Such a beautiful, emotional piece and very well read. Thank you for sharing this. Well done .. keep up the great work, John.?

Comment is about Drinking where the river bed is dry (blog)

Original item by John E Marks

Thanks, Colin. You'll keep an eye out for me though, won't you?

Comment is about REAL WOMEN (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

HI David. I really appreciate your getting into this and going to the heart of it. I think this is one that won't get the attention ...

Ray

Comment is about DENIAL (blog)

Original item by ray pool

Hi Linda

There was severe press censorship in the 1970's, I forget the country or the publication, but the publication involved had several leading articles censored, so that day's paper had large blank spaces on the front and inside pages The editorial staff had made a stark point.
The government forbade the usage of such anti-government propaganda.

Comment is about On Censorship (blog)

Original item by Linda Cosgriff

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JTEFKFiXSx4

Comment is about On Censorship (blog)

Original item by Linda Cosgriff

Hello everyone! I've had a few messages re World Poetry Day/schools comps, etc. I'm away 20-24 March, and this is possibly a little late in the day, but if there is anything I can contribute towards either, do let me know - thanks!
Dorinda x

Comment is about Stockport WoL (group profile)

Original item by Stockport WoL

World Poetry Day

It looks like everyone will be asked on Monday night if they can help in any way to an event at the Art Gallery starting at one on Tuesday 21st March W P D.

Comment is about Rescheduled Write Out Loud at Stockport art gallery tonight (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

liking the revised version Andy. Thanks for messaging me.
Col

Comment is about Duty (blog)

Original item by Andy N

I'm amazed and I just don't have the words you and so many people here have such talent it's beautiful
Thank you for being brave

Comment is about on symbiosis and a concerning dream (blog)

Original item by Stuart Buck

This formation of words seems awkward at first, but if allowed to flow through the mind, coagulate into a fine, connected thought pattern, a paring down of philosophy to bare bone.

If that makes any sense.

Comment is about You and me (blog)

Original item by kishore karunik

I find your intimacy of details, as you and your dog walk together, evokes a range of very broad and compelling ideas. And the burden of your 'age difference' that you carry constantly upon your heart is most emotive. An excellent choice for POTW.

Comment is about 'Drinking where the river bed is dry' by John Marks is Poem of the Week (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

???

Comment is about When I lie. (blog)

Original item by Alexandra K. Parapadakis

your absence has been noted Waring. Buck up your ideas and stop blaming t'internet lad ?

Comment is about From Out Of Nowhere (blog)

Original item by Paul Waring

you have successfully honed in on that tipping point that makes a person homeless. I particularly like the last four lines which are very effective. Personally I would be tempted to add in the title to the last line: so exists Billy "Bag of Bones" Jones - to round things off, especially after the sleeping bag / grave image. Great writing Ian.
Col

Comment is about Bag Of Bones (blog)

Original item by Ian Whiteley

thanks for your kind comment on 'devil on my right shoulder' Hazel - so pleased you liked it
Ian

Comment is about Hazel ettridge (poet profile)

Original item by Hazel ettridge

thanks for commenting on 'devil on my right shoulder' Stu - as always you are very perceptive - and the black dog comment was there to signpost that, sometimes, writers can be sidetracked into dark areas when doubts and insecurities creep in
I appreciate your insightful comments, as always, mate
Ian

Comment is about Stuart Buck (poet profile)

Original item by Stuart Buck

thanks for commenting on 'devil on my right shoulder' Tom - glad that you liked it
Ian

Comment is about Tom Harding (poet profile)

Original item by Tom Harding

Hi Col,

What can I say? Cheers so much! The italics part was just me being very silly. Glad you think it works.

Suki

Comment is about I Lost The Thread (blog)

Original item by Suki Spangles

Hi friends, so sorry for not commenting for a few days, due to no internet connection, fingers crossed it's sorted soon!

Hope you are all well ?

Missing you, Paul

Comment is about From Out Of Nowhere (blog)

Original item by Paul Waring

Thanks you Harry, that's a good like! I'll stick with the ending - I like the image it creates but I do take your point.

Col: Horses for courses, glad you like it!

Ray

Comment is about FATE (blog)

Original item by ray pool

thanks

Comment is about kishore karunik (poet profile)

Original item by kishore karunik

Thank you for your comment on 'happy tears'. And definitely it opens the door as you put it for more. ?

Comment is about Chakraj (poet profile)

Original item by Chakraj

I see expectations, a subtle denial of a mother's succour by others less able, and a longing for another chance and flagellation of the soul , all heavy stuff and well expressed as always Stu.

I just thought also it is almost to be a doll , putty in the hands of the adoring. (?)

Best I can think of at the moment!

Ray

Comment is about on symbiosis and a concerning dream (blog)

Original item by Stuart Buck

I enjoyed reading ¨Don´t Fix It¨, ¨Honestus¨, & ¨Game¨, all of which are beautifully crafted. Thank you. Keith

Comment is about J F Keane (poet profile)

Original item by J F Keane

Thinking Caps On

So little time
trying so hard
to conjure up
with something new
ideas and plans
we will contribute
best we can!

Comment is about Rescheduled Write Out Loud at Stockport art gallery tonight (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Lovely Maxine.

This piece has a sensuous appeal. Love the way it ends with the "power of now". A mindful moment that opens the doors to other moments.

Raj

Comment is about happy tears (blog)

Original item by Maxine

Love love love this. As you guessed I might ? A wonderful uplifting story, with plenty of poetic swish in it, and layered in beautiful equality of humanity.

Comment is about Picnic (blog)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

Maternal Magic!!

Nice one Cynthia...one can never question human instincts.

Raj x

Comment is about Picnic (blog)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

Cheers Paul, (blush) ? Tommy

Comment is about Lift (blog)

Original item by Tommy Carroll

Thank you Wolf. Said in three. Tommy

Comment is about Lift (blog)

Original item by Tommy Carroll

Firstly, full marks for the title Gen.

I liked the emotive story, flows really well but as Colin said it could have been chiseled down a bit. Less is more in some cases.

Nice work!

Raj

Comment is about Blue Movie (blog)

Original item by Genevieve

in losing your thread Suki you have drawn us in and tangled us up in your web of word wizardry - quite compelling and addictive and yes, those italics are a master stroke.

Col

Comment is about I Lost The Thread (blog)

Original item by Suki Spangles

like this lots Stu although a part of me wishes you'd hold back the darker lines occasionally - knives and butchering. I sometimes wonder if it's a bit too easy / tempting to chuck 'em in - to go there - if you see what I mean?

there's a danger imo that everything ends up tinged with a Gothic infusion as if Pete Murphy of Bauhaus has coughed over the page. Personal preferences and styles perhaps - hope you don't mind me saying.

cheers
Col

Comment is about on symbiosis and a concerning dream (blog)

Original item by Stuart Buck

Ah leave the white van man be Harry - he's had enough to worry about with this last budget but I hear Hammond pulled a U-turn yesterday.

'in any real controversy or plan' I like, as well as the last line. Sry to disagree Harry ?

Col

Comment is about FATE (blog)

Original item by ray pool

Stu,

Cheers so much for the compliment. I don't really submit my poems anywhere, although my blog does receive visits from various folks, and a few of my poems have been published here and there.

As for the spelling of dansak/dhansak, you are right, there are so many ways of spelling Indian dishes. Even the humble papadum can be spelt about three or four different ways, probably because the Hindi alphabet is phonetic, and there are more letters. Dhansak, is more complicated still, because its origins are from Persia, which means dhansak was translated from Farsi to any number of Indian languages, and then into English. Another one is daal/dhal/dal. I could go on. I just getting hungry now..

Cheers!

Comment is about I Lost The Thread (blog)

Original item by Suki Spangles

So alone, so full of the regrets of an idiot

The misplaced steps of someone scared of the sun's warmth..

The haunting of the haunted..that's what I get from this, Stu - also a strange kind of equanimity..

The lamb is ready to be butchered..

Suki

Comment is about on symbiosis and a concerning dream (blog)

Original item by Stuart Buck

It took me a while to respond but I want to thank everyone that has posted on my profile. I have read pieces from everyone of you that I really enjoyed and that inspired me to work on my craft. I hope to continue reading your creative poetry in the future

Comment is about Juan Pablo Lynch (poet profile)

Original item by Juan Pablo Lynch

Shiveringly good, Ray.

