Well said!!!

Comment is about Mugabe's Dead (blog)

Original item by Don Matthews

The perfect autumnal poem, beautifully written.
Thanks
Keith

Comment is about Long Days Disapearing (blog)

Original item by afishamongmany

Seems like a bout of 'Love's labours lost' does this which most people seem to face throughout life. Shakespear appears to have had all the answers at his fingertips. Good old Wil' in his messaging to the world of his time. His Globe theatre offerings pure masterpieces circumnavigating the universe by word of mouth and still as relevant in the world of today. ?

Comment is about Seeking Help (blog)

Original item by AVISHEK GHOSH

There is a very fine line sometimes between the obvious and the beautiful and you definitely have captured the latter with your use of words here.
Nice one

Comment is about Dreams (blog)

Original item by Amara Amour

I wasn't sure about the opening line but then as the poem progressed I was drawn in more and more.
Nice one

Comment is about Numb (blog)

Original item by Maya Zeedee

Beautiful an absolutely beautiful poem. It has a great pace and rhytm to it
Marvellous

Comment is about No Comparison (blog)

Original item by Adam Rabinowitz

Jason - feel compelled just to flag up something. Everybody has faith.
We all believe - something - even atheists. The crucial thing about faith (any faith) is who/what is our faith in? -Where- are we placing our trust?
I believe and thank the one who says, 'My yoke is easy, my burden is light.'
Again thanks for the poem,
><>

Comment is about A Stone For The Miller (Collaboration Feat Mae Foreman) (blog)

Original item by Jason Bayliss

Thank you kindly Adam. Shalom aleichem. Your words help me to continue to continue

To see the world in a grain of sand, and to see heaven in a wild flower, hold infinity in the palm of your hands, and eternity in an hour.

William Blake

Comment is about Lotus flower (blog)

Original item by John E Marks

As you say ours is a very diverse world with all manner of contradictions

Comment is about Dreams and desires (blog)

Original item by Ankita Srivastava

Hi Adam - You do enigmatic so well.
Who is this 'you'? What is their relationship to Jesus? What is this 'power'? Where does it come from? What is it for?
Ah grist for the mill.
Go well
><>

Comment is about Power In The Eyes (blog)

Original item by Adam Whitworth

Wrinklies Rule, OK! ? ><>

Comment is about Funny Face (blog)

Original item by d.knape

That certainly is a full and complete account of where the poem came from and that last line, is as you say Jason, the one that wraps it up. Yet I detect a scrap of hope as well as love lost and am reminded of that song by U2
'I still haven't found what I am looking for'
Well done again too both of you. It is truly a beautiful piece beautifully read.
Nice one

Comment is about A Stone For The Miller (Collaboration Feat Mae Foreman) (blog)

Original item by Jason Bayliss

How can I make up
A rhyme that is funny
About your face dk
When it's always sunny

Despite agey lines....
And out of date...

I can't....?

Comment is about Funny Face (blog)

Original item by d.knape

Thanks Don! Your word “plunder” inspired me!

Comment is about Can We Pretend (blog)

Original item by Vautaw

..based on a true story--we should never forget all the many ways there are to drive a wedge into the heart of humanity..never...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jHfQCfUTlXE

Comment is about plastic sensibilities (blog)

Original item by nunya

Yes, the last stanza is quite powerful and sad. It's worth remembering that when trees are chopped down how much wildlife also suffers due to the loss of habitat "my branches home to those with wings".

Have you sent this anywhere? If not, you could try Obsessed with Pipework. Editor has an affinity for nature. I've failed to get in recently but still trying.

Regards

Comment is about The Matriach (blog)

Original item by Taylor Crowshaw

Don,

Another good poem and well rhymed. Mugabe is succeeded by more of the same as the present government continues to ruin the country. The man was a ruthless dictator and the world is well rid of him.
Thanks for this
Keith

Comment is about Mugabe's Dead (blog)

Original item by Don Matthews

Let the nations rejoice and Zimbabwe have a promising voice again. ?

Comment is about Mugabe's Dead (blog)

Original item by Don Matthews

Hi Tommy

re: 'Out of my head'

I appreciate the feedback, Tommy

Best regards,

Comment is about Tommy Carroll (poet profile)

Original item by Tommy Carroll

And the brilliance unfolds! I urge you all to read that interpretation in depth. It's extraordinary. ?
Mae

Comment is about A Stone For The Miller (Collaboration Feat Mae Foreman) (blog)

Original item by Jason Bayliss

Societal norms are falling down
Respect is hitting, close, the ground
I'm for me and me for I
Tooth for tooth and eye for eye

Societal norms are crumbling fast
Ash to ash and dust to dust
Dollar rules, to hell with you
I come first, sorry you

Societal norms, shit, what are they?
Fancy title, thought up hey?
Get real poet, be my guest
Grab for you and damn the rest


And the earth sighed......

As did the poet....

And God......

