It makes me think.

Comment is about In Limbo (blog)

Original item by Juhi Gupte

Thanks Harry. I had this idea of cowboys and fell back on that idea in those lines. I 'm pleased you think it worked, as it takes nerve to shatter an image.

Ray.

Comment is about CRUISE LINER (blog)

Original item by ray pool

Oh no! Really? I know I can be obscure but I thought this one was more accessible...hey ho! The whole or just parts Tommy?

Comment is about Tommy Carroll (poet profile)

Original item by Tommy Carroll

A bit like circling for the attack?

Or the primal love dance that searches for amiability before physical contact?

We are so close to animals and birds, and insects and flowers.

Comment is about moving closer (blog)

Original item by Tommy Carroll

I think most of us who write poetry are actively involved in expression of other 'arts' as well, especially related to music, rhythm and words. It's certainly true of my own experience.

I hope you are enjoying WOL It's a great, sharing site.

Cynthia

Comment is about Daisy Lancaster (poet profile)

Original item by Daisy Lancaster

Word nerd, eh? That's the only way to be in the poetry scene, if you really mean business, and I think you do. I believe good poetry is commitment to the power of words and the skilful 'manipulation' of this power. I wonder if by 'whimsical', you mean 'imaginative, innovative'? I really look forward to more of your work.

Cynthia

Comment is about Scarlet (poet profile)

Original item by Scarlet

I think this is superb, Scarlet. The fragile richness of these few words, expressing so much in so little, is real poetic sympathy. IMO, very few of us really grasp this essential power in our own writings.

Comment is about Edge (blog)

Original item by Scarlet

in the case of my husband,Geramar it would be nice.But even nicer if he had a head swop with George Clooney!

seriously-very sweet poem.

Our best regards to you.

Patricia and Mr Potato head Wilde.

Comment is about Would it be (blog)

Original item by Geramar

thanks Lynn - the ta made it safe and sound - have fun yourself picking your scabs lol x

Comment is about scab (blog)

Third time trying to say ta, Colin. If this one doesn't make it tuff! Have fun x

Comment is about scab (blog)

Thanks Cynthia. As I don't consider my writing poetry or enter into technicalities of what constitutes a good poem. I just write and it goes down on paper how it comes out. Regards Lynn x

Comment is about I've Got That Feeling.... (blog)

Thanks Colin and a musical link is always welcome! I just struggle to find the time to reciprocate. X

Comment is about I've Got That Feeling.... (blog)

What I find difficult, MC, is that for every persuasive argument for staying there is an equally persuasive counter argument for leaving; and vice versa.
The only given for me is that we know what STAY looks like. (We may like it or not). We don't know what LEAVE looks like.

Comment is about WHAT ARE THE ODDS? (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

As the saying goes: this will run and run...well, to June
at least!
As for us stupid British (English as in Nelson's day!), we
are content to remember the words of Thomas
Jefferson who was on the winning side in a certain war
for independence around 200 hundred years ago.
""Any nation that gives up its freedom in pursuit of
economic advantage deserves to lose both."
NATO preserves our military alliances, and thus our defence. The EU is merely a planned presumption
seeking steroid-like proportions of influence where it has
no mandate - and never did. Grocer Heath and his
succcessors maintained the deceit, dissembling and
lack of truth to ensure that the fabrication continued.
Churchill's Labour successor Clement Attlee (later
Earl Attlee) was a vigorous opponent of what he saw as a betrayal of our Commonwealth wartime allies when
the original Common Market was proposed. How innocent those words sound in the light of what was
being set up for the "softly softly catchee monkey"
transformation into a political entity with its own planned
army and unaccountable police force.
Not an attractive picture for this of all nations.

Comment is about WHAT ARE THE ODDS? (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

Harry, this is really only half the tale. After I'd repeated, "No, the referendum" a few times, she then said, "Ah, the football".
I sometimes think that those Victorians were right to oppose emancipation to the unwashed!

Comment is about WHAT ARE THE ODDS? (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

Ray,
I like the way Lines fourteen, fifteen and sixteen so unexpectedly (yet so rightly) `ground` the process.

