me likey!

Comment is about Half time Oranges. (blog)

Very moving.

Comment is about Tears of the Bitter Man (blog)

Original item by Tom

Third time lucky, Francine! I've finally posted it so people can comment.... :-)

Comment is about steve pottinger (poet profile)

Original item by steve pottinger

Hey Francine,

Glad to raise a smile. I'm too serious at times. Good to break out a bit :)

Hi Tony,

Is anything safe? Probably? - always a good answer :)

Best

Comment is about Heaven Sent - body missed (blog)

Original item by Chris Co

Somebody will read this and come to your rescue!

I would think just copying and pasting the link would work...

http://youtu.be/U_KG6BqiyPs

Comment is about steve pottinger (poet profile)

Original item by steve pottinger

Thanks Anthony & Francine! I'm really glad you enjoyed the video - it's a bit nerve-wracking, seeing myself on screen....
I've no idea why the 'comments' function on the blog leads to a blank screen. I tried re-posting the link, but the same thing happens. Sadly my computer literacy is below par and I don't quite understand what to do to set it right....

Comment is about steve pottinger (poet profile)

Original item by steve pottinger

Hi Steve,

I watched the video on YouTube and thought it was extremely well produced - a message delivered with humour and a Robin Hood philosophy.
Like Anthony said, it adds a whole new dimension to the feel of the words...

Thank you for sharing!

Comment is about steve pottinger (poet profile)

Original item by steve pottinger

Hi Steve,

Just wanted to let you know how much I admired your "angry Poet" video. For some reason I can't seem to open your blog post to comment there, the link just takes me to a blank screen (?) - maybe you should check it out. Also left comments on YouTube. Very well done.

Regards,
A.E.

Comment is about steve pottinger (poet profile)

Original item by steve pottinger

Thanks very much, Francine! So glad you enjoyed it. I've just this minute uploaded a video of me reading the poem on Youtube. Filmed in an empty pub in Birmingham....

http://youtu.be/U_KG6BqiyPs

Comment is about No-one likes an angry poet. (blog)

Original item by steve pottinger

A tragic event. The poor woman must have felt
she could not confide in or seek support from others to bring herself to do such a thing.
It may also be that her origins may have
enforced any sense of responsibility/shame in
such a high-profile incident. The effects of
her decision extend beyond that decision...not
unlike the original call made by those Aussie
pranksters!

Comment is about Jacintha Saldanha R.I.P. (blog)

Original item by hugh

Will this really help literacy in schools - or is it just Goving through the Motion?

Comment is about Poetry by heart: Gove and Motion launch national schools recitation competition (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Fantastic!! Love it!! Take care, Tony.

Comment is about I would go somewhere with this but I lost me free bus pass! (blog)

Original item by Noetic-fret!

Nice one Hugh! Take care, Tony.

Comment is about Zip error (blog)

Original item by hugh

Is anything safe? Nice one. Take care, Tony.

Comment is about Heaven Sent - body missed (blog)

Original item by Chris Co

I read this today and it really made me sad, in so many ways.
She obviously took this very personally and felt belittled in front of the world. It was a senseless loss of life. You just never know to what extent your words and actions affect someone...

Comment is about Jacintha Saldanha R.I.P. (blog)

Original item by hugh

Hey Isobel,

Thx for reading and commenting - ta.

Quote
I think that plenty of highly intelligent people do end up as vagrants. My mum knew a tramp who went everywhere with a little briefcase. When he went into hospital they found out it contained his degree paperwork.
Unquote

It's a lesson to all of us, not to be too ready to judge the book by the cover. Or at least, try to defend against that notion as best we can.

This poem is firmly based in reality. Though I admit to having used artistic licence, to try to make it more poetic.

In the real situation 'Alan' is highly intelligent and relatively well off. At the time he was driving a very nice car and living in one part of the country with a flat in another. It just so happens he isn't vain and was I guess the term would be - dressing down for the day.

