Again nice and touching poem.
I myself haven't the courage to record my own poems. I have a slight southern(American) accent.
And I think my voice is dull.
Very good writing.

Shirley

Comment is about Fix (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

Your poem was entertaining - fetching indeed.

Comment is about Length & Girth (blog)

Original item by David Mac

Very touching poem. My youngest is 18 and will graduate in June.
Brought a tear to my eye.
Being from America I don't often get to hear voices like yours. It's a nice change.

Thanks for so many wonderful poems.

Shirley

Comment is about I Dreamt You Were Little Again (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

Cynthia is right. It was the wrong question to ask. There will always be someone bigger than you, just as there will always be someone smaller. The important thing is what kind of a lover you are, which doesn't always have anything to do with your dick. I wouldn't advise asking anyone about that either. Just presume you are the best. Women like a confident man, happy in his own foreskin :)

Comment is about Length & Girth (blog)

Original item by David Mac

Hi John Glad you like the Scholars poem. It was inspired by a recent visit to Reading Museum. I had never heard the phrase 'ragged school' before and just wanted to get it into a poem by hook or crook. I must say that I also didn't see much difference between the Victorian classroom and those we had in the 50s in my own school!

Comment is about John Coopey (poet profile)

Original item by John Coopey

Hi Dave,(Necropolis)thanks for commenting. Yes the monks are very much still there and many improvements made to the old Anglican church buildings which they took over (perhaps I should write another stanza to include that aspect).

The estate is looking so much better than you will recall from ten years past but there is a long way to go and the actual owner of the site was involved in quite a lot of contoversy which appeared in the papers.

One can't help thinking back to when the site was first opened and how magnificent it might have looked with an abundance of gardeners in attendance etc.

Comment is about Dave Bradley (poet profile)

Original item by Dave Bradley

thanx for posting and reading. i know it would be awful and so bad, i wrote this some time ago. If it happens to me, my mind going, please shoot me lol. In reality, people losing their mind is a very serious topic and not a nice one.

Comment is about NUMB (blog)

Original item by NICK ARMBRISTER

Good luck, Ann

Comment is about Mining for poetry: new open mic in Cornwall (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

What do you mean, I make it worse? This is a very real, emotional and psychological question, that plagues many men. I chose to answer the premise with humour, to devalue its presumed importance. It is no different than women who might feel less womanly because they have breasts 'the size of peas!' (as I was once told with no joke intended. It did not undermine me, but it was deliberately cruel, and intended to make me feel less than attractive.) This is a very sad poem, because it is self-destroying.

Comment is about Length & Girth (blog)

Original item by David Mac

Thanks for commenting, Andy, Philipos, Chris, John, Stella, Greg and Steve - who is spot on in outing me as an ex-hippy. Although I was always more scruff than hippy - I've added a photo from 1971 for fun. I'm the guy at the back.

Chris has thrown down a challenge. This actually happened. I was glued to the screen as so many WOL-ites are, from time to time. Then I realised the sun was shining and maybe there was something better outside. I happened to have bare feet. The plums happened to be ripe, why pick 'em before eating 'em, when it's rained the night before and Nature has washed them?

Faith should not exist in religious boxes. It either pervades everything or is nothing. For me, that is because a personal God is everywhere. But, if at all possible, faith should make bridges rather than barriers. If my pagan or atheist or whatever friends like the poem, fine, and respect to them.

Comment is about Communion (blog)

Original item by Dave Bradley

Beautiful. I love Owls - their stealth, mystique and beauty and the coolness of their hunting. You have painted it for me perfectly. x

Comment is about owl (blog)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

We are on our own from birth in this respect, everything seems an act to feel that security before...good piece.

Comment is about Infants Become Skeletons (blog)

Original item by Kealan Coady

its absolutely terrifying and explaining it renders most to give you a wide berth, in reality. I had an image of tiny creature, slumped, with arms outstretched.

Comment is about NUMB (blog)

Original item by NICK ARMBRISTER

Marianne, once again a thrilling work; your words make everything vibrate, like an elemental force. I'm with Graham totally - that image of 'grey-green hills' is incredible. I do wonder at some of the commas, and their respective purposes. In a short work perhaps the use of commas should be for a singular reason, because I'm not sure when to relate ideas and when to separate them.

Comment is about Panic Attack (blog)

Original item by Marianne Daniels

It hurts my heart to miss this. Especially to fraternize, to share work and ideas collegiately. Perhaps another situation will be offered; perhaps not. I can hope.

