Thanks Jeff...for reading and commenting....the asphalt line is funny...reminds me of "she was only a chimney sweeps daughter but she knew how to haul ash". I think we must share that Benny Hill/rude seaside postcard sense of humour...nudge, nudge, wink, wink?

Comment is about The Name Game - Part 1 (blog)

Original item by Paul Waring

Hahaha, very good Jeff. Did the guy say back to you, "aw, that's not fur" ???

Comment is about Willy Liar (blog)

Original item by Paul Waring

Brilliant imagery Saniya and a story well told.
I guess this is real??

Raj

Comment is about Believing (blog)

Original item by Saniya

We've all met the lothario liars lol.....I remember so fed up with one guy I told him mine was almost the same length as a cats tail......when you measure from my butt hole, the same as a cat......Jeff

Comment is about Willy Liar (blog)

Original item by Paul Waring

Great read & reminds me of "she was only the"....nice fun piece! She was only the road makers daughter, but she liked he Asphalt.....couldn't help myself...sorry......Jeff

Comment is about The Name Game - Part 1 (blog)

Original item by Paul Waring

You really do have to sing it to the Nellie the Elephant tune to appreciate it properly !!

Comment is about (blog)

Original item by claire crossdale

Thank you all so much for your comments! I really appreciate the positive feedback.

Comment is about The Fall (blog)

Original item by Sydney Southers

So simple, but very moving. I like that somber undertone.

Comment is about Footprints in the Sand (blog)

Original item by Tristan Ayran

Such a sad poem. It's like a song that breaks your heart but still glues it together knowing that your pain is universal.
Great work.

Comment is about Conversations in the rain (blog)

Original item by jane wilcock

Thank you Col, Raj, Juan Pablo and Tristan, I am so pleased to read your comments and appreciate you taking the time to read this. Part 2 is ready, I will post it in the next day or two ?
Paul

Comment is about The Name Game - Part 1 (blog)

Original item by Paul Waring

...sorry about your troubles, Ray. I just thought maybe I should qualify my comment by saying "freedom as in free from being studied like a lab rat by marketing parasites and data brokering vultures." But, Colin is right, blindness does seem much more frightening.

Enjoyed the read, Ray.

elP
(and David is right, it is a book fetish)

Comment is about LIKE REFUGEES (blog)

Original item by ray pool

Raj, that picture was a really great attachment to such a well crafted poem. Also the title was very creative. At first I thought Plaice was a spelling error but Webster told me better. truly enjoyed it.

Comment is about Final Resting Plaice (blog)

Original item by Chakraj

beautiful... but who was Robin?

Comment is about Remembering Robin (blog)

Original item by Chakraj

Very creative! What a read.
Tristan

Comment is about The Name Game - Part 1 (blog)

Original item by Paul Waring

Very thought provoking.

Comment is about perfect times (blog)

Original item by Lia ishihara

All you valued readers deserve an individual response, but I am having problems online: when I press "add comment" I get a spam page which closes me off ; it also happens when I add a blog sometimes. So for now I have tried to reset my password, but am on hold while this kicks in to the revised one. I'll get back to you ..... thanks one and all.

Ray

Comment is about LIKE REFUGEES (blog)

Original item by ray pool

Wow, Love it! I loved the Jean Poole (Gene pool) one because I'm into biology.
Waiting Patiently for part 2.

Comment is about The Name Game - Part 1 (blog)

Original item by Paul Waring

Hi Juan,
Thanks for your comments. I guess that's why I say it is an 'evil friend'.

I wrote the poem when I was doing a difficult job that I enjoyed doing. So the responsibility was a 'friend' that I got on well with but every now and again it turned 'evil' when things became much more difficult and challenging.

So I agree with you. Responsibility is a good thing to have but it also comes with its challenges which, in the end, make the responsibility worthwhile.

Peter Ray

Comment is about Responsibility (blog)

Original item by Peter Ray

worth it for psalms embalmed alone.

Comment is about LIKE REFUGEES (blog)

Original item by ray pool

Love it Paul. Very clever.
Best of all it has endless possibilities for extension.

