As Laura says so eloquently - DITTO. You are always a pleasure to read, full stop.
Comment is about Family Tree (blog)
Original item by CathyLCrabb
wow. i love it! sensual is one word. i love the power you have given her, making mince out of reasoned philosophies is so clever, imbuing the absinthe and the woman with the same strength. the use of obscenity works perfectly, transforming the word into something warm and sexual. brilliant. my wife will love it too, i'll let you know what she thinks. baby two is due valentines day but emma is already massive! its not twins though, must just take after his/her daddy.
Comment is about Cynthia Buell Thomas (poet profile)
Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas
A very good story well told. Great ending.
In the second stanza would you consider changing the line
'to notice etc.' to 'and notices ...' or 'and sees...' to remove two consecutive lines starting with 'to'. A very small point, for sure, but perhaps valid, despite rigid rules from 'experts'.
Comment is about AT THE END (blog)
Original item by ray pool
Stu, have a look at my profile page under Samples:'Lines on Picasso's 'The Aperitif' '. I think you'll like it - the 'absinthe' society!
Has the 'new baby' arrived yet?
Comment is about Stuart Buck (poet profile)
Original item by Stuart Buck
best thing you've written in my opinion. the last verse is stunning, as is the rampant surrealism and rhyme. i agree with graham, it is reminiscent of bellows at his angriest.
Comment is about the ballad of the beartrap (blog)
Original item by Zach Dafoe
penance in a bottle. certainly is!
Comment is about Absinthe (for Stu) ;-) (blog)
Original item by Tommy Carroll
Thanks for the kind words on 'Prisoner 1.0' Ray. Will look to check out some of your stuff soon. Need to get back on to WoL full-time!
Comment is about ray pool (poet profile)
Original item by ray pool
A terrific poem, in every way, subject, thought and craftsmanship. The final six lines are brilliant in their philosophical ripples.
And I like the 'wormwood' line because it pokes 'self-fun'.
Comment is about absinthe makes the heart grow fonder (blog)
Original item by Stuart Buck
wonderfully powerful and gripping in its imagery. It confuses with almost a crossfire of intent and has a sort of old testament vengefulness . Excellent.
Comment is about Prisoner 1.0 (blog)
Original item by David Blake
Wonderfully accurate!
Comment is about Love's a Kitty Cat? (blog)
Original item by Despair and Requite
steve mellor
Tue 8th Sep 2015 14:08
Having recently moved up to Scotland (Auchtermuchty, Fife) I have been surprised at the lack of available poetry gigs.
Mention the phrase 'poetry groups' in the local libraries, and you'd think I was speaking a foreign language.
Any thoughts/suggestions/comments?
Comment is about Scotland's 'makars' thrive among differing tongues (article)
Original item by Greg Freeman
Lynn Hamilton
Tue 8th Sep 2015 12:56
You know when you know something is really good but don't quite know why?
This reminds me of the first time I read a Saul Bellow book. I knew it was good but I didn't really get it. My failing not yours.
I keep reading it.
Comment is about the ballad of the beartrap (blog)
Original item by Zach Dafoe
This is wonderfully crafted Stu. You take us with you in this piece. We've all done it and would love to do it again.
Easy Rider crossed my mind when you talk about the cemetery. Montmartre-perfect!
I didn't need the line about wormwood (although I get the reasoning) I think it sticks out a little.
Great piece nonetheless.
Well done,
Graham
Comment is about absinthe makes the heart grow fonder (blog)
Original item by Stuart Buck
I think your piece here asks all the questions of the father that we all want to ask but perhaps feel it is politically correct not to do so.
A chilling, enquiring almost disparagingly alarming list of questions Pete. This hits home. Well done!
Comment is about THE BEACH (blog)
Original item by Pete Slater
Lynn Hamilton
Tue 8th Sep 2015 09:28
Tommy. Have to say I agree with Martin. I love the line 'asphalt arteries' just hanging their on it's own. x
Comment is about What borders do (blog)
Original item by Tommy Carroll
Lynn Hamilton
Tue 8th Sep 2015 09:22
Mr B. This is wonderful. I keep reading it over. You are such a bloody clever clogs (except when it comes to formatting ;))
Comment is about the ballad of the beartrap (blog)
Original item by Zach Dafoe
Lynn Hamilton
Tue 8th Sep 2015 09:16
Ta very much, once again, Martin, for taking the time to read and comment. x
Comment is about Martin Elder (poet profile)
Original item by Martin Elder
Preeti Sinha
Tue 8th Sep 2015 08:34
Preeti Sinha
Tue 8th Sep 2015 08:33
You hipster, you. Cool af. As usual. Love your ultra trendy, modern work.
