A charming and moving poem, Stephen.

Comment is about A Christmas Bauble (blog)

Original item by Stephen W Atkinson

When the flippin heck will society ever get the social balance sorted out-don't answer that Uilleam!








Rose 💋

Comment is about 俳 句 General strike now! 2 (blog)

A very very nice poem indeed Clare







Rose 💋

Comment is about If I Were A Wolf. (blog)

Original item by Clare

A poem with powerful language which recalls savagery on an appalling scale. The desecration of Constantinople continues. This citadel of Byzantium fell into the hands of infidels neither Christian or Muslim but to those who pay lip service only and today remains so. A tragedy yet to be fully realised.
Thank you for this.
Keith

Comment is about CONQUEST: May 29th 1457 (blog)

Original item by John E Marks

You can, indeed, be excused, Bethany. You have a 9 year start on me, MC.
And thanks for the Likes, Stephen A, Helene, Kevin.

Comment is about HIGHLIGHT OF THE WEEK (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

Lovely!

Comment is about First step (blog)

Original item by N.B

Lovely! Bittersweet, life's stages

Comment is about A Christmas Bauble (blog)

Original item by Stephen W Atkinson

JC - might this be alternatively titled "Observations on Ageing"?😉
MC (negotiating 79th year with 2 tablets daily).

Comment is about HIGHLIGHT OF THE WEEK (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

Brutality is inexcusable whatever and wherever its source. No
one who has dealt with it can or would make any excuse for it.
Whether it falls solely within the definition of "sexism" is a
matter for examination and debate. The culprits are more
likely to be blameworthy via their basic sociopathic leanings
and inclinations, regardless of gender. This enables their
attacks on those weaker and more vulnerable,...with control
and a disregard of suffering foremost examples of their mental deviations towards humanity. They "select" those who can
offer least resistance - in certain cases also driven by lust and
opportunity - the latter exacerbated by cunning and planning,
disguised via various convincing ploys that makes them so
dangerous. One afternoon as custody officer, I sat with an
escaped inmate awaiting return to a prominent mental institution. Our conversation was nothing if not enlightening
as an example of the "butterfly" ability ol a mindset to flit from
one "escape" from responsibiliity to another. When his escort
arrived, he.paid me the dubious compliment of how much he
had appreciated my understanding. An object lesson for me
in what may be termed "lateral thinking" when confronting
and conversing with guilt and all its ways and means of living with the consequences. A lesson still vivid in my 79th year.

Comment is about From PhD thesis on everyday sexism to award-winning poetry collection: Kim Moore wins £10,000 Forward prize (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

😎👍

Comment is about She sat alone (blog)

Original item by JD Russell

Aw I shouldn't laugh John so if I can be excused? Thank you.

Comment is about HIGHLIGHT OF THE WEEK (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

Very much enjoyed Stephen. Thank you.

Comment is about A Christmas Bauble (blog)

Original item by Stephen W Atkinson

Thank you for your like on Calendrical conclusions that I accidently deleted.

Comment is about Stephen W Atkinson (poet profile)

Original item by Stephen W Atkinson

Snap right back at ya! We were on the same dancing wavelength 💞

Comment is about Dance (blog)

Original item by Hélène

Thanks all for your affirming comments. Greatly appreciated! Okay, let's go have an unbridled day even though we are stuck in these bodies. Lol. That's what I love about poetry...we can fly in our imaginations.

Comment is about Imagination (blog)

Original item by Hélène

Thank you Flyntland, what a bittersweet comment. I'm so sorry the dogs have gone and I do hope you can get out in the woods again one day... but, if not, let the memories rain down instead.

Comment is about If It Rains... (blog)

Original item by Tom

Ah! Thank you Flyntland, Stephen and John, I'm so pleased you found this one. This was based on a real day this summer where death seemed to lurk at every turn. Quite surreal in its own way and gently sobering.