Comment is about CRUISE LINER (blog)

Original item by ray pool

I like the way you`ve `immortalised` that one John (all grist to your Yorkshire mill )

At least there will be long enough to let some unpalatable home truths sink into psyche`s of some of the `Land of hope and glory` opportunists.

Comment is about WHAT ARE THE ODDS? (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

I love both of these poems Scarlet, you write well. As Stu says look forward to reading more.

Comment is about Scarlet (poet profile)

Original item by Scarlet

thanks very much Stu!

Comment is about Edge (blog)

Original item by Scarlet

elements of kate bush, liz fraser and mary shelley all in one. love it. crisp oxblood heads is lovely. starts out fantastical then descends into personal. nice to see you back!

Comment is about Edge (blog)

Original item by Scarlet

Wow! Thanks for the kind words, Cynthia. I do think Martial Music is better 'bunched' and have tweaked it slightly since. As for the rest, what will be will be.

Comment is about Cynthia Buell Thomas (poet profile)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

Hi Cynthia
I typed in Stars for a poetry assignment to see what had been written by people on here and came across yours that way. I don't believe I know your daughter but how wonderful to get comments so close together on the same poem...which,I'll say again,is beautiful and has inspired one within me which I may post soon ..you have an amazing talent !

Comment is about Cynthia Buell Thomas (poet profile)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

Yep I remember that feeling. But for the better?

Comment is about Change (blog)

Original item by Eric Broke

So good.

Don't get politically excited made me laugh out loud.

Let it Bleed x

Comment is about scab (blog)

I love the great sense of liberation in this one, Eric. Nice one.

Comment is about Change (blog)

Original item by Eric Broke

I don't understand this work.

Comment is about The Silencer (blog)

Original item by Katy Megan

thanks! the very little one (zephaniah) is 14 days old. his big sister (elizah) is very helpful. the cats dont like him much but we do.

as for the poem, its great as are the rest of what i have called 'rays travel and tourism sequence'.

Comment is about CRUISE LINER (blog)

Original item by ray pool

Have I hit a sweet spot, Stu? I don't know where the hell I'm going half the time: my creative side is like a jerky gearbox, sometimes in sometimes out of gear, but never smoothly engaged. Your comment has cheered me up as I sweated over the poem . Nice to see the little 'uns on facebook, by the way!!

Comment is about CRUISE LINER (blog)

Original item by ray pool

saw your reply and came back to this to say - the list of talent who died aged 27 (the 27 club) is staggering. my friend at uni who studied music theory wrote a large essay on the matter.

Comment is about Amy (blog)

Original item by Martin Elder

enjoying this mini-series ray. this is alliterative heaven, and you paint travel and tourism as both a well oiled, depressing machine and an almost menacing juggernaut.

very enjoyable.

Comment is about CRUISE LINER (blog)

Original item by ray pool

Prejudiced or partial? There are grounds for considering
these in context. By all means let us have the
widest range of "voices" with messages of relevance
but care is needed to avoid ghetto-ising them to
accommodate views about why stuff is or isn't being
heard or read in festivals - or elsewhere for that matter.
I once bought all the novels of American author James
Baldwin - not because he was black, but because he was
a singular talent whose work crossed boundaries with
memorable effect - at a time when the social situation
in the USA was fraught with racial tension across the
spectrum.

Comment is about London literary weekend aims to redress festivals imbalance for writers of colour (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Thanks for your comments Stu. This was written on the back of seeing a documentary made when she was still alive performing in a small church in Ireland. I stole the line mad hair from somebody who was running the gig, inter viewed later. This is how she described Amy who I saw as quite vulnerable. I think you are right about the media, they are very much a double edged sword.

Comment is about Amy (blog)

Original item by Martin Elder

Thanks for you comments guys. This was one of those rare moments when I woke up recently and put pen to paper so to speak almost immediately and then posted it the same day. Which is probably why the line should read 'cupped into my hands' as Cynthia has rightly pointed. I do normally spend more time over my poems. Honest guv!

