I loved the journey that this poem took me on. Brilliantly written, crisp imagery. Excellent as always, my friend.😊

Comment is about Time on a Train (blog)

Original item by Tim Higbee

I hope you're doing better. Thank you for liking the poem. You're beautiful

Comment is about This Place (blog)

Original item by Evan Tyler

Where is the Joy?...nowhere! From frying pan to fire we've gone.
The UK's now kissed and is beholden to, both cheeks of the military industrial complex's arse.

Comment is about Where is the Joy? (blog)

Original item by Steve White

I felt this.. this reminds me of how I was a year ago, definitely was a tough time.

Comment is about This Place (blog)

Original item by Evan Tyler

Intriguing poem, Manish. I like the concept.

Comment is about Mess (blog)

Original item by Manish

This is such a beautiful poem. I love the simplistic approach - stripped back and vulnerable.

Comment is about To have loved how we loved (blog)

Original item by C.J. Levenson

Because poetry has no such rigid rules John, look back in history.

Comment is about Aroma’s (blog)

Original item by Rick Varden

Why does Aroma's have an apostrophe? In comparison I notice that Smells and Chips don't.

John S.

Comment is about Aroma’s (blog)

Original item by Rick Varden

Thanks Stephen, coincidentally the raffle prize featured several items of signed Formby memorabilia. George’s banjolele style and legacy of Lancastrian chirpiness does seem to divide the uke community however. I loved him, especially in the horse racing film, “Come on George”

Comment is about The UkeFest (blog)

Original item by R A Porter

The thing that offends me most about McVey is her idiocy and ignorance.

Niemöller’s Poem is clearly not an analogy, (as McVey claimed) it's the prophectic truth of something which actually occurred in fairly recent history.

Neither is McVey's correlation of a proposed smoking ban with creeping nazi ideology and murder a fitting or relevant association that rational people might entertain.

One could be forgiven for believing an alleged former journalist/broadcaster should know what an analogy is and where one might be appropriate. But then again standards have dropped somewhat.

"Hard hitting" that's a chuckle. Denis Healey once said of Geoffrey Howe that debating with him was "like being savaged by a dead sheep" McVey puts me in mind of his words.

David RL Moore

Comment is about Former Tory minister attacked for citing Holocaust poem in defence of outdoor smoking (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Thank's Stephen,

I don't believe the Balkan conflicts are settled yet. I do believe that murderous ethnic cleansing will raise it's head again in Europe...It could be argued that in eastern parts of the Continent of Europe it already has.

My inclusion of the word "Panga" is to recognise the Countries of the African Continent in which horrors have occurred whilst international organisation dither and excuse their inaction, Rwanda and Sierra Leone being two I am personally familiar with. Not to mention the slaughter that persists in remote and border areas of The DR Congo.

Forgive me, that isn't poetry is it.

David RL Moore

Comment is about R2P (blog)

Original item by David RL Moore

Money makes the world go round...

Comment is about Business (A friendly face) (blog)

Original item by Stephen Gospage

A fine poem inspired by an ugly conflict, David.

Comment is about R2P (blog)

Original item by David RL Moore

A thoughtful poem, Ray. I suppose we all need to dream, even if careers usually end in disappointment.

Comment is about THE SKY'S THE LIMIT (blog)

Original item by ray pool

Three of my journalist colleagues - all heavy smokers in their day - had/have COPD. Two have already died of it. I go to the second one's funeral next week.

Comment is about Former Tory minister attacked for citing Holocaust poem in defence of outdoor smoking (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

A great poem, RA. More power to your elbow, even if you need sharp ones to get out alive. I think I'd chicken out and do With Me Little Stick of Blackpool Rock.

Comment is about The UkeFest (blog)

Original item by R A Porter

She said the poem constituted “Pertinent words re Starmer’s smoking ban”,
Pertinent: "having a clear decisive relevance to the matter in hand”.
Her quote had a clearly intended relevance to the ban (in outdoor pub gardens-intended to save lives) and in doing so, belittled the memory of the Holocaust for the sake of cheap political point-scoring.

