ello Cate
Thanks for your thoughts on 84-0.
It really did happen. One of our first games for the u13s.
I have cribbed almost entirely one by Pam Ayres called 13-0 about her son making the school football team. You should check out her superior original.

Comment is about Cate (poet profile)

Original item by Cate

Thank you Elaine. The first few lines were a bit classier than the rest - I found it hard to keep the quality up and then decided not to worry about it, since it was a funny rant. That probably accounts for why you thought it might have been serious. I wish I could have been less rhymey - it just wouldn't come though. Glad it entertained anyway. x

Comment is about The Yeung Sing Hotel (blog)

Original item by Isobel

That's why I'll never like it Steven - I like straining for meaning.

Language/poetry, for me, is different to visual art. I like abstract paintings more than still life - find all those fat cherubs and bowls of fruit very tedious - no matter how life like they are. There is often meaning to be had within the abstract though - or the fun of looking for it.

For some reason, I can't find that same pleasure in poetry that says nothing - that has no meaning. Maybe one day I'll attend one of your workshops and you can convert me - but then I'd probably work a message in there somewhere, heavily disguised :))

Comment is about Kicking and screaming (blog)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Hi Greg Thanks as ever for your warm comments. I thought this one was going to slip under the radar! When I started it I ordered Elizabeth David's 'Harvest of the Cold Months' thinking it might give me some ideas, but I finished the poem before it arrived. Will have to try to do another Ice poem now to justify the tenner I spent on it!

Comment is about Greg Freeman (poet profile)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Some anthropomorphic allusion in this Malpoet, which is surprising from you. It works very well though.

In fact I would call this poem "charming" if the word hadn't been hijacked by middle class tossers. You hear it all the time on Radio 4, and it has been known to crop up in poetry workshops.

Back, back foul didact, dare ye not to attempt the slaying of my creative soul!

Comment is about Carnivore (blog)

Original item by Malpoet

Isobel - you don't need to read the brief to understand experimental poetry - all you need is to appreciate it the way you might appreciate abstract art - not for what it's saying but the way it says it. Take what you can from it without straining for meaning.

I like this - it has some really interesting phrases in it. I loved the next to the last line - it injects almost an old-fashioned air into the poem, like something from a silent movie. It also sort of says something about the modern media-saturated world.

Comment is about Kicking and screaming (blog)

Original item by Greg Freeman

I agree with many of the comments here Ann - a very well crafted poem indeed x

Comment is about meat and potatoes (blog)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

I've replaced imagination with desire - if you see what I mean! Thanks for comments. I'm not really a sorry for myself old misery drawers! Honest!

Or maybe it should be hope stepping into the corner of the empty room? I HATE it when that happens! A poem pops into your head and then one word won't come!

I know - I could turn it into a surreal poem - a stale corned beef sandwich could step into the corner of an empty room!

Or maybe whatever it is shouldn't step but limp! Now I'm totally mixed up!!!

Comment is about meat and potatoes (blog)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

It is a privilege to have you share this with us, Ann. Very well crafted, well-wrought, from the clay of truth.
Though I agree about having two too many imaginations, as 'twere.

Comment is about meat and potatoes (blog)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

more elbow to your power Ray. Well executed to boot.

Comment is about The Manager of Integrated Services (blog)

Thank you for the comments everyone. The point of the picture was to show how people used to caricature witches and (still do) and didn't see them as human beings. But it seems it was ill judged. I'd remove it if I could figure out how.

Special thanks to Anthony for the Monty Python link. Making much the same point in a far more devastating way.

PS As well as the drive, I had a walk across Dartmoor in thick mist, and I swear some hounds started howling nearby. Heaven knows where they were, because there's nothing there. Or is there.........?

Comment is about Witches (blog)

Original item by Dave Bradley

Hello again Dave,

I hear what you're saying about forced rhymes and when all's said and done these are your words, my opinion is only one & I'm by no means an expert nor can we please everyone all the time ;)

Still think it's a lovely piece all the same. Blanket in the woods - definitely!

With respect,
Petrova.

