this is very timely for me Keith as I turned anger into energy (to quote John Lydon) this morning by boxing up a load of books, games and dvd's and running them over to my local Oxfam store. And boy did it feel good. Here's to the next bout of life laundering and to more of the same quality from your good self. Cheers, Col.

Comment is about To Hoard (blog)

Original item by keith jeffries

a fine poem Keith with lots of interwoven imagery. Thanks for posting, Colin.

Comment is about Despondent (blog)

Original item by keith jeffries

thanks for this Ian. I was earlier reading up on Hedd Wyn the Welsh language poet who was killed on the first day of fighting on Pilckem Ridge. There are a couple of interesting links about him on the WoL Facebook page if you're interested. All the best, Colin

https://www.facebook.com/writeout.loud.1/

Comment is about Passchendaele (RE-POST) (blog)

Original item by Ian Whiteley

Hi LL. Just a quick note to say thanks for taking the time to comment on my story about the Floppit brothers.

Cheers Kevin

Comment is about Lyrical Lexa (poet profile)

Original item by Lyrical Lexa

very romantic and sad at the same time Lynn.Not seen you on here for ages!

Welcome back!

P&S xx

Comment is about THE DANCE (blog)

Original item by lynn hahn

our regards and best wishes to you Wendy.

P&S xx

Comment is about Suffering Long Term (blog)

Original item by Wendy Higson

I love this Jean - beautiful images and a chilling, haunting message - fantastic stuff
Ian

Comment is about SHAME (blog)

Original item by jean lucy thompson

Hi everyone! Nicola very kindly offered me her 'slot' at Marple (if my work was accepted). I sent 3 samples of my work on 27 July, and e-mailed again today to see if they were happy with what I'd sent. The e-mail came back "cannot connect etc etc" so I am wondering if either of my messages got through! Nicola, you very kindly gave me the address: a.barlow@matthewjamespublishing - should there have been a dot.uk or dot.com at the end??? Any help anyone can give would be very much appreciated! - thanks, Dorinda.not so hi-tech.help!!! X

Comment is about Stockport WoL (group profile)

Original item by Stockport WoL

great imagery ray. short and powerful.

Comment is about AFTER WOLFENDEN (blog)

Original item by ray pool

lovely cynthia, nothing short of the immense quality i would expect from such a fine poetic mind. any chance of hearing this when we return to sale in august?

Comment is about 'The Farmer's Wife' by Cynthia Buell Thomas is Poem of the Week (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

How apt - neatly outing the absence of reason in rhyme!
To take up David's point about the services:
I recall someone in the navy telling of
a certain popular gunnery officer of that particular persuasion who would order "Shoot" with emphasis and
effect...the cause of much hilarity and no resentment at all when life itself was at immediate risk.
And then, of course, there is the history of all those young guardsmen making themselves available. Another variant on
"The Queen's shilling"! :-)

Comment is about AFTER WOLFENDEN (blog)

Original item by ray pool

Hello Ahmad, Welcome to Write out Loud. I look forward to reading some more of your poetry. Keith

Comment is about Ahmad Pearson (poet profile)

Original item by Ahmad Pearson

Kevin, thanks for this. I did not conciously use rhyme as the words simply popped up. As to whether it is appropriate I really don´t know. I shall seek some advice, otherwise one would have to write this type of poem avoiding any thyming which would be akin to walking through a mine field. Thanks for raising this point as I feel the need for some professional advice and will let you know the outcome. Thanks again. Keith

Comment is about Uncertainty (blog)

Original item by keith jeffries

Cynthia, a well deserved Poem of the Week, as you take the reader, whether familiar or not with such a rustic setting, directly to the place which the poem centres on. An excellent work. Thank you Keith

Comment is about The Farmer's Wife (blog)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

Frances, thank you ever so much! I appreciate your thoughts and I will definitely keep your critiques in mind for my next poem.

Comment is about Mona Lisa (blog)

Original item by Lyrical Lexa

Thanks all! X

Comment is about Your Tune. (blog)

Original item by Alexandra K. Parapadakis

I'm not familiar with the Stevie Wonder song you mention. I'll keep a 'heads up' for it, as he is still a fave artist in our family. And the thought is so similar.

Apparently, many of my ideas are quite similar to Cohen's work as well. Other writers have noticed this. And I'm not that knowledgeable about his 'philosophy', in general.

