Ian, thank you for such a fitting tribute. Keith

Comment is about The Royal Free (blog)

Original item by IanQ

Hello David, I really enjoyed this poem. Very funny and well composed. I had hitherto thought that UFOs and Aliens only put in appearances in the USA. Thanks again. Keith

Comment is about A Northern Greeting (blog)

Original item by David Lindsay

knowing a little more of the back story makes this poem even more poignant - the mourning, funereal tone lightened by the love of the writer to those cherished memories held within the cottage garden.

I find the 'religious' imagery employed towards the end fascinating as there is no real acknowledgement throughout the poem of a god or a life thereafter. 'I could not make my soul adjust / But cached it safe within the plot / Beside her memory and her mortal dust.' Past, present, future - it's all being tended safely and diligently by the author.

a clever poem and highly worthy of the POTW accolade. Hopefully it will get front page billing soon. Colin.

Comment is about 'Cottage Garden' by Chris Armstrong is Write Out Loud Poem of the Week (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

The new improved version incorporates your advice Colin, thanks for your kind comments.

Comment is about Love's Creature (blog)

Original item by Adam Whitworth

Very very good. You paint a beautiful picture with this poem.
I particularly love the lines
Now, my heart is caught and held
By the peace of its earth and space
As Cynthia says beautifully rendered.
definitely a well deserved POTW.
Nice one

Comment is about 'Cottage Garden' by Chris Armstrong is Write Out Loud Poem of the Week (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Ah there's the rub Col. It is about isolation from good times! I didn't know you were a racing fan.... or is that in a parallel universe on a strange voltage? I wish we were closer - perhaps we could act out these fantasies you are kind enough to pick up on. (time for medication).
Cheers old chum.

Thanks so much for your interest David Kevin and Patricia.

Ray

Comment is about WORLDS ON WHEELS (blog)

Original item by ray pool

Thank you Colin. I'm glad you enjoyed it.

Comment is about Nightmare (blog)

Original item by DESMOND CHILDS

Keith - what fun though!!

Comment is about DON'T MENTION THE ENGLISH! (blog)

Original item by M.C. Newberry

MC., I thank you for this comment which caused me to pour a glass of red wine and sing both verses of Jerusalem. Bless and thank you . Keith

Comment is about The Nation State (blog)

Original item by keith jeffries

Dear MC., Thank you for your comment on my poem The Nation State. I believe that we are, more or less, of one mind. I shall try to desist from anymore comments as we could be responsible for serious civil unrest. You are spot on about London. Regards. Keith

Comment is about DON'T MENTION THE ENGLISH! (blog)

Original item by M.C. Newberry

Many thanks (for both comments and proof reading!)

Comment is about Ocean (blog)

Original item by Chris Armstrong

Thankyou, Cynthia and Keith, for taking the time to read this and to leave your very kind words.
They are much appreciated and most encouraging!
Richard

Comment is about When I Die (blog)

Original item by Richard Hartley

Ah, David, I'm so glad you are so 'recognized' for your superb work. I might have to relinquish my No.1 fan position. I will make room to include a GLOBAL circle! Actually, for my own question about a 'book on a desert island' I should have said 'David Cooke'; I really should have.

And I second the King Jame's Version of the Bible too.

Comment is about 'For Antoinette' by David Cooke is Write Out Loud's Poem of the Week (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Really beautiful. I find the richness of your metaphors breathtaking.

Check the last line for a 'typo' in 'finding'; so the poem doesn't end on a 'funny' note.

Comment is about Ocean (blog)

Original item by Chris Armstrong

Beautifully rendered. Perhaps one of the saddest poems I've ever read, and also one of the richest. Not to mention the skill of formal crafting. A superb choice to be so honoured.

Comment is about 'Cottage Garden' by Chris Armstrong is Write Out Loud Poem of the Week (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

A fine thought beautifully expressed. IMO, the 'ripple of waters' metaphor is inescapable to the truly 'poetic mind'.

