Not stout for me, I'm afraid, Hazel. My favourite was Gales HSB. Perished now, I believe. Taken over by Fullers.
They say we all drink the same amount in a lifetime and I reached my quota quite early; so I could stop. I've been teetotal for 20 years.

Comment is about Stout (blog)

Original item by Hazel Connelly

Sorry to hear this news. I only met G on a couple of occasions when I came across the hills but she was warm and friendly to me. Condolences to all her friends and family.

Comment is about Glenys Feeney: north-west poet and compere 'with sparkling wit' (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

This is beautiful, I especially like the repetition of "so that I might have excuse
to keep you". The undualting lines in the format show how difficult letting go can be, one moment resolved to what must be done the next...finding an excuse not to. Beautiful.

Comment is about for a dead child (blog)

Original item by jeremy young

Thanks for this wonderful review, Laura. You really capture the excitement and joy of the gig in a way that old guys like me maybe can't!

Comment is about Hollie McNish in Manchester, 2015 (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Thanks Graham, now I'm really stumped. I'd started re-writing it and it seemed to be improving; getting closer to the feelings that prompted it. If i can come up with an alternate version, i may post it next to the first one, and see how they compare, should anyone else care to offer an opinion. Thanks again.

Comment is about A PENNY / LOST IN THOUGHT / THINK ON (blog)

Travis, keep it as it is. I thought it was very cleverly worded. Only think I'd change is the last line, too many syllables.
Good work

Graham

Comment is about A PENNY / LOST IN THOUGHT / THINK ON (blog)

Not sure myself Colin, really. I kind of know what i'm aiming at but i realise i haven't nailed it. It's a bit messy because it reflects the uncertainty i feel about things at the moment. Written, and posted, in haste, perhaps. Still, thanks for having a look. I'll work on it.

Comment is about A PENNY / LOST IN THOUGHT / THINK ON (blog)

Stef! Where did it all go wrong lol!
The line that did it for me was....

"Southern Comfort sodden Saturday night/Sunday morning".

Great insight into the past, good work.

Graham

Comment is about 9teen6ties pill popping pussy hunter (blog)

ooh Trav, not sure what to think... there's lots of thinks to think about... but also some good lines too... I'm flotsam on a wave... starched in every fold... x

Comment is about A PENNY / LOST IN THOUGHT / THINK ON (blog)

Hi Crystal, I don't mind the effing and blinding and it's good to clear the head but once the rant is over that's the time to make some changes and add the magic to your words. Good luck, we're all in the same boat. x

Comment is about Fuck You (blog)

Original item by Spoken_Thoughts

" All this new, democratic, internet stuff is like launching little candle boats of poetic endeavour out on to the Ganges of universal criticism – I love it. "

Wow! Sums it up perfectly for me. I love it too :)

"The Manner of Her Going" - 44 words (if I counted correctly) creating a million explosions in my tiny head. That's what I call poetry.

Comment is about Harry O`N eill (poet profile)

Original item by Harry O`N eill

Sorry about your wife, Harry :(

Very interesting re Traynor's story, will read more about him this evening.

So pleased to read you enjoyed the poems :) I will let Eileen know when I see her later today. She has worked so hard to bring this about and will be delighted when I tell her about your comment here.

Thank you.

Comment is about Remembering the Lancashire Fusiliers at Gallipoli readings in Bury and Rochdale (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Chris,
How sad to hear of the death of Glenys. You are absolutely right to tell of the enormous amount she gave to the poetry scene. I have many happy memories of the events she compered with yourself an Natalie at the various locations. Her dedication (despite her poor health) was a shining example to us all.

We will be attending the funeral.

Comment is about Glenys Feeney: north-west poet and compere 'with sparkling wit' (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Glenys was a smasher - lovely warmth, appreciation of others and sense of mischief. The interplay between herself and the poets was a joy. The time she was carried up the stairs at Gallaghers, too unwell to climb them herself, was unforgettable. Queen of the evening.

Comment is about Glenys Feeney: north-west poet and compere 'with sparkling wit' (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Those excellent Gallopoli poems that this has
attracted reminded me strongly of the story
of a paralysed Gallipoli veteran that was told
to me some years ago.

I became very interested in the landings when -
during a pilgrimage to Lourdes with my seriously
ill young wife - I was told by a lady helper of the
sick that - as a girl - she used to see an ex soldier,
who was wounded at Gallipoli, sitting, paralysed
in a wheelchair, outside his house with a leather
`pack` on his head.

This man, after being previously wounded before
at Antwerp, had recovered and taken part in the
landing at V. beach at Sed-el Bahr. Some days later
during a charge he was hit by a spray of bullets some
of which lodged under his arm, paralysing it. He was
invalided home, and operated on a number of times
for both the arm, and (because epilepsy had set in)
for the previous head wound suffered at Antwerp.

Eventually he was one hundred per cent pensioned
off as incurable and left to spend his days sat outside
his home in the wheelchair with a leather -covered
metal plate on his head protecting a hole left in his
skull by the operation for the head-wound....It was
there that the lady helper (as a young girl) had often
seen him sitting.

The point of all this is that, after spending six years in
this condition, the veteran (Jack Traynor) got himself
to Lourdes, was cured, and became a fit working man.

Traynors own reported account of his cure can be read
on the internet under the title `I met a miracle`. And
also (I assume) In the records of the local Liverpool
newspapers of that time ( JULY 1923)

Sir John de Robeck`s `Gallipol landings Despatch`
is by far the most vivid account of the landings at
the Cape Hellas beaches.

My young wife died the following year.

Comment is about Remembering the Lancashire Fusiliers at Gallipoli readings in Bury and Rochdale (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Alexandra, this is a mature piece with some exceptional words.
Podium of my corpse

Steel eyes which steal my thoughts

(this is excellent but I think the previous steel in boots should be changed).

Good work indeed.

Comment is about When I lie. (blog)

Original item by Alexandra K. Parapadakis

Thank you! x

Comment is about Louder Than Words (blog)

Original item by CathyLCrabb

I heard you! Well done.

Comment is about Charley Genever (poet profile)

Original item by Charley Genever

Hi Russ

Thank you for your comment on A&E. Chuffed that you felt it.

Comment is about Russ Litten (poet profile)

Original item by Russ Litten

Hello Martin

Thank you for reading and taking the time to comment on Concrete Eyes. Much appreciated and glad you enjoyed it.

Comment is about Martin Elder (poet profile)

Original item by Martin Elder

Ta Steve. Sad but true tale of the breakup of a friend's marriage. x

Comment is about steve pottinger (poet profile)

Original item by steve pottinger

I love a well-constructed rant, and that is a *wonderfully* constructed rant. Made me chuckle and nod in recognition. Nice one, Ian!

Comment is about Something To Say (blog)

Original item by Ian Whiteley

"Smiles become all languages."
What a beautiful line!
A poem to read and re-read. Thanks.

Comment is about Is this what borders do? (blog)

Original item by Tommy Carroll

This poem ticks my boxes. I like it!

Comment is about coppery lunch (blog)

Original item by jeremy young

This is superb Lynn . The metaphor's used and the picture captured is marvellous.

Comment is about Concrete Eyes (blog)

This is another good poem Tommy. I love the opening lines in particular. Nice one

Comment is about Is this what borders do? (blog)

Original item by Tommy Carroll

Hello Mrs Hamilton

Thank you for reading and for your kind words. I've put a few more up this evening.

Comment is about It Is What It Is (blog)

Original item by Russ Litten

Thanks Harry :) your comment is appreciated and welcome. Tommy

Comment is about Harry O`N eill (poet profile)

Original item by Harry O`N eill

Cheers Graham, Mike Harry. I always appreciate comments, though ofttimes I forget to respond. Cheers Tommy

Comment is about Is this what borders do? (blog)

Original item by Tommy Carroll

Hello Mr Litten

I have just read through all your work and enjoyed every single word. You have pure talent. Look forward to reading more.

Comment is about It Is What It Is (blog)

Original item by Russ Litten

Steve,as they say,you are as old as the woman you feel!
ooer missis! Harry perhaps JC is having a long lie in.Who could blame him after all miracle working,walking on wild water and lugging a bloomin great cross up a hillside.Not to mention taking orders from five thousand people at once to make sure they all liked bread and fish.Tough titties if they didn't! xx

Comment is about Wearer of shit tinted glasses (blog)

Thank you as always Harry, they literally were tumbling. My favourite was the "tinny cluck" of the pheasants.

Comment is about Harry O`N eill (poet profile)

Original item by Harry O`N eill

You're very kind Cynthia, thank you. I'm going to London in June to visit the person i'm addressing in the poem - wish me luck.

Comment is about UP FOM LONDON. (blog)

...and, indeed, MC that was what it was.

Comment is about BORDERS (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

Stef,
A nice `what was it all about Alfie` one.

Most of our ageing population (including me) are now begininng to feel like this and wisely clinging to one or other of those thousands years old answers ( I mean surely by now someone should have come down to give us some sort of an indication?)

Comment is about Wearer of shit tinted glasses (blog)

Nat,
I like the way this sticks to the metaphor.

Comment is about Reravelling (blog)

Tommy,
This got me wondering if the historical usurping of poetry as the supreme art form by the novel is the reason why this type of suggestive, clue-larded, minimal, novella
type poems seem to win so many poetry competitions these days.

(I like the D.I.Y. element in this)

Comment is about Is this what borders do? (blog)

Original item by Tommy Carroll

Corr,
this seems to me to be one of those poems which wonders around in the land of no-whereness, no-whyness
or no-whoness, but never seems to ask itself why we should expect a where, a why, or a who.

After all, if that`s the situation - what are we worried about?

