Hazel, I can definitely see Today is a good day...love your poem.

Comment is about Today (blog)

Original item by Hazel ettridge

Nice one Lynn.
At the end of the day there's two sides to everything

yin-yang
laugh-cry
black-white
breathe in-breathe out
sun-moon
high tide-low tide
birth-death

Raj

Comment is about ON THE WAY (blog)

Original item by lynn hahn

I really loved this poem. It works on so many levels. Thank you for sharing such an evocative and insightful read.

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

Original item by Greg Freeman

Totally charming piece Randall, easily one of the very best poems we've seen here on WOL for a long time!

V2 sums it all up for me, just perfect.

Well done on POTW

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

Original item by Greg Freeman

What a great subject for a poem Trevor. But Wolfgar is right you know, there has always been a source of rubbish media, whether it is the Sun newspaper or the gobby bloke down the pub!

I have a feeling that the machine will in the end eat itself. For instance, there are so many scam emails etc that no-one in their right mind would answer any of them, for fear of being caught up in some nefarious dealings. Hence the few serious adverts, offers, freebies etc are not taken up and will eventually stop being offered.

Like any form a communication FB is open to as much shit as everything else. I know who my friends are. they are the ones that will come running if I shout help.

As to the rest, the acquaintances, like my WOL chums, do we really know who each other really is? No we take each other on trust. That's the problem with the Internet, you can be who your really want to be.

Comment is about Fuck Off Facebook (blog)

Original item by Trevor Alexander

Ria, this is a clear expression of your hurt. I like the bits where you got into a rhythm and also like the 'diving' image.

Comment is about What's Love got to do with it (blog)

Original item by ria robinson

This is truly and literally the age of SCIENCE FICTION

Comment is about Fuck Off Facebook (blog)

Original item by Trevor Alexander

Luvitluvitluvit!

Comment is about Next Time (blog)

Original item by Jeff

Precise use of language. Packed with fresh images. Great leaps of the imagination. Invitation to really see this bird. Wonderful!

Comment is about Ocean Wanderer (blog)

Original item by Chris Hubbard

Red noses always good for smelling roses.

Comment is about ON THE WAY (blog)

Original item by lynn hahn

From my collection of sonnets for 1916 'A Terrible Beauty' DCS Books 2016.

You will find more of my poetry on this site or by simply searching on line for DAVID SUBACCHI POET.

Comment is about 1916 (blog)

Original item by David Subacchi

yes - with a few Greek Gods waving from the stars maybe - lots to be found within these six lines Tristan - the universe explored.

Comment is about War and the Universe (blog)

Original item by Tristan Ayran

interesting one this Paul because without the explanation which is longer than the poem would the poem stand alone? And should poems be given explanations?

I do like the poem very much and wonder how it would appear stripped back with the picture, explanation and the word Prokofiev in the title removed?

aside from this I did enjoy the history lesson - my knowledge of composers and classical music is next to zero but coupled with Stalin makes for an interesting delve into the past lives of these two figures.

cheers
Col

Comment is about Prokofiev's Prayer (blog)

Original item by Paul Waring

I think the poem would speak for itself and would allow for more personal interpretation if the opening explanation line was omitted.

I like this but would add a caveat - don't rely on weed for inspiration as you will end up writing poetry that all sounds the same. The mind is a beautiful scary place without stimulants - the trick is finding your own self-confidence to release those thoughts without the need for said stimulants. It might seem harder but in the long run I think it's more rewarding and your writing will be richer.

Cheers
C?L

Comment is about Herbal Connoisseur (blog)

Original item by Rafael

It's a mood thing....just maybe a little odd when yer down you want to hear sad songs.....weird species humans...glad to be part of it...Jeff...

Comment is about ON THE WAY (blog)

Original item by lynn hahn

but we like our sad mad poems ?

Comment is about ON THE WAY (blog)

Original item by lynn hahn

ah Trev, Raj and Jeff - I agree but disagree - I actually like to see some of the crap that's out there - the flat earth discussions and other whacky conspiracy theories - life's rich tapestry of interpreting our world from different angles and all that.

and you know, most of the news that's relevant to me - about the environment, politics, development issues, wildlife, writing, music - I get from Facebook these days - direct from the organisations, charities, companies and people whose pages I have liked and followed. Because I trust them more than I do the biased version of cherry picked news items deer old Auntie Beeb has to offer as Auntie Beeb only ever feeds us what it thinks we need to know - so we don't get to hear about anything other than what fits it's and the government's agenda. Yikes, heresy!

and here's another reason for liking Facebook. It keeps people in touch. I have lost contact with a good number of friends because they have refused to use social media and with busy lives email and phone calls have never been enough so the friendships have slid and disappeared. Facebook at least allows that thread of friendship to stay kindled through banter and shared humour until such a time as friends can physically find the time to hook up and meet.

I also manage two Facebook pages, one for a charity and one for a yearly event I co-organise - the amount of local publicity, contact, networking etc that using Facebook offers is immense and underneath the plethora of memes and silly videos there is a huge web of interconnected community activities bringing people together.

but as I said to start, I do agree with some of your sentiments - but we live in a democracy of free speech and although we might not like all that we hear and see, there is also much good to be discovered.

apologies if I sound like Frank Skinner - but for those reasons I cannot put Facebook and Social Media into Room 101 ?

Comment is about Fuck Off Facebook (blog)

Original item by Trevor Alexander

Thank you Tristan, M.C., Jeff, Martin and Rafael for reading this piece and for making comments. I really appreciate what you've written.

When I was reading an article about Prokofiev, it described him as a genius in Stalin's shadow. That just got me thinking about the sadness of it all. Pleased that you described this as educational Jeff - I learn so much on here too!