Comment is about Former Tory minister attacked for citing Holocaust poem in defence of outdoor smoking (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Ha ha,Stephen. If he comes on a Thursday tea-time I swear he must have stopped eating on the Monday!
And thanks for the Likes, Jordyn, Ornella, Stephen A and Aisha.

Comment is about WHEN GRANDAD COMES ROUND FOR TEA (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

As an ex professional pianist I can appreciate the multi layered frustration and lie beneath these exquisitely funny lines RA. A whole lifetime of suffering encapsulated in the apparently cosy strum of an instrument borne of humour , and for humour. If it had had any real potential apart from as a crowd gatherer Joe Brown would have featured it in his folk repertoire. I rest my case , and apologies to Greg in advance!

Ray

Comment is about The UkeFest (blog)

Original item by R A Porter

A wonderful, uplifting read, Hélène.

Comment is about Skipping Stones (blog)

Original item by Hélène

Well done, John. It reminds me of my Dad's joke about my grandmother: 'I'm not hungry. A bit of cheese will do me. Get the boys to carry it in.'

Comment is about WHEN GRANDAD COMES ROUND FOR TEA (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

A hard hitting opinion from this MP - as it was surely intended to be. More to the point...needs to be. I recall the basis for
extending the Ulez scheme across a vast swathe of Greater London as rooted in "health reasons" e.g. respiratory afflictions, for inflicting a policy that imposes so much hardship
on so many across the spectrum of "making a living".
Virtue-signalling to cover a blatant fund raising process. I've
spent my adult life among and ON the busiest streets of the
capital, YET "respiratory" illness is not something that affects
my 80 year old self. Odd, don't you think? Nanny loves to
exercise power and control!

Comment is about Former Tory minister attacked for citing Holocaust poem in defence of outdoor smoking (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

You have to be a real "kill joy" to take offence at the tune from
an ice-cream van! 😍

Comment is about Double Scoop (blog)

Original item by Mike McPeek

A lot of work has clearly gone into this enjoyable contribution.
Hearing a ukelele played well is a real ear-opener. I had one
years ago and never got beyond the basic strumming style
and the community song book(s) that showed the finger placings.
A certain well-known host of TV's "Room 101" is an enthusiast
and has done much to promote this particular musical instrument.

Comment is about The UkeFest (blog)

Original item by R A Porter

It's the feeling that one gets when lying on the bed, starring at the ceiling during a phone conversation with a loved one

Comment is about Glimpses Of Beauty (blog)

Original item by Ntuthuko Ndlovu

Thanks for the like and the comment Uilleam.

I'm sorry it's the same old boring record...the same recycled anger, but better recycled anger than recycled don't give a toss with blinkers.

David RL Moore

"The Redundant Veteran"

Comment is about R2P (blog)

Original item by David RL Moore

Thank you for your comment on this particular blogpost. It seems that the legend of "King Arthur" actually owes a great deal to Greek history or mythology if we examine the records available. Geoffrey of Monmouth’s Arthurian episode actually has a Greek origin and is synonymous with the history of Alexander the Great supposedly the son of Phillip of Macedon and his wife Olympiades but in reality he was the magical child of a mysterious or adulterous union of Olympiades (Phillip’s wife) and a Magus from Egypt, Just as Uther Pendragon is aided by Merlin the magician by transforming himself into a "dragon's breath" to gain access to the Cornish Queen Igerna similarly Nectanebus who transformed himself into a serpent (Ammon) then sexually deceived Phillip’s wife and so, magically impregnated, gave birth to a miraculous and powerful ruler of the ancient world. Cultural appropriation is rife in the Arthurian strand and the story of the birth of a “Magical Child” born of an illicit sexual union is not new but belongs to the ancient past (eg: Apuleius, “Golden Ass”).

Comment is about The Legend & History of King Arthur (blog)

Original item by leonidas kazantheos

Thanks all for the comments & likes. To be honest it shows you really can get away with murder. For the monthly pub gig we do a setlist of typically 30 songs - looking at the one for tomorrow I see we are doing Teenage Kicks, Bad Moon Rising, The Wild Rover, I’m a Believer & You are My Sunshine in the first half alone. All Right Now, mercifully is scheduled close to the end by which time the audience will be feeling no pain whatsoever & I might have learned how to sing - no sign of Rikki, Graham, but we’ll definitely be Reelin’ in the Years (again) - Go on Greg, read it to your wife, I dare you! (easy for me to say from here, mind)

Comment is about The UkeFest (blog)

Original item by R A Porter

Brilliant poem, RA. But I don't think I dare show it to my wife ...