Comment is about Five minutes (blog)

Original item by Martin Elder

interesting. i know the monster. it seems you are highlighting the violence of passive aggression.

somebody stole from me so i shouted at her and became the monster because no one could stomach the pretty tears of such a sweet young girl..it is a bollox. She was the thief but I the monster raised my voice in honest rage that the last straw had be stolen.

the sly know how to play it quiet.

tbh i think the next poem could be a bit 'tighter'...but only to suit my tastes. i think that incorporating big idea into the fewest words is a skill that accentuates the point. like an arrow. I'm working on it :)

Comment is about over (blog)

Original item by Gypno

And now, for me, 'Ode to Martial Music' is absolutely fabulous.

Excellence has nothing to do with 'fame'. I think you should be 'famous', on a wide scale, even globally. Maybe that's why artists had/have patrons, to do the marketing. Since selling is equally as or more important than artistic talent.

Comment is about David Cooke (poet profile)

Original item by David Cooke

Welcome back to WOL, Jon. Don't know how you happened to find 'Falling Stars' from 2009, but I greatly appreciate the comment. The really astounding thing is that one of my daughters called on Tuesday, right out of the blue, and said, almost tearfully, 'Oh, Mum, I just love 'Falling Stars'.

And then - your comment. It gave me goosebumps. You don't know her, do you? Or do you? The coincidence seems too amazing for chance.

Comment is about Jon Darby (poet profile)

Original item by Jon Darby

Well said, Steve.

Comment is about London literary weekend aims to redress festivals imbalance for writers of colour (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

It sounds fantastic, Greg, and a great review.

Comment is about Luke Wright in London, 2016 (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

DOMINIC BERRY – VEGAN OVERTAKES WRITE ANGLE STAGE

Dominic's got a voice, confidence and powerful stage presence you won't forget. He's quick moving and energetic. His eclectic repertoire varies from childrens' poems like meeting a dragon on the way to school (who ends up swallowing the water in the pool), to sexual tales where five men are trapped behind toilet doors – each with his own horrific story including one 14 year old afraid to come out as he's tormented by some guys outside – he also faces the stigma of mental illness, where you can't take off work because you suffer agrophobia, stress or depression', but you can if you have a twisted ankle'.
He speaks of having had a tough childhood as the only child of a single parent. 'Single mums weren't looked upon favourably in those days' – he was bulllied a lot, had to wear second hand clothes, and learn beans on toast cost money - but somehow knowing 'everything changes', he got on with it. 'I drowned that dream but I never drowned!' A moving poem about 'Insomnia', describing every detail that goes on in one's mind, so sleep becomes impossible – 'till just before morning, when she flies away.'

His feelings about Cameron 'You'll never clean toilets for cash', to Valentine's day where his love is turned from that of a woman to being a vegan. Then admitting he's gay, ('as if you'd never guess it'). Dominic talks about how easy to escape one's real self, to games, where you take less chances. 'I'll obey. Let's invent a reality'.

He involves the audience and had them change his Valentine wish (you have to counter with the loss of love) from 'Oh, l'amour' to 'Au- bergine'.
He'a now working on 'Mindcraft', the transference from dealing with real emotions to game playing. Dom has a natural theatrical flow and his words seem to come naturally and easily to him. He's a strong poet with a flair for theatrics which enhances his performance to top level. He was working on 'Wizard' when with Write Angle', last, and has since received five grants to carry the play from location to location. He may not be 'everyone's taste' with his references to sex but, if you can stand the heat, you soon realise his poetry goes beyond the words to the emotions we experience universally, which control us and which we, in turn, must learn to control and put to positive use. Dominic is an example of someone who's made it – however hard and impossible it may have seemed and he's loved by many, both poets and audiences, and gives one heck of a performance!

At the Open Mic, Chris Sangster, read a dedication to Pam Ayres, he and his partner Jackie were fortunate enough to see – her kids off to school, and her new life starting, she had the audience rolling in the aisles. Having won the raffle, Chris dedicated a Valentine's day visit to Fez where the intimacy at each table was soon disrupted by 'Sally Shout' and her mum who filled the room with the 'rattle' of Sally's day; appropriately called, 'The Ear Acher'. Chris then sang his song, 'Estima' with his ukelele, inspired by 32,000 people from all parts of Estonia and other countries, all holding hands forming a chain, inviting the audience to join in. A lovely rendition.

