Your writing reflects a lot of sorrow and pain.

Comment is about Alone (blog)

Original item by Justine Ramos

mmm. Maybe also the poetry is in the pity.

I love the challenge of using rhyme
The kick and punch of ev’ry line,
But sometimes thoughts within my head
Flow smoother with a softer tread.
Like any bond it feels quite free
To step outside the puzzle tree,
And develop feelings, thoughts and moods,
Without metre, rhyme or constrictions
Of balance, structure, free descriptions.
And so the words can fly and flutter
Cutting through, like knife through…
But a poem pure in word and deed
Is a gift, a joy and great indeed.
M x

Comment is about the Oyster Dreamers (blog)

Original item by mike booth

Shouldn't need to be said, but it still does. So well said Cynth.

Comment is about Worthless Women (blog)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

This isn't a poem. Why do you keep posting stuff like this?

Comment is about JULIA HARTLEY-BREWER (blog)

Original item by M.C. Newberry

Another thought-provoking poem from this welcome source.

Comment is about 'My arms grown taut with the thought of that wind' (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

The theme strikes a chord with my own experiences - whether inspired by being high above a distant valley or comforted by the dependable strength of friends. Anyone
who has been in a high place in body or spirit will know the
wonderful sensation of somehow being raised up to a level
beyond the limits of their usual existence. I sense this in
the lines of this poem.

Comment is about Stand Amongst Mountains (blog)

Original item by Roy Chetham

Rather than placing restrictions on the use of words in
poetry, rhyme obliges its users to investigate and utilise
the glorious ever-expanding English language to best
effect. It also requires discipline and a distinct devotion
to obtaining the right result for what the writer seeks to
impart on paper or in spoken form. It need not be
regimented or confining - far from it - but a memorable
means of conveying something that will stick in the
consciousness, often for a lifetime. I think of the
angry message in a famous World War One poem that
still resonates with its barely concealed contemptuous anger....
"Good morning, good morning!" - the general said,
When we met him last week on our way to the line.
Now the soldiers he smiled at are most of 'em dead
And we're cursing his staff for incompetent swine..."
Rhyme has no equal when used to such devastating lasting effect.
The skill is in its application.

Comment is about the Oyster Dreamers (blog)

Original item by mike booth

Hello Desmond,

A beautifully crafted, pared-down but razor-edged exposition which maintains a cool, partially deceptive approach; the steel inside the velvet.

Well deserved POTW, and well done indeed!

Chris Hubbard

Comment is about 'Elegant Lies' by Desmond Childs is Write Out Loud's Poem of the Week (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Fantastic Ray. And the way that you read it sounded lake you were telling a true story.
I could imagine smugglers telling this tale to frighten people away from where they commit their activities .

Cheers Kevin

Comment is about A MINER'S RETURN HOME (blog)

Original item by ray pool

Thanks Patrick ?

Comment is about Smile- the facet curve (blog)

Original item by Ankita Srivastava

Thanks for reading David Colin, David and Andy. Glad you liked it Andy
I am sorry it reminded you of your now present feelings towards weddings David.
For me this was a scene I witnessed recently driving by the church and perhaps drawing a bit of artistic licence from what I saw and heard
Thanks again for reading fellas
cheers
Martin

Comment is about The bells they ring (blog)

Original item by Martin Elder

This poses a very serious dilemma Cynthia . I'm curious as to whether the woman became born again as a sort of refuge from the shame - if so that is an even wider issue . I'm not sufficiently educated to take the argument any further, but you speak the truth. At least women are fighting back in terms of lifting themselves up from slavery to men in those tribal societies.

Ray

Comment is about Worthless Women (blog)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

I'm thinking strangely of Golom! Some presence flitting over a sort of Highgate cemetery scene with your ideas in its head full of purpose and curiosity - quite a challenge you have brought off. Or elements of Tim Burton.
Such a delight of subtle imagery and bravely different words Suki.

Ray

Comment is about Afterimages In Space (blog)

Original item by Suki Spangles

The doubt. I can understand this.

