I can't wait for the bit where they pipe in the traditional Wiggin 'aggis pie with chunky chips. Are we saying the Galloways Grace as well? People should really get off their Hurdies and get to this one...

Comment is about Tributes and a piper at Write Out Loud Wigan (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

I enjoyed this. Nicely paced and understated. Very evocative - got the imagination going.

Comment is about Burdens (blog)

Original item by Neil Fawcett

This feels very enigmatic. I'm more than curious and 'swelling by the hedge' is a great choice of words.

Comment is about dead sheep (blog)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

Hi Yvonne. Good to see an early entry. Could you possibly change the tag to 'Cat comp' which will help myself and others not to miss it as the month goes on. Thank you

Comment is about The Last Kiss (blog)

Original item by Dave Bradley

bloody hell Tina. Were WE ever married?!

Comment is about Him (blog)

Original item by tina

I enjoyed reading this. The contrast between the opening and (toward) the poem's conclusion compelled me to read it again. And again. 'cars steam along the wet road' evokes a great image too.

Comment is about Burdens (blog)

Original item by Neil Fawcett

Cheers Steve. No, not a fancy form, not that I know of anyway.

Comment is about Burdens (blog)

Original item by Neil Fawcett

Oh the swine - I'd say that's copping out not allowing her to sleep! Some cats need letting out of bags!

Nice dreamy romantic feel to this one Yvonne - you set us up well! And I'm so glad someone's got the fur ball rolling :)

Comment is about The Last Kiss (blog)

Original item by Dave Bradley

Ha - you so don't understand the joys of buying a pair of shoes. It's quite an exciting jaunt that entails looking in every shop to make sure you've got the right pair - unless you're impulse buying of course!

Comment is about Advice to women (blog)

Original item by Tommy Carroll

Glad you enjoyed :)

It didn't take that long to write really - probably cos it's more of a dialogue than a poem so I didn't need to worry too much about being poetic ;)

Comment is about Sermo ut parietis (blog)

Original item by Isobel

Thank you x

Comment is about Mud (blog)

Original item by tina

;o)

Comment is about Yvonne Brunton (poet profile)

Original item by Yvonne Brunton

super, Where did you find the energy to write all that?

Comment is about Sermo ut parietis (blog)

Original item by Isobel

Thoroughly enjoyed this Izz - will never look at FB the same again. Francine is right - it would make a good performance piece, perhaps best as a duo

Comment is about Sermo ut parietis (blog)

Original item by Isobel

Ah, only a stone's throw from Doncaster then. (via interballistic missile, that is.)
I love the gentle jibe at women's shopping habits but maybe that's 'cos I rarely buy shoes - my cupboards are already full of the things and I'm fed up with Imelda texting me to borrow another pair!

Comment is about Advice to women (blog)

Original item by Tommy Carroll

Liverpool town center Yvonne. :o)

Comment is about Advice to women (blog)

Original item by Tommy Carroll

The only fly in this ointment that I can see, Tommy, is locating St John's Market.

Comment is about Advice to women (blog)

Original item by Tommy Carroll

LOVE the sarcasm!

What a great performance piece that anyone on fb can relate to...
And as far as I KNOW - I am only guilty of this one - LOL

'The sun setting over water with a low flying bird - and wait for it – no sign of me at all – how avant-garde is that?!'

OK - AND inspirational quotes :-D

Comment is about Sermo ut parietis (blog)

Original item by Isobel

Somebody with an expired licence got pulled over!
Then there are bank cards and credit cards that have yet to arrive with new valid-until dates. Has anyone ever pulled out an expired card? Oh spare us the embarrassment! Wonderful read! Cheers.

Comment is about Is your driving licence valid ? (blog)

Original item by hugh

Link again if it does not play above

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R8y1B9PZc0I

Comment is about Rekindle cake (plus video performance attached at bottom) (blog)

Original item by Ged Thompson

Thanks Hugh! Good advice! Keep on writing. Take care, Tony.

Comment is about Is your driving licence valid ? (blog)

Original item by hugh

Get in there mate! Love it! Take care, Tony.

Comment is about Goodness Gracious - a video poem by Ged Thompson (blog)

Original item by Ged Thompson

and I like the imagery in your owl poem Ann - blanket over a birdcage is just the right image... - this owl flew right over me a few years ago...

WONDER

Could it only be by chance,
The wonder of your white-night dance?
This shadow I can barely trace –
A shooting star with feathered grace.
Mighty owl, in you I see
An echo of eternity.

Andrew Fusek Peters, Mad Bad and Dangerously Haddock, Lion publishing

Comment is about Ann Foxglove (poet profile)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

thanks Ann, that's very kind - we have hares living up the hill from us - but to see them boxing two winters ago during a dusk walk, was a real gift - now I just have to see the trout swimming and jumping upstream in our village on their spawning journey - that would be a treat!

Comment is about Andrew Fusek Peters (poet profile)

Original item by Andrew Fusek Peters

"they may take our pies, but they'll never take... OUR FREEDOM!

Comment is about Tributes and a piper at Write Out Loud Wigan (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

From what I've heard they will be traditional Scottish pipes, but he won't be dressed up posh like the man above. The dress code will be more like Mel Gison in Braveheart - which probably goes better with the free Wigan spirit...

Comment is about Tributes and a piper at Write Out Loud Wigan (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

I agree, glad you liked it, by the way, I just sent you something on FB, your going to love it X

Comment is about Goodness Gracious - a video poem by Ged Thompson (blog)

Original item by Ged Thompson

Very nice piece(again!)Steve.

