Nick, I'm surprised no one has commented on this poem. It is quite haunting, brief and strong. Maybe it was the 'a kisses' and ' 'cos ', and people just stopped reading. Small things like that will do it. Fact is, 'a' is just a typo, and 'cos' you could have left out completely and won a better line - more compelling. Be sure to proof read after posting. But we all still make errors.

Comment is about The Other Side of the Wall (blog)

Original item by Nick Coleman

This is delightful, and a point so true.

Maybe a bit of word-weeding would be great, but the whole effect is super. I think I was 'satisfied' at the conclusion of the first stanza plus the 'bugaloo' line and the final stanza. Mind you, then I would not have had: 'I used to pray/On dance floors all over north Alabama' - which is superb. Perhaps I will share with you my poem about the power of dancing. You're a kindred soul.

Comment is about I USED TO DANCE (blog)

Original item by J. Otis Powell‽ (with interrobang)

Hi Shirl

Improbable your transparent,it's more likely cross eyedidness brought on by molecular degeneration or alcohol promoted illusion. the most frightening, scary, diagnosis, in your case is, O.M.G. there's nothing wrong with you at all.And your couplet doesn't rhyme either.

only joking Ken

Comment is about Two Line Scary Story (blog)

Original item by Shirley Smothers

Hi Izzy

I never went away. just been dormant. jealously reading uploads on W.O.L from some very clever contributors xx

Comment is about Isobel (poet profile)

Original item by Isobel

Looking forward to this, David.

Comment is about Patience Agbabi at Long Poem magazine reading (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

With more than one marriage, they could always
be singing...
"Aisle be seeing you - in all the old familiar places...
That this step of mine retraces - but not with you!"
:-)
P.S. Pity the Dad in your picture isn't wearing a
bow tie.

Comment is about Today's Wedding (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

cheers Ian for the info on 'Sporting Life'wow! but hey! what a fantastic film and what fantastic acting by Messrs Roberts and Harris!read the bio on Rachel Roberts,but stand by with the kleenex-tragic!take care matey and keep those great poems rolling off the production line(pretty please!)xx

Comment is about Ian Whiteley (poet profile)

Original item by Ian Whiteley

'listen to my music in tiny little pieces'

very moving words,
and sums up albeit only part of the daily struggle
your son has to endure.

Please relay our thanks to him wholeheartedly
for these three poems that do a great job of showing how very brave people like him are.

Lots of love to him from us.

Patricia and Stefan.xx

Comment is about Comfort in patterns (blog)

Original item by Ian Beckett

'Under the influence of a memory'

enjoyable poem David.xx

Comment is about The Climb (blog)

Original item by David Blake

I'd say that genocide and persecution live on because of inherent weaknesses within man - that and certain kinds of cultures where absolutism is tolerated. I'm not sure that man will ever totally learn from the past. All it takes is for demand to outstrip supply and one day I think we all might be back there - with a different victim maybe.

I've just read a fictional book about witches in Medieval times, which was based on true life facts. The thought occurs to me that evil behaviour doesn't jut disappear. That capacity to look for scape goats, to vent anger through barbaric cruelty - it can't just evaporate -it just gets repressed.

This IS a powerful poem. Long may we remember just how low we can be rendered.

Comment is about Forever Let This Place Here Be (blog)

Original item by Simon Austin

this 'topic' makes our!!!!blood boil!! lets just kill EVERYTHING(like we are doing with each other) and see where that gets us.

Imagine,a world without wildlife? forget it!

Thanks Steve.xx

Comment is about Badgers! (blog)

Original item by Steve Higgins

Good poem with very strong sentiments with which I wholeheartedly agree. I've just visited Berlin and found the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe very compelling. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memorial_to_the_Murdered_Jews_of_Europe

The German authorities have to be given credit for putting such a very large memorial right in the middle of their city, which makes it impossible to forget the past. While governments are prepared to be that courageous, perhaps there is hope.

Comment is about Forever Let This Place Here Be (blog)

Original item by Simon Austin

Nice one, John. Interesting that she took his name. That used to be automatic, but not now. If it does happen, the wife may mention making life easier for the kids rather than tradition or finding it romantic. Some ethic communities have never done it. Will it survive as a practice?

Comment is about Today's Wedding (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

Norman will be compering at the Ring O Bells Middleton open mic.Sunday next 27th October as usual.

Pass it on.

Review is about Write Out Loud - Middleton on 27 Oct 2013 (event)

Time to worry is when the bloom of youth wears off and the only attention received is the offer of a seat
(Without panache)

Very funny.

Ked.

Comment is about Touch and Go (blog)

Original item by Isobel

Enjoyed this very much,
especially the loving bits between the rows.

Ken

Comment is about Today's Wedding (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

Thank you John, and yes, very true.

