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Comment is about Sentenced to death for writing poetry (article)

Original item by Frances Spurrier

I love this aways have, remember Gary x fifi

Comment is about 'Sunday On My Mind' (blog)

Hi Cynthia
Would appreciate the feedback - I'm thinking I have been a little too obscure!! x

Comment is about Cynthia Buell Thomas (poet profile)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

Thank you Jon! glad you liked : )

Comment is about Jon Darby (poet profile)

Original item by Jon Darby

I'm getting there slowly! : )

Comment is about Nigel Astell (poet profile)

Original item by Nigel Astell

Thank you both - I appreciate your comments!
Martin I'm pleased you were able to feel all that - my job is done! And Tommy ...... to fathom is indeed to live - I'm glad you liked it! X

Comment is about The Circus (blog)

Original item by Pixievic

This I like. To fathom is to live, and this shakes a finger at the likes of me; stood watching this event is akin to the being, the ridiculous posture that we assume.
Such eyes as yours should be shaded. Tommy

Comment is about The Circus (blog)

Original item by Pixievic

I always enjoy the racy urgency, imagery and lyricism of your work, Gus. (Haven't a clue what it's about but it doesn't get in the way of my enjoyment).

Comment is about Never Knowing (blog)

Original item by Gus Jonsson

"From the Coop the birds have flown" IS THIS SO OBVIOUS? WILL I DISPLAY THIS MARK OF CAIN FOREVER?
My kids (who are in their20's now) say we got the balance right between a loving chat with them and a good smack in the mouth!
I used to say "what's 7 times 6?" And if they got it wrong, belt them. We called it Physical Education. They still remember it, though.
(And good to see you posting again)

Comment is about Spare The Rod (blog)

Original item by Yvonne Brunton

I am afraid it sickens me that our government is loth to do anything about this, but is happy to shake hands with, and sell arms to, such people; in our name. Not mine, I can assure you. Poetry before profits, surely?

Comment is about Sentenced to death for writing poetry (article)

Original item by Frances Spurrier

Oops, MC. Our posts must have crossed in the, er, post! If he becomes President look for me in the concrete footings of some new building!

Comment is about DONALD THE ELEPHANT (TRUMP TRUMP TRUMP) (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

It does indeed lend itself, Vicki.
The elephant being the Republican emblem, Trump/Trump/Trump, the similarity of "intelligent elephant" and "belligerent elephant", likewise, caucus, purpose and circus, etc.
Sometimes the gods of verse send you presents!

Comment is about DONALD THE ELEPHANT (TRUMP TRUMP TRUMP) (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

JC - if you don't get a call from the Democratic Party,
they will have missed a trick! It could be their call to
arms for this presidential campaign. Just imagine all
those red Republican faces!
Another Coopey masterclass in creative comment set to
songs we oldies remember with affection.

Comment is about DONALD THE ELEPHANT (TRUMP TRUMP TRUMP) (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

Thanks M. C., the Lion cub is an analogy I often use.

Comment is about Spare The Rod (blog)

Original item by Yvonne Brunton

Hehe!! Again I love listening to your delivery!! I'm not a fan of politics but it lends itself doesn't it!!

Comment is about DONALD THE ELEPHANT (TRUMP TRUMP TRUMP) (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

Thanks John much appreciated. I always value your comparisons

Comment is about Smoke room (blog)

Original item by Martin Elder

Nicely put Lynn a great idea well structured. As Vicki says a great twist at the end

Comment is about How Do You Do? (blog)

It's rather like a sea shanty - I like it!

