What a fascinating poem, and so clever.

Comment is about Fiona Larkin wins National Poetry Competition (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Nice one Ray.

Pictures of modern day Farnham?

There are a couple of characters who seem to have taken up permanent residence in doorways lately.

I have deep sympathy for the homeless as I know how easily any of us could land in that predicament.

I feel terrible when I question myself regarding the genuine status of some of those I have seen in Farnham. I have taken time to talk to them in order to dispel my cynicism. Alas, in some cases my sense of uncertainty has not been diminished.

David

Comment is about STREET HAIKU (blog)

Original item by ray pool

Hello Landi,

Thanks for taking time to feed back your thoughts on the wild west. I thought it only right to respond as you had obviously put some thought into my casual quip.

Democracy is slowly being whittled away in many countries atm, although the dismantling in the US seems so blatant. One wonders what it would take to move major players into action.

My head is possibly too full of noise to write coherently on the subject atm.

I hope you are well. I see your previous country of residence is also disintegrating at a rapid rate.

David RL Moore

Comment is about Crimes against mysanity (blog)

Original item by David RL Moore

Thank you Flyntland. I was trying to capture that feeling of being on the outside looking in, where even something as pleasant as laughter becomes painful.

Comment is about THE EDGE OF OPULENCE (blog)

Original item by Naomi

Thank you Tom, very kind of you

Comment is about Change, For the Good. (blog)

Original item by JD Russell

… on “and then us, content creators” - thanks kindly, Graham🌷🙏🏻🕊️ can’t hardly wait! 👍🏻 rbk

Comment is about Graham Sherwood (poet profile)

Original item by Graham Sherwood

Oh this is quite interesting @Graham 🌷🙏🏻🕊️

Comment is about and then us, content creators (blog)

Original item by Red Brick Keshner

having read your poem I can't help but think about those old photos. of the 'Palls' before they went off together, to fight together, and be killed together.
They were sad little groups of uneducated and underfed young men - these days they would be described as boys - looking unhappy and shocked and wearing ill-fitting uniforms, standing together in mean cobbled streets.

What cynical mind dreamed up that way of getting recruits?

Comment is about Dotted Line (blog)

Original item by Stephen Gospage

"Their laughter a distant, mocking melody on the salt-laced breeze" What a good descriptive phrase, it really builds a picture.

Comment is about THE EDGE OF OPULENCE (blog)

Original item by Naomi

RBK, Tom D. Hugh, Stephen G., and Stephen A. Thank you for reading and liking, I find it very encouraging.

Aisha, Holden, Helene, and Manish thank you also for pressing the 'like' button it means a lot to me.

Rolph, Thank you for your thoughtful comment, This poem was written for a different war but all wars have the same effect on children.

I saw a news item on TV. some time ago that touched briefly on a small group of young children who were diving for safety into a small gap under a concrete slab, metal sheets, and twisted wire. Their faces registered distrust and fear and it was gut-wrenching. They will never be children again.

Comment is about A LAMENT FOR CHILDHOOD (blog)

Original item by Flyntland

very true on all fronts and thank you . I write about it here
https://bianet.org/author/david-r-mellor-8165

Comment is about Come back the country I love (blog)

Original item by David R Mellor

Many thanks Tom for your feedback. It beggars belief that our so called leaders turn a blind eye to this suffering. Hopefully Karma will prevail. What goes around comes around. 🙂

Comment is about Slaughter In Gaza - Genocide (blog)

Original item by Tom Doolan

"But whims unleashed, all rules declined,
a lawless world, a fractured mind"

those two lines say it all - and then you top it with

"Truth now bows to greed and lust"

Trump has made a dangerous world so much more dangerous and he seems to be unstoppable.

Even in my tiny corner of England, I am worried but keep on writing perhaps one day fact will win over fiction.

Comment is about The Hollowing (blog)

Original item by Rolph David

Love this RBK and you have given me an idea. watch this space.