I,(Stef)once lived in ancient Rome
in another life-
until Russell Crowe turned up!xx

Comment is about Past Lives (blog)

Original item by Steve Higgins

JC - no one could ever say your talent was a "flash in the pan"!! You deserve a gong for "services to humour". Priceless.

Comment is about Mr Gabardine Man - Part 2 (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

Thanks re the hoped for approval Yvonne.

Previous last line's were;

'My opinion of you
is that
you are not here
for the fun of it'
-------------------

glad to have obliged.xx

Comment is about Yvonne Brunton (poet profile)

Original item by Yvonne Brunton

Hi Yvonne.

Firstly,let us thank you for responding to our poem 'Lost'by commenting on our profile page.We think think that way is nicer and more personal as we hope this reply is for you.

Secondly,following your advice we have 'smoothed' the ending over of the poem in question as well as adding an image of such a sufferer.
We hope the changes meet with your approval.xx

Comment is about Yvonne Brunton (poet profile)

Original item by Yvonne Brunton

Will the piper be playing a traditional set of Wigan Bagpies?

Comment is about Tributes and a piper at Write Out Loud Wigan (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Lol - it takes a while to work out which venues to avoid. Personally, I can't take more that one or two a month, full stop. It's an awful lot of listening, especially if poets are allowed to read as much as they want and for as long as they want. There needs to be some kind of polite etiquette that everyone is made aware of from the start. That's my opinion, anyway.

Comment is about Goodness Gracious - a video poem by Ged Thompson (blog)

Original item by Ged Thompson

I suppose some of this may have something to do with the litigation culture that seems to be taking off in this country.

By putting these dates on they are also covering their backs. I don't suppose 'scratch and sniff' written on the back of a packet would really cut it in court...

Comment is about Sell-By Dates - The Great Rip-Off (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

In every pre election poll there is a section for the 'Don't Knows'. Whatever the eventual outcome of an election, it seems the Don't Knows always end up in Downing St!

Comment is about I Blame The Scapegoats (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

Well said John-our parents and grandparents would ask us why we didn't have the sense we were born with if they knew the rules & regulations that attempt to govern what we eat.

Comment is about Sell-By Dates - The Great Rip-Off (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

I don't know anything of Patrick but your well appointed tribute will have me researching and delving into his life work. Thank you for sharing your heart and mind as well as introducing me to this distinguished person. Cheers.

Comment is about The Sky at Night (blog)

Original item by Isobel

There you are! I's beginning to wonder where your poetry had gone to! Hope all is well over the holidays and the New Year, the winter and more uni work (?) Good to be reading you again. Cheers Adam!

Comment is about "Welcome to Hufflepuff" (blog)

could not get this to play, if you have the same problem try this link.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j-Ub_8oQbC0

Comment is about Goodness Gracious - a video poem by Ged Thompson (blog)

Original item by Ged Thompson

Keep on! Champion the cause of the disenfranchised. A big thank you from all of us people that are stuck in the lower rungs!

Comment is about I might look like a mortal man to you (blog)

Original item by Wez Jefferies

Officially intrigued. You are correct, there is much more to this poem even after all the explanation and discussion. It may and will take several readings and musings for myself to get there. And ha, it will be a poem to revisit from time to time. And for that I have you to "blame" thank.

Comment is about The Red Wheelbarrow (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

Hello MC,
Thankyou for your thoughts on "Sell-By Dates". I've worked in my time in a number of food factories so I have seen the care that goes into keeping food safe. But I can't help suspect that supermarkets enjoy the prospect of us having to chuck stuff so we have to replace it.
How long before there's a "Discard Date" on clothing

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

Original item by M.C. Newberry

I once went to a Bodyshop cosmetic party at someone's house, where the sales lady assured us that it wasn't hygenic to keep make-up for too long... as though our skin could possible absorb the germs from a bit of eye liner and mascara!

Comment is about John Coopey (poet profile)

Original item by John Coopey

Hello MC,
Thankyou for your thoughts on "Sell-By Dates". I've worked in my time in a number of food factories so I have seen the care that goes into keeping food safe. But I can't help suspect that supermarkets enjoy the prospect of us having to chuck stuff so we have to replace it.
How long before there's a "Discard Date" on clothing?

Comment is about Sell-By Dates - The Great Rip-Off (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

Hello Dave
Many thanks for your haiku on "Sell-By Dates".

Comment is about Dave Bradley (poet profile)

Original item by Dave Bradley

Hello Yvonne,
Thankyou for your thoughts on "Sell-By Dates".
We've had some happy, embarrassing times when the kids were little as they ran up the supermarket aisle shouting "Plenty on the gypsy counter today, mum".

Comment is about Yvonne Brunton (poet profile)

Original item by Yvonne Brunton

Hi Steve. When I first met my wife and we started to chat it felt like we had known each other for a long time. Nice one. Take care, Tony.

Comment is about Past Lives (blog)

Original item by Steve Higgins

A shocking story Hugh and only right that poetry should address things like this and remind us that life isn't all romance.
Best wishes, Steve

Comment is about A callous and cowardly crime committed in Greenford, West London - 19/11/12. (blog)

Original item by hugh

I was thinking of Janet over Christmas (you know the way your mind trawls as you are doing other things.) I, too, had live 'chats' with her, not often, but each time very enjoyable.Certainly not this past year, as I've also been very low profile. But, I thought of her. Had she not moved into psychology, into the field of counselling? Or have I a mix-up?

Comment is about Death of north-west poet Janet Ramsden (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman