As for the question about 'Ironic' or 'Laconic', probably neither really from my point of view. It clearly matters to those in the church and I wasn't trying to say one thing or the other. Just, if they are true believers, then God, not them, should guide their thoughts.

Only my opinion,

A

Comment is about Second congregation (blog)

Original item by Andy Smyth

Cliff is innocent (I hope) by the way. A

Comment is about Second congregation (blog)

Original item by Andy Smyth

To those (Harry and Ray) who bothered to read this and comment - this is a real issue at my Dad's church. I don't go myself, but have heard various conversations on the topic, so for some reason, decided to write this. No idea why. But it is a true subject for Dad's church. A bit like the EU referendum, some are "In" and some are "Out". None of my business really, but seemed a worthwhile thing to write about instead of my normal drivel. A

Comment is about Second congregation (blog)

Original item by Andy Smyth

Too many people having too many kids - often in
surroundings and conditions that cannot support them.
Too many people travelling - obsessed by "holidays" -
and affecting the planet's well-being.
In 1812, the population of the UK was given as 12
million. Allowing for infant mortality due to poor
life-expectancy that saw large families created to
ensure some children survived to care for their elders
in a society that had no social welfare, the near 6-fold
increase to the present day is still a generational nightmare.

Comment is about And What Of The Children (blog)

Original item by Trevor Alexander

Good points Colin. I struggled with iPhones so I shall follow your advice and leave it wrong! In view of your observation I will alter that line to "looking on" which is what I meant rather than a time thing. Quite a brutal affair and quite scary for the little'uns as you say - almost barbaric. No worse than Grimms fairy tales , mind.

David, your comments as always are entertaining and scarifying as well as spot on! Apparently there is a thriving schools programme to flesh out a historical theatrical reality. !
Thanks a lot.
Ray

Comment is about PUNCH AND JUDY MAN (blog)

Original item by ray pool

Brilliant! So pleased for you love. I will definitely buy the book. you have always been so kind to me on WOL and your advice and encouragement gave me confidence to perform.

Comment is about 'You don’t need expensive kit. Just a mind and a mouth, a pen and some paper': Laura Taylor (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Hey - great interview! Wish I could be there on the 9th, but it's a bit far to travel up from Guernsey. Enjoy the evening. I'm sure it'll be a gas.

Comment is about 'You don’t need expensive kit. Just a mind and a mouth, a pen and some paper': Laura Taylor (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Thanks Ray...I appreciate that

Comment is about Cold Hearted Persuasion (blog)

Original item by kimafia Jones

WRITE ANGLE'S MAY GUEST ,TOLU AGBELUSI – A PHENOMENAL WOMAN!

May's Write Angle brought in a guest who took the audience's breath away! In her very gentle manner, she tackled subjects that were far from 'delicate'. Tolu Agbelusi, Nigerian born and living in London, conveyed stories of life in Nigeria for a young woman, and her transition to living in London. Her first visit back to her homeland, where she was given 'Instructions on going back home'. Switching to Nigerian accent, she told, 'You are no longer in London. First, customs. Then, men will help. They will cut the string from your shoulders'. She told of her parents wanting to be sure she had plans for her life. If not married, then a lawyer...not secretary...while all she wanted was, 'be happy'. She also told of all young girls trapped. One who wanted her daughter to be just like Tolu and said, 'She is married at 22, living in a mansion, goes to church, and is successful, while she was already 24…'

A powerful story teller, she used her acting skills to bring poems from her latest project, 'Home is', a play about what 'home' means to each person. This is not about the name of a place everyone calls paradise...how it influences your identity, what it means to each person…There was emphasis on women being abused, and no matter how often warned to stay away, they return. One powerful poem, 'Wake up', about women who always get into the wrong relationships. 'The last one held your heart with barbed wire hands'. The audience was totally with her. Another strong poem about the house she lived in, in which 'he' had control and she finally realised she was not free.

