Many thanks for your recent comments harry :)

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Hello Harry ~ Thank you for the attention you've given to my poem Apolide. It was so long in gestation (I work slowly) I eventually just wanted it out there... but your suggestion is right I do need to clarify some elements of the narrative. I could be some time! I'll give it a whirl!

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Hello Harry. Thanks for taking the time to comment on 'Alone In Cyberspace'. I wrote it a couple of years ago now, but the subject matter is growing increasingly relevant I find.

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Hi Harry Glad you liked the poem. A lot of people - like KIngsley Amis - don't want 'poems about foreign cities'!

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Harry - posted this on the blog (the westgate run) and meant to post it directly to you - sorry:

thanks Harry - you're welcome to visit any time you like :-)

that last line in stanza 2 is a bit clunky - I was trying to get the image of soot, fallen from a chimney, with footsteps going through it and trailing away into history - some of the pubs in 'Wakey' are ancient :-)

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Thanks Harry for your thoughts on "A Toast to Craig and Hannah".
It's a bit different from a set of pans (and a lot cheaper!)

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Hello Harry,
Thanks for your thoughts on "Cradle - A Triolet". I think I may have done this at the Gondola when I came with Our Gert a couple of years ago.
The inspiration for it was Bernard Cornwell's excellent novel "Stonehenge" which starts of page 1 with the most powerful opener I've ever read.

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Thanks for the encouragement Harry. It's Thursday actually and I'm very much 3rd string. But it should be interesting. Hope you and Yvonne enjoy your holiday.

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I was really delighted to see you both at the Tudor Harry. I'm sorry you had such difficulty getting there - and hope the return journey wasn't as bad. I heard that the M6 was shut later and we all wondered whether you were affected.

I'm glad you enjoyed yourselves. I hope to see you again soon, if not in Wigan, on the Wirral - I'm feeling more enthused about my poetry at the moment, which always makes me feel like travelling! Give my love to Yvonne xx

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Thank you Harry! I love your poem the infinite sadness of time passing. Made me hold my breath while reading it....

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the sonnet as straight-jacket - eh? straight-jackets can be fun if you don't mind taking your time to get out of them - i'm thinking of going on a 'form' rampage over next month or so and really getting into some of the less known structures etc - if I don't escape the straps before I drown, it's been nice conversing with you ;-)

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thanks for your comment on 'the aparkle' harry - I hear you :-)

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My dad was a wagon builder in Preston during the war Harry. There was bomb damage to the roof of the factory where they worked, which no-one could spare man time to fix - so the men worked in the freezing cold. And yet his aunt would get flak from one particular neighbour because her son had been drafted whilst my dad was in a protected industry. You just can't imagine what kind of turmoil people lived in - or what it must have done to their minds.

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What ho, Harry!
Just to say how much I enjoyed reading about your wartime exploits.
In my book you deserve a medal as big as a dustbin lid - not for scuppering Hitler n the Atlantic but for downing that custard.

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...and, of course, you're right about the Cathedral stones. When I've locked up Selby Abbey and am alone, I can hear them breathing.

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Thankyou for your thoughts on '1069 And All That', Harry.
Re the re-alignment of the arches in your local church, "PRAISE THE LORD!".

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Hi Harry, thanks for the comment on symphony of the elements.
Hazel

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Harry
just posted this with the poem itself so anyone reading it can see the change you have suggested:
Harry
many thanks for pointing out the error in this Petrarchan Sonnet - I wrote it rather quickly to 'book-end' my first collection with a piece I put on here earlier ('A Step Towards Winter')Despite checking the manuscript a number of times this wasn't spotted, so you've saved my bacon :-)
I've amended the verse pattern if you want to have another look at it - I value your opinion and am so pleased you spotted this - so thanks once again
Ian

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Sorry you've disabled comments on your wartime memories piece Harry because I'm sure you would get lots. Fascinating and so vivid!

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I read with interest your war time memories, Harry. It's great that you've committed them to paper - it's something I should get my mother to do.

She often tells me how bad Liverpool had it and remembers quite vividly the trail of refugees pouring out along the East Lancs Road. I should bring her to a venue some time - I'm sure you'd have a lot in common.

The note you end on is so true of much in life. It's amazing what you can get used to and live with day to day.

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Thanks for your thoughts on "Filey", Harry. I have to confess it's a little more down-beat than I paint it.

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Hey Harry,

Just really glad that you and Yvonne enjoyed the evening. Hopefully we'll have many more good nights to come.

Best of

from me - and the two ladies in charge.

Chris

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thanks for the comments and suggestions on 'noticed' Harry. The use of those 'eerie' words early on were deliberate, as I wanted to get across that this guy has lived the life of a ghost while he was alive - and wasn't noticed - it was only when he died that he became 'real'. You are, as usual, very perceptive and I totally get the idea that I could have built more tension at the end of the poem by using more neutral words early on and saving the sinister for later - so I guess I got caught between two stools of trying to get an eerie pay off against trying to get a subtle characterisation.
Thanks so much for taking the time to comment
much appreciated
Ian

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thanks f your comments on 'that which autumn....' harry, the short story wot i rote is very image rich and touches more on the background of the characters - it always read to me as though it could be condensed into a narrative poem and i enjoyed the exercise - cheers
Ian

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Thanks for your kind comments on "I Had A Bream", Harry

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Harry
many thanks for your kind and supportive comments regarding 'azrael' - much appreciated
Ian

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Hello Harry,
Many thanks for your comments on "Has Anybody Seen My Little Sarah".
It's not meant to be sad, but I did find coming to terms with 2 girls growing into women challenging as a dad. I seemed to lose touch for a while as they developed interests which excluded me - make-up, boy bands, boys. We do seem to have come back together though as they entered their 20's.