I feel the biggest mistake that any society can make is to forget the past, to forget just how far evil can go if left to its own device. I visited Auschwitz a few years ago, and whilst the place was exceptionally sombre and upsetting, it is somewhere that everyone must visit, to try to understand the horrors that happened there, so that they may never happened again.

Unfortunately the past is often all too quickly forgotten, which is why peresecution and geneocide lives on.

Comment is about Forever Let This Place Here Be (blog)

Original item by Simon Austin

Errrr - you've got me there John! I was trying to keep it to ten syllables but going over to 11 here and there - some of them may have had feminine stresses but I wasn't too hard on myself cos I just wanted to bash this one out. I'm busy writing panto at the moment - oh yes I am!

Thanks for dropping in. Yes - I can imagine you've had your chorizo out in public before now :)

Comment is about Touch and Go (blog)

Original item by Isobel

Chorizo, Isobel? That lets me off the hook.
Nice rhythm to the poem - dactylic or anapaestic or something like that (3/4 time).

Comment is about Touch and Go (blog)

Original item by Isobel

Very powerful, Simon.
Someone said that all it takes for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.
How very close we came to that recently - and indeed may still yet.

Comment is about Forever Let This Place Here Be (blog)

Original item by Simon Austin

JC - - you encouraged me to find your poem...ta
ever so for the chuckle.
For my part, I am intrigued by the sheer number of SCOTS managing English clubs.
"Sir Alex Ferguson - yet ANOTHER Scot
In England. but in Scotland - NOT!
:-)
Up the Gunners!

Comment is about 'Made from grit and granite': Tony Walsh's stirring poetic tribute to Sir Alex Ferguson (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

A lovely review Greg - by yourself and Judy, who it was a pleasure to meet.

I do think the quality of the readings was quite remarkable, especially given the fact that some had only recently taken up the challenge to write poetry.

How rewarding it must be for Julian to see all that happen and know that he was the impetus.

Comment is about Write Out Loud's poetry jam: an eye-opener for a reviewer (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Thank you Frances, for this introduction, I will track down a volume of his collected poems, I heard The Coming the other day, I thought "crossed boughs" a little clumsy but the poem was luminous, wise. In full below.
Dom.

The Coming, RS Thomas

And God held in his hand
A small globe. Look, he said.
The son looked. Far off,
As through water, he saw
A scorched land of fierce
Colour. The light burned
There; crusted buildings
Cast their shadows: a bright
Serpent, a river
Uncoiled itself, radiant
With slime.

On a bare
Hill a bare tree saddened
The Sky. Many people
Held out their thin arms
To it, as though waiting
For a vanished April
To return to its crossed
Boughs. The son watched
Them. Let me go there, he said.

Comment is about Poems to Elsi: RS Thomas, Seren (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Love it. It puts me in mind of the undertow that's the drag of modern life. On the surface all is well, neatly packaged, swell. But beneath there is the damage, to us all, it's just that some pull the quick release.

Comment is about Cuckoo (blog)

Original item by John Darwin

Well said - I too have used it, eg. when nearly being killed by a manic motorist, or having been extreeeemely annoyed. Its use doesn't offend me, unless by children. Overuse of ANY word lessens its impact.

Comment is about Wtf? (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

awww nice albeit sad poem Steve.What gets me,although I am all too ready to sympathise with the farmers I still cant understand why (A)inoculations are available and their use not taken up more. And (B)Surely to erdicate this problem once and for all,they need to kill ALL the badgers in this country otherwise the disease would come back again and again..?

all the best matey.x

Comment is about Badgers! (blog)

Original item by Steve Higgins

what's the latest with this, guys. I know Gemma is sadly no longer involved with this. Has somebody else took over? if not, shouldn't the events be cancelled off at least for the moment?

Review is about Write Out Loud - Middleton on 27 Oct 2013 (event)

Cynthia hi, I had forgotten your post re'Blackened berries' from yesterday. The edit was minimal, but more was envisaged-but the un-used edits where forgotten. I have an increasing problem with memory- I hope this is due only to medication. I know this will sound pretentious- I was intrigued by the individuals Rumi and Shams both Persian poets ('amongst' other things)referenced in work by Philip Glass in 'Monsters of Grace'. I'm now getting 'off' subject. Thanks for your interest.
Tommy ps the track in reference is: 'Like this'
pps the line that sparked it all off-''When Shams comes back from Tabriz,
he'll put his head around the edge
of the door to surprise us.
Like this.''
ppps I'll now attempt to address the missing edits.

Comment is about Cynthia Buell Thomas (poet profile)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

This is worth another read (of HRMLW), but then again Michelle, I warrant that you would say that etc. Tommy

Comment is about Michelle Madsen (poet profile)

Original item by Michelle Madsen

I searched all the way back to 2009 to find the first post. You've done a lot! I'm glad you have reposted: it must be a personal favorite.