Raj

Comment is about The Name Game - Part 1 (blog)

Original item by Paul Waring

this is brilliant Paul, absolutely love it - the Bush's are definitely my favourite. I dunno tho, Polly Graaf and Albert Ross are good.

this afternoon whilst chopping logs I had 'Des Lynam / botulinum' running round my head for some reason - and thought about doing a poem called Things That Went Through My Head Whilst Chopping Logs' - but thankfully my brain moved on and I didn't get any further than dear old Des.

can't wait for part 2. Tomorrow? Please. ?

Comment is about The Name Game - Part 1 (blog)

Original item by Paul Waring

Nice!

Comment is about Earth and Sky (blog)

Original item by Juan Pablo Lynch

Love this. Leaving that which is natural to a world of brick and mortar can sadden the soul

Comment is about After Paradise (blog)

Original item by Danny Carr

Thanks Gideon some people just don't understand what they have until it's gone. Sad right?

Comment is about BURY THE HATCHET (blog)

Original item by lynn hahn

Very well composed.
However, I cringed at Responsibility is an evil friend. You make very valid points. I believe sometimes, no at all times, being responsible for something/someone comes with it's adverse side effects. However, I also believe responsibility is the cure to regression and the pavement for progression. That's why I don't agree with the statement that it is an evil friend.
Responsibility is what causes a parent/friend to tell a child/friend that they are going down the wrong road and help them get back on track. An evil friend doesn't do that. An evil friend laughs at your downfall.
However, when you are angry, tired and want to have your way and not be responsible then responsibility is indeed an evil friend. That seems to be the persona's mood.
Anyway, I really like the poem.

Comment is about Responsibility (blog)

Original item by Peter Ray

I got a squeeze from her sister Ana!
Nice work Trevor

Comment is about La Gioconda (blog)

Original item by Trevor Alexander

Hi Trevor,

I really like your poem from beginning to end. Sorry you didn't get close enough for intimate reflections but maybe it's just as well, she has a reputation as a bit of a moaner! Boom-boom!?

Paul

Comment is about La Gioconda (blog)

Original item by Trevor Alexander

Yikes, caught me out there too Graham! Well I did say it was a tongue twister. I'm not going to attempt to type it again!

Comment is about The Void (blog)

Original item by Rafael

Love the analogy Ray.
Second hand books are like vintage wine and need to be treasured.

Raj

Comment is about LIKE REFUGEES (blog)

Original item by ray pool

typos on Mistake and Brobdingnagian. I agree this is an unnecessary tongue-twister, giant or gigantic would be easier (although you use gigantic later) to read.

I love the repetition of 4th Sreet and Montana and wish this piece was longer to allow more repeats which would anchor us to the spot.

Your work is very interesting Rafael, just watch the typos.

Well done,

Graham

Comment is about The Void (blog)

Original item by Rafael

Thanks Col, I really appreciate you reading it and commenting. I wasn't sure about whether to post this but, once I'd written it, I kept laughing at how the title summed up a boastful Billy Liar-type bloke at work who, apparently, over-marketed his, let's say, limited goods - a strategy that brought plenty of custom nevertheless!! ?

Comment is about Willy Liar (blog)

Original item by Paul Waring

I like this a lot Ray. Great idea to characterise second hand books as refugees. Yeh, for many it could be a sad existence, some craving for another caring owner, others wishing they were in their prime again on the glamourous shelves of Waterstones! Paul

Comment is about LIKE REFUGEES (blog)

Original item by ray pool

nice one Paul - life after That's Life! for Doc Cox - even that name seems slightly inappropriate now.

Comment is about Willy Liar (blog)

Original item by Paul Waring

yes I like this too Rafael although perhaps the last questioning line is not needed as the poem towards the end is pretty much asking the same and 'we all stand befuddled' would be a great place to end imo.

I do like the buzzing lamp posts / Brobdinganian wasp hives comparison despite Brobdinganian being a bit of a tongue twister to pronounce. And the whole section from 'my pulse' to 'like we know' is excellent.

thanks for posting. Col.

Comment is about The Void (blog)

Original item by Rafael

another terrific poem Tristan - you pulled me right down into those raven eyes and I do like a poem which starts so...