Comment is about The UkeFest (blog)

Original item by R A Porter

Hear hear! "Match of the Day" tune is my favourite, and a double scoop with chocolate, dripping with strawberry sauce.😄

Comment is about Double Scoop (blog)

Original item by Mike McPeek

The prophets of hate so prevalent on social media; one in particular, who is vocal in his oposition to the UN, has a book or two to sell- "The Profits of Hate" indeed.

Comment is about R2P (blog)

Original item by David RL Moore

Nice one RA.
This Jerry Hattrick frequently enjoys the sound of Teenage Kicks etc. at my local's ukelele session.
Genuinely "live" music, as opposed to much lifeless "canned" crap.

Comment is about The UkeFest (blog)

Original item by R A Porter

A veritable ’Tour de Force’ RAP. You don’t do “Ricky don’t lose that number” by any chance do you? 😂

Comment is about The UkeFest (blog)

Original item by R A Porter

Thank you M.C, Steve and C.Byrne, your appreciation is appreciated!

Comment is about L'Amour Olympique (blog)

Original item by R A Porter

Thanks Keegan. As a teenager I had a local anaesthetic to remove a cyst from my forehead...the memory of the surgeon's scalpel scraping away, as the blood dripped down my forehead is still vivid. An indian nurse calmed my shaking by holding my hand...I hold the NHS in the highest regard.

Comment is about Tumours (blog)

Original item by Keegan Van Vuuren

Lies leading to instability and divide and rule...a lot of it about Stephen.

Comment is about Lies L & R (blog)

Original item by Stephen Mellor

Thanks Ray. I've got a picture of starlings "murmurating"; apparently it enables them to avoid predators more easily; more cooperation-less "I'm all right Jack"?

Comment is about THE SKY'S THE LIMIT (blog)

Original item by ray pool

Ha ha, Thank you Graham.

Comment is about All Blown Up (blog)

Original item by Rick Varden

Although I find this all a little overblown Rick it is much to its credit! A lovely idea well expressed. Well done! G

Comment is about All Blown Up (blog)

Original item by Rick Varden

Cuckoos come to mind Ray! Perhaps our migratory politicians should consider a longer stay away

Comment is about THE SKY'S THE LIMIT (blog)

Original item by ray pool

Hello David

Thanks for your note. I've been away, apologies for the delay in replying. Very glad you 'enjoy' the revelations vid, and thumbs up on getting the Blake references. I am grand thank you, hope you are too.

Comment is about David RL Moore (poet profile)

Original item by David RL Moore

Brill

Comment is about L'Amour Olympique (blog)

Original item by R A Porter

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=wccRif2DaGs&pp=ygURQmlsbHkgSm9lbCB2aWVubmE%3D

Comment is about itinerant (blog)

Original item by Landi Cruz

Thanks to everyone for all the likes. Much appreciated

Comment is about Word Search (blog)

Original item by John Gilbert Ellis

Simple pleasures. A lovely write

Comment is about Skipping Stones (blog)

Original item by Hélène

Both melancholic & uplifting, with some great lines. Love it

Comment is about Warmth of genuine connections (blog)

Original item by Sunshine

Dust the cobwebs
Silent ghost pages
Waiting to turn
Their music back on.😎

Comment is about Warmth of genuine connections (blog)

Original item by Sunshine

When you say "English folk" MC, do you mean folk with "English faces" (a group which I believe does not exist ) or people who speak only English?

Comment is about A NOD TO TRELAWNEY (blog)

Original item by M.C. Newberry

A poem not to everyone’s palate, Uilleam. And thanks for the Likes, Etchy Mary and Helene.

Comment is about WHEN GRANDAD COMES ROUND FOR TEA (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

Thank you so much, Stephen, your encouragement means a lot! 😊

Comment is about Wrestling... (blog)

Original item by Holden Moncrieff