I have just found this too and it is lovely, full of longing and a sort of helplessness, that's how it seems to me anyway.

Comment is about His love for me is like the sea, As deep as it is wide (blog)

Original item by Louise Fazackerley

Moving and mysterious Marianne

Comment is about Prelude (blog)

Original item by Marianne Daniels

These are beautiful images, and it made me read Fern Hill again - not read since 6th form a million years ago. So thank you. I now have to go and look up what tanka are. So you are educating me as well as giving me pleasure.

Comment is about After Fern Hill (blog)

Original item by Paul Conneally

Hi Neil! I'm sure you don't have to re-think your Grief Voyeur poem, I was being a bit thick ;-)
I get it now! xx

Comment is about Nells (poet profile)

Original item by Nells

Hi Steve. Missed this posting of yours till tonight. these words in your opening

The word was ever,
to handle with care
the early fruit.
Apple blush;peach perfect;
unblemished,
soft-skinned,
easily bruised.

- are so similar to those at the start of my latest blog 'On Seeing a Boy's Face' (Have a look) yet maybe you put it better / diferently? a great emotive piece this. got a lotfrom it. Win x

Comment is about Handle with Care (blog)

Cynthia... this changed my night.. thankyou. Great observations. Great child like observations and language. heart strings etc .It had everything for a poem of this type... i could go on. Win x Thanks for posting.

Comment is about Waiting for Mummy (blog)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

fat balls.

Comment is about our winter visitors (blog)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

'Sports day in a Paisley shirt' sorry a slightly strange comment thatbut this one sends me in so many directions. I once did a workshop exercise to sum up a poem in 6 words... that was my attempt on yours. Win x

Comment is about Mandlebrot Certificate (blog)

Original item by Marianne Daniels

Hi Marriane

Another great offering. 'To brood floods' short line... butlisten to the sound of it and the shapes it makes . wonderful. Win x

Comment is about Prelude (blog)

Original item by Marianne Daniels

Hi Star Garter...
If i read this right the three repeated lines at the end each increase in volume (as a todler might be screaming). A nice idea and one that works in the context of the poem . If this site would allow maybe it could be posted up in an increasing size font each line? Win

Comment is about What I Share With A Screaming Toddler. (blog)

Hi Ann, Ta 4 the feedback on "Grieve Voyeur". I think the point I was making is that if you go from being a morbid spectator to a paid counsellor in order to fulfill a need to experience grief there comes a time when you are going to get rumbled. I am sorry you didn't pick this up.I will have to rethink the draft.
Kind Regards, Neil

Comment is about Ann Foxglove (poet profile)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

Im with the others on these replies.
I personally prefer to read this style of poetry where the author is 1st hand, rather than poetic exercises that try and be a way of proving a style or other, its all about the pure emotion for me, I think that you should write as much as you feel, I'm especially interested in 'front line' experiences like what you have written about here, i know that Mike (who replies on this thread) has seen front line action and I reccommend a browse thru the many blogs on here.

Comment is about A Policeman's Lament (blog)

Original item by Nells

thanks for commenting on 'a biting of words' - paul

Comment is about Ann Foxglove (poet profile)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

This does make you think. What was on the mother's mind? Mentioning her shoulder being funny - just the sort of thing a child would see and wonder (worry?) about.

Comment is about Waiting for Mummy (blog)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

Hi Cynthia, thanks for sending "Perspective" to me.

I enjoyed it very much, in its themes and in its writing, and of course the use of the phrase "through a glass darkly". How right to bring to the fore the fact that we can have but imperfect vision and understanding.

Paul is so quotable. I loved what he said about fighting the good fight and running the race to the finish.

If you haven't already read it, I recommend the novel "The Elegance of the Hedgehog" by Muriel Barbary. It's about some of the very things your poem touches upon ... being considered an outsider, scholarship, humility. It's a lovely, philosphical and humane story.

Very best wishes,

Steve R

Comment is about Cynthia Buell Thomas (poet profile)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

Just to say, there are many bereavement councillors (CRUSE for example - not sure of the letters) who do this for no fee, as they are a charity. I am sure that they are all people who have suffered a great loss of someone close. So I hope you are excluding people like that in your intro. I am sure there are people like the one you describe. It seems to be a part of human nature, to be thankful that someone else has got fate's bucketload of shit poured over their heads, sad to say.

Comment is about GRIEF VOYEUR (blog)

Original item by Nells

Hello Cynthia and many thanks for your kind comments about "Mole".
I used funereal gauze as trees in mist/fog always remind me of being under burial shrouds.
I used nauseous because the oppressive silence when one stands in a snowscape can be really debilitating. Funiily enough I didn't reckon on their rhyme value, Regards, Graham

Comment is about Cynthia Buell Thomas (poet profile)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

perfect - what else can I say?
banksy

Comment is about Waiting for Mummy (blog)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

Cheers Tommy for the post. Much appreciated. Take care.
Regards Neil

Comment is about Art House (blog)

Original item by Tommy Carroll

Hi Niel, what gives for me a saver in the poem is the line: 'All the other counsellors avoided Janet like the plague' allowing us, with them (the other counsellors) to distance our-selves from the voyeuristic.

Tommy

Comment is about GRIEF VOYEUR (blog)

Original item by Nells

Hi There Anne, Thankyou for taking the time to read my piece 'On Seeing a Boy's Face' and for your kind comments. This piece was removed by accident and is now back again. It may or may not have had the audio when you last visited. Win x

Comment is about Ann Foxglove (poet profile)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

The fact that this poem contains my name made me read it.
In my experience, most bereavement counsellors have suffered tragic loss themselves. It might not always be the case but like minded (people who've shared similar experience) are often the best to talk to in these circumstances.

I thought about doing a counselling course myself as my friends seem to think i'd be great at it. I think i'd become too personally involved though, therefore taking work home with me. Maybe i'm not unlike the Janet in your poem after all.
Have to say it wouldn't be for money though unless it became a full time job.

Enjoyed this, it made me think how some people perceive an occupation as useful/helpful even and perhaps those who may never need it or simply cannot understand the need for it would think it's a rip off.

Janet.x

Comment is about GRIEF VOYEUR (blog)

Original item by Nells

Yeah man. I feel your pain. Larkin would have been proud.

Comment is about Art House (blog)

Original item by Tommy Carroll

Also terrific. How did I miss this last year? Thanks for reading and commenting on Waiting For Mummy.

Comment is about His love for me is like the sea, As deep as it is wide (blog)

Original item by Louise Fazackerley

I like this one Cynthia. The complexity of adulthood with all its hidden mystery and misery, seen through a child's eye. Very cleverly done.

Comment is about Waiting for Mummy (blog)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

Graham, always thanks for reading and commenting. I considered lengthily the usage of 'mummy' so often. Then I realized, from a child's viewpoint, perhaps at 3 years old, of 50 words used daily 40 would be "Mummy'.

Comment is about Waiting for Mummy (blog)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

Very strong emotions expressed well in this Mike.
The repeated lines slow it down which for me, makes it so much stronger.

Janet.x

Comment is about When We of Poverty, Where Next? (blog)

Original item by Noetic-fret!

Hi Yosh,there are good people in the world too, it isn't all negative.I think we should be aware of what goes on around us but to focus on the negative is usually to attract it.I lost my faith in human nature too once. My faith in God at the time, got me through by bringing the evidence i needed through humans. They were my 'angels'.
Thought provoking piece this however you perceive life to be.Janet.x

Comment is about EVIL IN PEOPLE...... (blog)

hi yosh,keep writing,but stay away from news progdogs.they bite!

Comment is about EVIL IN PEOPLE...... (blog)

On one level simple, on another, a conplicated piece. For me the most interesting themes in this are: the frustration of ageing; and the nature of defeat. Do we learn more from winning or losing /failing? I doubt that philosophers will ever agree on that one. Thanks for coming to LIVERpoetry launch, Dave. Hope I wasn't too pissed as MC ... I didn't have time for me tea, you see.

Comment is about More than a puzzle (blog)

Original item by Dave Bradley

A very picturesque poem this one i think Cynthia.It creates lots of vivid colours in the imagination.

Janet.x

Comment is about Waiting for Mummy (blog)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

A vivid picture of human angst and maternal love is eloqently drawn here... and the lovely child's eye view of life too. Like this very much... makes me think.

Comment is about Waiting for Mummy (blog)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

To be warm in personality as well as clever is to be cherished. I like your self awareness. Beware of people who are neither warm nor clever. There are quite a few of those on the poetry scene!

Comment is about Intellect Makes A Poor Blanket (blog)

A funny wee poem which also raises a contentious issue in poetry - the snobbery that occurs about use of rhyme. John Betjeman was brilliant at it - and some people sneer at him.

Comment is about Rhyme. (blog)

Loved your comment Annipoo ;-) I am awake and I should be asleep!!
TC XX

Comment is about Ann Foxglove (poet profile)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

Thank you Steve for reading my poem 'Bound together'
and for your lovely words...

Francine x

Comment is about Steve Regan (poet profile)

Original item by Steve Regan

Thank you Sian, as always for your support and encouragement...
means so much!

Francine x

Comment is about sian howell (poet profile)

Original item by sian howell

Hi Mingo! Are you an anagram? It's always good to catch me on a jokey day - my default mode is 'Joyous Black' I'll pop over to your spot and make a comment. Cheers.

Comment is about Barrie Singleton (poet profile)

Original item by Barrie Singleton

Hi Kate, I love yer "Biscuit" poem - makes me mouth water!

Comment is about Kate Tym (poet profile)

Original item by Kate Tym

Hi Barrie, really enjoyed reading your poems - "Step Change" is me fave!

Comment is about Barrie Singleton (poet profile)

Original item by Barrie Singleton

Ha ha! I love this poem, and was also surprised when I heard your voice!!

Comment is about weather girl (blog)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

i enjoyed the simplicity and the honesty of this. we all turn it on for the kids.

Comment is about Waiting for Mummy (blog)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

A delicate poem..... I wonder what goes on inside that head ;-)).... Fat feeders are good for when it's really cold plenty energy in them for the weight ratio.
Luv TC ;-) XX

Comment is about our winter visitors (blog)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

First of all this is a lovely piece of work Cynthia bravo to you. Only negative for me was the repetition of mummy (five times). Two would have been great.

Comment is about Waiting for Mummy (blog)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

Home is drinking real ale in a warm old pub with your mates..... Though Provoking.... I miss my home.TC

Comment is about home? (blog)

Original item by JEFF.W

Hello Oz
Enjoyed your spot last night at the Terrier, especially the one about the Stones (cold not rolling). Might make it to Harrogate next week - if so, see you there.

Comment is about Oz Hardwick (poet profile)

Original item by Oz Hardwick

Hi Neil, Welcome. There is a lot more 'real poetry' out there Neil than you may imagine, this site has a considerable amount of it, check the writer's various blogs.
Tommy- : )

Comment is about A Policeman's Lament (blog)

Original item by Nells

Good poem Steve - point well made. Reminded me of E M Forster's story - The Machine Stops - about a future world in which we live in isolation never touching each other - so unnatural.

Comment is about Handle with Care (blog)

Excellent, Cynthia. A whole world is suggested, with just enough clues - the reader's mind races to fill in the gaps

Comment is about Waiting for Mummy (blog)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

I almost lived the experience of this as I read it, Isobel. I wanted to throw "handfuls to the skies".

And, yes, water is to be "enjoyed on its own terms", being both vital for life and capable of killing it.

I liked the descriptions and the disturbing contrasts drawn.

Comment is about OASIS (blog)

Original item by Isobel