Mon 3rd May 2021 22:11
Philipos
Mon 3rd May 2021 20:54
The all seeing eye of the camera which never lies. Enjoyed. P
Comment is about Pharisaic (blog)
Original item by Holden Moncrieff
Philipos
Mon 3rd May 2021 20:52
Recalling Churchill's mastery of words - spoken and written - I recall the comment attributed to an American observer that he "marshalled the English language and sent it to war". I am not being entirely
frivolous in remembering another vein altogether - that in Germany
written pornography was banned whilst the pictorial sort was not.
An interesting connection that surely shows how words can be
feared for any type of reason when it comes to controlling the
minds of others.
Comment is about Sword or Pen (blog)
Original item by Mike Bartram
Philipos and JM - thanks for the comments. As age moves in, I
find I have no problem whatever keeping up the relationship! ?
Thanks also to those who took the trouble to "like" this piece of whimsy.
Comment is about BEDDED BLISS (blog)
Original item by M.C. Newberry
The words carry their own weight and meaning - and resonate
accordingly with those who chime in tune. You could substitute
other identities and the message would also resonate accordingly
with those others who chime in tune. It's rare to find anything that
mentions either "England" or "English" nowadays so that in itself
is to be noted and read with interest. As for northerners having a
primary claim to the identify you specify, I would argue that the likes of Alfred the Great and Hereward the Wake, followed by ill-
fated King Harold and the subsequent Norman incursions from
France, combined with the surviving Anglo-Saxon population to
create the "English" identity that emerged over the ensuing one thousand years - and were more "southerners" than northerners.
I know the latter like to claim most of what's good but there are
plenty down here in the south who can point elsewhere in that
regard. ?
Comment is about England in My Head (blog)
Original item by Steve Higgins
Philipos
Mon 3rd May 2021 16:17
Timeless thoughts - so pertinent for today's world. P ?
Comment is about Beyond (blog)
Original item by Stephen W Atkinson
Currently operating on ZOOM. 1st, 3rd, 5th Saturdays as usual.
For details and to be added to our mailing list contact Jim at talking_zebras.co.uk Invites sent out 2 or 3 days before each meeting.
Doors Open 2:00pm for a 2:15 start. Continues until 5(ish). Folk can join or leave at anytime as long as they do it discreetly ?
You are welcome to listen or to contribute. Poetry or prose, your own or other peoples (check permission please) on any subject other than Religion and Politics.
Spots are 4-5 minutes and we go round those present as many times as possible on the day.
Comment is about Talking Zebras (group profile)
Original item by Talking Zebras
Thank you Tony, Stephen, Holden, Keith, Aviva and Ghazala for the likes and for taking the time to read.
Thanks for the very kind comment Kieth, I really wanted it to be ambiguous and dealing in the grey area of relationships and how we navigate our path through these lives our ours.
Comment is about The Distant Lifeboat (blog)
Original item by Tom
I do defend illiterate writers, but this is an excellent poem.
Comment is about Writing for non-readers (blog)
Original item by Robert C Gaulke
Leon,
I personally think that northerners are the true English but then I’m biased ? Thanks for looking in
Steve
Comment is about England in My Head (blog)
Original item by Steve Higgins
Aviva, thanks for looking in. I deliberately used England and English a lot to create a sort of rhythm and that makes the poem trot along nicely but I think you’re saying that there isn’t much substance to this poem and looking back you’ve certainly got a point. I’m not sure I had a point in the first place but you’re right, it needs reworking.
Comment is about England in My Head (blog)
Original item by Steve Higgins
Thank you J.D. Bardo, Jason Bayliss, and Jennifer Malden for taking the time to comment on this poem. ?
J.D. I've already been around for a couple of decades since I wrote this, I'm definitely teddy-bear-soft and slipper-cosy by now. Let's stay around a long time more too!
Jason I like that 'yesterday's kiss on the face of today' although I'm not sure if sometimes it is more of a kick somewhere else that yesterday tried to give me.. as for my future self... should I kiss or kick?
Jennifer I agree with you all those things you mention are far better the more time they have to them
Thanks also to everyone who clicked 'Like' for this poem ?
Comment is about Dream On (blog)
Original item by Aviva Rifka Bhandari
It is quite clear from this poem that you have great word-craft, there's control and flexibility in the metre as well as natural and flowing word choices... but it feels to me (and others may well disagree with me on this) that as much as you've used the words English and England many many times you haven't really said anything important about what that actually means to you or should mean to anyone.. and I feel as if you could have (because you have the word-craft). Obviously it is quite apparent that you think all these aspects imbue some sort of character or disposition or something important... but we don't find out what that actually is. Apart from all these details about 'where you came from' what else about 'what you therefore are' could you have said?
Comment is about England in My Head (blog)
Original item by Steve Higgins
<Deleted User> (30611)
Sun 2nd May 2021 20:55
Mmm. It's an odd thing isn't it? People can live in the North West or the South East, be rich or poor, well educated or not, yet still feel quintessentially English.
Comment is about England in My Head (blog)
Original item by Steve Higgins
Sun 2nd May 2021 19:45
Liked this Ray! Might be an idea to get some form of 'employment' with so many women out of a job cos of Covid. Was she strangled with a lisle stocking, or beaten to death with the shoes?
Jennifer
Comment is about SENSIBLE SHOES (blog)
Original item by ray pool
Perhaps they were given a 'privy ledged' position?
Jennifer
Comment is about Sad Saturday sewer story (blog)
Original item by hugh
This crack sounds decidedly familiar!!!!! Nice.
Jennifer
Comment is about How I solved my wife's desire for an expensive dress (blog)
Original item by hugh
Nice One. Some things are more appreciated with time, think of wine, antiques, trees, an old saddle is infinitely more comfortable than a new one! An old friend too is usually worth more than a new, just because of the time passed. Like Jason's comment too.
Jennifer
Comment is about Dream On (blog)
Original item by Aviva Rifka Bhandari
Unfortunately too true. The hope they had and the hard work they did to achieve it are now scorned. We want it all and we want it now.
Jennifer
Comment is about GENERATIONAL (blog)
Original item by M.C. Newberry
Separation is dramatic, and divorce unimaginable!!! Nice one.
Jennifer
Comment is about BEDDED BLISS (blog)
Original item by M.C. Newberry
Philipos
Sun 2nd May 2021 16:41
Thanks Greg and Brian. A very interesting discussion. Let's continue to enjoy reading him, without minimising the other issues.
Best wishes Steve
Comment is about Mister Larkin (blog)
Original item by Stephen Gospage
All the holes, tears, lines, scars and wrinkles are just signs that we've truly lived, just yesterdays kiss on the face of today. ❤❤
J. x
Comment is about Dream On (blog)
Original item by Aviva Rifka Bhandari
Sun 2nd May 2021 14:05
thanks M.C. for your comment on that poem.
we will not mention it by name
in order not to scare anyone.
what exactly does MC stand for?
besides master of ceremonies?
?
Comment is about M.C. Newberry (poet profile)
Original item by M.C. Newberry
Some people may see that this is an updated version of a poem, which I have written before, and which has some alterations.
Comment is about Pubs (blog)
Original item by Stuart Vanner
Thanks for the like Aviva
Comment is about Old, New And Incomplete (blog)
Original item by julie callaghan
Thanks for the likes. Nigel, Stephen A, Stephen G and Tom.
Comment is about The Covid-19 Memorial Wall (blog)
Original item by julie callaghan
If poets are to be cancelled for having irregular (evil? depending on what passes for that in whatever generation) views, at times, then I'm afraid very few would survive scrutiny. I read poets whose viewpoints I abhor, but value something in their writing anyway-- yes, separate the poetry from the poet.
And Stephen, good job
Comment is about Mister Larkin (blog)
Original item by Stephen Gospage
I love this Aviva, "Dream on" past all the holes and tares that got us all of our memories, I hope we are around long enough to make new shoes old and comfy, and a new teddy bear soft and broken in.
thank-you for sharing this. J.D.
