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Larisa Rzhepishevska

Sat 6th Apr 2024 12:01

I enjoyed reading this poem, Greg. I recalled when my son saw snow for the first time he exclaimed: How much sugar! He was only one year old and a half.

Comment is about A Morpeth Christmas (blog)

Original item by Greg Freeman

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Larisa Rzhepishevska

Sat 6th Apr 2024 11:36

Thank you so much, Greg! I enjoyed reading this poem. I like this style of writing. Your profile is another one that is open to me. The other profiles are closed.

Comment is about The ferry waits (blog)

Original item by Greg Freeman

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David RL Moore

Sat 6th Apr 2024 11:15

Thank you for posting...

Comment is about My Life is Like Living on a Ship (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

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Larisa Rzhepishevska

Sat 6th Apr 2024 11:09

Maybe someone else will comment. LoL

Comment is about My Life is Like Living on a Ship (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

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Larisa Rzhepishevska

Sat 6th Apr 2024 11:07

Thank you so much, John! Now I can even comment. Funny. As I said before, it looks as if you are the only person with his profile being open for me.
Regards,
Larisa

Comment is about My Life is Like Living on a Ship (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

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Graham Sherwood

Sat 6th Apr 2024 10:57

Welcome Ella! Write Out Loud is a good place.

G

Comment is about Lost Inside (blog)

Original item by Ella Oak

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Graham Sherwood

Sat 6th Apr 2024 10:56

Clever three word verses. Direct and clear! Nicely done!

Comment is about THREE HARD WORDS (blog)

Original item by Lee Campbell

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Greg Freeman

Sat 6th Apr 2024 08:08

Well done, Trevor! Glad you were spurred on to examine the form.

Comment is about Villanelle (blog)

Original item by Trevor Alexander

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Stephen Gospage

Sat 6th Apr 2024 08:06

Thank you Greg, John, Graham and Trevor for all your comments. I sub-titled this 'lost dreams' because there is always an element of sadness and disillusion when someone who loves a game realises, after repeated attempts, that they are not very good at it.
It happened to me and to many club cricketers who, despite their lack of ability, turn out every season and still hope for that day when everything may come right and they will get to their first fifty or make the winning hit.
It's true that the villanelle form can, through its repetition and rhyme, accentuate the sense of despair and resignation. Yet the love of the game still remains....

Thank you all again.

And my thanks to Hugh, Holden, Steve, Manish, Tim and Leon for liking this one.

Comment is about A Village Cricketer's Lament (blog)

Original item by Stephen Gospage

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Manish Singh Rajput

Sat 6th Apr 2024 06:13

"A jester of deceit sits upon his pyrite throne built from copious lies
His falsehoods turned to truth by repetition, lies that he shall hone
Those lacking common sense will repeat his treachery in their cries"
Brilliantly written, has depths and wisdom, a superb poem!

Comment is about Common Sense (blog)

Original item by Tim Higbee

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Trevor Alexander

Sat 6th Apr 2024 00:08

An old villanelle I recently edited a bit...

Comment is about Villanelle (blog)

Original item by Trevor Alexander

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Trevor Alexander

Fri 5th Apr 2024 23:48

I want to read a library book
and nothing else will do
there's more action than in movies
and that's alright by me
for words excite me, I confess
and more importantly, it's free.

I like this one, Ray.

Comment is about CUTTING MY CLOTH (blog)

Original item by ray pool

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Trevor Alexander

Fri 5th Apr 2024 23:36

A villanelle, no less! Ah, memories of the scent of linseed oil, and washing the whites left screwed up in the cricket bag from last season. And even number tens can be scored in red ink if they manage to come in on the last ball of an over.

Comment is about A Village Cricketer's Lament (blog)

Original item by Stephen Gospage

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keith jeffries

Fri 5th Apr 2024 21:41

John,
A poem which I am able to relate to as I think we are about the same age. Born between Belsen and Napalm made me aware that I was born between bomb damaged Birmingham and a man on the moon. We possessed a certain innocence in those far off days only to eventually discover another side of life which was not aggreeable. Such is life. A poem to ponder on.
Thank you,
Keith

Comment is about Setting off (blog)

Original item by John E Marks

leon stolgard

Fri 5th Apr 2024 21:18

Great poem TWH

Comment is about Gin Lament (blog)

Original item by The Wordsmith Highlander

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Landi Cruz

Fri 5th Apr 2024 20:48

That's fantastic...

It really reads beautifully )

Comment is about Setting off (blog)

Original item by John E Marks

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Auracle

Fri 5th Apr 2024 18:44

8 likes! wow, this resonates 😃

Also thanks for the comments, Graham and Keith. 😃

You are very welcome.

I will have to contemplate on this.

