I've been to Dachau and pondered the meaning of the place and what happened there - and in numerous
other camps planned and placed around Nazi Germany and its satellites.
But when watching the newsreels - especially those taken
by the Nazis themselves - and absorbing the sight of the legions of raised "Sieg Heil" hands almost into infinity - the
question posed in this hard hitting piece is entirely
relevant to those who served a system that saw
little value in so many varieties of human life. And it is
worth remembering some still live and may even feel no remorse
over their participation in the infliction of vile cruelty and
death to others without feeling any need for self-restraint.
Such regimes offer safe havens for psychopaths, sadists and
their kind - seeking justification for their deeds when in
the ascendancy and excuses in defeat. The Milice in Vichy France
were one example - their methods
towards their victims exceeding even those of the Gestapo in brutality. Origins are no guide to
such behaviour.

Comment is about SOBIBOR - WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE DONE? (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

An interesting examination of real individualism and identity. Well done.

Comment is about Smile (blog)

Original item by sasha

A dramatic poem that really hits a nerve. What more do children want?

Comment is about Mama (response to Daughter by Sybil Ruth) (blog)

Original item by leanne taylor

SW - fair comment.
But there does seem to be a current "bandwagon" media
campaign that would seem to place this chancy behaviour
on a par with far worse things that are happening. And it
is interesting that any similar behaviour towards men by
women doesn't rate the same reaction. There is even a
TV ad. which fades on the image of a woman reaching
down and patting a male companion on the backside.
Are men expected to feel complimented whilst women feel
imposed upon if subject to the same sort of physical
approach? I suppose my basic misgiving focusses on the
magnification of masculine manifestations of vain hope over expectation in party-style artificial surroundings and
circumstances - removed from the constraints of day to
day demands of expected social conduct.
What's good for the gooser should be good for the goose!

Comment is about #MeToo movement leads to women's poetry anthology (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Thanks for the encouraging comments everyone. I'm looking forward to seeing who's is poem of the week next week!

Comment is about '100 Reasons to Plant a Tree' by Tim Ellis is Write Out Loud Poem of the Week (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Thankyou, David.
Ostensibly it's a poem about Sobibor and secondarily about John Demjanjuk.
In reality. it's about us.

Comment is about SOBIBOR - WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE DONE? (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

It's amazing how we have these memories set in our minds of what an individual or a particular situation was like.These are perhaps the things that we cherish the most.
great poem Ray

Comment is about DISASTER CAST (blog)

Original item by ray pool

This is a great poem leading the reader from room to room. I can't help feeling that this could lead into a at least a shorty story if not a novel
Nice one

Comment is about Rooms (blog)

Original item by Chris Armstrong

You had me in there in that spot with your description. Marvellous poem Carol

Comment is about Charlatan (blog)

Original item by Carol Falaki

A lot of fun Martin - keeping the analogy going in a straight line as it were. We like to try and rely on our closest as much as we do on the car, but do we likewise take them for granted?! Always check under the bonnet.

Ray

Comment is about Waking up my people (blog)

Original item by Martin Elder

This really is a marvellous poem. I think I am inclined to agree with Frances in that my favourite stanza is the second. In particular the line
'scaffolding breathes like asthmatic old man'
fantastic

Comment is about visiting the chelsea hotel (blog)

Original item by pauline sewards

"What do women want?" - different things I suspect. I've got this strange idea (don't know where it camw from, but, y'know, you pick these things up...) that they don't want to be groped, patronised or treated as second class citizens by men who think they're entitled to a quick feel.

Comment is about #MeToo movement leads to women's poetry anthology (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Hi Pauline. That's a nice surprise that you enjoyed Amateur Musicians. I work in a band with these guys, and boy do they take it seriously!

Thanks for stopping by.

Ray

Comment is about pauline sewards (poet profile)

Original item by pauline sewards

Love this Damon, particularly the opening line
'I am now the lack of letters I your mind'
great stuff

Comment is about Words of The Waiting Man 2 (blog)

Original item by Damon Blackery

Atmospheric. The second stanza is my favourite.

