Hi Mark. In view of the state of our expectations in life being constantly seemingly short changed, your few lines do have a place - I think to some they will be like a road barrier that just can't be driven through without showing rites of passage.

Ray

Comment is about THE BLAME GAME (blog)

Original item by M.C. Newberry

This resonates with the lonely footfall and the trudging of time . It has a sort of religious feel, especially with the desert and its wilderness. I think the soldier doesn't want pity just recognition and that comes across.
Powerful stuff elP.

Ray

Comment is about unknown soldier (half-life) (blog)

Original item by nunya

Why did you ask the question if you're simply going to ignore the response?

Comment is about 'Ye are many - they are few!' Jeremy Corbyn quotes Shelley at Glastonbury (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

You are not easy to read, but full of rewards when one makes the effort. You don't cater to lazy thinkers; and that is excellent. You have more courage than I do; I'm always straddling the middle line.

Comment is about Towering Factory Gates (blog)

Original item by Adam Whitworth

Very interesting, Adam. A hard subject to try and capture, and so intensely personal to the individual. Kudos to you. The final 'message' is very uplifting to the human condition.

I did smile at the use of 'kitten'. There is a science about the 'baby' thing of all animals - big eyes being predominant, if I remember correctly. And utter helplessness. But kittens conquer us totally. Maybe it's the fluffy fur as well, the feel of them and the size, fitting within our human palm. Same criteria should apply to many other animals, but it doesn't, usually.

'my charming good-bye' is a poetic gem. The word 'charm' is one of the loveliest in the English language, so full of extended meaning, so often used sluggishly.

What do you consider to be 'worse' than 'death'? That gave me pause before I even read on.

Comment is about Adam's Humanity (blog)

Original item by Adam Whitworth

As I said in my last post "best leave it there for me". I'm off back to my narrow life experiences and counting my money.

Comment is about 'Ye are many - they are few!' Jeremy Corbyn quotes Shelley at Glastonbury (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

I have been <a href="http://www.essaysolution.co.uk/write-my-essay">i need an essay</a> following your blog for some time now and have found it quite informative and also interesting and you have very nice way of expressing the article.Looking forward to another article.

Comment is about Reader at Marsden Write Out Loud 18th January 2017 (photo)

Original item by Marsden Write Out Loud

Kealan, how wonderful to have you back! I've not been too much on line lately. I'll try to catch up on your work.

Comment is about Kealan Coady (poet profile)

Original item by Kealan Coady

I have been <a href="http://www.essaysolution.co.uk/write-my-essay">i need an essay</a> following your blog for some time now and have found it quite informative and also interesting and you have very nice way of expressing the article.Looking forward to another article.

Comment is about Alan Prout, Marsden Write Out Loud 18th January 2017 (photo)

Original item by Marsden Write Out Loud

Graham – without typing out an epic reply, I will summarise it for you. What we mean by equality is true equality of opportunity. From each according to their ability, to each according to their needs. It’s an oldie but it’s a goodie.

That labour force you mentioned managing may well have responded very differently had they had a more equal education, wage, nutrition, housing, healthcare, recourse to support in all areas, human rights in general, the opportunities to develop in ways that are not limited to creating wealth for the few, less worries about financial concerns, including housing, hunger, the ability to keep sufficiently warm and clean.

Do you consider yourself a Christian, by the way? If so, you must be aware that Jesus was a socialist, that the New Testament is a socialist text in the main.

I would urge you to read the book btw, rather than base your opinions on your own narrow life experience. It might give you a broader understanding of the subject. Then again, given your emphasis on creating more wealth for yourself, it might not.

Comment is about 'Ye are many - they are few!' Jeremy Corbyn quotes Shelley at Glastonbury (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

equality is like organic farming - a preferred end point of reference to be aimed for. And although it might not in practise be achievable all of the time in every situation it should still be what we work towards continually as a society, together.

It seems the argument here is who would be better placed to forward that advance, fairly for all.

Status Quo voter mentality gives the green light to politicians to do as they wish - a situation that should never be encouraged imo.

