Hi Harry Thanks for encouraging comments about 'Manganese'.

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Harry I see you're still troubling over one of my older efforts "Sis".

Having read through it one thing that comes back to me upon further reading is that it suggests my father was a violent man (nothing could be further from the truth).

Things changed that night, for my sister, parents and myself. It took the eventual death of both my parents before my sister and I could come to terms with each others feelings.

I'm humbled that you still read it and comment.

best regards,

Graham

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aye up Harry
I'll add these comments to the blog 'Rich Pictures' too - as it may prompt more discussion.
As you say - it's a tough one to describe images that the reader can't see, which is why I love the opportunity on WOL to include an image with the words - not always necessary - but it can help understanding.
This piece is part of a collaboration between the photographer (Richard Nixon) and 3 poets - myself, Laura Taylor and John Togher. We are using (Mainly) black and white source photographs that strike a chord with each os us individually. In the main we are being either descriptive or relaying how the image makes us feel.
This poem was my attempt to capture what the whole experience meant to me - and the thing that strikes me about Richard's pictures are the way he manipulates light with organic and inorganic subject matter - and his use of 'soft' shapes and 'hard' lines and angles. Because of this there will be some conflict in my own use of language, because it encompasses the whole, rather than any one image (Hope that makes sense).
For anyone interested, type the words 'Richpix' in the tag search field and all the pieces we have done so far should magically appear. That may give a better idea as to why summarising the whole project this way throws up conflicting imagery in the words (I hope).
Thanks for the kind comments - I appreciate it as always
Ian

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Harry I'm always grateful for your time in commenting. Have a merry and peaceful Christmas yourself and I look forward to "speaking" again in the New Year!

Graham

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Got it in one Harry- hidden something has been found you rascal ;-) Tommy

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Harry no need to laff, more read and ponder what you write, more's the like. Tommy

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thanks so much for your kind comments on 'Herod' Harry - sorry it's taken a while for me to respond - I've been in Austria on holiday - just got back.
Ian

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Hi Harry thank you for your comment on Blessed are we I had no idea what a quadrain was until ten mins ago and I admit it would have been a far better presentation and I have taken your advice on board. have a nice day.

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Re "The trouble with Derek" Harry we, the Labour Party were more than just " a wake up call to the Labour party to get it`s house
into some sort of winnable state,they were of some
use at the time..." Like 5,000 houses, nurseries and sport centers and much more. I will be happy to give you the details. Tommy

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thanks for commenting on '...the monkeys paw' Harry - hope you are keeping well and the resting up worked.
I rather liked this eerie little piece myself, but as Cynthia noted it would appear only the two of you did. I'm finding myself on Write Out Loud less and less these days - hopefully will get he time to spend a bit more time here = the plus side is I'm gigging a lot - so - hey ho :-)
Keep well mate
Ian

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thanks Harry; your comment is spot on and appropriate . I agree with you here, as the father has just been mentioned prior to that line! I'll edit it.

regards Ray.

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Harry - I note your comment on the Greg Freeman post about the guy in fawn jacket and straw hat - and your
lament for an old "disappearing" England.
Fortunately, all is not yet lost and the sight of Nigel
Farage singing the National Anthem in strong voice at the
close of the Ukip conference in Doncaster is just one sign
of the refusal of the "old " England to go quietly. Indeed,
there is always the action/reaction effect and the changes
being imposed by political decisions show signs of rewakening old forces of feeling that have usually lain
dormant in the homegrown heart.

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Harry
thanks for the comment on 'Black Spire' and sorry it's taken me so long to respond. Too busy with the gigs than writing at the moment - so haven't been showing my face on here anywhere near as much as I used to. Once I clear a few gigs off the list I'm hoping to get back to writing, which has all but dried up, and then I should be back posting again.
Those old cathedrals really are something _ I hosted a workshop in the Wakefield one (the picture) and that's where the idea came from - I love the unclean building being looked up to and revered by the worshippers.
Hope you're keeping well - all the best
Ian

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Hi Harry, thanks for your comment on Open the Borders, yes it is a turn up with us and the Germans, it now seems that some sense is prevailing, for various reasons! thanks Jeff

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Hi Harry, thanks for reading and commenting on What if, I really appreciate it x

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Cheers H

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Hi Harry,

Thanks for your comments on "...And Along Came Jeremy"

Ledger

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Hello Harry, thank you very much for reading and commenting on Perfect.
This has been hiding in the notebook for some years and I finally (in desperation) finished it off and put it out there.
I'm really not au-fait with the poetry technical terms but appreciate your kind comments as always.

My very best regards,

Graham

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Hi Harry,

Thank you for all your supportive comments on my work.

I gave a lot of thought to your comment on 'Wrapped In Paper'. I have edited the line that you mentioned.

I have substituted 'deafened' for 'haunted'

The line now reads

'If the words had come to life
You would have beeen haunted by their screams'

Any better?