Comment is about visiting the chelsea hotel (blog)

Original item by pauline sewards

Amateur musicians - well crafted, economic and absolutely nails the subject

Comment is about ray pool (poet profile)

Original item by ray pool

Hi Colin thank you your comment is much appreciated

Comment is about Charlatan (blog)

Original item by Carol Falaki

Thanks Colin and Wolfgar, really appreciate the feedback
and thank you Colin for the link to the Arena programme

Comment is about visiting the chelsea hotel (blog)

Original item by pauline sewards

? Really lost but in time you'll be found

Comment is about Broken glass (blog)

Original item by Kianna

Thank you, Emma, for capturing the spirit and life of 'poem a day' Win in your interview last year. It's now become a precious document, for us, and I'm sure for her family, too.

Comment is about 'Poem a day' West Midlands poet Win Saha dies aged 94 (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Thank you Ray and Col for your comments. Very much appreciated.


All the best des

Comment is about Edge the hog (blog)

Original item by DESMOND CHILDS

like this lots Carol, thanks for posting. Defo one to come back to for second helpings. Col.

Comment is about Charlatan (blog)

Original item by Carol Falaki

a sense of claustrophobic mounting excitement to this poem which makes me want to reach for my inhaler as we are dragged through the busy streets of NYC. Exhilarating. Thanks for posting Pauline.

for anyone interested in the Chelsea Hotel the BBC iPlayer is showing this quirky Arena documentary from 1981:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/search?q=chelsea+hotel

Comment is about visiting the chelsea hotel (blog)

Original item by pauline sewards

Ah thanks you two, yes it was all a bit surreal but I’m still just little old urban poetry me, no need to bow, just leave your money in the cap when you see me!

Comment is about I’m a little bit scared (blog)

Original item by Rick Varden

Taking a position in the court of public opinion is never
absolved from comment and question. Nor should it be.

Comment is about #MeToo movement leads to women's poetry anthology (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Down Heaton Way

As the sun blazes a trail

art shines for all to see

musical words whisper before dancing

as we walk down Heaton way

Comment is about Heatons Arts Trail (blog)

Original item by Stockport WoL

Wonderful Tim, you are are speaking my language, and have the admiration of a persistant tree-hugger.

Comment is about '100 Reasons to Plant a Tree' by Tim Ellis is Write Out Loud Poem of the Week (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

mixing with royalty eh Fred? We did bow before commenting

;0)
;0)


Lovely honest poem!

Regards

P&S xx

Comment is about I’m a little bit scared (blog)

Original item by Rick Varden

absolutely beautiful Artur we can't wait for the continuation.


P&S xx

Comment is about Healing journey ( song ) (blog)

Original item by Artur Hulboj

Good article Laura, I have been looking for some insight into the current flap, PN Review etc, and this balances the argument, for me anyway! Dom.

Comment is about Hollie McNish in Manchester, 2015 (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

who can forget the Not the Nine O'Clock News Hedgehog Sandwich sketch. Good luck Edge! And watch out for Ford's new SUV. That's called Edge too. There's serious competition out there. Good stuff Des. Col.

Comment is about Edge the hog (blog)

Original item by DESMOND CHILDS

I will take a deckchair
up on top of the hill
with a good supply of
Pringles and Pepsi
from there I will watch
the final show...

Comment is about Two Minutes To Midnight (blog)

Original item by Suki Spangles

ditto Messrs Buck and Spangles.

I was looking at Napoleon's death mask last weekend in the Lady Lever Art Gallery in Port Sunlight. Lots of Pre-Raph gems to marvel at there. Your poem could easily be about one of those paintings or sculptures.

Col.

Comment is about DISASTER CAST (blog)

Original item by ray pool

excellent, love it Tommy.

Comment is about Wipers (D minor) (blog)

Original item by Tommy Carroll

An inner photograph of an imagined and reimagined "favoured face" - the memories unrequited..

Poignant, Ray. I love it. You ol' romantic!

