I can feel immense ideas floating through this, but, IMO, I'm not sure they ever quite crystallize. What is your definition of 'Ivory tower' other than deliberate, protective separation from so-called reality? And 'acerbic' in such a dominant placement meaning 'bitter, harsh'? I don't make the connection. All comments made with great respect always.

Comment is about Spectating (blog)

Original item by Dermot Glennon

My Irish great uncle Seamus Guinessberg ran a shop in Cork which like many Irish shops combined two businesses; plumbing and a bookshop. It was called Only Connect

Comment is about Cynthia Buell Thomas (poet profile)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

Thanks for your comment. You are right about my intention.
I enjoyed your Picasso poem. I have a copy of his The Burial of the Count of Orgaz & Other Poems which is interesting but a bit too surrealist for my taste. Good luck with your book launch

Comment is about Winston Plowes (poet profile)

Original item by Winston Plowes

I really like this Cynthia (and I wouldn't just say that). It poses as many questions as it answers. Is it really just a game, for example.

Comment is about To Hell in a Hand Basket (blog)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

I had a vision of a younger David Essex type character sporting that gold tooth - a very evocative poem Ann :)
Oh and Gallopers smell of toffee apples and candy floss from the smears left by their passengers....

Best wishes, Dave

Comment is about he moves through the fair (blog)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

At the moment, I would hav to be a limpit (I have a broken foot) Win x

Comment is about fishes (blog)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

I also have seen a proper wall of death :-)

Comment is about Ann Foxglove (poet profile)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

Liked this one Dave, Well done :-)

Comment is about Sweet Nothings... (blog)

Original item by Dave Dunn

Good luck with your project Phil. reallyliked some of the phrases but struggled a bit with the change in tense sometimes. I think Andy is right in some ways, Thereader will fill in the gaps themselves in their own way. (Rabbet - Rabbit?). Don't want to seem to negative phil as this poem has guts and captures a personal story, 2 great plus points. Win x

Comment is about Feeling Small (blog)

Original item by Phil Golding

Good fun this one Dave. Tight finish. Win

Comment is about The Oyster and The Whelk (blog)

Original item by Dave Carr

Hi Cyn - glad you liked it & thanks for the comments
(smoke & mirrors) all the best X

Comment is about Cynthia Buell Thomas (poet profile)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

Hi Cynthia , thanks for you picasso comments. I saw the doc and liked the matisse one even more, very interesting. a spray of words. Yes... that just about describes it I think :-)

Comment is about Cynthia Buell Thomas (poet profile)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

Bravo Cynthia!
True, and so profound in so few words...

I have always been fascinated with that phrase 'To Hell in a Hand Basket' and I was thinking about this just the other day too!

xx

Comment is about To Hell in a Hand Basket (blog)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

Sparingly succinct Cynthia. The game is SURVIVAL surely? and with ONE'S self-worth in tact?

Comment is about To Hell in a Hand Basket (blog)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

thanks for your comment on putting dad to bed...So glad you understood x

Comment is about Cynthia Buell Thomas (poet profile)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

Excellent - You can have an honarary degree as far as I'm concerned. Don't worry about being called Dave. People do it to me all the time. You'll get used to it.

Comment is about Livery (blog)

You've got us all wondering!

Comment is about Proud as a Peacock (blog)

Original item by Dorinda MacDowell

Quite a take on 'The Prodigal Son', Dave. Its emotion runs deep and strong as you use the persona of the 'son' himself. Your choice of title and the final lines make excellent brackets for this whole 'famous journey' compellingly retold by yourself for new readers.

Comment is about The Running Father (blog)

Original item by Dave Bradley

Nice turn with 'the repressible Ms Love', when all the while I was figuring 'she' was 'irrepressible'. Did you make up the word...sure seems like a logical one? Other than neat alliteration and sound bites, does 'tiramisu' have sexual connotations?

Comment is about My inner drag queen (blog)

Original item by Rod Tame

A delightful bit of fun kept under the control of rhyme, rhythm and reason. Recites well.

Comment is about Proud as a Peacock (blog)

Original item by Dorinda MacDowell

Very good Ann.
I was just wondering...
Is there a cod?

