“Conscience curled tightly
In his fist”

A punch in the gut - this is a fine miniature- powerful and thought provoking.

Comment is about Devils and Halos (blog)

Original item by Ruth O'Reilly

Thank you Aisha for the like

Comment is about Miracle of Life (blog)

Original item by Tobani / Nataiella

Thanks for your likes
Aisha
Red Brick Keshner
Tobani
and
R.A.Porter.

Comment is about An Instant Spark of Poetry (blog)

Original item by Nigel Astell

Thanks Larisa, and it’s true (!) - I was with the Rocketman last night & he is all ready to go… 🎇🎆

Comment is about Rocketman (blog)

Original item by R A Porter

You're not one of those people who contributed to Yaxley-Lennon's "legal defence" fund, only for him to plead guilty, are you M.C.?

Comment is about TOMMY ROBINSON (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

Thank you so much. I enjoyed reading and listening to this poem. With best wishes, Larisa

Comment is about Rocketman (blog)

Original item by R A Porter

Thank you Stephen for the like.

Comment is about Ukraine (blog)

Original item by Tobani / Nataiella

Indeed, Uilleam. Pleaded guilty in a court of law. Not much “perceived” about that. And as nasty a piece of work as you’d meet in a long day’s march.

Comment is about TOMMY ROBINSON (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

Not "perceived" offence MC, actual...a common criminal with no respect for UK laws, well and truly banged to rights.

Comment is about TOMMY ROBINSON (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

Whatever his perceived offences, he has one asset - the commitment to pay for his political position vis prison. He also
maintained the public awareness of what was happening but not
addressed by those whose duty it was. Extreme behaviour...but
from whom and why - that is the ongoing source of concern.
Meanwhile, in Manchester....(to be endlessly continued?).

Comment is about TOMMY ROBINSON (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

Hmm. Define "tyrant" in this context. Hyperbole unhindered?
Now, more to the point, who's been burning those ballot papers, over in the Land of the Free and Uneasy?

Comment is about America’s Final Hour: Vote Against the Tyrant! (blog)

Original item by Rolph David

💗

Comment is about Just a Thought (blog)

Original item by Hélène

Well done once more John.
Mummy’s poor little soldier. I’ll be contributing to his go fund me, so when he gets out he can carry on campaigning to Make Britain Great Again from his sunbed on the Costa del Crook.

Comment is about TOMMY ROBINSON (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

Thanks for the Likes, Redbrick, Greg, Stephen, Aisha and Tim.

Comment is about TOMMY ROBINSON (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

Always a cracker! 😊

Comment is about Rocketman (blog)

Original item by R A Porter

Bravo Rolph.
What I find particularly sickening is to see the Orange Horror holding a crucifix in a grotesque attempt to appear religious/spiritual.

Comment is about America’s Final Hour: Vote Against the Tyrant! (blog)

Original item by Rolph David

Bang on Andy!

Comment is about Rocketman (blog)

Original item by R A Porter

we are stronger
when we rise together,

Let's do it!

Comment is about A bridge once too far (blog)

Original item by Red Brick Keshner

Thank you Tim for the Like.

Comment is about Ukraine are still at War (blog)

Original item by Tobani / Nataiella

Thank you Aisha for the like.

Comment is about As Long as the Sunshines (blog)

Original item by Tobani / Nataiella

Another fine piece, Rolph. This election matters to everyone around the world.

Comment is about America’s Final Hour: Vote Against the Tyrant! (blog)

Original item by Rolph David

Only one word I can write here.
Fantastic!

Comment is about Down In The Hole (song version) (blog)

Original item by Ian Whiteley

This relates to people i know who were and some still are fighting to the end.

Comment is about Ukraine (blog)

Original item by Tobani / Nataiella

Thank you Stephen and Tom for the lovely comments.

Comment is about Ukraine are still at War (blog)

Original item by Tobani / Nataiella

Excellent work Rolph...the situation is frightening.

To think wealth equals virtue,
aye, there's the rub,

Comment is about Wake Up America! The Price of Ignorance Is Too High! (blog)

Original item by Rolph David

Thank you RBK, Stephen, Tom and Aisha!

“beyond all ideas of right and wrong there is a field i'll meet you there” Rumi

Comment is about FRENCH KISSING (blog)

Original item by John E Marks

Hello Stephen,
Many thanks for your kind words. I fear that this MAGA MONG will win the race on Tuesday and if not, that he will take the election by force this time. He and his team already have over 200 lawyers lined up - even mailboxes are burning in Georgia. As if there weren't also postal votes in there for Trump. The vast majority of these Americans are totally nuts. I am stunned by what has been going on in our global society for years. Violence everywhere, confused fantasies, striving for power, expansionism, protectionism, and, and, and... - how sick our societies have become - especially mentally. We can only hope for a small miracle to happen on coming Tuesday - but I fear the worst.
Have a nice weekend,
best regards,
Rolph

Comment is about Wake Up America! The Price of Ignorance Is Too High! (blog)

Original item by Rolph David

Ha ha yea! Thank you Stephen.

Comment is about Beyond Sunderland (blog)

Original item by Rick Varden

Thankyou for your comments, Greg, Graham and Auracle, and thanks to everyone who liked this poem.

The title, of course, refers to David Cameron's comment about green measures, when he realised that they sometimes have inconvenient costs attached. And I hope the poem reflects the current backsliding in environmental issues, from Trump's bovine denial to the 'oh dear, don't we have other priorities?' line now prevalent across the world.

It's a gloomy situation, as you say, Greg, but I still have faith in the basic common sense of humankind, though perhaps not at COP29. It's a good point, Graham - I think we have to listen to science and keep recycling (I'm with you on teabags!).
Thanks, Auracle. I hope my rather flippant style will make someone think, or at least read it! Thanks for doing so and commenting.

Comment is about Green Crap (blog)

Original item by Stephen Gospage

Thank you Tom, Stephen and Uilleam for the likes.

Comment is about Miracle of Life (blog)

Original item by Tobani / Nataiella

What a great interview - and so much in there to reflect on. I've known Shaun for many years as he first came to the Tudor back in the raucous times when John Togher organised it. It's wonderful to see people grow and go on to bigger things.

Like you, Greg I'm gutted that I never made it to one of these nights, There has been a lot going on for me with family this year and regrettably it wasn't possible.

I've always been immensely impressed by Shaun's poetry though. What I love about it, is what comes out clearly in this interview - the importance of balancing the serious with the not so. From memory, humour and poignancy abound in Shaun's material and you could go from laughing to being deeply moved by just one line. In particular I remember one poem about racing the wheelchair against kids on scooters.
It was so powerful.

Hat's off to the illustrator. She did a great job with the flyer- it really is brilliant.

I'm so glad Shaun is getting the recognition he deserves - my exclamation mark isn't working so you'll have to imagine one....

Much love

Isobel

Comment is about Accessibility? Must do better. Shaun Fallows looks back on his Arts Council-funded poetry tour (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

This is by far one of my favourite poems of yours, Tim. It's like you've written exactly what was going on in my mind. Thank you very much for this.

Comment is about Fading Away (blog)

Original item by Tim Higbee

You're welcome. Please don't give up on us.

L💘ve Is Everywhere

Comment is about Miracle of Life (blog)

Original item by Tobani / Nataiella

You write how you feel.

I write how I think.

At age 9 I became national chess champion with a perfect score of 9 out of 9.

Isn't that the perfect curse?

But now that I'm l💘vestruck I realize:

Even Brahman falls in love

Comment is about This is not a draft (blog)

Original item by Alexandra K. Parapadakis

Thank you Auracle for the comment and the Like.

Comment is about Miracle of Life (blog)

Original item by Tobani / Nataiella

A nuclear plant exploded. Then we shot a plane down above it. Only to invade the ruins. And then rolled back the tanks to the other side.

I'm sure we'll succeed in effectively reducing all lifeforms on Earth in the most devastating ways! 💘

And as my friend Leora used to say:

'Just write poetry to make them THINK'

Comment is about Green Crap (blog)

Original item by Stephen Gospage

Social media, AI and the constant clap-trap from every pressure group under the sun has left us all totally bewildered and not knowing what will happen. However, I am still recycling my teabags into the compost to save the planet!

Comment is about Green Crap (blog)

Original item by Stephen Gospage

That Magic Roundabout line cheered me up, Steve. But only a bit.

Comment is about Green Crap (blog)

Original item by Stephen Gospage

Well highlighted Tobani. I lived and worked in Russia for 4 years(1990-1994). My colleague (who ironically was from Ukraine) told me that Russians see the West as weak. We ignore this at our peril. Sooner or later we will have to go into battle.

Comment is about Ukraine are still at War (blog)

Original item by Tobani / Nataiella

Thank you for this well-written and important poem, Tobani. There's no doubt that Ukraine has dropped down the news agenda (although some worthy news outlets, such as CNN and France 24, continue to cover it well), while Putin still remains a major threat and 'fatigue' and the prospect of a Trump presidency (help!) could mean that vital support is taken away.
We must support Ukraine in its fight against Tyranny. Thanks for this.

Comment is about Ukraine are still at War (blog)

Original item by Tobani / Nataiella

A fine and timely poem, Ralph. I've noticed that the Trump crowd, as well as suppressing voters' rights, have now started to get their conspiracy theories in before the election has taken place. These child-men seem to think they can buy the result and, if they can't, there must be fraud.
Well done on this serious piece of work.

Comment is about Wake Up America! The Price of Ignorance Is Too High! (blog)

Original item by Rolph David

Hi Ray,

I particularly like the line "now the clocks have gone back I'm full of alarm"

Literally running out of time.

Time is just a concept when there seems plenty of it remaining....as it ticks down it becomes very real.

David.

Comment is about REWIND (blog)

Original item by ray pool

Thank you Helene for the like

Comment is about Angels Watching Over You (blog)

Original item by Tobani / Nataiella

Thank you Aisha and Irfan for the likes.

Comment is about Imaginary Friends (Voices in My Head) (blog)

Original item by Tobani / Nataiella

An interesting, observant poem of a place I often frequent (being a Sunderland fan). Soon to be the Hollywood of the North! Watch this space...😉

Comment is about Beyond Sunderland (blog)

Original item by Rick Varden

Thank you, Uilleam & Stephen G for your kind comments 🙏 And Tom, sorry to hear that. It's never easy, a bit like losing a limb! Thanks again. And for the likes! ❤️

Comment is about Oh, Brother (blog)

Original item by Stephen W Atkinson

Thanks for feedback Auracle 🎃🧙‍♀️👻
Thanks for likes: Stephen G, Nigel & Tobani / Nataiella. 🎃

Comment is about Scream Scream It's Halloween (blog)

Original item by Tom Doolan

MC:
evidence,
por favor?

Comment is about £22bn (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

🎃🎉

Comment is about Scream Scream It's Halloween (blog)

Original item by Tom Doolan

Jimi Hendrix is on my mind. That's because the cd is on! 😀

Comment is about What Is On Your Mind? (blog)

Original item by Aisha Suleman