in an effort to be smart - I think you've screwed your rhyme pattern on the last line - how very avant-garde

Comment is about MEA CULPA (blog)

Original item by M.C. Newberry

Thanks for the input, guys. Wondered where you
were!

Comment is about AUGUST 2007 (blog)

Original item by M.C. Newberry

Eh up - same author ;)I've got both :)

Fairy muff re the rhythm, chuck

Comment is about Ian Whiteley (poet profile)

Original item by Ian Whiteley

Hi Larisa, thanks for the comment on my profile. I am attempting to de-cypher its mysteries. T

Comment is about Larisa Rzhepishevska (poet profile)

Original item by Larisa Rzhepishevska

keep me informed how you with Poetica, Cynthia. I will try to come along if i can if you get something sorted out.

Comment is about Cynthia Buell Thomas (poet profile)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

This night's over guys. Know this from talking to Jackie ages back.

Review is about Hiya Luv on 14 Aug 2013 (event)

I'm waiting for the "Baling Out" lament!! Hang on tight John for another bumpy ride.

Comment is about WriteOutLoud Women Blues (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

Laura
thanks for the comments on 'totem' - much appreciated as always.
haven't read the book you mention - but the must read book regarding first nations/native Americans is Bury My Hear At Wounded Knee' which is the native American perspective of the 'wild west' - fascinating and moving read.
The list of tribal names is there for rhythmic purposes + 'if we cannot name them we cannot remember them' so I liked it to push start the rhythm into the last section
cheers
Ian

Comment is about Laura Taylor (poet profile)

Original item by Laura Taylor

thanks for your constructive and informative comments on 'totem' Cynthia.
I have been travelling to Canada for the last 10 years - usually 2 or 3 times a year. Unfortunately I have had to miss it this year as I was made redundant last August and am trying to find my financial footing again. I am already missing Vancouver :-( my favourite place in the world and somewhere where I would love to live.
I am very interested in First Nations art and mythology - this wasn't meant to be a 'breast beating' ode to guilt or a romantic view of the first nation people - it was just the feelings I had when visiting sites and looking at their own art and crafts.
I have an anti-colonialism stance anyway - so am disgusted and averse to the way that Britain colonised the old and new worlds and destroyed what was there - yes, they gave a lot to these continents - but was it needed? I guess I would never have got to see the wonderful Canadian countryside and forests if they had not done so - so the poem makes me happy and sad in equal measures.
Thanks for taking he time to comment
Ian

Comment is about Cynthia Buell Thomas (poet profile)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

Yep - he was in the first and second series, according to Wiki.

Comment is about Cheap Box-Set (blog)

Mmm like this a lot. Love these lines

'a thin white girl with a sycophant
grin, loosening her hair to any wind.'

'here is your superiority, as inspiring
as a closing lid.'

And 'urination of thought' - fantastic idea.

I think I understand what you are getting at, and will give an example...

When I was reading The Master and Margarita years ago, in the middle of doing my 'Literature, Life and Thought' degree (which focussed on how writers either write with or against current ideology), I came across blank pages. I thought, 'ooo, I wonder if that's symbolic of a character being disappeared by the Stalinist regime', and was all excited by it. Turns out it was a mis-print. :D

I think what you're saying is that there is a certain snooty attitude, a certain 'this is the only way to think, in our academic way, about art', that you must have a knowledge of 'their' choosing in order to appreciate art.

I could of course be pulling all this out of my bum :D

Whatever, I enjoyed this piece :)

Comment is about A Symphony in White (blog)

Original item by Marianne Daniels

If you've not read it, you should read The American West, by Dee Brown. Fantastic book.

I found the grouping of tribal names a little too much, and maybe not absolutely necessary, but understand why you've done it.

Comment is about totem (blog)

Original item by Ian Whiteley

Ohhh, this is about Game of Thrones then?! I did wonder. Don't watch/play it/whatever. Only know that one of my heroes is in it - Wilko.

Hi Ray, btw ;)

Comment is about Cheap Box-Set (blog)

Tommy - one of the best comments I've ever read on here, almost a poem in itself :D

Oh dear, did MCN get his facts wrong again Dave? Quelle surprise.

I agree, it does have an element of implied racism. Stepping carefully would be advised.