Thanks again everyone. You are right, the best thing is that the legacy of Prokofiev's music lives on.

Comment is about Prokofiev's Prayer (blog)

Original item by Paul Waring

Superb Trevor. Couldn't have expressed it better.
I think it's nothing more than a fucked up forum for spotty teenagers.

Raj

Comment is about Fuck Off Facebook (blog)

Original item by Trevor Alexander

I can very much relate to this.

Comment is about Human (blog)

Original item by Emilie Jupiter

ha ha... this is great!

Comment is about Next Time (blog)

Original item by Jeff

Well put Trevor & could agree more with this useless pseudo anti-social vanity crap...Jeff..

Comment is about Fuck Off Facebook (blog)

Original item by Trevor Alexander

Loved the imagery in this poem!

Comment is about War and the Universe (blog)

Original item by Tristan Ayran

Great poem. I thought the final stanza helped tie the whole thing together and complete the story.

Comment is about Laugh Control Button (blog)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

This is fantastic... And the last line "All you need to do is fertilize your self-respect" is just perfect. Truly a great piece.

Comment is about What's your secret? (blog)

Original item by Rafael

Great job Paul, always a fan of recognition to the great artists who came before us!

Comment is about Prokofiev's Prayer (blog)

Original item by Paul Waring

Really good poem, Randall. I related to this a lot, man lol

"skulking along the fringe,
afraid to join in,
but more afraid to leave."

Favorite lines!

Comment is about Wallflowers (blog)

Original item by Randall Eckstein

Thank you, Tristan! You're so kind. ?

Comment is about Snowy Night in the Early Spring (blog)

Original item by Randall Eckstein

Thank you, Juan. I've never seen the movie, but I will definitely check it out, now.

Yasmine, this piece is semi-autobiographical. When I was a teenager, our church group held dances two or three times a year. It was extremely rare that anyone went with a date as we were all insecure little 12 and 13 year olds. But the girls (per the norm) were always just slightly more mature than us. So they usually took the lead in getting us wallflowers off the wall.

Thank you, Martin!

Comment is about Wallflowers (blog)

Original item by Randall Eckstein

there are great links between stanza's here Randall as well as fabulous lines. it has a great rhythm and pace to it

Comment is about Wallflowers (blog)

Original item by Randall Eckstein

I don't think he will ever be forgotten, rightly so all the time there are people to love his music and keep the candle alight. Nice one Paul.

Comment is about Prokofiev's Prayer (blog)

Original item by Paul Waring

Congratulations Randall a fabulous poem . I particularly love the line 'Kimono sleeves whispering of plum '
among the many. marvellous

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

Original item by Greg Freeman

Awesome, filled with such contrast in imagery of life and death. Truly superb

Comment is about What's your secret? (blog)

Original item by Rafael

Quite charming poem. Love this poem. Nice use of font.

Comment is about Red Woman (blog)

Original item by Rafael

It reminds me so much of that movie, The life of a wallflower and that gives it all the more melancholic tone for me.
Great work!

Comment is about Wallflowers (blog)

Original item by Randall Eckstein

Ah! M.C.,
If only I knew anything (anything!) about music.

I`m jealous!

Comment is about LOOK AT ME (blog)

Original item by M.C. Newberry

Paul, your work is not just a pleasure to read, it's educational too.....!...... Jeff....

Comment is about Prokofiev's Prayer (blog)

Original item by Paul Waring

Congratulations Randall, worthy winner of POTW, this is an excellent poem that hits me deeper the more I read it. Paul

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

Original item by Greg Freeman

The constant "argument" between nature and Man's
desire to leave his mark. The trick (the gift?) is to
get the balance right. But leave a road or a garden
(even a farm) unattended and nature will soon return
to overcome (overrun?) any sign of Man's activity for
better or worse. Check how a quarry can become a
haven, or a disused rail track a path to a paradise of its
own past?

Comment is about Global Warning (blog)

Original item by Chakraj

To borrow from a line of other days.
What do they know of democracy
Who only democracy know?

Comment is about Poets join worldwide protests by writers before Trump's inauguration (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Worldwide for Trump: Nothing for May

Comment is about Poets join worldwide protests by writers before Trump's inauguration (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

But at least history remembers the composer for the right
reasons. Better his degree of immortality than that
granted to a murderous tyrant who, if religious teaching
has any worth, should be languishing in eternal hell.

Comment is about Prokofiev's Prayer (blog)

Original item by Paul Waring

great stuff ray. theres a massage parlour just up the road from me. i must give it a visit some time.

Comment is about BECKY THE MASSEUR (blog)

Original item by ray pool

always much thinking to be done after reading your excellent work. agree with david here, this is biblical and almost like you are asking god himself (or herself, it is the 21st century after all) the questions you pose.

Comment is about furlough (blog)

Original item by nunya

Powerful, historical, moving.

Comment is about Prokofiev's Prayer (blog)

Original item by Paul Waring

Life experiences, mostly. Dreams, wishes, hopes.

Comment is about War and the Universe (blog)

Original item by Tristan Ayran

Hello,

I am wondering what inspires you to write your pieces?

Comment is about Global Warning (blog)

Original item by Chakraj

Hello,

I am wondering what inspires you to write your pieces?

Comment is about War and the Universe (blog)

Original item by Tristan Ayran

Hello,
I am wondering what inspires you to write your pieces?

Comment is about Wallflowers (blog)

Original item by Randall Eckstein

Cheers Ray...the self depreciation is exactly what I was trying to say.......want it sweetness & light, then anything will do, just let me give it a go....:-)..Jeff

Comment is about What Do Yer Say? (blog)

Original item by Jeff