Here's to that day! Know, or think I know (isn't that the point?, what you mean here. Well put. X

Comment is about I'm Alright (blog)

Original item by Steven Kenny

I don't mean to belittle or deride what you are doing & saying here, (and this lady has my utmost sympathy & best wishes) but, without any sense of irony, Ian Tomlinson was doing nothing more than walking home down the street IN LONDON when he was murdered by a British policeman.
If you think that "murdered" is too harsh a description, how do you think it would be perceived if a member of the G20 protest group had "inadvertantly" killed a serving officer ?
Do we really imagine it would have taken this long for him to be charged with manslaughter?
I dont think so. Maybe the mess in our own back yard could also do with some help ? - except that even the media outcry & the CCTV footage fails to shame our own judiciary into "doing the right thing". This lady has been unforgivably treated - and Ian Tomlinson killed - is the UK such a just & reasonable place as we would like to think it is ? B

Comment is about Petition launched for jailed Bahrain poet (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

This is so matter of fact and I accept it as so true that I forgot to feel sad when I read it! I think because there are elements that are true for me here, I can't feel sad. This is just how it is. Very well put.

Comment is about Lost (blog)

Original item by Christopher Dawson

What beautiful colours you paint here. Not heard many of these names in a while - so evocative, they conjour up for me so many painters and paintings. And what a lovely play on words in you last line. A real pleasure to read. XX

Comment is about watching paint (blog)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

Very evocative poem. I enjoyed the language and images.

Comment is about Old Glitter and Flipflops (blog)

Original item by Emma McCourty

Of course one can't help but associate the scents of sex also with the apple scent and since poetry, like the sense of smell, is so evocative and taps into deep memories I find this all the more powerful.

Comment is about Keeping The Scent Of Insignificance From The Door (blog)

Original item by John Togher

Aw, what a fantstic line - "These memories keep the scent of insignificance at the door." Such real memories you describe - no-one could doubt for a moment the honesty and passion of these images. And the integrity of your committing them to a poem. And the final sentiment is so truthful, wise. A real knock-out poem, John - brilliant. X

Comment is about Keeping The Scent Of Insignificance From The Door (blog)

Original item by John Togher

I love the straightforward almost statement like feel of the stanzas. It seems simple which belies the richness of the images. Can really feel ths weather & season you conjour up here. XX

Comment is about Summer is Here (blog)

Original item by Andy N

Good poem - very atmospheric & clever although it doesn't feel clever - just flows naturally, which is why it is such a good poem. Look forward to more, Kealan.

Comment is about The Lost Bodies Of Last Year's Summer (blog)

Original item by Kealan Coady

Fantastic, Dave. So entertaining anda such a good spin on the comp's theme. Nice one! Did you read it at the Tudor? If so sorry I missed it. X

Comment is about Sox appeal (blog)

Original item by Dave Bradley

This is so good, Alison. Absolutely love it. So well written.

Comment is about Tough old boots (blog)

Original item by Alison Smiles

Really appreicate your passion and the dedication to this real story of one life. Well put.

Comment is about 'The Missed' (blog)

I like this - made me smile. Witty and well put.

Comment is about Nowt nor Summat? - That is the Question (blog)

Original item by John Embley

Liked the ideas and use of ancient and modern words in this.

Comment is about Hymn both Ancient and Modern (blog)

Andy, well, the very thought of you, red-faced! Thank you for your kind comments on "Dark Words". You are right of course. I didn't really write it to be read so much as for myself to perform so I shall take another look. XXX

Comment is about Andy N (poet profile)

Original item by Andy N

Cynthia, thank you for taking the time for such a full critique which was great - many thanks. It is always a privilege for me when someone takes the time to really look at a poem of mine. I don't disagree either! It was a bit of a throw away piece for me and was more about the performance than the poem but I shall take time to look again. Hope you and yours are all well. XXX

Comment is about Cynthia Buell Thomas (poet profile)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

Cheers mi dearest dear for commenting on "Dark Words". XXX

Comment is about Laura Taylor (poet profile)

Original item by Laura Taylor

So is Trev Cas' Lad on Tuesday 14 Jun at 3:30 pm. Reading some of his work includiong poems from his recent trip to America.