Quote
I was a bit confused by this initially. I think you could have ordered it a little better.
Unquote

You may well be right, I was trying to bring cognitive dissonance into the poem and the style also is somewhat of a departure.

Quote
Perhaps given each character their own verse.
Unquote

I think that is what I would have done more typically; I agree - it's definitely a way to have gone.

Quote
The dense looking tatooed man could just as easily be your friend the actuary, given the subject matter... but your comment says there are 3 men, and no women.
Unquote

Mmm I don't see that myself, not sure. The 3rd person is the narrator which I would presume people would take to mean me. Then again, maybe that is wrong - hard to say.

Quote
I would have replaced that full stop in the second verse with a comma also.
Unquote

I had about 6 different drafts, differing line breaks, enjambment, no enjambment, differing stanzas. Differing grammar. A bit mad really, but even with very small poems my editing is very OCD. In one draft, I had the comma you spoke of Hehe. I changed it because I like the sound and clause of;

Piano recitals at 5
a piece of child prodigy

viewed in a pub
through views unkind.

As one unit of sound. I found that if I used a comma in place of a full stop, the reader most likely ran out of air and died before reaching the words 'views unkind'. If I had chosen the comma, I would have had to alter the rest of the stanza for sound and go a differing route. Maybe a differing route would have been better, hard to say. Your point is definitely valid/might have been better to go that way.

Quote
It's a good subject for a poem and not one I can remember reading about before. Who would, but we all do, to some extent.
Unquote

Thx. The subject in the this context and in a wider setting is very interesting to me. I also think we all have prejudice; to differing degrees. I guess the key is to be aware, limit it where possible etc and try not to act upon it. Maybe not to be to haughty if we see it in others too. I think a lot comes down to parenting and what is handed down. I have been fortunate, as have many of us. Most people have benign prejudice and not much more - I feel sorry for those with bigger bundles to carry.

Quote
Just read that back to myself. Sorry if it sounds negative. I suppose what I'm trying to say is that you could probably have made more out of this subject - taken it further - which is pretty rich coming from me as I can't seem to get my head round tackling any subjects at the moment :)

Hey ho.
unquote

No need to apologise - I think your right. It doesn't sound negative either; it's good feedback.

I suppose part of what I was trying to do was catch a wider issue in a small sphere. That idea made me go for a more self contained situation, rather than paint in bigger broader brush strokes.

But the food for thought is good - ta.

Best

Chris

Comment is about Prejudice (blog)

Original item by Chris Co

OMG - I was told to read this, and just so you know - I dreamt about rain gear the night before last. I don't think I have EVER dreamt about rain gear. EVER. Not that I remember anyway... I texted the other person in the dream and asked them what it all means??? They have NO CLUE either! LOL

AND... I always order the Grande Mocha too (but decaf with soy - no whip). Really has gotten super expensive though... Got a giftcard yesterday for Starbucks too - from a student I tutor! Small world huh?

I remember Greg Freeman saying something about this - 'Starbucks has paid no corporation tax on UK profits for the past three years' when he was sent an invitation by me (not really) to join a 'Starbucks Event'...

LOL

'smiles,
and tells me I still owe her £5.74.'

'I’m a poet who loves words loves people
and believes some things are worth getting angry about
and if you don’t see the difference
between those two
then I probably lost you
soon after I put my rain gear on
back at the start.'
(you haven't lost me - I am with you ALL THE WAY here!)

Great ending to this too!

'and as the winter sun
breaks through the clouds
and the windows of the City
are a seamless wall of gold,
I look around,
one poet in a sea of millions

and by god, we’re smiling.'

LOVE, LOVE, LOVED reading this, Steve!
Brilliant, passionate, and full of truth!

Comment is about No-one likes an angry poet. (blog)

Original item by steve pottinger

Just read that back to myself. Sorry if it sounds negative. I suppose what I'm trying to say is that you could probably have made more out of this subject - taken it further - which is pretty rich coming from me as I can't seem to get my head round tackling any subjects at the moment :)

Hey ho.

