Thanks David, fine praise indeed. Brevity is good I think if the message if strong, and words can build a case. Evolution is an interesting word - a sort of stripping away but beware of just effect only, I think that's the danger. I know that when you read you go deep so quite satisfying for me.
Ray
Comment is about LIVE BY THE KNIFE (blog)
Original item by ray pool
Glad you liked the old tape recorder poem, Harry!
Comment is about Harry O`N eill (poet profile)
Original item by Harry O`N eill
Thank you! I realised part way through that it was sounding a bit like the Charles and Eddie song so snuck a line in there for fun
Comment is about (blog)
Original item by Yvette Pauley
Fri 29th Jul 2016 20:50
I liked the poem,
and have lived among fellas and their teams - in the workplace: terrace lore is rubbish or you love it, the readers' choice.
I imagine the poet in Hull, narrating at one of his poetry nights, reckon it would go down very well. Not so keen on the two word verses, [he] might double up, win a competition :)
Comment is about 'Brisbane Road' by Rick Gammon is Write Out Loud Poem of the Week (article)
Original item by Greg Freeman
Trevor,
Every (well executed) rhyme identifies it exactly......
..........It`s a thingy!
(just tryin` to help) :)
Comment is about What’s In A Name (blog)
Original item by Trevor Alexander
David,
This piece of nostalgia minds me of the amazing advance of all kinds of electronic recording and communication in our lifetime. And how convenient it is for us to have such ready and convenient assistance literally at our finger tips today.
The wonderful thing for me was seeing some of those Masai
tribesmen on the tele using their tablets (where will it all lead to?)...Roll on the next generation!
Comment is about Getting It Taped (blog)
Original item by David Cooke
Hi Ray - Thanks for your kind comments. Losing part of the family is tough. Regards Tom :)
Comment is about Wispa R.I.P. (blog)
Original item by Tom Doolan
You should know I haven't got any mates, Graham.
Enjoy the close season - purgatory starts soon.
Comment is about LOOK WHAT THEY DONE TO MY THONG, MA (blog)
Original item by John Coopey
.....and you got the obligatory French verse in their too! Class JC.
By the way, that wasn't you and a couple of mates by the roadside in mankinis watching the Tour de France was it?
Comment is about LOOK WHAT THEY DONE TO MY THONG, MA (blog)
Original item by John Coopey
Glad you liked my old tape recorder, Ray.
Comment is about ray pool (poet profile)
Original item by ray pool
Thanks, Ray. Always happy to further the cause of literature.
Comment is about LOOK WHAT THEY DONE TO MY THONG, MA (blog)
Original item by John Coopey
This captures some of the spy thriller atmosphere with clandestine recordings, another aspect of the wonderful machinery. I worked at the BBC in the sixties, and they had great freestanding versions of these in corporation green made by Ferrograph, the rolls Royce version. Wonderful fun to use and treasure. A nice social frisson to mention the chosen DJ, thankfully neither suffering the attentions of Yewtree at this time.
Ray
Comment is about Getting It Taped (blog)
Original item by David Cooke
Straight to the heart Tom, simple and lovely - a moving tribute and has me involved . I'm sure you will treasure those special shared moments. All the best
Ray
Comment is about Wispa R.I.P. (blog)
Original item by Tom Doolan
Very entertaining John ! Is their no shame? When's the coming out party! Nicely enjoyable I must say.
Ray
Comment is about LOOK WHAT THEY DONE TO MY THONG, MA (blog)
Original item by John Coopey
Thank you Graham :)I am glad you liked it
Comment is about Lost to find (blog)
Original item by Sharvari
Hi M.C. Glad that the tape recorder poem brought back some memories!
Comment is about M.C. Newberry (poet profile)
Original item by M.C. Newberry
Thanks for the mention Greg. You were a highlight for me too. :)
Comment is about Poetry at the Parsonage, Haworth, 2016 (article)
Original item by Greg Freeman
How interesting to find so much positivity in negativity.
Comment is about "Read About Him in a Sunday Glossy" (blog)
Original item by Rick Gammon
This brings back memories of my last years at school when
I owned (but can't recall how) a portable Grundig tape
recorder with 3inch spools. I fell foul of Mr Bush (now
there's an "electronic" name!), the history teacher, who
discovered it in his lesson - and probably thought I was
using it to catch him out/make him look silly...who knows
now 'cos he never said. He confiscated it and later
returned it with the admonishment NEVER to bring it to
school again. He didn't see the innocent curiosity and
pleasure of being able to capture "audio time", whether
it was an extract from a TV/radio programme or voices
of friends and acquaintances. I had the voice of Gary
Cooper asking for help in "High Noon" for ages on the tape. Happy innocent days!!
Comment is about Getting It Taped (blog)
Original item by David Cooke
Hello Isaac, I love the depth of your sample poem. I look forward to reading more from you.. Oh and welcome to Write out loud! Emer
Comment is about isaac wright (poet profile)
Original item by isaac wright
I quite agree with you elP on your observations. I wanted to make this quite sad, and typically the first line to indicate how to please. Often a public is more inclined to support a person after they have died as a sort of salve of conscience perhaps. Fame is often a killer in disguise. As you say, another case with murky undertones.
