Thank you Chris for your comment on THE NEED. I am an accidental poet and have only been writing for 2 years. Having no idea of the structure of poetry as such, I simply write. It is encouraging to have other opinions, especially if you enjoyed what you read.It's also good to leave a reader wondering, it exercises the mind.
Thank you.

Comment is about Chris Co (poet profile)

Original item by Chris Co

Love your bio and sample page.

Comment is about Rachel Bond (poet profile)

Original item by Rachel Bond

Hello Dave,
Glad you enjoyed 50 Shades of Earl Grey.

Comment is about Dave Bradley (poet profile)

Original item by Dave Bradley

Sorry for steaming up your spex, Mama!

Comment is about Yvonne Brunton (poet profile)

Original item by Yvonne Brunton

A sad time that didn't really need many words.
If it touched you I am pleased.
Thank you.
Cheers. Pete The bus driving poet.

Comment is about BALLOONS (blog)

Original item by Pete Slater

Thank you Chris for your comments. I am an accidental poet and have only been writing for 2 years. Having no idea of the structure of poetry as such I simply write. It is encouraging to have other opinions.

Comment is about THE NEED (blog)

Original item by Pete Slater

I'm not really a huge fan of 'ranting' but the sentiment behind this is impossible to ignore. I enjoyed reading it.

Comment is about Stop! (blog)

Original item by Noetic-fret!

touching in its understatement.

Very Best

Chris

Comment is about BALLOONS (blog)

Original item by Pete Slater

I'd like to see this on the page Pete.

From hearing the poem a few things come to mind. One is how well you perform the poem, another is how the occasional rhymes work so well. In a sense it allows the listener to be led up the garden path; never quite knowing if rhyme will be given or denied. It's very satisfying to the mind.

Content wise a passion and some undoubted quality. In terms of performance; a passion is clear and engaging. I have in-depth experience when it comes to some of what you speak of; the bit that I know well - you articulate a truth. And whilst I'm not sure and maybe the listener can't be sure, truly where you are on belief - it's enigmatic and thoughtful.

My Best

Chris

Comment is about THE NEED (blog)

Original item by Pete Slater

Read yours, John. All too true. And one I don't remember you doing! Maybe we should set our sights on the hygienist next...

Comment is about Two Trips to the Orthodontist (blog)

Original item by Andrew Brown

Hilarious (and typically skilful). Let's hope the people of Newcastle don't mind the association with their (rightly celebrated) reforming Prime Minister.

Comment is about 50 Shades of Earl Grey (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

your furry little otter
of sustenance deprived
will soon begin to totter
and barely be alive
whilst some cold, heartless rotter
will curl his scornful lips
disdainfully remarking that
the fish thief's had his chips!

Comment is about Ollie the Otter (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

Prime first conjugation verb there - closely followed by the second conjugation - ahve gorra, thas gorra etc. xx

Comment is about To Munt - A Barnsley Conjugation (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

You steamed my glasses up with this one boyo!

Comment is about 50 Shades of Earl Grey (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

I so Like this, especially 'all the buttons that you never sewed back on'. what a delightful allegory of life's good intentions - so often unachieved. Lovely!.

Comment is about A day in the life of... an old coat (blog)

Original item by Isobel

Ah, that's a shame, Steve. You're right, we could have raised the WOL flag together. But I'm thinking they've summoned me off the bench, after you had to pull out. Greg

Comment is about Cheltenham poetry festival welcomes 'unsung heroes' (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

I like this. Particularly liked the thought that there is an energy in form which is just waiting to be released.

Comment is about Synaesthetic Symphony (blog)

