Keith,
When buying make sure you take to the office party and hang close to the ever busy storeroom just make sure you sign the don't tell contract.
Have fun
Nigel

Comment is about The Mistletoe Invitation (blog)

Original item by Nigel Astell

Nigel,
Thank you for this. I am about to go out and buy some mistletoe in a mood of expectancy and hope.
Keith

Comment is about The Mistletoe Invitation (blog)

Original item by Nigel Astell

Really enjoyed this.
Thanks
Keith

Comment is about He's the one (blog)

Original item by Martin Elder

Thanks, Graham. Best wishes to you and yours too.

Comment is about SANTA KRAMPUS (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

Bah! You don't scare me one bit JC
Have a good Christmas John C and Gert, let's hope 2022 is a little less contentious than this one (some hopes) 😀

Comment is about SANTA KRAMPUS (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

Thanks Stephen. I am glad you liked it

Comment is about The easy air (blog)

Original item by Martin Elder

Thanks for the likes. Yes Stephen penguins are the best. 🐧

Comment is about Ducks (blog)

Original item by julie callaghan

I suspect each of us will picture the context of this differently. Powerful ju-ju, Stephen.

Comment is about A Time to Pray (A seasonal poem) (blog)

Original item by Stephen Gospage

Disturbing, Stephen. (I keep looking at our Christmas tree).

Comment is about The Christmas Tree... (blog)

Original item by Stephen W Atkinson

I read this poem with a great sense of optimism but wanted it to continue. I was uplifted by every word.
Thank you
Keith

Comment is about 83. Poem (blog)

Original item by Sunshine

As it should be John. Bless her.
Thank you
Keith

Comment is about Visiting time (blog)

Original item by John E Marks

Stephen and John, thank you.
Keith

Comment is about Poets (blog)

Original item by keith jeffries

You express thoughts with elegance and great honesty, Keith. I really enjoyed this. Thank you.
John

Comment is about Poets (blog)

Original item by keith jeffries

The same with penguins, Julie. Hilarious 😁

Comment is about Ducks (blog)

Original item by julie callaghan

Beautiful, John

Comment is about Visiting time (blog)

Original item by John E Marks

Thanks for the likes.

Comment is about December Moon (blog)

Original item by julie callaghan

Stephen,
Thank you for this. For some inexplicable reason the prologue of John's gospel came to mind. This is what it's all about, is it not?
Keith

Comment is about A Time to Pray (A seasonal poem) (blog)

Original item by Stephen Gospage

I love the last stanza. Just perfect.
Thanks
Keith

Comment is about The Rain (blog)

Original item by Jason Phillips

Thank you, It was based on a real dream (if there is such a thing). Strangely, all the elements of the current pandemic, combined with unreality of travel, such as being stuck in indentikit airports, were there. Thanks for your appreciation.

And thanks to Graham, Holden, Tom, Stephen A. and Kevin for the likes.

Comment is about Matchstick Dream (blog)

Original item by Stephen Gospage

I think your poem puts it very well, Keith. In the end, poets are just like everyone else and do what everyone else should be doing.

Comment is about Poets (blog)

Original item by keith jeffries

If it's the irresponsible parent who goes into the dustbin then it's fine but it's the innocent children born out of wedlock they go into dustbins for no fault of theirs. Not only they go into dustbins but have to live a hard life after that as well.

The number of children born out of wedlock isn't restricted to any one regional group, society, country or religious group.....it's plaguing the whole world irrespective of their religion, caste, creed, country or society.

Such men whom you wish to see in dustbins won't stop having children from several women as it's their law, their social obligation or culture. Inorder to punish them or to put down a certain group of people we can't let innocent children be punished.

There should be a restriction on unemployed. The government should focus on the age limit after which each and every citizen should be highly payed employed.

Marriage or no marriage......population can't be controlled. Children will be born with or without wedlock in all countries, and from all religious groups.

There are several men from all religious groups who are father's of several children but they have no knowledge about them. Their own children are in dustbins and live life of beggars and become prostitutes and criminals. Such a sad state of affair.