But I've decided that many minds must just work in similar paths. And that makes sense. How original is it possible to be! I never 'copy' and I don't worry anymore either.

Enjoy your writing. It will be a life-long blessing to you.

Comment is about Lyrical Lexa (poet profile)

Original item by Lyrical Lexa

Gorgeous image.

Comment is about AFTER WOLFENDEN (blog)

Original item by ray pool

another notch on the headboard of success

Comment is about Black Boy Jerome (blog)

Original item by Paul Welsh

without doubt a worthy recipient.

Comment is about 'The Farmer's Wife' by Cynthia Buell Thomas is Poem of the Week (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Harold Robbins.Novelist.
Check out his book 'Tycoon'
(New York world of gangsterism)
my thought connection to "New York deathstare" and so on

Comment is about Smell Filthy (blog)

Original item by Paul Welsh

Amen.

Raj

Comment is about Jesus (blog)

Original item by Shirley Smothers

There's so much I like about this clever observational poem: particularly the distance created by the metaphor which gives you a chance to live up to your 'Lyrical' name.
But I do have to agree with Colin, Lexa; the poem ties up perfectly on 'and Mona Lisa smiles.'
Although I would add more full-stops 'and Mona Lisa smiles...' to leave the thought open.
I really like this, so have now added you to my favourites.
?

Comment is about Mona Lisa (blog)

Original item by Lyrical Lexa

Well-deserved 'Poem of the Week'!
Congratulations, Cynthia.

Comment is about The Farmer's Wife (blog)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

Good to hear from you, always, Suki and Ray.

Rachel

Comment is about paths home (blog)

Original item by nunya

You're too kind, Colin..thanks, all, for reading.

Rachel

Comment is about looking backward (a sign during the day) (blog)

Original item by nunya

I love the authenticity of this poem, it has the ring of truth and is so full of life in its most fundamental sense. A really skilled picture painting and I agree your finest input in my book. I love the contrast between the smells and we are lured in by the sensory experience. I think of Thomas Hardy and the old farm wagons of those days.

Congratulations Cynthia.

Comment is about 'The Farmer's Wife' by Cynthia Buell Thomas is Poem of the Week (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Such beautiful words Stu. just the title alone is magnificent, but the whole poem is wonderful as the words just spill across the page, culminating with
'a calf of golden light formed within your softness'.
Nice one Stu

Comment is about there is an ocean behind your eyes (blog)

Original item by Stuart Buck

LOL you guys are hilarious!!!

I will keep those alternative methods in mind on my next date

Comment is about DATING (blog)

Original item by lynn hahn

hey! don't leave me out!



Lots of love to you Wendy
my ray of sunshine in a dark world


Rose ?????????

because you're worth every one Wendy!

Comment is about Suffering Long Term (blog)

Original item by Wendy Higson

Hi David, a double edged sword shall part me from my brain; I don't know which way to turn; I wish to share my own sense of disgrace - he that sees let him see.
I'll get my coat.

Ray

Comment is about WHOOPS APOCALIPS (blog)

Original item by ray pool

Many many congratulations on a well deserved potw. I can smell the odours from the animals as I read this poem.
It is interesting your use of the word true. Where I come from in Sussex trugs are a type of wooden basket which seemed to have been made locally. I can remember my grandmother using one for weeding in her garden.
Tyre is a wonderful rich description here. Fabulous

Comment is about 'The Farmer's Wife' by Cynthia Buell Thomas is Poem of the Week (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

"That spirit far beyond mere shape and colour..Once picked the power of plant is dispossessed of earth." So very true and beautiful! Stevie Wonder's 'Secret Life of plants' came to mind when reading this.

Comment is about The Art of Japanese Flower Arranging (blog)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

Cynthia, thank you so much! And yes that was taken from one of my favorite songs. Thank you for the constructive feedback, I will definitely edit that.

Comment is about Mona Lisa (blog)

Original item by Lyrical Lexa

I meant this to be crap Suki, but even in parody there has to be some merit; thanks for spotting the intention. Innit.

Col I am ready for administering - apparently there is no cure for the dregs of testosterone (at least I can spell it).

Ray

Comment is about WHOOPS APOCALIPS (blog)

Original item by ray pool

Lovely poem Carole...felt emotional reading this....we had pegs too at school.