Ray
Comment is about MARILYN (blog)
Original item by ray pool
Excellent playing with concrete poetry here Martin - bang on with content matching structure. Well done :)
Comment is about Going up (blog)
Original item by Martin Elder
Marvellous poem Trevor, I really enjoyed this, and love how you have expressed our common experience.
Comment is about River Of Life (blog)
Original item by Trevor Alexander
Love this. As Steve points out, that repetition is what makes the rest of it revolve around.
Comment is about a cat, a bird, a rock (blog)
Original item by Stuart Buck
:D :D brilliant :D Proper enjoyed this drop of poison Rick, and great to hear that you amend it constantly. I'd love to hear you spit this out sometime.
Comment is about "Read About Him in a Sunday Glossy" (blog)
Original item by Rick Gammon
Yep, a great idea as well, the older you watching the younger. I love the details too about the scarf, the steps, the thermal socks.
Congrats Rick - and I love the tale of how you started writing :) I also once wrote a poem about a friend, that I felt urged on somehow to write.
Comment is about 'Brisbane Road' by Rick Gammon is Write Out Loud Poem of the Week (article)
Original item by Greg Freeman
Couldn't have said it better myself Lynn, I applaud you. It's been staggering watching how far the PLP will descend in order to get their own way.
For anyone wanting to know more about inequality in order to form a fuller opinion, rather than focussing down on a small meaning, I suggest reading Richard Wilkinson and Kate Pickett's The Spirit Level: Why Equality is Better for Everyone. We should never stop asking for equality, nor should we stop expecting it.
Bang on Lynn! This needs performing, and pronto!
Comment is about Thoughts of the rebel MP's (blog)
Original item by Lynn Dye
elPintor
Thu 28th Jul 2016 00:50
It is sad, Ray..sad how women like her are used. It's odd how the world makes a person's looks such an asset and then destroys them for having it.
"..how innocence tragically spun
can make the big girls die.."
that works particularly well here.
There were (still are) plenty of rumors (maybe facts) about her death that raise plenty of suspicion against people in high places. Maybe somebody should write something about that, too.
elP
Comment is about MARILYN (blog)
Original item by ray pool
`Exquisite` piece of vitriol, Rick...and congratulations.
Comment is about "Read About Him in a Sunday Glossy" (blog)
Original item by Rick Gammon
elPintor
Wed 27th Jul 2016 23:24
Hey there David..
I can certainly appreciate that reasoning.
It is a sort of inner-dialogue contemplating counterattack. Sometimes its hard to decide on a proper fighting position when the enemy's nature and intent are less than clear. Often, one gets the idea that maybe it's best to let them show themselves before moving in.
Thank you much for commenting.
elP
Comment is about PIN (blog)
Original item by nunya
Lynne,
Nice meaty one this.
I write as a long time Socialist party and Trade union executive member, and continuing upholder of the ideals of both.
Concerning equality of opportunity:
During the period of the Thatcher government I was able to retire, take my O and A levels, go on to university, and take two degrees. When they saw this, three of my daughters (two married) and one son, who was also married, (via the Access route or A levels) did the same thing. The girls are now teachers (one a head) and the lad is a Probation officer. Before, they had worked in shops, offices, and as a building laborer. These things were available (freely) to anyone who wanted to use the time available to them to get the qualifications. helped by readily available educational facilities (we used them) The thing we sacrificed was our time.
Concerning Social support and taxation:
During the time of full employment we all payed tax. When Thatcher went for the financial-based economy (allowing the manufacturing side to diminish, via the exchange rate route) she hid the full effect of the resulting unemployment by turning a blind eye to the ease with which the work-less were allowed to
go on to the Invalidity list. (this is now admitted) in this way reducing the electorally unpopular unemployment figures. This initiated the social benefit dependence of the
newly unemployed workers who had formerly payed tax.
(this `bribe for political reasons` was not a cruel thing, but it was definitely the start of the socially dependent problem that we have today, which is causing so much rupture within the traditional working class) The one good thing is that the `in` word is now `equality` and not that stupid (these days) `Poverty`. What we need is equality of
independence so that we can all work - north and south - and pay more tax and less `social`.
To get back to the actual poem (sorry Lynne :))
I can well see the points about ultimate control of the Labour party which are involved, but control involves the duty to elect people who are able to achieve policy in the system that exists (ask Blair). (Anyone can be a Socialist `saint` who just mouths the liturgy, but it`s the actual struggle that counts in the long run - and that depends on - let`s admit it - eloquence and force - force Corbyn hasn`t got)
Comment is about Thoughts of the rebel MP's (blog)
Original item by Lynn Dye
Powerful stuff, Mike. Well written and effectively chilling.
Comment is about To Dust (blog)
Original item by Noetic-fret!