Jilly Funnell went on with 'He was the Tops', followed by guitar and song, 'Hymn for Him', about people in a relationship getting older. 'We had so much in common' Holly Rose Thomas, newcomer, sang Al Capella, 'In the Arc of your Mallet', an Irish melody - lilting voice. She works at spiritual retreats and read a poem called, 'I am Everything', which evoked her experience with nature, in particular, a palm tree in Spain. Two inspiring pieces. We hope she comes back -with her guitar.

John Smith spoke of the weather limiting his time at the golf course, followed by some short poems, 'The Moving Hand' – 'the best poems are the ones left in your head', his shortest poem about The Tortoise and the Pie'. 'The tortoise was dormant but his pie crawled away'. A love poem for Valentine's day, ''The Downfall of a poor soul'.

David Roberts did 'Alice', '..a nice girl but her husband was having an affair. 'Deconstructing Harry', a complex character who ends up unable to 'reconstruct'! 'Black Hole' about loneliness in a black hole in your soul'. The poem was well received with compliments from several people. Finally, David did 'Love and Death'. You fall in love many times but only die once. (Fortunately, Woody Allen makes a film every year which should keep David going for a while)! Tim Dawes read a very clever poem which written, appeared as smoke soaring upward. 'War is just not what it used to be. There can be no smoke with no fire. We must learn to read from bottom up'. He, too, had a David Cameron poem, emphasising his annoyance that Muslim women must learn English within two years or be sent back to their native country, adding that law doesn't apply to any other people coming over.

Audi Maserati did his shortest love poem, 'Hand in hand they walked out of this song like a love affair'. Then, three songs on his uke, about dogs. 'Roxie's got a dog'. 'It's imaginary. It's only ever there when she wants it there'. His last poem was about Jesse, (when she was a puppy) his dog who died last year. 'My dog chased a squirrel up a tree. The squirrel got away. My dog runs in circles chasing her tail'. No matter what Audi does, he has the audience laughing. - even if it's choosing the right chair to sit on.

Phyllida Carr played harmonica to the background of a portable organ-piano. and came up with some added music, 'When the Saints Go Marching On'. 'Alphabet song' and a classical piece, all of which the audience joined in to sing. Colin Eveleigh read a sad poem 'Beautiful Bird', where the built-in wardrobe in his bedroom has mirrors that face toward the window. 'Thump – the sound of the birds hitting the glass very fast. 'Should I put up drab drapes'...Then, 'Stillness'…. Stillness is here.. No reason. No purpose. Enough to make one think! Bruce Parry played 'Both Tides Now' on his hammer dulcimer – lovely melody – a joy to hear. Followed by a poem 'Palace of Dreams'. Will old picture houses ever be the same as they were - (will the same be said about today's cinemas in 20 years time)?

The raffle, a Thai meal at Chichester's 'Thai House', was won again by- you guessed it, one of our regulars – who was almost 'forced' into taking it. You can't point the way luck falls! It just does!

Not a large crowd at 'Folly Upstairs' this evening but the intimacy lent itself well to the kind of evening it was. Every Write Angle creates its own ambience.

Review is about WRITE ANGLE POETRY & MUSIC +OPEN MIC on 16 Feb 2016 (event)

The reason this is important is that despite the fact that whilst everybody claims that they are not prejudiced, it's amazing how often they ignore any voice that doesn't sound like their own. Some of those writers will be sharing unfamiliar experiences, using unfamiliar language (dialects for instance), or saying things that might well be disturbing (eg experiences of racism.)

Those things might well not be what people want to hear; but surely exposing yourself to new awareness is part of the point of literature?

Comment is about London literary weekend aims to redress festivals imbalance for writers of colour (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

I submit, MC. You've got me beat on the puns. No, wait! Were they acting on a lead?