Comment is about Day of Death (blog)

Original item by Tom

Thank you Flyntland and Kevin, I really appreciate you reading/listening and the generous comments.

Comment is about Like Someone Who Knows Me (blog)

Original item by Tom

Some goodbyes are worth😀

Comment is about She sat alone (blog)

Original item by JD Russell

I've just been out to top up the feeder... From me and the birds in my garden; thanks MC 😃

Comment is about FOR THE BIRDS (blog)

Original item by M.C. Newberry

Like Brentford next, eh Graham. Be thankful H has come back uninsured.
I’ll buy that Flyntland. But cream teas are a garden centre treat for us.
And thanks for the Likes, Stephen, Tom and Jennifer.

Comment is about HIGHLIGHT OF THE WEEK (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

Thank you for your very welcome Like Holden

Comment is about RUNNING THE GAUNTLET (blog)

Original item by Flyntland

Beautiful and as ever sensitive and gentle.

Comment is about Like Someone Who Knows Me (blog)

Original item by Tom

I don't recollect a poetry book of that name, but I'll check it out. Thanks.

I have never swum in the River Loire, and what a shame having walked its full length!
The only time I got wet -soaking wet- was on my way into Nantes in the pouring rain!
Best wishes with your studies.

Comment is about 俳 句 General strike now! 1 (blog)

I love this poem - and would love to be able to walk my dogs again through the rain-washed woods - the dogs are gone now and walking in woodland no longer possible but you poem revived the joy of it. Thank you

Comment is about If It Rains... (blog)

Original item by Tom

I have only just 'found' this poem and I agree with Helene it is a great poem.
We used to have a small holding - life and death was part of our every day life - each treated with care and respect - as it shoul be.

Comment is about Day of Death (blog)

Original item by Tom

I too share your highlights but I am lucky in that I have one more,
Tesco's delivery day - food to unpack - and scones with our coffee.

Comment is about HIGHLIGHT OF THE WEEK (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

By the way, I almost forgot to ask you: have you ever read 'Walking To Santiago' by a poet called Neil Curry? I think it a fantastic collection - it shows real dedication to walk that pilgrim trail. They say if you're going to write about a river you should swim in it first, but that's nothing compared with walking all those miles. I think you'd really like Curry's book.

Comment is about 俳 句 General strike now! 1 (blog)

And of course the twice-weekly disappointment (in the season) of our beloved THFC screwing up against tawdry opposition that they should have mullared!

Comment is about HIGHLIGHT OF THE WEEK (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

Tory gvt policy has a lot to answer for on every level! The idea that you can cut benefits and tax to the rich at the same time is just fundamentally wrong. When I realised the Tories were traditionally bigots, racists, homophobes, sexists, and the like - I turned to the left as a beautiful compassionate emotion to explore. A more fair, free and equal society seems to preclude all manner of Tory gvt policy.

Comment is about 俳 句 General strike now! 1 (blog)

I agree with Stephen ' unbridled life'
free from physical constraints and inhibitions, if only - if only.

Comment is about Imagination (blog)

Original item by Hélène

Thanks for your comment about syllable count, John.

I'd be interested to know what the actual "UK death Count" is as a direct result of Tory government policy!

Comment is about 俳 句 General strike now! 1 (blog)

A perfectly measured Haiku in terms of the syllable count. 😎

Comment is about 俳 句 General strike now! 1 (blog)

I have spent the last seventy-four years dealing with a wide range of society.
It’s called “living in the real world”…and a horrible world it is for some poor souls who I’ve met along the way.

Three or four years ago, a young woman in her late teens serving in the pub, was telling me about her “relationship”.

She had been beaten black and blue and she showed me some of her bruises.

Then she showed me the patch about three inches wide on the side of her scalp, where a clump of her hair had been torn out.

I later described this incident in a WOL blog post, and one of the responses I got was:
“Well she could have walked away from it”.
Just a few days ago I was told that her assailant had burned her house down.

I have to ask the question:
“did this person get the prompt help she needed from the police / social services, or were her concerns dismissed because she was suffering from an “-ism”?