Hannah

Comment is about Break the Cycle (blog)

Original item by Wardah

This is so clever and true too.
Step up to the plate - keep hearing that one.

Hannah

Comment is about It is What it Is (blog)

Original item by mike booth

Love these legends and stories passed down.
Great writing, made me smile.

Hannah

Comment is about The Sea Dog (blog)

Original item by Jon Darby

I enjoyed this poem so much. The description, the story and emotions.
Thank you for commenting on my poem The Bound Bird.
Really appreciated your comment, especially so as it led me to your work.

Hannah

Comment is about Remembering James (blog)

Original item by Jon Darby

much to think about and feel here. a beautiful moment of words.

Comment is about Smile- the facet curve (blog)

Original item by Ankita Srivastava

thanks . it was written and posted in the moment. Im glad you felt that.

Comment is about pull (blog)

Original item by Jenn

I keep a plentiful supply of Kleenex to hand, Graham!

Comment is about HE WAS A FRIEND OF MINE (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

This has the perfect weight for what you describe as it’s intended use.
Make sure there are plenty of Kleenex handy JC.

Comment is about HE WAS A FRIEND OF MINE (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

I finished this poem two days ago, but decided not to post it until Halloween had passed.

And then, this morning, there is a BBC interview in prime time, with men who are sterile, an informative, sensitive discussion.

This work came initially from an encounter with a charming, loving woman who belonged, with her husband, to a congregation of 'Born Again' Christians. She was childless after many years of marriage. She totally blamed herself, as did her husband, and considered herself to be a 'worthless woman'. I was appalled.

Comment is about Worthless Women (blog)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

Thanks for reading, Suki. He had just turned 30 and has a little girl. Wrong place, wrong time.

Comment is about HE WAS A FRIEND OF MINE (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

excellent Ray - I could see myself reading this from a book of Cornish Ghost Stories bought from a tin mine museum. Cliffs, mines, the sea, apparitions, Cornish place names - such boundless imagery to draw upon. Thanks for this. Col.

Comment is about A MINER'S RETURN HOME (blog)

Original item by ray pool

Hi John,

I feel chocked up just reading this. A beautiful poem..

So sorry for the loss. Life sometimes seems so utterly cruel..

Suki

Comment is about HE WAS A FRIEND OF MINE (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

Love piece or writing, love the line "Of a staggering half asleep silence". I do enjoy your work Andy. Jeff

Comment is about The Swan (After Mary Oliver) (blog)

Original item by Andy N

Widsom!!!!

Comment is about ejbejb (poet profile)

Original item by ejbejb

Hi Ray,

Wow! What was your inspiration for this? Was it a novel or film, or did it drop into your poetry mind ready-made?

A wonderfully dark magical realist tale ~ a miner, used to the dangers of the subterranean depths, almost meets his nemesis via reverie, dream-nightmare-fantasy..

Very atmospheric, and a fun read too. Beautifully constructed..

By the way, as it's almost November I hope this poem also doesn't disappear into the archive mist. It might be worth re-uploading in a few hours when WOL resets for the new month's admissions.

Suki

Comment is about A MINER'S RETURN HOME (blog)

Original item by ray pool

To anyone who thinks Dubai is a nice place!

Comment is about We're Doing No Wrong (blog)

Original item by Jeff

Thank You

Comment is about Free Pass (blog)

Original item by Paul Welsh

Hi again Richard
Great image and clever use of language here..I particularly like the second verse that begins 'walking and searching for Windy days,eyes aching with fear'.

Comment is about Listless 2 (blog)

Original item by Richard Alfred

Hi Richard
Nice little poem mate. Made me smile and think a bit about my own advancing years.

