Thanks for your kind comments on the weather girl. If you'd heard the audio the poem wouldn't have surprised you with it's ending! It features my son trying to sound like a dirty old man, and making a worryingly good job of it!

Comment is about Cynthia Buell Thomas (poet profile)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

What's that then TC?
Everything in each line of the poem. :-)

JR.x

Comment is about Tommy Carroll (poet profile)

Original item by Tommy Carroll

Many congratulations Rachel. It's no surprise to me.

Comment is about Rachel McGladdery (poet profile)

Original item by Rachel McGladdery

A veritable Ulrika of a poem Ann, absolutely on the money.

Comment is about weather girl (blog)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

Congratulations, Rachel. I would never skip over one of your blogs. I have found that certain poets become truly reliable to spend time with ... as I would choose a book.

Comment is about Write Out Loud Outstanding Poems for December (blog)

Original item by Isobel

Very good, Ann. Super ending. Turned the table upside down. I had no idea the 'male voice' was coming until the last four words. I have no problem with admiring other women, so your casual 'appreciations' didn't tip me off at all.

Comment is about weather girl (blog)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

Happy New Year to ALL the wonderful poets on WriteOutLoud.

Comment is about Andy Sewina aka Danny A Wise (poet profile)

Original item by Andy Sewina aka Danny A Wise

Man this poem shouts anger, parade ground bellows! and all the better for that.
Tommy

Comment is about Oh the Hypocrisy (blog)

Original item by Noetic-fret!

Rachel - your predicament with the chillies makes me laugh. I am reminded of a time when I was talking on the phone to a sister, saying what a good boy my 3 year old was. He chose that precise moment to empty a whole carton of milk all over the kitchen floor....
Dried chillies - you do do exotic cooking - no wonder your poetry is so steamy....

John - so you want some photos... now I think of it, I could direct you one that might help....

Oh I do love this site - it's a laugh a minute - and I shouldn't have had wine whilst cooking dinner....

Comment is about Write Out Loud Outstanding Poems for December (blog)

Original item by Isobel

Lol!
Well, while I was grinning ear to ear and typing my last comment, my 3 year old sneaked a tub of dried chillies into the living room and emptied it all over the floor....God, WOLOP and having to do my own hoovering! While I was typing this comment, she came in screaming "water mummy water" guessing she didn't put ALL of them on the floor then! :)

Comment is about Write Out Loud Outstanding Poems for December (blog)

Original item by Isobel

Brill, I did the same as Janet and expected to hear a female West country accent....I jumped!
Very funny poem,really well observed speech, reminds me of a few of the men in my family.
Rachel
xxx

Comment is about weather girl (blog)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

I wrote the book on acceptance speeches last month...and I only came third equal. Enjoy the moment.

: )

If Izzy could just send me some photos I'm sure I'll rise to the challenge.

: )

Jx

Comment is about Write Out Loud Outstanding Poems for December (blog)

Original item by Isobel

Thanks Cate, for the very kind comment, it's very much appreciated.
Rachel
x

Comment is about Cate (poet profile)

Original item by Cate

what else can a real redblooded man say but,PWHOAR!!!!!!!!

Comment is about Stockings (blog)

Original item by Rachel McGladdery

Oh wow! Thanks very very much. I don't know what to say! Ought I to have done a speech?
I am absolutely thrilled.
Going to have to have a cup of tea, to calm myself down. My head's going to be as big as a house now.
Cheers and a huge grin
Rachel
xxx

Comment is about Write Out Loud Outstanding Poems for December (blog)

Original item by Isobel

just popped on to wish Mrs Mac congrats as wolop December winner-deservedly so! now wheres those'Stockings?-keep well chuck-Stefo

Comment is about Rachel McGladdery (poet profile)

Original item by Rachel McGladdery

Well you certainly created a reaction with this one didn't you Daniel?
I think we need to watch out for Craig. He 'sounds' so like someone else on here. I hope he has a sense of humour if he continues to comment in this vein. Respect for your reply in response. I am not worthy! :-)

In my personal opinion i think rhymes help when listening to and reading performance poetry. Deep, meaningful and too much metaphor gets lost unless read by a seasoned performer who knows how to capture and engage an audience using pause, intonations and eye contact etc...

I like rhyme too and cliches might become obsolete when life is obliterated. Life is a cliche for many so some things will be used again and again but occasionally someone will put an extra twist to it to make it a little more original.
For me, that's the clever part though i don't claim to be good at it. :-)

Great comments from the others here.
Janet.x

Comment is about who betrayed rhyming poetry to its literary death? (blog)

Original item by Daniel Hooks

Oh Crikey! Just spotted it. Thanks very much (big big cheesy grin)
xxx

Comment is about Rachel McGladdery (poet profile)

Original item by Rachel McGladdery

Hello Ann,

Thank you for being the first to make a comment on my profile page!