Comment is about The Mountain Poet (blog)
Original item by Corr Lens
Jackie,
you're a fucking gem.
xo
Comment is about Jacqueline Phillips (poet profile)
Original item by Jacqueline Phillips
<Deleted User> (13947)
Tue 8th Sep 2015 01:29
Hi Laura, thanks for the comment on 'I Would'.
Comment is about Laura Taylor (poet profile)
Original item by Laura Taylor
Straight from the heart Cynthia. a great poem
Comment is about The Last Verse (blog)
Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas
Good poem Lynn I have often felt the same way. I love the way it hangs in the air at the end.
Comment is about Camera Man (blog)
this has got to be one of your best yet Tommy. I particularly like the opening stanza around the mirror.
Comment is about What borders do (blog)
Original item by Tommy Carroll
This is very neatly put together Stu. I like the continued use of the word green. Rounded off nicely with
More than just an enamelled sign
And a return ticket home.
Nicely done
Comment is about absinthe makes the heart grow fonder (blog)
Original item by Stuart Buck
Lynn Hamilton
Mon 7th Sep 2015 22:27
Evening John and thanks for reading and your comments on Camera Man and other work - very much appreciated. I personally could not have taken that picture and would have picked him up and covered him but I wanted to get over my thoughts on trying to understand the actions of the camera man and his reasons. As I said in my response to David Moore I was so unsure whether to blog as does that not put me in the same vein as the camera man?
Comment is about John Coopey (poet profile)
Original item by John Coopey
The new collection form Trevor Maynard. GREY SUN, DARK MOON. A day is a life - Sunrise, Morning, Later, Dusk and Night - sixty-five poems from the wonder of life, to the endurance of same - "Trevor Maynard combines complicated thematic material and unites fractured images with a sure hand" (The Stage)
Comment is about Front Cover Grey Sun, Dark Moon.jpg (photo)
Original item by Trevor Maynard
Reminder to myself to format this block properly when I get home
EDIT: Fixed
Comment is about the ballad of the beartrap (blog)
Original item by Zach Dafoe
HI Stu. Thanks. I got the idea from Trump rhyming with rump. I might have got frump in, but that would have been tricky, even though I love the word. I'm old enough (71) to have amassed a lot of weird vintage words, and like to bring them out like false teeth in a bring and buy sale!
Comment is about Stuart Buck (poet profile)
Original item by Stuart Buck
watched his speech live the other night (ohio i think). hilarious and terrifying in equal measure. betfair have him THIRD at 13/6 to be the next president. surely worth a punt?
lovely poem by the way, great rhyme and most amusing. character assassinations are one of my favourite things to read.
Comment is about SPEAK LOW (blog)
Original item by ray pool
Have you see the other stories?!
The Extermination of the White Race in Norway
Jews Boast of Owning Hollywood—But Slam Gentiles Who Say the Same
German Girls Must Cover Arms and Legs to Appease Syrian “Refugees”
DNA and Race: Tibetans Inherited High-altitude Gene from Ancient Race
Graham - this is a white rights/nationalist site, and it illustrates absolutely nothing apart from its own bigotry. I'm shocked that you would take any of that seriously, but then, your comment about the clothing indicates that I shouldn't be.
Comment is about For Aylan (blog)
Original item by Laura Taylor
Preeti Sinha
Mon 7th Sep 2015 13:32
I cried. And then I cried some more. Thank you for this tribute to a little boy lying face down, milk teeth still there. A lovely little boy, the seas took him and returned.
Comment is about For Aylan (blog)
Original item by Laura Taylor
No happily, it appears to be an international source and I agree about some of the terminology but it was meant to illustrate that this whole refugee/migrant debacle is a many facetted animal.
Similarly, I think Cameron is wise to agree only to take real refugees that are already in camps and have been processed as such.
There were far too many brand new trainers and expensive tee shirts coming off the trains in Germany yesterday for my liking. Sadly the bandwagon is getting larger.
