You can feel the heartfelt emotion in this... Lovely.

Comment is about Plain Man's Valentine (blog)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Eton boys are born to rule
That is known by any fool;
But here's the rub - sharp like an arrow...
Winston Churchill went to Harrow!

Comment is about The Old School Tie (blog)

Original item by Ian Whiteley

Another intriguing and entertaining use of song
and line from this reliable source!
There are no joys
For David Moyes
While he employs
Fergie's boys!
(Change up into a new gear!)

Comment is about WHERE DO YOU GO TO, MY LOVELIES? (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

Glad you enjoyed Frank's Valentine poem, Isobel. I found myself talking about Write Out Loud after his funeral, and a number of people there urged me to put it up on our site.

Comment is about Isobel (poet profile)

Original item by Isobel

Nice poem Lynn I can see myself painting this just on your words alone.

Mike

Comment is about Second of January (blog)

Original item by Lynn Dye

Glad you enjoyed Surbiton Lagoon, Cynthia. I gathered a lot of material about it from a very chatty Facebook site that had been formed to celebrate its memory. We lived three streets away, and you could hear the noise from it very clearly every summer.

Comment is about Cynthia Buell Thomas (poet profile)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

Mister Herbert, I will come back to this, to give it its just time for real reading. But an initial scan has been quite evocative, even through the symbols of another culture.

Comment is about River (blog)

Original item by fitzroy herbert

thanks for the kind comments regarding Circe's Antidote' Gray - very pleased you liked the twist at the end and that it wrong-footed you out :-) RESULT! thanks once again
Ian

Comment is about Gray Nicholls (poet profile)

Original item by Gray Nicholls

What a beautiful poem and what a wonderful tribute to his wife.

Now that's the kind of love that's worth having - whatever you choose to call it.

Comment is about Plain Man's Valentine (blog)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Another refreshingly even-handed review from GF.
I have a sneaking suspicion of ANY modern
poetry publication that uses the word "best"
(of British)in its title...especially when a
site like WOL indicates that there are other
avenues of publication whose content can compete on that controversial level.
Of course, it is all "subjective" in the end.
A poem that stays in the mind - even to the
extent that it can be remembered and quoted with some degree of enjoyment by anyone - is
worth the effort and the ambition. But the
word "best" is too ephemeral for such a wide
ranging art form and needs to be used very
sparingly, if at all.

Comment is about The Best British Poetry 2013: edited by Ahren Warner, Salt (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Thanks for the comments about "The Menin Gate
- 11/11/2013". The poem has been sent to the
Regimental Adjutant at Wellington Barracks
for consideration for use during 2014.
My father survived WW1 (Western and Italian
Fronts) as a young subaltern with the Duke
of Cornwall's Light Infantry (1st Btn.)
A maternal uncle was killed in action during
the battle for Delville Wood in 1916.
I doubt if there are many British families of
a certain generational ancestry who are not
connected with that terrible conflict.

Comment is about cbyrne (poet profile)

Original item by cbyrne

Very much to the point in their brevity, these
lines remind us of the commitment of those who
carry out their touching ceremony on behalf of
the rest of us.
This year will surely have much to offer on this
centenary of mankind's worst and best behaviour.

Comment is about The Last Post Association (blog)

Original item by cbyrne

Thankyou for your erudition, Philip; albeit misplaced, I fear, on this occasion.
When United didn't (past tense) win the title they considered (past tense) it a crime.
Nevertheless I am, as you no doubt noted, guilty of mis-spelling Abramovic.

Comment is about WHERE DO YOU GO TO, MY LOVELIES? (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

Hi Cythia I hope you're feeling better and you konw what, I think you might have a point with 'ghostly' over 'spectral'. In some ways the former is more 'ordinary' perhaps but then the latter might be slightly more 'mannered'. However, as far as the harmony of sounds is concerned I think you are right. In fact, I never thought of it echoing the click of hooves on concrete, but now that you've mentioned it you are again right and as you say, the other clicks come later. In passing, I hope there is just enough of a hint of 'migration' but without overdoing it in our present climate. Apparently the hordes from the east were actually not that desperate to invade us on 1 January after all.