I am still trying to work out how to navigate the site and am in no rush to post any poems, though of course will do so eventually!

I like 'Weather Girl' because it has some originality of theme and a good deal of wit about it. I'm sure you don't need me to tell you that the rhyme and rhythm are not top notch, but that doesn't matter as the technical deficiencies are way more than compensated for by the content. I'm not a snob about any form of poetry. It doesn't have to rhyme in perfect meter or form to be good. What matters, and this applies to ANY poetry, is whether it engages the reader and (where rhyme is used) that it isn't annoying for the reasons I stated in the 'death of rhyme' post.

What you have created is an enjoyable read, funny, believable and even a bit poignant in its underlying commententary about the human condition. The audio version adds another dimension and he does very well to get the balance right between his disdain and his yearning!! It is difficult to decide whether to love him or loathe him for his dubious notion of 'romance'!

All in all, your poem is a pleasing experience for this 'WOL' novice!

Craig

Comment is about weather girl (blog)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

Let's challenge Aikman! That can be your task for 2010 - to write a tasteful poem about a woman's arse - if that isn't a contradiction in terms...Thanks for your comment Janet. I'm not sure what I'd do if a poem was voted winner which had been removed. My instinct is to say that you should vote for the poem that you like best regardless and I will sort it out afterwards. There are only a couple of poets who remove their work quickly but I am sure they would be put it back up, if the need arose and they were asked nicely.

Comment is about Write Out Loud Outstanding Poems for December (blog)

Original item by Isobel

Agreed! A well deserved winner!
Cate xx

Comment is about Write Out Loud Outstanding Poems for December (blog)

Original item by Isobel

there's a lot of that going on in the world, not to mention mine. :-)

Janet.x

Comment is about Too much time on one\\'s hands (blog)

Original item by Tommy Carroll

Top stuff Rachel...and top stuff Izzy...again!

: )

PS One day I will write a poem that mentions a woman's arse and it won't seem crass, stupid or louche...I've tried, Lord know's I've tried.

: )

Comment is about Write Out Loud Outstanding Poems for December (blog)

Original item by Isobel

Oooh, so it is. There i mean... my choice for wolop. Better put my specs on next time.

So could we have nominated poems which were removed?
When i say i agree with you about the poem, i meant the way it made you feel.... and the quality of the writing. I realize it isn't favouritism on your behalf Isobel.
It does make the blog an interesting read and since it was your idea and your ''baby'', of course you are entitled to voice your thoughts.
It's well put together and obviously becoming a popular feature.

Janet.x

Comment is about Write Out Loud Outstanding Poems for December (blog)

Original item by Isobel

This is so funny. I love your writing style with rhymes. Controversial too.

Janet.x

Comment is about CHRISTMAS JEER (blog)

Original item by Barrie Singleton

Don't get me wrong Craig I don't totally dislike free verse or prose poetry when it is done well but i have trouble when it hasn't got an out right flow and the rhythmn and the meaning is more than unclear.
as for the use of spying in my poem yes i think its a legitimate rhyme and use of the word as poets borrow or steal ideas from each other so they could be said to spy on each other.
As for the snobbery in poetry i am glad you agree! its seems as if you have to have some kind of PHD in english to get anywhere within the publishing world.
yes my poem is cliched but some the points remain and the best poetry, the ones that I have been asked to read again and again have a simple rhyme scheme and an outright meaning.
Dan

Comment is about who betrayed rhyming poetry to its literary death? (blog)

Original item by Daniel Hooks

ha ha... i listened before reading. The male voice stunned me so much the laptop nearly fell off my knee.

Great poem. Very life-like.

Janet.x

Comment is about weather girl (blog)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

Janet - I did include your nomination if you look at the list. It was late coming in but didn't have any affect on the results anyway.Darren and Dave's poem didn't receive any nominations. If Darren had won, I am sure that he would have obliged and put it back up. I decided to discuss Dave and Darren's poems in the commentary because one really made me laugh (and by and large funny poems get ignored) and the other very much moved me - being about human atrocity on a horrendous scale. I hope I am not accused of favouritism. What I am trying to do is make the blog a little more interesting than just a list of successful poems, which would be a bit dry bones...You will note that last month I had a little laugh with Augusta and John Aikman....Who knows what I'll pick on next month...

Comment is about Write Out Loud Outstanding Poems for December (blog)

Original item by Isobel

Well done Rachel. Not one but two poems in one month, equally worthy of this award.

I'm afraid my vote went in too late to count. Simply couldn't read all the ones i missed in my short absence from the site. My eventual choice wasn't counted and isn't in the list of runners.

I agree with Isobel about Darrens poem but once a poem has been removed it becomes null and void, removing the option to vote for it. I think i'm correct in saying that?

Comment is about Write Out Loud Outstanding Poems for December (blog)

Original item by Isobel

Very good , you can catch words and make them yours.