Comment is about For Aylan (blog)
Original item by Laura Taylor
Wow. Graham - is this a regular source of information for you? Because my suspicions are raised instantly at the use of language such as 'nonwhite invasion', and the notion of irresponsibility. Having looked through this site, there is much to question, including their sense of superiority over a 'controlled media'.
Your source appears to be right wing, and fairly extreme at that.
Comment is about For Aylan (blog)
Original item by Laura Taylor
Sadly there are always two sides to every story, tragic as it undeniably is.
http://newobserveronline.com/drowned-syrian-boy-funeral-exposes-lie-of-nonwhite-war-refugees-invasion-excuse/
Comment is about For Aylan (blog)
Original item by Laura Taylor
agreed. i have particular trouble with mental-verbal filter. i basically find myself unable to make any form of social bond due to the sheer amount of tripe that i come out with. how my wife has lasted 7 years is beyond me (probably together for the kids!). Certainly BP was a sad time indeed.
Comment is about clamour (blog)
Original item by Stuart Buck
oooOOoooo - I do like this one, VERY much indeed. Beautifully written, intelligent (well, it's you, you always are), and playful. Smashing.
Comment is about Family Tree (blog)
Original item by CathyLCrabb
I would keep the last 3 lines. Totally get that constant-narrative-creation that accompanies all creatives - I sometimes have to internally slap myself to stop it. Words shunting through without mercy, and the inability to filter out ANYTHING.
Still, it would be churlish to complain ;) At least we DO have something to channel it all, eh? Better than BP (Before Poetry) where we just went bloody mad all the time.
Comment is about clamour (blog)
Original item by Stuart Buck
Thanks for reading and taking time to comment, both.
Graham - it did though, because out of all the dead so far, all the negative press towards desperate people, it was this particular shot that had the most impact. I'm not sure it 'defines' the crisis, but it certainly was a pivotal photo, a catalyst for the good.
A child died, and it takes a shared photo of his body (and public outrage about it) to make the powers DO something. That in itself is both horrifying and gratifying. His death has not been in vain.
Comment is about For Aylan (blog)
Original item by Laura Taylor
Here are all the forthcoming tour dates. I'll be doing readings from the book interspersed with poems and songs.
Books will be on sale of course :)
Fri 11: HARLOW Adopted 80s hometown launch at The Square - with guests original Brighton hometown heroes Boring Bob Grover and The Piranhas, my best mate and Newtown Neurotics singer Steve Drewett and ranting poet Little Dave Williams whose band The Unborn Dead I supported at my first gig in Harlow on Sept 8 1980. https://www.facebook.com/events/1651840591697622/
Sat 12: HULL Special 50th Birthday gig for a long time fan (private event)
Sun 13: HULL The New Adelphi Club, my favourite UK venue for 30 years, run by the utterly legendary Paul 'Jacko' Jackson. http://www.theadelphi.com/]
Wed 16: MITCHELDEAN (Forest of Dean) The Brewery Tap https://www.facebook.com/events/667881600011155/667882030011112/]
Thurs 17 WOLVERHAMPTON Clarendon Hotel https://www.facebook.com/events/137232369946236/]
Fri 18 WALTHAMSTOW Festival with Steve White & The Protest Family http://www.stowfestival.com/]
Sat 19 WORCESTER Marrs Bar as part of the Worcester Music Festival http://www.worcestermusicfestival.co.uk/]
Sun 20 STROUD Prince Albert http://www.theprincealbertstroud.co.uk/] >
Fri 25 Big LONDON launch at The Borderline in Soho with The Newtown Neurotics, brilliant comic Jeremy Hardy, my old mate Steve Lamacq as DJ, my band Barnstormer and the first ever London appearance by Contingent from Brussels, the last and best band I played in as a bass player, aged 21 in 1979, before starting as Attila in 1980. Just added: my longtime touring partner David Rovics, brilliant US radical songster, and my old mate Janine Booth, now making huge waves on the London spoken word scene. http://www.reallylivemusic.com/attila-the-stockbroker-barnstormer-borderline]