She also did several poems of people caught in the human crush at Hillsborough Football disaster, Sheffield in 1989 where 96 died and 766 were wounded - the worst disaster in British sporting history. After the longest enquiry ever, it ended with the realisation that it wasn't the fans' behaviour but the fault of the South Yorkshire police for failure to control the crowd. 'Daughter' , Discovery', Hallelujah, 'Barely' – one describing 'I feel like a car folded over by a bulldozer...I couldn't breathe or maybe I could'.. Tolu's confidence in performing her work produces a natural humour as well as pain/pathos. She has a wonderful grasp of language and conveys imagery, effortlessly.

Of Maya Angelou, her favourite poet, she said, 'If she was alive, we'd have written poems together' It inspired her to write, 'Fly' - 'Go ahead, seize the mirror…' Everyone laughed, as she asked the women in the audience to join in with her. 'No...no', she felt their response wasn't convincing. She had them say it till she finally got the response she wanted. 'I'm a woman. Phenomenally.. phenomenal woman. That's me. That's me'. Now you can give the mirror back. Fly'. All in all, Tolu had the audience in her palm from beginning to end. A wonderful performer! Responses from the audience as they left – 'You have to have her back!' (I didn't want her to leave).

Meantime, at the Open Mic, Bruce Parry read from his father's book, 'Watchman', overseeing the village, chapel house, the woman who seldom went out. Children scared, believing she's a rat by night. The minister who says, 'of the young, meet them halfway. Of the old, they're nearly home. Meet them all the way'. JeanAnne Naumcyzk, back after too long – with spiders picked up by her vaccuum. Then, a witty poem of Lady Marion loving Robin Hood who the Sheriff wanted for himself (or was it Robin's tights she wanted)! Barry Smith's poem described the beautiful historic pathway running alongside the Sussex Selsea steam engine (slowest train ever) through Shelbourne Harbour – 'the sense of antiquity and being there forever', a site well worth visiting.

Jood read 'The Side of the Road' about death to the beast - the weeping wailing woman at the side who kidnaps small children. Then, 'Shame Down Satan', sung and spoken with the wrath with which it was intended. Two powerful poems. John Haynes, having lived in Nigeria, and South Africa read 'Ballad of the Petrol Queue' - like most Third World countries where corruption is the way of life. 'It makes the country easier to rule'. Then 'Voice' based on a politician who thought most important to teach what can be done with one's hands: 'That's true education'. Finally, 'The Children of Soweto', about the uprising in South Africa.

The creative Audi Maserati, using his ukelele, did songs – to do with the full moon. An anti-war song about a spoon. 'It's not about watching TV. It's about loving and kissing, chilling out for a while...a song I don't want to end'. Then, 'It don't get better than this' and 'Contemplating Moonlessness, 'The very best place to put a smile is right there on your face'. Richard Barnes played guitar singing about a dysfunctional folk band where everyone had different beliefs. Very funny. Then, Richard Hawtree performed 'The Epiclesis', part of the Eucharist where the priest invokes the power of His blessing on the Eucharistic bread and wine, mostly done in Eastern churches. His version referred to an early Irish prayer, 'come down to reach for us'. Lovely rendition.

Tim Dawes spoke of those who set fire to themselves - in a poem 'Let's ignite again', 'walk far from doubt. walk toward purpose. Let me not go quietly out'. An inspiring poem. Then, a beautiful one of his mother 'My Name is'. She died of dementia. 'A strong woman with a defence against Gypsies, Communists and other threats.... She'd kept a diary, always beginning with 'My name is Gillian Mary ….' Toward the end, 'a broken garden fence of a woman', she was just writing, 'My name is……'

Leslie Prior read 'Love regiment disaster, questions unanswered', about the breakdown of a relationship – the anger, disappointments...then 'The Shortage of Short Men'. 'Women are just too high to reach...when Jake takes the mike, he might not know I'm even there at all'. Then a poem about her two cats, George and Jennie. 'George rules the larder. I love him so much, I might even grow a tail'. David Roberts did 'Magpie' and 'Snoggers Lament', two sad poems, 'Where is my woman. Where has she gone. Has she flown away...…' and 'Thinking about the more loving days'. Jilly Funnell rounded out the open mike, starting with another sad tale, 'Waiting for the Assassin', Her 17 year old cat dying. 'My sorry choice – to let you die, pray you won't turn away from me in fear'. Then on an upbeat, a very funny incident of a very attractive man following her, flirting with her, and Jilly suddenly finding herself complimenting strangers, finding everything around her beautiful. One person said, 'she's so nice' while another said, 'Maybe we should call the police'.

