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)

Thanks very much for your comment the poem is not too finely balanced but does in part refer to the story of the Talents (coins) given by a father to his 3 sons with differing results in the Bible.

For explanation my poem adds a fourth son who is extremely gifted but becomes so absorbed in his own genius that his "talents" are destroyed taken away - I suppose Icarus and Narcissus are similar in mythology and certainly a lot of the rock stars who died early because of their excesses would fall into the same category.

Explanation is not my strong suit so I hope you now get the jist - Thanks again David

Comment is about Cynthia Buell Thomas (poet profile)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

Ann, you are one amazing poet. This is a marvellous 'list' of inventive metaphors for Despair, each one as potent as the one before. Skillful 'Metaphors' are traditionally considered to be the epitome of great poetry. And the feeling evoked is universal sympathy.

Comment is about meat and potatoes (blog)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

There are some excellent points here, Dave. I'm only sorry you used a silly cartoon that distorts the rational premise. But you do actually seem a bit ambivalent about the whole subject.

Comment is about Witches (blog)

Original item by Dave Bradley

I see Julian's first point: since 'Kamikaze' is self-annihilation it's hard to envision it 'from behind'. But I do like 'fundamental lie' as, for me, it carries the idea of 'basic untruths never --ever - challenged'. I'm uncertain of the 'sweet' of 'bitter-sweet'. Does 'green lens' imply 'jealousy'? Or just 'blurred'? Or both, maybe? It's an artful word. This is a well-crafted, evocative poem.

Comment is about a bitter-sweet affair (blog)

Original item by Kath Hewitt

You start with a hefty, homely, two-line punch to the brain cells, and then you never let up. This is not just poetically dexterous, it is witty in the finest sense of clever.

Comment is about The Manager of Integrated Services (blog)

Herring Gut is the original, local name for Port Clyde, Maine.

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

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

Hello Foxy
No Pam Ayres didn't play rugby, you numpty!
She did write a poem much, much better than mine called 13-0 about her son's debut in the school football team. Despite having written it years before mine, the structure she copied off me along with the subject matter, title and rhyming pattern!
Incidentally, would you like to see my Up and Under?

Comment is about Ann Foxglove (poet profile)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

Hello Greg
Thanks for your comments on 84-0.
It is almost a complete copy (idea/structure/rhyming pattern) of a poem by Pam Ayres called 13-0 (complete change there then!). Hers was about her son's debut in the school football team rather like your experience.
Incidentally I have a secret admiration for PA (a crush) whom I think is enormously under-rated.

Comment is about Greg Freeman (poet profile)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Lovely stuff, there's much hidden beneath those apparently lifeless leaves

Comment is about As Autumn Leaves (blog)

Original item by Freda Davis

a wonderfully lyrical poem that disappears on the last two lines before lead balloons somehow. It seems to do a kamikaze crash itself.
See what it looks like without those two lines, leave the lead balloons in?
You might try taking the word 'fundamental' out and see if that adds or detracts anything, too.

"Fact" seems enough, to me; better:
until the lie is fact

just some of my musings on a poem that attracted me to read on. ignore as you see fit.
I enjoyed the poem a lot.

Comment is about a bitter-sweet affair (blog)

Original item by Kath Hewitt

Very entertaining read, Isobel. The service may have been meagre, but the poem is a banquet.

Comment is about The Yeung Sing Hotel (blog)

Original item by Isobel

Great to hear you improved in your next match, John. But very traumatic for you and your dad. If it's any consolation I once played in a football match in which we lost 29-0 - a goal conceded on average every three minutes. On just one occasion I reached the edge of the opposing penalty area with the ball, which was the nearest we got to their goal in the whole match.

Comment is about 84 - 0 (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

Interesting comment Petrova - I must say that Mars and stars would seem to make a perfect rhyme, whereas afar would be a little forced.... I would concede however that I'm not entirely happy with the last line, so that may yet be tweaked. :)
Best wishes, Dave

Comment is about Our Blanket beneath The Stars (blog)

Original item by Dave Dunn

Greg is right this is a lovely poem Freda - David

Comment is about As Autumn Leaves (blog)

Original item by Freda Davis

Hi Ethel,

The worrying thing is that it happens more and more the older I get.

Sorry - did I just call you Ethel? :)

Regaqrds,
A.E.

Comment is about And Your Name Is...? (blog)

Original item by Lynn Dye

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zrzMhU_4m-g

Sorry Dave,

I just couldn't help it!

All through the ages society has needed someone to blame. Usually it's the most vulnerable and least able to defend theirselves.

Loved the "long spoon" reference. Fully worth the google!

Regards,
A.E.

Comment is about Witches (blog)

Original item by Dave Bradley

Yes, that's why I was in more analytic mode on your last poem! I'll tell you how good the WOL weekend was - it wasn't until 8.30pm that I realised it was Saturday and I had no idea of the football scores!

Comment is about Ann Foxglove (poet profile)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

This was produced during Steve Waling's excellent experimental poetry workshop at the WOL weekend at Todmorden. All words and phrases taken from an edition of the Manchester Evening News.

Comment is about Kicking and screaming (blog)

Original item by Greg Freeman

I know it well - the manager is Wan King. Hope you left them with a large portion of Yuk Foo. Our local Chinese takeway was always known as 'Effing Elsie's (yu wan effing els?) No Michelin star for that establisment then?:)

Regards,
A.E.

Comment is about The Yeung Sing Hotel (blog)

Original item by Isobel

Hi Julia

Thanks for updating your profile, Win

Comment is about Julia Deakin (poet profile)

Original item by Julia Deakin

Well put, had a profound affect on me btw unless it is mere chance you happen to have commented on some of the defining points of Lennon, not just the obvious scouser reference - Dave

Comment is about Lines written in theTudor House on the 30th Anniversary of the death of John Lennon (blog)

Original item by Dave Morgan

Nice to meet too Dave. Let me know if your going to any open mics or whatever not to far from Macc. and I'll come along if possible. Got home in good time last night but am still recovering from the ravages of my weekend poetic retreat. Keep up all you good works and take care - Dave

Comment is about Dave Morgan (poet profile)

Original item by Dave Morgan

Pam Ayres played rugby then, did she? :) This sums up why I hate ALL sport! (Cos I wuz crap at it!!!) xx

Comment is about 84 - 0 (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

I'm glad you rang and hope you've shown her the poem, it reads beautifully, although without your note it would be somewhat alarming - David

Comment is about Happy Mother's Day (blog)

Original item by Alison Smiles

Oooh! You were at the WOL thing were you - wish I'd had time to go. I loved it last time! Hope it was good! (I'm sure it was!)xx

Comment is about Greg Freeman (poet profile)

Original item by Greg Freeman