Comment is about Our Blanket beneath The Stars (blog)

Original item by Dave Dunn

As you know I left on saturday night and missed the Renga, I have a horrible feeling that I made a pratt of myself without taking a drop!! Obviously this was never my intention and it'd be hard to explain how anyone could get over stimulated by a weekend away writing poetry, as you know there's a bit more to it than that. Having said that it was a great weekend and it was a pleasure to meet such a kind group of people including of course the Diamond Geezer - Best wishes Dave

Comment is about Round & Round the Rengabout (blog)

Original item by Malpoet

Well you certainly did nt upset me, glad you got home safely -

Comment is about Round & Round the Rengabout (blog)

Original item by Malpoet

I would never have thought it possible to say so much about pickled eggs, so well -

Comment is about For Chris (blog)

Original item by Malpoet

Enjoyed it very much, it's good to move from one's family to bigger things then back again.
I'd suggest

like a freshwater fish

all at sea with the brine

I flounder and need to be heard,

because I can never pass up a fish joke.

Comment is about The Stuff of Life (blog)

Original item by Isobel

Laughter has no formula just one of the great phrases in this poem which make it so good

Comment is about The Stuff of Life (blog)

Original item by Isobel

'Hubble bubble toilet trouble'. Sister Cate used to make me sit and listen to recordings of Macbeth when I was a very young child - can you imagine it? Other kids had bicycles! The above quote was all I could remember at the end of it...
Enjoyed this Dave - it does make you think about all the injustice of the past.

Would agree with Cynthia about the picture - it undermines the poem.

Comment is about Witches (blog)

Original item by Dave Bradley

Hi Dave yeh I would say comfort/habit/dependence,rather than a darker reason...
Thanks for reading Dave :)

Comment is about Sympathy cough (blog)

This is very,very sad - not quite sure if the pill box is grasped and hugged for comfort or there's a darker reason - of course it could be either -

Comment is about Sympathy cough (blog)

Not my cup of tea - but then experimental poetry rarely is. Often I think you need to have read the brief to appreciate the result.

Well done you for giving it a go though!

Comment is about Kicking and screaming (blog)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Very very clever Ray - and brilliant social commentary. It's all been said before. The last verse is magnificent in ramming home the message of all the points you've made - I want to stand up and applaud. x

Comment is about The Manager of Integrated Services (blog)

Wow indeed! You're back with a bang Cynthia. Very impressive use of language and imagery here. I love the down to earth feel of the ending also - it complements the rich imagery that precedes really well - takes it back to basics. A super poem. x

Comment is about Rowing Across Herring Gut in a Purple Boat (blog)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

Wow - great poem, Cynthia. All the colour & wonderful language: "golden-throated river" & "reticule of herring" - fantastic. Really painterly use of words. x

Comment is about Rowing Across Herring Gut in a Purple Boat (blog)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

Excellent - love all the public sector speak. How cleverly and wisely said, Ray.

Comment is about The Manager of Integrated Services (blog)

Common and often true view of student life - I think the young woman you refer to is quite possibly my Doctor - Funny and well written..

Comment is about The Student (blog)

Lots to like about this, Ann - without yearning making the heart knock is wonderful.Then I like the near-rhymes of knock, lopped, docked.What jarred was both uses of "imagination" - you could substitute "fancy" for one of them.The poem deserved a better ending, I thought.

Comment is about meat and potatoes (blog)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

Wonderful poem, Ann. Such rich language and as has been said here before - some very original and strong images. xxx

Comment is about meat and potatoes (blog)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

I like this poem it rolls along really well with no hidden agenda and is pleasing to my inner ear,if I can put it that way

Comment is about Our Blanket beneath The Stars (blog)

Original item by Dave Dunn

Loved this! Wonderful humour, great turn of phrase and some brilliant rhymes. Although in the first stanza I was initially reading it at a deeper level rather than literal! Typical of me I guess! I kept thinking, hmm must google this hotel - perhaps it's a well known jail where human rights abuses regularly occur. Mind you £70 for the privilege of going hungry! I do know this type of experience though - had a similar event the other weekend!

Comment is about The Yeung Sing Hotel (blog)

Original item by Isobel

For my liking, these found poems have to be really weird or really funny. I thought this promised to be both for 7 lines but then fizzled out a bit.The giant polar bear is very interesting.

Comment is about Kicking and screaming (blog)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Enjoyed this, Cynthia, verging on Lewis Carroll then ebbing back again. The thinking pistil is great. I thought slowly thrum would sound better than thrum slowly.

