsense approach ; very interesting for me and quite unusual in that it does not duck too much into self absorbtion - which I always like. It reflects much of initiation and how it affects us en masse. Lovely stuff, keep em coming.

Ray

Comment is about BISCUIT FACTORY (blog)

Original item by john short

absolutely amazing, I felt this one all the way through.

Comment is about His Writing (blog)

Original item by Chiari Warrior Soldier

Amazing write felt it all the way through...

Comment is about His Writing (blog)

Original item by Chiari Warrior Soldier

(re the last line) and the same to you Jane!
great poem and great to see you posting again.

best of my regards to you.


Rose ?

Comment is about A Child is not just for Christmas (blog)

Original item by jane wilcock

Great imagery, and very concise.

Comment is about A Cloud of Cognizance (October '17) (blog)

Original item by Miranda Fegan

Thanks to Colin Ray and Tina for liking
and thanks to Cynthia to commenting much appreciated
cheers
Martin

Comment is about The endless journey (blog)

Original item by Martin Elder

A great poem Chris and a wonderful description here. I also draw inspiration from the natural world whenever I can although not as you have done with this superb piece.
congratulations on POTW. I look forward to reading more of your work

Comment is about 'Great White Heron' by Chris Hubbard is Write Out Loud Poem of the Week (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Thank you very much.

Comment is about 2017 and Trev goes to Texas for a 7th time: The journey home (blog)

Original item by Trev the Road Poet

Thanks, MC. Both my kids went to the school and, as a lay educationalist and parent, I would gauge that the school provided a better education for them as children than ever high school or university did.

Comment is about TOGETHER (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

Thank you Sarah. May your little light shine through too. x

Comment is about Me, the little bulb, feels globally connected (blog)

Original item by Chakraj

Considered comment always welcome. Thanks to you Big Sal - and to KJ for his earlier assessment.

Comment is about PULLING DOWN STATUES (blog)

Original item by M.C. Newberry

The history of the many should never be overshadowed by the bigotry of a few. That being said, people always look for someone or something to blame instead of looking inwards at themselves. It's easy to pull down a stone statue, but much more difficult to determine if the action indeed resulted in the desired outcome. Much like revolutions the world over, pulling down a statue can be a delicate thread that may or may not lead to even more destruction down the line. Good poem, always remind those that history matters more than opinions, as it always comes with a cost.

Comment is about PULLING DOWN STATUES (blog)

Original item by M.C. Newberry

There's something magical about young children's voices
in enthusiastic song. The great Tin Pan Alley songwriter
Irving Caesar wrote a series of songs to teach children
the importance of being clean and tidy and, whilst he was
resistant to the idea initially, was later to consider the
assignment one of his proudest and most rewarding
accomplishments. You are in good company, JC.
One of my own favourite "school songs" was written for
"Goodbye Mr Chips" by Richard Addinsell. It never fails to
evoke that distant world of young voices in age-old
cloisters and the thump of bat on ball across a sun-dappled cricket pitch.

Comment is about TOGETHER (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

My thanks to both Graham and Colin. Chinon itself feels like it's in a medieval time warp. I stayed in a Fourteenth Century wooden house on the Grand Carroi which happens to feature as a photograph in Wikipedia's entry for the town.

I will have to come up with some more French "travelogues".

Chris

Comment is about 'Great White Heron' by Chris Hubbard is Write Out Loud Poem of the Week (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

A beautiful message.

Comment is about Me, the little bulb, feels globally connected (blog)

Original item by Chakraj

If it snows I will build a snowman and give him an everyone scarf Mike. Very sad but warming too. Thanks Beno.

Comment is about The Snowman (blog)

Original item by Mike Bartram

excellent Sarah. A great idea for a poem. I'm off to read Part 2 now. Colin.

Comment is about Shapes (blog)

Original item by Sarah Mae

I love tea, and rhyme.

Comment is about Mean Time (blog)

Original item by Freda Davis

Facing our demons is never easy and will always be a hard
path to take. But the negativity is but one facet of our
"self" and it is possible to use the rest to actively fight
against them. If the tide seems overwhelming then build
up the sea wall that can be used in defence. For every incursion let there be a throwing back. The mind will find
a way when "given the office" to act. Master and servant
are reversible roles in dealing with the downsides of
thought and will change when helped via positive reaction.
Hang in there.

Comment is about Mental Illness (blog)

Original item by Mikey V Kinsey

It is always a pleasure to read your work Chris and as I missed this one when first posted I am very grateful that it has been picked for POTW. Well done! And thank you for providing such interesting responses to the Q&A's.

The natural world is certainly a great provider of inspiration and for that reason alone surely we should take the utmost care of what we have around us - for ourselves and future generations. All the best, Colin.

Comment is about 'Great White Heron' by Chris Hubbard is Write Out Loud Poem of the Week (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

On a positive note: Years ago, an American called Jennie
Jerome hooked up with English aristocrat Sir Randolph
Churchill and look what they gave to this old nation.
Happiness is best enjoyed when witnessing it in others.

