Thanks Lynn, I appreciate your support my friend. :) Best wishes, Dave

Comment is about Last Hope Of Redemption (blog)

Original item by Dave Dunn

Oh Brutal, brutal night
get behind me
with your cruel tortuous
contemplations
exploding lamentations
and the endless
tick tock tick
of the son of lucifer
the all intrusive clock

Comment is about sleep (blog)

Original item by Martin Elder

Oh Brutal, brutal night
get behind me
with your cruel tortuous
contemplations
exploding lamentations
and the endless
tick tock tick
of the son of lucifer
the all intrusive clock

Comment is about Nigel Astell (poet profile)

Original item by Nigel Astell

Countdown

Vision of dreams
put on hold.

Without switch off
minus total shutdown.

Counting the hours
Moonlight now Sunlight.

Comment is about sleep (blog)

Original item by Martin Elder

This made me laugh :))

I can outdo you on grossness with raisins though... I once nearly ate my daughters belly button... not many people can say that, can they? She was a newborn baby and it had dried up and dropped off and looked exactly like a raisin. When I told her the story years later, it knocked her off eating them for years!

Comment is about I quite like raisins, except for the one that got stuck up my nose! (blog)

Original item by Pauliegreg

Thanks for your comment on my last poem Paul - I'm touched that you found it thought provoking. And I'm also sorry that you are relocating to Torquay! You'll have to come back and visit us in Wigan whenever you can - and next time, I'd love to hear you perform some of your poems too!

Take care and I hope the move goes well. xx

Comment is about Pauliegreg (poet profile)

Original item by Pauliegreg

Glad we could give you guys a laugh.Cheers Martin and Rose-mucho!xx

Comment is about Incomprehensible conversation with bush mush (blog)

Simply beautiful.

Comment is about Does The Light Cry? (blog)

Original item by Noetic-fret!

Thanks Pixie, love your name by the way.

Comment is about MODERN WOMAN (blog)

Original item by Jacqueline Phillips

Short but sweet. Thanks for sharing Wendy.

Comment is about YOUR PAST (blog)

Original item by Wendy Higson

Thank you Jackie Phillips. I was hoping to depict someone who is a problem drinker and how hard it is for them not to drink. I'm glad it's strong as I feel the subject matter is too.

Comment is about Breathing Liquor (blog)

Original item by Emma-Jane Stradling

Love it! Makes the feminist within my smile!

Comment is about MODERN WOMAN (blog)

Original item by Jacqueline Phillips

Hi Frances, thank you for your comments. It was very good, and the review went down well locally so I have had press tickets to other events on the strength; reviews to follow. The laureate thing is gossip I heard and a comment in a Guardina article from some time ago, but I actually would not be surprised if he were to accept, if offered.
Andrew, I cannot believe you don't know the 'leaves on the line' reference. Being a bit disingenuous perhaps?
I was delighted to look at your website. More power to your elbow. Was the Oldham printer the one based at the back of premises on Union Street? If so, it is a fascinating place but he was too busy to take on a project of mine too.

Comment is about Simon Armitage in Washington DC, 2015 (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Hi Emma - I have to agree with Greg, this is definitely a strong poem.

Comment is about Breathing Liquor (blog)

Original item by Emma-Jane Stradling

Thanks Greg. Yes there is a typo. Will now attempt to edit.... Emma

Comment is about Breathing Liquor (blog)

Original item by Emma-Jane Stradling

This is a very strong poem, Emma, the first three lines particularly effective. There's great tension here. I admire the economy of it. Just one thing ... is there a typo on the last line? Should "with" in fact be "will"? Good to see you back on the site. Greg

Comment is about Breathing Liquor (blog)

Original item by Emma-Jane Stradling

Thanks Autumn! This poem was inspired by Robert Frost. I just got his complete works. I know we should stick true to ourselves, and I regret having lowered my standards of poetry at the start of the year. Some may have liked the change, but I repent, and am going back to my roots and will read much more than I write.

Comment is about The Junk Shop (blog)

Original item by wrestledwithjimmy

Just come on to post a poem and I see a picture of you! Maybe I'll come along to one of these events soon!