Comment is about Marriageable age (blog)

Original item by Sunshine

MC.,
Thank you. Very well put.
Keith

Comment is about Poets (blog)

Original item by keith jeffries

I imagine that the word "stability" is high on any government
agenda. No encouragement is likely to be given to any code of
conduct that veers from this social aim. We know of certain
origins who are arrogantly irresponsible, with single men
fathering children by various women and ducking obligations,
parental and financial with no apparent fear or concerns about
being held to account for their flippant disregard for those
they impregnate or bring into this world. I'd happily reserve a
dustbin for the likes of them!

Comment is about Marriageable age (blog)

Original item by Sunshine

If it's only about votes, politics and coming to power then be it. But it's more Deeper than we perceive.

The new world order. The order that us slowly taking over. This only time will tell, who will benefit from this NWO and who will be damaged.

As far as society is concerned or to say customs and traditions then these are a mixed bag of ancient and modern.

Focusing on marriageable age to control population isn't important as children are being born out of wedlock even. The number of children born out of wedlock is massive. In most societies an unmarried woman having baby is a big stigma. Inorder to avoid being stigmatized such girls and women either abort the child or throw them away after delivery.

So how has the increase in marriageable age controlled population. Rather it has given rise to several other problems, such as:-
1. Increase in adolescent abortions
2. Increase in adolescent pregnancies
3. Increase in homeless children
4. Increase in the child beggars and child labour.
5. Increasing number of homeless girls in prostitution
6. Increase in criminals
7. Ever increasing population
8. Increase in IVF due to late marriage

How exactly Increase in marriageable age controls population?

We can only have children after marriage? Before marriage if the young couple is in a relationship they can't have children? What a joke?

Marriage is our right. An individual if mature enough to get into a relationship with whom they want at any age, or can decide to abort, if they are mature enough to choose their education, profession then why are they considered immature for marriage.

Imagine if marriageable age is puberty then how many children can live with their parents. Imagine how the girls would raise their children rather than throwing them in dustbins. Imagine how much the problems of homeless children, forced prostitution, child labour etc can be solved. Children can have a home and can live with honour, dignity and care with their parents.

But the government is happy with adolescent abortions, pregnancy and throwing away of child after birth into dustbins and homeless children, forced prostitution etc. But they can't see the citizens live as husband and wife with full honour and respect together with their children. How ridiculous.

Comment is about Marriageable age (blog)

Original item by Sunshine

It can be debated - "What poet claims to know it?"
I see the job as holding up a lamp in a dark tunnel - not to force
others to move along but to guide them.on the way should they
think the journey/exploration worth the effort.

Comment is about Poets (blog)

Original item by keith jeffries

Nature casts a mischievous eye on human efforts to control its designer-impulse to procreate. It takes no heed of artificial
impositions or constraints that can only limit its results not
really control them. Government should guide its citizens to
the course of least harm and best outcome. And famiiy should
be held accountable for supporting its members within the
context of the duty to employ the responsibility that "freedom"
within society demands. In short, let's get the State one step
removed until circumstances indicate a right and proper reason
to intervene once an age of consent has been thoroughly
investigated according to the customs and attitudes of the society it affects. Referendums anyone?? 😏

Comment is about Marriageable age (blog)

Original item by Sunshine

I'm deeply flattered, Tom. And, likewise! Thank you.

Comment is about The Last Noel (blog)

Original item by Stephen W Atkinson

Hugh, Boris is too busy with cheese and wine.

Comment is about Act now Boris after Christmas will be too late !! (blog)

Original item by hugh

Thank YOU Keith. you are exactly right, the topic of male suicide is verboten (forbidden) in the increasingly feminised liberal media. And, no, I'm definitely not a misogynist . I love women and have four daughters but worry more about my son and grandsons.

Data published by the Office for National Statistics on 1 September showed that in 2019 the suicide rate among men and boys was 16.9 deaths per 100,000. Doesn't sound too bad until you realise over 4300 men and boys die from their own hand, that's over 11 every day, including Christmas day. ...the suicide rate among women and girls was 5.3 deaths per 100 000 in 2019,

Comment is about Saying goodbye (blog)

Original item by John E Marks

John,
you have touched on some raw material here which is not being addressed by anyone because it is so difficult to grasp. The root lies in masculinity which is pushed into the background by the world as irrelevant. Young men possess a need to express this aspect of their identity yet cannot find a means to do so. They resort to the result of such repressed feelings through violence. Historically this was found in war. Those who responded to the call to fight. This no longer exists. Where do they turn? A dilemma indeed. In the midst of identity politics about who we are masculinity is ignored as something too difficult to deal with. In desperation they turn to the grave. Is there a way forward, a way out for them?
You have addressed an issue here which cries out.
Thank you for this
Keith

Comment is about Saying goodbye (blog)

Original item by John E Marks

Thank you for all the likes folks. Also thanks Keith for your lovely kind comment.

