I remember the intelligence of the miners who organised a picket line on a powerstation in N. Wales. It was a nuclear power station. I remember the arrogance of the miners who blockaded the M18 in S Yorkshire dragged the driver out and beat him with metal bars because they assumed he was a scab carrying coal - he had a load of sugar beet and I remember picketing miners who threw blocks through a tipper lorry windscreen nearly killing my husband.They seemed to think it was all right fighting for their livelihoods by trying to kill other people who were entitled to carry on their lawful business. And I remember Maggie selling off council houses and wondering where the people who really needed somewhere to live would go.
There is no all good or all bad. Those who are spending their time with their heads buried in their grievances would do better to read Pete Slater's 'Olden Times' and usefully employ themselves in helping to mend our broken communities in more practical ways.

Comment is about Let us bury the hatchet (blog)

Original item by Tommy Carroll

Thanks for your kind comments on 'class action' Yvonne - you are right about the grammar and I've now changed it - added a post to the original so that it makes sense to anyone coming along later - thanks once again for taking the time to respond
Ian

Comment is about Yvonne Brunton (poet profile)

Original item by Yvonne Brunton

I never warmed to the woman as you know, MC, but I warm to the poem. I also, as you also know, put distance between myself and those who celebrate her death.
I really like the simplicity of this. In particular the penultimate line - a nice mix of the ethereal and the worldly in a picture.

Comment is about St. PAUL'S CATHEDRAL - APRIL 17, 2013 (blog)

Original item by M.C. Newberry

thanks Yvonne - you are, of course, correct - and I've now changed it :-) grammar has always been me downfall - especially my great, great grammar :-)
Ian

Comment is about Class Action (blog)

Original item by Ian Whiteley

Strong words. Strong feelings well expressed. Powerful stuff. love the line:-
'they cook a rancid meal of law,'
wish you'd mentioned the expenses scandal - lining their nests with the sweat of our brows.
On a technical note the line;- 'of who we cannot speak against,' Would scan better as 'whom we cannot speak against' as well as being grammatically correct.

Comment is about Class Action (blog)

Original item by Ian Whiteley

i liked this MC - simple yet effective - obviously i don't agree with the politic - but appreciate the sentiment :-)
ian

Comment is about St. PAUL'S CATHEDRAL - APRIL 17, 2013 (blog)

Original item by M.C. Newberry

That sums it up M.C. those who jeer are too late - anyone celebrating the little old lady's death is celebrating the wrong thing. Those who disagreed with her politics should have celebrated when she left power How many of the young'uns jiggling in glee today actually have an informed opinion of events which happened before they were born?
you have highlighted the reality of the situation a little old lady has died. of what avail the vitriol?

Comment is about St. PAUL'S CATHEDRAL - APRIL 17, 2013 (blog)

Original item by M.C. Newberry

Witty.

Comment is about "Here's My Tits - My Arse's Behind" (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

Thank you dear Yvonne!

Comment is about I Am the Chair A day in the life of comp (blog)

Original item by Larisa Rzhepishevska

Graham
a bit sterteotypical doncha think. people write about what means something to them - you can't change that - in the same way that you have your opinions - presumably from the south if your tone is read correctly - by all means criticise, but you simply aren't going to change people's opinions just because you want to. IT HAPPENED - IT AFFECTED THE NORTH - IT IS UNLIKELY WE WILL FORGET - why would we not reference it in our work?
cheers
Ian

Comment is about Let us bury the hatchet (blog)

Original item by Tommy Carroll

Ah I remember it well (well not the knocker-uppers!)excellent work. Maybe we are heading back to some of those situations - perhaps not the tin bath but shivering in the cold seems likely and it might do industry a lot of good if people who missed Monday at work got no pay - might cure a few hangovers too.
Love the lines:-
Women were bosses then

Regretting the losses

Of the men who didn’t return

XX

Comment is about OLDEN DAYS (blog)

Original item by Pete Slater

I enjoyed this Larissa. Imaginative.

PS if you want to enter it in the competition you need to Tag it:-
A day in the life of comp (no punctuation)
or the filter won't pick it up and readers won't see it.

Comment is about I Am the Chair A day in the life of comp (blog)

Original item by Larisa Rzhepishevska

great stuff. I love the sequencing and the repeated numbers - random but creating a link throughout the poem.
PS if you want to enter it in the competition you need to Tag it:-
A day in the life of comp (no punctuation)
or the filter won't pick it up and readers won't see it.

Comment is about Spent (blog)

Original item by Noetic-fret!

