I've thought about this further, John, and my objection is this. Your poem is written in generalities. You need to be more specific to persuade me. If you're outraged about a particular case - such as in the link you provide - spell out the details of that case in the poem. Like in an early 60s protest song by Dylan. He wrote a number of detailed songs about civil rights cases, atrocities, murders. If you feel your case deserves the same treatment, that might make it more persuasive. Hurling over-used words about doesn't work for me.

Comment is about NEWS OF THE WORLD (blog)

Original item by John E Marks

Well, I didn't like it for that particular reason ... that you're using words that will be out of date before we know it, that you will eventually have to Google to find out what they mean. 'Cancel culture' ... same problem again. Because I'm not interested in these terms, I struggle with their meanings. They're slogan words, aren't they? Should they have any place in a crafted poem? It's a mark of respect for your poetry that I ask you this.

Comment is about NEWS OF THE WORLD (blog)

Original item by John E Marks

https://www.spiked-online.com/2020/07/27/the-cowardice-of-cancel-culture/

Such liberal authoritarianism is as bad, or worse, as the old fashioned illiberal sort. 'Cancel culture', an oxymoron if ever there was one, is designed to stifle debate. Unfortunately such woke threats to free speech and such pathetic virtue-snarling will be around for a long time, regardless of the jargon used.

I take it you didn't like the poem Greg. Fair do's.

Comment is about NEWS OF THE WORLD (blog)

Original item by John E Marks

This is simply brilliant :)

Comment is about Raindrops and Puddles (blog)

Original item by julie callaghan

Will anyone know what the word 'woke' meant five years from now? Or 'virtue-signal'? Just wondering aloud.

Comment is about NEWS OF THE WORLD (blog)

Original item by John E Marks

Inspiring but I'd like to think we can hide from them..... X the powers that be

Comment is about Before the Enemy Comes (blog)

Original item by Josephine Underwood

Life can feel like this the trick is not to let the outside world reflect the inside you, I'm still learning this toox thanks for your poem

Comment is about BALLOON (blog)

Original item by Sarah Louise mcnee

Beautiful but a tragic subject x

Comment is about Mother Inez (blog)

Original item by d.knape

I wish I was in New York again, as a woman travellinh alone around America 4 years ago I didn't go in any bars, I hit the streets instead sightseeing and the river and central park it was Christmas so it was magical, New York in the summer I'd like to try and with a friend I'd maybe try a bar or two bit it's sober ville for me being an ex drinker. I love this poem it's evocative and as if I'm standing in your shoes there. X well done you

Comment is about Jack Dempsey New York New York. (blog)

Original item by mentalelf. Philk.

Beautiful words x you just extended my vocab

Comment is about Fleeting Images (blog)

Original item by Shifa Maqba

Feel so sorry for students during this pandemic and lecturers xx

Comment is about Hall of Residence(a students lament) (blog)

Original item by Rick Varden

A good poem I like the last line, we are told what to think, what to feel how to be think George Orwell 1984 is upon us x and God help you as a woman if your not faked tanned with false nails, false boobs, big trout pout lips and botox xxx I like the lines on me head and round me eyes they show I've lived

Comment is about APOLOGIES (blog)

Original item by M.C. Newberry

Ha prefer a cup of tea and a good book these days, can't be bothered with it all and it messes with me hair and me eyelashes fall off! Ha x

Comment is about PRACTICE (blog)

Original item by M.C. Newberry

That's how life works...

https://1on1.today

Comment is about Hall of Residence(a students lament) (blog)

Original item by Rick Varden

Thanks Stephen. Just realised it looks a bit odd on the mobile site?

Comment is about Raindrops and Puddles (blog)

Original item by julie callaghan

Must have missed the raindrops when they first fell! Great style & fun to read.

Comment is about Raindrops and Puddles (blog)

Original item by julie callaghan

Raindrops previously posted but thought puddles may look good underneath it.

Comment is about Raindrops and Puddles (blog)

Original item by julie callaghan

Thanks for the likes Hugh and both Stephens.

Comment is about Autumnal Glory (blog)

Original item by julie callaghan

The concluding line is extraordinary.

Comment is about Split in Half (blog)

Original item by Jordyn Elizabeth

I'll have a pint of whatever you've been drinking ?. A brilliant, dark image inducing treat.

Comment is about Monster (blog)

Original item by Chris Hubbard

If only the world was as beautiful as it is in our own minds. Lovely stuff Shifa.

Comment is about Fleeting Images (blog)

Original item by Shifa Maqba

Thanks again Julie for your comments & likes. And aye, she's a feisty old bugger!

Comment is about The Thief of Breath and Hugs (part 1) (blog)

Original item by Stephen W Atkinson

Thank you Julie. And glad you enjoyed my pit yakker bio ?

Comment is about Your Scar (blog)

Original item by Stephen W Atkinson

A great poem, thank you for these words.

Comment is about Deflowered (blog)

Original item by Vautaw

Hi dk - here's some good wishes for your ongoing participation in
embellishing our quality of life on WOL with your contributions.
At our stage of life there's the onus
Of treating each day as a bonus! ?

Comment is about d.knape (poet profile)

Original item by d.knape

I love this poem. A great story.

Comment is about Mother Inez (blog)

Original item by d.knape

Gardening - probably the most satisfying and rewarding of occupations. Thanks

Comment is about Tomatoes 2020 (blog)

Original item by Greg Freeman

To my mind Ray there's nothing strange about it. I think poetry is about what the poetry is pointing at, not how it's said. It doesn't have to be poetic. Here's to strangeness. Cheers

Comment is about ESSEX HAS FALLEN! (blog)

Original item by ray pool

I'm enjoy this life
the pleasure of living,
on exiting soon
I have my misgivings!
?
(enjoyed your rhyme M.C.---thanks for that!)

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

Original item by M.C. Newberry

Wow, I nearly missed this one! so emotional and even more so when you read the story behind it. Glad I found it as it lead me to your amazing bio. Congratulations on the entry in Beyond The Storm, well deserved.

Comment is about Your Scar (blog)

Original item by Stephen W Atkinson

Amazing story, I write this with teary eyes

Comment is about The Thief of Breath and Hugs (part 1) (blog)

Original item by Stephen W Atkinson

Brilliant! I especially loved this part:

"your body begs without moving
pleases without speaking
and loves without being asked"

Comment is about A Lust Letter (blog)

Original item by Robbie Christian

Really like this, Robbie.

Comment is about Frightening Bugs (blog)

Original item by Robbie Christian

It isn't the eating so much as the growing.

Comment is about Tomatoes 2020 (blog)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Sorry to hear about your iffy harvest, John. Tbh, I'm not sure that ours rated tops for flavour - that's why a lot of them ended up in stews! Thanks for the Like, Jordyn.

Comment is about Tomatoes 2020 (blog)

Original item by Greg Freeman

In awe of your writing!

Comment is about Split in Half (blog)

Original item by Jordyn Elizabeth

Hi Jon
Thankyou for your comment after my poem "Memorial Day In Moscow" - that's much appreciated.
Quite by chance, this poem is going to be published in the next edition of 'Poetry Plus - The Magazine' so it will reach an even wider audience.
Richard

Comment is about Jon Darby (poet profile)

Original item by Jon Darby

Mine were a curate’s egg of a crop. Bumper sets, good size. But latterly scabby and nondescript flavour (Moneymaker). Next year it’s Tesco’s for me.

Comment is about Tomatoes 2020 (blog)

Original item by Greg Freeman

The year it came closest to ending.
https://www.history.com/topics/cold-war/cuban-missile-crisis

Comment is about NINETEEN SIXTY TWO (blog)

Original item by ray pool

I have to confess that even in the last few years I have started scribbling on napkins. But usually I make sure I have a notebook with me.
Nice one Ray

Comment is about NINETEEN SIXTY TWO (blog)

Original item by ray pool

Hi Ray
I think you have hit the nail on the head there with allowing ourselves to get things in proportion.
Thanks my friend

Comment is about Breathe in (blog)

Original item by Martin Elder

Many thanks for your thoughts, MC and Paul.
It amuses me that for years women (they’re the ones with a front bum) have resented being considered sex objects, whilst now they want to be defined by it.
And thanks for the Likes, Stephen and Flavia.

