Nicky, I was thinking of you today, and wondering how your pregnancy was progressing. Perhaps you have already given birth. Happy Easter to you, in whatever sense you most identify - even if it's purely the rebirth of springtime and blackbirds.

Comment is about Nicky Burrows (poet profile)

Original item by Nicky Burrows

Greg, I loved your comment left for me on my personal site re: the villanelle, about 'bolting one's self into a formal structure'. You understood exactly what I meant about the writing of it being 'an adventure'. I used to write in forms of lines, metres and rhymes a lot. I go back periodically to keep my hand in. My real challenge is - a sonnet (don't care which type).

Comment is about Greg Freeman (poet profile)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Have yet to visit Pompeii...
The use of Latin phrases does something for me.
A thoughtful poem which highlights a bit of history.

Comment is about Pompeii (blog)

Original item by Dave Carr

Oh I've got the wrong end of the stick then. I thought the first poem was the latest. I guess the second poem is more your phlegmatic kind of style. Sometimes it is hard to let go of a poem - the tone can be altered so drastically by just a few words.
The original poem makes the decline in the relationship a bit more defined - is less vague.

Comment is about Paper (blog)

Original item by John Togher

Hello Anthony. I hope you have managed to come through your not funny ha ha time ok.
You need to reinforce that skin of yours and get yourself back on here. A worthy WOLOP past winner and critic, you add something to the site - plus you often make me laugh.
Perhaps you could write an ode to laughter - that gift from the Gods that seems to go unopened for so many...

Comment is about Anthony Emmerson (poet profile)

Original item by Anthony Emmerson

That's more or less what I was going for Isobel, in that first version; carrying on from writing influenced by childhood stories, songs and memories.

I reckon I'll have a finished version of this one in six months. So easy to pick at and rewrite for months.

Comment is about Paper (blog)

Original item by John Togher

Interesting to see the development of the poem. I think the newer version is stronger (I have been accused of making them worse). I like the introduction of the days of the week - it reminds me of that poem Mondays's child is fair of face, Tuesdays's child is full of grace....

I can imagine you performing this well.

Isobel x

Comment is about Paper (blog)

Original item by John Togher

Ooh John...
I like the transformation of this...
It shows more the subtle and sensitive changes in a relationship over time.

Comment is about Paper (blog)

Original item by John Togher

i thought this was hilarious; opening line is perfect. Too many guys rush into things and then it dries up.
Nice one.

Comment is about Paper (blog)

Original item by John Togher

Love the images and the easy rhythm and technique. I agree with Greg when he says exhilarating... and yet there is something else running below the surface which intrigues and is thought provoking too. Nice one Ray. x

Comment is about Unexpected Steps (blog)

Diary of a lazy lump Simon?
:-) Great observational poem from the wise man's viewpoint and yet not ''I told you so!'' More philosophical.

Comment is about All The Pies (blog)

Original item by Simon Rennie

yes i can see a painting too.
It's like a Rembrandt - timeless in quality and moments of perfection.

Janet.x

Comment is about Go Hug Grandad (blog)

Original item by Simon Rennie

on the crest of a wave
resist the temptation
to swim with Dave
on the doctors recommendation

(sorry Dave, couldn't resist) :-)

Comment is about Brrrh! (blog)

Original item by Dave Carr

Well this about sums it up John for some men who have problems staying connected mentally and emotionally...

Comment is about Paper (blog)

Original item by John Togher

Yes, me too.
I love visiting places such as this.
A very 'atmospheric' poem.

Comment is about Pompeii (blog)

Original item by Dave Carr

Hi John,

this reads like you been cracking too many fortune cookies. :-)
or could it be your modern take on Solomon Grundy?
An easy read and very enjoyable pace.

Janet.x

Comment is about Paper (blog)

Original item by John Togher

Agreed. There is something quite eerie about the ruins of Heculaneum and Pompeii. Even in the boiling sun surrounded by tourists, you can still feel the terror and shock they must have felt as their world disappeared around them. The double meaning of the last two lines is both clever and haunting.Cate xx

Comment is about Pompeii (blog)

Original item by Dave Carr

Yep, drones are boy bees. This is the boy bees love song to his queen you muppet! ;-)xxxxx

Comment is about the drone's lovesong (blog)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

Whatya tryin to say Simon...

I'm just big boned

Great poem loved it!!
Gus

Comment is about All The Pies (blog)

Original item by Simon Rennie

Sorry to drone on but they are boy bees are they not? Of course in these enlightened days nothing stopping him being a Queen...

Gusxx

Comment is about the drone's lovesong (blog)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

Agree with Isobel's comments, and I, too, have a fascination with the place.
Have you read Robert Harris' 'Pompeii'? I would definitely recommend it.
Cx

Comment is about Pompeii (blog)

Original item by Dave Carr

Dear Ms Foxglove, I'd like to invite you to a Mass Euclidian Moony Wedding, Yours in anticipation, Diana. x

Comment is about Ann Foxglove (poet profile)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

A mind is a series of points of view shoved out of the mouth/dispersed by a number of gestures. What's not to like? You have such an ease with language it's loveable.

Comment is about Isobel (poet profile)

Original item by Isobel

I did keep bees for a while. Got stung too. Poor little bee came off worse than me. I remember the first time I got stung I realised I was in the middle of nowhere, no one around and it suddenly struck me "I wonder if I'm alergic to bee stings?" But I wasn't!

Comment is about the drone's lovesong (blog)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

Hope your colony doesn't collapse.

Comment is about the drone's lovesong (blog)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

I take it you have never been stung then? Honey again....you must like it a lot.
'somnolent with pleasure' - I like that expression.

Comment is about the drone's lovesong (blog)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

Love this one Dave. You are proving yourself a very versatile poet. I visited Pompeii many years ago - it is a fascinating place - and Heculaneum.
There are so many wonderful touches in this poem. The fact that we could be so immortalised in death - the play on the word petrified is superb.
The eery sadness that underlines the matter of fact expression. I love it.

Comment is about Pompeii (blog)

Original item by Dave Carr

I see your point now. Yes - picking on something totally unrelated would kind of prick the bubble of the whole thing.
I remember a teacher once asking the class what was attractive in the opposite sex. When I ventured 'nice teeth', everyone laughed but I was being serious...
I don't think he appreciated it for some reason - perhaps his were on the way out.

Comment is about spelling . . . . (blog)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

I think you are misreading the banter between TC and me, Rachel. He is my bro - we insult each other all the time! That's the problem with flat mediums - as Chris says! I'll introduce you if you ever co-incide at the Tudor - you can clock him one from me! LOL

On the other hand I am now wondering if you were joking with your comment Rachel- you did post it at 1.30am - had you had a few? LOL xx

Comment is about Beautiful Minds (blog)

Original item by Isobel

I've never swum with dolphins
Except in my imagination.
I did once swim with crabs against
My doctor's recommendation.

Comment is about Brrrh! (blog)

Original item by Dave Carr

Guess my poem is on the opposite subject Isobel! xx

Comment is about Beautiful Minds (blog)

Original item by Isobel

Thanks for comments on Spelling. . . I guess the spelling issue was supposed to imply a more general lack of communication between two people, not on the same wavelength type of thing, maybe if you were trying to distance yourself from someone you're attracted to. But I'm not very good at spelling anyway! And I agree you wouldn't fall for someone cos they were a good speller! But that's the point of the poem maybe? And it's based on someone I know. xx

Comment is about Isobel (poet profile)

Original item by Isobel

Um. I guess the spelling issue was supposed to imply a more general lack of communication between two people, not on the same wavelength type of thing, maybe if you were trying to distance yourself from someone you're attracted to. But I'm not very good at spelling anyway! And I agree you wouldn't fall for someone cos they were a good speller! But that's the point of the poem maybe?

Comment is about spelling . . . . (blog)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

i want to say again that this is a trulely beautiful poem and i personally am not into negative criticism from any kind of man about a poem as sensitive and brave as this one. I am not amused.

Comment is about Beautiful Minds (blog)

Original item by Isobel

Hi Isobel,
Missed you too. Been a funny time for me of late - not funny ha-ha. My comment wasn't meant to be cryptic. What I meant was that it was about time you allowed others a chance to reward your talent and be suitably WOLOPed. Like your latest too - although I'm not going to say why publicly for fear it gets me into trouble - as usual. Beautiful minds are rare, whether male or female. Beautiful words it seems these days, rarer still.
Regards,
A.E. x

Comment is about Isobel (poet profile)

Original item by Isobel

Noticed this earlier on f/b - it's a lovely study - does it make sense if I say it has the quality of a painting about it? - not sure that it does .... perhaps 'evokes'? Anyway - I know what I mean!
Cx

Comment is about Go Hug Grandad (blog)

Original item by Simon Rennie

Thanks for your comments on my 'War' poem Simon .... my first ever Siren comment! And I'm enormously flattered to be even mentioned in the same breath as Auden - made my day.
Cx

Comment is about Simon Rennie (poet profile)

Original item by Simon Rennie

Thank-you Cynthia for your comments on my 'War' poem, I'm glad you liked it. You always give such good feedback and your comments really mean a lot to me.
:-)
Cx

Comment is about Cynthia Buell Thomas (poet profile)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

You know I do, and didn't say it was not funny, still..... it is really an exceptionally beautiful poem. XX

Comment is about Beautiful Minds (blog)

Original item by Isobel

Well Ann - I must confess that spelling has never drawn or repelled me from a man so that is a new one on me! I guess that some level of literacy is nice to have though, especially if you are of a poetic disposition. Just so long as he knows how to use his dictionary...

Comment is about spelling . . . . (blog)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

Sod of off with your Worst Poem of the Month TC! I thought you had a similar sense of humour?

Ann - is eating a honey sandwich nach a euphemism for something? It sounds pretty gross to me - I've never liked honey much - if only I did...
I don't think I've ever managed to laugh a man into bed - maybe I could laugh one out?

I think the observations we have all made are fascinating. I find the differences between the sexes immense in so many areas.
If a man can make you laugh it is a huge attraction for women. Having said that, I'm not sure I could ever have fancied Ken Dodd or the one who told all those horrid mother in law jokes.

The bottom line is that women don't just want brawn. They want the whole package - brain - something they can connect with chemically and a laugh chucked it.
Many men are happy to take a body regardless of what is inside it. They are also happy to leave it when it becomes inconvenient.
My jaundiced view on life of course.

Thanks to all for commenting. xx

Comment is about Beautiful Minds (blog)

Original item by Isobel

Thank you for the kind comment on Sculpture Cynthia. The spelling has been corrected!

Comment is about Cynthia Buell Thomas (poet profile)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

Good poem,again Kath,albeit possibly personal.Bloody men eh?
I,m no Saint,and it did take some time for common sense to kick in-thankfully-believe me,in most cases,people who dish cruelty out,get later re-visits of guilt-unless nothing kicks in.If I could go back and tidy up-what a gift that would be-obviously same for lots people-You sound very independant now-best regards-Stefan.

Comment is about New found freedom (blog)

Hi Lisa ;-) thank you for taking the time to read my works, yes I am inspired by the magical, mistical, the Golden Ratio, the interconnectness of everything, A Universe like a multi dimensional jigsaw puzzle in a cosmic dance, maybe I will get to write a poem about it one day ;-)TC XX

Comment is about Lisa Milligan (poet profile)

Original item by Lisa Milligan

I agree with many of the others it is a beautiful poem, with a naff last line, in which I percieve the hand of deliberate mischief making !! I should know, I have witnessed it's scribing's in prior times. I am going to make a new award... WPOM 'Worst Poem of the Month' and nominate you in 'Poetic Juctice' ha ha for your naughtiness ha ha Much love TC XX

Comment is about Beautiful Minds (blog)

Original item by Isobel

Hey up 'Gladders! wherfore art thou-get thy blogs blogging-pretty
please! Stefeatures

Comment is about Rachel McGladdery (poet profile)

Original item by Rachel McGladdery

the dolphins said
to ride a wave
was much more fun
when done with Dave!
the dolphins said
to please come back
it's more fun when
you're on their back!

Comment is about Brrrh! (blog)

Original item by Dave Carr

Or a just a little bit misguided? Or too romantic for her own good? Or just plain daft!! (The latter I suspect!)

Comment is about spelling . . . . (blog)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

I completely agree with this statement Isobel, in fact I just recently said this to a very special friend of mine.
'I would say that on the whole, the beautiful mind is far more important to a woman than it is to a man.'

And Ann...
I agree with you about the laughter too ; )

Comment is about Beautiful Minds (blog)

Original item by Isobel

A tortured soul.

Comment is about spelling . . . . (blog)

Original item by Ann Foxglove