Comment is about When I Die (blog)

Original item by Richard Hartley

Richard, Thank you for this and also your message. The poem is clearly indicative of how others shape our lives and our debt of gratitude to the role played in our own formation. We are undeniably social creatures and your poem illuminates this.

Recently I gave thought to those people who have been significant in my life. They number only a few but their contribution to who I am has been immense.

A poem, beautifully crafted and pertinent to our contemplation of life. Thank you again. Keith

Comment is about When I Die (blog)

Original item by Richard Hartley

REVIEW: TWO CLAIRES AT WRITE ANGLE

Several New people, attracted by our posters and The Post, showed up to WA's August event, featuring Claire Booker and Claire Dyer. As it was warm in the upstairs room at The Townhouse, the opened windows admitted the noise of traffic, police sirens and revellers spilling out of the downstairs bar but in spite of that, the audience seemed well tuned to the of music and poetry that filled the evening.

Although the two Claires were booked together, they do perform separately and each is a strong, headline performer in her own right.

Coincidentally, there was an unplanned element of nostalgia, within the 29 poems read and performed by Claire Dyer, and Claire Booker which seemed to somehow continue with the open mikers.

Claire Booker started with a beguiling poem of her 'First Kiss' – 'you are seven, I am six'; about her father suffering from dementia in 'Visiting My Father' – this is full of gaps, like his mind with occasional 'bright berries of memories'; of her bossy elder brother in 'Building My Brother's Sand Castle' as, King Canute-like, he tried to hold back the incoming sea; in 'On the Centenary of My Teacups', memories 'of mouths, people who sipped on roses, their lips figures of eight,' and 'stories lost, family lore, weddings, wakes, heart-to-hearts...'.

Clare Dyer's poems included one about her great-grandmother, 'Queenie' – her grief at her child buried at sea; her rebellious grandmother in 'My Grandmother Played Tennis in 1916 – it was with her brother, 'home on what will be his last last leave; and her mother's baking in 'The Memory Cake', including as ingredients not flour, butter, etc but all the favourite things of a seven year old. Though their styles are quite different, both held the audience in their grip from beginning to end.

Poet and potter, Colin Eveleigh was a strong start at the open mic with his 'Red Dot'. His work is to be exhibited at the local Arts & crafts exhibition – 'making an exhibition of myself' – telling of the anxiety to get red dots by each piece to show it's been sold (all his sales proceeds go to charity). Leah read two poems about Hiroshima, one serious: 'Hiroshima Hiroshima' , - 'Truman's expensive new toy' - the other, 'Holiday in Hiroshima', humorous in a macabre,cynical way – 'Well, here's your one-way ticket, LITTLE BOY.' She finished with a short poem, 'Words' – 'What harm can they do?'

Jilly Funnell followed with some musical nostalgia, ‘Hello My Baby’, ragtime song from 1899 penned by Howard and Emerson, her poem ‘Looking Back: My Thirties in the Eighties’ - Gosh, was I in good condition' and, then, her song ‘All the Way to America’. There is something in the way music and poetry blend so well with each other.

Your reviewer read 'Typhoons and Hurricanes' about his shock when the 1987 hurricane attacked 'this green and pleasant land'; then 'Letter Writer, Letter Writer', about an unfriendly neighbour – 'We met your family, they say: It's you she talks about so much'.

Bruce Parry, who brought his music teacher with him, set up his trusty hammer dulcimer, for the lovely Gilbert and Sullivan's 'When a Merry Maiden Marries', followed by a traditional Irish tune, 'My Own House'. He then read his new poem, 'Time Immemorial' – 'Rest in peace my 1970's wild!'. Julie Beaven, his teacher, who plays the Celtic harp (she constructed it herself) played 'My Love is Like a Red Red Rose' and 'Greensleeves' followed by another Irish tune 'Shulearoon. They completed the set with a lovely duet, 'Gentle Maiden'. We're hoping they return with some more music. The harp and dulcimer make a wonderful sound when played together.

One of the new members of the audience won the raffle prize, a meal for two at the excellent Links Tavern at Liphook. It's an excellent restaurant and we hope they write a review of their experience, in verse perhaps!

Several members of the audience wandered over to tell us they'd had a great evening which is always 'good news' to hear. We hope to have more poets and musicians in future. So please, if you enjoyed the evening, do tell your friends and family. We'd love to hear more music and poetry at our Open Mic. We'll provide the guest performers! You provide the Open Mikers!

Review is about WRITE ANGLE POETRY & MUSIC +OPEN MIC on 15 Aug 2017 (event)

if I could write the sound one makes when a shiver runs down the spine I would. Excellent stuff Desmond.

Comment is about Nightmare (blog)

Original item by DESMOND CHILDS

I love 'the moment you'd be working back towards...' it just says everything I feel about passing years. Thank you

Comment is about In Another Room (blog)

Original item by Tom Harding

excellent Ray, very much enjoyed. I'm guessing poor old granddad on his powerchair wouldn't have been much help at replacing crashed cars on those curves furthest away from the controllers? Boys and their toys eh? Not that I wish to stereotype of course. Belgian Grand Prix at 1pm. My place on the sofa is booked. Col.

Comment is about WORLDS ON WHEELS (blog)

Original item by ray pool

hello Chesley, a warm welcome to WoL to you. I very much enjoyed the first verse of this poem although the shortening of 'temperature' in my opinion is not necessary. I got a little lost in the next two verses but it pulled together for me again in the last. The opening question is an interesting idea and starting point. Thanks for posting. Colin.

Comment is about Does the oak of autumn (blog)

Original item by Chesley

an interesting poem Adam - for me it has hints of a Greek myth or a Far Eastern tale but then some lines feel more English folk, almost Hardyesque. It is only the 'lottery winner' reference which places it in the present. As #workinprogress I wonder where you might take this. I would be tempted to leave out that modern day reference to make it more timeless. Thanks for posting. Colin.

Comment is about Love's Creature (blog)

Original item by Adam Whitworth

your poems have the knack of sending me back to a different time and place in my life - it's quite uncanny.

Comment is about In Another Room (blog)

Original item by Tom Harding

Thank you for
Your lovely comment x

Comment is about Anon (blog)

Original item by Anna Marie Grinter

Thank you Martin, Stu, Col, David, Laura and Cynthia. Lovely to read such kind words from you all, it means a lot to me. Many of you were like 'mentors' to me earlier this year, guiding and encouraging me through my first months on WoL. You helped more than you might realise. Massive thanks to you all.

Paul

Comment is about 'A Tale of Two Sandals' by Paul Waring is Write Out Loud Poem of the Week (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Thankyou, Patricia
I appreciate your kind words.
Richard

Comment is about When I Die (blog)

Original item by Richard Hartley

Colin - a most interesting read from your "Welsh" arts input.
Wales has never lost its ability to produce great art and
artists, or, for that matter, politicians of stature. From a
population perspective, it punches above its weight
in these fields: witness the reputation of its singers for
example. It also has a front rank symphony orchestra in
the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, with its roster of
international conductors.
But the fact remains that England, with its substantially
greater industrial origins and population, is able to offer
its own formidable range of the above in greater relative
numbers. London on any given day offers an unmatched
range of material across the artistic spectrum without
the need for "festivals"....international or otherwise.
London has risen from a Roman city (when the latter
didn't bother too much with what lay beyond Hadrian's
Wall) to achieve its centuries-old status as a world
centre of pretty much everything. Even country-
dweller William Wordsworth had to admit its splendour
when passing through (on a Dover-bound stage, I seem to recall).

Comment is about DON'T MENTION THE ENGLISH! (blog)

Original item by M.C. Newberry

Gorgeous work,and in particular I love the line"Truelly as a spring tide rises highest.
A gentle poem.