Comment is about That Which Holds All (blog)

Original item by Tristan Ayran

I fear a Fahrenheit 451 scenario or blindness more than the digital age elP - we seem to have an insatiable urge for the printed word that even the likes of Kindle can only scratch at - although first edition fiction hardbacks annoy me for their sheer waste of resources, pomposity and weighty bulkiness - you know when one of those falls on your face when you doze off!

I am fortunate to have a very large secondhand book charity store close by, the aim of which is to keep books from going to landfill. You are allowed to take 3 books per visit. I think I must now have enough for a lifetime of reading and the weight of all those volumes on the shelves behind I find reassuring as I sit down to my daily write.

And the Oxfam book store in Swansea works closely with refugees, giving them an opportunity to volunteer in the shop, which seems fitting in the context of your poem Ray. And just the other day they had a day out hiding art books around the town for people to find. And then there is bookcrossing.com which encourages people to leave a book in a public place to be found, read and passed on by a stranger in order to "make the whole world a library." Via the website you can supposedly track your book as it travels the world although I have never tried it.

well you've really got me waffling Ray. That last verse is a gem btw. Col.

Comment is about LIKE REFUGEES (blog)

Original item by ray pool

good luck with the book Alem - I agree, WoL is a great platform for learning and improving one's writing skills. All the best, Colin

Comment is about Self Canibalism (blog)

Original item by Alem Hailu G/Kristos

beautiful...

Comment is about Remembering Robin (blog)

Original item by Chakraj

I love the images. Visceral.

Comment is about Hope (blog)

Original item by Randall Eckstein

Great poem!

Comment is about Today (blog)

Original item by Hazel ettridge

Just the title says it all but... I haven't been fortunate to have my own children but I understand the message. This is very beautiful. Great work.

Comment is about BURY THE HATCHET (blog)

Original item by lynn hahn

It says it all. Lovely.

Comment is about Incense to Itches (blog)

Original item by Chunks and Marrow

What can you write about? Unless of course the line of biography is less a disclaimer than a poem?

Comment is about Jane Doe (poet profile)

Original item by Jane Doe

Dear poets thank you for the comments. I am readying the collection of my poems for a print on demand book,proofreading and page layout work.It is after I read your recommendations it dawned on me I can use both titles for my book as a title and subtitle together with the Ouroboros photo.

About politics in Africa I wrote that to evade the attention of the Ouroboros here about whom I am talking in my poem, with a theme of first hand experience. I don't want to be specific pinpointing the exact place.What a pity even developed countries are subject to Ouroboros.

Also what a nice blog www.writeoutloud.com is because I learn a lot every time,refine my skills,get acquainted to knowledgeable poets.Another poem of mine with a similar theme entitled 'Yesterday,today &tomorrow'
is trending in another blog.See it below.

Yesterday,today &tomorrow

Yesterday

A votary of democracy
And a combatant!

Today

A tyrant and a parasite!

Tomorrow

A prison inmate,
Who regrets
A wrong turn or bent!

Comment is about Self Canibalism (blog)

Original item by Alem Hailu G/Kristos

I share the sentiment Paul, but i can't help thinking that, given another go-round we'd make a fresh set of mistakes while attending to the first lot, and then wish for another and another chance, ad infinitum, which, i believe, is the basis of reincarnation (pace Colin); the idea that, eventually, we'll get it right. Nice thought...

Travis.

Comment is about if only...... (blog)

Original item by Paul Waring

Thank you, everyone, for your kind words and warm welcome. It's my deep pleasure just to have my poems read, and that you all like it so is certainly great motivation to keep working on more poetry. ??

Comment is about 'She wants to feel 日本 (Japan)' by Randall Eckstein is Poem of the Week (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Such contrast between the city and the unimaginable void of existence. It strikes me as very philosophical and meta piece. Great job!

Comment is about The Void (blog)

Original item by Rafael

A beautiful and warm-hearted affirmation of the bonds of love.

Comment is about That Which Holds All (blog)

Original item by Tristan Ayran

This is a great poem. I love how you end it especially- the last four lines- perfectly sums it all up. Great piece!

Comment is about The Void (blog)

Original item by Rafael

I collect and cherish much more than I'll ever read for I've an ever strong attraction to the written word. But, I believe there is a freedom in print that could one day be denied us in the digital age.

elP

Comment is about LIKE REFUGEES (blog)

Original item by ray pool