Comment is about Eddie Chauncy (photo)

HAHAHA! excellent humour Stef.Could not stop laughing at this.Started my day off nicely.x

Comment is about Incomprehensible conversation with bush mush (blog)

Hi David-yep,great poem-BUT! personally,I would have finished with the tenth line.But then,as the old adage goes-what do I know?-haha!

Cheers!x

Comment is about YOU STOP TIME (blog)

Original item by David R Mellor

A lovely piece Pixie.I am an old married lady now but your poem sent me back in time to when I was single and suffered from those all to strong feelings of love and lust with all the worry of not knowing if they were echoed.

Comment is about Consume Me (blog)

Original item by Pixie

There was one time when I didn't notice the hidden beauties of the city streets, recently after meeting a very inspirational person, I began to notice my surroundings very differently.

Comment is about Flower In The City (blog)

Original item by Brandon Hu

Lovely poem Brandon. When I lived in a city I was always looking for flowers and trees because I missed the countryside so much :)

Comment is about Flower In The City (blog)

Original item by Brandon Hu

So beautiful. Wonderfully imagery the whole way through.

Comment is about Saint Valentine's Day Mascara (blog)

Original item by Ian Whiteley

Welcome to the site Pixie, I can see much strength is drawn from the experiences you register in your sample piece. use that strength throughout your writing and you will achieve much. best wishes, Dave

Comment is about Pixie (poet profile)

Original item by Pixie

Hello MC, thanks for commenting on 'Don't You Dare'.

I responded there in detail and won't duplicate it here as it is a bit long. Best wishes, Dave

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

Original item by M.C. Newberry

Hello MC,

Yes the ISis crowd twist things by means of a known distortion of a text - how easy it is to do these things - Hitler was an expert in distortion and his ability to fool rather too many for rather too long was a very costly example of what happens when such people are left without sufficient challenge. The Nazi party simply wiped out many of the legitimate voices that tried and the governments of other countries were far too timid.

We cannot afford to let ISis use the same crushing techniques - it may be hard to reverse, but we see that Egypt's Grand Imman has called for the historical misreading of the Quran to be discredited. The plans for a joint Arab force to tackle terrorists is gaining support and that may have a part to play, but the fundamental need is for a squashing of the corrupted version of the text and the clarification of the true wording and meaning.

As with many languages, there is often a small difference between a positive and a negative aspect in a text, particularly when taken out of context.

The known changes in our own language contain notable anomalies such as 'It is the exception the proves the rule'. More logically that would have read as 'It is the exception that disproves the rule'. Without a true scholar making the distinctions between current and past meanings, many texts we read from historical documents can very easily be misused, even without deliberate intent.

This is of course why Latin is often used as a way to clarify meanings - 'Exceptio probat regulam in casibus non exceptis', or 'exception confirms the rule in the cases not excepted'. Dead languages don't change, so can be used as a benchmark.

In everyday use, English changes through the slang terms used and through examples such as 'Bad' being used to say something is really good, etc. Sorry MJ, but I still prefer 'Good' and might produce an alternative Album sleeve... ;)

It is certainly hard to arrive at definitive interpretations that all will agree on - such is the mind sets of many who simply want conflict to persist in order to enable their own power base to rise.

I have no religious beliefs myself, but it is a great deal easier to respect any teachings that have a solid moral core along the lines of 'Goodwill to all men' and I see that is one of the statements most religions have offered to their followers, albeit the wording may vary a little.

One thing is surely clear to anyone with an open mind, allowing violence to suppress opposing views is a recipe for destruction of anything worthwhile that mankind has ever achieved.

Comment is about Don't You Dare (blog)

Original item by Dave Dunn

Hello Harry, thanks for commenting. I think the power of the label 'Religion' often undermines the normal questioning of what is really right and wrong. So many are either blindly following those who claim an insight into the intentions of God or Allah and the one tho we can be sure of is an equal and opposite reaction will come in time.

There will never be a solution to the troubles of mankind until the use of brain power overcomes the power of emotive outbursts that too many who know better are afraid to challenge.