Comment is about Prejudice (blog)

Original item by Chris Co

I think that plenty of highly intelligent people do end up as vagrants. My mum knew a tramp who went everywhere with a little briefcase. When he went into hospital they found out it contained his degree paperwork.

Comment is about Prejudice (blog)

Original item by Chris Co

I was a bit confused by this initially. I think you could have ordered it a little better. Perhaps given each character their own verse. The dense looking tatooed man could just as easily be your friend the actuary, given the subject matter... but your comment says there are 3 men, and no women.

I would have replaced that full stop in the second verse with a comma also.

It's a good subject for a poem and not one I can remember reading about before. Who would, but we all do, to some extent.

Comment is about Prejudice (blog)

Original item by Chris Co

Hi Noris.
On all these issues
you write how I feel.

And the imbalance is getting worse.

My best regards to you

Comment is about What is the price you have to pay? (blog)

Original item by Noris Roberts

This made me laugh, Chris, AND Harry :-)
(I love the smell of sandalwood...)

Comment is about Heaven Sent - body missed (blog)

Original item by Chris Co

This is a bit of a depressing one, smack before Christmas. It is sadly true for many though.

I'm with Francine on those last few lines - they pack some punch, particularly if you are a parent. The likelihood of our kids owning a house gets slimmer by the decade as well as the chance of them ever paying off their education.

But if anyone feels like slitting their wrists, don't do it before the next Tudor, which is on this Thursday. The innkeeper's door will definitely be made of wood and it's welcomed folk for as long as the name suggests!

Merry Christmas to you Sid, Francine, Mike :) xxx

Comment is about Nativity (blog)

Original item by Ray Miller

Je n'aime pas la fin... mais je comprends.

Comment is about thin ice (blog)

Original item by Anthony Emmerson

I missed this one! Guess your message to me wasn't personal enough! LOL
OBVIOUSLY I like it, or I wouldn't have bothered to comment... ;-)

Comment is about the process (blog)

Original item by Anthony Emmerson

Great ending to this Ray.

'but there’s no call for you, my son,
For Bethlehem is bolted shut
and there no jobs in this England.'

Comment is about Nativity (blog)

Original item by Ray Miller

I like the thoughts and their diction Harry; hehe.

Comment is about Heaven Sent - body missed (blog)

Original item by Chris Co

Chris,
As Alexander Pope would have said `that stuff is to `die` for`

( And - be fair - who ever reads the small print anyway?)

Comment is about Heaven Sent - body missed (blog)

Original item by Chris Co

John,

Just had to join in the homage (particularly that `skunk`ll/ uncle`...those things are hard to come by)

Comment is about If... (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

Andy,
Good, workman-like social protest stuff...
and all to the point.

Keep it up!

Comment is about If the art galleries shut (blog)

Original item by Andy N

This reads (last stanza?) as the death - or perhaps (first stanza?) the suicide of an ice-skating friend. Or perhaps someone with a skater`s oblivion to danger?

I also, wonder how it would be performed.I liked the `frozen sparks`

Comment is about thin ice (blog)

Original item by Anthony Emmerson

A Christmas gift for that special lady, or man in your life.

Comment is about Heaven Sent - body missed (blog)

Original item by Chris Co

Hello Jade .. thank-you .. yes, I signed in, a dark cloud descended, and I wrote that .. must've been something I had for tea !! .. no seriously I log in then make myself write for a few minutes - that's where that came from .. m .s.
10-12-12 - thanks again - no it's not clever I write down my first/immediate thoughts then edit and prune a bit till they look strong enough to stand up - then I abandon it for ever .. cheers!

