A horrific ending to joy and celebration...
Do we know the reasons for this tragedy..anyone held accountable?

Comment is about THE MARCHIONESS (blog)

Original item by ray pool

You describe a positive frame of mind with this, Clare.

Comment is about Fashionistas from Mars (blog)

Original item by Clare

Thanks all for the likes and comments, and apologies to Jane Austen!
I agree with you on Truss, David, I had more in mind her party's flirtation with swastika bearing Neo-Nazis, a group of whom were allowed into the UK to hold a "conference" in the recent past.

Comment is about Sonnet That’s Not Funny! (blog)

Shooting an arrow without a bow.....a bit like darts?

Comment is about I.O.U. (blog)

Original item by Martin Peacock

Thanks indeed to the NHS, John. I went through something similar three years ago. While awaiting my angio procedure I was very impressed at the routine way people came in and out to have their batteries changed. Hang on in there!

Comment is about PACEMAKER (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

I think you maybe underestimate the strength of those women, Stephen. When my grandad got blacked by the coalowners for striking my grandma threw him out and told him not to come back until he’d got money to feed their 6 kids. He walked 40 miles to Doncaster from Nottingham to get a job at Bentley pit. They were two strong folk.

Comment is about Meanwhile, back in Grandad's day... (blog)

Original item by Stephen W Atkinson

Well thank you kindly, Ray and Uilleam (blush, blush.) I claim no credit, however; as Tony Wilson once said of Joy Division, "(those other bands were up there because they wanted to be there, but) they had no fucking choice: they _had_ to be there." I've just been around long enough to know my style, that's all. And so, once you're familiar enough with something, you learn to play around with it. That's what i'm doing, essentially: just playing with words, because i've always believed they're the best toys in the box. It doesn't do to be too precious about them, does it? (Although i'll grant you both i can be a bit of a pedant at times.)

Comment is about I.O.U. (blog)

Original item by Martin Peacock

Look after yourself JC! I’ve got three bits of pig holding mine together now and a bag of sweeties each day to keep it running smoothly. Sign of the times.

Comment is about PACEMAKER (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

Thankyou Uilleam. Ambulance, day-long tests at the hospital, doctors consultations, surgery, medical reviews, further consultations, ongoing monitoring. If this had been in the USA it would have cost £10,000's. Thank God for the NHS.
And thanks for the Likes, Aisha, Stephen, Holden, John and Cryptid.

Comment is about PACEMAKER (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

Thank you for the likes folks, much appreciated.

David

Comment is about Canvas (blog)

Original item by David RL Moore

Well done Robert. Your humour is a tour de force -anything that makes me laugh must be. Also your handling of Simon Cowell is a badge of honour - the joke being turned inside out - a force for good. Carry on Robert (could that be a film?)

Ray Pool

Comment is about Robert Garnham wins $2,000 US comedy poetry award (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Two great lines for me Tom: wisdoms laugh and wisdoms rise, and the first two lines which kicks off the journey. Wisdom we call a panacea to make us feel smug very often, and it is relative to what may follow it. In this case it is the horrible unknown of a ceasing of life - a feeling i'm sure that was shared by Philip Larkin. My advice would be to regard every minute as a suspension of time rather than the passing of it.

Ray

Comment is about The Last Great Beauty (blog)

Original item by Tom

A bit like Andy Capp without the authority on the lady's part Stephen. Frying pans at dawn methinks.

Ray

Comment is about Meanwhile, back in Grandad's day... (blog)

Original item by Stephen W Atkinson

I am building up a picture of you Martin , but the image keeps shifting with the lines you write, spectres of a reality stepping forth from the page with daggers drawn to attack the languish that might afflict a less dedicated reader; but I mean that as a compliment . There seems to be a haunted quality which draws us in , A really good eye for detail and a sweep of imagination.