Comment is about Rowing Across Herring Gut in a Purple Boat (blog)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

Thanks for your comment on the Yeung Sing Greg - glad you found it entertaining. Am sorry I couldn't make the WOL week-end - it was too much on top of last week-end - hopefull we will get chance to meet at summat in the future. It's good to hear that you are now on the admin team. x

Comment is about Greg Freeman (poet profile)

Original item by Greg Freeman

I was the model guest - all I took were the free biscuits in the room - which for some reason were still within sell by date, unlike the little pots of milk... x

Comment is about Anthony Emmerson (poet profile)

Original item by Anthony Emmerson

I don't have the greatest of mental health either. It's not easy to commit to paper and it's hard to know if anyone understands. Spelling out shame and what your ashamed of is tricky as is pasting on the appropriate label. In my case it was all my own fault and I have done a hidden and and atrocious poem about it in rhyming couplets in chronological order. I like the tone and phrasing of your poem it's interesting and cleverly put together - David

Comment is about Daniel (pschosis at 16) (blog)

Original item by Daniel Hooks

hi Lynn-your comments on'neglected garden' and'Tynonidae' are very much appreciated-hope you and yours are well(incl Mr Benji)xx)

Comment is about Lynn Dye (poet profile)

Original item by Lynn Dye

I like the parody and the sardonic use of public sector jargon in this. It makes you think. How did everything go so very wrong?

Comment is about The Manager of Integrated Services (blog)

Well I can see it as a fillum. Anything that has a landlord who

"dons all the sequins

and feathers, trawling hotspots"

could command attention.

And Salford gets weirder by the year.

Comment is about Kicking and screaming (blog)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Amusing but insightful and wickedly clever!
A rather wonderful social comment!
Cate xx

Comment is about The Manager of Integrated Services (blog)

Beautiful imagery here Cynthia, economical yet vivid language, like an artist sweeping brilliant blocks of colour over a canvas. Lovely!
Cate xx

Comment is about Rowing Across Herring Gut in a Purple Boat (blog)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

An interesting look into our not so glorious past. It seems almost impossible to think that only a few hundred years ago a woman could be denounced and burnt at the stake for having a wart on her body. I do hope that Witch Finder General is roasting in one of his own fires!
Cate xx

Comment is about Witches (blog)

Original item by Dave Bradley

Beautiful! I love the way your poetry is maturing and not as "angry" as your rants used to be. Although its a mark of a good poet that they can encompass various styles. And Joe deffinitely has your laughing brown eyes!
Cate xx

Comment is about The Stuff of Life (blog)

Original item by Isobel

I will vouch for this...... I was there!
Love it Isobel its turned a less than happy experience into an amusing one!
Cate xx

Comment is about The Yeung Sing Hotel (blog)

Original item by Isobel

Orrrr....I hope your dad wasnt shouting "useless pud" at you! Somehow when youve played your heart out and lost with such a whopping score, words like "it doesnt matter if you win or lose but how you played the game" dont quite cut it!! I always find your work amusing John.
Cate xx

Comment is about 84 - 0 (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

Everyone has their own truth but only a few can see the reality. Personally I choose to look the other way whilst keeping an eye on the ceiling so I can watch the shit approach and duck. You have a great way of putting things and I enjoy reading your work. As for commenting it gives me a strange feeling of being overwhelmed (or is it jealousy??) when I read something worthwhile, luckily for you you come into that bracket. (Thought it'd be cathartic to get that out, maybe it takes a while)

Comment is about Having a shower after watching the news headlines (blog)

Original item by Dave Morgan

Thought I would just drop in and say hello and nice to have met you Greg - I did nt do this exercise but from your explanation you've done well with the material provided

Comment is about Kicking and screaming (blog)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Hi Greg, re; RIP - sad old story as I know the parties involved - you might have read the summary in this week's Surrey Ad. Thanks for commenting.

Comment is about Greg Freeman (poet profile)

Original item by Greg Freeman

This is such a fine poem, Cynthia. Takes the breath away

Comment is about Rowing Across Herring Gut in a Purple Boat (blog)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

Some lovely images in this, Cynthia - language to relish.

Comment is about Rowing Across Herring Gut in a Purple Boat (blog)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

Enjoyed this, Ray. It reminded me of Jim Hacker as the Minister for Administrative Affairs.

Comment is about The Manager of Integrated Services (blog)