She finished with her guitar, singing, 'Jimmy on a Cloud' (we think it should have been 'Jilly on a cloud!'. Very good performance! Very good evening!

A £45 voucher for two meals at Nagshead, a great pub/restaurant (Chichester) was won by a lucky audience member.

Review is about WRITE ANGLE POETRY & MUSIC +OPEN MIC on 17 May 2016 (event)

Thanks for the lovely comments, folks :) It's great to be able to share some of the stage-craft tricks that I've learned over the years, and to publicly state my debt to WOL.

The book launch is a free event and you're all very welcome to come and have a few beers and enjoy :) Joy, Steph and Louise are all outstandingly good poets and I'm proper chuffed they agreed to perform on the night. It's gonna be a real treat!

Comment is about 'You don’t need expensive kit. Just a mind and a mouth, a pen and some paper': Laura Taylor (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

It's wonderful to see your work getting the recognition it deserves, Laura. HUGE congratulations!!! All the very best for that launch night, and I hope and trust it's just the first of many.

Superb interview, too. I couldn't be prouder to know you. :-)

Comment is about 'You don’t need expensive kit. Just a mind and a mouth, a pen and some paper': Laura Taylor (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

I've read and re-read this poem, and each and every time its sheer exuberance and imagination put a big grin on my face. A very worthy choice for POTW! Lovely, lovely work, Suki. More, please!!

Comment is about 'You Should Have been Here Yesterday' by Suki Spangles is Write Out Loud Poem of the Week (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

cheers both, i like this one too. makes me want to travel at night.

Comment is about beat (blog)

Original item by Stuart Buck

I agree with David - always hated P&J even as a child - about as PC as the Black and White Minstrels.

Did you intend to type iPhones that way? If not you should leave it - highlights the understanding of modern technology between the generations maybe?

neat little poem Ray although I struggled with the 'his audience looking back' line/rhyme. Are you referring to the parents looking back as the children are surely looking forward with their gadgets? Just trying to picture the scene.

Comment is about PUNCH AND JUDY MAN (blog)

Original item by ray pool

Thank you!!

Comment is about When the World is Not Enough (blog)

Original item by Alexandra K. Parapadakis

Thank you both so much! I will try to post more often :)

Comment is about Loving the girl from the moon (blog)

Original item by Alexandra K. Parapadakis

Thank you very much Phil! :)

Comment is about Fruit In My Fist (blog)

Original item by Alexandra K. Parapadakis

This is an inspirational interview, Laura, and contains some great advice to poetry performers. Well done, chuck! That first review of yours is some piece of writing, too.

Comment is about 'You don’t need expensive kit. Just a mind and a mouth, a pen and some paper': Laura Taylor (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Magnificent Stu absolutely magnificent. The endless spark of sky.
Brillant

Comment is about beat (blog)

Original item by Stuart Buck

Andy,

I like the sarcasm of that:

`They`ll come flocking in their tens`

It reminds me of Chesterton`s old essay on `Flocking`

The problem about these `with it` congregations is the kind of baggage they come `with`.

Comment is about Second congregation (blog)

Original item by Andy Smyth

This is a hard one to align with Andy, but it makes very salient points in a serious area. I'm not crystal clear where your dedication lies exactly - whether it is ironic or laconic. It certainly presents a lot to mull over, so it is for me a brave and considerate poem.

Just as an aside, I can't help thinking of Cliff Richard and his call to arms as it were all those years ago. Is he now to be crucified on the cross of some old demons ?

Ray

Comment is about Second congregation (blog)

Original item by Andy Smyth

Very effective this, Lynn. Rose tinted specs at the ready!
I think what makes it compelling is the letter P recurring in the first line. Clever If intentional , and fortuitous if not.