Original item by Laura Taylor

I do not regret that you had a go, as it were. It does raise some interesting questions; about poetry, about this site and about the live poetry movement of which you are an indispensable part, Sir Kenneth.
We have been in existence for just over ten years - Write Out Loud that is - the website eight. We started off wanting to promote the live poetry scene, mostly places where anyone could read their work. The best open-mic or similar nights have a diverse range of folks reading their own - occasionally others' - poetry. The scene enables anyone to have a go, regardless of experience, qualifications, publication, etc. It is an eclectic mix, which is one of its great strengths. Folks with little experience but bags of ambition get to read and get applause. They hear stuff they had not heard before, not thought of. They might chat to the writer/performer in the break, pick up ideas and go away to write something new, or to read someone's work that they might be inspired by.
Thus many of the regulars at nights like Middleton go on to improve, get published, or just enjoy finding new ways to express what they want to say. The features like Frances' interview with Sean add to the opportunities for learning about others' work, their ideas and opinions, so forth.
Of course, some are not open to other influences, but many do appreciate learning more about poetry via the articles.
I am delighted that you read this and were moved to write to us to express your frustration at not being able to immediately understand it. Neither could I immediately understand it all, but it reminds me of a tutor we had when I did an MSc at Lancaster. We all - the students - struggled. Some complained to him that what he said was just at the edge of our comprehension. He replied that his job was to stretch us, leave us wanting to understand things we did not previously, rather than to reinforce what we already knew and understood; and that is the purpose of some - though not all - the articles like this one. We want to show that Write Out Loud folks have as much right to hear what top poets want to say as anyone else. And we are not afraid of that.
Thank you for providing us with that opportunity Frances. Appreciated.
Thanks for being open and honest in your comments, Ken. Appreciated.
Hope all that makes sense?

Comment is about The Write Out Loud interview: Sean Borodale (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

You sure are good with words - to express your challenging ideas,and fulfilling them with electric images. There are superb lines here, and you know them.

Comment is about Synaesthetic Symphony (blog)

Original item by Laura Taylor

I WROTE THIS WHILST LISTENING TO THE NEWS A FEW MONTHS AGO. UNBELIEVABLE. TRIED TO PUT SOME SOUND EFFECTS ON IT..... "I MUST. I MUST, I MUST IMPROVE MY....EDITING."

Comment is about DICKHEAD (blog)

Original item by Pete Slater

Greg
If only I'd known
I was asked if I would read at the same event that you will be attending. It would have been nice to have dual representation from WOL, but I had to decline.
Give 'em hell

Comment is about Cheltenham poetry festival welcomes 'unsung heroes' (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

I enjoy reading your work Rodney.

Comment is about THE BIRD (blog)

Original item by Rodney Wood

KEEP YOUR THOUGHTS TO YOURSELF??

Comment is about picture (photo)

JC - as a former angler, I am intrigued by the
idea of living beside a river while keeping fish in a pond!

Comment is about John Coopey (poet profile)

Original item by John Coopey

Ho Ho, Brownie.
What you doin' on my patch?
Nice tum-ti-tum work - especially liked the lines "mouthwash and an orthodontic brush". Sometimes God just drops the accentual stress straight into your lap!
My own take on the experience was back in 2010

http://www.writeoutloud.net/public/blogentry.php?blogentryid=9746

I gave a framed copy of this to my dentist which hangs on her wall. (I also bought her a bunch of flowers once for getting rid of a bit of pain I was in).

Comment is about Two Trips to the Orthodontist (blog)

Original item by Andrew Brown

Nick -
"I talk to the trees
But they don't listen to me..." (ack.to Lerner & Loewe)
(Charles talks to his plants
By Royal Appointment) - tra-la-la-la-la-la......

Comment is about THE PRIMROSE - a reprint (blog)

Original item by M.C. Newberry

It wouldn't be right for me to comment, so I won't but I have read it. Nick.

Comment is about A day in the life of... an old coat (blog)

Original item by Isobel

Tis good stuff you bless us with these fine 'at times confused' Winter - Spring - Summer - Autumn mornings. ta muchly, Nick.

Comment is about IMPATIENT SPRINGTIME (blog)

Original item by David Subacchi

Are you sure you want everyone to know that 'flowers' speak to you? And we should expect the same? Are you trying to say that Spring has sprung? Don't let the winter know you think it's dead, or else! ta muchly, Nick

Comment is about THE PRIMROSE - a reprint (blog)

Original item by M.C. Newberry

The female of the spieces usually controls - us, mere mortal, men - as you control the poetic presentation of ideas. ta muchly, Nick.

Comment is about I Am a Woman (blog)

Original item by Larisa Rzhepishevska

Miow - but what about us kitties? Is there to be a 'Queen' in reponse now the 'King is dead'?? ta muchly, Nick.

Comment is about The King of the Garden (blog)

Original item by Steve Higgins

Muck - filth - deparvity - base - iniquity - Sorry, all fake deprecation 'cos I loved it too bits and pieces - Oh! you are a naughty boy! he said knowingly, ta everso muchly, Nick.