I like how that `pop desiderata` undermines the `sweet romance`and also your use of the word `copout`calls the rest into question.

It would finish-much more powerfuly-with that penultimate
line (the last one sounds a bit Lakinesque)

Fittingly short.

Comment is about FATE (blog)

Original item by ray pool

Thanks for adding your thoughts Martin and picking up on the ascent - apparently he used an old shooting brake so I thought that got the feel!

Hazel, I rehashed the last verse for brevity rather hurriedly but so glad you spotted that line now ! Thanks.

Ray

Comment is about ANSEL ADAMS, PHOTOGRAPHER (blog)

Original item by ray pool

Some topics/subjects are like thorns in your head, and must finally be addressed. Such is this, for Mother's Day.

Comment is about Picnic (blog)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

Thank you Stu. That's encouraging!

Raj

Comment is about Ssssh, there's someone speaking (blog)

Original item by Chakraj

Thank you all for reading this poem and your positive feedback.
You are right Ja'Net I am a Brit. It's good to know that the whole trauma of school dinners translates beyond these shores.
It's interesting Gary Ray and Colin that the whole semolina saga resonates so much with so many people.
I have yet to find anybody that enjoyed such a delicacy.

But burnt semolina is a new one on me Gary and to be forced fed the stuff Ray certainly goes beyond the pail.

Interesting the nun fetish thing David could there be a poem there! I have to admit never being hit with a ladle but the head teacher a nun had a piece of bamboo cane about six foot she would use on unwitting victims and then laugh insanely after they had been dismissed .

Glad you liked it Paul, its funny how some things stick in your memory, can still smell boiled cabbage ugh!

Stu I love the line about Escapeas! I know what you mean about the girls, totally agree.
thanks again
Martin

Comment is about School dinners (blog)

Original item by Martin Elder

yes great memories evoked here martin. i too played the fool, still do, and wouldnt change it for the world. the people you thought were out of your league then quickly slip down the chain i find. also love the cabbage line. whenever i dropped peas in the kitchen (i used to be a chef) it was tradition for at least one of us to shout 'ESCAPEAS' at the top of our voice.

Comment is about School dinners (blog)

Original item by Martin Elder

good stuff raj, small but perfectly formed, like all the best things.

Comment is about Ssssh, there's someone speaking (blog)

Original item by Chakraj

great stuff. love the use of italics, very clever, and some standout lines, especially the entire second verse with its bubbling dhansak soul interrogation (should dhansak have an h by the way?). do you submit your work anywhere? i think many a journal would be proud to have this in their publication.

Comment is about I Lost The Thread (blog)

Original item by Suki Spangles

An intriguing premise - open to interpretation on various
levels. Like it!

Comment is about Forever hush (blog)

Original item by Chunks and Marrow

Hi, Jerry,

Welcome to WOL.

You have certainly started an interesting topic, and such an important one for new writers, (and experienced ones also.)

The discussion has gone into many arenas associated with writing, my insert included. Way beyond what I think you intended.

If the photo is actually you, and I hope it is, you look very young. So -write whatever you want, about anything you want, however you want. Just write, and write and write -about everything, for yourself. Keep a notebook. If it's on computer, be sure to copy to a thumb-drive so that you never lose your ideas.

Write in whatever language is most comfortable to you, not for the sake of 'being clever'. Empathy (big word) is probably the most important idea in writing poetry. Because, eventually, you will be writing to connect with other persons. It is inevitable.

And read, Jerry, if it's possible. And speak your own words out loud, to find best rhythm and the 'best word' to use from your personal stock of vocabulary.This is really important because poetry is truly meant to be passed on by speaking.

Have fun. Have FUN!

Cynthia

Comment is about jerry joshua audu (poet profile)

Original item by jerry joshua audu

Smashing poem this. So intimate, so revealing, and I love the little insertion of down-to-earthness at the end.

Comment is about 'Drinking where the river bed is dry' by John Marks is Poem of the Week (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

I certainly need that aerial therapy mate. Perhaps I should have a word with Richard 'The Virgin' Branson. He likes that sort of thing?

Comment is about Ssssh, there's someone speaking (blog)

Original item by Chakraj

very good - deserves to be read slowly. Thanks for posting Rachel.

Comment is about He's Different Now (blog)

Original item by Rachel Miller