Jennifer and Steve,

If I may address you together despite your different comments. I do not mention Christianity or any other Faith group in this poem. I am endeavouring to address a moral decline in society whose values have been diluted or diminished. Religion once played an important part but no longer; with no alternative moral compass to replace it. In my lifetime I have witnessed a society which is self ridden, where communities have fragmented, where wealth speaks louder than need. When most people rejected Christianity they threw the baby out with the bath water. It was goodbye to Church and God which was followed by secularism, greed, self agrandisment and relativism and nothing to combat them. In the span of my life time I have seen the demise of decency. This is not wholly attributable to the absence of religion, Church or God. It is a trend which stems from secularism.

The situation is not beyond redemption. Its opponents are apathy and fear. It is interesting Jennifer that it is you who mention Christianity nor a slip of the pen that I wrote this on Good Friday.

Thank you both for reading this poem and making your well founded comments, which I appreciate greatly

Keith

Comment is about This Friday (blog)

Original item by keith jeffries

Hi Keith. A truly zealous post which neatly précis the woes of all mankind (and womankind). I just wonder who saved the souls of the pre Christians, or were they automatically condemned through lack of guidance? The Christian Church as far as I am aware hijacked existing means of worship and converted people who already had a religion.

I am not sure who your sincerely held feelings here are designed to reach. There are actually some of us who have our own designs for living a full and humane existence, and reading your poem just makes me feel inadequate under the light that it shines out. I hope that makes sense; I know you are a very caring and reasonable person. Just wanted to put my point of view!

Some of the tone of the writing reminds me of doorstep pleas from Jehovah's Witnesses.

Ray

Comment is about This Friday (blog)

Original item by keith jeffries

Forgive them father for they know not what they say.

Comment is about PROTEST (blog)

Original item by M.C. Newberry

Thanks Keith and Mona for the likes, and Frances and Jane for the comments as well. As so many WOL members appear to be mature, oldies, senior citizens, whichever you prefer, hope it may strike some cords! The beast has been making rather too many strikes recently!

Jennifer

Comment is about Old age (blog)

Original item by Jennifer Malden

I know that!! ? hehe

Comment is about Emojis (blog)

Original item by d.knape

Loved this - can be read in many ways. Jennifer

Comment is about The Hypnotist (blog)

Original item by Hazel ettridge

Hi Keith! Presumably about our rejection of Christianity? ... backs turned against love and acceptance - we have abandoned all that was given - we can return as a welcome awaits us.... . If not, n p as I am famous (in the family) for being as thick as a post! (As they are allo male, this doesn't unduly distress me!) If I am on the right track, it seems to me that the problem is that nothing else has appeared as a substitute for the basic ethics of Christanity - to pursue the worthless and uncertain - to seek instant gratification daily have always been against these. Great writing anyway - food for thought.

Jennifer

Comment is about This Friday (blog)

Original item by keith jeffries

Thanks Jane, Ray, David, and Graham (that's like a phonics lesson, those names all arranged in such a way). Your comments are much appreciated. There's quite a bit to address within them, I'm only sorry that I've been so busy that I haven't been able to come up with an intelligible response.

We're all animals, fer sher, it simply seems that we humans are the only animals capable of thinking ourselves into oblivion--why oh why were we cursed with these damned thumbs?

Rachel

Comment is about animals (blog)

Original item by nunya

Thank you Steve. I'll try them.

Comment is about Good Friday (blog)

Original item by John E Marks

Well done
Keith

Comment is about PROTEST (blog)

Original item by M.C. Newberry

Very enjoyable for the neutral, MC. Murder for me.

Comment is about VAR MAN (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

MC You forgot to mention all the bright young things who have a right to ' go travelling' all around the world, and not by bicycle or skateboard by the way.

Bring back Boris' water cannon I say!

Comment is about PROTEST (blog)

Original item by M.C. Newberry

Today's 'official' prompt was to write an 'Abecedarian' poem. Well, I tried...

Comment is about In Tune (blog)

Original item by Trevor Alexander

Ian - it was "conviction of purpose" that you misquoted
as a quote from me in your reply on my home page.
Cheers
MC

Comment is about Ian Whiteley (poet profile)

Original item by Ian Whiteley

Is Pep Guardiola singing that old refrain -
So near and yet so VAR...?!
An extraordinary match - full of entertainment and drama.

Comment is about VAR MAN (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

Josie this is a beautiful poem - so full of hurt - that it hurts to read it.

Dorothy

Comment is about Tiny (blog)

Original item by Josie Harris

d.k., I always turn my computer off before going to bed to avoid any such inappropriate behaviour Sometimes they can get quite loud.
Keith

Comment is about keith jeffries (poet profile)

Original item by keith jeffries

Hi Jason, thank you for commenting. I think this poem was about more than snakes - I think it's about love and intimacy.

Comment is about The Hypnotist (blog)

Original item by Hazel ettridge

Hi Steve, yes that phrase could easily be left out - it just fitted with the weird little rhythm that was going on in my head at the time.

Comment is about The Hypnotist (blog)

Original item by Hazel ettridge

d.k.,

A good poem. I always cherish those last few minutes of sleep, reluctant to let go of such comfort.

Thank you
Keith

Comment is about Sleepy Head (blog)

Original item by d.knape

Thanks very much, Ray.

Comment is about The Poem of the Week is 'Texas Tornadoes and the Power of Prayer' by Randy Horton (article)

Original item by Stuart Buck

Ian,

I take my hat off to you. Blunt, eloquent and straight to the point. The wall in the mouth had me in stitches.

Thank you indeed.

Keith

Comment is about AmericaZ (blog)

Original item by Ian Whiteley

A stairway to Heaven?

Comment is about Lisa C Bassignani (poet profile)

Original item by Lisa C Bassignani

emojis drive you crazy? me too.
but...they're everywhere.
i think they breed at night, in the computer.

Comment is about keith jeffries (poet profile)

Original item by keith jeffries

emojis are the little icons that you can add to an e-mail.
like happy faces, or thumbs up.
they're everywhere!

Comment is about Lisa C Bassignani (poet profile)

Original item by Lisa C Bassignani

thanks for commenting on 'down at the end of lonely street' Jennifer - yes Elvis had a unique voice and talent - not so sure about Buble though ?
Ian

Comment is about Jennifer Malden (poet profile)

Original item by Jennifer Malden

thanks for commenting on 'elegy for a ghost' Laura - I know you've been through similar grieving and, as you say, it doesn't get easier with time ?
Ian

Comment is about Laura Taylor (poet profile)

Original item by Laura Taylor

I love the insight into the mutual dance of snake and charmer Hazel. I've always thought of it as more of a dance of intellect vs venom and lightning speed. Although I prefer the snakes to be in their own environment. Great poem.

J. x

Comment is about The Hypnotist (blog)

Original item by Hazel ettridge

Thank you all, Chelsea, Dorothy and Frances. To be honest it was written with the rhythm of a particular song that got stuck in my head, although if you heard the original it's so much better, that's probably why it scans like a song. Chelsea, I too have spent many hours talking with people at the bars I used to work in and you're totally right, they were some of the most interesting people I've ever spoken to, especially the, "eccentric, strong personalities," I'm really pleased that you like talking to them too.

J. x

Comment is about Old Man At The Bar (blog)

Original item by Jason Bayliss

Hi Randy. I'm a great fan of dialects and speech patterns and this is a winner on that score alone - but the whole ethos of the piece is terrific. The simple belief systems brought to bear on the catastrophic natural events says so much about the American historical context.

I Enjoyed this immensely. Congratulations well earned for POTW.

Ray

Comment is about The Poem of the Week is 'Texas Tornadoes and the Power of Prayer' by Randy Horton (article)

Original item by Stuart Buck

Keith,
You have a keen sense of perception, reflected by your words .. Thank you for reading, appreciating and taking out time to comment on the poem.