Comment is about Write Out Loud Outstanding Poems for December (blog)

Original item by Isobel

Hadn't read this before - but oh - it makes me shiver.... Could you tag it with WOLOP.dec. Don't know if you know much about WOLOP but it would be easier to read my current blog that has just gone up. Thanks.

Comment is about Why So Blue, Sweetheart? (blog)

Original item by Tom

Hi Mike. Not sure if you know much about WOLOP ( you'll find a blog about it just gone up). People vote for their favourite poem of the month and the one with most wins nothing but praise LOL. Your poem was nominated. Could you please tag it with WOLOP.dec so that people can read it as part of a group. Thanks. x

Comment is about SITREP! (blog)

Original item by Noetic-fret!

Hi Debs. Would you mind tagging this with WOLOP.dec so that people may read it as part of the WOLOP group. Thanks. x

Comment is about Bedouin (blog)

Original item by Deborah Jordan Bailey

Would you mind tagging this one with WOLOP.dec please? This was someone's favourite poem in December. x

Comment is about The Staff Room Celebrates (blog)

Original item by Dave Morgan

Hi Paul. Would you mind tagging this one with WOLOP.dec? Thank you. x

Comment is about Last train to Shitsville (blog)

Hi Marianne - would you mind tagging your last two poems with WOLOP.dec? They were nominated again this month so are in the list of runners up. Thanks.

Comment is about Marianne Daniels (poet profile)

Original item by Marianne Daniels

Hi Ann, Sorry yes the2 cats (Bubble and Squeek) are fine. They had a bout of regurgitation a couple of weeks ago but have now thankfully ceased. They do not like going out in the snow ! Win x

Comment is about Ann Foxglove (poet profile)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

Hi Ann - could you tag this poem and also bereavement with WOLOP.dec? thanks x

Comment is about walking the coastal path with a pair of nail scissors (blog)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

loved both of these of Rachels. Worthy winner. Win.

Comment is about Write Out Loud Outstanding Poems for December (blog)

Original item by Isobel

Ta for being my 6,000th visitor and your generous comment - truly thou art a sage and onion!

Comment is about Dave Morgan (poet profile)

Original item by Dave Morgan

Thanks for the comment Ann - I'm not just cool, I'm freezing!

Comment is about Ann Foxglove (poet profile)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

Hi AnnRe Googlize. Actually wobble would not be allowed here. This one is taken from my calculator series. The alphabet used is derived from letters on a calculator read upside down. So 0 = o, 1 = i, 2 = z etc E,h,s,g,L,B follow.Here's another -

Zoo Shloo

Geese gozzle,
bees hibe,
hogs boss,
eels loobe.
Eggs.
Eggs…
Shhh
Eggs sigh.

Win

Comment is about Ann Foxglove (poet profile)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

This is beautiful! Really bloody love it, you could really play about with this if you decide to perform it :)

Comment is about HD (blog)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

WELL DONE RACHEL :-) You are a walop! (Not a trollop! Well, who knows! But great!) Might help you deal with all the snowball fights with the kids off school and all! xxx

Comment is about Rachel McGladdery (poet profile)

Original item by Rachel McGladdery

Ann, I so know what you mean about the poem on the back of the fag packet syndrome. I wrote one in half an hour the other day while the kids were pestering me and I was hugely pleased with it. Others I work on, like really work and they just don't have that 'feeling'...weird innit!
Rachel
xxx

Comment is about Ann Foxglove (poet profile)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

Thanks Ann and Andy for the comments. I really wanted the snow to stick and it felt like a waste all these big huge flakes coming down and just melting... I got my wish this morning though, we're blanketed in the stuff and the kids are all off school....joy, rapture!
Cheers
Rachel
x

Comment is about Snow (blog)

Original item by Rachel McGladdery

Very impressive Cynthia. You have captured the essence of the forces of nature here, and like Isobel says, the imagery is rich and powerful. Im not sure the line "higgeldy -piggeldy" fits in with such subject matter, {but its a personal opinion!}
I love the line "One gorgeous red hibiscus not yet shredded
Bleeds on my eye." Lovely!
Cate xx

Comment is about Force Seven (blog)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

Ive just come across this whilst Ive been trawling through December poems on the last minute as usual, looking for a winner.
I love this Rachel....its very moving, even heart rendering in its acceptance of a future which is never going to be. This is a winner to me.
Cat xx

Comment is about Little Clock (blog)

Original item by Rachel McGladdery

Hi Annelise. You are our first new member for 2010. Happy new year... looking forward to seeing you post more of your work. Winston

Comment is about Anneliese Emmans Dean (poet profile)

Original item by Anneliese Emmans Dean

Hi Andy, thanks as always for your comments on all my poems.
To be honest, i think i posted the last one way too early. It needs some more work and i'm not happy with the title. It just doesn't sit right so i'll have a think.

Janet.x

Comment is about Andy N (poet profile)

Original item by Andy N