Comment is about McMillans together at live broadcast festival (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Enjoyed this Ann. Made me feel the sun on an overcast day

Comment is about watching paint (blog)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

Hi Tom , you need to change your biog now that you are a spoken word superstar! great to see you and Bob at Butterflies, You did brilliantly. I will be back. As to 1971, many thanks for the comments. Different people like different bits of this somewhat disjointed effort. I think Iso's ideas of a reordering would created a more understandable time line. Also that bit you mentioned "When the naols bite..." I wrote at our table in butterflies! Houston x.

Comment is about Laura Taylor (poet profile)

Original item by Laura Taylor

Enjoyed this Shirley, but i think there is more to be said here - Perhaps a few extra stanzas may flesh the piece out a little bit as it does feel a bit tell not show at the moment.

Have a read of Antony Owen's poems on here as he writes excellent anti war poems (http://www.writeoutloud.net/poets/antonyowen), and I've got one too about my uncle Percy who was killed in action in World War II (http://www.writeoutloud.net/public/blogentry.php?blogentryid=17897) which may give you inspiration too.

Either way, keep em coming x

Comment is about The Price of Freedom (blog)

Original item by Shirley Smothers

No problem, I enjoyed reading it :)

Comment is about Winston Plowes (poet profile)

Original item by Winston Plowes

Excellent - so much stuff in here that is usually seen as taboo. Love it.

Comment is about Keeping The Scent Of Insignificance From The Door (blog)

Original item by John Togher

That last verse is a corker

Comment is about Invisible (blog)

Original item by Martin Togher

Hi there, Thx for the comments on my poem '1971' There is a more detailed reply on the blog entry page. Much appreciated. Win x

Comment is about Cynthia Buell Thomas (poet profile)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

Hi there, Thx for the comments on my poem '1971' There is a more detailed reply on the blog entry page. Much appreciated. Win x

Comment is about Isobel (poet profile)

Original item by Isobel

Hi there, Thx for the comments on my poem '1971' There is a more detailed reply on the blog entry page. Much appreciated. Win x

Comment is about Andy N (poet profile)

Original item by Andy N

Hi there, Thx for the comments on my poem '1971' There is a more detailed reply on the blog entry page. Much appreciated. Win x

Comment is about Heather (poet profile)

Original item by Heather

Thanks all.
Greg, the JCC gig is on 25th.
This is still a bit of a mess, I think. I like the rhythm but the content is muddled. It's half a homage to Arcade Fire - I wanna be the man who bangs the drum in Rebellion. And half about stage fright.There's quite a few Arcade Fire references - anyone a fan? Nice to hear from you, Heather.

Comment is about Stage Fright (blog)

i think its well wrote, alan.. as i live near the centre of manchester and work there - i'm not 100% sure if i agree with the last bit about the city awakens as certainly over the week-end - it's a 24 hour party city - lol.

good stuff, seriously thou.. A

Comment is about Manchester Morning (blog)

Original item by Alan McKean

Enjoyed this, especially the ipods & their sleepy owners - gave me a chuckle.

Comment is about Manchester Morning (blog)

Original item by Alan McKean

The flow from the second stanza to the third didn't quite work but other than that, loved it. Especially those last few lines, that's a really strong image to end on.

Comment is about Stage Fright (blog)

Thanks for your comment on my poem Emma and for tagging your poem. It's much appreciated. x

Comment is about Emma McCourty (poet profile)

Original item by Emma McCourty

Thank you Emma. It's an old one but still relevant cos I still dress like a teenager on occasions...

Lots of our older stuff is ok to post when the need arises, I think - cos the turnover of people on here means that few will have read or remembered it.

Winston - I think it is also a good idea to take existing poetry and expand - particularly if they can adapt to both themes - disqualification - no such thing in my vocabulary. x

Comment is about Shoes, Feet and all things Podiatric (blog)

Original item by Isobel

Hi Greg - thanks for the late flowering chrysanthemum comments on colours much appreciated

Comment is about Greg Freeman (poet profile)

Original item by Greg Freeman

As Ray says - there are few sonnets or structured poems on WOL - cos it is bloody hard to do without sounding forced. I've only done one I think and it took me ages.