Comment is about AUGUST 2007 (blog)

Original item by M.C. Newberry

You are more than welcome and thank you too for your comment re my boy :-)

Comment is about John Coopey (poet profile)

Original item by John Coopey

Hi Tommy,

Just seen your comment on my untitled poem ( about fucking ) Pardon my french ha ha Sometimes it's as much about releasing pent up agression and stress as it about emotion and 'relationships'. Not always 'making love' to use a corny phrase :-)

Comment is about Tommy Carroll (poet profile)

Original item by Tommy Carroll

The long trek back to our flat meant we didn't get in until 2.15 that night, David. I'm looking on Edinburgh as a walking holiday as much as a culture fest.

Comment is about After midnight: when the Tongue Fu band start playing (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Hey Newberry- take the ingredients of an an issue- sprinkle in misinformation, set it to boil on the hob of reaction- add a good dollop of sentimental bigotry, leave it to cool on a cracked window-sill, let the flies inspect it and 'voila' another broken 'thought-pie' to hurl at the whorled wary world. (like my alliteration at the end?)

Comment is about AUGUST 2007 (blog)

Original item by M.C. Newberry

I know - nearly every poem was exceptional.

Comment is about Stockport WoL (group profile)

Original item by Stockport WoL

Your words are rich and I find the structure dense- a condition I have - I kept thinking 'blank lines between those that are written...' I kept thinking 'Godard'. Tommy

Comment is about Paris Falls (blog)

Original item by Marianne Daniels

thanks for reading Ann. I try everyday to minimalise what I say but then think sometimes you just have to say what you say! x

Comment is about Rock pool (blog)

Original item by Marianne Daniels

I've never been able to play, MC, Robert Johnson's "Kind Hearted Woman" or Elmore James "Dust My Broom" (only parts of each of them). So I amalgamated them into this.

Comment is about WriteOutLoud Women Blues (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

Voilà - un autre Français !
sounds good - well done for a full house

When I introduce my audio in a few weeks
you will hear a little more of this Frenchman

all the best
Michel François

Comment is about stephen smith (poet profile)

Original item by stephen smith

Ive run out of 'computer time', Marianne. I'll start here and catch up with your most recent ones, hopefully tomorrow. I haven't been on line much lately.

Comment is about A Symphony in White (blog)

Original item by Marianne Daniels

This whole theme is very relate-able and catches the interest immediately, whether a specific common experience or not. Poetically, I did like your chosen vocabulary, and the use of repetition for emphasis.

Would you consider, for sound fluidity, a very clear image and a strong point:

the wasps would enter entranced
seduced
by the sweetness within
the sugary sweetness
of jam

Also:

then trapped
trapped in sensual pleasure

I think this enhances the 'buzzing sound' of your chosen words which I find very effective.

Comment is about August jam jars (blog)

Original item by Dave Bradley

absolutely loving this rgm - as an avid follower of all things GOT you've summarised, plagiarised, humourised (made that one up)and idolised in such an amusing and interesting way that I nearly fell off my throne laughing - very good indeed :-)
Ian

Comment is about Cheap Box-Set (blog)

Perhaps it didn't need 'softening'. In some sympathetic circles 'savaging' is an apt word. You are connecting here to a Canadian born reader whose basic understanding of the relentless annihilation of 'first peoples' in the 'Americas' runs deep with 'European' regret. So much of the 'noble Red Man' has been generally romanticised, in broad sweeps, as this poem tends to do also, but with irresistible charm and great poetical skill.

Perhaps I wonder at such a wide sweep as you have depicted here. I'm not sure that the the commonalities were that marked. The 'tribes' lived separately over vast areas of what is now the North, South and Central Americas. The Inuit are mostly Arctic peoples, but they may well filter into the conifer belt too. For the record, Original Peoples worked hard at destroying each other too, but admittedly, not with 'firewater' which is still an absolute scourge from coast to coast on both continents.

Comment is about totem (blog)

Original item by Ian Whiteley

Cher Michel,Merci pour votre commentaire -je n'ai lis qu'un morceau de votre poesie en francai mais je vois un talent! "Comfort" a eu du bon succes,mais louer un teatre est assez difficile parce que on doit reserver l'espace six mois en avant.Nous avons eu deux" maisons pleines" et n'avons pas perdu de l'argent -au contraire avons gagne/ un peu.

Comment is about Michel Francois (poet profile)

Original item by Michel Francois

Nighttime Owl
staring eyes
daylight appears
moon bird
removes itself
so does
the ghost.