Comment is about When I Die (blog)

Original item by Richard Hartley

Hello MC
Thankyou for your kind words which are much appreciated!
Richard

Comment is about When I Die (blog)

Original item by Richard Hartley

Keith - this seems relevant to my own post about the
English and I comment with that in mind.
It's not lost on me that in the recent EU referendum, the
decision to take back control of our freedoms, laws and
borders was led by the often maligned "English", with
many Scots and their overflow neighbours in Northern
Ireland, taking the EU path...again arguably influenced
by the historical past that saw Scotland seeking
support from a Europe dominated by France to gain the
throne here in the UK but failing to succeed.
But the world loves an underdog, doesn't it?...as long as it
doesn't have "English" attached.

Comment is about The Nation State (blog)

Original item by keith jeffries

Like the spring tide, uplifting! A caring consideration of
existence and co-existence.

Comment is about When I Die (blog)

Original item by Richard Hartley

hi all, apologies for the delay- work, a new baby and poetry don't mix. thank you for the kind comments!

Comment is about Harvesting (blog)

Original item by Tom Harding

Thanks for posting 'Midnight Train to Bulawayo' - I enjoyed it! Were you there in 1997? How long did you stay?
As you know, I grew up in NR/Zambia from 1955 - 75. Last time I was there was in 1971 - a weekend trip to Salisbury for shopping and a new hairdo from Kitwe, on the Copperbelt in Zambia. I spent between 68 - 74 travelling and working between UK and Zambia. Back to Africa every time I got too homesick and saved up for the next trip to UK.
My little brother went to St George's in Salisbury so we'd go down to take him out for a Sunday lunch at Meikles every so often but I only went to Bulawayo twice on the way to SA.
I have added another African poem from my 1968 notebook to my profile... yes, I still have it. Ha-Ha!

Comment is about Greg Freeman (poet profile)

Original item by Greg Freeman

David,
I`ve come back to this after realising how well the picture - with it`s contrast of size - reflects so well the actual poem.

The poem includes the `scars`...`hurt`...and `pain` of the Earth but the contrast indeed `perspectives` it into something `humbling` and yet `divine`

It is all done by distancing into perspective.

The picture reflects (rather than competes) with the poem
perfectly.

I think what I`m trying to `get at` is the way the poem tells that: in time (distance) suffering fades.

Comment is about From Afar (blog)

Original item by David Lindsay

Anna, I was entranced by the profundity and sadness of this poem which is so well composed. The final stanza is a fitting closure which the reader will read again and again. Thank you indeed. Keith

Comment is about Anon (blog)

Original item by Anna Marie Grinter

Thank you for your feedback Patricia, I'm glad you like the darkness. It is a bit grim. ?

Comment is about Nightmare (blog)

Original item by DESMOND CHILDS

Karen thanks for the coment re Flight. Cheers Tommy. ;- )

Comment is about Karen Ankers (poet profile)

Original item by Karen Ankers

I love the darkness in this poem.Brilliant.

Comment is about Nightmare (blog)

Original item by DESMOND CHILDS

thanks guys..... I'm happy you enjoyed it.....trying to write more hopefully you enjoy what I'm going to share in the near future.... every comment you guys give a bit of encouragement for me...thanks again Kim and Collin

Comment is about Stockholm Syndrome (blog)

Original item by kimafia Jones

Hi Colin - thank you for sharing your thoughts, I'm really interested to read your interpretation. For me, when I wrote this, the subject's mind is whirring away, turmoils of thought preventing them from interacting - which would be just like a printer whirring away. I can see the analogy!
Thanks again for sharing your thoughts.
Rich.

Comment is about Divided (blog)

Original item by Rich

Hi Keith - you're right, I wrote it with that intention; I'm pleased that you enjoyed it. I had not thought of spontaneity being a remedy - I nearly ended it with something along the lines if "I don't know why I bother" (ie socialising is too traumatic), but I felt this version works better.
Thanks for your kind words.
Rich.

Comment is about Divided (blog)

Original item by Rich

Thanks for the likes Karen and Col.!