Helen :)

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Thank you Harry, hope it "got to you" in a positive way! Katy

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Hi Harry Glad you liked my 'Funerals'. I've had versions of that poem knocking around for thirty years and it's been published in in magazines and a book. Still, it's always bugged me and, although it's not exactly a magnum opus, I took a scalpel to it and hope that I've now sorted it out!

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Hi Harry, thanks for taking the time to read and comment on 'End of Innocence', I appreciate it.

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Hi Harry,

Thanks again for your comments on 'Belief'.

Perhaps some of the poems that I have blogged are a tad personal for the full meaning to be clear. Problem is I become quite attached to them :)
As for wishing me luck with performing - thank you! I love the forms and I feel comfortable writing them. Challenging but rewarding.

Helen :)

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Yes, and the monstrous appartment blocks that Stalin built also have a bit of Disney about hem too.

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Haha Harry, your comment made me laugh. Just don't get started on a Rondeau Redouble. A form I am yet to attempt successfully! That requires more perseverance than I seem to possess :)

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Thanks for the comment on 'Mist in the Menai'. Glad it brought back some good youthful memories for you. It is indeed a wonderful place.

I didn`t do it in quatrain stanzas as after I read it back, (having walked and witnessed this from Newborough Warren across to the mountains), the speed of the mist just captured a staccato type rhythm and was always the focal point... majestic and free. It didn't look right but it was just how it was.
Thanks again Harry. Much appreciated.

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a 'skit' Harry - surely you realise this is no mere skit ;-) this is an ancient and forgotten language. There was much more but I cut it significantly - and I keep being tempted to go back and right further chapters. Oh My Crow - what have I done?????
Thanks for your kind comments again - always a pleasure for me to know I've piqued your interest
Ian

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Harry, you're right, the Wiki entry on Aldo Mori is fascinating - the fact that he was trying to broker a power-sharing deal with the Communists, which neither the Americans nor the Russians were keen on. Amazing what you can stumble upon down a back street. Greg

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Hi Harry

Thanks for your comment. I forgot to explain that the soldiers original distress from being badly wounded, was cruelly compounded with three hours of Victor Sylvester and his strict tempo dance recordings. And I might add the sweaty bodies jumping about to them on a candle-waxed dance floor, in times of great shortage, deodorants
being one, didn't help.

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Thanks for commenting on 'The Family' Harry, much appreciated. :)

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Thank you Harry, I appreciate your opinion a lot -I really enjoyed your poems too!Hope to see you in June!
Steve Smith

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Harry,
many thanks for your generous words about 'In the Wrong Place'. I'm glad you liked it and more importantly I'm glad it made you think.

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thanks for the comments on 'National Wealth Service?' Harry - I think you are right - but that doesn't stop the idealist in me wishing that you are wrong - cheers
Ian

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" 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.

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

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

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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

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Hi Harry Thanks for the interesting comments on my poem 'Nothing'.

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Thank you so much for taking the time to read 'Passion and Determination.' I really appreciate your comment and I'm so glad you liked it.

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Glad you liked 'Menage A Trois' Harry - thanks for commenting again - much appreciated
Ian

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Hey Harry, many thanks regarding your comment on "I'm Dead Inside". To answer the proposition raised in your comment the beauty of the whole process is ironic. Some can the beauty in the self decay and how complex the whole idea is. For me the beauty is born from the retrospective love and relationships that are born from the idea of self loathe; and how those rally around the individual to help deal with the problem. Hope this sheds some light! x

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thanks for the kind comments on 'wide is the gate...' Harry - nice that you picked up on that 'damned' landscape - because the soul at the centre of the piece is equally damned - with work! cheers again
Ian

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Hi Harry
Glad you enjoyed the 'marathon'. The one thing I hope I can say about it is that it is politically even-handed. They're all a bunch of ********

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Thanks for commenting on 'TheFamily' Harry. :)
Best wishes, Dave

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Hello Harry. Thank you for your points on Tartan Beret.
As you know I'm not a good changer once done but I always appreciate your point of view. It makes me look at the work a different way.
With me the picture comes complete and leaving anything out would be like an incomplete jigsaw, so there it is.
Thank you for taking the time to put pen to paper though. I really do take your views seriously.

regards,

Graham

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Hi Harry Thanks for comment on my starlings. David

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Thanks for commenting on 'Mama' Harry - sorry I'm slow in responding. I know what you mean about the order of the stanzas, but I was trying to conceal the big reveal that it's about actual children rather than dolls. Not sure if that worked - but that was the plan. Performed it in Wigan at the Old Courts last week - a suitably spooky environment and it seemed to go down well - so looks like it may have legs as a performance piece. Cheers

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Hi Harry

Funereal thoughts not yet surely, you've too much to offer. Cheers and thanks. KED.

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On Neutiquam erro

Had to look it up

Yes Mathew 18 indeed

maybe a spiritual truth

Thanks Harry

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Thanks for commenting on 'Last Hope Of Redemption' Harry. As the saying goes, if we don't change what we do, we can't expect the results to change either. So it's up to Joe Public to tell the government we need more than token changes that just waste billions without any effective action...

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