''move on'' hahaha the great couldn't-give-a-shit response to someone else's grievance. Or are you having a laff Gramms?

Comment is about Let us bury the hatchet (blog)

Original item by Tommy Carroll

Well that's it, she's gone. Who are you poor old northerners going to get your teeth into next?

Is there anyone south of the Watford Gap who feels so strongly and has let any politician ruin their lives as much as our friends in the north.

Sooner or later you're going to have to move on for God's sake, or is he a Tory too?

Comment is about Let us bury the hatchet (blog)

Original item by Tommy Carroll

Thank you space ghost. I think the temptation of witchcraft is my favourite of yours! Katy

Comment is about SPACEGHOST (poet profile)

Original item by SPACEGHOST

Thanks for your permission to use your comment.
Two hearts, one mended, one broken? Well you will have to wait to find out whether you are right..... : )

Comment is about Nigel Astell (poet profile)

Original item by Nigel Astell

yes! i really like this
i am waiting inside the rain for you is amazing

Comment is about Irish Sea (blog)

Original item by Katy Megan

Hello Julian. I do appreciate your position on the site but if people only want a favourable reaction to their comments I suggest that they warn us all first. Blinkered and out of touch are hardly attacks and heads up arses, well I've read worse on here. It does appear that the right wing middle classes are at their bullying worst again. Point taken and I promise to sit quietly in a corner until i'm spoken to. But you're right, she's caused enough trouble as it is.

Comment is about Wordsworth's Ode to be read aloud at Thatcher's funeral (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Every day we learn something new! Take care, Tony.

Comment is about 10 things I never knew I knew... (blog)

Cynthia, I want to reiterate what I said last night - listening to your narrative poems was mesmerising and I could have happily continued to do so all night! You really, really must get your poems out there more - both for performance and publication. I was deeply moved and was still thinking about the poems all the way to work this morning :)

Comment is about CBT in Sale on Tuesday (blog)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

thsanks for this prompt! heres mine: Ten things I never knew I knew

I
Piano Heaven
That you can play guitar any way that you like
What a Ranunculus plant looks like
That a lamb would be curious about a camera
That I could brick-lay
Cherries are rich in copper
Peace
God
Happiness

Comment is about Poetry workshop: Ten things you never knew you knew (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Very proud to be part of such a wonderful project. The collection is fantastic.

Comment is about Write Out Loud poets line up with famous names in Heart Shoots charity anthology (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

'no longer do cogs congregate'
a lovely line and a very peaceful poem.xx

Comment is about there was a time (blog)

Cracking piece by Elvis there - and thank you again Julian.

Comment is about The Iron Lady's funeral blues poems (article)

Original item by Julian Jordon

In Love

Two words
In love
as one.

Two hearts
one broken
one mended.

Both thought
they were
in love.

Comment is about Retreat (blog)

Original item by Katy Megan

Each scarf left
outside the ground.

Respect shown to
lost football fans.

Suspended stubborn wind
waited in silence.

For overdue justice
To stir them.

Comment is about Hillsborough (blog)

Original item by Andy N

One of the truest, most human sentiments expressed on the late PM I've seen yet. I like the repetition Julian, drives the overlying message home for me and that's always important with any poem I feel.

Comment is about We have become a dead grandmother (blog)

Original item by Julian Jordon

Quick, snappy and effective. A great piece of work Ian. I admire your consistency. Cheers, David.

Comment is about Class Action (blog)

Original item by Ian Whiteley

Only just read this Ian..oh dear..oh dear me...tomorrow is another day eh?..

Comment is about Old Tyke Blues (blog)

Original item by Ian Whiteley

Well Ian.. My whooshes are usually a good thing..so yes an acknowledgement lol. :)

Comment is about Ian Whiteley (poet profile)

Original item by Ian Whiteley

I've read it, and there are some remarkably moving and life-affirming poems in there. Rather nice to be among such company, too - I mean Elaine, Jacqueline, Cathy, David and Julian, of course.

Comment is about Write Out Loud poets line up with famous names in Heart Shoots charity anthology (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

I still have not seen the thing. I completely forgot about it until reminded by Greg this week. I must get myself a copy. Apparently it's pretty damn good and for an excellent cause.
Get yourselves a copy. To buy Heart Shoots in support of Macmillan go to: http://www.indigodreamsbookshop.com/#/macmillan-cancer/4567736428

Comment is about Write Out Loud poets line up with famous names in Heart Shoots charity anthology (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

"every girl who hasn't been ripped up yet" yes yes, I feel that . another excellent piece! x

Comment is about Corinth (relist) (blog)

Original item by Rachel Bond

this is stunning... one of those things read that make me think "aw maaan, wish I had done that!"

so many trickling lines that conjure the delights of a witchcraft soul, love it!