Mona

Comment is about Memories (blog)

Original item by mona s

Characteristic nonsense from Yours Truly again, Kev.

Comment is about A TRIP TO THE DENTIST (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

I love it too, Jason. I particularly liked you human approach to the old man... looking deeper into him.
Good stuff. ?

Comment is about Old Man At The Bar (blog)

Original item by Jason Bayliss

Jason
I do love this and I agree with Ray - it is a folk song - just waiting for a guitar and a bar stool.

Dorothy

Comment is about Old Man At The Bar (blog)

Original item by Jason Bayliss

Jason- I love this entry. Brutally relatable. A “piano man” feel. I work as a bartender at a hole in the wall dive bar where the majority of those I serve are regulars that have been going there longer than I’ve been alive. Each with their own reason to sit with me and “forget about life for a while” (a gold mine for me from a poetic standpoint). Inevitably, they are home to many passages of mine and for that I am grateful.

Comment is about Old Man At The Bar (blog)

Original item by Jason Bayliss

This reminds me of a book of poems by Harry Farrell from Chingola, Zambia called 'Copper Dust & Other Gleamings', who often wrote from the animal's p.o.v. It's a particular favourite of mine.
So I'm a sucker for anything which includes these magnificent beasts. Thank you for such a fabulous reminder, Jennifer.

Comment is about Old age (blog)

Original item by Jennifer Malden

Wonderful imagery?

Comment is about Old age (blog)

Original item by Jennifer Malden

Thank you Keith. Your support means a lot.

If the west refuses to learn the lessons of sacrifice, then we'll deserve to go the way of Rome and Constantinople. Orthodox Christian communities in the Middle East put us to shame.

Comment is about Good Friday (blog)

Original item by John E Marks

Yes!
As a fellow weirdo,
Yes!

Comment is about I Write a Lot About Myself (blog)

Original item by Don Matthews

Heavy

Comment is about Mind Cultivation (blog)

Original item by Don Matthews

I have also been there and rang that proverbial bell.
Good luck with you life.
I hope everything goes well❤

Comment is about Last Chemo Session (blog)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

John,

A poem of deep anguish to which so many of us can relate. It comes from your heart so has a real heartfelt integrity. The dual photgraph which leads your poem is a dilema, a sample of the misery we witness every day. To draw any sense from this is quite impossible, but you have spoken for many in this poem and it has my respect.

Thank you for your courage and integrity

Keith

Comment is about Good Friday (blog)

Original item by John E Marks

In your words...you may 'only' write...but in my words, you do write well.

Thanks

Comment is about Lasting Love (blog)

Original item by d.knape

What is an emoji...?

Comment is about Emojis (blog)

Original item by d.knape

Funny, I just changed a light bulb 10 minutes before reading this!!!!!

Comment is about Completely screwed (blog)

Original item by Chunks and Marrow

Stu,

I have only this minute come across this poem. It has the most profound quality to it, which speaks of that unique and intimate relationship between mother and son which spans many years of love and trial. I stand in awe of this as it reaches depths I could not venture to but sit in my subliminal mind.

Beyond words
Thank you Keith

Comment is about i am made of water and so are you (blog)

Original item by Stuart Buck

Mona,

An unusual but excellent poem which deals with the record of our lives which accompany us every day. I suppose we are, in today´s language, walking hard drives with an information retrieval facility. The line " Each one seems to be raw, immature or juvenile" is the one that makes me cringe as some memories can cause terrible inner embarrassment.

Thank you for this
Keith

Comment is about Memories (blog)

Original item by mona s

Keith Jeffries, thank you for the compliment. The poet is absolutely lovely. Her name is Peg Edera, and she has been published by us.

Comment is about What I Don't Want to Hear (blog)

Original item by Fernwood Press

I’ve got three pairs of underpants drying on the line right now, Trev.

Comment is about VAR MAN (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

It was a bit of a nailbiter!

Comment is about VAR MAN (blog)

Original item by John Coopey