Wed 30 Local launch at SHOREHAM Ropetackle Arts Centre - with John Otway, TV Smith and former Albion chairman Dick Knight http://ropetacklecentre.co.uk/events/arguments-yard-attila-the-stockbroker-launches-his-autobiography/]
OCTOBER
9 BRUSSELS Magasin 4 ( playing bass with Contingent and reading the section from the book about my time in Brussels) http://www.magasin4.be/]
15 MALDON (nr Chelmsford) Blue Boar Hotel https://www.facebook.com/events/419005821618062/
16 LEEDS Packhorse https://www.facebook.com/events/1416398888688169/
17 BARNSLEY Old Number 7 with Joe Solo
18 WHITBY Musicport Festival (daytime) The home of ‘Arguments Yard’, the little alley which gave me my title. http://www.musicportfestival.com/]
19 CANTERBURY Gulbenkian Theatre bar, University of Kent (really looking forward to this one!) E.M.Millar@kent.ac.uk
27 CARDIFF Look Out Cafe Bar, Discovery Quay
28 CARMARTHEN Parrot Music Bar https://www.facebook.com/theparrotmusicbar?fref=ts]
29 GOGINAN nr Aberystwyth The Druid http://www.goginan.com/druid-inn
30 SWINDON The Locomotive https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Locomotive/1647780155445343?fref=ts
31 SOUTHAMPTON Arthouse Cafe https://www.facebook.com/southampton.art.house]
NOVEMBER
1 READING Rising Sun Arts Centre https://www.facebook.com/events/1595599724025012/
6-8 ALDEBURGH Poetry Festival http://www.thepoetrytrust.org/festival/programme/]
14 Guest on Tom Robinson's BBC 6 Music show, 9pm
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0072lbw]
17 PETERSFIELD Write Angle at the Square Brewery Http://www.petersfieldwriteangle.co.uk/]
19 STOURBRIDGE Katie Fitzgerald's http://www.katiefitzgeralds.co.uk/]
20 OLDHAM Library https://www.facebook.com/OldhamLibraryService]
21 LIVERPOOL View Two Gallery, 23 Mathew Street, Liverpool L2 6RE https://www.ents24.com/liverpool-events/view-two-gallery/attila-the-stockbroker/4405530]
22 WIGAN Hartley's
26 PETERBOROUGH Brewery Tap
27 NOTTINGHAM Poetry Festival
29 LONDON New Cross Inn - ‘LONDONWICK’ with my band Barnstormer, The Piranhas, The Tuts, Thee Faction and more TBC http://www.newcrossinn.com/]
DECEMBER
3 LONDON Islington Folk Club
12 BELPER Queen's Head https://www.facebook.com/events/1454736961493717/
***EXTRA GIG**** Local ‘rock n roll’ book launch! Sat 26 Sept SHOREHAM The Piranhas, Contingent <https://www.facebook.com/pages/Contingent/334188403367061> and my band Barnstormer at the Duke of Wellington, plus a short reading from the section in my autobiography dealing with my time in Brussels in 1979, the incredible story of the attempts by the mayor to BAN all live rock music and the riots which followed. 'The riot starts at six o'clock!' www.dukeofwellingtonbrewhouse.co.uk]
Comment is about Arguments Yard: Attila the Stockbroker, Cherry Red (article)
Original item by Greg Freeman
Very powerful, Lynne, and an aspect of this whole tragedy which only you had seen.
Like Graham, my first interpretation was "why didn't you pick him up?" But whatever the photographers motive more "good" seems to have come out of photographing the boy than picking him up.
I always enjoy your posts.
Comment is about Camera Man (blog)
fulsome praise indeed Stu, thank you.
Comment is about Stuart Buck (poet profile)
Original item by Stuart Buck
my body aches for waking- hi Roy
Comment is about Thinking About Talking in Bed (blog)
Original item by Emma Roy- Williams
hi guys. thanks for the kind comments. i was hoping to juxtapose the peace and harmony around me with my internal 'clamour'. i also hoped to get across the feeling of constantly writing a poem internally, thus unable to enjoy the moment. the last three lines are (to me) the most important. however, i welcome any other thoughts as they help me as a writer to see things i may have missed. maybe i need to sharpen it up a bit.
Comment is about clamour (blog)
Original item by Stuart Buck
Lynn Hamilton
Sun 6th Sep 2015 21:06
Cynthia Buell Thomas
Wed 9th Sep 2015 11:15
Well done, Lynn.
Comment is about Camera Man (blog)