Comment is about From PhD thesis on everyday sexism to award-winning poetry collection: Kim Moore wins £10,000 Forward prize (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

like very much

Comment is about The Poet (blog)

Original item by keith jeffries

Thanks to John C and Rose for the likes, and Uilleam for the comment. So glad to find that someone else thinks along these lines too! Am one of those weird people who love Christmas, though not deeply religious. I like decorating the house, cooking the traditional food, being with friends and family, and giving a few presents to close relatives. In Italy, where I live this commercialization of the festivity started much later than in Britain. Most people had a nativity scene in their homes, as well as a tree, or even without. It was more a family and joyously religious event. Not that awful 'only 50 shopping days to Xmas' pressure to spend spend spend!

Comment is about What's happened to Christmas? (blog)

Original item by Jennifer Malden

Very inspiring, Keith! Liked 'wordsmiths'.

Comment is about The Poet (blog)

Original item by keith jeffries

A beautifully told, pleasantly disturbing, tale, Brenda. Thank you for this.

Comment is about The Story Teller (blog)

Original item by Brenda Wells

I really enjoyed this, Hélène. The notion of seeking 'unbridled life' is inspiring.

Comment is about Imagination (blog)

Original item by Hélène

Your very welcome thanks for the positive comment

Comment is about Deal (blog)

Original item by Keith Byrne

An outstanding poem, Tom.

Comment is about Day of Death (blog)

Original item by Tom

Thanks, John. Yes, and the post-war world offered up so many possibilities for people like Spike. By coincidence, my dad was once on the same troop ship as Milligan and remembered him doing sketches and playing music to entertain the troops. A lot of his material came from war experiences, of course.

And thanks to Tom, Jennifer, Rudyard and Holden

Comment is about Funfair (blog)

Original item by Stephen Gospage

"That child who gave poor mortals hope
preached helping those who couldn't cope.
Don't allow marketing to make you bleed
Saint Nicholas assisted those in need."

And there's the essence of what it should be.💓

Comment is about What's happened to Christmas? (blog)

Original item by Jennifer Malden

On my first reading of this poem I felt like saying "O Helene, I'll fly with you, anything to escape the weight and burdensome life we lead". The line I enjoyed most in this poem was
"Oh soul that is my essence when will you carry me away?"
I think all our souls yearn to be free because they are the power house of who we truly are. Being encased in our mortality somehow seems unnatural. To be really free we need to cast off our mortal bodies and fly
Thank you indeed for this
Keith

Comment is about Imagination (blog)

Original item by Hélène

Heaney would have been proud of you, Tom. As would Hughes.
I really liked
Life is busy ending
It puts things in perspective. Great poem. 😎

Comment is about Day of Death (blog)

Original item by Tom

There are some good words in here. The first one that struck me was "infomania" - is that a neologism of your own?

I also like (and am familiar with) verisimilitude and casuistry.

Your poems seem to contain a lot in a few, terse words - seem to be a concise way of reporting - often only one sentence - replete with profound vocabulary.

At the same time I am not always sure I get what lies behind your mystical encryption - but sometimes I think I do.

😎

Comment is about Casualty (blog)

Original item by Holden Moncrieff

John F Keane, the purpose is to break a cycle by introducing more in depth lessons of nuclear weapons. The most dangerous weapon is the trigger, the man and then the weapon. TikTok should not be our teacher on nuclear education. It might be too late god help us all

Comment is about Peace poet Antony Owen reads Nagasaki poem at Westminster (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Thankee muchlee kindlee for yee likees and commentarees.

Comment is about A Few More Lines? (blog)

Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeed!😜

Comment is about A Few More Lines? (blog)

I remember Spike Milligan saying that although the war was the most dreadful experience for so many, for him it was the best time of his life. He was one of the lucky ones who enjoyed the funfair.

Comment is about Funfair (blog)

Original item by Stephen Gospage