Comment is about Can we (blog)

Original item by Auracle

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Graham Sherwood

Fri 5th Apr 2024 17:04

Stephen it could be me!!

My only claim to cricketing fame was bowling out Liverpool and International footballer Phil Neal when we were both at school.

Rabbit Ken is my hero!!

G

Comment is about A Village Cricketer's Lament (blog)

Original item by Stephen Gospage

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John Coopey

Fri 5th Apr 2024 16:44

Lovely villanelle, Stephen. Greg sums up exactly what the repetition evokes.

Comment is about A Village Cricketer's Lament (blog)

Original item by Stephen Gospage

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keith jeffries

Fri 5th Apr 2024 15:24

Thank you to all who expressed a 'like' for this poem and also for those who commented. I appreciate your interest.
Keith

Comment is about Return to Oman (blog)

Original item by keith jeffries

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Tim Higbee

Fri 5th Apr 2024 14:26

Beautiful poem Manish. It carries a lot of speculation and emotion through it till the last three lines, where we see the resolve of one heart's commitment. Well written, my friend.

Comment is about Reassurance (blog)

Original item by Manish

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Greg Freeman

Fri 5th Apr 2024 09:08

Thank you, Steve. The repetition and the understatement makes it all the more effective, I think.

Comment is about Al-Rashid Road (blog)

Original item by Steve White

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Greg Freeman

Fri 5th Apr 2024 08:03

Beautiful poem, Keith, that reminds us that the Middle East can summon up different pictures.

Comment is about Return to Oman (blog)

Original item by keith jeffries

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Greg Freeman

Fri 5th Apr 2024 08:01

A beautiful villanelle to celebrate what some would count as the truly 'beautiful game', Steve. The repetition of the form conveys a certain hopelessness, resignation, acceptance, which is what this poem is all about. The tail-ender keeps returning to the crease, even though he knows what's coming. Lovely work. I do enjoy a good cricket poem.

Comment is about A Village Cricketer's Lament (blog)

Original item by Stephen Gospage

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Greg Freeman

Fri 5th Apr 2024 07:56

One of those mad moments that you attempt just after turning 50, Steve. Well, I did, anyway. The wind blew me up the loch until it eventually narrowed enough for me to wade to shore. If it had been blowing in the other direction, out to sea ... thanks for reading. And thanks for the Likes, Stephen, Holden, Hélène, Manish, and Hugh.

Comment is about The ferry waits (blog)

Original item by Greg Freeman

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Stephen Gospage

Fri 5th Apr 2024 07:46

This is clear and readable but still conveys an air of mystery, Greg.
I enjoyed this one.

Comment is about The ferry waits (blog)

Original item by Greg Freeman

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Stephen Gospage

Fri 5th Apr 2024 07:39

A villanelle to mark the start of the cricket season in England.

Comment is about A Village Cricketer's Lament (blog)

Original item by Stephen Gospage

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David RL Moore

Fri 5th Apr 2024 07:11

Good morning Keith,

A geographic anomoly, or maybe a mirage but you'd need amazing eyesight to see The Negev from Jebel Akhdar.

A fond remembrance I'm sure.

David

Comment is about Return to Oman (blog)

Original item by keith jeffries

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Stephen Gospage

Fri 5th Apr 2024 06:49

A lovely description, Keith. A pleasure to read.

Comment is about Return to Oman (blog)

Original item by keith jeffries

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Stephen Gospage

Fri 5th Apr 2024 06:44

A good choice, Ray. All the rest are overrated!

Comment is about CUTTING MY CLOTH (blog)

Original item by ray pool

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Stephen Gospage

Fri 5th Apr 2024 06:41

A really enjoyable, well-written poem, RA. At least Larkin is left to save us!

Comment is about The Poets' Ball (blog)

Original item by R A Porter

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David RL Moore

Fri 5th Apr 2024 06:20

Thankyou Hélène and Holden for the overnight oats.

David

Comment is about Oystercatcher Volcano (blog)

Original item by David RL Moore

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Hélène

Fri 5th Apr 2024 03:27

I tend to like poems that have an instinctive rhythm to them; that make the reader feel the words; almost like a chant or a song. Rhyming, although fun, is not particularly important to me, as a reader or a writer. I usually get inspiration in the form of a single sentence that pops in my head; I grab a pen (or my cell phone) and start writing, to see what flows. Enjoyed reading this post, Graham! Thanks for the referral to The Process of Poetry book.

Comment is about Writing poetry is easy! But how do we know if it's any good? (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

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M.C. Newberry

Fri 5th Apr 2024 00:06

SA - wish you could have employed rhyme. But I can take a
woke! 😋

Comment is about The Poets' Ball (blog)

Original item by R A Porter

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keith jeffries

Thu 4th Apr 2024 23:48

These words often reverberate through my mind. Thank you for this.
Keith

Comment is about Can we (blog)

Original item by Auracle

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Graham Sherwood

Thu 4th Apr 2024 22:30

Join the club Ray!😇

Comment is about CUTTING MY CLOTH (blog)

Original item by ray pool

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Graham Sherwood

Thu 4th Apr 2024 22:28

Succinct and plaintive! I like its brevity and strong message!

Comment is about Can we (blog)

Original item by Auracle

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Graham Sherwood

Thu 4th Apr 2024 22:27

I have absolutely no experience of these regions but you make them sound very appealing Keith. Long may that picture stay in you head!

Graham

Comment is about Return to Oman (blog)

Original item by keith jeffries

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Stephen Atkinson

Thu 4th Apr 2024 20:01

RA, just go straight Into the smoking room, you're jacket will then stink of smoke anyway - 2 for 1! 😁... 🤔

Comment is about The Poets' Ball (blog)

Original item by R A Porter

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David RL Moore

Thu 4th Apr 2024 13:19

Thanks Ray,

I can confirm I have been and remain a fool.

David

Comment is about ON APRIL FOOL'S DAY (blog)

Original item by ray pool

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raypool

Thu 4th Apr 2024 13:15

Thank you Holden Time and Hugh for your likes.

Yes David, the Fool carries a lot on his celestial shoulders maybe too much for an idiot - but then are we as wise as we all think we are, especially those who use this site - oops!
Glad to have your thoughts, challenging as ever. x

Comment is about ON APRIL FOOL'S DAY (blog)

Original item by ray pool

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Landi Cruz

Thu 4th Apr 2024 12:56

Thank you for your kind compliment, Stephen--it's nice to read that my words have sparked someone's imagination other than my own.

And, pardon me, David--thanks to you, too. I wasn't in the state of mind required to properly respond last evening...

I've been thinking as I've been putting this together over the past few days that, often, what remains unsaid is much more interesting than what is (have I said that before?). With that in mind, I've no doubt that there are some very dark actors who would be quite proud at the way things are turning out.

Still breathing, though. Just very slowly...

Comment is about we are not yet dead (blog)

Original item by Landi Cruz

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Greg Freeman

Thu 4th Apr 2024 09:32

Well, I've only written the one, Graham. But thanks. Twenty years ago?! Who knows where the time goes, as Sandy sang ...?

Comment is about The ferry waits (blog)

Original item by Greg Freeman

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Manish Singh Rajput

Thu 4th Apr 2024 09:11

Thank you Landi Cruz, Auracle and David for your generous comments and inputs, they're very much appreciated!
I hadn't planned on writing this, it just came out in a flow and I'm glad that it did. Thank you all for taking the time to read my poem, it means a lot to me.😊

Comment is about There's Still a Tomorrow (blog)

Original item by Manish

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Graham Sherwood

Thu 4th Apr 2024 08:48

I find villanelles both intriguing and exasperating. Half of me loves the cleverness and the other half is frustrated by the complexity.
Well written Greg. You were much younger then 😇

Comment is about The ferry waits (blog)

Original item by Greg Freeman

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David RL Moore

Thu 4th Apr 2024 07:42

Hello Manish,

Written with authenticity I would imagine.

Although we move on from moments such as you've described we carry them with us like photographs. Taking them out to look at them is an act of almost self harm, bitter sweet remembrance.

David.

Comment is about There's Still a Tomorrow (blog)

Original item by Manish

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David RL Moore

Thu 4th Apr 2024 07:31

Hi Penguin,

A sad portrayal of the routine and mundanity of survival.

Remembrance in the smaller things is often the thing that punctures the protective outer shell of our loneliness.

Sensitively written, lovely.

David

Comment is about A Clockwise Direction (blog)

Original item by Ray

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R A Porter

Thu 4th Apr 2024 07:07

Thanks again all - I like the idea of a “smoking room” Stephen - maybe I could start with a jacket & work my way up… 🤔

Comment is about The Poets' Ball (blog)

Original item by R A Porter

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Hélène

Thu 4th Apr 2024 04:26

Thanks for the chuckle, Hugh!

Comment is about A lack of doctor’s appointments,unable to be seen !! (blog)

Original item by hugh

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Stephen Atkinson

Wed 3rd Apr 2024 23:05

Perhaps somebody will write a poem featuring you in a few years RA... Brilliant stuff 👏

And Porter's in his smoking room
And Coopy's on the bog
Poor Gospage is trying to concentrate
But, M.C. won't shut his gob...(I'm just kidding M.C, but it fits in nicely 😁)

Feel free to carry it on 😆

Comment is about The Poets' Ball (blog)

Original item by R A Porter

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