Comment is about 50 Shades of Earl Grey (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

Neat approach to broken heart, more times read, more times liked. ta muchly, Nick

Comment is about One for the couple at the back (blog)

Original item by Wez Jefferies

Hello Ian, Sorry to hear that 50 Shades made you drop you coffee. I hope the scalding has cleared!

Comment is about Ian Whiteley (poet profile)

Original item by Ian Whiteley

Ahoy there, shipmate,
Many thanks for your thoughts on Ollie the Otter and Fifty Shades of Earl Grey.
So far my wire cage has kept it out of the pond. I don't think it'll be going hungry though - it ate around 80 of them last year (some koi worth hundreds of pounds) and we live next door to the River Aire, so it's got alternative dining.
Fifty Shades was my rather flippant take on trying to be erotic!

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

Original item by M.C. Newberry

Hi Julan. Frances.

Suppose I was a bit uncharitable toward Sean
without sampling his wares.
I was (wrong,you might say)To anticipate his style based on an interview with Frances, from which to me the answers, like John Darwin notes are, "nigh incomprehensable"Surely I can be forgiven for assuming his work, based on the anwers given, would be of similar construction, and on a plain well above your unsophisticated da de da de da Poet like me,not having yet attained the level to understand enigmatic bamboozlement.

See you Sunday Jules. (On the car park)

Comment is about The Write Out Loud interview: Sean Borodale (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Thank you Julian and Isobel.

Kenneth I think you have strong views on someone you have not met and whose poetry (I presume) you haven't read.

I am certain that Sean would be nothing like as uncharitable about your work, if he were to hear it.

Comment is about The Write Out Loud interview: Sean Borodale (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Ken, we aim to be inclusive on our poetry nights and on the site. If we always stick to what we know, we won't grow much. Lashing out at others who have had opportunity to study poetry in greater depth than have we, is hardly a valid response. Better to try to understand than to dismiss. Sean's work is on the same continuum as yours, and we all have things to say and ways to say them. Sean has different ways from yours perhaps; not wrong, different. I for one am grateful that Frances has persuaded top-drawer poets to be interviewed for Write Out Loud. it matters for us, our profile and our survival.
And I look forward to hearing your offerings on Sunday.

Comment is about The Write Out Loud interview: Sean Borodale (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

I like the use of mundane inanimate objects alongside powerful emotions. Nice one John

Comment is about Bucket Of Memories (blog)

Really like this again John. Impressive work. - David

Comment is about Bucket Of Memories (blog)

I like this a lot. Short lines capture the quick movement from one sight to the next, as if there's so much to take in all at once. I particularly like Gaugin's touch 'kissing' the buildings. Nice work! - David

Comment is about Catalonia (blog)

Many thanks Andy for the comment on "Sphinx round the corner". I like your poems, in particular "Ticket to ride". I find it really beautiful.

Comment is about Andy N (poet profile)

Original item by Andy N

Hi Hugh. I am English but I will still have to say " Great poem! " Take care, Tony.

Comment is about Six nations sensational win for Wales (blog)

Original item by hugh

I like the concept of hidden manipulation ...
that there is some power over which we are
powerless.
Not so much Who you? as Who them?

Comment is about THE YOU, THAT SUITS THEM (blog)

So brutal...so strange - but then again
England made a change - times ten.
(Or so I read in a pre-match report)
Serves 'em right if they'd been thirty-nought!

Comment is about Six nations sensational win for Wales (blog)

Original item by hugh

Write Out Loud A Marble Ascent

Now on News and Features

Comment is about Stockport WoL (group profile)

Original item by Stockport WoL

As we write
Creative collage poetry
Stockport Art Gallery
Prospers with credit.

Comment is about Write Out Loud Stockport's protest and collage anthology (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

If I may use words I found elsewhere(?) - "you've not lost it"!
"This is somehow suggestive
Of a milk chocolate digestive;
Dunk it in and let it soak
But pull it out before it's broke!"
....................................
How do you do keep it up (the consistent inspiration, of course)?

Comment is about 50 Shades of Earl Grey (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

Oh now I think is is great work. :)

Comment is about Marbury (blog)

Original item by chris stevenson

Oh dear me JOHN!!....phew..shall never look at my teapot in the same way again..and I do so enjoy a cup of steaming, hot, earl grey! (with sugar)

Comment is about 50 Shades of Earl Grey (blog)

Original item by John Coopey