Ray

Comment is about I.O.U. (blog)

Original item by Martin Peacock

Strange sense of menace in the last line, Stephen, somewhat offset by the exclamation mark.

Comment is about Meanwhile, back in Grandad's day... (blog)

Original item by Stephen W Atkinson

Very cleverly written, Uilleam (no pun intended). Apparently Donald Trump has no sense of humour and certainly no sense of irony: just as well from his point of view but a rich source of both for the rest of us.

Comment is about Sonnet That’s Not Funny! (blog)

Made me think, Greg. I spend the day at a windswept Oval on London yesterday (with a jumper and light anorak) and felt frozen when I left.
Perhaps it's catching. Mind you, it will probably be 30° next week!

Comment is about A short summer (blog)

Original item by Greg Freeman

I hope that's not the case. If we can't write the truth in poetry, then who can?

Comment is about Word Search (blog)

Original item by John Gilbert Ellis

Shallow you are not, Martin.

Comment is about I.O.U. (blog)

Original item by Martin Peacock

Hard truths to be faced there Stephen; I have read, and will inwardly digest, and am currently attempting to rectify certain aspects of my behaviour! 😇

Comment is about Meanwhile, back in Grandad's day... (blog)

Original item by Stephen W Atkinson

💗

Comment is about Normal People (blog)

Original item by Mike McPeek

Unless we address greed and corruption in our society, nothing will change Hugh. A government and so-called opposition that's ok with genocide will not baulk at patri/matricide.

Comment is about The winter fuel raid (blog)

Original item by hugh

I've much to be thankful for in that respect.💗

Comment is about PACEMAKER (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

Whatever you do, don't let your words tell the truth, they can get you in serious trouble these days.

Comment is about Word Search (blog)

Original item by John Gilbert Ellis

the eye in the sky confirming our prison?”

But we love our prison...we know our place.

Comment is about The Shout (blog)

Original item by ZTK Space

Nice imagery.

Comment is about reflecting (blog)

Original item by Max Sullivan

Northumberland's coastline is lovely...proper weather there.

Comment is about A short summer (blog)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Food for thought there Luke.

Comment is about Fallish boy (blog)

Original item by Luke

Powerful poem. Family relationships can be so complex. Love and hate can walk side by side. We have to work it through, let go, try to find peace, give gratitude if we find someone to simply love. Well written, sad poem Mike.

Comment is about Normal People (blog)

Original item by Mike McPeek

This is a wonderful poem, Keletso! The words flow, and the message is so beautiful and so important. Bravo! This poem deserves wide distribution.

Comment is about On Neurodivergence (Inspired by Khalil Gibran) (blog)

Original item by Keletso

Yes I’m sure. The little ones leave the biggest hole don’t they?

Comment is about A short summer (blog)

Original item by Greg Freeman

I'm not, really, Graham. I love the weather up here ... 'weather as it used to be.' The last two lines have a melancholic air only because the house seems a bit empty after our Spanish family have left.

Comment is about A short summer (blog)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Don’t fret Greg! It was definitely autumnal here yesterday too!!

Comment is about A short summer (blog)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Thanks for the Likes, Graham, Stephen, Holden and Landi

Comment is about The 'rules' of modern poetry (blog)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Could we be friends I really appreciate your poetic touch maybe u could share with me an idea or two… if you won’t mind 🙂

Comment is about Falling: A Prayer (blog)

Original item by Endigo Michaels

Very deep and amazing poetic touch 😊

Comment is about Falling: A Prayer (blog)

Original item by Endigo Michaels

You've got it right, Graham. Thank you very much!

Comment is about Half of Forever (blog)

Original item by Manish

Thank you Stephen, Holden, Aisha and Hugh.

Is fearr Gaeilge briste, ná Béarla clíste.

(Broken Irish is better than clever English.)

Comment is about Tràighean (blog)

Original item by John E Marks

Amazing, reminds me of Emily Dickinson's words: "I'm out with lanterns, looking for myself."

