Hello, dear Lynn! Thank you so much for your comment. How are you? I've missed you!
With love and warmest wishes, Larisa

Comment is about Lynn Dye (poet profile)

Original item by Lynn Dye

Well done, Laura, very much enjoyed your poem, and also the discussion from all on here. I also feel sorrow at such distruction, and can blame parenting up to a point, but I also look at the bigger picture, and while it doesn't excuse their behaviour, we should try and understand the cause and effect. I agree with your views on governments and banking; in fact, my other half could have written this too!

Comment is about Cause and Effect (blog)

Original item by Laura Taylor

Very good... : )
Killer last line!

Comment is about Kill The System (blog)

Original item by Kealan Coady

Witty and topical...
It's nice to try out different forms of writing - interesting structure too, the Villanelle.

Comment is about Reading, Rioting and (A)rithmetic - a villanelle (blog)

Original item by Dave Carr

Mrs Thatcher speaks very highly of you! Enjoyed your rant, some great points and who would have thought China would be the currently in charge of the world after the yanks and ourselves have had a go over the last couple of centuries running it, long live the all you can eat buffet!

Seriously though sad state of affairs and while there are reasons that some folk want to vent anger that wasn't the original cause of the trouble or the end of it, a lot of the rioters are either in work in decemt jobs, have wealthy parents, (had) good prospects or werent old enough to work (or sign on as the case may be), and hardly underfed or hard done to on their mobiles or blackberries), those who might have had a cause got lost in that.

I don't know the answer to that, some people like the thrill a bit like the football hooligan who works for a bank or solicitors etc, not even to do with rivalry!

There are of course deep rooted problems and I have to agree with a lot of the things you (and Bob on facebook!) have said. I said to Bob, the govt have been naive to implement the extreme cuts at such a rapid rate and all this was no surprise for those who are oppressed to make a point even if the cause was something else that sparked it off. I work in benefits, yeah something needs doing to get more people off the sick, etc, etc, but doing what, evrywhere is losing jobs and theres already 2 million unemployed, the maths dont work, after the miners, poll tax, students, G8 summits, it aint rocket science that this will happen at the slightest chance.

we need to value society, and give hope to those who do need it, not take the piss with bonuses when even the banks lose money and so on, I just hope that the good relations that have been built between police and communities dont take as long to heal, and that the people who care about this country get it back to the tolerant society we are fortunate enough to have and show the dignity expressed by the man whose son got killed in hit and run, right will get off my soap box!! thanx Jeff

Comment is about Cause and Effect (blog)

Original item by Laura Taylor

Nice one Kealon, very philosophical view of the current unrest and a valid argument for all to move forward best way possible, very few have had good reason to be even involved in the latest debacle, Jeff

Comment is about Kill The System (blog)

Original item by Kealan Coady

It might not be your joke John but you have certainly enhanced it. I've done this a couple of times myself. I would say it was poetic licence.
About the underwear, I'm sorry but it's gone to Qxfam. It depends on what part of the world you are from weather you will be a recipient or not.
Cheers John. Carry on blogging. Tommy Mc.

Comment is about John Coopey (poet profile)

Original item by John Coopey

Nice one mate, now see me for detention!

Comment is about Reading, Rioting and (A)rithmetic - a villanelle (blog)

Original item by Dave Carr

big big changes are a-comin-
the fan hitting shit
is gonna stink
long time-and large(r)

and there aint clothes pegs big enough.

Comment is about now what? (blog)

Original item by SPACEGHOST

powerful

and teetering on the edge
of truth.

can we survive the coming fall?

Phanx.

Comment is about The Disappeared, Truthful Evil (blog)

well,speaking from under
two duvets,
all I can say is
that the last line is c-c-correct!

dont say there are rioters up there
pooing on us from another angle
eh Lynn?

c-c-c-catch y-y-you -l-l-later.

