Awesome Autumn 😊

Comment is about Autumn In The Wood (blog)

Original item by Larisa Rzhepishevska

The history of events in Leningrad is a salutary lesson of what
horror can be unleashed in war, yet in itself a "sideshow" - a
dreadful outcome of aggression being confronted and resisted.
We, the generational people of these islands, have our own
history down the centuries and have been open to the need to
offer help to others along the way - within our capability to do
so. War without limitations is deadly dangerous and so is the
aggressive abuse that can arise and seek dominance in peacetime. Avoiding both is the ultimate essential good sense. But it seems that conflict for one
reason or another is a regular disease in the tale of human existence and survival.

Comment is about SIEGE OF LENINGRAD 1941-44 (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

There isn't any, that's why it's not mentioned here, Graham.

Comment is about Choices we make, price we pay!!! (blog)

Original item by Ghazala lari

A welcome upbeat message - thank you.

Comment is about Positive Spirit (blog)

Original item by Aisha Suleman

Bearing in mind Courtney was not the healthiest of partners for Kurt, probably best to withdraw the offer.

David

Comment is about The Rich Want To Heal The World, But I Never Knew It Was Sick (blog)

Original item by Nate West

There is a true eloquence to how you create your imagery with words. Very nice, Clare.

Comment is about Masterpiece. (blog)

Original item by Clare

A fine poem, Rasa. The imagery surrounding the bridge brings home how much you must have been affected by this. Take care of yourself and keep fighting.

Comment is about The Bridge (blog)

Original item by Rasa Kabaila

The imagery and vulnerability of honesty in looking at life represents a reality that most of us must deal with. We are more in common than we are different, it just doesn't always feel like it. Good poem, Kaitlyn.

Comment is about Moments (blog)

Original item by Kaitlyn

Thank you, Trevor. Yes, war is an awful zero-sum game, with ordinary people used as expendible pawns

Comment is about My Enemy (blog)

Original item by Stephen Gospage

The allure of the girls that had that groovy vibe seemed almost magical. Good memories.

Comment is about Groovy Kinda Girl (blog)

Original item by Tom Doolan

@Graham Sherwood @Tim Higbee Thank you very much for your kind words of appreciation! My regards! 🙏

Comment is about : The Barren Tree : (blog)

Original item by SUVENDRA C DASGUPTA

I like how you've expressed that if you are only seeing a barren tree, then there is so much you are not seeing. Great poem.

Comment is about : The Barren Tree : (blog)

Original item by SUVENDRA C DASGUPTA

I will wear a colorful dress,
I will mix up myself with the leaves,
Love how you merged yourself with nature to not just admire but totally experience it. Lovely poem Larisa

Comment is about Autumn In The Wood (blog)

Original item by Larisa Rzhepishevska

...and the morning's throbbing head could be earned either from beer or rolling pin, but stoically denied in the interests of domestic harmony. 😉

Comment is about Sonnet No 333 (blog)

Original item by Andy Millican

A sad indictment of our race, indeed. Wikipedia lists 21 current ongoing armed conflicts that have caused 1000 or more deaths in this or last year! And the even sadder fact is that, as you describe, the front-line troops often have no animosity to their opposition - they just point weapons as they are directed.

A genuinely thought-provoking piece Stephen.

Comment is about My Enemy (blog)

Original item by Stephen Gospage

As one of those pensioners, I can echo these sentiments! And although I am fortunate in that it probably won't affect me too badly, I know a number that will indeed suffer.

Comment is about Think This Through (blog)

Original item by Mike Bartram

Nicely stated.

Comment is about The Unquenchable Fire (blog)

Original item by Stephen W Atkinson

We can mourn the (to many!) lost art of 'dancing in the now'. Alas, my knees won't stand up to it either, but the steps still echo in my head.

Comment is about Truly Glorious, Simply Peace (blog)

Original item by Hélène

Masterpiece indeed! With some beautiful phrases like the "water coloured wish"

Comment is about Masterpiece. (blog)

Original item by Clare

Thank you so much, Graham!

Comment is about Autumn In The Wood (blog)

Original item by Larisa Rzhepishevska

Very nice! I enjoyed reading it.

Comment is about Shell (blog)

Original item by David RL Moore

This is a really good poem Suvendra V2 and V3 particularly!

Comment is about : The Barren Tree : (blog)

Original item by SUVENDRA C DASGUPTA

Love the autumn (I was an October baby) It never fails to draw inspiration from our wonderful WOL poets!!

Comment is about Autumn through my Window (blog)

Original item by Rick Varden

Anyone who can manage to get the word benison into a poem is alright by me!
V2 is rather lovely

well done

G

Comment is about Autumn In The Wood (blog)

Original item by Larisa Rzhepishevska

Thank you, Steve.
I remember the falser than faux outrage when I was accused of "politicising" the Grenfell tragedy in a poem shortly after the incident...the type of which I am personally intimate with, though thankfully, to a lesser traumatic degree.

Oh the irony! Cameron, the man who wanted one hundred standards and building regulations slashed and burned in order to BOOST housebuilding for God's sake!

What was all that about Britain needing to find its "moral compass"?...it's still there, at the bottom of the festering septic tank which British politics has become.

Comment is about Pickles (blog)

Original item by Steve White

That was the plan Uileam!

Comment is about A Perfect World (blog)

Original item by Rick Varden

Are these words of advice and guidance taken from a specific text? I cannot find any reference/acknowledgement if so?