Comment is about and then us, content creators (blog)

Original item by Red Brick Keshner

Tom, can you or anyone else tell me, what have these murderers learned from the holocaust?

shall I tell you?

How easy it has been for them, to become Nazified.

I'm also wondering how many times the victims of the Holocaust have been rolling in their graves?
and is Netanyahu ever likely to ever face charges for Genocidal war crimes? methinks, never!

those poor poor people of Gaza omg! my heart and soul goes out to every one of them.

Thanks for keeping the reminders on the front burner Tom.

Very best of my regards to you.

Tom

Comment is about Slaughter In Gaza - Genocide (blog)

Original item by Tom Doolan

Brilliant! Thank you JD, and have a great afternoon!


Tom

Comment is about Change, For the Good. (blog)

Original item by JD Russell

Thanks for the Likes, Redbrick, New Shoes, Stephen Atkinson, Larisa, Holden.

Comment is about OUR GERT KNOWS BEST (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

Good morning Rolph 👍

Your poetically gifted mind NEVER fails to impress.

Another ace dealt, and appreciated.

Thank you, and. have a great day.


Tom

Comment is about The Hollowing (blog)

Original item by Rolph David

Thank you very much for your “thumbs up” and your appreciation: Red Brick Keshner, hugh, Stephen Gospage,
Stephen W Atkinson, Aisha Suleman, Holden Moncrieff, Manish,
Naomi, TOM MERTON. Thank's a lot!

To Stephen: Yes, the times are turbulent, unpredictable and the outcome open - but not auspicious. Let's hope for the best.

To Tom: Thank you very much for your particularly nice comment and compliment. That feels so good.

Kind regards,
Rolph

Comment is about Beneath A Tyrant's Boot (blog)

Original item by Rolph David

Many thanks Rolph, once again for your in depth and perceptive feedback. It is much appreciated. 🙂
Thanks for likes; Red Brick Keshner, Nigel Astell, Manish, Stephen W, Larisa, hugh, Naomi, Aisha & New Shoes. 👍

Comment is about Out Of My Mind (blog)

Original item by Tom Doolan

Hi David,

Sorry to drag you in for another comment, but I can’t (don’t want to) stop myself. I read your comment before work today and had a short while to mull it over in relative peace before the crowds rushed in to knock all the lofty thoughts from my head (fuck consumerism, btw). Unfortunately for me (fortunately for you) I can’t possibly expound effectively so I thought I would summarize the most important ideas in bulletpoint form…

• yes, this is the wild west considering our relatively young age as a nation, and with the near west being maybe twice as old as the far
• the greater part of my inheritance as a citizen stems from those who destroyed a lesser branch of the family tree of many in this country, a culture which could’ve taught us all much which might have saved us from our current troubles
• do the European parents of this country not recognize themselves in their adolescent offspring?
• the media seems to control a narrative in which moderate viewpoints seem to have no voice
• I fear that if both sides of the political aisle do not find the center and soon, our democracy will suffer consequences which may be grave and irreversible
• the version of conservatism I see today doesn’t resemble that with which I was raised. I recently heard it said that one should operate on society as he would operate on his father—slowly and carefully
• how could my country and others benefit from analytical therapy and shadow work?

Let it be said that I pondered all of this with some humor and some amount of light in my heart for the future--thanks for the opportunity to open it up a bit.

Love xx

PS
Thanks for the vid...

It's true--like Y2K, nothing ever happens )

Comment is about Crimes against mysanity (blog)

Original item by David RL Moore

Another literary gem, Rolph. Thank you. Tom.

Comment is about Beneath A Tyrant's Boot (blog)

Original item by Rolph David

Absolutely Red, and. not just when we can, but always. and....... -unconditionally!

I cannot wait to see, the next of your quills brilliant outpourings.

Best of regards.

Thank you.