Comment is about Like to write poetry at Ted Hughes' house? - last chance for a place (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Bonne chance, Ann girl. This is a fantastic idea, and, IMO, a perfect outlet for your unflagging enthusiasm, your personal drive to share the poetical 'buzz' and your own mighty talent. Keep us posted; doesn't matter what. Very imaginative name for the group, considering Cornwall.

Comment is about Mining for poetry: new open mic in Cornwall (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

I cannot attend this session in London, but I will reread my small volume 'Selected Poems of Edward Thomas' edited by R. S. Thomas and dedicated to Helen Thomas, Faber and Faber, 1964, with great pleasure. Somehow, I secured this volume from the cast-offs of a now defunct Academic 6th Form Centre in Bermuda. Second-hand shops and Church Fair tables are often sources of sheer literary delights.

Comment is about Remembering Edward Thomas (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

excellent stuff, dave.. really enjoyed this although i reckon it would tie me in knots if i tried performing it - lol

Comment is about Communion (blog)

Original item by Dave Bradley

like i feel to reveal at the end here in particular, kept making me think of wrapping chocolates here - god knows why! xx

Comment is about Verse (blog)

love the last stanza here Stella, but it's a strong, well structured piece - bet it'll go down well live also xx

Comment is about Nothing of Much Worth (blog)

excellent stuff, shirley.. made me smile big style this morning.. would love to see more like this xx

Comment is about A silly poem about hair. (blog)

Original item by Shirley Smothers

blimely - that's deep stuff, Kealan.. another for submitting to a good magazine i feel, m8.. excellent.. A

Comment is about Infants Become Skeletons (blog)

Original item by Kealan Coady

This is powerful, Melissa. It may strike a chord with many as so many poets feel themselves to be outsiders. They may not comment as it's difficult to know what to say or to find the courage to say "me too".

Comment is about Only (blog)

To be fair Philip,

I would hazard a guess that 70% plus of modern poetry does not rhyme. The idea that not rhyming would be a reason for the society to disregard you or anyone else is, well? Confusing to say the least.

I have no feeling either way on the aforementioned society.

Maybe point us to your poems Philip...I'll gladly read your work.

My Best

Chris

Comment is about Peace breaks out at the Poetry Society (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

As a claustrophobe I always shudder when I hear of these events wherever they happen in the world and this most recent one so close to home. Your words so eloquently tell the miner's tale.

Comment is about A Breath of Fresh Air (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

Great imagery Dave could taste the plum juice.

Comment is about Communion (blog)

Original item by Dave Bradley

Many thanks for your comments on Hic Haec Hoc.
Was Latin something that only boys studied? I've never come across any woman who ever did. Where did they take you when we were studying it? Was it to feminist lifeskills class where you learned Manipulation, Emotional Blackmail, Credit Card Skills, Conversational Memory Recall etc. (They didn't do Map Reading, though, did they?).
I suspect I should stop digging!
Seriously, "hic" means "this", as does "haec" and "hoc" etc. HHHHHH are the nominative and accusative cases of the pronoun "this" in their masculine, feminine and neuter genders.
Any wiser?
In the next lesson we will study HHH in its genitive, dative and ablative cases.
When you've got this we will do it all again but in the plural.

Comment is about Isobel (poet profile)

Original item by Isobel

Absolutely brill observation and unveiling of story.

Comment is about Crimson Lipstick (blog)

Original item by Lynn Dye

Short but very sweet.

Comment is about Brrr! (blog)

Nonsense verse is a very under used genre in my book so bring on more silly songs like this they lift the spirit.

Comment is about A silly poem about hair. (blog)

Original item by Shirley Smothers

I liked the overall effect of this - nicely thought through and very readable.

Comment is about Nothing of Much Worth (blog)

Worst nightmare realised - the mind suddenly goes. Seen the idea used often enough in story plots but the reality - yuk. What an original idea yours for a poem.

Comment is about NUMB (blog)

Original item by NICK ARMBRISTER

Thanks for your comment Elaine. Yes - it was a different one for me - just a reflection of a mood I was in. I've had a good read of your latest and enjoyed. I'm never good on commenting on nature poems though - they don't quite reach me in the same way.

Comment is about Elaine (poet profile)

Original item by Elaine

I think lots of poets do that. It does get a bit scary when you start to think of life's events in terms of poetic merit/material though.

Comment is about Verse (blog)

I like this one too Lynn. Like Greg says - it has that warmth of the everyday that somehow grabs you and it does have a great finish.