One of my poems about war casualties is 'The Unknown Child', which queries how many unborn children died with their mothers during wars. Not a statistic we see being listed for obvious reasons, but they were nevertheless human casualties.

Best wishes, Dave

Comment is about Don't You Dare (blog)

Original item by Dave Dunn

A poem so simple so sweet and heart touching !!!

Comment is about YOU STOP TIME (blog)

Original item by David R Mellor

Hi Martin - thanks for the comment on the prologue to Ghost story II.

The plan certainly is to read it out next month with the second prologue piece which I am still working on.

See you then.

Hope you are good

Andy

Comment is about Martin Elder (poet profile)

Original item by Martin Elder

I like it Andy are you going to read it in March.

Comment is about Ghost story II - Prologue (blog)

Original item by Andy N

Nice one Stef. I love the way this starts
'he machine guns his speech through a facial cluster' and carry's on at a good pace

Comment is about Incomprehensible conversation with bush mush (blog)

Hi Pixie
Welcome to WOL. I really like your sample poem which has so much gut wrenching emotion.

Comment is about Pixie (poet profile)

Original item by Pixie

Hi Pixie
This is a lovely poem. It almost has the rhythm and pace of a song.

Comment is about Harmony (blog)

Original item by Pixie

haha-yep!....make us-HAVE IT!!!

Comment is about SCUM (blog)

Original item by D. Williams

Lovely :)

Comment is about let it go (blog)

Original item by surakshith kumar

Really like this Jimmy. Has a nice feel of nostalgia about it and the last line gives it that surprise factor.

Comment is about The Junk Shop (blog)

Original item by wrestledwithjimmy

I feel for you writing it down will help wendy

Comment is about Feeling (blog)

Original item by Anonymous

Good one, Dave, and how I agree with every word!

Comment is about Last Hope Of Redemption (blog)

Original item by Dave Dunn

Thanks all very much.No probs Rose re getting back on here to Michael,to who we say-good luck with the fresh start!Autumn,we live in Rossendale which is quite a rural area,and that smell is everywhere hereabouts in the winter.Saves a fortune on central heating bills!Thanks to you Mother Dye.I hope you are able to 'cornbeef' your shapely shins in front of a loggy fire with Benji on your knee? Regards to Colin of course. Cheers again folks.xx

Comment is about True gypsy (blog)

Clever,honest and humorous.xx

Comment is about Erotica (blog)

Original item by Alex Smith

Strewth Michael! your best one yet.Great news on the home front as well eh what? Enjoy,say us oldies.xx

Comment is about ...............As Suns Set (blog)

Original item by Noetic-fret!

extraordinary stuff

Comment is about Moon Month (blog)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

Thankyou for reading my poem kind regards Wendy .

Comment is about Noetic-fret! (poet profile)

Original item by Noetic-fret!

Good point, MC. It hadn't occurred to me that those savings had already had tax paid on them when they had been earned. Nevertheless I am still more relaxed over tax avoidance (as opposed to evasion) simply because someone gets bigger gulps of air than me. I buy into fairness but not envy.

Comment is about TALKIN' DAVE AND GEORGE BLUES (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

You are clever - I liked this v. much.

Comment is about (blog)

Original item by Twilbury Wist

I fear we all have a big pile if shit underneath us, and after all a throne is a throne no matter from what it is made. Having said that I try not to let myself be fooled that my throne is golden. I know the recipe from which it was created and the stench that rises from it can be sickening at times. Great work - thanks for sharing.

Comment is about ...............As Suns Set (blog)

Original item by Noetic-fret!

I read this last night as I was lying in my bed and I really enjoyed it, although possibly not the best choice for a bit of bedtime reading. A clever piece of work.

Comment is about he means well (02/21/2015) (blog)

Original item by Zach Dafoe

Why do our brains do this to us. As soon as your head hits the pillow all the worries of the world start to spin around in your mind. I enjoyed your poem - thanks.

Comment is about 4 a.m. (blog)

Original item by Lynn Dye

I’d been wanting to visit the poetry night 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 Petersfield Write Angle Poetry and Music + OPEN MI on 17 Feb 2015 (event)