Hi Cynthia Thanks for the comments. This is one of several poems about my father-in-law. It was touch and go whether he would reach 80 because he has cancer. It's hard for me to know how others might react to these poems. They are part of my ongoing exploration of Irishness and my own 2nd generation identity. My father-in-law is a very decent man, but we have spent a lifetime arguing about nationalism and I have less and less patience with it. This is all part of the subtext here. I don't know if this makes any sense or whether it just seems a rant.I wouldn't like anyone to think I am mocking him, but he has always made such a fuss about only drinking Irish whiskey without even trying scotch. that it was alot easier to get him to finish that bottle by passing it off as 'the real mackoy'.
Comment is about Cynthia Buell Thomas (poet profile)
Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas
It is a riddle, I agree, but may not be as self-indulgent as it first appears. I wonder if the writer speaks to an unborn child, or even to a single sperm, inviting its attachment to the female egg - inception. That would 'explain' the intense self-focus, the sense of longing.
Comment is about Know who i am. (blog)
Original item by Kath Hewitt
thanx Andy for your comment, one of my many random bits of work:)
Comment is about poem on a sunken ship (blog)
Original item by NICK ARMBRISTER
Just trying to put off doing the flaming housework!
Comment is about silly housework poem (warning - contains the word bugger;) (blog)
Original item by Ann Foxglove
<Deleted User> (7075)
Sun 31st Jul 2011 00:13
Aha , an interesting exercise Greg, liked the end particularly, win x
Comment is about The Clyde Paddle Steamers (blog)
Original item by Greg Freeman
<Deleted User> (7075)
Sat 30th Jul 2011 23:26
Hi Sharon. Welcome to Write Out Loud. I hope you find something to interest you on here. Winston.
Comment is about Sharon Larkin (poet profile)
Original item by Sharon Larkin
Hey Liz!
I remember you performing this at the Talent Night. It was great having some new voices in the group. If it's any consolation, I haven't won at Talent Night either - but I'm gonna keep on trying! Next meeting is the first Tuesday in October (2011) 7pm, same venue. Come again, bring friends ... and maybe a few paper copies for people who like to see what they are hearing :)
Sharon, the Sweet One
Comment is about Earshot (blog)
Original item by Liz Millar
Thanks for the welcome!
Alas, no relation :)
Sharon
Comment is about Sharon Larkin (poet profile)
Original item by Sharon Larkin
<Deleted User> (6895)
Sat 30th Jul 2011 18:36
eee! by 'eck its that lovely Sharon Larkin!
what a grand name!
related to Phil by any chance Sharon?
if not,welcome all the same.
have a nice time on the site.
Stefan.x
Comment is about Sharon Larkin (poet profile)
Original item by Sharon Larkin
Only half joking I should think, Ann (-: I've cleaned two loos this week. What's more it was my idea (this time)!
Thanks as ever for commenting.
Comment is about Ann Foxglove (poet profile)
Original item by Ann Foxglove
<Deleted User> (6315)
Sat 30th Jul 2011 17:16
I think the only one I recognise is Chris..all those poets I don't know...shameful... :)
Comment is about Write Out Loud at The Tudor, Wigan, March 2011 (photo)
This is a really convoluted piece of work. The reinforcement of the statement "come into me" is at first sexual but later could be termed platonic. Then read again not so. I didn't think swallow your own sickness felt right, it depends how you meant it. This is indeed a riddle!
Comment is about Know who i am. (blog)
Original item by Kath Hewitt
A very good description of the emotional roller coaster men feel when asked to clean the loo! (Only joking!) :)
Comment is about Men and tears (blog)
Original item by Dave Bradley
<Deleted User> (6315)
Sat 30th Jul 2011 14:22
<Deleted User> (6315)
Sat 30th Jul 2011 14:18
gosh Kath..can be read in so many ways, I guess because of your great word choice.
Very much enjoyed, :)
Comment is about Know who i am. (blog)
Original item by Kath Hewitt
I like this one Stella. Lovely enigmatic cadences and that hint of the mysterious that keeps you hooked.