Comment is about fishes (blog)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

That's a very serious mug shot you've got up there Steve - you look like something out of a police line up LOL
Thanks for paying my profile a visit. It was great meeting you at Wigan - I'm glad you enjoyed it. Glad someone agrees with me about serious v funny poetry also. Having said all that, I would like nothing more than to be able to write funny poetry - it is so hard to do well. The best tonic ever for me is laughter - it can lift me right out of any grumpy mood I might be in. If you can tap into the right market with good witty poetry you could probably make more money out of it than you could serious stuff...but then we probably start to stray into comedy rather than poetry...
Look forward to seeing you around on the scene. x

Comment is about Stephen Pass (poet profile)

Original item by Stephen Pass

If you are notches on their bedposts, why should they hate you? I can't get my head around who is doing what to whom. Or the use of the word 'muses'. There are many superb lines. The idea, as Francine has pointed out, is excellent, but I am muddled where I was expecting to be well sucked in to your concept. This may be just me.

Comment is about A Thousand Muses (blog)

Original item by Tom

Hi Andy, Glad you liked the Picasso one. for a fuller explanation please revisit orig blog entry. Win x

Comment is about Andy N (poet profile)

Original item by Andy N

Hi Ann, Glad you liked the Picasso one. for a fuller explanation please revisit orig blog entry. Win x

Comment is about Ann Foxglove (poet profile)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

For my answer on a virtual postard to the Picasso question please see orig blog entry. Win x

Comment is about John Darwin (poet profile)

Original item by John Darwin

Hi Dave, It was nice to chat to you the other night in Wigan and cheers for your good advice. Just read your poems above, poor old Derek, what a way to go! I really like 'Choker', I know what your mate means about graveyards, they are very powerful places. Hope to see you about soon, cheers Stevex

Comment is about Dave Morgan (poet profile)

Original item by Dave Morgan

Hi Isobel, It was good to see you the other night and hear more of your work, I especially like your use of song, it has inspired me! Thanks for your kind comments on the discussion page, I've just seen them. From my small experience at slams, I agree with you - serious is definitely the way to go or maybe mix them up a bit - one serious, one funny each round! Hope to see soon you when I am next across your way. Take care, Stevex

Comment is about Isobel (poet profile)

Original item by Isobel

It's a hard one to read this, Phil because of the topic of course as it's something i know a lot of cases about some closer to home than others if you know what i mean.

Certainly with it, it’s a piece that I have to admire you for writing (I would struggleTo write something like this) but I think it's probably too wordy at the stage it's currently in, for example with this stanza:

Our love had the fragrance and radiance of a sweet pea.
These were my favourite flowers and he, my man.
I felt I was so safe in his arms and secure in our future.
My loved up vision failed to see the grumbling storm clouds,
My loved up vision failed to see the lightning strike of his hand.

I think could easily reword to:

Our love had the radiance of a sweet pea
And these were my favourite flowers.
I felt I was so safe in his arms and secure in our future
But my I failed to see the grumbling storm clouds
Or either the lightning strike of his hand.


It’s one to think about, M8 certainly. Respect to you for having the gutsto research it. I did some research years back to a similar affect with the homeless.It’s a lot of things people chose to bury their head in the sand with too much

Cheers
Andy N

Comment is about Feeling Small (blog)

Original item by Phil Golding

Cynthia, just read your comment on my profile, thanks. You ask about this superficial situation, the Cynthia superficial sitaution sites sympathy from me, yes it happens to me too.

Comment is about Cynthia Buell Thomas (poet profile)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

ay up lass!how are you keeping Bernadette? nice to see you on again-I,m nicking off to kip-catch you in the morning? best regards-Stef-xx

Comment is about bernadette herbertson (poet profile)

Original item by bernadette herbertson

Hey Andy, appreiciate your comment,thx.

Comment is about Andy N (poet profile)

Original item by Andy N

Hi Alison

Thanks for your kind comments. I was trying to write a sonnet but am easily distracted. I bought the anthology staying alive (and being alive) which you mentioned and am enjoying the variety. I like Alden Nowlan’s poetry. Nowlan said “I think you have to risk sentimentality…because after all sentimentality is very close to the things that genuinely move people” and for what it’s worth I agree.