Comment is about Cynthia Buell Thomas (poet profile)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

A novel way to present eternal mystery. I salute HESHE or SHEHE: it makes no difference - ONE GOD IDEA.

I so enjoyed talking with you at Wigan last autumn. And thanks again for the ale. Happy New Year!

Comment is about Building and hiding (blog)

Original item by Dave Bradley

I have always wondered what a 'metaphysical conceit' might actually be. That flash of original comparison.

I was reading only last week a 'brush-up' of the nine Muses - and here you are, with an extraordinary approach to the very thing. I'm forever forgetting the breadth of the subject matter included - and even now the unusual name of 'their mother' escapes me - although not the mighty Zeus himself.

Very enjoyable. A poet's mind encompasses all things with the clarity of imagination.

Comment is about Muses (blog)

Original item by Marianne Daniels

MC, thanks very much for commenting on Frank's poem. A happy new year to you.

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

Original item by M.C. Newberry

Harry, thanks so much for commenting on Frank's poem. A happy new year to you.

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

Original item by Harry O`N eill

I really enjoyed this poem, Marianne. Quite intriguing and dark with a glimmer of hope in that last stanza.

Comment is about Muses (blog)

Original item by Marianne Daniels

should have sent it to are you being framed

hope to see you next Monday

bye for now

Comment is about Andy N (poet profile)

Original item by Andy N

thank you andy for your kind words... appreciate it :)

Comment is about dream (blog)

Original item by Lory Gaur

Its everywhere lol - I know that it can be rough and it's dying on it's backside but my year wouldn't be the same if I didn't go :-)All the things that some people hate about it I seem to love

Comment is about Blackpool, October (blog)

Original item by Jane Burn

you make blackpool sound awesome

When I went there I got ID'd and some hero tried to jack me for my scant pennies.

The penis tatt is a bonus.

Comment is about Blackpool, October (blog)

Original item by Jane Burn

"all their ghosts"...

a subtle yet powerful poem about a story that hasn't finished and is alive as ever. thanks for sharing!

r.e. ypres. did you ever see the chris moyles episode of "who do you think you are?". well worth a watch: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y9cW5DSpHUo .

Comment is about THE MENIN GATE - 11/11/2013 (blog)

Original item by M.C. Newberry

great poem about an important topic. thanks for sharing.

Comment is about The Badger (blog)

Original item by Starfish

Thanks Kenneth - it really helped me at a tough time to express them

Comment is about Dearly Beloved (blog)

Original item by Jane Burn

I like this. Those four verses speak volumes

Comment is about Dearly Beloved (blog)

Original item by Jane Burn

Very struck by this, Thomas. Thank you.

Comment is about Epiphany (blog)

Original item by Marnanel Thurman

Thank you so much - very kind of you to say so :-)

Comment is about Dearly Beloved (blog)

Original item by Jane Burn

I still think they'll make top 4, don't you?

Comment is about WHERE DO YOU GO TO, MY LOVELIES? (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

Lovely, well done Jane,
best wishes, Steve

Comment is about Dearly Beloved (blog)

Original item by Jane Burn

A fantastic night with a lovely atmosphere, excellent poetry.
The readers were Ken with his comedic poems, Marion Tong with her poem about the smoking gorilla, Nick who gave us a Luftwaffe rear gunner's take on shooting down a Lancaster, and Eileen Earnshaw who had written about a decidedly suspect Snowman.
I picked up that theme with my translation of a Jacques Prévert poem about a bonhomie de beige who rather foolishly sits on the stove.
The hosts were Lorraine Charlesworth and Norman Warwick, better known as HER AND THE POET and the special guest was Catherine Coward who called on Norman to perform with her under the name of DREAM PEDLARY, based on a poem of that title by Thomas Beddoes Fellowes. this turned out to be a mesmerising, theatrical poetry/song blend that deserves a wider audience. Wintry Words is an amalgam of some of Catherine's original works and some of Norman's, blended with Norman performing the song elements to great aplomb, as the local papers used to say.

Review is about Write Out Loud - Middleton on 5 Jan 2014 (event)

I guess I'm getting used to it these days John. As they say - it's a funny old game . . .

Comment is about WHERE DO YOU GO TO, MY LOVELIES? (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

thanks andy for the comment.

ill defs have a look at changing it :)

Comment is about just that little bit harder (blog)

Original item by emmy92

...There again...