Comment is about Visitation (For The Ghost Theme) (blog)
<Deleted User> (6315)
Sat 30th Jul 2011 14:13
The words work well in this form Dave..they move to their conclusion easily to my mind.
nice work :)
Comment is about Men and tears (blog)
Original item by Dave Bradley
Hi thanks for all your comments, sorry I am a bit pushed for time today trying to finish something to a deadline so I haven't got time to answer each one individually, I don't know the Dave Carr poem, I will look it up, I have read this to my wife and no, that's not me under the stones (It's actually the trig point at the top of Ingleborough, IIRC)though it could easily be me under the patio since she used to be an avid fan of Brookside. Gotta go. Sorry. & Thanks again for yr kind words
Comment is about Matrimony Rap (blog)
Original item by STEVE RUDD
<Deleted User> (6315)
Sat 30th Jul 2011 13:36
well...was about being haunted when you don't believe in ghosts..Pleased you liked :)
Comment is about Dave Bradley (poet profile)
Original item by Dave Bradley
Excellent. Reminiscent in places of a poem Dave Carr read out at the Tudor earlier this year (with his wife present!)
Comment is about Matrimony Rap (blog)
Original item by STEVE RUDD
This poem is borrowed from an evocative article by Ian Jack in today's Guardian
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/jul/29/ian-jack-paddle-steamers-clyde. One of the points in Ian's article is that the sole surviving Clyde paddle steamer, the Waverley, needs cash to keep it afloat. If you're interested, the website is
waverleyexcursions.co.uk
Comment is about The Clyde Paddle Steamers (blog)
Original item by Greg Freeman
<Deleted User> (7212)
Sat 30th Jul 2011 11:06
That's not you under that pile of stones is it Steve? True love described here, I feel!
Comment is about Matrimony Rap (blog)
Original item by STEVE RUDD
She speaks very highly of you! Nice one Steve, made me smile, good job you said the last few lines or there would be trouble! cheers Jeff
Comment is about Matrimony Rap (blog)
Original item by STEVE RUDD
Yes, I know this poem well. Sometimes during my darkest moments I have felt the need to talk to someone who seems more sincere than those that know you. I say that because when in need those who know you can often pass by your want of need, in glib understanding. The Samaritans however do care for those that find themselves going through a rough time. They should be given more exposure, with an emphasis on 'having the courage' to phone. Because some people are so down about themselves and life that they don't often have the courage to make the call that they 'should' be able to make. They don't realize that they, we all, are, someone, and each of us matter.
Nice work.
Stay well.
Mike
x
Comment is about 'So sad WAS I' by John Harrison (blog)
I've been trying to work this one out and still failed (-: Oh well, I like it, and we don't have to 'understand' everything do we.
Comment is about Visitation (For The Ghost Theme) (blog)
Really like this...
1st and 2nd verses are my fave!
Comment is about Visitation (For The Ghost Theme) (blog)
Thank you for your comments on my poems. Much appreciated :-)
Comment is about Jeffarama! (poet profile)
Original item by Jeffarama!
Another new poet, a stunning short story from James, a brand new shiny merch corner and sixteen poets and audience members all helped to make another great night at Middleton WOL on 24th July.
Under 'Areas For Improvement' I got 'bugger all' and 'none I've noticed' which is awesome!
Here's the 'Good Points': good atmosphere, good people, good place, ripping fun. eclectic as always, fab, simply fab, well read, well read and well fed, good atmosphere, good fun, good variety, enjoyable night, nothing bad, sometimes I just like to listen to everyone else, really enjoyable, really great night, fab poems.
Review is about Write Out Loud - Middleton on 24 Jul 2011 (event)
Alvin Sawdust at Middleton WOL July 2011.
Comment is about Alvin Sawdust at Middleton WOL July 2011. (photo)
Bet your Ripper poem's not as downright shocking as mine!
I thought doing funny's easy for me so I thought I'd try something different.
