Dave Bradley

Biting the Bullet - time to vote

Friday 1st October 2010 6:49 am

This is an invitation to vote in the 'Biting the Bullet' competition which ran here in September. Which poem would you place first from those listed below? The winner receives a £20 Waterstones voucher. I am not voting but will use a casting vote if there's a tie, so there will only be one winner. They can receive their prize by post, electronically or presentation at an open mic night of their choice if the MC will co-operate.

* One vote per WOL member.

* Please don't vote for yourself, or vote twice via a nom de plume, if you have one on WOL (which some do).

* Please make clear which poem you are voting for if voting for someone who's done more than one (noted by a number in brackets after their name).

* Votes to be emailed by 12 p.m. midnight October 5^th to me at davebradley80@hotmail.co.uk

When voting please make any comments you like about the poem you vote for, or any other 'Bullet' poems. I'll try to include them in the blog on 6^th October which announces the winner, and which will also include non-prize-winning 2^nd and 3^rd places

Larisa Rzhepishevska (2) http://www.writeoutloud.net/public/blogentry.php?blogentryid=16632

Greg Freeman http://www.writeoutloud.net/public/blogentry.php?blogentryid=16625

Laura Taylor http://www.writeoutloud.net/public/blogentry.php?blogentryid=16621

Winston Plowes http://www.writeoutloud.net/public/blogentry.php?blogentryid=16610

Thom http://www.writeoutloud.net/public/blogentry.php?blogentryid=16603

Francine (2) http://www.writeoutloud.net/public/blogentry.php?blogentryid=16587

Isobel (2) http://www.writeoutloud.net/public/blogentry.php?blogentryid=16581

Ray Miller http://www.writeoutloud.net/public/blogentry.php?blogentryid=16561

Larisa Rzhepishevska (1) http://www.writeoutloud.net/public/blogentry.php?blogentryid=16554

Ann Foxglove http://www.writeoutloud.net/public/blogentry.php?blogentryid=16548

Andy N http://www.writeoutloud.net/public/blogentry.php?blogentryid=16532

Marianne Daniels http://www.writeoutloud.net/public/blogentry.php?blogentryid=16421

Dave Carr http://www.writeoutloud.net/public/blogentry.php?blogentryid=16370

Steven Kenny http://www.writeoutloud.net/public/blogentry.php?blogentryid=16356

Augusta Darling http://www.writeoutloud.net/public/blogentry.php?blogentryid=16306

Cynthia Buell Thomas http://www.writeoutloud.net/public/blogentry.php?blogentryid=16229

Rachel Bond (2) http://www.writeoutloud.net/public/blogentry.php?blogentryid=16216

Chris Dawson http://www.writeoutloud.net/public/blogentry.php?blogentryid=16214

Alvin Guinessberg http://www.writeoutloud.net/public/blogentry.php?blogentryid=16205

Rachel Bond (1) http://www.writeoutloud.net/public/blogentry.php?blogentryid=16194

Francine (1) http://www.writeoutloud.net/public/blogentry.php?blogentryid=16165

Lynn Dye (2) http://www.writeoutloud.net/public/blogentry.php?blogentryid=16163

Lynn Dye (1) http://www.writeoutloud.net/public/blogentry.php?blogentryid=16156

Rachel McGladdery http://www.writeoutloud.net/public/blogentry.php?blogentryid=16154

Cate http://www.writeoutloud.net/public/blogentry.php?blogentryid=16139

Banksy http://www.writeoutloud.net/public/blogentry.php?blogentryid=16136

Isobel (1) http://www.writeoutloud.net/public/blogentry.php?blogentryid=16130

It isn't clear whether this one of Graham Sherwood's is a 'Bullet'

http://www.writeoutloud.net/public/blogentry.php?blogentryid=16613

If you think it is, then do feel free to vote for it.

It's a pity Moxy withdrew. Hers would have attracted votes, I think. If you read this Moxy, you are missed!

Isobel challenged me to write one so here it is. In the unlikely event that anyone wants to vote for it, sorry, that's not possible – rules are rules.

Can I grouse about my grouse?

It had a pellet in it.

Why's a pellet in my dinner?

A pellet's a bullet innit?

What's that you say?

You've had some pellets too,

An unpleasant pheasant,

On which you couldn't chew?

It's a conspiracy by dentists,

That's my belief,

To harm our crowns and fillings

And break our precious teef

They're in it for the cash,

Increasing bills for fills.

Trade has been too slow, so

They're sneaking lead inta grills.

Dental patients of the world unite!

This dastardly plot's not funny.

Protect your costly crowns!

Dentists don't need the money!

Bullet

◄ Hard to know (1) (2) (3)

Pancake ►

Comments

<Deleted User> (7790)

Sun 3rd Oct 2010 22:55

Hi Isobel and Dave -- thank you: yes, it can be sobering/distressing to know what we humans are capable of doing to each other, and all because of bad politics and loss of our moral compass. The piece is based on the diary of a military artist who was in Bosnia in April 1993 with the Cheshire Regiment (and others), so it covers the heightening of tensions, massacres and the day to day horrors. Some of the events mentioned in it are now under investigation by the International War Crimes Tribunal. I've had nightmares because I had to work intensively on a written record (plus photos), but the people who were there and who endured or witnessed the savagery must have been altered forever by it. There were some acts of altruism, bravery and kindness, but there were also acts of outright barbarity. I'm glad to have a couple of merry pieces to write next! Yes, Luis Moreno-Ocampo needs all the support we can give him.

Dave Bradley

Sun 3rd Oct 2010 21:13

Me too Moxy - good to hear from you. I'll be tuning in to Woman's Hour (as many men do!). I was privileged to hear a lecture given in Liverpool in May last year by Luis Moreno-Ocampo, Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court. An idealistic man doing a difficult job. Not sure if your programme will highlight the work of the Court, but we should all get behind it, as it brings those responsible for some of these ghastly deeds to justice. If the Court works well, then further massacres become a little less likely

Isobel

Sun 3rd Oct 2010 21:06

Lovely to hear your news Moxie. Glad to hear you are busy but sorry to hear the effects that piece is having on you. I'm reading Ann Frankes diary at the moment - one of the kids got it out of the library. It's staggering to read about the day to day horror of what 'humanity' is capable of. We don't seem to learn from history, do we?

If you read this, would you mind reminding me of the screening times closer to - like the same week - I struggle to remember dental appointments let alone TV/Radio programmes. Thanks x

<Deleted User> (7790)

Sun 3rd Oct 2010 10:44

Hello, apologies for 'disappearing' -- must be my Argentinean blood (oh what an awful joke but I do have Argentinean blood, so hey). I've been working on a very tough piece about the civil war in Bosnia and was somewhat affected by the material (to be honest, I don't think anyone wouldn't be shocked/distressed by reportage/eye witness accounts). I cleared my desk out on WOL whilst working through it: hard to balance anything about bullets (and bombs and shells) when you're reading what they've done to human flesh and communities. Anyway, you can hear the 5 x 15 minute episodes as part of Writing the Century on BBC Radio 4 Woman's Hour from 20th November for 5 days (repeated 7:45pm). A couple of the episodes will carry a content warning.

However, I must say like every one of the Bullet poems: they all have integrity, originality and vim.

Graham Sherwood

Fri 1st Oct 2010 20:37

Sorry Dave. I thought I'd tagged it bite the bullet.

Isobel

Fri 1st Oct 2010 17:20

Like your pheasant poem Dave - did you enjoy plucking it at least?

I think Graham's was tagged with bullet if I'm not mistaken. The irritating thing about the tagging system is that if you edit a poem afterwards you have to remember to re-input it or it disappears. Perhaps that is why some are missing - if like me they change their minds and half write things while they are posting.I think you've made a great job of it. It's hard work isn't it? xx

ps Yes - I'm very sorry Moxy's disappeared. I've never known anyone able to write in middle english before - it was beautiful - to my eyes.

Andy N

Fri 1st Oct 2010 17:05

now voted - wasn't easy however

Cynthia Buell Thomas

Fri 1st Oct 2010 13:23

Dave, I'm such a wimp. I hate voting for Good-Better-Best; I lose sleep over it. I may try, but I'm not promising. This has nothing to do with lack of interest in the poems, just a horror of being 'selective'. Five to ten suggested 'really good ones'in my opinion, I could maybe live with. We all have such distinctive tastes!

winston plowes

Fri 1st Oct 2010 12:03

thanks for organising this dave, will vote soon, Win

Laura Taylor

Fri 1st Oct 2010 11:48

Aww, shame we can't vote on yours - it's great! I speak as one who has had worrying moments eating a *checks over shoulder* poached pheasant!

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