Sums up the horror & the hope perfectly, Nigel.
Comment is about When Hope Calls (blog)
Original item by Nigel Astell
Great poem Cassandra! Thanks for the inspiration....one deep breath at a time.
Comment is about Taking Care Of Me (blog)
Original item by Cassandra Louise
Strong powerful poem. Felt the emotions in every line. Thank you for a poem that carries us into the hearts of the suffering from this catastrophe.
Comment is about When Hope Calls (blog)
Original item by Nigel Astell
Thankyou, Steve. And for the Like, Adam.
Comment is about SHAKESPEARE ON GENDER FLUIDITY (blog)
Original item by John Coopey
Topical stuff with a dash of humour! Thanks John
Comment is about SHAKESPEARE ON GENDER FLUIDITY (blog)
Original item by John Coopey
Uilleam love the title and it was - - -😄
Comment is about Sex On A Water Bed (blog)
Original item by Nigel Astell
......so he duly obliged-on a wing and a praaa>>>>>>>yer!
Comment is about An annoying flight (blog)
Original item by hugh
<Deleted User> (5011)
Thu 9th Feb 2023 12:05
Thanks, Lee. It is really useful getting other participants' reports on reviewed events, embellishing the review itself. It sounds like one of those 'you had to have been there' gigs. And you were not only there, you helped create the electric atmosphere. Cheers.
Comment is about Taking the last bus home after nights like these! Brian Bilston wows big audience at the New Poetry Shack in London (article)
Original item by Greg Freeman
Thanks Holden. It means a lot to have your support 😎👍
Comment is about All Roads Lead to Malton (blog)
Original item by John Botterill
I'm afraid I find it all rather silly, Stephen.
Thanks for the Like, Red Brick.
Comment is about SHAKESPEARE ON GENDER FLUIDITY (blog)
Original item by John Coopey
A remarkable piece, Andy. I love the way that a poem like this can reduce vile pomposity to what it really is.
Comment is about Soliloquy No 4 – Once More Into The Breech….... (blog)
Original item by Andy Millican
Keep 'em coming, John. It's a serious subject but there's no reason why it shouldn't be treated with humour.
'I think I'll take advice from Sturgeon
Before I go to see the surgeon'.
Or something like that.
Comment is about SHAKESPEARE ON GENDER FLUIDITY (blog)
Original item by John Coopey
So glad to hear that you came through this crisis, Clare. Very best wishes.
Comment is about The Scent of Life (blog)
Original item by Clare
Thu 9th Feb 2023 04:47
Congratulations, John, I can't wait to read it! 😊
Comment is about All Roads Lead to Malton (blog)
Original item by John Botterill
It was Hose, Ghost: he was a Spanish fireman!
And thanks for the Like, Stephen.
Comment is about SHAKESPEARE ON GENDER FLUIDITY (blog)
Original item by John Coopey
Muy bien Juan, pero esta Jose, no Hose!
Comment is about SHAKESPEARE ON GENDER FLUIDITY (blog)
Original item by John Coopey
Thank you Uilleam. I wrote this poem in 1993. I was inspired by Plath's majestic poem: 'Black Rook in Rainy Weather'.
I do not expect a miracle
Or an accident
To set the sight on fire
In my eye, nor seek
Any more in the desultory weather some design,
But let spotted leaves fall as they fall
Without ceremony, or portent.
Comment is about Lancashire, Winter (blog)
Original item by John E Marks
You paint a very familiar picture John-love it.
Comment is about Lancashire, Winter (blog)
Original item by John E Marks
There used to be the old socialist saying, ‘Socialism or barbarism’. If you don’t achieve socialism the result will be barbarism of one kind or another; maybe a resurgence of fascism....it's happening.
Comment is about Is it possible to be spirituality enlightened and vote tory.. (blog)
Original item by Jed
Thanks for the likes and kind comments.
Comment is about Nature’s Beauty (blog)
Original item by julie callaghan
Thanks for the likes K. Lynn and Red Brick Frederick 😀
Comment is about All Roads Lead to Malton (blog)
Original item by John Botterill
Thanks very much, KJ, Greg and Uilleam. Perhaps the tone of this poem appeared a bit cynical and I certain would never overlook the wonderful work being done by those welcoming refugees, doing volunteer work or donating. It is all part of the war effort. It may be that I am finding the war such a horrible business that I have difficulty writing about it in a completely positive way. But that's my problem, the people of Ukraine need our continued support.
The militarised aspect of Eurovision hadn't occured to me, Greg. In the case of Abba, it must be a good omen, I think. And hasn't Sir Cliff been entertaining the troops somewhere? I think we should be told.
