hi Heather... sorry for the delay. Your poets profile is now up and running. Welcome to Write out loud, happy blogging! Win

Comment is about Heather (poet profile)

Original item by Heather

Hi Ann, I love this one !( LADY BEDSTRAW ) Really enjoyed reading this..more please ! The picture of the fox is beautiful and I'm sure she would love her poem ..x x
Bernadette

Comment is about ladys bedstraw (blog)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

Just a quick thing - I really like the first "bit" best, maybe it could be a separate poem ending on "I'll have you all." P.S. If that's your room you have a serious damp problem!

Comment is about natures seventh seal (blog)

I met a fox this evening, out for a walk. This is her poem!

Comment is about ladys bedstraw (blog)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

Hi Anne, thats fine, thanks for your comments on the Nature poem, the meanings are simply one of people decaying as well as buildings etc, Im sure you already understood that, I was just reflecting back on your cat poem and how that too had layers, great minds think alike! x

Comment is about Ann Foxglove (poet profile)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

The poem refers to the concourse as 'the grand grey' which is how I see it. It is part of the brutalist era and iconic. I dont see it or mean the poem to reflect it in a derogatory sense and its not implied in the poem at all. Its ironic as the particular type of concrete used was reinforced, using steel galv rods and the pours where carefully monitored. Im not sure wether it actually suffered fatique at all, I know that the police station did and several multi story car parks of that era. Once the rust gets into the metal rods it cracks internal, almost exploding from inside, you then see the brown/red streaks.
The poem makes no social references and is simply describing how nothing is safe, people or buildings. Skem happened to spring to mind as I work there once a week. My experince as it happens with skem is that it is actually a calming place for me. Its well planted as you point out Isobel and there are some great green spaces. The super-sized Asda is well equpped, the road layout is sensible and there is NEVER any traffic problems. I think that some houses have not wethered brilliantly and efforts should be made to improve some property schemes or look at some new build.

But I do have to say the poem really has little to do with the actual Skem concourse, it could easily be Gateshead or Trellick tower in London.

Comment is about natures seventh seal (blog)

Glad to hear it Rachel! Yes - learning to handle conflict as a child is an excellent preparation for adulthood. Loads of you lot used to bus it down to my high school and it became pretty rough. In lessons that weren't streamed, like french, it was the worst. They hated kids like me who enjoyed learning. I learned how to stand up to a crowd by looking them in the eye and never saying no to a fight. I never fought though - it never comes to that with bullies. I do think it taught me a thing or two that has come in handy later in life - or perhaps I had it in me already - who knows?
Thanks for reminding me about Skem connie Pete. There is a pair of red patent leather doc martin rip offs that I'm hoping are still waiting for me!

Comment is about natures seventh seal (blog)

Thanks for your comment Anthony - it means a lot that you liked it. I was hoping for a slightly softer voice but put a microphone in front of me and I seem to get edgy. On reflection I think it might have been better in a lower key. Not sure myself how it works as a french poem - there is probably one cliche in it - life being compared to lightning - but it rhymed and I was working under additional constraints!
When are you posting another one?

Comment is about Anthony Emmerson (poet profile)

Original item by Anthony Emmerson

Aye - all's well that ends well.
this says it all for me -
"I would never UNWISH that now cos to do so would be to unwish its consequences - my children". That's my point - if you would not unwish it, then in my book its not a regret - just musings. besides, its only my take on things, not gospel. xx

Comment is about Isobel (poet profile)

Original item by Isobel

Yes - I knew glass was liquid - and funnily enough that line really stood out to me when I first read it. I didn't know it sagged with time though - I thought it just got broken.

Rachel, I'm not looking down my nose at anyone who shops at the connie - though I have to say that the kids are not overly endowed with good manners - I suppose that you can only be what you are taught to be though - so some people just can't help it.

Would agree with you that the architects need shooting. They did a good job with the trees in Skem though. When we first drove there after coming back from Oz, my son thought it was a lovely place and wondered whether we should live there.

Comment is about natures seventh seal (blog)

thanks Anne on the 'natures seventh seal'poem, I'm hoping you can find some hidden references in there. there are gems for everyone in it.x

Comment is about Ann Foxglove (poet profile)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

izzy, ta. Hey did you know the 'liquid window' line, well glass is liquid, after a while it actually sags, if you look on old buildings, crazy that. Skem concourse, lovely..........

Comment is about natures seventh seal (blog)

Loved it, Dave, wonderful. As others have pointed out "bastards" is a bit of a stumble. How about "Got to make the pasta faster so the profits will be vaster"?

Comment is about Pasta (blog)

Original item by Dave Carr

Dave. Thanks for your comments on Anything Goes. The rhyme scheme crept in as a result of listening to Leonard Cohen one day.It's more of a song, I suppose, with Anything Goes as the refrain. It's about literary pretensions, would you believe!

Comment is about Dave Carr (poet profile)

Original item by Dave Carr

Cynthia. Thanks for your comments on Stroke.I can't decide between resuscitated and regurgitated. What do you think?

Comment is about Cynthia Buell Thomas (poet profile)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

Greg, thanks for your comments on Stroke. Do you think resuscitated or regurgitated would be better?

Comment is about Greg Freeman (poet profile)

Original item by Greg Freeman

This was really great, I love the humour of the piece, the fast pace and all the rhymes. It's very well put together. The line with bastards also threw me, as did this line: To our recipes down passed-a. But those are tiny complaints and it really is fantastic!

Comment is about Pasta (blog)

Original item by Dave Carr

I guess the vista that he mister was the gape of orifista...

ouch sorry about that - I'm just trying out your pasta style

Comment is about Limerick (blog)

Original item by Dave Carr

The personification of Nature - what a brilliant poem! Nature seems very malevolant though I guess that is because it carries with it death and decay. Us humans regret our own mortality above all else. Great flow of thought and imagery. I see you have visited Skem concourse - high time Nature reclaimed that eyesore. They do have a great little shoe shop in the market area though...

Comment is about natures seventh seal (blog)

Does anyone know who wrote Eyam and the Wells? I'm intrigued but I tried googling it and couldn't find a reference.

Thanks for the welcomes and comments everyone!

I'll probably choose acrid then, it's the more fitting of the two. Not wasting words is a good tip, thanks Cynthia and Graham!

Thank you Andy :)

Comment is about Billy and the Flowers (blog)

Original item by Heather

This is so sad Ann. It is hard enough bringing up teenage kids when you have a strong, competant carer - without any guidance at all, your heart goes out...
'sometimes life is crap' sums up perfectly the randomness of the cards we are all dealt.

Comment is about a childhood (blog)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

Thanks for your comment Ann. I thought you were a french speaker for some reason - must have been that raunchy poem about having fun in Paris! Glad you enjoyed the sound of it, anyway. x

Comment is about Ann Foxglove (poet profile)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

I think you are a pasta master at this type of poetry, Dave! I'm disappointed that you didn't chuck some of your own special Italian in though...
I think 'bastard' may also have thrown your rhyming scheme at one point - I won't hold it against you though!
This went down brilliantly at the Tudor - a great performance piece.

Comment is about Pasta (blog)

Original item by Dave Carr

Hi - great poem Isobel & you are so right about our struggles in life fuelling our art. My life has been very shitty in parts, (and probably, like many people, I seriously thought of ending it) - but still, not anything like as hard as yours, but I have been lucky in finding a "trick" to banish all regrets. For me, having a regret is a wishing that your life had been otherwise, (is that what you mean ?) - which (for me) is a negative view and unattainable anyway. There's nothing wrong with capitalising on our troubles & turning them into art, but (for me) to have regrets is to dwell on the past - to "agree" to be a victim of what may very well have been intolerable at the time. But that is in the past & by "agreeing" to hold onto our regrets (to "indulge" in them) - one cannot help but be (at least partly) governed & defined by them.
I know I sound like a vicar here - and I'm not at all religious - but if you Wanted to let go of your regrets - as I did - you can simply let go of them - not forget them, but deny them their hold over you. I haven't forgotten my troubles, but they no longer affect or define who I am. If your definition of Regrets is different than mine, then maybe your use of them to build your art is a good thing for you - an exorcising of your ghosts - but for me they would no longer be defined as regrets, just memories. It does sound as if I just like hearing the sound of my own voice here!
Sermon over :)

Comment is about Isobel (poet profile)

Original item by Isobel

Really enjoyed this! The line

' Cogs were whirring far too fast-a,
Flying belts went whizzing past-a.'

is easily the best of the whole place! Very amusing.

Comment is about Pasta (blog)

Original item by Dave Carr

Theres something very 'Borges' about this piece, perhaps its the entwining of something rather large, with something small and personal.

I like your confidence with reusing phrases and words, it fits the rebellious theme of the poem - an aggressive use of language that defines an aggressive poplace.

I have to agree with the other comments in that it's a very oral poem - the use of alliteration helps the words to roll of your tongue in thick globs, almost bloodlike itself.

A very good poem.

Comment is about Beloved (blog)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

Cynthia,

Thankyou most kindly for commenting! I'm glad you enjoy my poetry, and your encouragement is much appreciated - as a pessimist I am prone to shelving opposed to sharing, and I feel far more ready to share after your insightful response.

Danke.

Comment is about Cynthia Buell Thomas (poet profile)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

Really like this, lots of phrases are great. Menacing but natural at the same time. Miss Haversham contemplating the end of the world! x

Comment is about natures seventh seal (blog)

You've made me feel very hungry! And it's good wheeze to end every line by adding an "a". That'll make it rhyme!! ;-) (Only kiddin') Really enjoyed it Dave, thanks! x

Comment is about Pasta (blog)

Original item by Dave Carr

Hi Larisa. I like this. As women we've just got to be what we've got to be! Sod the blokes! ;-) xx

Comment is about She is so beautiful (blog)

Original item by Larisa Rzhepishevska

Hello Larisa - thanks for commenting on A Childhood. It is sad, I hope things get better for her. She is a real girl, the poem is made up of the bits and pieces that you hear about someone else's life when you live in a small community. You can know so much about someone that you have never even talked to. Not sure if that is good or bad! Part of village life. Stay well. xx

Comment is about Larisa Rzhepishevska (poet profile)

Original item by Larisa Rzhepishevska

Hi Dave - thanks for comments on my last two. x

Comment is about Dave Carr (poet profile)

Original item by Dave Carr

thank you for your kind comment , it's a shame that he had to go young , I saw his last show and he was brilliant. Keep one writing mate I like your work

Comment is about Limerick (blog)

Original item by Dave Carr

I love the title and the meaning behind it!
Very clever Peter... And this definitely needs to be read several times to take it all in.

Je me souviens de cette photo aussi.

xxxxx

Comment is about natures seventh seal (blog)

Oh my Goodness - I've just got it! I was reading it with a french accent before - what a twit! Only you could come up with that! Need to find myself an oar, obviously...Tee hee - you should write a funny french poem - you'd bring the house down!

Yours,

Sleepless from Wigan. xx

Comment is about Dave Carr (poet profile)

Original item by Dave Carr

Hi Isobel,
Re: the comment..
Read in French.
Pensé en Anglais.
Dave

Comment is about Isobel (poet profile)

Original item by Isobel

At a terminal velocity of 250 feet per second it takes about 40 seconds to fall 10000 feet. Our son did a parachute jump for charity over Morecambe Bay. Watched him do it and the video. Don't think I'll be doing that. Just edited this comment as I though the original was a bit heartless.
....Nice poem by the way!
Dave

Comment is about loves parachute (blog)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

You can be as flippant as you like on my poems Dave - all friendly banter more than welcome!I am struggling to understand your french though - was that the back of a wine bottle?Tell me where you went to get such a clean beach - I haven't managed to find one yet...xx

ps I will read and comment on yours tomorrow. Am tired - I need to sleep. I enjoyed that pasta one at the Tudor though - it was one of those funny groan ones - where each line takes you to new hights...

Comment is about Dave Carr (poet profile)

Original item by Dave Carr

Hi Larisa,Thanks for comment.Don't get many the other side of Wigan!Dave

Comment is about Larisa Rzhepishevska (poet profile)

Original item by Larisa Rzhepishevska

Sad indeed
Dave

Comment is about a childhood (blog)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

Made me think of Eyam and the wells.
Dave

Comment is about Billy and the Flowers (blog)

Original item by Heather

Ray,
I like everything about this poem.
The backbone rhyme... Did you write that first? Is it a recognised pattern or should we call it after you?... The character, the rhyming and the humour... everything.
Dave

Comment is about Anything Goes (blog)

brilliant performance at Wigan
Love the 'nude twister' imagary, sounds suburban wife swap ish, super curtain twitchin stuff!

Comment is about Dave Carr (poet profile)

Original item by Dave Carr

Dave, thanks, its fallen into 3 pieces, i may apply some abridgment

Comment is about natures seventh seal (blog)

Pete,Good one.I like especially..grand grey of your skelmersdale concourse and This illness is tattered cloth Between your ears In all canals Dave

Comment is about natures seventh seal (blog)

Nice :-)

Comment is about Limerick (blog)

Original item by Dave Carr

Very nice limerick. And.... really funny.

Comment is about Limerick (blog)

Original item by Dave Carr

Ha ha I'd go for that ;-)
TC

Comment is about Limerick (blog)

Original item by Dave Carr

It is so true: sometimes life is crap.
Good poem.
With warmest wishes,
Larisa

Comment is about a childhood (blog)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

I find this very moving, Dianna, and very well put. IMO you are right not to alter a thing. Best Wishes, Lynn x

Comment is about Broken Dreams (blog)