Comment is about Jade (poet profile)

Original item by Jade

Haha I can see the irony your speaking of Cathy, but I also see a wonderful and entirely legitimate take on the words. I think your reading exists from certain cues in the language that are very definite; Prejudice, 3 men in a bar, each looking over at one another, no women present, Navy Tattoo can be down the docks straight or butch. Piano recitals - could indicate in the context of the other words a certain artistic flair. And a 'look at you' tone can easily be deduced.

Haha So I really like the fact that a totally differing angle and direction is in there. x

Someone once wrote something along the lines of; anything I write is all of my intention, until it is published. Then the words become the intentions of others.

I think there is a lot of truth in that - poems have to be what can be taken from the words. Some poets hate that, some struggle, some like the fact.

I am in the middle usually - but sometimes, like here - it is really good/likable.

Best

Chris

Comment is about Prejudice (blog)

Original item by Chris Co

.. thanks John - think I'm passed the Lynx effect .. and that's the only time I worked in an office !!

Comment is about John Coopey (poet profile)

Original item by John Coopey

Liked it, Anthony.
Especially "arabesque and pirouette" - why on earth am I reminded of "for Pierrot and Columbine" in "The Carnival is Over"?

Comment is about thin ice (blog)

Original item by Anthony Emmerson

Enjoyed this, Mick.
Better for being spoken over the backtrack.
On another front - a word to the wise. Try Lynx.

Comment is about Office Dance. (blog)

Original item by Mick Waring

I really liked this. The internal rhymes draw you in. It seems to be quite fast-paced as well. Nice.

Comment is about 4-12-12. (blog)

Original item by Mikhail Smith

Very clever and enjoyable Sid.

Take care
Mike

Comment is about Nativity (blog)

Original item by Ray Miller

Excellenty John!
Loved the Cloughie bit.I wonder if he's playing on the great pitch in the sky?

Mike

Comment is about If... (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

I like the language, nice rhythm. Why on earth would you end the line on "the"?

Scribing arcs across the


ice, arabesque and pirouette, sharp turns

Comment is about thin ice (blog)

Original item by Anthony Emmerson

thanks jeff glad you like.

ste, i like these film meetings that you combine for comparison. im happy with the description...:)

Comment is about Pearls and Swine (blog)

Original item by Rachel Bond

Hi Cynthia good to hear from you again. I haven't been that active on WOL for a while! Anyway I'm glad you liked my poem about Herbie Nicholls.

Comment is about Cynthia Buell Thomas (poet profile)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

Hi C, I really enjoyed reading your Work,especially liked the imagery
Of Place De L'Eglise

Regards Paul.

Comment is about Samples (blog)

Hi Isobel, This exhibition is now over but Steve tells me there are plans for it to reappear elswhere so watch this space. Win

Comment is about Isobel (poet profile)

Original item by Isobel

Hi Isobel, This exhibition is now over but Steve tells me there are plans for it to reappear elswhere so watch this space. Win

Comment is about Review - Das Auge Im Eis, neogallery32 Bolton (blog)

Original item by Winston Plowes

Totty - spurs - that figures ;)

Comment is about Dear Katherine (blog)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

Who is Katherine Jenkins? Isobel - Graham supports Spurs, I support Chelsea. I hope that helps

Comment is about Dear Katherine (blog)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

These lines have a lovely element of unusual metaphors such as: 'which squeezed your breath while you sang to make the unbridled fear fall asleep in a whisper' and several others. They were not easy to find as the line breaks didn't lead me naturally into them. I did wonder whether you had any 'plan' to use the 'turns' that you did. The poem was worth sticking with to acquire more familiarity.

Welcome to WOL. You'll enjoy the group here, especially if you begin to take an active part. IMO, don't be shy to comment on the work of others, and don't be thin-skinned about comments on your own work. We are a motley group with diverse interests, as a good site should be.

Comment is about Every new dawn (blog)

Original item by Carla Tombacco

My sister Cate totally agreed with your appraisal of her Cynthia - talented but...

Comment is about Dear Katherine (blog)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas