Hi Neil, thanks for your nice comments on some of my poems. Glad to see you blogging! A good poem too.

Comment is about Nells (poet profile)

Original item by Nells

Lovely poem, and a subject and vantage point I don't think I've heard described before.

Comment is about Ode to Nomalungelo and Child (blog)

Original item by Noetic-fret!

I've just read this and it reminds me of a prologue to a complicated Crime Thriller with the scope for a reader's implied and sinister thinking.These 4 lines -

With her nose on the wheel...

And walks slowly around the car,

Looking for ants, I think.

Nana’s gravel goes crunch crunch.


demand a reader's attention.

Comment is about Waiting for Mummy (blog)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

Hi Mike. Great poem. I like the real issues and the way your prose is punchy and to the point.
Thanks a lot for your comments on my poem. The compassion has gone from the British police now. There used to be respect for the villains and the public and there was an unwritten code. All gone (sadly) Thanks for your comments and like I say well done on a powerful poem and great reading.
All the best. Respect, Neil G

Comment is about Namibian Dousing (blog)

Original item by Noetic-fret!

Hi neil, it is right for you to express your feelings about events from your past, no matter what role you played. It is sad, that many years ago, people really did trust and respect the boys in blue, but that society is so divisive now, that much of that trust has gone. All too often many people fear the police, yet when dirty work has to be done they are the first to be called upon. My heart goes out to you for the horrors that you have endured. Thank you for sharing this with us.

Stay well

Mike

Comment is about A Policeman's Lament (blog)

Original item by Nells

Steve, my sincere apologies. I can't get through to you via the other channel. Don't know why. I have chosen to share through this medium. I hope I haven't overstepped.



Perspective

They
Think
I am on the outside
Looking in,
Beguiled by questions …
Scholarship … intellectualism …
Erecting barriers against the sleeping spirit.
But I say:
What a strange thought.

I live to learn,
And learn to live
With understanding,
In the constancy of Spirit:
‘Is … was … and shall be …’
There is no sleeping!
And I wonder why they peer at me
With murky eyes
As ‘through a glass darkly’.

But who is boastful?
Humility
Is essential
To Truth
And Love.
It is hard to eschew
A sense of superiority …
Easily the greatest Lie
Of all Lies.

Cynthia Buell Thomas

Comment is about Steve Regan (poet profile)

Original item by Steve Regan

When I went to the "see more" and this popped up I thought it looked great! So colouful. And clever that you gave it some meaning.

Comment is about A Biting of Words (blog)

Original item by Paul Conneally

Happy New Year Gaia
Your comment is much appreciated.
I will email direct re performing The Sun Shone.
Steve

Comment is about Gaia Holmes (poet profile)

Original item by Gaia Holmes

Hi Ann
Thanks, as ever for the word. Still haven't got back to the laugh-a-minute stuff yet.

Comment is about Ann Foxglove (poet profile)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

Hi John - re music for funerals! It's problematic choosing music for someone elses funeral. I had to make this choice, and of course it was at a time when you're in a state anyway. "Who Knows Where the Time Goes" seemed perfect, indeed it was, the result is I can probably never listen to it again. Also, cos of the words, we had "The Whole of the Moon" by the Waterboys. I had no idea if M liked that song, but the words summed him up, for me anyway. He was probably up there looking down and tutting! I think I'd like "I can see clearly now" by Johnny Nash, as it is so cheerful. But some bastards have recently used it in an advert, which is off-putting! I could go classical and have A Lark Ascending, bit of a cliche, but it is lovely. Re Nick Drake, it's another load of songs that I haven't been able to listen to for a couple of years, but I remember particularly loving Northern Sky. xx

Comment is about John Aikman (poet profile)

Original item by John Aikman

Thought provoking poem Steve. I like the last three lines particularly.

Comment is about Handle with Care (blog)

I LOVE this! Fantastic audio - perfectly read... nicely written and yes, I agree, one of your best!
This has to get a cherry for the words, the reading and the photo.
Well done Ann!

Comment is about If I had a horse (blog)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

Noticed that you are a Nick Drake fan (in another thread). He will be played at my funeral...along with John Martyn and Joe Satriani (it's 'one on the way in...one in the middle, and one on the way out...) although, if the rules permitted, I could easily have three from any of them.... It's a game we play on long journeys. My choices have been the same for many years.

What's your favourite?

Jx

Comment is about Ann Foxglove (poet profile)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

a powerful and potent poem. Good, strong stuff.

Comment is about Handle with Care (blog)

I've done a lot of thinking before actually commenting on this Dermot and i've decided not to go into what i personally believe. Tempting though it is.
So, in essence, i agree with you on the principle that everyone is entitled to their own beliefs and that no-one should attempt to foist theirs on anyone else but discussion is good.

I think i got the gist of it.
Enjoyed the rhythm in this too.
Very thought provoking. Well done.

Janet.x

Comment is about Dogmatism (blog)

Original item by Dermot Glennon

Yep, the last one does it for me too. :-)

I love this poem. May i say one of the best i've read of yours so far.
Great audio too.
Janet.x

Comment is about If I had a horse (blog)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

Hi Cynth.Yes email your poem inspired by "through the glass darkly"
stvregan@yahoo.com
I'l love to read it.

Comment is about Cynthia Buell Thomas (poet profile)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

Hi Cynthia
Comment appreciated.
As a voluntary worker in my local school, I often feel that parents are looking and wondering what an old gimmer like me is doing working with 6 and 7 year old children.

Comment is about Cynthia Buell Thomas (poet profile)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

This is great,Gaia. Frances' comments are spot on. Totally fabulous are 'tropical flowers shred the light with their teeth' and 'drop into the dirt with a succulent thud' and many more

Comment is about The Glass House (blog)

Original item by Gaia Holmes

You have expressed well the sorrow of so many of us, the gut-wrenching helplessness against the 'p.c' mania.

Comment is about Handle with Care (blog)

hi there ann, i sure am keeping myself safe from my scarey thoughts ;)hehe

Comment is about Ann Foxglove (poet profile)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

hi there rachel, thanks for your comments on the "scarey thoughts" poem i thought i would get lynched for writing it ;)hehe

Comment is about Rachel McGladdery (poet profile)

Original item by Rachel McGladdery

Steve, I am a crow's wing circle from Wigan, just around the corner in Sale, Cheshire.
And I too think that Biblical phrase is glorious. It was probably very influential. I have a poem based on it that I might share. Your work is very inspiring you know - or do you?

Comment is about Steve Regan (poet profile)

Original item by Steve Regan

Hi Ann,
I can hear the irony in the lines re The Eames armchair. Very subtle and very pertinent to today's consumerist society.
I get the impression you are saying that all things are transient and ephemeral so like why bother.
Great poem. Loved it.
Neil

Comment is about The WOW Factor (blog)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

I'm way down in St Agnes, north coast. And have no car, so difficult to take part in stuff. I believe that there's someting at the St Ives and Penzance Art Clubs every fortnight, am going to get a friend to take me sometime. Whether I am bold enough to take part, hmmmm, hopefully!

Comment is about Richard Thomas (poet profile)

Original item by Richard Thomas

Hey, thanks for your comment. Where abouts in Cornwall are you? I am quite new to the performance poetry circuit. Just found this site today.
Rich x

Comment is about Ann Foxglove (poet profile)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

Hi Anne, Thanks for the comment on my poem.I like your work. Your poems have a great timbre. I feel like I could put some of your work to music.I like the way you read your poem. Its sort of mystic and interesting.
I wondered wether this poem was an allegory for a human relationship.
Kind regards, Neil

Comment is about If I had a horse (blog)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

Hello and welcome - but I thought it was only women over fifty that were invisible? I like your poem, I feel that I can hear you reading it, or, that it would be great read out loud. (Is there a tiny mistake in the line "when there's nothing to say"?) Hope to see more!

Comment is about Nells (poet profile)

Original item by Nells

Very welcome Richard - and I don't like tea either! I am interested that you hail from the west country. I am in COrnwall, I'm very new to writing poetry, never performed but hoping to. So much of this performance stuff seems to be oop north. Good luck with it all anyway!

Comment is about Richard Thomas (poet profile)

Original item by Richard Thomas

Sad commentary on our society Steve. I fear this recent paedophile scandal in a nursery school can only make the situation worse.

Comment is about Handle with Care (blog)

What about a unicorn Ann? Nice Piece.

Comment is about If I had a horse (blog)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

Yes, I must say I get more plesure from mine ;)

Absofuckinlootly no apology needed, your were expressing, always good for me.

Er..this was a 'fag packet' job, they so often are.

I enjoyed the end of your last line, yes, you're bang on there Mr Chris.

Comment is about Joy to watch (blog)

Original item by Christopher Dawson

Really liked your samples Andreas.
There are too many good lines to mention, but the last few of I came to fight are really strong "fists cut on daydreams" for example. Keep the words sharp, well done. Graham

Comment is about Andreas Grant (poet profile)

Original item by Andreas Grant

Shards of spite and the grey dusty, grim musty silence are more evidence of your sharpening eye. However the use of single word lines twice......
Far
Too
Long

Together with the.......

Simple
Innocent
Laughter

...shows a really powerful emotional compass. I'm always interested in your work Sian. Well done again and keep them going. Graham

Comment is about sian howell (poet profile)

Original item by sian howell

clever stuff m8

Comment is about Rhyme. (blog)

Bit of a mouthful Rachel... whilst a true enthusiast of sexual foreplay and the ability to read all and everthing even the mundane into poetry and form in persuance of pleasure I love the poem !!!

Augusta XX

Comment is about House Porn (blog)

Original item by Rachel McGladdery

Hi Rachel,

Thanks for the comment on my 'wall' or whatever I'm supposed to call it!

Interesting reading your stuff here. Hope you continue to get opportunities to do open mic and other performances - it's definitely a good way of getting your own 'voice' and meeting other people who enjoy the spoken word.

All the best.

Simon

Comment is about Rachel McGladdery (poet profile)

Original item by Rachel McGladdery

I too have seen that very same barge... near to Stockton Heath...

Thank you so much for your thoughts

Augusta xx

Comment is about Rachel McGladdery (poet profile)

Original item by Rachel McGladdery

You've captured the drama and the power of nature here, and man's vulnerability within nature's big tantrums. Theb poem positively fizzesd and cackles with energy.

I like the prayer-like ending and I like these lines from the body of the poem...


"by the throat fiercely". This has the same rythmn as "through a glass darkly" which is probably my favourite phrase in the world.

and also liked

"one fateful gust will undo mathematics;"

Best wishes, Cynth, wherever you are, and God bless the people of Haiti, who might be not that far from you.

Comment is about Force Seven (blog)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

Hi again
I don't comment often (limited ability) but I must tell you that I get little (or no) enjoyment out of 'performing' but I may get there one day. Are we of simuilar minds?

Comment is about The Long Fuse (blog)

Original item by sian howell

Hello Sian
Thanks for your very kind interest. I am something of a reluctant blogger, having no great regard for what I do (not false humility).
I write to express those things that have passed through my mind (many and various), and if others find them of interest or enjoyable, I am both amazed and thrilled, in equal measure.
Steve

Comment is about sian howell (poet profile)

Original item by sian howell

I'm guessing this is about poetry performance, and maybe the fear that some have to overcome to do it. The piece works very well Sian. Here are the prhases that rocked me most on reading it ...

"shards of spite"

and

"grey dusty

grim musty ...silence."

Comment is about The Long Fuse (blog)

Original item by sian howell

I've read this one a few times trying to get to grips with its meaning. I like it cos it feels like a very different path for you. To me, it seems you are saying, that if you look for an easy route in life you won't really engage, encounter reality, truth or be absorbed into a meaningful cycle. Sometimes all of the above coexists with trial, hardship and imperfection. It is through our difficult experiences that we learn to truly understand and to appreciate the good things in life. Does any of that make sense?

Comment is about The Woods (blog)

Original item by Noetic-fret!

Andy, I love the ending of this and the warm, slightly regretful tone.

Comment is about Early January Snow Blues (blog)

Original item by Andy N

Re read this today. what an opening, full of aprehension and inner strength. Thinking Henry Fonda for some reason? Win x

Fear soaked, I drag myself upright -
unsteady but true at last,
ready to speak
to the patient crowd,

Comment is about The Long Fuse (blog)

Original item by sian howell

Thanks Mark, no there's no more, I wrote it more or less on the spur of the moment, not having been on the site for a while.
Shame I've started the new year in Mr Grumpy mode!
I'm try ing to be more positive. will see what I can come up with.

Comment is about Horace Thespider (poet profile)

Original item by Horace Thespider

An interesting poem Dermot and I can see where you got your inspiration...I'm not so sure I would agree that you are 'open minded-ish' unless you have changed your mind about certain things recently. I do agree with you that, if we have souls, everybody has them, regardless of personal beliefs. I also believe that you don't have to believe in a God to be a good person or have an 'aristocratic soul'. What we all need is tolerance. We need to supress that human urge to rubbish the beliefs of others. Someone should write a poem on that.

Comment is about Dogmatism (blog)

Original item by Dermot Glennon

This reminds me of your limerick one - humorous.

Comment is about Rhyme. (blog)

Yes - another very successfull poem - strongly visual, threatening and contrasting. I enjoy the drama and conflict you manage to include in so few words.
Well done you!

Comment is about The Glass House (blog)

Original item by Gaia Holmes

"but i think its all just fi..shcakes?-Stef-no not fishcakes stef-just fi...shcakes-lol

Comment is about Rhyme. (blog)