Comment is about Alison Smiles (poet profile)

Original item by Alison Smiles

Like The Empress of Blandings
http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/video/Hog-Calling-Woman-Makes-Pig-Noises-To-Win-Contest-In-US/Video/200808215076222?lid=VIDEO_15076222_HogCallingWomanMakesPigNoisesToWinContestInUS&lpos=searchresults
Strangely interesting

Comment is about Isobel (poet profile)

Original item by Isobel

Hi Cynthia
The poem was more concerned with how I feel about poetry. Good writing turns me on. I like poetry that has mystery and surprise, when not everything is spelled out. I do think of the brain as an erogenous zone. The person taking their clothes off could be male or female. I had no one in mind. I am interested in your use of the term physical arena suggesting romance as a wrestling match-the grapple of love.
Thanks for your interest

Comment is about Cynthia Buell Thomas (poet profile)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

Hi Ann

Thanks for commenting. Luke Ch 15 is pretty much it - Jesus told lots of stories and this is one. Stories bypass deficiencies in knowledge and engage the emotions, will and imagination directly - or not, as the case may be (-:

Comment is about The Running Father (blog)

Original item by Dave Bradley

Thank you Si -you sound strangely familiar! (Hope it IS you! I've missed you!)

Comment is about leavetaking (blog)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

I echo what Stefan has t'say here...
i.e. ~ and me too Miss Foxy !
; )
...magnificent heart felt poem & good to hear your recorded words ~

makes it easier for me to read y'words now I know how's y'do it innit

x

Comment is about leavetaking (blog)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

You'll be sayin' "Annie I'm not your daddy" next! (You aren't are you?? xxx

Comment is about he moves through the fair (blog)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

I hoped the gallopers might smell but wasn't sure if it should be diesel or oil (are they the same??)(or manure??) I LOVE all those smells! coolannxx

Comment is about he moves through the fair (blog)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

What starts as initially intriguing, ends up in emptiness, sadness,
and ultimately profound loneliness.
You have conveyed that well in this poem, Thomas.

Comment is about A Thousand Muses (blog)

Original item by Tom

Hi Dave - I just posted my fairground poem but somehow the wall of death didn't make it! I think I got a bit carried away! xx

Comment is about Sweet Nothings... (blog)

Original item by Dave Dunn

Hehe - yes indeed- great spectator sport - good luck with the pen - great wall of words... :)

Comment is about Sweet Nothings... (blog)

Original item by Dave Dunn

Hi Dave - have you ever seen the Wall of Death? It is so amazing! And the NOISE!! All those little old Indian motorbikes rattling around, whizzing right up to the top and nearly knocking yer 'ead off! Great! Has given me an idea for a poem atcherly.xxxx

Comment is about Sweet Nothings... (blog)

Original item by Dave Dunn

Thank you Stef!Don't fly too far away! xxxx

Comment is about leavetaking (blog)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

Oooops! Please forgive me!!! xx

Comment is about Livery (blog)

A very interesting piece Dave - I will come back and read it again later. I know nothing of the bible, will this hold me back? (In understanding the poem, that is.) xx

Comment is about The Running Father (blog)

Original item by Dave Bradley

very performance based, rod.. i can certainly see you performing this one and think it is quite different from some of your other stuff have seen you do.

my favourite line is 'Emerges from cave of tacky tiaras and tiramisu,

discarded during hissy fits.'

nice stuff!

Comment is about My inner drag queen (blog)

Original item by Rod Tame

Hi again Dave-regarding your poor friend in Pakistan-there but for the grace of God eh Dave.Best the likes of the ordinary person here can do is donate-and keep these suffering people in our thoughts.catch you later Dave-Stef.

Comment is about Dave Dunn (poet profile)

Original item by Dave Dunn

Thanks Ann. Not only have I transformed what WAS a rather dull ceremony into something personal, quirky, amusing and moving, I've changed my name at the same time. That's talent, that is.

Comment is about Livery (blog)