Comment is about Blackened berries (blog)

Original item by Tommy Carroll

How did it go on Monday? Were there m/any responses to the prompt?

Comment is about Stockport WOL Prompt 9/9/13 (blog)

Original item by Stockport WoL

Thanks for the good wishes, everyone!

Comment is about Linda Cosgriff's South Africa poem in human rights anthology (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

HI Is ta for the comment re 'Blackened berries'. :)

Comment is about Isobel (poet profile)

Original item by Isobel

cheers CBT for you comment re 'Blackened berries' :)

Comment is about Cynthia Buell Thomas (poet profile)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

HI my five-fingered-friend- happy shake hands to you re 'Blackened Berries.:)

Comment is about Starfish (poet profile)

Original item by Starfish

Hi Jane- ta for your comment re 'Liverpool Tate'. I think you hit it on the head- nail that is. :)

Comment is about jane wilcock (poet profile)

Original item by jane wilcock

Ged- If your in Kensington/Old Swan-i'll buy you a pint for your to-the-point critique on 'Blackened Berries' Tommy:)

Comment is about Ged Thompson (poet profile)

Original item by Ged Thompson

Hi Laura- I think middle-eastern- and get carried away myself (re Blackened Berries)I appreciate the emotional effort you have invested here. :)

Comment is about Laura Taylor (poet profile)

Original item by Laura Taylor

Hi Ian, a big thanks for comments on'Blackened berries'. :)

Comment is about Ian Whiteley (poet profile)

Original item by Ian Whiteley

Thank you for this comment, Charles, and best wishes with your own stirring work.

Comment is about Anne Maney (poet profile)

Original item by Anne Maney

John - re: Full Contact - my face and body would tell you that you are absolutely correct :-)

Comment is about John Coopey (poet profile)

Original item by John Coopey

John - my face and body would tell you that you are absolutely correct :-)
Pat & Stef - This Sporting Life was filmed at the rugby league club I support - Wakefield Trinity - quite a few of the players 'starred' in it along with him out of harry potter :-) it's great to see the old ground in the film - we're still there and I don't think it's had a lick of paint since :-) the picture accompanying this poem is of the memorable 'watersplash final' at Wembley in 1968 - just after the film was made - unfortunately we lost due to a missed kick right in front of the posts (always shown on grandstand - grrrrr) that's when Wakefield were a side to be reckoned with :-)

Comment is about Full Contact (blog)

Original item by Ian Whiteley

Unlike football, there's nowhere to hide on a rugby pitch, is there, Ian?

Comment is about Full Contact (blog)

Original item by Ian Whiteley

great stuff.Ian,you have seen a film
called 'This sporting Life?
if not,do get to see it.Top notch!xx

Comment is about Full Contact (blog)

Original item by Ian Whiteley

The hand in the bucket of water, I'm afraid, Ian. To be remembered for a generation is perhaps all we can hope for.

Comment is about OPUS (blog)

Original item by Ian Gant

flecked with sadness and giving off great imagery.

P&S.xx

Comment is about Between The Hats (blog)

Original item by Paul Sands

I wonder if he'd like mine?
Written after they lost the Champions League Cup Final to Barcelona.
http://www.writeoutloud.net/public/blogentry.php?blogentryid=21041

Comment is about 'Made from grit and granite': Tony Walsh's stirring poetic tribute to Sir Alex Ferguson (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Izzy Old Fruity!
Nice to see you again last Sunday, and with Cate too - the stuff of which dreams are made! (Well, my dreams, anyway).
Thankyou for your thoughts on "Wtf?". I agree entirely about flogging to death words at the extreme of our vocabulary.
I suppose the F word has been replaced by the N word in terms of offensiveness. Perhaps that's because the elephant in the room for our grandparents was sex whereas for us it's race.
What's next for our grandkids?

Comment is about Isobel (poet profile)

Original item by Isobel

Hello MC,
Many thanks for your thoughts on "For These", Said The Father. My own thoughts are that, anthropologically speaking, we haven't come so very far. Indeed the dinosaurs didn't get so far in the millions of years they were around; it's expecting a bit much to think we can move on much in a few thousand.
With regard to "Wtf?", despite the tongue-in-cheek ending I really do think the word is worked to death. Isobel's quite right when she asks if we dilute the usage of words at the extremes of our vocabulary, how to you then express extremes?

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

Original item by M.C. Newberry

Mike - this is simply stunning - such a mighty tale of the loss of war and the futility of it - and how it was ever so. You've set a fantastic pace to this piece and the final 3 lines come as almost a redemptive chant or prayer. Really - Really powerful poem mate - well done :-)

Comment is about Gentlemen of the Cotton Towns (blog)

Original item by Noetic-fret!