S-S-S-Stef. xx

Comment is about Summer Seasons (blog)

Original item by Lynn Dye

Nothing is impossible Lynn. Go for it girl!
Love your turn of Phrase. I've just read "Impossibility.^ Will read more when I get my new glasses.
Thanks for your lovely comment on
"Three's a crowd" That was just one of four poems
on the theme of ten words. I will be blogging the others in due course. In the mean-time check out my "Strictly for the birds." and imagine Johnny Cash and "A boy named Sue."

Comment is about Lynn Dye (poet profile)

Original item by Lynn Dye

this regime?
have they got the balls to be one?


lucky for scumbags
that gaddaffy duck
aint head boy here!

Comment is about An abstraction of events (blog)

Original item by Tommy Carroll

do you know

#don,t jump off the roof dad
you,ll make a hole
in the floor#

?

a very raw moving poem.

Stef.

Comment is about I`M SINGING BECAUSE… (blog)

Hi Dave-

nice rhythm.
clever poem.

a subject bound unfortunately
to become pattern setting.

phanx m8.

Stef.

Comment is about Reading, Rioting and (A)rithmetic - a villanelle (blog)

Original item by Dave Carr

Hi Lynn
nice to see you back
to see you back-NICE!

hope the break didja good.

very appreciative of your comments
on 'Biding' and 'Justuselessscum'

strange sad world indeed-
but never defeated by those
who-are-strange and sad.

warmest regards to family and Benji.xx

Comment is about Lynn Dye (poet profile)

Original item by Lynn Dye

me likey. very 'of the moment'!

Comment is about Kill The System (blog)

Original item by Kealan Coady

noo not a quote Laura :o)

noo ray- not anticipating fame :o)

Comment is about An abstraction of events (blog)

Original item by Tommy Carroll

It's a nice poem, Ann. Enjoyed it. I think The Rub would make a nice title.

Comment is about the rub (blog)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

Have you met my bloke Bob? ;)

Great poem btw

Comment is about Kill The System (blog)

Original item by Kealan Coady

But if it's not a quotation, why the quotation marks? Are you anticipating fame?

'There is a Court
in the collective
consciousness
of the workers

I think the jury's out on that one.

Comment is about An abstraction of events (blog)

Original item by Tommy Carroll

Alright Tommy - thanks :) Good to know that my feelings and analysis are shared. Take care :)

Comment is about Tommy Carroll (poet profile)

Original item by Tommy Carroll

Hi Cynthia - thanks again for reading and contributing. I feel confident in all of what I have written, and I totally understand your note of caution. Direct experience and observation of preceding years, plus that which is in the public domain already, is the basis of that confidence. Thanks again though :)

Good day's debating!

Comment is about Cynthia Buell Thomas (poet profile)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

Ah now, this reminds of the the dictatorship of the proletariat...

Or is it?! I've re-read this now several times...hmmm

Offski - will think more about this

Comment is about An abstraction of events (blog)

Original item by Tommy Carroll

Not a quote- I used it this way earlier-ta for the apostrophe.

Comment is about An abstraction of events (blog)

Original item by Tommy Carroll

On the poetry side it has a nice rhthm and rhyme going. It'd perform well, as the saying goes. I'd go for
but don't you know from where they root. For the extra rhyme.
I'd ditch the 3rd verse and make the 5th into answers rather than questions.

As for the real world, to explain why someone behaves in certain ways is not to excuse that behaviour.An awful lot of people cannot not get their heads round this or wilfully ignore it.
Much of this week's behaviour is just opportunism and greed. But I think also there's an awareness in the land that things have gone wrong, and regardless of who might be to blame, the consequences are not being shared out equally. The present shenanigans distract us very nicely from that. Not that I'm a conspiracy theorist or anything!

Comment is about Cause and Effect (blog)

Original item by Laura Taylor

Sometimes I cringe at the unguarded post; sometimes I wish a more tempered response to events had been observed and sometimes, as is the case here, a full on rant of unbridled anger is called for- I have read others posts and your responses Laura- I for one am in total agreement. Your analysis of 'cause and effect' is correct. Well done.
PS Cameron and Boris Johnson were responsible for wrecking a 15th century restaurant, and Borris also set fire to the toilet.