Comment is about "UN HOMME ET UNE FEMME" (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

Very powerful.

Comment is about Split in Half (blog)

Original item by Jordyn Elizabeth

Thanks Paul.
I am new to writing poetry and I appreciate your comments on this and on "earlids" in Sound of the Sun.
Clyde

Comment is about a gull or an angle (blog)

Original item by Clyde McCulley

Thanks Ray.... If I hear "We are Sailing" ever on the radio I throw it out the window... same goes for "Don't Cry For Me Argentina".

I have a hate from those days... The BBC. They announced we would attack Goose Green and the Argie moved 1000 more men into positions, same with their ordinance, their bombs were not going off, loads of ships were hit including mine and the bomb failed to explode, they were fucking up the timing on the detonator. The fucking BBC actually announced that... next thing you know Brit ships were blowing up all over the shop.

My other piece of anger is Colonel "H" Jones 2 Para (VC). He shouldn't have been there, he was "Sunray", Battalion commander, his place was safe back with his maps and radios and tea. Instead he took it upon himself to assault Argy machine gun positions across very open ground, I've seen it, and eighteen of his men and him got killed. "Sunray is down" over the radio left two Para headless, the one man with the whole battles cape in his head played the hero, lost and left his Battalion leaderless, he went against military doctrine and training. Had he lived he should have been court martialled! I was told by a 2 para combat medic he had two British rounds in his back. Someone had sense.

Fortunately Major Chris Keeble was his number two, ex SAS and a brilliant soldier, he was able to get a picture, put things back together and won in the end.

The other thing no one ever mentions is the Argentinians were disgraceful, they literally shit everywhere, in Stanly they shit in drawers, cabinets, wardrobes, in all their positions in the field, it took ages to clean up that filth. I don't know why but they did it.

Everyone thought the Argy pilots were real heroes, they couldn't fly at full speed couldn't manoeuvre, they were so low on fuel if they got caught up in heavy manoeuvring to dodge missiles and aa fire, they would run out of fuel on the way home, this made our Harriers look far better than they were! In fact it was two Harrier pilots told me that. Everyone respected them because despite that, and their heavy loses they just kept coming.Amazing courage.

Comment is about ray pool (poet profile)

Original item by ray pool

This is beautiful Eric. Thank you for sharing your soul and lighting the way for the lost. Stay golden. ?

Comment is about Story Time (blog)

Original item by Eric Berard

Thank you Greg for your comment on my bio poem Aye, Wingate. And yes, 'Johnnie's cafe' , which had been a fixture in the village since the early 50's ( sadly closed around 10 yr ago) still had all the original 50's decor: wooden seats, counter, fixtures etc. So Beamish museum bought it & are rebuilding it in the new 1950's village. But, sadly, the way things are going they might not have the money to complete it. And, as you say, if you visit these days it's more like a ghost town ?

Comment is about Greg Freeman (poet profile)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Another bow to the poetry king. Your words are an adventure! ?

Comment is about Fable (blog)

Original item by John E Marks

Thank you Eric, Paul and Stephen G. Also, thanks to your goodself, Stephen A. I think if a poem can be summarised then it's not a poem, just chopped up prose. Sometimes, I just let the words come to me, my job is to put them in order.

Genuine poetry can communicate before it is understood. TS Eliot


The purpose of literature is to turn blood into ink.

T S Eliot

And, yes, Paul, music is the highest of the arts, because it is the most abstract.


There is no feeling, except the extremes of fear and grief, that does not find relief in music.

TS Eliot

Comment is about Fable (blog)

Original item by John E Marks

Thank you, Paul, Binte, Graham, and Ray for your lovely comments - and congratulations on your similar bumper harvests! Cheers for the Likes, too, Stephen and Sarah.

Comment is about Tomatoes 2020 (blog)

Original item by Greg Freeman