Mr Potato head calling in to say-hope you and yours are well Bernadette-and not too busy to miss out on the wonderful weather we are having-don,t worry about replying-see you along the way love-ta chuck-Stef-xx

Comment is about bernadette herbertson (poet profile)

Original item by bernadette herbertson

Gooooooooooooooooooooooood morning Darling Larisa-aww you have such a wonderful voice on this audio-you are such a brave brave open hearted person-you read this very very well in my-HONEST-and sincere opinion-I really am sorry I did,nt read this before now-its beautiful! many many thanks to you Darling-lots of love to you-Stefan-xx(M-xx)ps-yes I have just noted that you sent this to me on thursday-I,m so sorry to have left it so long before reading-please forgive me.

Comment is about Larisa Rzhepishevska (poet profile)

Original item by Larisa Rzhepishevska

GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOD
afternoon lovely Lynn-hope yer all having a nice weekend 'darn sarf' me is on DIY-keeps me outta mischief! catch you later-best regards Stef-xx(B-xx)

Comment is about Lynn Dye (poet profile)

Original item by Lynn Dye

Hello Wonderwoman! Congratulations on The Quality of Love being voted The Poem of the Month -- it's terrific! It's arresting in its imagery and drive and content. It's WOWEEE! Moxy x

Comment is about Isobel (poet profile)

Original item by Isobel

I know this walk -- how brilliant to read such a thrilling, beautifully controlled evocation: did they tell you about the ghost of the young woman who appears inside the manor and also by the mill pond? Your astute visual sense and rich, apposite vocabulary work in tandem to create a sense of mystery. Brilliant!

Comment is about field boundaries (blog)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

Hello Cynthia, huge apologies for not responding to your very kind (and hugely flattering -- made me blush and then check I was reading the right comment box on the right profile!) comment sooner. I've been battling crazy deadlines and then I couldn't access the site for some reason until ably assisted by Mr Paul Blackburn. Heck, if you could see me you'd smile. I'm just a small bundle of excitement and curiosity. I'm also horribly bookish and probably decidedly odd. If I were a character in Harry Potter, I'd be Luna Lovegood. I'm going to be at the Manchester Royal Exchange Theatre on October 29th in the great hall from 6-7pm doing a musical thing as a loosely connected part of Manchester Comedy Festival. It'd be lovely to meet you if you can come along! Moxy x

Comment is about Cynthia Buell Thomas (poet profile)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

Hi There Dave, Sorry for the delay. Welcome to Wol. Winston

Comment is about Dave Bryant (poet profile)

Original item by Dave Bryant

I also meant to say I love the descriptions of Nature in your work, too. You can summon a whole season and terrain in a few words. Extraordinary!

Comment is about jane wilcock (poet profile)

Original item by jane wilcock

Hello Jane! Big thanks for reading Cross Species -- you're quite right, the insurance costs of hurling/retrieving footballers by playful scientists would be extortionate, but I bet it'd be fun to watch! Love your Duck Parliament poem especially -- your work is so wonderfully vivid and full of gloriously unexpected twists and turns. Moxy x

Comment is about jane wilcock (poet profile)

Original item by jane wilcock

This is absolutely brilliant Cate. Stylistically much more contemporary than your usual stuff - I love it.
From an emotional point of view it is heart breaking - made me cry in fact - but then I have been up half the night as well...
I know it must have been hard for you to write this. I should comment on the poetry - there is too much to say. I like the repetition at the beginning. I like the idea of empty space ricocheting round (strange we should have both chosen to use that unusual word!, I also love the ending - the short sentences - the repetition, the overwhelming sadness and denial it evokes.
I'm done. x

Comment is about Biting The Bullet (blog)

Original item by Cate

Hi Jane, Thanks for your comments on tyne dogger etc. will read it if we meet at a WOL event :-)Win

Comment is about jane wilcock (poet profile)

Original item by jane wilcock

I've kept you up all night? You know what people will say - WOL being WOL.

Joking aside,Cate,this is really really good. It's the best poetic description I personally have ever seen of the universal human experience of being in denial. It's going to be an interesting competition

PS get some kip! xx

Comment is about Biting The Bullet (blog)

Original item by Cate

Excellent Isobel! I love doing these themed poems.... I purposely didnt look at anyone elses until mine was written in case I was influenced by other ideas, but we are all so different in our styles and take on things, which is what makes it so interesting.
Cate xx

Comment is about Biting the Bullet (blog)

Original item by Isobel

I cannot believe Ive been up all night doing this Dave!!! But when youve gotta write youve gotta write.Ive had somewhat of a literary wasteland recently.... thanks for getting my literary flow going again!Cate xx

Comment is about Biting The Bullet (blog)

Original item by Cate

Wow - the Edinburgh thing sounds great. You should write about it and send it to features - they've run a few things about it. I'll be mortified if you tell me you already have - I forget to look there - but always make the effort to read the work of people I feel I know.