Comment is about Never Knowing (blog)

Original item by Gus Jonsson

Smacking - it's a contentious subject isn't it!! I was smacked - it didn't stop me testing & pushing boundaries - I don't smack my son & he responds to a look or tone of voice! Your poem is a lovely balance of this - the parent who decides to smack, societies new level of un acceptance & the children who flourished & became swans despite it. Nice one xx

Comment is about Spare The Rod (blog)

Original item by Yvonne Brunton

Children have a habit of testing how far they can go -
a trait perhaps designed by Mother Nature to equip them
for the maturity they will face in their own time.
If their minds are not developed enough to reason with
the whys and wherefores of what is socially acceptable
then the threat of a smack or the deed itself - within the
parameters of a loving set-up can be of immediate benefit.
Studies of higher animal life show similar corrections by
parents of wayward behaviour by offspring. Ever seen a
lioness cuff one of her naughty cubs? The result was
instant.

Comment is about Spare The Rod (blog)

Original item by Yvonne Brunton

So much fun - getting away with things by using increasing years as the excuse!

Comment is about Young and wrinkly (blog)

Original item by Mark Mr T Thompson

This has a great lyrical feel to rather like a song.it flows along nicely at a good pace

Comment is about Never Knowing (blog)

Original item by Gus Jonsson

Ah, yes, I remember it well - and the corner shop where black jacks and the like were 4 a penny and I could buy just one with my precious farthing (for our younger artists that's a coin not a distant object)

Comment is about POUNDS (NO SHILLINGS) AND PENCE (blog)

Original item by M.C. Newberry

Fabulous Vicki, I can feel the throbbing beat, the sweat, the intensity of the moment. Great poem

Comment is about The Circus (blog)

Original item by Pixievic

Yes I agree. Lets remember all poets and artists who don't enjoy the freedoms we do in this country. Thank you for your comments.

Comment is about Sentenced to death for writing poetry (article)

Original item by Frances Spurrier

Thanks Stu. I can't forget those days of chasing dog ends away down the channel. Another world. Perhaps in a parallel universe they retain their original flavour while I await the men in white coats.

Ray

Comment is about WAITING - FOR URINATION (blog)

Original item by ray pool

Hi Stu
Thank you so much for your very well constructed critique...thank you for taking the time to read.
I'm pleased you enjoyed my poem.

Gus

Comment is about Stuart Buck (poet profile)

Original item by Stuart Buck

Thank You Andy
much appreciated.....hope you are well
Gus

Comment is about Andy N (poet profile)

Original item by Andy N

Comment is about Andy N (poet profile)

Original item by Andy N

Thank You Andy
much appreciated.....hope you are well
Gus

Comment is about Will It Ever Snow Again (blog)

Original item by Gus Jonsson

The media's role is to spread disquiet by reporting worldwide atrocity.

One can only be infected with guilt if one feels susceptible to such coverage.

Comment is about Is it (blog)

always use a cubicle ray! im neither mentally or physically ready for the inevitable comparisons made at those porcelain extrusions...

Comment is about WAITING - FOR URINATION (blog)

Original item by ray pool

Ah, Jeremy; "damning with faint praise" - an art form in itself.
Thanks for your comments, Yvonne. I don't really like political poetry but this offered so rich a vein I couldn't resist.

Comment is about DONALD THE ELEPHANT (TRUMP TRUMP TRUMP) (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

Thank you J - that's what I was aiming for xx

Comment is about Circles (blog)

Original item by Pixievic

"Here's one, just to demonstrate how mistaken the Saudi courts are in thinking they can silence anybody"

yes I took that poem as a theme - the difference between us is that I recognise why it is revolutionary, and why he stands condemned as an apostate for writing what he did

this statement alone

"you too tend to forget that you are
a piece of bread"

and that is before you get into

"prophets have retired
so do not wait for yours to come to you

and for you,
for you the monitors bring their daily reports
and get their high salaries..

how important money is
for a life of dignity"

he's certainly a brave man, deserving of support, and doesn't deserve to be beheaded

at which point - this being the internet - there should be a but... but... I'll not succumb and simply pose the question posed by Tom Holland, in a debate on free speech (with regard to the film innocence of muslims) 'but what of god?'

Comment is about A poem for Ashraf Fayadh (blog)

Original item by Tim Ellis

Great poem!! Love the circular flow it has :)
The end is a great, because it doesn't actually end.