Comment is about DOG DANCING (blog)

Original item by M.C. Newberry

JC...
A poor victim of "do or Dai" policing (did someone dial
ca-nine, ca-nine, ca-nine?) that had a licence to kill!
Ray - many thanks. My niece's much-pampered
pooch can be said to be the inspiration.

Comment is about DOG DANCING (blog)

Original item by M.C. Newberry

The one in North Wales isn't dancing anymore, MC. But fancy referring it to the Police Watchdog! Talk about a kangaroo court!

Comment is about DOG DANCING (blog)

Original item by M.C. Newberry

Nice

Comment is about The stranger on her neck (blog)

Original item by Alexandra K. Parapadakis

Hi candice,
I appreciate this as a fine poem, it really is good stuff, well done.
I have to say I've had a great chuckle over

'How my heart quickens
To the rhythm of your social justice diatribes'

Comment is about Fuck Fear (blog)

Original item by Candice Reineke

Hi Ray This versian of Martial Music maybe tidier:

ODE TO MARTIAL MUSIC

It’s always grounded in the two four beat
of boot soles tramping across a field,
the plod of units across terrain
a general stakes his name on.

Holding the line, the kettle pounds
its rhythms of mutual fear. Embroidered
with fifes, the snares are brash,
their prattle false as speeches
on recruitment day. Add some chimes
and majorettes, high stepping,
winsome, their hoopla brings to life
old dogs leering.

When, half-blind, Kutuzov squints
and Bonaparte can’t see for smoke
the squares their blues and reds
are on, a bugle squealing on the flank
proclaims which side has won.

A ram’s horn summons
mountain tribes once it’s time
to lay aside their unseemly feuds,
beset by greater storms.
In freedom’s name the hoplites
trudge, singing solemn odes.

The pibroch wails its fierce lament,
a dirge for hopeless causes:
Hittites, Mayans, Jebusites,
their freaklish pipes and drums
buried now in a ditch
with their tongues and palaces.

The self-righteous blare of brass
has toppled walls into dust.
Sweethearts and crooners
will give your boys an edge.
Subvert the enemy. Psych him out.
Symphonic morse transmits
the victor’s cryptic riff.

Comment is about ray pool (poet profile)

Original item by ray pool

Hi Cynthia This versian of Martial Music maybe tidier:

ODE TO MARTIAL MUSIC

It’s always grounded in the two four beat
of boot soles tramping across a field,
the plod of units across terrain
a general stakes his name on.

Holding the line, the kettle pounds
its rhythms of mutual fear. Embroidered
with fifes, the snares are brash,
their prattle false as speeches
on recruitment day. Add some chimes
and majorettes, high stepping,
winsome, their hoopla brings to life
old dogs leering.

When, half-blind, Kutuzov squints
and Bonaparte can’t see for smoke
the squares their blues and reds
are on, a bugle squealing on the flank
proclaims which side has won.

A ram’s horn summons
mountain tribes once it’s time
to lay aside their unseemly feuds,
beset by greater storms.
In freedom’s name the hoplites
trudge, singing solemn odes.

The pibroch wails its fierce lament,
a dirge for hopeless causes:
Hittites, Mayans, Jebusites,
their freaklish pipes and drums
buried now in a ditch
with their tongues and palaces.

The self-righteous blare of brass
has toppled walls into dust.
Sweethearts and crooners
will give your boys an edge.
Subvert the enemy. Psych him out.
Symphonic morse transmits
the victor’s cryptic riff.

Comment is about Cynthia Buell Thomas (poet profile)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

Yeh I like this too :) I've written a number of ekphrastic poems based on a friend's photographs, and I find it wonderful for opening up the mind to new possibilities.

Comment is about Ode To Lely’s Venus (blog)

Original item by Trevor Alexander

Hi Stu, very belated thanks for commenting on Broken Record - I did writ it thinking of it live, then attended my first open mic and don't know if I'll ever get the nerve to do that again. I might try & work out how to attach audio on here, a little less confronting :)

Comment is about Stuart Buck (poet profile)

Original item by Stuart Buck

Heh heh!! I do like this - its the fucked up bit that really gets me :)x

Comment is about Humans & Poets (blog)

Original item by Pixievic