You make a great point.
Nicely stated. I told my husband I know I must be getting old. But when did vulgarity become acceptable or funny?
This made for thoughtful reading.
Shirley
Comment is about Kultur Kampf (blog)
Original item by J F Keane
Hi Andy,
Thank you for your kind comments on 'Echo' - very much appreciated.
I haven't written anything in forever - told Isobel I would, so...
xx
Comment is about Andy N (poet profile)
Original item by Andy N
Hi Cate,
Thank you for taking the time to read and comment on 'Echo' - very much appreciated.
xx
Comment is about Cate (poet profile)
Original item by Cate
I can't resist designer frames
they're great for pullin' guys or dames
but there's a cure for my addiction
for now they're made to my prescription.
They're not that 'cool' you might agree
But I don't care now I can see!!
No longer following the masses
Now that I wear my unique glasses.
Love the song XX
Comment is about Ray-Bans (blog)
Original item by John Coopey
<Deleted User> (6895)
Mon 1st Jul 2013 21:17
assuming we instigated your involvement in this comp,we(Mr Wilde in particular)should have mentioned to you there might be the question of commision.And not neccessarily in the form of dosh,if you win.
He will be praying like crazy,that you do!
but he is more than sure,in considering his'fee'-you will be praying for a much,much lower placing-lol!
Great poem Katy.xx
Comment is about Untuned Radio (52 hertz) (blog)
Original item by Katy Megan
<Deleted User> (6895)
Mon 1st Jul 2013 20:53
is there a DVD to accompany this poem Dave?
or would it be too explicit for the faint hearted?
Like wot we are....not!
Yep,you have scored again Mr D!.xx
Comment is about Deep & Divine (blog)
Original item by Dave Dunn
<Deleted User> (6895)
Mon 1st Jul 2013 20:44
ohhhh! get you,O literary lovie!
a'gudden'Steve.xx
Comment is about Pen To Paper (blog)
Original item by Steve Higgins
Dave,
I love this kind of philosophical-ity in a poem, It gives us all a much-needed knock off our complacent certainty.
Comment is about Arriving (blog)
Original item by Dave Bradley
Well swapped, Sound choices.
Comment is about Poetry swap: Write Out Loud and The London Magazine (article)
Original item by Greg Freeman
Hello Starfish. :) Thanks for your comments on 'Never More To Shine'. - glad you enjoyed it. Best wishes, Dave
Comment is about Starfish (poet profile)
Original item by Starfish
Thank you Starfish. :) Glad you enjoyed it. Best wishes, Dave
Comment is about Never More To Shine (blog)
Original item by Dave Dunn
I believe Alan Morrison is arguing here for a kind of protest poetry in which the message is unambiguous, and in which the worksmanship of the poem – the way it is constructed – does not interfere in the understanding of it. Of course, there is no obligation on individual poets to write protest poetry, or even if they do, to write in this prescribed way. But I believe that if you choose protest as your subject matter, it is a good idea – unless you live under a regime where your message has to be shrouded in metaphor and subterfuge – to make your poem as easy to understand as possible, without detracting from the enjoyment of it as a poem in its own right, so that it may reach more people. Despite the apparent rise of protest poetry, which some might regard as just another publishing opportunity, the number of issues reported in the newspapers each day that are likely to make the blood boil do not appear to be reflected in poetic output. We lack a poetic Dickens, someone able to construct great, lasting art out of anger and compassion. There’s a job for someone there.
Comment is about 'This is a time for poets to speak up for the powerless' (article)
Original item by Greg Freeman
Lovely place, Cheltenham.
Comment is about Vive la difference: Tennyson's heirs and Thatcher's children (article)
Original item by Greg Freeman
I also question the power of art to change anything. The punk rock of the mid-70s was, at the time, a powerful creative movement (albeit far more middle-class than is often said). However, in 1979 Thatcher introduced a new form of populist consumerism and in a few years punk was forgotten or marginalized. Art is a beautiful thing, for sure; but let's not kid ourselves that global power-elites are going to be swayed by a few poems or paintings. Art is like philosophy: it leaves everything as it is (i.e. a pile of shit).
Comment is about 'This is a time for poets to speak up for the powerless' (article)
Original item by Greg Freeman
*Caudwell argued that the more “successful” artists of capitalist societies – ie the best adapted – are stylistically incapable of dissent, even when in their interests. This might, then, explain the apparent paralysis of response among the upper poetry echelons to the government’s melting down of our social democracy.*
A more mundane explanation is that those at the top of the social pyramid have no real incentive to challenge/change anything, in that true change would diminish their various privileges. This is why the left-liberalism of metropolitan elites has only widened socio-economic divides - think how the closure of Grammar Schools (a left-liberal policy) has ossified educational inequality and effectively halted social mobility in the UK.