MC – yes, I agree with your comments on the Lib Dems. I was merely giving them credit where it was due on taxation, but I didn’t agree with them becoming Cameron’s puppets.
I think your comments on taxation being too high would have been a more appropriate comment in Harold Wilson’s time. I well remember the George Harrison line in the Beatles’ Taxman –‘there’s one for you, 19 for me’.
Now it’s 45% for over £150,000. It isn’t as though they cannot afford to pay it, is it? Oh, and corporation tax went down from 28% to 21% for profits over £300,000 under the coalition. Meanwhile, selected austerity just punishes the poor.
It has nothing to do with hate. I have friends who are wealthy and are happy to pay their fair share so that others do not have to suffer.
I suppose it depends if we want a fair society or whether we want to go back to pre welfare and pre NHS times. I know I don’t. And judging from some of your comments, I am not sure you do either?
Comment is about Thoughts of the rebel MP's (blog)
Original item by Lynn Dye
Hi Greg. I'm getting a couple poems ready for the paradox competition before 31 July. Can you kindly tell me if stuff I've posted on WOL cannot be included, as most of it has been posted there. Cheers.
Ray
Comment is about Greg Freeman (poet profile)
Original item by Greg Freeman
Thanks Martin. He was very demanding and apparently used the LSO for a session and was not impressed. I remember the girl on vibes , and two drum kits in tandem. Unbelievable.
Cheers, David I 'm glad you picked up on that thought as always spot on. If you could bottle the atmosphere it might be the best thing on the planet. Being an old pro, I feel a lot of music should be just flushed away, but individual moments it's sad to lose. On a deeper level, sensation might be most of what makes a life have any meaning, in this realm at any rate. Therefore seek it out, I say!!
Ray
Comment is about AN EVENING WITH FRANK ZAPPA (blog)
Original item by ray pool
Thanks Martin. I think I may be older than you but we sing from the same hymn sheet ! Trolleybuses with their overhead wires were like big dodgems and great for atmosphere. Brighton did have them, after the trams went - I've got some old punch tickets off the trams with all the destination printed on them. Stop right there!
That area (Walthamstow)by the way was highly depressing but so right for the period!
Ray
Comment is about 1970 (for Greg Freeman) (blog)
Original item by ray pool
I so wish this was POTW!
Comment is about "Read About Him in a Sunday Glossy" (blog)
Original item by Rick Gammon
This is a gently loaded suggestive poem. We could all do with following its advice.
Comment is about Lost to find (blog)
Original item by Sharvari
A Trip to the Dark Side
Robotic voice
commands direction
hospital appointment
all set
then crash
Sat Nav
fell down
back on
but worried
had to
turn round
post code
had changed
when dropped
found out
when seeing
sign marked
Funeral Directors
please enter.
Comment is about Nicola Hulme (poet profile)
Original item by Nicola Hulme
This is a very popular rant I use frequently - it is constantly being modified, calypso style, I like to perform a couple of lugubrious poems and then just before the audience hits comatose whack that in to jerk them awake.
Comment is about "Read About Him in a Sunday Glossy" (blog)
Original item by Rick Gammon
Well done Rick, ee this Hull place must be good; Poem of the Week, Another Hull Poet!!!
Comment is about "Brisbane Road" (blog)
Original item by Rick Gammon
Thanks both. I think concrete is a crap name for the style of poetry but that's what people call it weirdly
Comment is about the key (blog)
Original item by Stuart Buck
elPintor
Wed 27th Jul 2016 01:15
Hey Stu..you know I've spent quite a bit of my adult career as a server of chefs in busy kitchens..one of the most notable experiences was witnessing a chef, veins pulsing full on the forehead, viewing the abbreviation for a meal of the day..
"SHE WROTE PIGS..PIGS..PIGS FOR PIEROGIES..PIGS GODDAMMITT.."
This blaring from the kitchen all the while quiet little servers took the orders of local bankers and engineers who were listening obsequiously from the dining room..excellent..
Comment is about Stuart Buck (poet profile)
Original item by Stuart Buck
elPintor
Wed 27th Jul 2016 00:49
you know Stu, I would've taken "concrete" to mean quite something else, but this will do..There are those of us visual learners who will appreciate shape more than others (possibly)..I also liked the idea of pure worship, though, it is as one god above all others where humans tend to contrive all kinds of ideas..I think of REM "Losing My Religion"..I have definitely lost mine as the world would have told it to me..
Great piece,
elP
Comment is about the key (blog)
Original item by Stuart Buck
Cheers John and Ray
I did try writing this the other way up but realised that it wouldn't make sense John
I must say Ray I am fast getting to the age where I think I will be heading for a bungalow before long so I am jealous
Comment is about Going up (blog)
Original item by Martin Elder
This is a really great poem, I love the dichotomy here of the states that exist. Fantastic
Comment is about I AM (blog)
Original item by Akshara Bhargava
raypool
Sat 30th Jul 2016 11:58
It's never too late, John ! Thanks.
(Getting a grip).
Comment is about John Coopey (poet profile)
Original item by John Coopey