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Thanks for commenting on Hierarchy of Death, Harry. Appreciated as ever. Sad about the Spoke isn't it. Let's hope Chris, Natalie & Glenys can find somewhere else.

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Harry,
Many thanks for your thoughts on "My Biggest Fan". There did seem to have been a spate of less-than-polite blogs recently, usually spat at someone who had the temerity to take a different political viewpoint.
I like you idea of a free verse poem set to free (unstructured) music. Classical might well suit this best. I might give it a try.

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Sorry Harry - meant to reply to your last note and forgot! It was heartening to read :) Thank you.

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thanks harry for your comment on 'as she lay dying'
sometimes i get frustrated by my ability to write effectively about those things that most effect me most. the poem came as a result of that frustration.

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Harry, thank you for your comments on my review of Cynthia's performance. YOu are dead right about the fact that she clearly rehearsed it and created a themed set, although it was less that I think than a single piece in five parts (not six, got carried away). Whatever, it did demonstrate the difference between knocking out a reading, and preparing for a quality performance. If you got something worth saying, it is worth saying well.
again, thanks for your comments. Much appreciated.

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Harry hi :o)re 'Wandering expositions' the solitary 'where' (line 11) below is for effect; a conceit that acts as a pivot for the lines above and below thus: The 'where' is a conjunction and aims to puzzle/halt/amuse the reader for its solitude. And is indeed pivotal for the contrived nature of the final five lines.
Thank you for taking the time to consider the change.

''There are stand alone conjunctions
in hope that it amazes
where
in solitude it functions
in contrived schematic phrases. ''

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Harry
thanks for commenting on 'old tyke blues' my day did improve sufficiently to keep on going - but somtimes it's a struggle :-)
Ian

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Hi Harry

Thank you for your considered reply on John's poem - I'm going to reply here now as he has posted another poem. I acknowledge and respect your direct experience and history - thank you for your insights on a particular era in the unions' history. I was aware of the ballot issue. I will still have to agreeably disagree about the loss of manufacturing jobs, mind, and don't think you can make that comparison with Blair - it's a different kettle of fish completely. I don't believe for a second THEY caused it, I have enough knowledge on that score. You can however make a direct correlation between Thatcher's part in the deregulation of certain banking practices and the financial collapse.

Amongst my social circle, she was despised over the Falklands debacle. It seemed to us that it was the right wing press that were glorying in it (that'll make a change then!).

I'm not keen on your use of the word 'shameful' underclass - seems to be rather judgemental, that term. I would agree however that we would not be needing in-work benefits if people were paid an actual living wage instead of a pittance. It's that same old Money Trick yet again. I don't think Robert Tressell would be too shocked to know that it's still going on, as strong as ever.

Your last couple of lines made me smile by the way :)

Hope to see you at a poetry event at some point

Take care

Laura

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Many thanks for your kind thoughts on my prose piece, Schadenfreude.

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What ho, Harry!
Glad you liked "Don't Think Twice...". I shall indeed do the gentlemanly thing and confess that it was my own bottom!

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Anything for a rest!
Actually this was inspired in 2004 by a certain Mr Archer but now it seems to apply to 3 fiction writers! xx

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Hello Harry..thanks so much for dropping by on my second hand love!..A little fun..but pah!...How I wished you had replied earlier..LOL..x

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Hi Harry - thanks for the good wishes re my hip op xx

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Harry
I'm grateful, as always, for your kind and supportive comments on 'forget me not' - thanks for taking the time to read it and comment - much appreciated
Ian

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Thx for reading and feedback on my latest Harry - appreciated.

Left a long windy comment on the blog hehe

Best

Chris

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Thanks Harry for your note on Synaesthetic Symphony.

The pointillism is just another technique is all and I kind of liked how it contrasted with cubist.

It's not a painting btw, the pic was done in pastels :)

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Hello Harry,
Many thanks for your thoughts on "WonderBale".
I'm afraid I agree that 4th spot is a bit remote now for either Liverpool or Everton. It seems a 3-way fight for 3rd and 4th between us, Arsenal and Chelsea.

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Hi Harry
many thanks for your kind comments on 'Step Towards Winter' - it means a lot when other poets recognise the intricacies of structured verse. I really appreciate your comments.
Cheers
Ian

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Now then, harry.
many thanks for your advice on "Frowns of Silence". I take it you've endured more than your fair share of Coventry!

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Thank you kindly for your kind words of comment on my poem about legal tender:

"Even more binding when you think that money is
usually exchanged for some sort of service."

You are most appreciated, Harry.
Best regards, Frederick

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Cheers for the comment, Harry.

I see you have a Liverpool and literary background, so do you fancy coming to read / perform with our group, The Liver Bards, at the Ship and Mitre (upstairs room), Dale Street, on third Mondays of each month? Next meetings are on Monday 18 Feb and Monday 18 March. There is no meeting in April though; instead we have a special Monday 6 May Liver Bards at the Ship and Mitre, as part of the Liverpool Literary Festival.

PS When the slow withdrawal of the light .... great line.


Our New Brighton-based group is at the Magazine pub on second Mondays every month.

Both clubs start at 8pm. Both are open floor, where every poet gets to read twice in two five-minute slots.the slow withdrawal of the light

PS

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Thank you Harry!

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Hello Harry,
I see you've been rooting through my back issue!
Yes, this is one I did when I came over last year. I thought I'd give it a re-post along with the triolet poem we chorused.
Hope you're keeping well and pleased to see that we have both been spared for another year!

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