Comment is about Choices we make, price we pay!!! (blog)

Original item by Ghazala lari

I haven’t personally been affected by such a situation in my employment, Rasa.
I was alluding to a case in which a “senior” (in rank, and thus, one would have thought conscientious) female member of staff is alleged to have made complaints about several male colleagues, accusing them of not doing their jobs correctly. She was subsequently “blacked”...and by coincidence? the building in which they worked has recently been demolished.
I should add that from the very moment this case was first reported on, I had a gut feeling there was something extremely dodgy about the whole thing…the rest, as they say, is history.

Comment is about The Bridge (blog)

Original item by Rasa Kabaila

Multum in Parvo, Stephen, as they say in Rutland.

Comment is about SIEGE OF LENINGRAD 1941-44 (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

Thanks, Mike. A proper political poem. It reminds me of the 'icy blast of competition' from the Thatcher days, most of which seemed to whistle through the living rooms of pensioners.

Comment is about Think This Through (blog)

Original item by Mike Bartram

Thanks for your comments Stephen and to those who liked.

David RL Moore

Comment is about Shell (blog)

Original item by David RL Moore

Many thanks for likes:Aisha, Stephen W & Hélène 👍

Comment is about Look At Me (blog)

Original item by Tom Doolan

Thanks for the likes, Tom, Aisha & Manish. Always appreciated 🌷

Comment is about The Unquenchable Fire (blog)

Original item by Stephen W Atkinson

🤗. Thanks Stephen! I am wondering why a talent such as yourself hasn’t joined my poetry group yet. ☺️

Comment is about Masterpiece. (blog)

Original item by Clare

Succinct, with a slap in the face. 👏

Comment is about SIEGE OF LENINGRAD 1941-44 (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

How to paint with words. Lovely stuff, Clare

Comment is about Masterpiece. (blog)

Original item by Clare

I like this Sarah. It has a comforting poetic calm about it 😊

Comment is about Lessons and blessings (the black-bird) (blog)

Original item by Sarah Louise mcnee

Exactly what I see in the mirror, David! Great poem, as usual

Comment is about Shell (blog)

Original item by David RL Moore

You read so beautifully Uilleam. Such a wonderful accent and speaking voice-you have- and you speak about such raw and important things. Thank you for doing this.

Comment is about Uilleam Ó Ceallaigh (poet profile)

Original item by Uilleam Ó Ceallaigh

Thanks for your comments Uilleam, I appreciate them. I'm guessing you have found yourself in some similar situations?

Comment is about The Bridge (blog)

Original item by Rasa Kabaila

Thank you to Clive and Aisha for the early likes on this one.

David RL Moore

Comment is about Shell (blog)

Original item by David RL Moore

Thankyou, Uilleam and David. And Stephen for the Like.
It’s reckoned over 1.5m Russians died in the siege of Leningrad, most from starvation. Cannibalism was commonplace.

Comment is about SIEGE OF LENINGRAD 1941-44 (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

Truth is, Mike, they have thought it through, and frankly my dear, they don't give a damn.

I would find it hilarious (were the circumstances not so potentially tragic) that the current shower in power are being described as "socialists" by those hysterically grieveing the passing of the Tories, who have inflicted a greater amount of damage on British society by other means.

Anything resembling Democratic Socialism has been well and truly purged from what passes for a "Labour" party, at the behest of foreign agents.

Comment is about Think This Through (blog)

Original item by Mike Bartram

Hi John,

The horror that lies behind the words you have written opens a vast chasm which is painful to peer into.

Your reading is excellent. It is challenging to read such words in a fitting way. Pace, breathing and tone are important factors which lend to integrity. I struggle with reading my scribbles aloud so appreciate when I hear people get it right.

For anyone who might be interested in the repetitive and often hypocritical nature of war and judgements thereof, there is an excellent documentary series on BBC 4 (iplayer) called "The Corridors of Power". Although it focusses heavily on US foreign policy in recent history it highlights international intransigence and our own culpability in the suffering of millions.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0020xmq/episodes/guide

I found it fascinating, especially accounts of conflicts I had been involved in. Seeing our stupidity from a distance is revelatory, although I know many of those involved saw much stupidity at the time. It's a shame that politicians don't have their offices moved to the front lines in such times. It might change their understanding of their actions and decisions.

Excellent short poem John, straight to the point!

David RL Moore

Comment is about SIEGE OF LENINGRAD 1941-44 (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

I've expressed myself badly John...no offence intended.

I should have primarily referred to those who are currently hate-mongering, and promoting such ideologies; it's happening right under our noses as we speak.
There's clearly a hierarchy of racism in British politics which is allowing those horrors to repeat themselves...we close our eyes to it at our peril.

Comment is about SIEGE OF LENINGRAD 1941-44 (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

Wonderful poem, Michael. I like the rhythm and the intriguing content. Read it several times.

Comment is about “Resurrection” (blog)

Original item by Michael Morales

What would have been your alternative, Uilleam? To allow Nazism to roll unopposed across Europe?

Comment is about SIEGE OF LENINGRAD 1941-44 (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

Very touching, Kate.

Comment is about A Pillow of Moss (blog)

Original item by Kate Hubbard

"We WON’T tolerate bullying in the health force" they say.

In the UK, if you're a woman, don't report your boss / es for not doing their job, or you might find youself in gaol on trumped up charges...allegedly.

Comment is about The Bridge (blog)

Original item by Rasa Kabaila

Thanks John.
Those who hypocritically and self-righteously indulge in "manufacturing consent for war" should reflect on the horrors you describe.

Comment is about SIEGE OF LENINGRAD 1941-44 (blog)

Original item by John Coopey