Great slumbering slabs spit back the wet spoil
on their silver skin, dredging.

i wish i'd written that, its wonderful.

Comment is about THE HILL CLIMBER (blog)

Original item by ray pool

great stuff martin. i knew from the first verse where this was heading but it still packed a punch when it got there. i love the ending, the ironic sense of thankfulness that he is still alive.

Comment is about Just a minute (blog)

Original item by Martin Elder

thanks guys. lets hope that the rest of 2016 contains more beauty!

Comment is about write poetry (blog)

Original item by Stuart Buck

Sounds wonderful ! The guy sounds rather mature for 19 to be honest but life moves on and today quite possible I suppose.

Ray x

Comment is about Uncertainty (blog)

Original item by Lynn Dye

This is like a massage of beauty to an old cynic like myself Stu. Really there cannot be joy without sadness tapping on the shoulder; and depth of experience has its good and bad sides. (an old fart proclaims).

Ray

Comment is about write poetry (blog)

Original item by Stuart Buck

Hey Lynne,

I really like your poems. The one about the young lovers was ace (19 year old lad and 25 year old girl). I'm very much learning the trade, so that's all for now

Comment is about Lynn Dye (poet profile)

Original item by Lynn Dye

Amen to that Stu . Life is beautiful, it is just that we don't always see it feel it or appreciate it. Well at least I know I don't. keep writing mate.

Comment is about write poetry (blog)

Original item by Stuart Buck

What a wonderful way to communicate through music. Really enjoyed this piece. I look forward to reading more

Comment is about Music.... (blog)

Original item by Angela McCrimmon

Usually I might be put off reading such a long piece because I have such short attention span. But when I started to read this it caught me up in its flow. It has such a nice pace to it, at times picking up speed. I don't know if you have read this at an open mic event, but I bet it would go down well. Nice one

Comment is about Into The Wilderness (blog)

Original item by Matt

Hiya Louise, took your advice and signed up to this. Cheers for your help, see you soon. Matt X

Comment is about Louise Fazackerley (poet profile)

Original item by Louise Fazackerley

Hilarious! Love it!

Comment is about Fannies (blog)

Original item by Louise Etheridge

Thank you guys.

Jemima, you could be right about those Wildeys, in which case I expect we may be drawn again, ha ha.

Stef and Patricia, I think I would make a lousy PM - probably much too honest for the job, ha ha. Not that a little more honesty wouldn't be a good thing...

Cheers all x

Comment is about Haiku(s): David Cameron (blog)

Original item by Lynn Dye

Hi Cynthia, thank you for your comments on my profile, and for missing me!

I agree that there are a lot of good poems on WOL, also that we can never be 'all things to all men'. We are all different and appreciate varying things, but the main thing is to respect those differences, as I'm sure you agree.

I like 'Girl in a lake' very much, and I'm honoured you like 'Teardrops in my Coffee'.

Comment is about Cynthia Buell Thomas (poet profile)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

Thank you Rob - I'm just a frustrated single pixie!! Best to get it out eh?!! xx

Comment is about Synaesthesia (blog)

Original item by Pixievic

Haha no I like a bit of whitewater Rob ;)) xx

Comment is about Riversong (blog)

Original item by Pixievic

Lynn, I think those Wildeys are trying to outdo your comments on their rhyming dictionary poem.Haha! But I DO endorse their lyric's,wholeheartedly.Thank you.Jemima.

Comment is about Haiku(s): David Cameron (blog)

Original item by Lynn Dye

Much enjoyed - many lovely images, with a smooth steady rhyme pattern and rhythm.

Comment is about Wild Atlantic Coast (blog)

Original item by Trevor Alexander

# vote vote vote for Mrs Lynn Dye
she should be our next P.M.
vote vote vote for Mrs Lynn Dye
then we can all sing Davids requiem!#

;0)
;o)

P&S

Comment is about Haiku(s): David Cameron (blog)

Original item by Lynn Dye

Hilarious Julian! An interview with Donald Trump. What a blast that might have been - with a good deal of shit spouted....woops... I'm showing my Northern heritage :)

Comment is about 'Step back onto the sidewalk, sir': searching for the poetic side of Donald Trump (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Thanks Adam and Rob. It was interesting to take one of Kafka's aphorisms as a starting point.

Comment is about A CAGE WENT IN SEARCH OF A BIRD (blog)

Original item by Maggie Sawkins

Thanks for reading and commenting Cynthia. X

Comment is about Packed Lunch (blog)

Even if its message is supposed to be gloomy I can only see it as uplifting because of the great artistry.

Comment is about A CAGE WENT IN SEARCH OF A BIRD (blog)

Original item by Maggie Sawkins

Didn't the Elephant Man hail from Leicester?

Maybe 'hail' is the wrong word...

And who can forget the famous Baby Squad, Leicester's hooligan firm?

Comment is about Richard III, Jamie Vardy, and all that: call for poems about Leicester (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Some of the GOP establishment's opposition to Trump arises from his isolationist position. Their favoured candidates, Rubio and now Cruz, favour a series of pointless wars in the Middle East that will lead only to more American boys coming home in body bags for the purpose of nothing, more war profiteering by the US military-industrial complex and ultimately more Muslim alienation and terrorism. While not perfect, Trump has at least sufficient financial independence to avoid being an elite puppet. Moreover, Rubio and Cruz are fanatical anti-abortionists who deny women the most basic rights over their own bodies, even in cases of rape.

Comment is about 'Step back onto the sidewalk, sir': searching for the poetic side of Donald Trump (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Thanks, Ray.
As a matter of interest, my father (who'd survived WW1)
& his older 1st cousin both saw service in Ireland in the
troubled years following 1916. The latter was a court
martial officer and was one of the victims of the original
Bloody Sunday (November 21, 1920) in Dublin.
Happy Easter!

Comment is about EASTER RISING (blog)

Original item by M.C. Newberry

Maggie - I know many a relationship where one party traps or 'cages' another, but I've never seen a cage be personified before. Nice 'thinking outside the box' and great piece.
Rob

Comment is about A CAGE WENT IN SEARCH OF A BIRD (blog)

Original item by Maggie Sawkins

Zones of Avoidance at The Cockpit, Marylebone, 2015

Comment is about ZOA-116.jpg (photo)

Original item by Maggie Sawkins

Hi Laura. Had a good sleep and thought more on Born Again. Hope I didn't come on too strong with my comment! I've made a nip and tuck, and I hope you might like it now. I feel it is more visually satisfying even though could upset the trads. x

Comment is about Laura Taylor (poet profile)

Original item by Laura Taylor

and so say all of us two Wendy.Happy Easter!

P&S

Comment is about The Bain Of Mankind (blog)

Original item by Wendy Higson

hahaha! good stuff David.Coincidentally we are posting a poem this morning that includes those oft times illusive little items.

regards

P&S

Comment is about Socks (blog)

Original item by David Lindsay

Sounds very postmodern. I like the images you used.

Comment is about Socks (blog)

Original item by David Lindsay

I think a lot of the mileage Ray mentions on this topic is also gained by so many other poets on here, which is great! Nice to have as many interpretations as possible methinks. Well done David for yours.Thank you.Jemima.

Comment is about Socks (blog)

Original item by David Lindsay

Spot on, Mark. It almost makes me think of breaking an egg and inside it is your poem (not I hasten to add a Christmas cracker) ! Nice and clear and unpretentious.

Comment is about EASTER RISING (blog)

Original item by M.C. Newberry

You've got a lot of mileage out of such an innocent subject David, and it's likeable; to imbue socks with minds of their own is rather clever, and entertaining , and it's something we can all identify with. They also seem to get left behind in the washing machine, I find!

Comment is about Socks (blog)

Original item by David Lindsay

Thanks Laura. Do your socialist friends think you a bonkers to even bring up Jesus in any context? I'm glad you like the poem: I thought the last line was pivotal in the sense that there is an unreality element to the experience (I imagine). Should I have made it " to forever and ever climb the ivory tower" , perhaps. Actually I prefer that myself ! Another possibility would be " To gaze at the ivory tower." Please elaborate, thanks.

