Thanks Stephen A for the kind comment also for the additional generous likes.
Comment is about Like Snowdrops We Should Be (blog)
Original item by julie callaghan
<Deleted User> (17799)
Sun 24th Jan 2021 18:07
I love the image used, goes well with the poem
Comment is about windmills (blog)
Original item by Clyde McCulley
As soon as I began reading this I just knew I had to use my actual voice and not the inner voice to read this with. Not because the words aren't precise and meaningful in themselves but because they have been chosen to sound magical too.
So I'm not commenting for you, Freda, I'm commenting to bring this poem back to the list and give a few people the chance to notice it again, especially as this area where I am got its first proper snow today too.
Comment is about Winter Morning (blog)
Original item by Freda Davis
Thank you Greg.It was fun to remember and write tying it to today's politics in the USA.
Comment is about windmills (blog)
Original item by Clyde McCulley
Big thank you to everyone who has clicked 'Like' for this poem.
Comment is about Lessons From A Wandering Sun (blog)
Original item by Aviva Rifka Bhandari
Did anyone else get an invitation to win a laptop after looking at this notice? I wondered if it was genuine, or a scam?
Oh Julian says its a scam. Watch out
Comment is about TOP POETRY PERFORMERS LINED UP FOR WRITE OUT LOUD'S FUNDRAISING EVENT AS APPEAL NEARS DEADLINE (article)
Original item by Greg Freeman
The use of language to portray the contentious will always be...well,
contentious!
Check the famous play "The Boys in the Band" by Mart Crowley.
This ground-breaking show contained (and still contains) the line -
"No matter how you figure, it's tough to be a (blanked according to
WOL guidelines/censorship))
But it's tougher to be a Jew-oo-oo"..
In short, if something has a point in its CONTEXT then it's relevant to
put that forward for attention.
We must accept that WOL has its limitations but discussion is
always relevant to freedom of expression. .
Comment is about MODERATED (blog)
Original item by John Coopey
Yes, we loved the trash bins and dumps too! Thanks for your like!
Comment is about a pair of old cowboy boots (blog)
Original item by Clyde McCulley
Lovely words & a positive message ?
Comment is about Like Snowdrops We Should Be (blog)
Original item by julie callaghan
Thanks for the likes folks and for the kind comments Aviva and Keith.
Comment is about Like Snowdrops We Should Be (blog)
Original item by julie callaghan
Here’s a thought, moderator-type people. What say I re-post it again with the offensive word substituted by “N’’s“? Presumably this is acceptable as you yourself have used it in one of your comments below, Greg.
Comment is about MODERATED (blog)
Original item by John Coopey
Thank you, as ever, Keith & Phillipos for your kind comments.
And do we ever really know who we really are? My perception of myself is different to a friend's or work colleagues etc. We are different things to different people. ?
And Brian, thanks. Yes, just running down hill to my inevitable end ! ?
Comment is about Who? (blog)
Original item by Stephen W Atkinson
Superb & true! (from a little man)
?
Comment is about THE LITTLE MAN (blog)
Original item by d.knape
Paul, your joke is perfectly accurate. No one among Write Out Loud's volunteers would want to post a list of offensive words on this site. Therefore we must rely on our poets using their experience and good judgement in deciding which words they use. If they err now and again, we will point it out. No big deal, hopefully.
Comment is about MODERATED (blog)
Original item by John Coopey
To paraphrase a great film I somehow wish you had titled this
Little Big Man!
A great piece that will resonate with many!
Graham
Comment is about THE LITTLE MAN (blog)
Original item by d.knape
I'm afraid it is no longer acceptable to write a bunch of offensive comments off a bog house wall or anywhere for that matter and then claim 'it's not me saying, I'm just repeating what I've read'. Seriously?
I read it around midnight last night and deleted it, thinking, I know what I'm going to be doing on Sunday now! Luckily with the snow, I went out and had a fun time with my granddaughter instead snowballing!
One comment I would make is I notice how many comments usually follow a moderated poem. shame there's not so many around critiquing acceptable works.
Hopefully that's it for this particular episode.
Comment is about MODERATED (blog)
Original item by John Coopey
<Deleted User> (18980)
Sun 24th Jan 2021 11:59
Like it but I was out of breath by the end Stephen.
Comment is about Who? (blog)
Original item by Stephen W Atkinson
Philipos
Sun 24th Jan 2021 11:50
How very interesting a poem this on a journey to understand what many of us also struggle to understand 'The Who Am I's' of all existences.
A must read
P
Comment is about Who? (blog)
Original item by Stephen W Atkinson
Beautifully written. Snowdrops always seem to be the first to put in an appearance even when snow and ice abound. At the side of my house and out of view there is a cluster of snowdrops which have been there for a week now. They point the way out of the cold to warmer days. Thank you for this
Keith
Comment is about Like Snowdrops We Should Be (blog)
Original item by julie callaghan
Stephen,
This superb poem deals with a subject which so many people ponder on. Some of our greatest poets wrote extensively about death as it begs to be addressed. Your words are an echo of poems past yet you have tinged yours with humour which I think sheds a lighter side to a dark subject.
Well done with this poem and thanks
Keith
Comment is about Who? (blog)
Original item by Stephen W Atkinson
John, I would never accuse you of promoting racism. But you will remember that in recent times we have had endless and sometimes vitriolic arguments about the 'context' of reproducing offensive words. Our current policy is to ban them - no ifs, no buts. A lot simpler and easier to understand. I would be interested to know if that particular story is still recounted in more recent editions of Lynne Truss's book.
Comment is about MODERATED (blog)
Original item by John Coopey
No one likes to ask difficult questions mare than I, but being contentious has nothing to do with being derogatory. Greg, I commend your actions and remarks. Trevor
Comment is about MODERATED (blog)
Original item by John Coopey
I thought it might be helpful to set some context for this.
This was a form poem, anacreontic, which was a litany of graffiti from public toilet (cottage) walls, some quite common, some not and some made up. It was not a pleasant poem. But that doesn’t seem to be the issue.
My use of the N word (in full) was a lift from Lynne Truss’s book Eats, Shoots and Leaves”.
The story (told as true) was that the owner of a garage who was black shut up shop for lunch one day. When he returned he found someone had scribbled “N’s Out” (in full). When the owner returned, demonstrating a superior knowledge of the apostrophe and a sense of self deprecation, he scribbled “But he’ll be back soon”.
As I said in a comment attached to the post, it is about grammatical ignorance and intolerance.
It observes and is a comment on mindless racism. It doesn’t promote it.
Perhaps we should lobby to have Lynne Truss’s book withdrawn too.
Comment is about MODERATED (blog)
Original item by John Coopey
All comments are correct in their critique, and I thank Keith for recognising it is a dispassionate view of events,
As Po. says and all seem to concur, it is necessary sometimes just to lift the veil
Thanks to all
Comment is about BIG PHARMA' And The FILTHY LUCRE. (blog)
Original item by trevor homer
How nice of her to take the trouble to look you up. As you say once your words are out there , they may be read by anyone at any time.
Comment is about REACHING OUT (blog)
Original item by M.C. Newberry
Nice one John
I don't think I've heard this one before, either on here or well spoken.
I did like your other train one (where it starts slow builds up then slows down again)
Comment is about THE MOORLAND TRAIN (blog)
Original item by John Coopey
The 'moderator' was me, folks. I don't remember my original comments, but I will say that this poem contained the N-word, which is a no-no on Write Out Loud these days. In some places this has been so for decades. I know lockdown is getting to us all, and some of us may be retreating to our second childhoods - I recently wrote a poem about Bill and Ben, for instance - but I look forward to a fresh new poem from John, which I am sure he is capable of, rather than twice recycled scribblings found on a public toilet wall. They must be all closed now, anyway.
Comment is about MODERATED (blog)
Original item by John Coopey
Thanks for the likes Hugh, Keith and Stephen G and for the lovely and kind messages.
Comment is about Snowy Walk (blog)
Original item by julie callaghan
Will do, Paul.
Ironically, one of the moderators commented on the authenticity its language lent it when it was first posted some years ago!
De-platforming times!
Comment is about MODERATED (blog)
Original item by John Coopey
I fear so, Brian. What is telling is that my comment below which explained the poem has gone too - as though no defence of the language is allowed. Curiously, it’s the third time I have posted this poem on here. The previous times comments on it thought the language entirely suitable. Pious times.
Interestingly, do the moderators work night shift?
Comment is about COTTAGE SLEAZE (blog)
Original item by John Coopey
<Deleted User> (18980)
Sun 24th Jan 2021 08:10
Welcome to WOL. I hope you feel at home here among fellow poets. I’m enjoying your poems already. Write on!
Comment is about Blue Raven (poet profile)
Original item by Blue Raven
Sun 24th Jan 2021 03:17
Thank you Stephen.
You are too kind.
Comment is about Stephen Gospage (poet profile)
Original item by Stephen Gospage
Aviva, now you’re making me blush.
Comment is about In the Realm of the Hungry Ghosts (blog)
Original item by Shehariah
Aviva, thank you, thank you, thank you. ?
Comment is about What’s Past is Prologue (blog)
Original item by Shehariah
Aviva, I’m glad to see that you’ve been liking what I’ve written. It’s encouraging.
Comment is about Fallow Ground (blog)
Original item by Shehariah
Aviva, thank you again for the likes.
Comment is about Darkness, Farewell (blog)
Original item by Shehariah
Aviva, Im really glad you’ve been reading through my work!
Comment is about Casualties of War (blog)
Original item by Shehariah
A poem of being overwhelmed and in despair. However, you are wrong about one thing. You are not alone. Be assured there are, out there, those who care greatly.
Thanks a good poem.
Keith
Comment is about "Blue" (blog)
Original item by J.D. Bardo
Some might regard this poem as a clever attempt at cynicism whereas in reality it speaks with an honest clarity in a world almost anesthetized to what is really taking place. No longer can people evaluate or think clearly, nor perhaps even wish to.
Thank you for this
Keith
Comment is about BIG PHARMA' And The FILTHY LUCRE. (blog)
Original item by trevor homer
Aviva Rifka Bhandari
Sun 24th Jan 2021 20:47
Can humour kill tumours? Since I don't think it can that line really pulled me out of agreement with the poem. Is laughing about ourselves really enough to be invincible? I don't think so either.
But I really liked how the poem begins, for the most part the rhymes are not too forced, and it is saying something important so ?.
Comment is about Hypocrite Society (blog)
Original item by Lasse Krey