Comment is about Someone (blog)

Original item by purplemoon

Lady Luck favours the one who tries. Good one, thanks !

Comment is about Risk (blog)

Original item by Aisha Suleman

What a scorcher Uilleam, a fine use of the verbal scalpel. It seems the Tories have a liking for leaving less than wholesome trails behind them! Some of them leading to plaudits for the hard of thinking. The prize must in my book be shared with David's comment too, which should be visualized read with someone wearing cap and bells.

Ray

Comment is about Sonnet That’s Not Funny! (blog)

It is impossible for those who love(d) their father to understand this point of view and not feel sad. It is almost as sad as disliking oneself I would imagine.

Comment is about Normal People (blog)

Original item by Mike McPeek

The tutonic austrian moustachioed turd banned Jazz and enjoyed a golden shower now and again from a near blood relative who was so amused she took her own life (allegedly)

I doubt he could raise a smile at anything less offensive than a young Bavarian lederhosen clad boy burning ants under a magnifing glass in the Blazing Berchtesgaden Sun.

Pol Pot couldn't even understand jokes apparently and had to have them explained. Stalin on the other hand was a barrel of laughs especially after a good culling of poets and academics.

On reflection saps like Truss are nowhere near those old tutonic stand-ups when it comes to clowning around...but they certainly are lacking in anything resembling being able to see the joke in their own lack of ability to see the funny side of their own disability.

Nice viscious little scribble Uilleam.

David

Comment is about Sonnet That’s Not Funny! (blog)

Thanks to Aisha and Stephen for your likes.

Thanks David for encapsulating so well my aims; I do agree that the river has that dark side. I was given a lift on a police launch back to Wapping once where the cars were parked after a jaunt playing in the band on the Silver Barracuda. Similar vibe. One of the coppers said suicides were picked up on a regular basis.
The days of the Maxwell excesses !

Indeed Mark the contrast pretty horrendous. Time passes, the river keeps its secrets.

That's a very poignant account Greg, thank you. You have every reason to recall that day. Maybe the Battersea Heliport was involved in that. Often we find clusters of apparently coincidental disasters, as with air incidents. A musician colleague was on the next boat out after the Herald of Free Enterprise. Lucky man!

I didn't know that John - wrong place wrong time.

Thanks Stephen for your points. We should always appreciate our safe passage through life - others not so fortunate.

Ray

Comment is about THE MARCHIONESS (blog)

Original item by ray pool

Thanks Ray,

It's a bit of a list rather than a truly cohesive poem. That said, I know what I mean and where I am going with it.

Good things that give us pleasure can ultimately be the undoing of us. Our lives are so brief that the enormity of time we don't have is a loss, or is it...

Like Freddie said "Who wants to live forever"

Not me!

David

Comment is about The Sand Reckoner (blog)

Original item by David RL Moore

A very interesting piece Manish. Convoluted and quite radical for you or have I read it wrong ?

Comment is about Half of Forever (blog)

Original item by Manish

Thank you for reassuring my heart, Graham! Appreciate it a lot 💓

Comment is about Broken Record's Repetition (blog)

Original item by Yasoda

The wet footprint on the sand soon fades now you see it now you don't, and your poem implies a not dissimilar stance, though of course with many more consequences which a serious reading would bring to mind !

Ray

Comment is about The Sand Reckoner (blog)

Original item by David RL Moore

Yasoda the beauty of poetry is that you can write and punctuate it as you please. There are few rules.
I do not use capitals at the start of each line like some do. It doesn’t matter as long as it reads well!

Comment is about Broken Record's Repetition (blog)

Original item by Yasoda

Hey Linda, thank you for the lovely comment! It's true, I do struggle a bit with puncuation as english is not my first language and grammar and punctuation differs from my mother language, but I will try to improve and learn along the way! Thanks again 💗💗

Comment is about Broken Record's Repetition (blog)

Original item by Yasoda