Ray x

Comment is about Haiku: Blossom (blog)

Original item by Lynn Dye

This has all the maturity of a well formed mind Stu, which you obviously possess. I like the way you draw in the reader in a prayer of participation. This makes death seem transcendental. (Let's hope).

Ray

Comment is about beat (blog)

Original item by Stuart Buck

A powerful torrid rendition for me Kimafia. A great swathe of description like the threshing of a tortured soul. It really captures all the agony and the betrayal of love in its temporary form.

Nice one. Ray

Comment is about Cold Hearted Persuasion (blog)

Original item by kimafia Jones

Congratulations Laura on your book launch, for a fee.

As we have performed at the same venue on the same day, I have experienced the 'Wigan' hospitality.... does that earn the right to know who the secret six are? Go on whisper to me....

Excuse my mind and my open mouth! Looking for someone to shed the light! That's the poet in me!

Comment is about 'You don’t need expensive kit. Just a mind and a mouth, a pen and some paper': Laura Taylor (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Such an inspiring account of self development and expanding the mind and it rings true for me being an old bugger and "born again" by the experience of sympathetic audiences at live reading events here in the south. There is a continual thread running through the country of the power of the spoken word when in control of itself. A real antidote to the political twaddle learnt by rote by your average media clown as propaganda.

Just to add that you Laura have been a real inspiration to me with your attention to encouraging detail in my submissions on Write out Loud, Thank you for that.
Congratulations on your book of poetry !

Comment is about 'You don’t need expensive kit. Just a mind and a mouth, a pen and some paper': Laura Taylor (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Thanks, Tony. I don't seem to manage longer poems, I run out of word steam.

Comment is about Gestures (blog)

Original item by Chrissy R.

thanks david, i've spent the day re-reading 'on the road' by jack kerouac (can you tell?) and it has had a much more potent effect on me this time round i think.

Comment is about beat (blog)

Original item by Stuart Buck

Rob - when I checked the definition, it says deep red so maybe you had a point after all, ha ha.

Comment is about Haiku: Blossom (blog)

Original item by Lynn Dye

Lynn - enuff said!
Rob

Comment is about Haiku: Blossom (blog)

Original item by Lynn Dye

Thanks for comment, Rob. It's a picture of our street, and the flowers are actually redder than it looks in my photo. I took crimson to be deep pink, or pinky red, which is pretty much the colour of the flowers. Perhaps I ought to take a better photo! ha ha.

Comment is about Haiku: Blossom (blog)

Original item by Lynn Dye

Real inspirational stuff for us new larkers! Your already a legend... come to 'Ull.
And loads of great advice...

Comment is about 'You don’t need expensive kit. Just a mind and a mouth, a pen and some paper': Laura Taylor (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Lynn - I like the poem but always thought crimson was red. Perhaps you could consider fuchsia (still fits)?
Rob

Comment is about Haiku: Blossom (blog)

Original item by Lynn Dye

Simple and interesting way of making people think or admitting an indifference... are we thinking of anything in particular?

I like the words flowing in my head as I read it.

Comment is about Don't (blog)

Thank you for your kind words, Jemima, much appreciated.
Lynn x

Comment is about Demoralisation (blog)

Original item by Lynn Dye

Ah, the best days of our lives! School was great; it was terrible; it was OK. This all depended on who you were as a person, in a group, in a class, in a clique, in a team. Somehow, most of us managed to survive the dark days, the tension, the angst, the exams, the teachers, the bullies, the homework … and we all have our tales to tell – we all got at least one story out of it, good or bad.

I was in a Christmas craft fair in a church hall and looked at the floor as I walked in. This got me thinking about how every time I see a parquet floor with a herringbone pattern, I recall my days (and nights!) at school.

Memories of those days just flood in and I am overwhelmed by their clarity and volume. I wrote the poem below primarily in remembrance of a boy who was the same age as me and was bullied because of his gentle nature. I suppose you could say that in addition to the bullies, one or two teachers may have overdone it in terms of ignoring his shyness and making a point of embarrassing him in class. At the end of that school year, he hanged himself with his school tie. I recall vividly the collective shock when he failed to turn up in the following September – this was in the days before mobile phones and the internet, so very few of us were aware of his death (although the teaching staff had all been informed).