Comment is about 'This is a time for poets to speak up for the powerless' (article)
Original item by Greg Freeman
Hi Francine, I like the way you have managed to get a feeling of disconnection in this work. A good interpretation of the subject matter.
Cate xx
Comment is about Echo (blog)
Original item by Francine
And I`ve "not arrived at a conclusion" about this poem either Dave but I find it strangely compulsive!
Cate xx
Comment is about Arriving (blog)
Original item by Dave Bradley
Hi John, I agree completely with Isobel. This is so simple but so effective. I always loved your dialect poems, but its good to see you are writing in a range of styles. I love this!
Cate xx
Comment is about 52 Hertz (blog)
Original item by John Coopey
And I love your voice too Francine - am so glad to have you back - WOL wouldn't be WOL without you!
I love this. Love the title and the ideas and the disconnected structure you have used - it really goes well with what you are expressing.
I also like the paradoxes - the appreciation of self within all of the loneliness.
You
are alone
feel the void
expand with every breath
And yet you go on
loving your own voice
Beautiful x
Comment is about Echo (blog)
Original item by Francine
Congratulations John - you've had a lot of success with that poem. x
Comment is about Poetry swap: Write Out Loud and The London Magazine (article)
Original item by Greg Freeman
Wow, Dave D Poet Rhumour, just read it and I love this!
Best Wishes, Starfish
Comment is about Never More To Shine (blog)
Original item by Dave Dunn
Thanks Isobel - I'm not much of a competition participant usually - I tend to find lines flow better when I'm not trying to fit in with topics and rules and stuff, I suppose it is a sort of poets block, hehe.
Best wishes, Dave
Comment is about Never More To Shine (blog)
Original item by Dave Dunn
We wait with baited breath...!
Comment is about Stockport WoL (group profile)
Original item by Stockport WoL
Hi Isobel
Thanks for your comments!
Have re-done the tags and added 52 hertz to the poem titles as well
Hope that's ok!
Kate
Comment is about Isobel (poet profile)
Original item by Isobel
You could never let me down Alex. And what do we have here? A poem written from a man's perspective!
Yes - I imagine there are billions of tortured souls out there - some with masculine hands and some with floppy ones - but all tortured by the same regrets. It must be a bugger to fall in love and then lose that feeling.
For me, the saddest thing is the person who will never know how it feels in the first place, for any number of reasons they may have no control over, and the puzzling and wondering and loneliness that might result from that.
I do love the 52 hertz theme - there are just so many angles to it.
Thanks for taking part Alex x
Comment is about 52 HERTZ (blog)
The Great Gatsby's only my very favourite book ever, especially that wonderful last page! Best wishes, Steve
Comment is about Isobel (poet profile)
Original item by Isobel
Tried to do an audio version of Richard Burton Larisa: Its nothing great -I blame the microphone! Best wishes, Steve
Comment is about Larisa Rzhepishevska (poet profile)
Original item by Larisa Rzhepishevska
Hi Solar, not really into car boots, but at least you wouldn't have to take anything off to try this thing on, lol. Can't think who would want it though! Thanks for nice comment. xx
Thank you for your kind comment, Yvonne. You have it so right, try the item first! xx
Comment is about Not like in the brochure (blog)
Original item by Lynn Dye
JC - indeed, the fates smiled kindly on the location of your unwanted mechanical failure. Thinking of the alternatives is enough to make a soul give thanks. Ages ago, I was the owner of another sports car when, on a winter slip-road to a motorway, I found myself and car suddenly sliding out of control across invisible black ice towards the embankment that dropped a good many feet to surrounding fields. As I was hanging on for grim death,the ice ran out, the wheels gained traction and I was spared the drop and the likely vehicular somersaults that would have probably sent me to an early demise. I too gave thanks on considering the possible outcome that evening!
Comment is about John Coopey (poet profile)
Original item by John Coopey
What an original concept/structure for a poem.
If I'm right in my interpretation, then I love the ending - you finding your voice, albeit in a lonely world, is a better outcome than just being a victim.
I enjoyed this. Am not sure that you've put the 52 Hertz on it though - it's not coming up when I do a search on the tag.
Comment is about Of Katy and Narcissus (52 hertz) (blog)
Original item by Katy Megan
Awww - that's a touching one Steve. I think very many of us have near misses from the past that we always wonder about. The danger of FB is that it becomes so much easier to get in touch with them - and they can't possibly be as we remember them, all those years later. LOL - I know cos I've done the same myself!