Comment is about Owl Ghost (blog)

Original item by Katy Megan

Ten out of ten for - -
all poems read at the
Stockport Write Out Loud event.

Comment is about Stockport WoL (group profile)

Original item by Stockport WoL

You will have no problem Ian with performance poetry
as you proved on Monday night.

Comment is about Ian O'Brien (poet profile)

Original item by Ian O'Brien

Ann, so glad you are active here again. I have really missed your input, your fine poems and your comments.

Comment is about Ann Foxglove (poet profile)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

Section two also has a lot of soul.

Comment is about August Collage Poem - Age (blog)

Original item by Stockport WoL

Excellent, Karen. And a very English feel to it too.
I always feel sorry for the Scots though. On holiday they strip off to reveal that Daz blue-whiteness, go crimson, peel and return to white again.

Comment is about grumpy summer (blog)

Original item by Karen Robinson

Ian,
I like that:

`The devil knows me gut and spine`

And the self-knowledge and the sense that `the line` is somehow ultimately overpowering you.

(however the `wit and `platitude` don`t really sit well with the `cryptic,crass and crude,)

Good.

Comment is about The Wedding Feast (blog)

Original item by Ian Gant

Harry
added the following to you post on my blog 'totem' - wasn't sure you would revisit:

thanks Harry - and very good point - I've amended it from 'screaming' to 'calling' which softens it a bit
thanks for the feedback - much appreciated
Ian

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

Original item by Harry O`N eill

thanks Harry - and very good point - I've amended it from 'screaming' to 'calling' which softens it a bit
thanks for the feedback - much appreciated
Ian

Comment is about totem (blog)

Original item by Ian Whiteley

Ian,
Very much like that:

`silver river slithers
through the granite`

But feel that that:

`screaming to the old gods`

`savages` the previously peaceful picture of
the past a bit too much.

Comment is about totem (blog)

Original item by Ian Whiteley

Sections three, five and six are good uns

(particularly section three!)

Comment is about August Collage Poem - Age (blog)

Original item by Stockport WoL

thanks Harry
I got the box set bought for me at Christmas, but I haven't had time to start watching it yet - too busy writing daft poems :-) looks like my sort of thing though - thanks for the explanation
Ian

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

Original item by Harry O`N eill

Ian,
Like the silly old fart I am I always imagine everone is addicted to the same tele shows as me, sorry.

(They are three characters from the Big Bang Theory)

Comment is about Ian Whiteley (poet profile)

Original item by Ian Whiteley

Hi Ann, nice to hear from you again. many thanks for your very kind comments on radio... agree with your observation on 'sloshing'will try and think of a better word!

Comment is about Ann Foxglove (poet profile)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

cynthia, thanks for your very kind comments on 'radio'

Comment is about Cynthia Buell Thomas (poet profile)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

thanks all!

Comment is about The Radio (blog)

Original item by Tom Harding

When I was twenty-one a wise and very Christian man placed a piece of the true cross in my hands. It had been the property of the Roman Emperor Constantine and said to have been with him on his deathbed. It failed to move me in the way this good man hoped it would and my feelings about the whole episode have remained confused for these many years. Nevertheless I have never been able to break with the line nor for that matter enabled to walk it.

Comment is about The Wedding Feast (blog)

Original item by Ian Gant

This, I like! Even Pam Ayres would have been
pushed to maintain the consistent very British
resignation at weather that seems determined
to keep us all guessing...let alone hot and
bothered.
More please, Ms.R.

Comment is about grumpy summer (blog)

Original item by Karen Robinson

This is the best reason I can think of for staying with WOL!! "Leadbelly" Coopey does the business - which evokes (for me) of a musical mix of WOL poet, the word- rich Harry O'Neill, and naughty old Catallus - brought bang up to date. And I can't go much higher than that.
Eye-wateringly good!

Comment is about WriteOutLoud Women Blues (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

You must have a lot of fun using your wit to such chuckle-worthy effect. Keep 'em coming!

Comment is about Beatitude (blog)

Original item by Gareth Glyn Roberts

Bonjour Stephen
I have seen your work 'Death of a Leader'
- enlightening with passion and well-crafted
How did you get on with 'Comfort'
my best, Michel François.

Comment is about stephen smith (poet profile)

Original item by stephen smith

Oh heck.
Starfish

Comment is about WriteOutLoud Women Blues (blog)

Original item by John Coopey