Comment is about 'Ye are many - they are few!' Jeremy Corbyn quotes Shelley at Glastonbury (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

You are not alone. This is beautiful :)

Comment is about I wrote this in tears (blog)

Original item by Michaela Sheldon

I love this!!

Comment is about Adam's Humanity (blog)

Original item by Adam Whitworth

Good evening, Cynthia and Kealan,

I suppose the simplest way to describe an intranet is in describing what it is not--an extranet. That is, one only exists in a sort of negation of the other.

I'm not trying to be cute, here. I simply wanted to use networking concepts as analogous to principles of compartmentalization and damage control. For what reason, who can tell?

Thanks so much to the both of you for your reading and kind comments. And, also for your questions and prompts for explanation. I much enjoy them and will, by the way, be reading more on simulation theory.

elP

Comment is about watchdog (blog)

Original item by nunya

Love the repetitive parallelism listing in first few lines...... And the imagery of time passing by.... A journey.... Is very effective.... Esp in how u convey seasons passing... cos


I’ll be springing into summer’s warmth

whooping through autumnal days

there’ll be no kicking of heels

when I’m kicking up a snow storm

Comment is about How to approach a new year (blog)

Original item by Joy

Adrian-
No tethered wants } no restrained desires

nor garnished voice } no empty promises

but a stroke of intent } the first downward stroke of the voter's cross (vote) that indicates thier purposefullness (anger!)

another of choice. } the second stroke that completes thier selection. Tommy

Comment is about Ballot Cross (blog)

Original item by Tommy Carroll

It's funny David, but we seem to share that industriousness with insects that just keep going under all adversity. I don't personally like to believe you have failed, but doubts are the theme of the creative mind so often. As you say we should go on for endeavour and ever. We could look to Ranulph Fiennes and his ilk.

Ray

Comment is about AIMS (blog)

Original item by ray pool

You ain't seen nothing yet David. Thanks for enjoying - it's not rocket science.

Ray

Comment is about YOU SAY (blog)

Original item by ray pool

Hi Phillip Thankyou for you kind comments my poems are real life stories I have never read a book in my life never used other people's work or used their ideas my life has been very complicated so their is much more to come out in my poems keep smiling you have a lovely smile must be all those children love Wendy.

Comment is about Phillip Kelly (poet profile)

Original item by Phillip Kelly

Having been around witnessing life at all levels and in many
of its varieties I have yet to be convinced that there is
such a thing as "equality" in the human condition. How to
define it? Can it be defined in health or wealth? size or
lack of it? possessions or lack of them? advancement or
lack of it? rank or lack of it? social position or lack of it?
eminence or lack of it? creativity or lack of it? usefulness
or lack of it? The list is goes on and I propose that it defies
the simple/simplistic meaning inferred in various WOL posts.
The nearest in my own estimation is equality of opportunity,
from which so much else can emerge, plus the obvious "equality
before the law".
Even George Orwell recognised the impossibility of pinning
it down...with some "more equal than others".

Comment is about 'Ye are many - they are few!' Jeremy Corbyn quotes Shelley at Glastonbury (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

By the time I've read the book Laura and its myriad statistics (and we all know what they can be made to say) I'll be a week older and no wiser.
I prefer to build my opinions on REAL life not someone else's stats.
So here's to the UK becoming more like Russia or N Korea. You'll be an awful lot more equal but bugger all better off!
Best leave it there for me, my blue pants are beginning to show.

Comment is about 'Ye are many - they are few!' Jeremy Corbyn quotes Shelley at Glastonbury (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

But I loathe and despise all Tories..." - nothing very liberal
or conciliatory (oops) there in the greater scheme of things.
Shades of Madam Defarge, knitting needles and the tumbrils!

Comment is about Mrs May's Farmyard (to the tune of Old McDonald) (blog)

Original item by Laura Taylor

Hi Stu
Thanks for your line on Thelma and Louise, that's a real compliment coming from you.
Dom.