Comment is about Cause and Effect (blog)

Original item by Laura Taylor

Very apt and clever observation. Is it a quote? Only asking because of the speech marks. IMO, tuck an apostrophe into 'regime's'. I like the capital letters - an old poetic trick which never loses power.

Comment is about An abstraction of events (blog)

Original item by Tommy Carroll

Laura and Isobel, what a terrific discussion. Laura, my point only was to caution against extreme statements which are seemingly self-evident, before digging more deeply into original and/or parallel causes and effects. That 9/11 murder was a preconceived act, waiting only for a catalyst, however indirect. We all read what we want to read into situations; and this weakness is a severe political pitfall.

Some of the suggested 'retaliatory' schemes are idiotic to the extreme, and are almost scarier than the destruction and pillaging.

*now off MY soapbox!

But look at you, standing up tall,like a Greek StatesWoman firing her ideas full force at the assembled crowd, in the finest manner of persuasive rhetoric. I am in awe.

Comment is about Cause and Effect (blog)

Original item by Laura Taylor

With love and organised insurrection-viva!
:o)

Comment is about Kill The System (blog)

Original item by Kealan Coady

Hi Cynthia,'O Sweet Confusion' I think your friend's suggestion has some merit. Read as set out below: your poem could be said to have greater thrust.

'Wisdom is not chronological.One wasp hidden in the gentle petals makes all the blossoms suspect and much joy is lost'.

Comment is about Cynthia Buell Thomas (poet profile)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

The plan was to have my theatre piece alongside the poetry at 8pm, but with the riots one of my actresses and my sound engineer are out of action and we're rescheduling the theatre piece from the end of September instead now.

Guests from both days are of course free entry both tonight at half 6 and tomorrow.

For 10 pounds a membership card for future events is included, and originally it would have included a free screening of my play as part of the event.

Instead we're going to give the option of £7 for the evening of poetry and the membership card for future discounts or £10 with free entry to the shows in late September/early October on 29th, 30th, and 1st October.

Comment is about Cynthia Buell Thomas (poet profile)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

I see there is a 10Pound charge. I'm presuming this would be just for my husband, and not for me as a guest reader. What do you get for this charge, besides excellent poetry, of course?

Comment is about Ushiku Crisafulli (poet profile)

Original item by Ushiku Crisafulli

A lovely human spirit shines out in all you do Harry.

Comment is about I`M SINGING BECAUSE… (blog)

I think this is excellent Dave. Says so much but in a relaxed almost jaunty way, deceptively chilling!

Comment is about Camped (blog)

Original item by Dave Bradley

Great stuff

Comment is about the rub (blog)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

Beautiful

Comment is about the rub (blog)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

Good afternoon Cynthia

Thank you so much for your insight and for taking the time to read and comment on my poem.


long time no see Cynthia I hope you are well.


Many Thanks
Gus xx

Comment is about Brown as Comfort (blog)

Original item by Gus Jonsson

I enjoyed this very much, Ann. xx

Comment is about the rub (blog)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

I enjoyed this very much, Larisa. You have a gift of putting into words what a lot of us feel. I can't always put my finger on it, I often over-express. Loved it. Lynn xx

Comment is about Can't Be Indifferent (blog)

Original item by Larisa Rzhepishevska

The wardrobe terrified me when little lol...

Comment is about ghosties (blog)

Original item by John Embley

Hi Ann, a lady after my own heart, just love this poem, and bugger housework is right!! Lynn xx

Comment is about silly housework poem (warning - contains the word bugger;) (blog)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

i just tried to register and was told i didn't have the right 'permissions'... oh dear! please let me know if i am indeed unpermissable for this course... it sounds great!
thanks
tasha

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

Original item by Greg Freeman

I was being ironic with the 'caring' comment. I care for justice. I can't see that justice will ever be meted out to these thugs.

