Ps. What do think the odds are on POTW?

Comment is about POTW concerns (blog)

Sorry Lynn for misinterpreting your work.
I merely meant that if the topic was placed on the discussion pages, it would stand a better chance of being debated in a wider forum.

Comment is about POTW concerns (blog)

agree wholeheartedly with you Graham.

P&S

Comment is about POTW concerns (blog)

Hi Graham. Thanks for you inbox message confirming that the judges will not reveal their identities.

I will write what I want where I want. It's a poem and it's just a bit of fun!

Lynn x

Comment is about POTW concerns (blog)

the title drew me right in.

A "graphite beam" bearing observer and a muse..it seems a well conveyed tribute to enamoration with the peculiarities that coexist with the ordinary.

It is almost as if it were our perceptions of who (or what) we love must be treasured and guarded as much as the object of love itself.

I like it.

Comment is about sometimes the only way to react to this life is to find hope in stupid things. (blog)

Original item by Stuart Buck

POTW has been running for only 3-4 weeks or so and has been well received.

Perhaps this thread belongs on the discussion section and not amongst the blogs!

Oh! And by the way Lynn, this is meant to be fun and each nominated poet does have the right of refusal.

Comment is about POTW concerns (blog)

hi kimafia.Hope you get to win dude.

P&S xx

Comment is about New Beginnings (blog)

Original item by kimafia Jones

Lovely work, Chris. I particularly like that last stanza! And thanks to you I now know what a 'tourdion' is, too.

Comment is about 'Tourdion' by Chris Stevenson is Write Out Loud's Poem of the Week (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

cheers david. the shape just grew naturally. it took quite a long time to work out the different anagrams (dont know if you'd noticed but everything is an anagram of the first line).

Comment is about sad news (blog)

Original item by Stuart Buck

Lynn check your PM

Comment is about 'Airways, Breathing, Circulation' by Peter Knaggs is Poem of the Week (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Now this POTW (in my opinion) is a positive example of well earned notoriety.

Wish I were capable of producing such a fresh approach to this eternally well worn theme. Excellent

Comment is about 'Tourdion' by Chris Stevenson is Write Out Loud's Poem of the Week (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Could somebody answer my previous question please?

Comment is about 'Airways, Breathing, Circulation' by Peter Knaggs is Poem of the Week (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Hahaha! Love it xx

Comment is about SNAIL INTELLIGENCE (blog)

Original item by ray pool

Beautiful ugly - love that xx

Comment is about sometimes the only way to react to this life is to find hope in stupid things. (blog)

Original item by Stuart Buck

Hey Stu - been away for a bit - you know life stuff .....!! Thanks for reading & commenting on SeaDreams - I'm so pleased you liked it!! :)) xx

Comment is about Stuart Buck (poet profile)

Original item by Stuart Buck

Thanks Helen for taking the time to read & comment on SeaReams - I'm glad you liked it xx

Comment is about Helen (poet profile)

Original item by Helen

Thanks again Bill & Helen for taking time out to read & comment :)) xx

Comment is about Sea Dreams (blog)

Original item by Pixievic

it's just so beautiful....
cuddos for ur thoughts

Comment is about Beauty Day (blog)

Original item by Joshua

this is an excellent piece of writing that i had completely missed. i have no doubt it will inspire 30 odd comments like the previous piece...

Comment is about 'Tourdion' by Chris Stevenson is Write Out Loud's Poem of the Week (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

very moving piece Michael.Thank you.Jemima.

Comment is about Live On - Awake Till Death (blog)

Original item by Noetic-fret!

Mike, what has your years of support and threats of violence to do with the facts, the bald lies and state abuse? (I went to my first match in 1964) Tommy

Comment is about 'Airways, Breathing, Circulation' by Peter Knaggs is Poem of the Week (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Maybe we all suffer frustration starting with school when our young minds felt nowhere to dwell in the adult sphere, and that curse is carried on into adult life - which again is full of curses and pettiness . I understand fully the sentiment , it is wonderfully clear.

Ray

Comment is about Splendid Is The Flower (blog)

Original item by Ian Whiteley

As always, MC, your opinion disagrees with my own but you express it cogently and with courtesy.
I will supersede this post with another shortly which should encourage the ending of comments.

Comment is about SHOULD WE STAY OR SHOULD WE GO? (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

Just one more thing if I may.

All praise and no criticism diverts 'Promise' from the open road to perfection. Into a cul-de-sac named mediocre.

Bout time a line was drawn under this one 'eh.

Comment is about 'Airways, Breathing, Circulation' by Peter Knaggs is Poem of the Week (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

The EC decision to choose "harmonisation" instead of a
proper free trade arrangement led to massive regulation,
legislation, unrestricted immigration and resultant costs.
As part of this Union (referring to 2014 figures) we run
a trade deficit with the EU at £61.5 billion - and a
surplus with the rest of the world. The UK pays towards
EU costs the sum of £55 million per day to keep its
red tape empire on the road, including the commitment
to "progressive realisation of economic and monetary union".
Ergo, to remain within its grip sees the Euro waiting, as
well as irresistible policies that might be forced upon
us in the future about which we would have no choice
but to accept, no matter how damaging to this small
country, its products and its services. In the meantime,
the vast world beyond the EU looks on and waits.
Do we take a chance on freedom on our own terms
or let ourselves become hostages to the plans of
an entity with little love for us or our country?
The date in June is indeed a date with destiny.
Enough from me! It's been a most interesting
exchange of views on this post...thanks.

Comment is about SHOULD WE STAY OR SHOULD WE GO? (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

Indeed, Lancs. But there is no question that there is a usage beyond its origin, a la "Putting the Great back into Britain". Check out the Facebook page entitled this. Check out the government's plan to market Great Britain abroad as a tourist destination.