It seems too easy to just state the situation without some
enquiry as to why it is thus.

After the foregoing that last line doesn`t read real.

Comment is about What if this is all real? (blog)

Original item by Corr Lens

many thanks for your kind comments on 'in the halls of the kingmaker' Harry - apologies that it's taken a while for me to thank you - been away from WOL for a little while. I appreciate you commenting
Ian

Comment is about Harry O`N eill (poet profile)

Original item by Harry O`N eill

many thanks for your kind comments on 'in the halls of the kingmaker' Jackie - apologies that it's taken a while for me to thank you - been away from WOL for a little while. I appreciate you commenting
Ian

Comment is about Jacqueline Phillips (poet profile)

Original item by Jacqueline Phillips

many thanks for your kind comments on 'in the halls of the kingmaker' John - apologies that it's taken a while for me to thank you - been away from WOL for a little while. I appreciate you commenting
Ian

Comment is about wrestledwithjimmy (poet profile)

Original item by wrestledwithjimmy

Maggies article about the old Liverpool scene was very interesting.

Maggie`s memories start from a slightly earlier time at the height of the Beatles furore and the hordes of guys in smart suits looking for the next big money-spinner. My own memory of what was then called the Liverpool scene was at the very end of the sixties: I read at Adrian`s Hendri`s Gig at O`connors and, being very innocent, I decided to do a nine or ten minute thing called `You can`t win anyway` (yes, it``s that old`) The place was very crowded and the ceiling was very low . To my surprise it went down like a bomb, and Adrian, amidst the applause, kept calling out `What a debut`.....I thought I had arrived but, Alas, the following week I decided to read a serious one (with my whole body shaking due to standing on the mike wire) and amidst a growing mutter of disinterested conversation `Died the death`. I did a few more before joining Jim Blackburns outfit, which ended up at the Gazebo. The blast of the band under that low ceiling at O`Connors was ear -splitting.

Jim resurrected Sampson and Barlows for a while afterwards and we dId a newspaper sponsored thing there with Roger McGough, Which got an article in the `Echo`. Later a number of the Liverpool poets did a broadcast for some German radio station there. I was paid in marks but promptly lost the cheque. When we were there we were told that there was a Chinese
gay club next door. There was a poster of the Spinners still there in the basement at the time.

An experience was reading - with Jim`s group - at Manchester university, which was barricaded due to that French student inspired student revolution thing at that time. We had to go up to the hall through a passage of the chairs which were piled bocking the stairs. We were on with an Irish trio. Another night happened when only about ten of us turned up to find those big tall white T.V. wagons outside and discover that Jim had arranged (I think it was Granada) for us to be televised. A few shots were taken of an honestly awful night...and (thankfully) it was never screened. Another time we did a reading at Stone and jim jarred the car against the centre barrier of the motorway seriously frightening all
of us. On arrival I was first up to read in a converted barn, and when I caught sight of my face reflected in a
glass door opposite I was (as we say in Liverpool) `The colour of boiled shite`.

Another experience was reading at Chauffers, which was opposite the present Blackburn house... The sight of the `Ladies of the night (coming in for a drink in between their regular `patrols` behind the Anglican Cathederal) and random groups of itinerant young back-pack drop-
outs dossing down for the night in sleeping bags on the floor, was a sight to remember.

Circumstances drew me away but it was good - years later - to find the poetry scene flourishing once again.

Comment is about 'Poetry suddenly could be fun ... it was all very Liverpool' (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Not sure my orchards have given up wanting to bear fruit yet, but they're close!
Nice poem Stefan,
Best wishes,
Steve

Comment is about Wearer of shit tinted glasses (blog)

Thanks for looking in Rose and Natalie,
Steve

Comment is about The Thoughts Inside My Head (blog)

Original item by Steve Higgins

@preeti @lynn thanks so much!!! @cynthia you're right on all fronts , hard

Comment is about What if this is all real? (blog)

Original item by Corr Lens

Good poem.

Comment is about Is this what borders do? (blog)

Original item by Tommy Carroll

thanks and the same to you chuck.xx

Comment is about Wearer of shit tinted glasses (blog)

I thought it explained it's self, that the bow disengaged it's self and disappeared down the sewer, obviously not.
It was just a true event that happened 24 years ago one day when I took my granddaughter out for a walk.

Comment is about A Bow (blog)

Original item by Hazel Connelly

Tenderness - and hesitancy - with fine rhyming. What's not to like! Plus 'I hunger as your beauty grows unfathomably deep' is a line to set the gifted above the humdrum. I weep - well - not really - but the thought is there.

Comment is about UP FOM LONDON. (blog)

Love the style of the samples on your profile - any chance of posting more? I appreciate your 'observant' attention to detail and careful choice of vocabulary. There is a certain economy of words that indicates a deliberation of thought and a striving for the end product to be as good as it can be. Thank you for sharing.

Comment is about Susan Darlington (poet profile)

Original item by Susan Darlington