Comment is about jane wilcock (poet profile)

Original item by jane wilcock

Funny, but"Oh, I can't..." sounds a lot better to me than "Ah, I can't....". Here's the best bit, I think:I can own the shame

the neon phallus, the drink,

the scars on my fat white wrists.

It lingers in my insecurity

my displacement

the worry I will wrong foot myself somehow

and fall,

dragging the heavy curtain,

beaded with little leads

down around my ears.

Lies I’ve told, scurrying round my feet,

waiting for the scant light,

the unsteady step

to trip me.
wrong-foot needs a hyphen,the lies around your feet is clever. I think the ending, last 7 or 8 lines, is letting the poem down. It is self-indulgent and messy.Rest is good, though.

Comment is about Self Indulgence. (blog)

Original item by Rachel McGladdery

really good this Isobel some smart ideas, i like time/space theories. brilliant x

Comment is about Biting the Bullet (blog)

Original item by Isobel

Many thanks, Alison and Graham. It's Bardo, not Bardot, a stage in the afterlife according to The Tibetan Book of the Dead.I always have to smile when I see poets referred to as brave. It's not like the Poetry Police are gonna come round your house and stop you from

Comment is about Exhausted (blog)

No, my youngest is moving out, as a student, leaving myself and David. I will miss the noise of "children." I took a children's poetry show up to the Edinburgh Fringe for 8 nights with Jenny and her friend, Grace, performing. It was all,very exciting.

Comment is about Isobel (poet profile)

Original item by Isobel

Thanks for your comment on my bullet poem - you picked some of my favourite bits - if only I had the time to polish it better. Are you going to write one? I love reading themed poetry - am not always able to do it - have to be fired up at the right time - it's nice when it comes though. x

Comment is about Rachel McGladdery (poet profile)

Original item by Rachel McGladdery

Hello you! Thanks for the comment. Must try to make the Howcroft this month - it's been too long. I expect, like me, you are enjoying kids being back wherever... x

Comment is about jane wilcock (poet profile)

Original item by jane wilcock

Hi Val, This is a lovely evocative poem and I agree entirely with your sentiments. Why successive governments have ignored walkers and cyclists is a mystery to me.

Comment is about The Child I Used to Be (blog)

Original item by Valerie Cook

absolutely. This should be on the inside of buses and trains!

Comment is about Play On (blog)

Original item by Dave Carr

great poem and true as well!

Comment is about Biting the Bullet (blog)

Original item by Isobel

Hi - bullet - many thanks for the comments. I went once many yrs ago when me & my friend were camping nearby. Having biked all day, I really didn't want to ride the 7-8 miles back into town, but had my arm twisted. It was totally unreal - at 8pm ALL the traffic stopped, Everyone stood still & it was absolutely silent, then he played. If I ever hear the last post or reveille now, I cant help blubbing, because they were paying tribute to us - the Brits - in a city centre in another country, and they do the exact same thing every night. I dont think anyone could not be moved by it. Thanks. B

Comment is about Isobel (poet profile)

Original item by Isobel

Thanks for your comments folks. Yep - it was another quick write - I'm getting better at it!

I was trying to convey the idea that before we ever bite the bullet, often we have to wake up to an unpleasant reality. That is a hard thing to do - much nicer sometimes to bury your head in the sand. We are all heroes in that life dumps shit on us all the time and we are always having to pick ourselves up and carry on.

The very rare moments of true happiness that you get inbetween all the dross are what keep us going. That's the vacuum that it would be nice to freeze so we could enjoy it over again and it would have no end.

Comment is about Biting the Bullet (blog)

Original item by Isobel

Yes one of my favourite birds they are so fast too :)

Comment is about Greg Freeman (poet profile)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Thanks a lot for the comment on 'Self Indulgence' Andy, it was sincerely appreciated :)

Comment is about Andy N (poet profile)

Original item by Andy N

Thanks Greg, yep, a cheery little number my last one wasn't it? I'm not sure it was wise to post it at all but when was I ever wise? :) I'm much more chipper now!
x

Comment is about Greg Freeman (poet profile)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Sorry about the last poem being not terribly nice. I'm afraid it did exactly what it said on the tin :) It was the way I was feeling then, today I'm full of Jolly robins... Love Comet Tails, truly stupendous xxx

Comment is about Ann Foxglove (poet profile)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

Aww, is that a real pic of you and your mum? Fabulous. I loved the poem too, it's absolutely lovely. Makes me sigh in a nice way xxx

Comment is about comet tails (blog)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

Yes, we are all flesh & blood + mortal - very well observed.
Dave - can the words "heroes" and "football" even co-exist in the same sentence ??