Comment is about December Delight (blog)

Original item by julie callaghan

Sent to Boris and Sajid Javid.

Comment is about Act now Boris after Christmas will be too late !! (blog)

Original item by hugh

Beautifully defined. Thank you for this. Introspective write🌷

Comment is about Poets (blog)

Original item by keith jeffries

Tom, I am intrigued by the various responses to this poem. The more I read it the more it enters my soul.
A poem of real worth. Thanks
Keith

Comment is about Ship In A Bottle (blog)

Original item by Tom

Masterful and moving! I always enjoy your writing Stephen.

Comment is about The Last Noel (blog)

Original item by Stephen W Atkinson

Thank you so much John, Stephen and Ray. As you note Stephen, I think the last 2 years has found a lot of people falling to indulgent habits and it's hard to say no to something that feels good.

I wanted to write a poem touching on the joy of drink and the 'artistic' side of being a bit drunk but also the games you might end up playing with yourself to justify doing it more often than is healthy.

Good to question why we do what we do - I personally find poetry is a great format for that.

Comment is about Ship In A Bottle (blog)

Original item by Tom

I keep saying I will resort to email cards instead (I subscribe to a well known online site), but I still find myself posting the
paper cards - hardly a contribution to saving the environment, even if I might be saving the Royal Mail! 😏

Comment is about STAND AND DELIVER (blog)

Original item by ray pool

Stephen,
a cameo of the present time. Perfectly portrayed.
Thank you Keith

Comment is about Matchstick Dream (blog)

Original item by Stephen Gospage

most politicians are just people who
can't do anything else.

Comment is about M.C. Newberry (poet profile)

Original item by M.C. Newberry

I still think a card means you've taken the time to think of the people who you send to. Once a year is better than none.
I'm always cynical about those who say 'we're not doing cards this year, we're giving the money to charity' and ma left wondering if they actually do?

Love the image of the postbox with his hands in his pockets Ray.
A very Merry Christmas to you and yours.

G

Comment is about STAND AND DELIVER (blog)

Original item by ray pool

Thanks, Stephen. And thanks for the Like, Holden and Moonlight.

Comment is about THE TIME OUR GERT FELL INTO THE BARNSLEY CANAL (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

I love the atmosphere of this one, Brenda.

Comment is about Midwinter Mistletoe (blog)

Original item by Brenda Wells

Thank you, Ray. Christmas cards take on a life of their own. Some unseen force commands us to send them. I still receive cards from a couple whom I simply can't remember.

Comment is about STAND AND DELIVER (blog)

Original item by ray pool

Good story, John.

Comment is about THE TIME OUR GERT FELL INTO THE BARNSLEY CANAL (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

The advice is sound, Hugh, but the will is lacking, sadly.

Comment is about Act now Boris after Christmas will be too late !! (blog)

Original item by hugh

Perfect sense of place and season, beautifully read, contemporary and timeless. Thank you

Comment is about Feeling down at Christmas? Let Liz Berry's seasonal poem lift the heart (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

My wife sends cards to various people we met once on holiday and have never seen or spoken to since.

Comment is about STAND AND DELIVER (blog)

Original item by ray pool

The silly bugger fell off her bike, MC. She has a habit of doing this, usually when she is stood still!
And thanks for the Like, Stephen.

Comment is about THE TIME OUR GERT FELL INTO THE BARNSLEY CANAL (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

Ray,
a poem to trigger an interesting theme of thought about who we really are in relation to what we do.
Thank you for this
Keith

Comment is about STAND AND DELIVER (blog)

Original item by ray pool

A clear case of "Fall before a slide". Thanks for the welcome
chance to get the lips formed in something resembling a grin.
My curiosity compels me to ask - just how did she manage to
get in that position? Not least as you say she was battery-powered!! And what happened to that poor bike of hers?

Comment is about THE TIME OUR GERT FELL INTO THE BARNSLEY CANAL (blog)

Original item by John Coopey