Comment is about Happily never after? (blog)

Original item by Jennifer Malden

This is certainly topical - with an appropriate "pay off".
Much seems to be made of so-called cyber-bullying and
harassment...perhaps due to the abundance of modern
obsessions with "keeping in touch" and giving views and
opinions to strangers on just about anything. What
used to be a carefully considered (and as a result seldom used) method of giving an opinion: a letter to an editor
of a journal, is now swamped by stuff on Twitter (apt name!) and Facebook. I've had a job where assaults -
physical and verbal - were part of the scenery and they
were "water off a duck's back". Why are people online so
sensitive to abuse or insult from the unseen and unknown? Beats me!

Comment is about Cyber survival (blog)

Original item by Luke

Thanks Tom. I like to finish any nod to Christmas on a
positive note. It has provided me with many happy
memories over a good many years.

Comment is about THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS (blog)

Original item by M.C. Newberry

I'm from the Rio Grande Valley of Colorado, so this is nostalgic in a way. Never been to Texas myself, and I'm from the US. Hope your travels take you where poetry is appreciated, and good luck.

Comment is about 2017 and Trev goes to Texas for a 7th time: The journey home (blog)

Original item by Trev the Road Poet

I don't know why, but this poem reminded me of dice, which is nice.

Comment is about Shapes (blog)

Original item by Sarah Mae

Thanks Colin, Thanks Cynthia.

Much appreciated.

Comment is about Self Certainty (blog)

Original item by Rich

love it!

Comment is about Shapes (blog)

Original item by Sarah Mae

I know Chinon very well (was there as recently as October) and this piece depicts the wildlife of the area perfectly.

What continually amazes me is how such a graceful bird (whilst standing) can turn into such an ungainly mess (in flight). Captured well in this piece.

Well done Chris.

Comment is about 'Great White Heron' by Chris Hubbard is Write Out Loud Poem of the Week (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Amazing. Beno.

Comment is about Lovers By the Ice-Age Tarn (blog)

Original item by Terry Jones

Hi Martin,

Thank you for the kind words of support yes it's brave poem to share with everyone but we as chiarians we have to bring more awareness to this awful killer rare brain disease and yes about me writing in the first place well that is a good way to release anxiety and pressures of dealing with this disease daily but I'm hoping and praying later on that it does not affect my ability to write knowing the factors of this awful disease and what it can do and how it is killed within the past year 2017 it has killed at least six to seven Chiarians so far and one just passed away on December 1,2017 due to having surgery and not waking back up from anesthesia and it's simple I'm a warrior and conqueror each day


But thank you for the comment back on this piece I do appreciate it

Comment is about Rare Brain Disease (blog)

Original item by Chiari Warrior Soldier

Very much true what you have written and it was a pleasure to read and thank you for sharing it with us all and so much heartfelt words spoken and seen in this lovely written piece


Sincerely Tina,

Comment is about Happily never after? (blog)

Original item by Jennifer Malden

Good transitions in between the stanzas leaves the reader hanging onto the words at the end of each one. A unique perspective on a very interesting subject. Good poem.

Comment is about WAR KIDS (Prime Parental Reproofs) (blog)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

ATTILA 'FILLS' THE ROOM MORE WAYS THAN ONE!
Attila the Stockbroker filled the room at Write Angle's November gig - not only with the power of his presence but by filling the space to 'standing room only' - the best attendance in a long time. He is a masterly force of nature. His energy is boundless! Whether ranting about his political convictions, playing numerous instruments such as the mandola, mandocello, bass recorder and violin, singing the lyrics he composes, or digging deep into his feelings about illness and family, whatever he does, one feels his sincerity and natural connection with the audience. With a full programme of gigs while touring the country, Europe and beyond, he snatches time to write and compose – he wrote nine songs in the previous three weeks!

“You have to be young and black to rap!” Starting with Spirit of the Age, Attila rapped that, giving the lie to it: “I'll be rapping to the day I die.”

With his deeply held political views, he rants....and rants. Looking back to the period when England had no monarchy, he sang of the great ranter of Cromwell's Commonwealth time: ”I have been a ranter for nearly 40 years....but I'm a total lightweight compared to Abiezer Coppe.” More topical and poignant was The Royal Borough of Chelsea and Kensington who “serve Knightsbridge, not Latimer Road” ending with “Appearances matter more than flesh, skin, hair, muscle and bone.” There was also his Corbyn Supporters from Hell: “We undermine everything that moves.” In Rock n Roll Brexit, he chronicalled the formalities, difficulties and indignities of Europe with borders that he used to experience, saying that, if these had to be suffered again, “I'm British and WE HAVE TAKEN BACK CONTROL!”

In addition to his politics, what we also get is Attila the loving family man. In Never Too Late, his tribute to his step-father, He tells “You were the head of the household, I was the stroppy kid”, as a chorus to “Here's a poem I wrote for you, you decent, gentle man”; ending with “It's never too late to tell anyone you love them.” It's no wonder Attila has a fan club of over 6000 people!