Comment is about Stuart Buck (poet profile)

Original item by Stuart Buck

You first Graham. I'm interested, as mentioned, to hear what your opinion is based on. Besides, I've already offered a reading recommendation that will answer your question.

Comment is about 'Ye are many - they are few!' Jeremy Corbyn quotes Shelley at Glastonbury (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Phillip, thank you for your comment. I agree with you on the structure and I changed it. It makes the poem more powerful. Thank you for the kind words xx

Comment is about bridges. (blog)

Original item by m.k.

Please describe what you think true equality looks like Laura.

Comment is about 'Ye are many - they are few!' Jeremy Corbyn quotes Shelley at Glastonbury (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

You don’t have to have been born with a silver spoon in your mouth to be a Tory, Graham. Where do you think Robert Tressell got his idea from? And given that we have never actually had true equality in our country, I’d be interested to hear what your opinion is based on.

Comment is about 'Ye are many - they are few!' Jeremy Corbyn quotes Shelley at Glastonbury (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Really enjoyed this piece. Mabye it's just me but does it have anything to do with Simulation Theory. Remember the universe is mental.

Comment is about watchdog (blog)

Original item by nunya

A thinking man is a jewel beyond measure. I know it's a 'quote -ish' about a woman, but why not a man?

Comment is about Drugs (blog)

Original item by Robert C Gaulke

You're good! And funny, and ruthless. And wonderfully grounded in wisdom.

Comment is about The calm was the last thing to fall (blog)

Original item by Robert C Gaulke

Hilarious! And astute.

What do you teach? If it's not too personal a question.

Comment is about Reverse Cinderella (blog)

Original item by Robert C Gaulke

Welcome to WOL, Mr. Gaulke. Don't forget the month of June will go off the prime page almost in hours. Save some work to begin the new month. Readers do check back, of course, but not as much as you might hope.

Generally speaking, the norm tends to be a poem per week, or even fewer, because there are so many contributors to read. Just speaking from observation, but you may well be the exception. It's a great site, full of talented writers. And they're a supportive bunch too.

Comment is about Robert C Gaulke (poet profile)

Original item by Robert C Gaulke

IMO, absolutely brilliant. Kudos for excellent thoughts in the briefest of words, striking sparks, the mark of a real artist.

Comment is about Roleplay (blog)

Original item by Robert C Gaulke

Very interesting topic, and well put, fluent and clever.

Clue me in on exactly what is 'intranet', please. I can make an educated guess but I'd rather be accurate.

Comment is about watchdog (blog)

Original item by nunya

Laura, far from missing the point, the point is that whatever macro decisions/policies/aspirations/treaties/laws etc are aspired to or even put into place, it is at the grass roots level that they are tested and succeed or fail.

I am a son of shoe factory workers (who earned far less than train drivers/miners/car workers) so did not grow up with a silver spoon in my gob.

JC is all about control, just on a different level to TM that's all. I'm sorry you can't see that.

Comment is about 'Ye are many - they are few!' Jeremy Corbyn quotes Shelley at Glastonbury (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Such unknown territory. Exciting. Terrifying.

Comment is about Roleplay (blog)

Original item by Robert C Gaulke

Missing the point somewhat there Graham. When socialists speak of equality, we're looking at a much bigger picture than simple small differences between working people. We're looking at vast financial, social, educational, physical and many other inequalities. You're closing down a debate that you only have a tiny amount of knowledge of, clearly.

If you can get hold of a copy, I would recommend reading The Spirit Level - Why More Equal Societies Almost Always Do Better, by Kate Pickett and Richard Wilkinson. It'll give you a better idea of what we mean by it.

https://www.equalitytrust.org.uk/resources/the-spirit-level

As for your last sentence - all art forms are subjective, and given that, there is room for us all. Not only that, it is essential that there are as many diverse voices as possible in order to reach as many diverse ears as possible, and to satisfy the inner need for creativity that human beings have.