Comment is about Crimson Lipstick (blog)

Original item by Lynn Dye

I'm not presuming this is about you Stella - it wouldn't tie in with the woman I know. If you are anything like me though, you have moods and the strangest poetry comes out when you are in one. My last was about feeling old and past it - though not many would have guessed it LOL. You express yourself beautifully. x

Comment is about Nothing of Much Worth (blog)

This rocks John! I would google that title to see what it really means but my computer is playing up and I can't google. I'm guessing it's I have, I had etc They never taught latin in secondary moderns... But surely all that wouldn't have fitted on YOUR tool?

I really enjoyed this - also Ray's comment :)

Comment is about Hic Haec Hoc Hunc Hanc Hoc (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

The only imagery that implied religious connotations, 'for me' other than the title and looser 'gateway', have a primary and surface level relating to nature;

eats plum from twig
biting raw living sweet flesh
red juice runs like blood down chin.

The latter being visceral both in its vivid zest for life and in being an allusion to the blood of Christ and its communion taken by Christians.

Because of this double meaning I take this to be communion and celebration with and of nature, rather than communion in the traditional religious sense. Or at least an expression of the wonders of nature through a religious lens.

I like uncaged foot as words and image- that feeling of freedom from something as simple as grass- a notion vaguely Whitman.

I liked the way the language became more sparse. I think you have to be very careful if using contraction- but felt here it in no way hindered the poem and if anything added.

The only thing I was unsure about was;

bright clean screen preferring

I would consider taking that out personally.

Took a couple of readings to feel right- but I came back so there! haha

P.S

The understatement of the religious combined with the zest for life makes this powerful and allows the reader to infer- good poetry.

I'd be interested to hear your thinking on this poem.

My Best

Chris

Comment is about Communion (blog)

Original item by Dave Bradley

I like nearly all of it;

some of it is fantastic.

a cycle of smiles

But habitual thoughts
win sometimes.
'Best not' seems
more sensible.

Great.

The only bit I'm not a fan of is 'consumed' as for me that has an unwanted double connotation given love can be consumed and consummated. So consumed can be thought of as enacted.

There are options including the movement of the word captive...then again who knows- subjectivity an all that.

My Best

Chris

Comment is about Nothing of Much Worth (blog)

Just listened to this John..oh my oh my oh my!!!

Comment is about Hic Haec Hoc Hunc Hanc Hoc (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

Such a nice reply John...(I have just edited it lol) thanks for looking :)

Comment is about John Coopey (poet profile)

Original item by John Coopey

There's plenty of time to get old, Stella. Keep burning.

Comment is about Nothing of Much Worth (blog)

Thanks E for your comment on Gordon, always much appreciated and yep you're spot on. Bullies are made, not born - we both know that. It was a story that had to be told.

Aye, dunno wtf happened to your other comment!

Comment is about Elaine (poet profile)

Original item by Elaine

Thx for the comments and feedback on my last Tommy- v good of you to take the time.

I have two versions of the poem now :)

I think I'll keep my version for reading and yours for the page when subsequently handed out.

Thx

My Best

Chris

Comment is about Tommy Carroll (poet profile)

Original item by Tommy Carroll

Thx for the comment/feedback on my last one Ann- appreciated.

P.S

Good luck with the event!

My Best

Chris

Comment is about Ann Foxglove (poet profile)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

Thx for the comments/feedback on my last Laura. You understood my thinking behind the poem completely. Daft I know but I searched for a couple of hours just to find the right word for the title Haha. To get something that eluded enough without telling, to be understated without being totally obscure.

My Best

Chris

Comment is about Laura Taylor (poet profile)

Original item by Laura Taylor

Hello Shirley
I've just taken the time to read the samples on your Profile page.
I was very impressed, particularly with "My Mother's Gentle Hands". I posted one on a similar theme called "Fix" from the perspective of the parent rather than, as yours does, from the child.
Keep posting.

Comment is about Shirley Smothers (poet profile)

Original item by Shirley Smothers

Very nice poem. I can actually feel the owl flying through the air.
Your illustration is also nice. Is this your own artwork?
Thanks for a beautiful poem and artwork.

Shirley

Comment is about owl (blog)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

Hello John. Thank you for your comments about my "A Silly Poem about Hair". I was inspired to post this after listening to "Silly Housework Poem" by Ann Foxglove.

Thanks
Shirley

Comment is about John Coopey (poet profile)

Original item by John Coopey