A welcome change from the self-indulgent navel gazing often found on this site, MC. Keep smiling.

Comment is about LIFE IS BUT A JOKE (blog)

Original item by M.C. Newberry

great!

Comment is about Diabetic Discography (Sung to the tune, Prince Charming by Adam and The Ants) (blog)

Original item by JD Russell

very moving and enjoyable poem

Comment is about Young Family In The Sunshine (blog)

Original item by Tom

I am glad that you exceeded the word limit, Rasa. I enjoyed the flow of your poetry and the way you explore so many facets of the subject. Top notch! 😎

Comment is about Tears (blog)

Original item by Rasa Kabaila

Thanks for this post Rasa. Awesome!
I too have the soul of a Luddite!
I thought of a tag line
Write one
Invite one
We'd soon have mass involvement!
Stephen had the idea for tears so I guess it's me next 😩 I vote we let tears roll on for a while to see if the challenge spreads. Best wishes,
John

Comment is about Your Tears Returned (blog)

Original item by John Botterill

Thank you for reading, and the lovely comment.

Comment is about Darkness Descending (For all those reds who helped) (blog)

Original item by Mike Bartram

A very poignant poem Stephen. Is there a sense of hope within these words too?

I am posting my 'Tears' poem now. I cheated this time, and worked off an unpublished of poem that I wrote and wanted to complete-so it's longer than 10 lines. John has also cheated once, so Stephen, you have once opportunity to cheat now too. :)

Time for you Stephen to pick the next 10 line poem challenge with one word that must be mentioned within. Welcoming any other fellow poets who may be interested in joining! If anyone can work out the hash tag business to get others involved if they are keen, let me know. I'm a millennial but am an old soul at heart.

Best wishes,
Rasa

Comment is about Tears (blog)

Original item by Stephen Gospage

This is beautiful John. Well done.


I am posting my 'Tears' poem now. I cheated this time, and worked off an unpublished of poem that I wrote and wanted to complete-so it's longer than 10 lines. John-you have also cheated once, so Stephen can have once opportunity to cheat now too. :)

Time for Stephen to pick the next 10 line poem challenge with one word that must be mentioned within. Welcoming any other fellow poets who may be interested in joining! If anyone can work out the hash tag business to get others involved if they are keen, let me know. I'm a millennial but am an old soul at heart.

Best wishes,
Rasa

Comment is about Your Tears Returned (blog)

Original item by John Botterill

Really clever, and worked well.
I'm not familiar with this structure of poetry (does it have a name)

I wondered what was happening in the middle, then realized as I read on.

Comment is about Sacred Salmon (blog)

Original item by Adam Whitworth

A really beautiful poem, Clare! I loved the "cherry blossom confetti" and the last stanza in particular! 🌷

Comment is about The Eagle's Wedding (blog)

Original item by Clare

Thank you both for your comments

Comment is about You Can’t Fly A Kite In The Rain (blog)

Original item by JD Russell

I aspire to diarrhoea,, Stephen.

Comment is about Imodium (blog)

Original item by Stephen W Atkinson

Thanks Stephen. I really appreciate your comments. Looking forward to seeing yours. 😀

Comment is about Your Tears Returned (blog)

Original item by John Botterill

Thanks Stephen!

Comment is about Results (blog)

Original item by Joe Williams

Hi John and Rasa

I just added my 'Tears' poem.

Comment is about Rasa Kabaila (poet profile)

Original item by Rasa Kabaila

Hi John and Rasa

I just added my 'Tears' poem.

Comment is about John Botterill (poet profile)

Original item by John Botterill

I can't add anything to this, Mike. It is an extraordinary, inspiring poem and should be widely read. Memories are important, even if painful.

Comment is about Darkness Descending (For all those reds who helped) (blog)

Original item by Mike Bartram

Scarily true, Joe.

Comment is about SICK OF IT (blog)

Original item by Joe Marcello

Lots in this, Russell, and so many allusions to great artists.

Comment is about You Can’t Fly A Kite In The Rain (blog)

Original item by JD Russell

A very strong, optimistic poem, John. I will add to the tag as soon as I can.

Comment is about Your Tears Returned (blog)

Original item by John Botterill

Good point, MC. It's certainly true that some outstanding leaders - Lloyd George, JFK - have had 'complicated' personal lives. On the other hand, the public seem to look less kindly on those who actually break the law e.g. Tricky Dicky and Boris Johnson.

Comment is about ROGUE (blog)

Original item by M.C. Newberry

terrific rant type poem and if you dont mind I would like to bring to the notice of those who dont know about the gruesome death of a beloved family man called Gary Newlove beaten to death outside his own home while remonstrating with three young thugs vandalizing his wifes car and who apparently had a booze up in their cells to celebrate their early releases after just a twelve stretch one of them being described as exemplary! the pictures of Gary in his hospital bed brought tears to my eyes and so much anger in my heart

Comment is about 40 (blog)

Original item by Sarah Louise mcnee

I really really enjoyed your brilliant poem Leonie its saddening indeed to see lovely areas like the one you describe in your extraordinary poem once beautiful and then be allowed to become run down and I especially love that line

has become a cemetery of memories

Comment is about Granite Stones (blog)

Original item by Leonie A Anderson

oh this is just lovely Adam I can see that you are a real and so sentimental lover of our wild life a man most definitely after my own heart albeit a feminine one

gorgeous

Comment is about Sacred Salmon (blog)