Comment is about 'Ye are many - they are few!' Jeremy Corbyn quotes Shelley at Glastonbury (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

It's a wonderful idyllic notion, peace everywhere, everyone of us equal etc, fair shares for all.

For many years I had in excess of 250 people working for me and it never ceased to amaze me how diverse those people were. Some worked their socks off, some were feckless, some turned up in wind rain and snow, some turned over in bed if it was only drizzling, some were great colleagues in a team, some were always in dispute with others.

It's a wonderful thought JC but I'm afraid most people in the country know its unachievable domestically let alone globally and quoting the fancy of poets is all very well and on message but as poets we all know it's easy to write something but harder to turn it into a culture for all.

Comment is about 'Ye are many - they are few!' Jeremy Corbyn quotes Shelley at Glastonbury (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Hi Raj - I'm in Darwen tomorrow night at Bar39, Leeds on Friday night in the Labour Rooms in Otley (with our very own Steve Pottinger), and two spots at Cockermouth Festival on Saturday. Cockermouth are putting me on in Wordsworth House, haha ? See how many daffodils I spout! ?

Thanks for your comment David. I appreciate your own experience and background in these matters. But I loathe and despise all Tories, and especially TM right now. The hypocrisy is more than breathtaking - it's suffocating.

Comment is about Mrs May's Farmyard (to the tune of Old McDonald) (blog)

Original item by Laura Taylor

Thanks Steve

Comment is about 'The Concrete Road' by Becky Sowray is Write Out Loud Poem of the Week (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

I've added a bit more to this story today, reflecting Jeremy Corbyn's comments about inspiring children. Thanks, Laura - and to Winston Plowes on Faceboook - for alerting me to this. Important stuff. Read more at http://www.nme.com/festivals/jeremy-corbyn-glastonbury-2017-speech-full-2093107#yrcvp6Q6tTpZW5Pm.99

Comment is about 'Ye are many - they are few!' Jeremy Corbyn quotes Shelley at Glastonbury (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

He is the pinnacle of all Charmers . But will he won't he . Does He really care . Wendy

Comment is about 'Ye are many - they are few!' Jeremy Corbyn quotes Shelley at Glastonbury (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Very nice piece have enjoyed all of your work Kim !

Comment is about To walk among ruins (blog)

Original item by Kim Whysall-Hammond

Thanks Colin. Your comment made me laugh. It also inspired me to try to write a poem in my local dialect. I live in a small Caribbean island where non-standard English is the norm but I try not to speak it that often. Unfortunately, I think that the local dialect is the reason why I am not very good in grammar.

Comment is about Love making (blog)

Original item by Juan Pablo Lynch

Thanks for pointing out the errors out Ray. I typed this up pretty fast. And cheers for taking a look. Think that's the second time I've reminded you of Ted Hughes in my stuff now!

Comment is about Pheasants (blog)

Original item by David Blake

How true Stu and thanks for that. As my mother once told me "you can only do your best." My dad was more quietly forceful in his expectations. But as Alan Bennett would say
"somehow we muddled through."

Col The poem was going to be about hobbies which would also make sense with your comment, but I thought there are so many variations of hobbies eg macramé or golf or making houses out of matches I knew I was on a hiding to nothing with that idea. For now anyway. Thanks mate.

W. Fortesque

Comment is about AIMS (blog)

Original item by ray pool

What stands out for me Stu is how you have gone with poetry pick and shovel into a culture that is full of subtleties and mined out the goodness . Your explanation chimes with my understanding of Indian Raga rhythms with their delicate and exact structure.

Main man as ever.

Ray

Comment is about ceremony (blog)

Original item by Stuart Buck

Lovely flow of thought Hazel. It has a spell behind it that keeps you in the folds - so correct as we look back. I often do and have written on it, so respect here.

Ray

Comment is about Wearing Thin (blog)

Original item by Hazel ettridge

Thank you Rose! x

Comment is about One Love (blog)

Original item by Eva Elizabeth

When life wears thin is a fantastic line.

Comment is about Wearing Thin (blog)

Original item by Hazel ettridge