" the beast looks weak and flea bit"

x

Comment is about go to the woods (relist) (blog)

Original item by Rachel Bond

Nah, she was all right really, just a little misguided perhaps.
Mind you, I suppose she did create the culture of greed and selfishness that we now endure, a culture that created the climate for the banking 'crisis' that the poor and disabled and over-bedroomed now have to pay for whilst the bankers who caused it get bonuses and tax breaks whilst the smug government squander £10m on a funeral; sure, she did all that but, come on, who amongst us hasn't done the same at some time?
Nah, salt of the earth she was. May the iron lady rust in peace.
Laura, you are a magnificent writer and performer of political poetry.
May you resist in peace.

Comment is about Dear Margaret (blog)

Original item by Laura Taylor

Thanks to everyone for reading and commenting.

Poetry24 have chosen to publish this poem today of all days, and I'm feeling quite emotional about that as it goes. Feels like quite an honour.

http://poetry-24.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/dear-margaret.html

Comment is about Dear Margaret (blog)

Original item by Laura Taylor

Subversive act? Or revolutionary act?
Are you trying to effect some kind of deceit here, Tommy?

Comment is about Tommy Carroll (poet profile)

Original item by Tommy Carroll

Laura, I would never wish to influence the way you think. Somewhat bizarrely though Thatcher gave the same freedom to union members who were too often bullied into striking by Scargill, Gormley, Red Robbo and the like.
My wife lived under shameful unionised bullying with her dad in the car making industry. I hope you can see some colour in all this and not just black and white.

Comment is about Wordsworth's Ode to be read aloud at Thatcher's funeral (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Hi again Tom,lots to enjoy in this,and loved the reading also. You convey that bittersweet type of emotion really well.

Comment is about The Desk (blog)

Original item by Tom Harding

thank you Stella

Comment is about MQ-9 (blog)

Original item by Paul Sands

Whoaah! There you are again, Tommy.
You're rapidly building up a reputation as my biggest admirer.

Comment is about Tommy Carroll (poet profile)

Original item by Tommy Carroll

Really strong...and really good too. :)

Comment is about MQ-9 (blog)

Original item by Paul Sands

Aw, this is so sad. I like the way you use fairytales to tell the tale that not all ends with..........They lived happy ever after. I think we have all been there at least once in our life. I really like this bittersweet poem. It's one that touches you.

Keep posting

mike

Comment is about Happy Endings (blog)

Original item by Alison Smiles

Hey there Spaceghost! You gotta keep on keeping on and keep your truth your truth. The world is full of lies and though you know it, you may not know that people like you are rare. Most conform to the lies and never question for fear of reprisals and rejection.

Having you write and others reading your words wakes people to the dormant nature they are. When i read your words I know I am reading someone alive. Most are dead inside and I too have died many deaths from the constant denial this world has become.

Keep writing blue, keep sayin how it is and keep it the truth, for only the truth sets people free. You are free, free and conquering many with words they all wish they could say but don't.

Stay well Spaceghost. Keep on keeping on, and tell it like it is!

Best wishes from Noetic-fret!

Comment is about a note to those without hope Empathic illness. (blog)

Original item by SPACEGHOST

This is really good..in fact yeah tis.. :)

Comment is about Day 1 - Mirrored Glass (blog)

Original item by Tom Harding

Blimey I am not surprised you worry..that long?..Is there nothing that can be done?..I do know that you can make sure you receive no with-held numbers a message comes up to tell folk that if their number is with-held they will not be put through. (that is if they are calling from a with-held number obviously.) You may want to try that..it would save you and your family having to deal with any more..Anyways good luck.

Comment is about Noetic-fret! (poet profile)

Original item by Noetic-fret!

I am having great fun reading you..this is such a sad one but I just love your descriptions..nice work indeed :)

Comment is about A Dog Has Died (blog)

Original item by Tom Harding

Thoroughly enjoyed the read too. I shall take a look through your other stuff now..

Thanks for the comment on my write too :)

Comment is about Day 73 - Spring Was Late (blog)

Original item by Tom Harding

ooo found you...lol after sending you a message too! thanks izz x

Comment is about Isobel (poet profile)

Original item by Isobel