Clearly we all parent in different ways. It is possible to bring up children without physical punishment but much more time consuming and harder to keep at when you have a large number of children. I used a combination of smacking and verbal reasoning and it worked very well for me. I wholly agree with positive parenting. I praise my children often and the love I have given them far outweighs any punishment. In addition to birching, I would like to see the creation of youth clubs and activities for teenagers - boredom is part of the problem for a lot of them - on top of not having any social conscience or idea of citizenship.

Comment is about Cause and Effect (blog)

Original item by Laura Taylor

I am actually aghast that you equate birching with caring.

I am 100% against physical punishment. The reasoning that to teach someone not to misbehave by using violence against them is hypocritical at best - damaging, oppressive, humiliating and self-perpetuating at worst. I have raised my child without an ounce of it, it is absolutely not required. There are many other ways to teach and instil caring and responsible attitudes. Physical punishment is animalistic and base. We are human beings with the ability to use language and reasoning. We should never have to stoop so low.

We are shaped by much more than our parents. But they do set the scene, and they do have a huge effect on our future lives.

Comment is about Cause and Effect (blog)

Original item by Laura Taylor

I'm actually being very caring by calling for public birching. I recognise that cutting social security benefits wouldn't help these youths - they wouldn't be able to afford their blackberries for one...

I also understand that banging them up in prisons isn't going to help them either. Apparently it increases their potential for criminal activity because they forge more criminal contacts.

I've always believed in physcial punishment. My parents used it on me and I used it on mine. Measured and never done in too much haste - and there is never any need for it beyond the age of 4 or 5 cos they respect discipline and authority by then. Kids need to know when they've done wrong and they need an instant reminder of it. That is where we have gone wrong - this mamby pamby softness in our society. The fault always has to lie elsewhere - never at home.

Comment is about Cause and Effect (blog)

Original item by Laura Taylor

You know, there are now calls for the people who took part in this to have their benefits cut, and to be evicted from social housing. This is so incredibly short-sighted that I have scabs on my chin - my mouth has dropped open so much in bemused disbelief. Consequences, anyone?

The police continue to make mistakes. Recent phone hacking 'revelations' led to the 2 foremost commissioners resigning. I have an awful lot to say about this Isobel but this is not the place. The whole thing stinks.

Physical punishment will not lead to a peaceful society. Custodial sentences ARE actually already being doled out.

And I would never dream of stooping to personal insults - we are debating here, not scrapping.

Comment is about Cause and Effect (blog)

Original item by Laura Taylor

Going back to the kids who will do time...

Sadly, I doubt very much that many will do anything. There aren't enough prison cells to hold them and they don't have the money to pay fines. It is all hot air just to placate the greater british public - who want justice.

Comment is about Cause and Effect (blog)

Original item by Laura Taylor

I see the point you are making Laura. I would like to live in a society that was clean and honest from the top down or bottom up. I'm not sure such a Utopia will ever happen though - it doesn't seem to be human nature. The best we can hope for is a peaceful society in which individual human rights are respected. How we achieve that we will never agree over :-)

I do take some comfort from the fact that cheating politicians have been named and shamed - many forced to resign. The police have made mistakes but are now so scared of making them it almost ties one hand behind their back. The fact that we deal with our transgressions in a public way (sometimes and eventually) probably doesn't help us in that it undermines our confidence in the system. I'm sure much worse goes on in other countries - things that never see the light of day. I do think we take for granted so many good things about this country of ours.

Comment is about Cause and Effect (blog)

Original item by Laura Taylor

I went to this year's St. Ives Literary Festival and met some interesting, colourful people. They offered me the chance of reading at the Frug later in the evening but unfortunately I was unable to - hope it goes well!

I'll bring the sugar.

Comment is about the rub (blog)

Original item by Ann Foxglove