Comment is about Biting the Bullet (blog)

Original item by Isobel

Thanks very much for your warm comments on Climbing the Malverns, Rach. Have to admit I found your latest a tough read, but it must have been important to you to write. Take care! xx

Comment is about Rachel McGladdery (poet profile)

Original item by Rachel McGladdery

Glad you liked Kingfisher. I haven't seen it for a long time now. They're so elusive and magical

Comment is about jean lucy thompson (poet profile)

Original item by jean lucy thompson

Good morning Larisa-your beautiful poem and singing were very very much appreciated I can assure you-yes I understand that you don,t like to be called Aunty-its just that I regard you virtually as family almost-but I shall refrain from adressing you in that way in future-since you are such a darling,maybe that name would suit better-thanks for letting me know about your Grandson and gorgeous McCoy-what an absolutely beautuful dog he is! lots of love from me-and I sincerley hope you have a great day today and everyday-will look out for all your poems and lovely singing-thank you Darling-Stef-xx(M-xx)

Comment is about But Anyway I Still Love You (blog)

Original item by Larisa Rzhepishevska

I love this Rachel - it has the wonderful feeling of late summer about it. I love the crisp whit bonnets image. Blackberries all down the lanes here. XX

Comment is about Jelly Babies (blog)

Original item by Rachel McGladdery

I find this almost too painful to read Rachel. Very powerful stuff! But so full of loathing. xxxx

Comment is about Self Indulgence. (blog)

Original item by Rachel McGladdery

I see you've posted it - brilliant ! now you wait for the proverbial to hit the fan :)
I sincerely hope you're going to post Tommy Cooper as well?
just cos we all like "serious" poetry as well don't mean there isn't room for a joke or two.
well done !

Comment is about Ann Foxglove (poet profile)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

the last two lines gave me shivers (you have written something extraordinary there) - then I read Greg's same comments, so I'm not the only one: Brilliant.

Comment is about comet tails (blog)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

You mean Neo can die? Oh no, surely not.

Remarkable and powerful, Izz, especially in the time available. Yes - often when heroes are 'chosen'(England footballers?) they let us down, and everyday heroes get little recognition.

Comment is about Biting the Bullet (blog)

Original item by Isobel

I dunno - you're missing out on posting some great stuff - you never did post the last "private" one you sent me either - you really should - they're both great & would add a little spice to the proceedings - only my 2 cents & much appreciated anyway - but I think they're so good they deserve a wider audience IMHO - I wish I could "write to order" like that XX

Comment is about Ann Foxglove (poet profile)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

Thanks Graham and Greg - but now I am confused - don't whether to make two separate poems or add to this one. Oh well! My problem!

Comment is about comet tails (blog)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

excellent, marianne... was just expecting this to go on longer and you finished it! x

Comment is about Electric Chair (blog)

Original item by Marianne Daniels

nice one, Isobel.. powerful stuff indeed... When I get chance - I am going to write this on this title.. My mind is a little elsewhere at the moment (as you may have guessed from my last poem) xx

Comment is about Biting the Bullet (blog)

Original item by Isobel

Hi Rach - would call this several things but self Indulgence not... Enjoyed this a lot.. Good stuff! x.

Comment is about Self Indulgence. (blog)

Original item by Rachel McGladdery

Powerful feelings in this Rachel...
Hopefully the sort of self indulgence that eventually brings about a
positive change : )

xxx

Comment is about Self Indulgence. (blog)

Original item by Rachel McGladdery

Mmmm... My favourite, which says it all:
'Bullets bitten are rarely sweet,
swallowed whole,
lie heavy on the soul.'

Comment is about Biting the Bullet (blog)

Original item by Isobel

McCoy is ok. He sends his best regards to you, and my grandson is ok too. But! I still hate to be an aunt. lol I don't know why but... for me, an aunt, sounds not so good. I would like to be understood.Worse than grandmother. Grandma is something sweet.But aunt is an obsolete. May be I am wrong, it's just my opinion.

Comment is about But Anyway I Still Love You (blog)

Original item by Larisa Rzhepishevska

You asked, didn't you? So, I composed it for you.

Comment is about But Anyway I Still Love You (blog)

Original item by Larisa Rzhepishevska

Good evening and GOOD GRIEF! really enjoyed this poem very much-it has so much heartfelt sentiment in it-its so nice now you have made a song of it-lots of love-and lots of HUGS HUGS HUGS!!! to you and McCoy-xx/xx

Comment is about But Anyway I Still Love You (blog)

Original item by Larisa Rzhepishevska