Comment is about i need to decorate a peg (blog)

Original item by Shoeless Carole

Cynthia...congratulations!

I agree with Graham about this being your finest creation.

You have managed to get all those Tactile, auditory and odorous qualities that connect us to the physically animal
world that we live in....even the sex...(these days to get
`heaves` `skirts up and aside` and `thigh` into a poem and control it from running erotically`amok` is quite a feat.

I admire the summing up of those last six lines (and in particular the sensory identification of the last three)

Humanity is out of sight the huge intellectual superior...But this makes me glad that my Christianity gets me away from that Homeric shady stuff, and insists on the resurrection
of the body.

But I digress...well done!

Comment is about 'The Farmer's Wife' by Cynthia Buell Thomas is Poem of the Week (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

There is much to think about in these lines. The final line is a score!

Comment is about Scorpio (blog)

Original item by Lyrical Lexa

Welcome to WOL, LL. Dreaming and doing are a great combo.

Comment is about Lyrical Lexa (poet profile)

Original item by Lyrical Lexa

A flair for words, and imagery. And clued right in to a very popular idea.

There is nothing quite so romantic as 'not finding one's own true love' according to childhood fantasies. And the movies. And pop songs. It's a deadly notion to nurture, yet always popular, and quite self-destructive.

Is it possible that 'a cold and lonely work of art' is quoted from an old song? Nothing wrong with that if it is, but it should have quotation marks to indicate it is not original.

Comment is about Mona Lisa (blog)

Original item by Lyrical Lexa

Enjoyed the scope of the ideas, especially the 2-line transition into the 'waiting doldrums'. And 'no vision to console'. Perhaps the work is still quite 'fresh', and needs a review period to bind it together even more potently.

Comment is about Uncertainty (blog)

Original item by keith jeffries

Great picture. Grandma had Holsteins too, but my favourite cows were the Jerseys with their rich, golden coats and their rich golden milk, most of which went 'for sale' for money to run the farm; or straight into the barn cats from teat to mouth in a high white arch. My grandma was very expert, and so were the cats. I used to fall over myself laughing.

Maybe that's how I fell into the gutter one evening, when it was full of poo and piss freshly passed. Now THAT was a memory!

Comment is about 'The Farmer's Wife' by Cynthia Buell Thomas is Poem of the Week (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

I accept all her swinging moods like nature. Beautiful!

Comment is about She blows hot, blows cold (blog)

Original item by Chakraj

Thank you everyone so much for the feedback! I will keep all of this in mind.

Comment is about Mona Lisa (blog)

Original item by Lyrical Lexa

Maybe you want 'corpses'. ie.'dead bodies'? Maybe not.

Comment is about M'am your poem is served (blog)

Original item by Chakraj

Well done Cynthia. This gripped me from start to finish. It was a gem from your collection.

Raj

Comment is about 'The Farmer's Wife' by Cynthia Buell Thomas is Poem of the Week (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Why not keep the light out Lynn. It could be really exciting, just feel your way in!

Comment is about DATING (blog)

Original item by lynn hahn

If anyone else is old enough to remember those short filler films that used to be used to bridge television programmes (I think one was known as the potter's wheel) in the earlier days of broadcasting, then this poem instantly reminds me of such as those.

In each short episode someone demonstrated with effortless ability their particular skill.

This poem does the same, the noises, the smell, the time, the location and best of all the person executing the skill.

Cynthia I have read your work here on WOL for many years and for me this is easily your finest work to date.

An easy POTW for me! Very well done!

Comment is about 'The Farmer's Wife' by Cynthia Buell Thomas is Poem of the Week (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

I loved the line "We clutched at lifejackets and straws"
this poem had a nice rhythm to it, and a good vocabulary.
I found it interesting that the tedium of the calm seemed to be harder to endure than the storm itself.
My only criticism would be that parts of it seemed to rhyme and other parts didn't. this is probably ok to do, but to me it seems wrong.
thanks for posting- Cheers Kevin

Comment is about Uncertainty (blog)

Original item by keith jeffries

Congratulations on your POTW Cynthia. I absolutely loved this one the first time I read it, and it gets better with every read.
I've also read your replies to the questions. in particular the one about performing. this is a weak point of mine so I'll take your advice on board.

Thanks Kevin

Comment is about 'The Farmer's Wife' by Cynthia Buell Thomas is Poem of the Week (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman