sweet

Comment is about It takes (blog)

Original item by giovannie

your comments say it all Rose.And thanks,re your last line.(P)xx

Comment is about Every days dying menu (blog)

there but for the grace.

One cannot begin to imagine what terrible suffering these poor people have to go through.

Very simple,but powerful piece of writing Mrs.W!x

Comment is about Every days dying menu (blog)

Many thanks for your observations, Harry.
It is a little while since I myself was "Standing proud and standing tall". My own observations of the last 2 lines are based on hearsay and, regretfully, not on personal research.

Comment is about INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S WEEK (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

I’d been wanting to visit the poetry night at Petersfield Write Angle for quite some time. I’d been intrigued as well as informed by the detailed reviews sent in to Write Out Loud on a regular basis by its organiser for eight years, Leah Cohen, and their mentions of semi-legendary figures – at least to me - such as Audi Maserati and Rachel Pantechnicon, names that I somehow associated with the A3 trunk road that rushes past this historic Hampshire market town. Rachel, an irregular guest poet at Write Angle, wasn’t there on the night I visited – I understand she’s a fairly elusive figure these days – but I got to hear Audi, and a host of other entertaining open micers, plus guest performance poet Lucy English, pictured, from Bristol but with links to and memories of this neck of the woods, too.

One of the wonders and pleasures for me of poetry open mic nights is that each has its own identity. But first impressions can be misleading. I thought at first that Petersfield Write Angle was a kind of old-fashioned literary society, and regarded affable compere Jake Claret’s reference to the steepness of the stairs to the room above The Square Brewery pub and the possibility of installing a stairlift as an ironic reference to the mobility of some audience members. As possibly it was. But you only have to look at their snazzy website and extensive roster of big-name guest poets to know that there’s a lot more to Write Angle than that. By the end I left full of enthusiasm for a night packed with interesting and unexpected contributions, and charmed by the warmth and generosity of the audience, too.

The range of open mic contributions included former soldier Duncan Filer’s despatch from Helmand; Richard Hawtrey’s elegant reworking of an Icelandic poem found on a flyleaf in a Petersifled bookshop; Michael Usuwana’s rap poem praising women with generous figures; Barry Smith’s reflections on prostate cancer patients awaiting radiotherapy; and a report back from the frontline of abusive relationships by Imogen Thomas (“This is the first time I’ve done this in public.”)

Then came my Audi Maserati moment. He did not disappoint, turning out to be a laid-back, hippy figure retaining a decent amount of wild hair, and a nice line in songs that he played on a superior kind of ukulele. There was also Speech Painter, with a poem of epic length and historic sweep about the modern-day issue of cartoons and cartoonists; Bruce Parry on the hammer dulcimer, which he said had helped his writing, such as his poem about ‘Mr and Mrs Insular’; John Smith’s monologues about comedy and poetry; Chris Sangster’s poignant poem with a happy ending called ‘The Widower’, sandwiched by two songs; and G Rhymes (“It’s not his real name, but he likes to be called Grimy”) with a poem called ‘The Oral Tradition’, about a poetry appreciation class.

Lucy English is a novelist and poet who has performed worldwide, and now teaches performance poetry at Bath Spa University. She was once described as a “hippy chick love mother sex goddess”, although she tends to play that down these days, pointing out that she is now a grandmother. But she did recall being known as one of "‘those disgusting hippies", and being banned from local pubs, when she lived near Petersfield in the early 1980s.

Her poems at Petersfield were warm, wise, amusing and touching, and delivered in a confiding, easy-on-the-ear voice. Her set included ‘The Company of Poets’, which concludes with these lines: “They know everything’s been said before / but they’re going to say it again. / In case you didn’t hear it the first time.”

‘The Ghost in Clapham’ is about thinking she saw her long-dead father “buying squashy plums opposite the underground”, and contains sensible and resonant reflections on his life, and his daughter’s as well. The longer, three-part ‘My Mother and my Sister’ was even more moving. For an encore, there was a change of pace, with ‘Let Me Be’, of which it is fair to say that it’s definitely about sex.

Host Jake and founder/organiser Leah also read poems towards the end of the evening, and are a fine team. Leah had suffered a fracture which meant it would be difficult for her to file her customary review this month. So she was grateful that I was there to fill the gap. I know this won’t be up to her knowledgeable standard and word-length, but here’s my effort, anyway. The atmosphere and fun at Petersfield was just another reminder – as if I needed reminding – of how much I love this job. And I won the raffle!