Comment is about Total War (blog)
Original item by Stephen Gospage
Really sweet! Your aunty came alive in this poem.
Comment is about My Aunty's Coat (blog)
Original item by Jonathan Humble
Powerful poem. The essence of life: love, not things. Even with loss of life, loss of shelter, the stupidity of war: love triumphs. Thanks for this poem, Adam.
Comment is about The Artist Portrays (blog)
Original item by Adam Whitworth
Interesting to note that (in opposition to what you say in your biography) you have returned to this piece, a year on, what made you edit? I would be interested to know as my initial views on editing have changed tremendously over the years.
Comment is about Metamorphous (blog)
Original item by Alexandra K. Parapadakis
Stephen Gospage, I am glad you enjoyed this - thanks for taking the time to comment. I found myself in hospital over the Christmas/New Year period and it was touch and go for a minute there. Luckily I am still here to entertain in my own small way. Yes … the contrast between a hospital room and those brief visits from the outside world is what struck me in my time there. Thanks to everyone for the likes. I wish you all a happy and healthy 2023. 😌
Comment is about The Scent of Life (blog)
Original item by Clare
Thank you Holden
Comment is about Flame-Licked Heels (blog)
Original item by Alexandra K. Parapadakis
It's a comment on society that I have related to personally, but trying to step out of that. Good to be back 😊
Comment is about Overconsumption (blog)
Original item by Alexandra K. Parapadakis
A different offering from you this time. Less personally raw, more environmental perhaps. Good to see you back on.
Comment is about Overconsumption (blog)
Original item by Alexandra K. Parapadakis
The deep, deep lake,
where stolen bikes are never found.
I love that. There are lots of bodies (pardon the pun) of water, left-overs of our industrial past- around here that once looked like that.
Comment is about The Legend of the Gawanjee (blog)
Original item by Chris Bunton
An excellent cause, the RNLI.
I have been an avid watcher of Saving Lives at Sea.
Men and women who stare down death on a daily basis, on our behalf.
Whether we be at our work or our leisure, the likelihood of our needing them is all the greater because of the UK's geography.
BRAVO-BRAVA RNLI !
Comment is about For those in peril ... a heady brew of music, poetry and beer (article)
Original item by Greg Freeman
The facilities in my local pub are excellent- What a loo!😕
Comment is about Total War (blog)
Original item by Stephen Gospage
Excellent poem, Steve. And then there is Abba ... their Eurovision hit, the one that brought them fame, named after a huge European battle.
Comment is about Total War (blog)
Original item by Stephen Gospage
Excellent as usual.
Thank you for keeping this horrendous war in our thoughts.
As you say everyone has their part to play.
We are just observing from a safe distance, but we can and should do whatever we can.
So whether it's taking in refugees, attending fund raisers or just sharing on social media, we can all do our bit
Comment is about Total War (blog)
Original item by Stephen Gospage
Thanks Keith.
We could do with a hard 'un to kill the bugs.
Comment is about A Hard Frost (blog)
Original item by kJ Walker
Thank you, Keith. I can only echo your comments.
Comment is about Total War (blog)
Original item by Stephen Gospage
It's a mad world, Keith, and the brutal invasion of Ukraine has just amplified all this madness. Thanks for this.
Comment is about Money for what? (blog)
Original item by keith jeffries
A real poem of memory, Chris, unreliable or otherwise!
Comment is about The Legend of the Gawanjee (blog)
Original item by Chris Bunton
Stephen,
This poem has a theme of madness running through it which exposes all that is taking place in the Ukraine at this time. We all feel a part of it but do not experience the reality of it. War is insane. Surely the time has come for humanity to realise the utter futility of it.
An excellent and very topical poem
Thank you for this
Keith
Comment is about Total War (blog)
Original item by Stephen Gospage
It take your point, Uilleam. A great deal of this 'Total War' is being waged by people who have no risk of ever being bombed or shot, but feel that they have to do their bit. Like writing poems about it, I suppose.
Not there's anything wrong with that!
And my thanks to Nigel, Frederick; Graham, John, Chris, K Lynn and Rudyard for liking this.
Comment is about Total War (blog)
Original item by Stephen Gospage
Tue 7th Feb 2023 04:49
A very powerful poem, Alexandra, profound and hopeful! I loved the lines
"I don't have to know who I am
But I must know that I am" 🌷
Comment is about Flame-Licked Heels (blog)
Original item by Alexandra K. Parapadakis
Stephen Atkinson
Fri 10th Feb 2023 16:47
Well done, John. I'll be downloading 'cause I've gone all modern ☺️
Comment is about All Roads Lead to Malton (blog)
Original item by John Botterill