Suki

Comment is about DISASTER CAST (blog)

Original item by ray pool

Hi there Stu and Ray,

Really appreciate your feedback. This was one I wrote quite quickly, after reading an item about the so-called Doomsday Clock tick-tocking ever closer to MAD.
Here's one typical article in that vein:
https://thewire.in/218198/doomsday-clock-two-minutes-to-midnight/

Thanks for spotting the typo, Stu - now corrected. I haven't listened to Spiderland in a long time; this will be corrected too.

Have a fab nuke-free weekend!

Suki

Comment is about Two Minutes To Midnight (blog)

Original item by Suki Spangles

great stuff suki. personally if i had to i'd stick on spiderland by slint but its a tough choice. missing an i in line five by the way. its 6am and i feel like being a pedant!

Comment is about Two Minutes To Midnight (blog)

Original item by Suki Spangles

so mysterious ray. i love these short little pieces you come up with, they intrigue me so

Comment is about DISASTER CAST (blog)

Original item by ray pool

To the opening comment...yes, there is a marked difference between simple politeness and actual harassment. Leaping to the conclusion that this is the attitude of some kind of 'united front' of feminism doesn't look too clever or wise a remark to venture.

Comment is about #MeToo movement leads to women's poetry anthology (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Thank you, really appreciate it

Comment is about Heart Beats (blog)

Original item by Brian Belyea

Sweetly moving.

Comment is about The Day Of Her Leaving (blog)

Original item by Jon Darby

Thought-provoking, especially to one who's not too far away from the reality...

Comment is about By the light of the local Spar (blog)

Original item by Jon Darby

So sad, but lovingly expressed. I've added you to my favourites.

Comment is about Age (blog)

Original item by Jon Darby

Very entertaining. ?

Comment is about The Sea Dog (blog)

Original item by Jon Darby

You certainly have a special way with words, Jon.
You understand how to grab the reader by his collar and pull him close, so close that he can taste your breath.
Well done, again.

Comment is about Remembering James (blog)

Original item by Jon Darby

Beautiful detail, sentiment and reasoning. Reminds me of a poem I wrote about my childhood bedroom. Keep writing, Jon. You have a very poetic sensibility.

Comment is about The Dresser (blog)

Original item by Jon Darby

David, thanks mate. In point of fact, resentment is so common and a bit like bad breath - people are not always even aware of it themselves, but others usually are.

Thanks Suki. I tried to intensify the feeling of this moral allergy, and i'm pleased it came over ; I like the Picasso idea, that makes sense too.

Wendy nice to have your thoughts - we have to try to vote this down!

Sorry folks above, I hadn't realized I commented before. Must be a first. Take your pick!!


Thank you Keith a lot for your
plaudit on the poem.

Thanks Frances; glad you liked it.

Mark, don't confuse me, though you do amuse me!

Love y'all. Ray

Comment is about RESENTMENT (blog)

Original item by ray pool

Hello Sarah, a quick few words to say how much I like your biography. For some reason it has made an impact on me. Perhaps because I hold these things dear as well. Thank you. Keith

Comment is about Sarah Mae (poet profile)

Original item by Sarah Mae

Shirley-Anne, my view on this incident is that unchecked testosterone, inflated egos, and alcohol is at the core of this flexing of prehistoric muscle. Unfortunately, the business of escorting I suppose represents a certain risk taking IMO. but miraculously there have recently been giant steps to push this phenomenon into the spotlight along with I suppose Benny Hill and On the Buses humour.

Ray (with respect)

Comment is about Presidents Club (blog)

Original item by Shirley-Anne Kennedy

Ray, thank you for such an interesting comment which gives rise to the juxtaposition been tranquilty and tagedy. The serenity of being buoyed by the ocean to drowning in such an appaling trauma. Life is full of these incomprehensible comparisons from which we can deduce little save resorting to the word mystery. Amswers are not always readily forthcoming even by faith or through rationalism. Thank you again. Keith

Comment is about A Living Creation (blog)

Original item by keith jeffries