At the open mic, newcomer Dick Senior had Referendum in which “John Major's bastards bided their time” until they were “probing the cracks in Cameron weak”. Still political he followed with A Famous Old Etonian, where he described Boris as “the Bullingdon” bore with “Government by the Etonians, for the Etonians”. Another newcomer, Denys Whitley, told of schooldays in Ireland with Rabbit Killers, recounting the grisley details of skinning the rabbit then “march back in triumph past the younger kids, holding up the fur and tail”. In Heliport, he told of the solar wind and the edge of the solar system – a physics lecture beyond the capability of this reviewer!

In Rosary, Sue Spiers itemised the things to pack for a holiday in Spain, if that will be possible after Brexit, ending with “Hale holiday, full of gin!” Then, in November 1987 she looked back to the devastation caused by the “worst storm in my recollection” to oak trees and people's lives. Richard Hawtree's My Tongue was a version of an early Irish poem about Cormac the king of Tara, in which, all the experiences of childhood, “seduced my tongue to what I've left half said”. Colin Eveleigh A Brush With Life paid tribute to his father, “He was never still, mostly silent and ever resourceful, my Dad”, painting everything, even his bicycle, in battleship grey - “was there no end to this dubious stash?” A keen potter, Colin tells, in Pressing the Button Marked Fire “like diving into a volcano” of the excitement of giving birth to new objects that leave to go to new homes but “Those that didn't make it, I love you even more”.

In Leah Cohen's Winter ,“Please, bury my feelings. Freeze them till the Spring”. In Child's Tale, “You love to edit the tale of my life and credit yourself as if you'd written the contents” while in My Selves , she read of meeting her selves in different places including a traffic jam on a busy day, ending with “maybe it's time we met...”. Jilly Funnell, with guitar, did a duet with Phyllida Carr, on bongo drums – a lovely tribute to Jimmy Lee, WA's October guest. Then Jilly sang her raunchy Principle Boy, about Cinderella's disappointment when Prince Charming took 'his' tights off, the consolation being “her sisters might be ugly but at least they're boys.” Richard Lanchester's Age of Enlightenment was dedicated to poet Heathcote Williams, telling how everyone says, “We got to have more” but all his things are second-hand -”I'm not part of the rush to buy the newest, the latest.”
Andy, from Hoyk in the Scottish Borders menaced your reviewer with talk of imminent class war; then, in The Lonely Man Contemplates His Non-existence, he gave a truly lyrical description of a walk in the rain and mist with his girl, who asked, “have you ever run with your eyes closed without being in control of yourself?” Fearfully he did it and then, while she ran towards him, “I saw every blade of grass spring from her footsteps”. Another newcomer, Bethan Screen, in Sweetheart told how “being a young girl is to be visible and commodified”, and that the attentions of men are “a dripping tap that whisper, whistle and shout.” and after any incident, “you wish you could have reacted in a different, more intelligent and effective way.”

Isabelle Sene, operated on for breast cancer, told of her experience adding humour to lighten it such as when the nurse kissed her before the operation, her father said, 'They never did that to me!' She also told of how, when “the consultant marked the breast to be removed, he leaned on her right breast , to which she screamed, 'NO, THE LEFT' 'sorry' he said, 'I'm having one of those days when everything goes wrong'!”

Jezz closed off a great evening, singing Cadillac Dream and High and Dry, both very emotionally and sensitively rendered.

There were several raffle prizes, the first a voucher for two meals at fine Italian restaurant, La Piazetta; the second, Attilla very kindly offered his book Undaunted, and third and fourth were vouchers Leah & your reviewer offered, for the Spice Lounge Indian restaurant.

It was a deeply charged, memorable evening with the outstanding and formidable Attila together with a wealth of talent from new and regular open mikers and an appreciative audience expressing their gratitude and still laughing, as they left the room.

Write Angle will be presenting the very confident and comic performance poet, Paul Lyalls on 19th December for Write Angle's Christmas special. It will be another 'Don't Miss' evening! You're in for another night of talent – both Paul's and those of you who share your talent at the popular Open Mic!

Review is about WRITE ANGLE POETRY & MUSIC +OPEN MIC on 21 Nov 2017 (event)

Nothing, I hope. Your-Hope is a pun on Europe of course.

Comment is about your-hope (blog)

Original item by Terry Jones

Thanks, Cynthia. Not so much beyond recognition, I hope. I do want people to read the poems.
best
terry

Comment is about Terry Jones (poet profile)

Original item by Terry Jones

Hey Cynthia,

Thanks so much for commenting on Renewed (Soon). ^_^
It's a message to one's inner strength, but at the same time, it's a message from me to a personal friend who has gone through hell and is slowly regaining himself. Of course, like you mentioned, it can be a reminder to everyone that they can get through whatever and be stronger for it.

Always,
Mira

Comment is about Cynthia Buell Thomas (poet profile)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas