Thank you, David, you are very kind. 😊

Comment is about Elephant's Walk (blog)

Original item by Frances Macaulay Forde

.........oh, and I forgot to include a number of openly gay radio / youtube presenters, who spend much of their time denigrating ethnic minorities, entirely forgetful of the discrimination their own predecessors suffered for their sexuality.

Comment is about Bitter Heights (blog)

Original item by Rolph David

There is one in my town but I won't say where it is as I don't want Northerners coming down to gawp at it!

lol

Comment is about EDWARD VIII (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

Quite right, Uilleam. There are many VR letter boxes (many more than EVIII).

Comment is about EDWARD VIII (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

Thanks William. I've always wondered how this could be true as well.

Comment is about Twists and Turns (blog)

Original item by Mike McPeek

Well spotted, John.
If my memory serves me correctly, I seem to remember a Victorian post box set into a wall in Salford. That would be 25-30 years ago. I suspect the property's long since demolished, and it's someone's antique.

Comment is about EDWARD VIII (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

Thanks for extra likes: Stephen W & Hugh. 👍

Comment is about Hole In My Heart ❤️ (blog)

Original item by Tom Doolan

Yes, I wrote it not long after the passing of my Grandad. He was a dear friend and Grandad to myself and my siblings. So yes, there is extreme sadness engrained in this poem. I appreciate your feedback Uilleam.

Comment is about An Ensemble of Pain (blog)

Original item by Blue

Thanks for your like Yanma.

Comment is about Speyk Lanky Twang! [ Fascists Eawt! English not Spoken Here!] (blog)

Original item by Uilleam Ó Ceallaigh

In a desperate effort to outdo the racist bigots who, we are led to believe, currently threaten his ratings, PM Kier Starmer has carried out an egregious attack on the freedom of speech of UK citizens, and an overt incitement to racial abuse.

In doing so, he has displayed an astonishing ignorance of the diversity of languages currently spoken by natives of the British Isles: Cymraeg (Welsh); Kernowek (Cornish); Manx Gaelic; Scottish Gàidhlig; Lowland Scots; the many varieties of Gaeilge (Irish) on the island of Ireland, which includes Gaeilge Uladh (Ulster Irish).

We in these parts have a name for that attitude: “Pig Ignorant”!

Comment is about Speyk Lanky Twang! [ Fascists Eawt! English not Spoken Here!] (blog)

Original item by Uilleam Ó Ceallaigh

I sense extreme sadness in this.

Comment is about An Ensemble of Pain (blog)

Original item by Blue

A poignant tale, Mike, thank you.

The Alien attacks, devoid of all shame.
We find it so easy to destroy in the name of alleged "progress".

I wonder, what will be built in its place - another hospital - by the people, for the people?
Council housing; or gated apartments for affluent yuppies?

Comment is about The Demolition Of The Royal Liverpool University Hospital (14/5/25) (blog)

Original item by Mike Bartram

Thanks Graham,

I think I'd have to agree with your mother.

David

Comment is about Harm (blog)

Original item by David RL Moore

Thankyou for your comment and thoughts Uilleam,

like you I don't know the answer. I suppose it's just a process, whether it's beneficial or not when looked at from a distance...who of us can know.

David

Comment is about Harm (blog)

Original item by David RL Moore

Correction..............."Island of Strangers".

"No Man is an Island", eh, Mr. Genocide!

Comment is about Porky (blog)

Original item by Stephen Gospage

We're both on the same wavelength, Uilleam. I think we both like Pam's poetry and enjoyed Greg's report. Your comment made me smile, just like most of Pam's stuff!

Comment is about Pam Ayres, nation’s poetry sweetheart? For many, she still is! (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

@Uilleam, that's such a beautiful thought. I agree. It's in those moments when we're searching for comfort or understanding. Thank you, Uilleam.

Comment is about Silent Voice (blog)

Original item by Yanma Hidayah

Thanks @Uilleam🌷🙏🏻🕊much appreciated 🙏🏻

Comment is about sleep on it (blog)

Original item by Red Brick Keshner

Not me, Graham. That was The Grim Reaper.
And thanks for the Likes, RedBrick, Tom and Holden.

Comment is about EDWARD VIII (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

Casting a very long shadow these days JC. Hope you're keeping well.

Comment is about EDWARD VIII (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

Scratching a scab is a wonderful expression to describe poets David. I find poetry an insatiable affliction, at best mesmerising and worst agonising. My mother would have said 'you don't know whether you're on your arse or your elbow' and she would be right!

Comment is about Harm (blog)

Original item by David RL Moore

I've been wondering how to respond to your question, David.

On the one hand, writing -poetry in this instance - is thought to be therapeutic / beneficial.
Or does ruminating, going over old ground, only cause more suffering?
I suppose only the psychiatrists / pschologists know the answer to that.
💗

Comment is about Harm (blog)

Original item by David RL Moore

Stop eating animals.

Comment is about Six ways to cut your cancer risk (blog)

Original item by hugh

Thanks for that very wise advice, Hugh.
Though I wouldn't advise swimming in either our maritime or inland waterways; that activity poses a severe health risk due to sewage, plastics, and some "forever" chemical pollutants.

Comment is about Six ways to cut your cancer risk (blog)

Original item by hugh

On second thoughts, I take that last comment back.

Our Glorious Leader's Government of National Unity has just announced that from henceforth, we must all speak English, or risk being targetted as enemies of the state.

What a shame that all funding (£450 million) for “ESOL plus Mandation” has been cut as part of a so-called “savings” project.

No doubt the PM, in his new-found patriotic fervour will restore that funding, and with it, our national pride.
😐


😕

Comment is about Surge of sales as Welsh rivers anthology is launched (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

How very dare you, Stephen.
I'll have you know that a couple of years ago, I made a video about a certain little lady "excercising" in her bouncy chair, to the tune of Dancing Queen!
Both are close to my heart; their music was highly original, some of it emotional and far from trivial or shallow. Me embarrassed? Never!

As for Pam's poetry; I don't find it trivial or shallow; simply funny.
Why the hell should it be serious? Our mental health wards might be overwhelmed if we all took to readin Larkin!

Comment is about Pam Ayres, nation’s poetry sweetheart? For many, she still is! (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

A fascinating article, Greg. I suppose that poetry is a broad church and thank goodness for that. I have read that many students were once embarrassed to admit that they read John Betjeman, in the same way that Abba were beyond the pale for some time (and perhaps should still be), except for the likes of Alan Partridge.

I enjoy Pam's poetry but recognise that if all poetry was like hers, the art form could become trivial and shallow. At the same time, poetry as a whole would be poorer without her particular brand of entertainment, and certainly have less popular appeal.

Thank you for your honest and objective reflections on this.

Comment is about Pam Ayres, nation’s poetry sweetheart? For many, she still is! (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Thanks for the updated likes on this one.

David RL Moore

Comment is about Spectator (blog)

Original item by David RL Moore

Thanks for the like Aisha

David

Comment is about Harm (blog)

Original item by David RL Moore

A remarkable poem, Stephen, tightly written and rhymed. I still believe that a Good America will come back. We have to hope so.

Comment is about Why I Loved America (blog)

Original item by Stephen W Atkinson

Thanks, Yanma. I think perhaps the child in us is exposed when we are at our most vulnerable.

Comment is about Silent Voice (blog)

Original item by Yanma Hidayah

A lot of it about Rolph; what I call "Ladderism".

Many of the worst offenders here in the UK government, and their lackeys in the media, are those who, in the past might themselves have suffered from discrimination and abuse; ethnic minorities and women; those of the "I'm allright Jack, mindset".

Comment is about Bitter Heights (blog)

Original item by Rolph David

Can't beat a nice brew. Cheers!

Comment is about The Chill Factor (blog)

Original item by Rick Varden

I wonder if it's true - that no two snowflakes are alike?
What exquisite beauty is in their structure.