I loved the play on words in this - also the acknowledgement of the insecurities that besiege and undermine so many of us.

Nice one. x

Comment is about Baggage Class [sonnet] (blog)

Original item by Alan Morrison

Love the above poem Isobel. Very strong imagery and sense of character. I love how when you focus on shoes the story gets away from you when you write :o) its so much more than shoes :o)

Comment is about Shoes, Feet and all things Podiatric (blog)

Original item by Isobel

Hi Isobel! thank you for the comments on Old Glitter and Flipflops. Glad you like it. yeah its true. me clinging on...ah well. I woul;d love to tag it for Wollop-shoes segment if you like. Thankl you for asking me :o) I will just trot on to see how to tag it now :o)

Comment is about Shoes, Feet and all things Podiatric (blog)

Original item by Isobel

An intriguing one Emma, that is no doubt inspired by personal experience. Once senses the hint of a story in all this - the casting back of your mind to other times.

The question you end on leads the reader to question whether it is really over, for the main character.

Did you write this for the 'Shoes, Feet and all things Podiatric' themed competition we are having? I just wondered since you make reference to flip flops, feet and toes.... If you'd like to be part of it, please tag the poem with 'feet'. It is just a bit of fun we have here on WOL now and again. There is no prize, other than recognition from fellow poets.

Isobel x

Comment is about Old Glitter and Flipflops (blog)

Original item by Emma McCourty

... and I watch the weeds grow... not much loving it but enjoying the inactivity. Your poem catches that - together with a love of life and all its colours. x

Comment is about watching paint (blog)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

Truly evocative of the Rainy City. Probably changed somewhat since then but this brought back many memories of long ago student days there. Thank you.

Comment is about Manchester Morning (blog)

Original item by Alan McKean

A great subject to tackle - I'm struggling with some of the imagery though - probably me being dense...

I don't get the bit about the couch and local youth centre. I can understand that one might dig a tunnel to escape - like a prisoner of war...

I'm presuming the last verse is to do with heart beat and the fear of losing the audience.

Your poems are never obvious!

Comment is about Stage Fright (blog)

I really liked the uncomplicated lay out of this and the subject matter enough to terrify the feint hearted

Comment is about Stage Fright (blog)

Thanks all. The poem derived from a lovely writing group I go to - subject for the last meeting - being boring - so thought of watching paint dry and how that might not really be boring after all!

Comment is about watching paint (blog)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

Hi Mike - drowning/fighting the tide is a well used metaphor for the kind of suffering you describe, yet you seem to handle the theme in a fresh way.

I liked the 'bright shore of optimism' image - a bit like a mirage and out of reach, I guess.

'These waves, peaks, troughs, clouds' seem to be apparent within most of us poets - the downside to brains wired like ours, I suppose.

I think if you were to stop fighting the tide for a moment and look around you would find it teeming with others - equally significant.

Comment is about Pawn of Insignificance (blog)

Original item by Noetic-fret!

Lovely in its simplicity and understatement. Although written in first person there is a detachment in the poem, which makes it all the more powerful for the reader.

Comment is about Lost (blog)

Original item by Christopher Dawson

This is very special, well done.

Gus

Comment is about Lost (blog)

Original item by Christopher Dawson

Sad and beautiful. And real.

Shirley

Comment is about Lost (blog)

Original item by Christopher Dawson

Poor Augusta I'm sure she would blush crimson if she thought for one moment i would ever wish to undertake such an intimate commission.

Thanks for you kind words re my poem and yes looking forward to seeing when ever you have a moment.

Regards.
Gus

Comment is about Andy N (poet profile)

Original item by Andy N

Dis chick keeps it well hidden within the silken folds of her knickers ... or so I've bin told.

Many thanks for reading and commenting John, good to hear from you again.

Gus

Comment is about John Coopey (poet profile)

Original item by John Coopey