This reminds me of the Great Gatsby - all that silent longing - perfect for the comp!
Comment is about Listen To My Call (blog)
Original item by Steve Higgins
I love this one John - for many reasons.
I like the way that the rhyme seems incidental, aids flow but does not distract from the feel.
'The pulse of the thing was enormous' - I thought for a moment there might be a funny sting in the tail - but you managed to restrain your naughty sense of humour all the way through!
I like it because it so sums up infatuation - falling love with the idea of someone rather than the reality - which reminds me of rather a good song by John Togher's band :)
Thanks for taking part in our little comp - I feel things are heating up :)
x
Comment is about 52 Hertz (blog)
Original item by John Coopey
Yay - we have lift off!
I like the use of waves to communicate the aching feeling of loss - also the fuzz of communication - and the possibility that someone else's thoughts could be a part of all that.
It's an interesting thought - may be we aren't as alone as we think we are, when we're feeling lost.
Comment is about Untuned Radio (52 hertz) (blog)
Original item by Katy Megan
Really glad you appreciated the humour, MC! :-)
I'd suggest the options when you bring down a corrupt president in a deeply divided body politic are - possibly - less proscribed than when you let the world in on your nation's secret intelligence gathering. Also, to draw a direct parallel between two different events in different times may not be the best route to judging what those options are/were. But I suspect we could go round and round on this.... :-)
all the best
Steve
Comment is about Mum's the word (blog)
Original item by steve pottinger
Hi Isobel
I have tagged two poems "Untuned Radio" (posted today) and "Of Katy and Narcissus" with 52 Hertz. Hopefully I've done it right!
Link is pretty tenuous but I thought I would give it a shot with a couple from my collection : )
Best Wishes
Katy
Comment is about Isobel (poet profile)
Original item by Isobel
Thanks very much for the comments.
The poem is dedicated to anyone who gets a word stolen by this beast.
But especially those who try to perform poetry from memory!
Comment is about The Word Gremlin (blog)
Original item by David Lindsay
Hi Marksy, Stratagems wasn't the right word. Its close but It'll do for now. All the best, Steve
Comment is about Marksy (poet profile)
Original item by Marksy
I am putting together a poem to promote the Heatons Art Trail called Clues of Curiosity - -
thats all I can tell you at this stage!
Comment is about Stockport WoL (group profile)
Original item by Stockport WoL
An immediate memory-jogger for all those of a certain age who populated the windy open football terraces of yesteryear when the ref. was always blind/shortsighted and various players lampooned for their lack of ability or personal characteristics. Among the latter, the wise man was the one who turned to conduct the chants with a grin and often got a cheer for his sportsmanship.
RIP Lenny!
Comment is about The Poet Prauletariate (blog)
Original item by John Coopey
Steve - I do appreciate the good humoured even-handed response to my slightly mischievous follow-up observations. But if the Washington Post and two diligent reporters could bring down a president and his administration without fleeing the country...something I'm old enough to recall as it happened...the word "options" comes to mind.
P.S. Loved your little "opt-out" at the end of your
reply!! Wit should never go unappreciated.
Comment is about Mum's the word (blog)
Original item by steve pottinger
Oh, ta very much :) Wrote that one for a competition. Got nowhere :D Thanks anyway
Comment is about Richard Alfred (poet profile)
Original item by Richard Alfred
Only the second person, after Ian Dury, I've seen to use the word stratagems. To be encouraged!
Comment is about My Notebook (blog)
Original item by Steve Higgins
Thanks for stopping by and reading 'richard Burton ' -best wishes, Steve
Comment is about Yvonne Brunton (poet profile)
Original item by Yvonne Brunton
Catchy, jh. But not one of lenny's, I'm afraid.
Steve - chants have died. They will be succeeded by the polite applause heard at gymkhanas interspersed with the occasional "well ridden, poppy".
Comment is about The Poet Prauletariate (blog)
Original item by John Coopey
<Deleted User> (9882)
Tue 2nd Jul 2013 09:11
Bejairzus,and begorrah Johnno!
not like you to overlook the obvious!
-this one,by the well known Scottish lyricist,
Jumpin'Jock McFlash..(he's a gas!gas!gas!)
Radon (sung by Muddy Golly-aka-Dirty Golosher)
_______________________________________________
Radon,Radon felled me,
felled me,and I know I will be
leaving here very soon,for the ce..me..t'ree.
(and/or)
Radon,I've got that dizzy,scarey feeling,
that Radons gonna blow off my ceiling
and I know I will be cartwheeling
up and out to sea!
______________________
and so on and so forth-or fifth.
seeya,Coopeychops!x
Comment is about Ray-Bans (blog)
Original item by John Coopey