Tom

Comment is about TOM MERTON (poet profile)

Original item by TOM MERTON

Better advice, I have yet to read or hear of, Aisha. This great poem should be filed under, 'In the presence of a humane lady'

My wholehearted thanks 💐


Tom

Comment is about Every Experience Is A Lesson (blog)

Original item by Aisha Suleman

Thanks Helene, and it is all true - I am now 65 and this happened exactly as the poem says, when I was 8 or 9. I’m definitely lapsed now, but you never totally escape what dominated your life for so many years 😉

Comment is about Once I found a silver sixpence (blog)

Original item by Nicholas

I respectfully beg to differ about the last two lines, Helene. I think they are the finest two lines of verse I have ever written.

Comment is about INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

Thank you Stephen. I confess it’s a Re-post from several years ago.

Comment is about OUR GERT KNOWS BEST (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

Thank you Helen, us English have in the past been embarrassed by our leaders, but even our last 4 prime ministers could never have dreamed of upsetting family and friends as much as DJT and side with the west's natural enemy. The world is on an edge and we all hope we can be brought back

Comment is about Special relations (blog)

Original item by JD Russell

You have summed this frightening situation up in fluid verse, Rolph. The last four lines give us all hope, which is sorely needed at the moment.

Thanks for this.

Comment is about Beneath A Tyrant's Boot (blog)

Original item by Rolph David

This is just a brilliant poem, John, with a terrible (or perhaps not) grain of truth.

Comment is about OUR GERT KNOWS BEST (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

Thank you for your kind comments and analysis of the poem, Rolph. I remember Larkin's take on the First World War call up : 'As if it were an August Bank Holiday lark'. Perhaps it seemed like that, for a while.

And thanks to everyone who liked this poem.

Comment is about Dotted Line (blog)

Original item by Stephen Gospage

Many thanks for your kind thoughts, Telboy, Flyntland and Helene. And for the Likes, Aisha, Tom and Rolph.

Comment is about OUR GERT KNOWS BEST (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

Hey Rolph,
Thank you very much for your most generous comments on my recent musings, it means a lot to me. The fact that you took your time to read and drop such meaningful inputs just meant so much more. I’m enjoying reading your write-ups very much as well. Cheers!😊

Comment is about Rolph David (poet profile)

Original item by Rolph David

Dear Flyntland,
The lines of your poem are deeply moving and powerful. The way you capture the innocence of childhood shattered by war is both haunting and touching. The repeated imagery of "small frightened faces" alongside "Iron and Rust" creates a chilling sense of vulnerability that stays with the reader. I was especially struck by the sensory details—like the "sharp smell of anger" and "cries of the wounded"—which immerse you in the terror these children experience. The question, "Where is their childhood?" echoes throughout, a reminder of the innocence lost to violence. Your words truly convey the heartbreaking reality of children caught in the devastation of war, and I admire how you bring attention to their pain and loss with such raw emotion. Unfortunately, this is again part of everyday life for many children in this world. Stupid mankind!
Take care,
kind regards,
Rolph

Comment is about A LAMENT FOR CHILDHOOD (blog)

Original item by Flyntland

Tom,
For me, your poem paints a vivid picture of a mind in turmoil, searching for meaning and struggling with both personal and global issues. The repeated refrain "Out of my mind" shows a feeling of disorientation, as though you’re caught between the desire for answers and the overwhelming weight of life’s challenges. There’s an honesty in your words that speaks to the struggle of finding peace in a world that feels uncontrollable.
Regards,
Rolph

Comment is about Out Of My Mind (blog)

Original item by Tom Doolan

Aisha,
There’s a sense of calm wisdom in the way you approach life’s challenges. The idea that every experience offers a lesson—whether pleasant or difficult—encourages a mindset of growth and resilience. Your words about not letting hard times weigh you down and instead moving forward with an open heart are refreshing. The image of wearing your favourite shirt and taking a moment to breathe offers a simple yet powerful reminder to prioritise self-care. The metaphor of flying with your "gorgeous wings" suggests an inspiring sense of freedom and strength that comes from embracing life's journey. I really like it.
Cheerio,
Rolph

Comment is about Every Experience Is A Lesson (blog)