Comment is about BORN AGAIN (blog)

Original item by ray pool

Hi Wendy
Welcome to WOL. Love your samples, particularly 'Feel like' I bet that goes down a storm live.

Comment is about Wendy Young (poet profile)

Original item by Wendy Young

Hi Pauline - I'm on now!! Beautiful writing! xxxxx

Comment is about pauline sewards (poet profile)

Original item by pauline sewards

" Poet disappears in Washington" shocker !! Take care :-(

Comment is about 'Step back onto the sidewalk, sir': searching for the poetic side of Donald Trump (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

I think the main flaw with the old system was that "winners" used to regularly pick their "mates". It might be useful to stipulate that for eligibility poems must appear on the WOL main blog page, rather than on a poet's back catalogue. This would prevent the need for excessive trawling and also perhaps discourage those posting shedloads of stuff en masse. I'd also like to hear the chooser's thoughts on why they chose a particular work.

Regards,

A.E.

Comment is about Coming soon ... picking a Poem of the Week on Write Out Loud (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Jan Oskar Hansen, I feel that I want to write an essay in response to your comment. Not because I disagree with it. But replace the word holocaust with any other topic (global warming, Srebrenica, GM food etc) and try to push it down anyone's throat and they won't buy it. We don't want to be told what to believe. Reading Primo Levi recently (This is a Man,; If not now, when?) I felt I learned a lot more about totalitarianism, and about the heights and depths of human behaviour, than I got previously from many factual history books. However we do it, we can't ignore it; history repeats itself before our eyes and of course we are all complicit in some form of indiscriminate state sponsored terrorism through civilian bombing and arms sales.

Comment is about Lucky: Graham Buchan, Lapwing Press (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

I like clapping between numbers. At some events it helps keep me awake.

Comment is about Applause or the sound of silence - should you clap between poems? (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

There's something about Ted Kooser's selections that makes me want more. Whether it's the theme or just the quality of writing I'm not sure. It would be nice to look forward to a WoL poem of the week. Maybe its success will depend on the criteria and judgement used for selection. The original technique of asking one month's chosen poet to pick the next month's poem was a bit of fun if somewhat random. Good luck with it.

Comment is about Coming soon ... picking a Poem of the Week on Write Out Loud (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Thank you, Laura and Cynthia. I'm really touched.

Comment is about They lay (blog)

Original item by Ronnie Leek 1

Tempting, isn't it?

When raising my lass, I was always torn on this. This, and the usual tooth fairy stuff.

A lovely little piece this though. Warming.

Comment is about When a child asks about the cruelty in the world. (blog)

Original item by Ronnie Leek 1

Well Jesus was a Socialist, Ray, but whenever I've said that to my fellow Socialists (atheists the lot of em) they get quite angry and defensive.

I do like most of this, but I'm not sure of the wording of that last line.

Comment is about BORN AGAIN (blog)

Original item by ray pool

Amen. I'm vehemently opposed to the concept of marriage, and your last few lines speak volumes to me.

As Cynthia say, to use such few words to convey your meaning is a true art.

Comment is about They lay (blog)

Original item by Ronnie Leek 1

that third verse is so full of gorgeous assonance i keep rereading it out loud.

Comment is about Consequence (blog)

Original item by Laura Taylor

thanks laura!

Comment is about running running (blog)

Original item by Stuart Buck

Incredible piece of writing. So visceral.

Comment is about running running (blog)

Original item by Stuart Buck

Thanks for the intelligent perceptive comment Cynthia. You have revealed something in my arsenal, which is that I often use satire when on serious subjects. The truth is that there is never a free ride - always a contrary view with most experiences. The born again idea is very real indeed for those in that world, but I maintain my distance while trying to analyse the psychology ; to give yourself wholeheartedly is very hard for me , so perhaps I need it ! Jesus apparently loved the thieves and prostitutes without them having to be born again, surely!

with respect, Ray.

Comment is about BORN AGAIN (blog)

Original item by ray pool