Greg Freeman

Review is about WRITE ANGLE POETRY & MUSIC +OPEN MIC on 17 Feb 2015 (event)

Very true Dave

Comment is about THE FAMILY - an Acrostic poem (blog)

Original item by Dave Dunn

john,
I am surprised at the comparative lack of response to your worthy attempt to revive such a classically approved and applauded poetic form as the anacreontic.

I am sure - in today`s relaxed attitude to describing bodily parts- that your choice of phrase to describe the female essential gender was fully appreciated by the sisterhood as the universal gateway through which all of us tiny little males and females enter into the world.(even those even tinier males and females who do not quite make it as far as personhood)

I am sure that your `Standing proud and standing tall` will eventually be appreciated by all of them John.

Comment is about INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S WEEK (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

Really nice work Ian. Last four lines perfect.

Comment is about Dexteram Patris (blog)

Original item by Ian Whiteley

A very moving and poignant poem, Ian.

Comment is about Dexteram Patris (blog)

Original item by Ian Whiteley

This is so beautiful I wrote this panic poem about fear and death aswell

God Kitty

He’s coming, death
He was lurking around and he is here
They call for a savior
And pretend that he has arrrived
But this is true why am I afraid to go outside
What If I go outside and there is a cat
And you walk up to the cat
Because cats are nice and cuddly like pillows
But out of nowhere the cat turns into a monster
And says “I’m god you’re going to die”
And you are like "fuck you god, Im scared because of you”

Comment is about My fear precedes me (blog)

Original item by Tommy Carroll

Hiya Pixie
thanks so much for commenting on 'st. valentine's day mascara' very kind of you - I appreciate it. Welcome to WOL hope you enjoy the ride
Ian

Comment is about Pixie (poet profile)

Original item by Pixie

short but certainly not sweet.

lot said in a few lines.

excellent stuff.

Comment is about In The End (blog)

Original item by .L.m.P.

interesting... enjoyed this for its shortness.. particularly like roads in my eyes.

Comment is about stranger (blog)

Original item by giovannie

Did enjoy this Marie-Anne but you may want to break this up into Stanzas, as it is beauitfully wrote, it caused me to lose my breath halfway through it owning to the richness of the language. It is excellent however.

Comment is about The liberation (blog)

Original item by Marie-Anne

Blimey, David, were you? I will be quizzing you about it ...

Comment is about Last Word festival looks back at legendary 1960s poetry 'incarnation' at Albert Hall (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

I was there. Anyone else?

Comment is about Last Word festival looks back at legendary 1960s poetry 'incarnation' at Albert Hall (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

I really like your writing Marie-Anne. They touch a real chord of truth with me x

Comment is about RSVP (blog)

Original item by Marie-Anne

two definite too old for partying,hence non-party goers-(nevertheless)thought this was a great read.xx

Comment is about Ray Charles 0553 (02/28/2015) (blog)

Original item by Zach Dafoe

Quite, Wendy.

Comment is about INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S WEEK (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

We all should stand together and stop all abuse especially grooming young children for sex

Comment is about INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S WEEK (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

Hi Andy, thanks for taking the time to read and comment on The Gift, very flattered that you liked it :)

Comment is about Andy N (poet profile)

Original item by Andy N

sure. I'm not very good at recital -- part of the reason why I'm here in the first place-- but I can give it a shot.

pick one.

Comment is about Jacqueline Phillips (poet profile)

Original item by Jacqueline Phillips

Zach - thank you so much for the lovely comment on my profile page. It is great to know that those ttiny snippets of feedback on your poems have had such a good effect and are appreciated. Particularly by someone who's poems I admire and 3njoy so much. I would love to hear a reading of one of your poems - any chance of you uploading a recording?

Comment is about Zach Dafoe (poet profile)

Original item by Zach Dafoe

Oooooh, you are sinical. And there was me thinking love is forever. Your poem gives two fingers to my always and forever love. A nice sideways on kind of poem.

Comment is about In The End (blog)

Original item by .L.m.P.

Thanks girls.And yes they can Rose.xx

Comment is about Street Mother (blog)

This poem Noris is as lovely as it is to see you back on again.Beautiful beautiful piece! Do keep writing! Best wishes to you.

Patricia and Stefan.xx

Comment is about Shadow... (blog)

Original item by Noris Roberts

C-L-E-V-E-R-!

Comment is about A-L-O-N-E (blog)

Original item by UInk

Thank you for continuing to read me.
Embarrassingly enough I get excited when my inbox reads that you've been over something new I've put up. :)

Comment is about Jacqueline Phillips (poet profile)

Original item by Jacqueline Phillips

U r wellcome Martin for the "Moment..." post (l keep forgetting its title) :)ta

Comment is about Martin Elder (poet profile)

Original item by Martin Elder

Now let me see.How much for the use of one of my words? its on the house Rose!Yes,catch you termorrer (chat p'raps?)xx

Comment is about What goes around (blog)

To nick one of your words Stef-Stonking!catch you both later.x

Comment is about What goes around (blog)

Hi Harry Thanks for comment on my starlings. David

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

Original item by Harry O`N eill

Like they say, Natalie,
`whatever turns you on` (and I`m not talking about sex) keep tapping.

Comment is about Musings (blog)

Indeed MC. To invest there I must hAve lost my Marbles

Comment is about ....that ever I'll get back. (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

Poetry in purest form.x

Comment is about The Moon I've Felt (02/27/2015) (blog)

Original item by Zach Dafoe

I know you were sorry to have missed this reading, Frances. I've since discovered that Elaine Feinstein was interviewed the next day on Woman's Hour, and have added the link above. I will be amazed if 'Portraits' does not end up on the next TS Eliot Prize shortlist. Greg

Comment is about Reflections of a tireless poet: Elaine Feinstein on Sylvia Plath, TS Eliot, and brave Russian writers (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Amazing lady, amazing life. Thanks Greg. This is a fascinating article.

Comment is about Reflections of a tireless poet: Elaine Feinstein on Sylvia Plath, TS Eliot, and brave Russian writers (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Sleeping with the Devil

The nightmare returns
sleepwalker I become.

Still evil beckons
me to die.

Falling into hell
intense fire below.

Then waking up
Sun and God.

They both rejoice
the battle won.

Comment is about Martin Elder (poet profile)

Original item by Martin Elder

Cheers Andy, I appreciate the feedback. Perhaps bittersweet x 3 is one too many.

Comment is about I Remember (blog)

Original item by Jacqueline Phillips

This Event Has Been Cancelled.

Review is about Saucy and Sweet - Comedy Poetry and Song Cabaret on 28 Mar 2015 (event)

Merlynda The Fairytale Performance Poet performing one of her Epic Fairytales-In-Verse dressed in her fairyteller costume!

Comment is about merlynda fotos - jan 2013 052.JPG (photo)

Original item by MERLYNDA ROBINSON - MERLYNDA JELLY-JAWS!

particularly like the 1st stanza but the full piece is awash with ideas.. good stuff x

Comment is about The Land of Mars Bars is Melting... (blog)

Original item by Alex Ortega

clever stuff natalie. like the way the lines merge into one. good stream of consious stuff defo xx

Comment is about Musings (blog)

the repeating here works really well and gives it a beat and doesn't jar (which does happen with this kind of trick sometimes).

good stuff

Comment is about Missing a Friend (blog)

Original item by Marie-Anne

three bittersweets in the piece jars a little for me jackie, but the opening of the piece is simply wow... really enjoyed this thou x

Comment is about I Remember (blog)

Original item by Jacqueline Phillips

"Greece" my palm with silver...I guarantee no
chance of any return!
"No man is an island..." wrote Donne, but why
not sell a few down Aegean way to make a few
euros for the empty coffers?

Comment is about ....that ever I'll get back. (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

Thank you Mamta. I've just altered it slightly, to make it scan a bit better.

Comment is about WALK LIKE A MAN. (blog)

Jackie, Thanks for the comment on 'Pringles Bladder', glad you liked it, to be honest I prefer to write (and perform) 'less cerebral' narrative poetry as would rather make people smile than make them think.

I should have written 'Do Not Try This At Home' on the bottom ;o)

Comment is about Jacqueline Phillips (poet profile)

Original item by Jacqueline Phillips

Thanks for the comment Jackie, glad you liked it, to be honest I prefer to write (and perform) 'less cerebral' narrative poetry as making people smile is better than making them think.

I should have written 'Do Not Try This At Home' on the bottom ;o)

Comment is about Pringles' Bladder (blog)

Original item by Chris Briggs

Thank you so much Lea, I wasn't sure if the repetition worked when I wrote it, I'm so glad it does.

Comment is about I Remember (blog)

Original item by Jacqueline Phillips