Comment is about Circles (blog)

Original item by Pixievic

it's a nice parody - with some nice word play

but "Despite his never being ever schooled in politics" - this clearly isn't true - if only because he was buying Hilary Clinton for years

still I'm sure it will go down well with the right crowd

Comment is about DONALD THE ELEPHANT (TRUMP TRUMP TRUMP) (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

But Donald lives in an ivory tower
in which he can take up his stance
He may disparage women -
But wives- well he's had three
And if he wants to close down
US immigration policy
He'd better send his third wife back
To her own home country.

Comment is about DONALD THE ELEPHANT (TRUMP TRUMP TRUMP) (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

I just realized you added another comment to The Warren House Inn. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I went on a classic rail trip to Buckingham from Kings X in Jan. 63 steam hauled throughout, and believe you me those carriages were freezing! Imagine the moor then - and of course some locos ran backwards with no protection for the enginemen. Ray

Comment is about M.C. Newberry (poet profile)

Original item by M.C. Newberry

I love this one. I especially like the sense of the smoke room keeping the cold night at bay with its own world of warmth, drink (and smoke!). It reminds me also of a Hemingway story where men are frightened to leave the lights of a bar for the cold, empty void of night (Nada) lurking outside.

Comment is about Smoke room (blog)

Original item by Martin Elder

Lovely Lynn - & great twist at the end x

Comment is about How Do You Do? (blog)

Thanks for the words on English Epilogue Ray. Much appreciated. David.

Comment is about ray pool (poet profile)

Original item by ray pool

compulsive reading, a real sense of desolation of abandonment and very appealing to me. It speaks of Ted Hughes in his bleak moments.

Ray

Comment is about English Epilogue (blog)

Original item by David Blake

Hope you enjoyed reading Mr Pool and thanks for commenting. Lynn x

Comment is about How Do You Do? (blog)

Nice idea Lynn. Completely unexpected jolt at the end, and it makes sense, though leaves you thinking! Ray

Comment is about How Do You Do? (blog)

Fair comment Wolfie, but I spent much of my early life arguing with people who said international pressure would never change South Africa, and history has shown that I was right and they were wrong. The uprisings of people against their leaders during the "Arab Spring" have so far mainly proved disastrous. I don't believe Ashraf is in any way a revolutionary, he's just someone who's been unlucky in falling victim to a dysfunctional legal system whilst trying to express himself through poetry, something we take for granted in free-world democracies. Us poets all need to show our support for him because it is our own freedoms that are being challenged here too.

At the end of the poem I'm pointing out the futility of trying to suppress poetry by killing the poet. Ashraf's poems will be available for all time, or at least for as long as the Internet exists. Here's one, just to demonstrate how mistaken the Saudi courts are in thinking they can silence anybody http://monakareem.blogspot.co.uk/2015/11/ashraf-fayadhs-disputed-poems-in.html

Comment is about A poem for Ashraf Fayadh (blog)

Original item by Tim Ellis

and while protesting this, we should also remember other poets who have been imprisoned - mohammed al-ajami springs to mind

Comment is about Sentenced to death for writing poetry (article)

Original item by Frances Spurrier

These lines - brief and plaintive - brought a smile.
If you wear a top coat, one of those ubiquitous plastic
drink bottles can be placed in a suitably covered position
standing leaning towards the door between carriages in an absolute emergency!
Not that I ever wish to try it, mind...but if it helps
when "needs must"...?
:-)

Comment is about WAITING - FOR URINATION (blog)

Original item by ray pool

The grip of tyranny anywhere is identical - strangling the
question and the questioner in abject fear of losing
power and control over minds open to indoctrination.
The sheep have wolves for shepherds!

Comment is about Sentenced to death for writing poetry (article)

Original item by Frances Spurrier

Children get eager to be young.Adults on the other hand want to stay young.
If you see the age milestone youth seems the best
For instance a girl is at the height of her virginal beauty at her youth.
Thank you for the feedback!

Comment is about Youth (blog)

Original item by Alem Hailu G/Kristos