Comment is about Climate Change (blog)

Original item by Ruth O'Reilly

Suggestions from a lowly poet (but not sure if I have them the right way round)

Can we pretend
the planet is not there to satisfy
our every whim and fancy

or

Can we pretend
the planet is not there
for our taking

To which the reply comes back, wake up Don, of course it exists for our every whim and fancy. O course it's riches are there for the plundering, er taking. What would you know? You're just a poet.....Didn't God give us the planet to grow, develop and do what's necessary?......


You plunder my being
Much more than you need
Show some restraint
Just stop all your greed

and the earth sighed...

DM March

Comment is about Can We Pretend (blog)

Original item by Vautaw

An inflatable kayak needs water
(That's if you intend to go yak)
But as long as it's there in the cupboard
(And moths don't bite holes for a snack)

Can't you ever be serious Don?....

No..

Err....yes Jason ?

Comment is about I Bought A Kayak (blog)

Original item by Jason Bayliss

In an amazingly moving piece you include this line

The sun sets and we carry on the fight, in our dreams, in our love-making, in our Tibetan children.

and I am reeling with the power of your words. Resistance does not end with sleep with love with parenting but is wrapped up in those and in every breath taken.

All struggles are all our struggles.

In solidarity and in admiration

Adam

Comment is about Lotus flower (blog)

Original item by John E Marks

Thank you Adam, Jason and Devon. The approval of my peers means so much to me. Thank you again.

"I come from a people who gave the Ten Commandments to the world. Time has come to strenghten them by three additional ones, which we ought to adopt and commit ourselves to: thou shall not be a perpetrator; thou shall not be a victim; and thou shall never, but never, be a bystander."

Yehuda Bauer, s peech to the German Bundestag, January 27, 1998

Comment is about Final solution (blog)

Original item by John E Marks

I want to include a line about the environment, but nothing is revealing itself to me at the moment. Feel free to add to the poem if you are inspired to do so!

Comment is about Can We Pretend (blog)

Original item by Vautaw

Thanks so much for reading and your feedback Don, Maya, Rose, and Jason! ?

Comment is about Can We Pretend (blog)

Original item by Vautaw

An inflatable kayak seems the perfect choice for a something which is there when you need it. 2nd maybe only to poetry. I really enjoyed again your imagery and craft.

Comment is about I Bought A Kayak (blog)

Original item by Jason Bayliss

A wonderful description of getting stuck in the past. Earthy descriptive and ultimately to me anyway I am left a bit sad.

Comment is about PAST CONTENDERS (blog)

Original item by ray pool

Right, I know this will be a long comment but I wanted to give an idea of what Mae had to work with in interpreting this poem, she asked me for a brief overview and this is what I sent her, I think for me it demonstrates what a great job she did of it:

"It's supposed to be an examination of faith and the denial of faith. I write it from the perspective of an atheist. The idea is that the narrator is a person who has carried a heavy emotional weight for so long that everything around them is tarnished by it, they can't find the words to express the beauty of a lazy sunny afternoon, they feel like the the heavy clay of regret hangs off their feet like lead weights, they have no idea what's theirs and not theirs anymore and although they can see it all it feels like none of it relates to them because of their burden, hence the sense of past tense in everything they see. They feel blindly driven on by the weight of the thing they carry as if on an instinctive pilgrimage. Eventually they realise where they must go to be rid of the terrible burden, so toes grip the loam and forge on. Whilst they begin to come to terms with the alter they must travel to they find some comfort in memories of a time before they carried their burden. Then they realise that where they are going is to lay down the millstone they've been carrying around their neck because, firstly they can't stand it anymore and secondly once they lay it down, (confess/share their story) it might actually be useful to others, (Set it back to grinding corn), and in doing so they are forced to question their disbelief and sort of begrudgingly accept themselves as the corn and God as the miller, which is why the last line is, "And even though I don't believe I know that I'll thank God."

It's an exploration of belief/non-belief and the logic of one verses the comfort of the other. In the end it's also a look at how some people find faith through adversity."

Comment is about A Stone For The Miller (Collaboration Feat Mae Foreman) (blog)

Original item by Jason Bayliss

Beautiful poem Jason and beautiful reading Mae. See, I go away for just a brief spell to attend to the business end of life and almost miss all these happenings.

Comment is about A Stone For The Miller (Collaboration Feat Mae Foreman) (blog)

Original item by Jason Bayliss

Thank you so much Mae, maybe I will take it out one day, but knowing it's there and what it represents is almost as good as the journey. Bless you Mae.

J. x

Comment is about I Bought A Kayak (blog)

Original item by Jason Bayliss

Don't be modest Mae, having the ability to bring a piece of writing to life is a gift. Your beautiful rich voice and depth of understanding mean that even though I wrote it, it now means something different, something better to me. I am really grateful for that and always will be.

J. x

Comment is about A Stone For The Miller (Collaboration Feat Mae Foreman) (blog)

Original item by Jason Bayliss

Thanks Devon and Mae, and yes Mae, the balanced voice of the humble is often drowned out the brash voice of insanity, taking us all with it until someone with some sense speaks up.

J. x

Comment is about The Key Fumbled (blog)

Original item by Jason Bayliss

Ray,

With all the mess of the last few days in my head, I neglected to comment on this poem. It brought a big smile to face as I sat in my chair reading. My body is all scarred up and my ears are shot from my time as a vocalist in a punk band. My old bandmates and friends keep posting flyers, record covers, vids of those gob and glory days. My wife was there as well. Our evenings now are turn on the tube, have some vino and hit the sack. Bliss! So, again, well done. Touched me again.

D

Comment is about PAST CONTENDERS (blog)

Original item by ray pool

Hi Brian. Sounds like a nice end to a perfect day, with limitations . The poem made me smile I must admit. timing is everything.

Thanks Trevor. I remember your poem about dancing. Just enjoy using derogatory rhyme now and again !

Rày

Comment is about PAST CONTENDERS (blog)

Original item by ray pool

Thanks Devon yes societal norms are quickly falling by the wayside, and you have definitely given me something to ponder over in terms of future writing material.

Comment is about Climate Change (blog)

Original item by Ruth O'Reilly

How did I miss this? Excellent as always Jason.

D

Comment is about The Key Fumbled (blog)

Original item by Jason Bayliss

Ruth,

This is little off topic. But you bring up an interesting point. There are many societal norms that seem to be foundering these days, or have been for quite awhile. You bring up the "Law of Reciprocity". An unwritten law, but one that binds people into community. There is also the "Law of Hospitality". I am in your house right now. You have granted me food (for thought), as such the law dictates. It is my responsibility to treat your house and your graciousness with respect and gratitude, as such the law dictates. With that in mind, perhaps you could put together a piece on these unwritten laws. I am certain that we all could use a reminder.

Humbly,

D

Comment is about Climate Change (blog)

Original item by Ruth O'Reilly

Oh yes, it always does seem to be right behind us every time we turn our head and peer! ?
Mae

Comment is about The Key Fumbled (blog)

Original item by Jason Bayliss

Brian perhaps I should say reciprocity is a mechanism, a norm we know we should abide by. I agree it's not happening enough, hence the state of the world right now.

Comment is about Climate Change (blog)

Original item by Ruth O'Reilly

Thanks for poem Nigel and for reading

Comment is about Climate Change (blog)

Original item by Ruth O'Reilly

Unfortunately Ruth the law to which you refer is not a law at all...would that it was. It is merely an aspiration and takes a high level of cooperation to enforce, which is not happening.

Comment is about Climate Change (blog)

Original item by Ruth O'Reilly

Wow, where have I been all this time!

Thank you so much Martin, three "wow's"! Thank you, thank you, thank you! Jokes aside it is such a staggering piece, I merely read it, the brain that wrote it... that's deserving the three wow's!

Devon thank you, your opinion matters a lot to me, I'm really glad you liked my recital. Jason 's poem is so profound that when started working on it, I was shaking and in my first take my voice actually broke. True.

KJ, Thank you so much! I tried my best to do justice by Jason's brilliant work. I only hope I did it.

Thank you again my dear friend Jason! ?
Mae

Comment is about A Stone For The Miller (Collaboration Feat Mae Foreman) (blog)

Original item by Jason Bayliss

Dear Jason, another wonderful poem. Soft and bittersweet. Picking a simple object and extracting all the juice of its symbolism out if it. It takes a swarm of macabre thoughts and weaves them into a consoling lullaby. Like those clowns that take a simple balloon (there is my fixation with the blasted things again!) and fashion the figure of a giraffe, I can't even draw a stick figure of a giraffe! Point is, forget about eternity, take a day off from the big questions, get out at sea with your little boat and maybe you'll float about a few unexpected answers!
Your brilliance expands daily dear Jason!
Thank you my friend ?
Mae

Comment is about I Bought A Kayak (blog)

Original item by Jason Bayliss

Allow me a flight of fancy Nigel:

The moon shines through the clouds
Where spaceships intertwine
Awaiting to invade your space
It's all just in your mind

Or is it?....

Comment is about Moody Blue (blog)

Original item by Nigel Astell

Golly gosh you two. You setting me up for a challenge?
Ruth's gonna be hard to beat.

Here goes:

Pen it wants to write
But neurons say we're stuffed
Nigel's pushed us bloody hard
We're worn out, had enoughed

Howzat you two? ?

Comment is about Craving (blog)

Original item by Nigel Astell

What's this Nigel? Pink wellies. orange mac? You'd be laughed off the street wearing that outfit here. No fellas. Going to a fancy dress party. Yeah? ?

Comment is about The Ambush (blog)

Original item by Nigel Astell

Why have I missed this one? It's just the sort of poetry I like.....

Comment is about The Chase (blog)

Original item by Nigel Astell

Golly gosh your French Connect
It does sound a bit saucy
With messy miss and splashy paint
And he up miss? sounds horsey

Now Nigel you're a fun writer
(Assume you're good on mic)
I don't know what I'm writing 'bout
(I'll quietly disappear.....)

See you on the blogslide.....?

Comment is about Nigel Astell (poet profile)

Original item by Nigel Astell