Comment is about Hard Of Hearing (blog)

Original item by Richard Alfred

Really nice and funny and I love the idea of your dad always saying these daft things to you when you were young.
My parents were good parents, particularly my mum but they didn't really say stuff like this that I can remember and its great and holds lovely memory for you

Comment is about The Sea Dog (blog)

Original item by Jon Darby

"The city loved him and he loved it back" like a line from Woody Allen that one.
I know you well Jbd and this is a new mood for you in some ways, though obviously it mirrors you typically .
You always paint a picture with your poetry and often you sugar it with the past anecdotal.
Knowing about this phase of your life as I do helps me when I read it, and as ever you always convey beautifully the simplicity of your understanding of other people you feel empathy with. 10 out of 10

Comment is about Remembering James (blog)

Original item by Jon Darby

great piece, martin. can really hear your voice in this. hope you read this at Stockport soon.

Comment is about The bells they ring (blog)

Original item by Martin Elder

Thank you very much.

Fred

Comment is about NEEDLES AND PINS (blog)

Original item by Rick Varden

Anyone with the name ""Leadbeater" is off to a good start
when it comes to writing about English scenes. I wish him
well with this collection and have made a note for my own
purchase.

Comment is about Finding the River Horse: Neil Leadbeater, Littoral Press (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Haha David - I'd not seen that. Fantastic!! ? Thanks for posting it.

Ferris - I was never convinced enough of his 'irony'. I thought he had misogynistic tendencies. I loathed his routines about reading and the waitress, Goatboy (thinly veiled paedophilic comments), Jimi Hendrix raping Debbie Gibson etc. There was way too much of that kind of stuff in amongst what I thought could be great commentary.

Comment is about Hashtag Arrogance (blog)

Original item by Laura Taylor

Hello Jon, thank you for commenting on my latest poem ´Desire´. It is kind of you. Keith

Comment is about Jon Darby (poet profile)

Original item by Jon Darby

Hello Wendy, thank you for commenting on my latest poem´Desire´. It is much appreciated. Keith

Comment is about Wendy Higson (poet profile)

Original item by Wendy Higson

Really good read....sums it up totally...Jeff

Comment is about pull (blog)

Original item by Jenn

Well done Desmond. I've been enjoying your poetry since you joined WoL a few months back so I'm pleased to see your name up in lights on the front page. Unfortunately I have had very little time this past week to read much on the site and am just starting to catch up a little now. Agree with Martin and Stu re the flow. Keep 'em coming. All the best. Col.

Comment is about 'Elegant Lies' by Desmond Childs is Write Out Loud's Poem of the Week (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Thankyou Keith a lovely poem it makes you stop and think and it's true love Wendy

Comment is about Desire (blog)

Original item by keith jeffries

Nice flow to this Fred. Nicely set out too.

Suki

Comment is about NEEDLES AND PINS (blog)

Original item by Rick Varden

Hi Desmond,

Congratulations of winning PotW. All the best!

Suki

Comment is about 'Elegant Lies' by Desmond Childs is Write Out Loud's Poem of the Week (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Thnks dear.. ??

Comment is about ~HOME FARAWAY~ (blog)

Original item by priyakhi barbara

a cracker indeed. flows down the page like an intricate waterfall of words and images. and its got the word ghost in it (twice no-less) so its topical too. well deserved.

Comment is about 'Elegant Lies' by Desmond Childs is Write Out Loud's Poem of the Week (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

I am in love with this. So well written.

Comment is about 'Elegant Lies' by Desmond Childs is Write Out Loud's Poem of the Week (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Absolutely brilliant Keith! I thought it was just me who wants to be 18 all the time. What you explain here is so true and a smile from someone in a certain way really cheers the soul. Many thanks for this I will keep it nearby, always to remind me that’s it’s not odd to be looking for smiles and glances to keep me alive! Keep up the great work here. Love it.

Comment is about Desire (blog)

Original item by keith jeffries

Hi Colin,
I remember being astounded in 2000 when I saw "Eternity" in sixty-foot tall letters on the Bridge. I thought 'Now you've really arrived Arthur' (he died in 1967). His sheer tenacity in reaching so many people went way beyond obsession. I believe it was Australia's largest and most visible creative artifact up to that time, and will surely be hard to beat around these parts. Antony Gormley's "Angel of the North" at Gateshead is a more permanent British analogue.
Chris

Comment is about Mister Eternity (blog)

Original item by Chris Hubbard