I reckon a writer's job is to make the reader think and feel what he/she wants them to think/feel.
So I thought I'd try "shocked".
Comment is about Ann Foxglove (poet profile)
Original item by Ann Foxglove
Beautifully expressed and so lyrical!
Comment is about Back home (blog)
Original item by John Embley
Terrific poem, Dave. Bit T.S.Eliot? Strange how falling can practically rhyme with corpses and torches. After "deadly cage" the high standard dipped a little, I thought, just for a few lines.Be a more powerful end without the last 2 lines, perhaps?
Comment is about LMF (blog)
Original item by Dave Bradley
Yes, this is a very touching tribute, Dave.
I've read and heard first hand accounts of the terror experienced...
'But what do they know? Really, what do they know?'
Can anyone who hasn't been there ever really imagine what it is truly like...?!
p.s. When I saw the title, I thought - 'Love Me Forever' ; )
Comment is about LMF (blog)
Original item by Dave Bradley
This tears at my heartstrings... Your words paint a wistful picture.
Beautifully expressed:
'Ties loosen
as time moves on.
I can spend a day
without a thought for you'
Comment is about by your leave (blog)
Original item by Ann Foxglove
Super piece David. Whenever I read/hear/see anything appertaining to the two deadly world wars, it leaves me feeling totally inadequate. Would we have been so brave if we had been called. Gladly, I'll never know, but never let it be said that these men weren't giants amongst minnows.
Comment is about LMF (blog)
Original item by Dave Bradley
Hi John, really enjoyed this, lovely piece, especially the spirit of the kiss, nice one, I've never been too far from where I grew up so seen it change, can imagine your shock, best wishes Jeff
Comment is about Back home (blog)
Original item by John Embley
A good read John-one that everyone can relate to,I think
Comment is about Back home (blog)
Original item by John Embley
Philipos
Fri 29th Jul 2011 16:27
Dave, brings it all home. A war hero relative (DFC and Bar)says in his biog that his worst day was when the war ended and everyone was virtually jobless and without that tight bond of structure in the mess that serving men knew. Worst still, many could not talk to civvies about bombing missions to Dresden and the like partly because of the dodgy conversation that ensued and also their own sense of guilt. Your poem paints a really apposite picture of the agonies entailed. We need reminding of such things.
Comment is about LMF (blog)
Original item by Dave Bradley
<Deleted User> (6315)
Fri 29th Jul 2011 16:11
thanks Laura for liking 'not one to be a snitch'.. :)
Comment is about Laura Taylor (poet profile)
Original item by Laura Taylor
<Deleted User> (6315)
Fri 29th Jul 2011 15:57
Short but oh so sweet!...love the title and shape too..
Comment is about diamante love (blog)
Original item by Ann Foxglove
<Deleted User> (6315)
Fri 29th Jul 2011 15:48
thanks Jeff for your kind comment on visitation..much aprreciate :)
Comment is about Jeffarama! (poet profile)
Original item by Jeffarama!
<Deleted User> (7212)
Fri 29th Jul 2011 15:23
thanks Laura (no flannel) xx
Comment is about Laura Taylor (poet profile)
Original item by Laura Taylor
Cant have been easy to write this never mind put it out, extremely brave and as a poem very powerful, hope it helped, best wishes Jeff
Comment is about Daddys girl (blog)
Original item by Kath Hewitt
Me or not Me, that is the question, really like this Kath, got a good flow to it, well written, honest and definitely deserves a title, Jeff X
Comment is about Hurt (blog)
Original item by Kath Hewitt
Nice and naughty, great idea too! Jeff XZ
Comment is about diamante love (blog)
Original item by Ann Foxglove
Sad, and can feel the pain Ann, think it's something we all go through and need to write about, you've done it brilliantly in such few words, loved it Jeff x
Comment is about by your leave (blog)
Original item by Ann Foxglove
Ann Foxglove
Sun 31st Jul 2011 23:00
Just logged on to say "love this!". Good night!
Comment is about Drewton Tunnels (blog)
Original item by STEVE RUDD