HI David, Good point about Eton - ironically a symbol of British influence throughout the world - open to all comers.
Money of course facilitates benefaction. I'm glad you like this, I felt it may have resonated .

Ferris, I appreciate your interest - I wanted it stripped back almost matter of fact to emphasize the ease of access to a world of privilege. I'll check out the song ! I'm flattered that you think me consistent. That's nice, as I have a wide sphere of interests to write about.

Ray

Comment is about FAMILY PLANNING (blog)

Original item by ray pool

Lads! lads! lads!
It was a joke!...I was just having a traditional English whack at my Co- Britonians in Scotland, Wales, and (despite my name) Ireland (I missed out the Isle of Man somehow).

(so was the peein` thing)

Where`s your English modesty...(or English sense of humour.? ) ?

Comment is about DON'T MENTION THE ENGLISH! (blog)

Original item by M.C. Newberry

All comments gratefully received and read. Thanks to
everyone giving their views.
There's a readiness to attach "blame" to deeds past (or
even present) to the English identity instead of praise
where it's due, with a blithe tendency to forego the fact
that numerous other lands and their rulers have been
busy acquiring empires/colonies/wealth at the expense
of others just as busily if not as successfully as the
English....perhaps the more civilised "Romans" of recent
times for what has been given to the world in the wake
of the above. We cannot change the past but compared
with the contemporaries of those days, we have no more
to apologise for - and arguablya lot less! Witness how
many still use our language (thanks Keith) and the legacy
of residual "systems" (the law, medicine and railways
anyone?), and choose to come here to live if they can.
My ask is simple; why is the term "English" so
rarely heard in use now? Is there a policy in existence to
"absorb" the identity in the convenient contemporary (more globally acceptable?) appellation: "British"?
Colin - the Cornish have a connection with the Welsh,
and, of course, trade beyond our shores, and have felt
(with some historical justification) ignored by a distant
Parliament and its national considerations when its
people were in need of more direct and deserved help
and attention back in the day. As a Devonian (born),
I can't recall my fair county being so remorselessly discontented, but we had Drake and Gilbert, and a more
easy-going frame of mind to see us through the hard
times of the past. Moaning wasn't at the forefront of
our mental state...more milk and the hope of some honey perhaps? ? But we had pride in being English, I can
tell you that much.

Comment is about DON'T MENTION THE ENGLISH! (blog)

Original item by M.C. Newberry

Great writing David.
Invoking the spirit of youth. Thanks.

Comment is about Daydreams and nows (blog)

Original item by David T Jones

Wow, thanks Colin ?

Comment is about Daydreams and nows (blog)

Original item by David T Jones

Colin and Harry, we may ask where is our culture? We have a language which is incomparable and I say this as someone who speaks Spanish every day, German and Arabic. We have a temprament which no other nation has, one of being calm in the face of adversity. Our writers and poets are world acclaimed as is our inventiveness. We do not need traditional clothing or emblems because we know who we are with supreme confidence. Thanks to all. Keith

Comment is about DON'T MENTION THE ENGLISH! (blog)

Original item by M.C. Newberry

lovely bit of writing David. The opening three lines drew me in and I was hooked and mesmerised in your 'diamond splashes' and 'ash-arches of sunlight' all the ways to the finishing line. Fine, fine, fine.

Col.

Comment is about Daydreams and nows (blog)

Original item by David T Jones

whether intentional or not this has the look and feel of a continuous printer - the words and data being fed onto those never ending boxes of side perforated paper. I think some of the words used here hint at this: response, actions, controlled, precision, calculated, status, deliver, target, crunch, analysis, capacity. As if the writer is sat in a busy office surrounded by all these computerised machines churning out data, invoices, facts and his own mind and way of thinking has become switched into the same mode of function. I think it's very clever, whether or not my interpretation is correct doesn't really matter. Thanks for posting Rich.
Colin.

Comment is about Divided (blog)

Original item by Rich