Comment is about Dream On (blog)
Original item by Aviva Rifka Bhandari
Thank you Nigel for this, and in fact all of your poetic responses. ?
I am sure people will soon be visiting my poetry blogs just to find your poems, and I'm very happy if they do!
Comment is about Buried Treasure (blog)
Original item by Aviva Rifka Bhandari
Thank you Nigel, for your poetic response ?
I don't know if I should but I feel incredibly proud to see that my comment inspired a poem. You captured the essence of it perfectly.
Comment is about Vigil (blog)
Original item by Aviva Rifka Bhandari
Well done Andy
2021
Big birthday bash
awaits next year
twelve months to go.
Comment is about (#NaPoWriMo 2021 - #Haiku of Life (2021 (blog)
Original item by Andy N
Gales blow raw emotion
soaking soft cotton wool.
Comment is about Buried Treasure (blog)
Original item by Aviva Rifka Bhandari
Thinking and feeling
locked inside poetry
keeps it forever.
Comment is about Vigil (blog)
Original item by Aviva Rifka Bhandari
Well said, Stephen. And I agree with you about separating the poetry from the man.
Comment is about Mister Larkin (blog)
Original item by Stephen Gospage
Philipos
Sat 1st May 2021 21:39
Enjoyable read Sanja, welcome aboard WOL.
P. ?
Comment is about Alone (blog)
Original item by Sanja Atanasovska
I feel the same as you do, Greg. I have always struggled to reconcile Larkin's wonderful poetry with the his appalling personal views. One cannot dress them up or attempt to contextualise them; they were blatantly racist and should be condemned as such. I heard about the passing of Anthony Thwaite but I don't think it is a bad thing that the letters and all the subsequent revelations became public.
So how can I write a poem like this? Well, unlike, say Wagner (whose well-known prejudices are vividly on display in his operas), Larkin's racism does not by and large seem to have spilled over into his poetry. I don't subscribe fully to the idea that you can separate the art from the artist but I do think one can enjoy Larkin's verse without having to give consideration to his bigotry. The poetry exists in its own universe, which seems blissfully sealed off from his more uncomfortable views, although of course his poems are not always devoted to pleasant themes. My poem is concerned with the poetry, not the man.
So this poem should really be a tribute to the poetry, not to Larkin himself. I'll change the postscript to this effect.
Comment is about Mister Larkin (blog)
Original item by Stephen Gospage
The sad but true story of life in human terms when progress is
measured in profit's worth. Check author Bill Bryson's comments
about the activities of the US Park Service in his book "A Walk in the Woods". It provides dispiriting reading.
We know times pass and all things change
And, that, it seems, now includes the range!
The sound of the saw that sees an ancient tree fall
Precedes the cement mixer that builds another mall. ?
Comment is about Cowboy Blues (blog)
Original item by d.knape
Thank you for the sudden appearance of this poem,
It resonates deeply and will also be like a wandering bird returning,
At the bus stop, the dinner table, on waking.
Comment is about Appearances (blog)
Original item by Adam Whitworth
Thank you Ghazala and Adam for commenting ?
Thank you also to everyone who has clicked 'Like' for this poem ?
I'm really grateful to everyone who takes the time to read, like, or comment my poetry. I know I use the same couple of phrases to offer thanks each time but I really do mean it each time ?
Comment is about Buried Treasure (blog)
Original item by Aviva Rifka Bhandari
Thanks for the likes KJ and JD, it was written for a video, hard to represent with a screenshot
Comment is about Old, New And Incomplete (blog)
Original item by julie callaghan
I really like this lovely poem. Composed as only an artist could.
Comment is about Buried Treasure (blog)
Original item by Aviva Rifka Bhandari
I’ll take extra care next time I visit.
Comment is about Sad Saturday sewer story (blog)
Original item by hugh
Ferris Ty Taylor
Mon 3rd May 2021 22:48
Wow.
Comment is about humanities (blog)
Original item by Robert C Gaulke