Having written the poem, Herringbone, I realised that I still feel a little guilty because if just one of us had made friends with him, (or if only I had made friends with him) it might have made all the difference. This train of thought resulted in another poem, which I’ll share the next time I blog. Herringbone is dedicated to the memory of SJ – he is not forgotten.

Comment is about School Days - Best Days Of Our Lives? (blog)

Original item by Paul A M Palmer

Thanks Rob :) I'll try ;) (you'd have to sew my mouth shut and tie my hands together to stop me haha) ;)

Comment is about 'You don’t need expensive kit. Just a mind and a mouth, a pen and some paper': Laura Taylor (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Laura - We have never met, but I feel like I know at least part of you (perhaps the best part) through your words, which at times are inspirational, emotional, passionate and seasoned with good reason and sage judgement. Please keep on producing the same level of excellence and sharing your thoughts through your own prose and commenting on others'.
Rob

Comment is about 'You don’t need expensive kit. Just a mind and a mouth, a pen and some paper': Laura Taylor (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

This is an astonishingly good poem, chockful of the most amazing imagery. Brilliant, nice one Suki!!

Comment is about 'You Should Have been Here Yesterday' by Suki Spangles is Write Out Loud Poem of the Week (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Aww cheers both! Well I'm very glad I did kick your arse Stu, because you are an incredibly talented poet and it would be a real shame not to share that with the world :)

Backatcha Julian ;) Thank YOU.

Comment is about 'You don’t need expensive kit. Just a mind and a mouth, a pen and some paper': Laura Taylor (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Wonderful. Thank you, Laura, for being such a star and a fab human being. Yours is the sort of inspiration we need at such a precarious time as this.

Comment is about 'You don’t need expensive kit. Just a mind and a mouth, a pen and some paper': Laura Taylor (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Stu - your dark side also happens to be one of your creative sides. Well written sir and thanks for the inspiration to try cinquain,
Rob

Comment is about a cinquain for a troubled mind (blog)

Original item by Stuart Buck

'We cannot grow as human beings if we are being continually kept in a state of submission. The anger turns inward then, and begins to attack the self.'

this is amazing!

i cant wait for liverpool, your a proper inspiration and half the reason i have my own book coming out is because you kicked my arse in the first place.

great interview. i am pure beaming.

Comment is about 'You don’t need expensive kit. Just a mind and a mouth, a pen and some paper': Laura Taylor (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Lynn,great poem,and a very fitting title.Thank you.Jemima.

Comment is about Demoralisation (blog)

Original item by Lynn Dye

Thank you Phil and Rose.
Lynn xx

Comment is about Demoralisation (blog)

Original item by Lynn Dye

Thanks all for your consideration and I feel acquitted as this was written with some bitterness (self inflicted). The humour is a kind of two finger exercise to seriousness, so I am delighted to have raised a laugh !
It has cleared the air and something sinister has rushed in, blimey !

Comment is about SWEET FUCK ALL (blog)

Original item by ray pool

Often, it's a case of "trying too hard" - whatever the
situation...whatever the aim. I think SB's recall of
Ernest Hemingway's observation makes some sense
within the context of the creative process.
These lines remind me of some (memory makes
them inexact) that add to the piquancy of our
transient existence.
Life is a jest - and all things show it
I thought so then - and now I know it.

Comment is about SWEET FUCK ALL (blog)

Original item by ray pool

I admire and respect trees as one of the life-preserving
miracles that embody strength and renewal. But here's
a thought...

The life we live
Is relative
To Nature's own condition
Trees are grand
Set in the land
But they lack erudition!
:-)

Comment is about The People and The Trees (blog)

Original item by Chandler Phipps

Thanks, Stu, I'll take that coming from you.

And, David, fortunately for me, it was someone else's imagination regarding the past. And, yes, I hope to disappoint them entirely.

elPintor

Comment is about unbroken (blog)

Original item by nunya

Ray - This one's delightfully jolly old man!
Rob

Comment is about SWEET FUCK ALL (blog)

Original item by ray pool