Original item by Adam Whitworth

Hi Rasa.
I have decided to publish the 10 line poem on tears and tag it #tears in case anyone wants to take up the challenge! Not sure it will catch on with Writeoutloud.net but will give it a go! 😀

Comment is about Rasa Kabaila (poet profile)

Original item by Rasa Kabaila

Hi Stephen.
I have decided to publish my Tears poem and use the tag #tears to identify it. Not sure how this works. However it might catch on. Cheers, John 😀

Comment is about Stephen Gospage (poet profile)

Original item by Stephen Gospage

Thanks Holden. Your comments mean a great deal to me 😄

Comment is about Your Tears Returned (blog)

Original item by John Botterill

A really beautiful poem, John! I loved how you used the idea of reversing the course of tears! 😊

Comment is about Your Tears Returned (blog)

Original item by John Botterill

Thank you so much, John, I'm always grateful for your encouraging words! 😎

Comment is about A Sigh (blog)

Original item by Holden Moncrieff

Thank you Stephen.

"For the field is full of shades as I near a shadowy coast,
And a ghostly batsman plays to the bowling of a ghost,
And I look through my tears on a soundless-clapping host
As the run stealers flicker to and fro,
To and fro
O my Hornby and my Barlow long ago!:" At Lord's
Poet: Francis Thompson, 1878

Comment is about When an old cricketer leaves the crease (blog)

Original item by John E Marks

Thanks for your thoughts, MC and Stephen.
And thanks for the Likes, Stephen A and Holden.

Comment is about ET IN TERRA PAX (In Chester Cathedral) (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

The listing of the bare footballing statistics make this a very moving piece, Joe, knowing the human cost of each tragedy.

Comment is about Results (blog)

Original item by Joe Williams

Beautiful, John. Yes, the way the season is structured now, April and September (not to mention early October!) produce some of the best cricket.

Comment is about When an old cricketer leaves the crease (blog)

Original item by John E Marks

I suppose you can take the boy out of Eton, but not...
Good one, MC.

Comment is about BACK AT SCHOOL? (blog)

Original item by M.C. Newberry

We should keep praying, John, for weapons, peace, reconciliation, everything.

Comment is about ET IN TERRA PAX (In Chester Cathedral) (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

Thanks to Greg, Julie, Rudyard, Holden and K. Lynn for liking this poem and to MC, Stephen, John C and John B for the interesting comments.

Like most of you, I am instinctively uncomfortable when I see recently bereaved people thrust into the public eye. It seems undignified and unworthy of a civilised society. On the other hand, it does bring home the horror of war to those who may otherwise be apathetic or just plain disbelieving.

So, as the poem says, I am torn, but on balance I accept that such close up grief is a powerful tool for bringing the sheer awfulness of this war into our homes. We are all participants now, whether we take in refugees, make donations or put pressure on our leaders.

Comment is about 'Grieving Ukrainian Mother' (As seen on TV) (blog)

Original item by Stephen Gospage

I also recall a vocal version by Frank Sinatra on a Reprise LP.
As for prayers, I'm reminded of a line from a poem that tells us
how priests preach war whilst soldiers pray for peace. .

Comment is about ET IN TERRA PAX (In Chester Cathedral) (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

so poetic John

Comment is about Pilgrim soul (blog)

Original item by John E Marks

such a wonderful poem Russell

Comment is about You Can’t Fly A Kite In The Rain (blog)

Original item by JD Russell

When he was told that he had aroused the opposition of the Pope, Kevin, Stalin is reputed to have replied “And how many divisions does he have?”. I was praying for weapons.
Actually, my memory failed me; it was The New Vaudeville Band who did “Winchester Cathedral”.

Comment is about ET IN TERRA PAX (In Chester Cathedral) (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

You have captured truth here, Stephen. Is the 'news' just 'entertainment' of a ghoulish kind? Who and what is it for?

Comment is about 'Grieving Ukrainian Mother' (As seen on TV) (blog)

Original item by Stephen Gospage

Brilliant poetry Holden! You have captured so much here. Awesome.
Loved the final two lines especially 😎

Comment is about A Sigh (blog)

Original item by Holden Moncrieff

From a fellow old git

I'm an atheist so think that praying is in vain. But at the same time I'll say that my thoughts are with them, which amounts to the same thing.

It sickened me to see the Russian Orthodox church giving their soldiers a good send off in this just and holy war.

Comment is about ET IN TERRA PAX (In Chester Cathedral) (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

A great message, Russell. We'll said! 😀

Comment is about Life Has No Refund Policy (blog)

Original item by JD Russell

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

Comment is about A Sigh (blog)

Original item by Holden Moncrieff

They have dedicated a chapel to the war in Ukraine. There is a photo of this but I couldn't attach it.

Comment is about ET IN TERRA PAX (In Chester Cathedral) (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

Powerful and disturbing.

Comment is about 'Grieving Ukrainian Mother' (As seen on TV) (blog)

Original item by Stephen Gospage

Thanks for the likes for my silly write and for the kind comments.
I'll take any compliment I can get, thanks MC.

Comment is about Rule Maker, Law Breaker (blog)

Original item by julie callaghan

born of the loneliness
of altitude
Love that
Brilliant manipulation of words, as always Holden. 👏

Comment is about A Sigh (blog)

Original item by Holden Moncrieff

It's a double edged sword isn't it. On one hand you're thinking why show that? On the other, there's still people who need to actually see it to believe, or care.
Great piece, as usual, Stephen

Comment is about 'Grieving Ukrainian Mother' (As seen on TV) (blog)

Original item by Stephen Gospage