Original item by Aisha Suleman

Stephen,
The way you describe the experience of signing up for war, filled with initial enthusiasm and a lack of understanding, effectively highlights the gap between expectation and reality. The shift from the excitement of enlistment to the harshness of combat is striking, especially in the lines about the violence and the abandonment felt by those who serve. The reflections on the aftermath, the survivors left to ponder the fate of those lost, add a poignant layer to the narrative. Your poem offers a powerful perspective on the personal toll of war, capturing both the immediate and long-term emotional impacts. Great work!
Cheers,
Rolph

Comment is about Dotted Line (blog)

Original item by Stephen Gospage

Many thanks to: Nigel Astell, Red Brick Keshner, hugh, Stephen Gospage, K. Lynn, Manish and TOM MERTON for your kind appreciation via a “like”.

Comment is about Ode to Trump Derangement Syndrome (blog)

Original item by Rolph David

Red brick Hugh Stephen and Holden. Thank you for the likes

Flyntland I am glad you like the perspective I do try to achieve that but don't always achieve it

Thanks Marla I am glad you found it relatable it can be difficult at times to write a piece that is understood in such a way

Ray I take you point with this piece. I guess I was trying to look at the innocence of youth which I still believe exists for many today but is so easily missed by the apparently more newsworthy messed up lives. Also my wife says I am a romantic and a dreamer which I am happy to own

Comment is about Breaking the ice (blog)

Original item by Martin Elder

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ehxW9MKRH0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qUbLUxoBYQY

Comment is about Crimes against mysanity (blog)

Original item by David RL Moore

Jokey but with a large dose of realism. Most blokes will identify with this. Good one John.

Comment is about OUR GERT KNOWS BEST (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

Gert and I have a lot in common, I would love to hear more from/about her, she is the fount of all knowledge (with me as second best)

One thing I need to know John - does Gert like expensive chocolate?

Helene you and I will share our friendship with Gert.

Comment is about OUR GERT KNOWS BEST (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

Raised a Catholic, I love this poem! Sweet and endearing. Now that I am an old lady (I call myself a "spiritual explorer," no more dogma for me), many a time I still use that wonderful refrain "Jesus, Mary, Joseph." I really enjoyed this poem, Nicholas.

Comment is about Once I found a silver sixpence (blog)

Original item by Nicholas

I laughed all the way through this poem, John. Long live Gert! She's my kind of gal.

Comment is about OUR GERT KNOWS BEST (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

This is Miss O Gyny's cousin here. The ending is stupid John. But you can leave the last 2 lines in, imho (young generation text-talk for "in my humble opinion"), because your poetry makes me laugh. And tell wonderful Gert hi.

Comment is about INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

A powerful, sorrowful poem. Here in the US, many feel this sorrow. In the unpredictable future, may the light shine again (even if differently). My fervent hope: out of loss and confusion, comes growth and--one magic day--harmony. Thanks JD for a stirring, well-written poem. Also appreciated reading Uilleam's and Rolph's insightful comments.

Comment is about Special relations (blog)

Original item by JD Russell

Thanks for the like and comment Landi.

Hope all is not lost yet out there in the wild west.

David

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X_0hKjV4z1k

Comment is about Crimes against mysanity (blog)

Original item by David RL Moore

…on “cure-alls” - Aww, thanks Tom… truly humbling! And as long as we remain mates a bit of ‘envy’ either way can be a healthy motivation to be our best selves when we can. 🙏🏻🕊️🌷

Comment is about TOM MERTON (poet profile)

Original item by TOM MERTON

Aww, thanks Tom… truly humbling! And as long as we remain mates a bit of ‘envy’ either way can be a healthy motivation to be our best selves when we can. 🙏🏻🕊️🌷

Comment is about cure-alls (blog)

Original item by Red Brick Keshner

Wowsers! I am NOT jealous ( yeah right! )

Brilliant Red, just brilliant!

Thank you.
best of regards.

Tom

Comment is about cure-alls (blog)

Original item by Red Brick Keshner