Comment is about Twists and Turns (blog)

Original item by Mike McPeek

Thank you, Stephen.

the land of the free
Has now become the land of the me!

But isn't the truth that behind the scenes, it's always been thus?
I often wonder whether I and our children would now be here, had Harold Wilson not put two fingers up to Johnson's imperial war in Vietnam...bad enough that the UK gave the USA financial and diplomatic support.

Comment is about Why I Loved America (blog)

Original item by Stephen W Atkinson

Love forms a hymn.
What a nice image.

Comment is about sleep on it (blog)

Original item by Red Brick Keshner

Thank you @Leonard Morse 🌷🙏🏻🕊

Comment is about sleep on it (blog)

Original item by Red Brick Keshner

Wonderfully written Stephen! It’s all in here, well done! A morally bankrupt man morally bankrupting a nation!!!

“ It's on America's tortured brow
That Mickey Mouse has grown up a cow.”

Comment is about Why I Loved America (blog)

Original item by Stephen W Atkinson

This poem beautifully captures the essence of introspection and the quiet strength found within. The imagery of kindness as "oil of lamps" is particularly striking, suggesting that even the smallest acts can illuminate the darkest moments. Thank you for this gentle reminder that sometimes, the answers we seek are closer than we think.

https://snow-rider.io/

Comment is about sleep on it (blog)

Original item by Red Brick Keshner

Oh, so much better than the carrot dangling from a pole as incentive for the donkey! The allure of ascent and lofty ideals are much better represented here. It also encapsulates a generational angst above and complementary to individual inner struggles. Good one, Rolph! 🌷🙏🏻🕊

Comment is about Bitter Heights (blog)

Original item by Rolph David

Indeed, Stephen.
"Where have you gone Joe di Maggio
A nation turns its lonely eyes to you"

Comment is about Why I Loved America (blog)

Original item by Stephen W Atkinson

Thanks for extra likes: Uilleam, Stephen G, Aisha & Larisa. 👍

Comment is about Hole In My Heart ❤️ (blog)

Original item by Tom Doolan

Definitely a source of inspo

Comment is about You Shine On Me (blog)

Original item by Alexandra K. Parapadakis

Brava Aisha!
An inspirational, energising, positive poem, full of vim and vigour.😁

Comment is about Live It Loud (blog)

Original item by Aisha Suleman

I recall that I was undergoing every type of cardiac procedure under the sun culminating in a rib-cracking delve around my heart swapping three valves out for some South American pig flesh! All these attended on my own and only one visitor per day for one hour fully masked and gowned following the op! Every day precious

Comment is about Write Out Loud looks back … at the early days of lockdown. How did poets cope? (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Found some way to get back to WOL, having lost access to my original account and having lost contact with many of our past fellow writers. Don’t think that I coped by know that I survived. 🙏🏻🕊️

Comment is about Write Out Loud looks back … at the early days of lockdown. How did poets cope? (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Thanks to RBK, Stephen, Holden and Tom for the likes.

David

Comment is about Harm (blog)

Original item by David RL Moore

Hi again David,

I have revised my Initial comment.

My visitation to Gaza or not is an irrelevance in the context of this piece. I have struck it from the text.

It was a moment of selfish self importance for which I apologise.

All voices have value and worth.

David

Comment is about Everyday someone is Killed on your street... (blog)

Original item by David R Mellor

Cope? I didn't.
Couldn't face all that zoom stuff.
Went off my rocker!

Comment is about Write Out Loud looks back … at the early days of lockdown. How did poets cope? (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

You forgot Starmer, Stephen; they're all birds of a feather.
The UK electorate have consistently been fed a diet of porky pies, up to and after his election, on virtually every single issue.
Porkies helped bring the Tories down; now Starmer’s outdoing them, not a ciggy (or should that be piggy?) paper’s difference between ‘em - never has been.

Comment is about Porky (blog)

Original item by Stephen Gospage