Comment is about WHERE DO YOU GO TO, MY LOVELIES? (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

They were! Sitting there wishing I was anywhere else was turned into being very glad I was there :-)

Comment is about Swan Flies Over Roundabout (blog)

Original item by Jane Burn

Thank you so much :-) I am enjoying myself immensely already

Comment is about Jane Burn (poet profile)

Original item by Jane Burn

thanks Nigel. glad you liked this. It was just a bit of fun really although most of it is true in particular the bit about diving cats (one of them missed the windowsill the other night and nearly knocked herself out which would have been worrying if it wasn't so funny - lol).

Comment is about Dave Bradley (poet profile)

Original item by Dave Bradley

thanks Nigel. glad you liked this. It was just a bit of fun really although most of it is true in particular the bit about diving cats (one of them missed the windowsill the other night and nearly knocked herself out which would have been worrying if it wasn't so funny - lol).

Comment is about Nigel Astell (poet profile)

Original item by Nigel Astell

Welcome to WOL Jane.

Comment is about Jane Burn (poet profile)

Original item by Jane Burn

Hello and happy new year Harry!

Thank you as always for reading and commenting on "shoot the puppy".
I did angst over using this as a title but it was one of the main sentiments that kicked it all off.
The subject was left a little open for interpretation, I prefer that. I may qualify that on my own blog site at some stage.

I can see what you mean about the separation idea. But once the bread is on the water etc etc.

keep well and have good fortune for 2014.

Graham

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

Original item by Harry O`N eill

thanks Winston. glad you liked this. It was just a bit of fun really although most of it is true in particular the bit about diving cats (one of them missed the windowsill the other night and nearly knocked herself out which would have been worrying if it wasn't so funny - lol).

Hope you enjoy the book. It's not one of my high brow books, as I wrote it for Cathy really but she loves it and that means the world to me.

Comment is about Winston Plowes (poet profile)

Original item by Winston Plowes

thanks Gray. glad you liked this. It was just a bit of fun really although most of it is true in particular the bit about diving cats (one of them missed the windowsill the other night and nearly knocked herself out which would have been worrying if it wasn't so funny - lol)

Comment is about Gray Nicholls (poet profile)

Original item by Gray Nicholls

thanks guys. glad you all like this. it is a bit of fun although most of it is true in particular the best about diving cats (one of them missed the windowsill the other night and nearly knocked herself out which would have been worrying if it wasn't so funny - lol)

Comment is about Dropped Phone Call (blog)

Original item by Andy N

No apologies needed, Harry. I had a good laugh
at the content - surely the best medicine for
complaint!!
Wasn't Mrs Braddock on the receiving end of WSC's
barb in response to her accusation that he was
drunk? "You, madam, are ugly, but I shall be sober in the morning!" (or near enough!).
You had to be up bright and early to get the better of him in such verbal sparring!

Comment is about CON (blog)

Original item by M.C. Newberry

A momentary interaction between Man's mundane
habits and the ever-present wonders of nature.
I'll bet someone's troubles were forgotten for
the few brief magical seconds vividly recorded here!

Comment is about Swan Flies Over Roundabout (blog)

Original item by Jane Burn

My apologies M.C.
I meant the Jack Braddock thing for the blog section (I must have been reading yours,

(It wasn`t a plug for Labour - honest!)

Comment is about CON (blog)

Original item by M.C. Newberry

Defeat is no problem to a Spurs fan, Anthony. Despair is easy for us; it's the Hope that I can't bear. Credit to you for commenting on my FB blog. You were the only Man U fan who did! No matter - they'll be out in force if you win today!

Comment is about WHERE DO YOU GO TO, MY LOVELIES? (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

What? No poems about yesterday's results John? Tee-hee!

Comment is about WHERE DO YOU GO TO, MY LOVELIES? (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

Hi David THanks for comment on the Clouds poem. I just went where it took me. I was brought up as a Catholic and the idea of heaven. I've now got three MUslim grandchildren. I don't believe in heaven any more so it might just be saying that heaven is what you want it to be, possibly!

Comment is about David Blake (poet profile)

Original item by David Blake