Comment is about SHOULD WE STAY OR SHOULD WE GO? (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

It's a different member of the editorial team each week, on a rota basis (more or less, depending on availability, free time, and enthusiasm).

Since the POTW is about the *poem* not the person who picked it, and because we've agreed it as a team, their identity remains a closely-guarded secret even from themselves.

Nothing to stop you thinking "I'll bet so-and-so picked that one" if you want to, mind. But, really, it's all about the poem.

Comment is about Coming soon ... picking a Poem of the Week on Write Out Loud (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

So who picks the POTW? Who are they? Ta Tommy

Comment is about Coming soon ... picking a Poem of the Week on Write Out Loud (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Thanks Wolfie,
You are the first person ever to read and comment on my words. (Except for my primary school teacher!)
As a poetry virgin, I wasn't expecting the lift I felt when I read your comment.
It inspires me to write more. Thanks.

Comment is about Will I Do? (blog)

Original item by Chrissy R.

Phil,your explantion tells where the rot probably set in,but both of you did try your best in dealing with it.

No more whatsoever could be asked for.

Well tried,to the both of you.


Rose.x

Comment is about My mate Nick. (blog)

Original item by mentalelf. Philk.

Steven, you might be correct on your theorising regarding emotion. Unfortunately I think you may have misread what Ken wrote. I don't think he suggested it was lacking emotion. In fact I think he implies the opposite, saying that if drained of its emotion, he thought it unremarkable. Which seems to have been disproved here as there have been quite a few remarks. All be they, not all exclusively about the piece itself. Your response is a good example of how things may be misinterpreted and then subsequently cause some displeasure to some. Of course I may have missed something, but having reviewed several times I don't think so.

Harry.

Comment is about 'Airways, Breathing, Circulation' by Peter Knaggs is Poem of the Week (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Anyone who says this poem is devoid of emotion obviously has no notion of how to convey emotion in a poem. You don't tell everyone what the emotion is, you show it through the words and the action of the poem. Here, it also comes through in the long sentences broken into short clauses that give a desperate, breathless energy to the piece. As a dramatic monologue in the voice of an ambulance man, it does not use any flowery poetic language because the character would not use that kind of language. There's an edge of barely controlled anger at the journalist, as well as seeing a man trying to concentrate on the ABC's of his job.

I don't blame people for making the assumption that this is about Hillsborough; it is after all, in the news. But this could be about any disaster in a stadium.

I think it's an excellent example of what poetry can do: this is not merely a memorial of a sad event, it's a kind of re-enactment through the imagination. I'd even use the word 'anamnesis' about it: like the Eucharistic service in church brings the body of the crucified Christ right into the church with us, this is bringing back a disaster into our living rooms.

Comment is about 'Airways, Breathing, Circulation' by Peter Knaggs is Poem of the Week (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Thank you for those words everyone David, Lynne, Steve, Rose, and the palatine.
Nicky died a while ago now when I was shipping out of NewZealand.
Nicky was never going to win, His dad was a drinker and his sons were drinkers. In his day he had been a brilliant engineer.
He was on a ferry that run aground in rough weather, he was in charge of a lifeboat as they abandoned ship, unfortunately they turned over in the weather and half his passengers drowned... he'd panicked and didn't start the engine properly, he never really overcame that. Stopped blaming himself.
I could talk sense to him but I could never overcome his self loathing.

Comment is about My mate Nick. (blog)

Original item by mentalelf. Philk.

Graham,

Thanks for the lovely feedback. I had the idea festering in my mental allotment for a couple of months before trying to do something with it. I'm really glad you like it.

Cheers,
Paul

Comment is about Mare's Tail (blog)

Original item by Paul A M Palmer

Hello Joshua,

Just a word of advice. you seem to have posted a poem on the Discussion section of the site instead of the Blog section.

If you would like others to read and comment on your work it would be more visible on the Blog section.

The discussion section is typically where a more general topic is aired and given a good old throw around.

very best regards, and keep posting!

Comment is about Joshua (poet profile)

Original item by Joshua

I too have felt your pain Paul!

I love the analogy too. how it is important to get to the heart of the matter to remove/expel it and if not done properly, may well return, often with a vengeance!

Nice idea, nice piece!

Well done

Graham

Comment is about Mare's Tail (blog)

Original item by Paul A M Palmer

Mare's Tail is a poem based on an experience of trying (with my Dad) to maintain an allotment near Pontefract Castle. We were repeatedly given (the same) advice from another gardener when trying to remove Mare's Tail from the patch of ground we were clearing.

This gardener told us that they used Mare's Tail to bind the earth to build the motte and bailey castle and that's why it was found in the allotments nearby where we were digging. Of course, being a retired gardener with all the time in the world, he frowned upon us part-timers who were at school (me) or at work (my Dad) not putting the effort in to remove the Mare's Tail.

It occurred to me that we can sometimes use an event or a memory to bind our emotions and build some edifice (the mountain out of a molehill syndrome!), and I wrote the poem to combine this thought with a rather obscure memory from my youth.

Comment is about Mare's Tail (blog)

Original item by Paul A M Palmer

love it!

cheers Joshua.


Rose

Comment is about Beauty Day (blog)

Original item by Joshua

having read,feel as though I have physically been with you,all the way through this sad journey.

Stunning piece Phil.

Rose

Comment is about My mate Nick. (blog)

Original item by mentalelf. Philk.

cheers all. much appreciated as always!

Comment is about sad/beautiful (blog)

Original item by Stuart Buck

A powerful piece, Phil. Beautifully observed.

Comment is about My mate Nick. (blog)

Original item by mentalelf. Philk.

There's a lot to comment on here! Firstly, it's good to see a POTW draw such a response: our hope when we started it was that it would stimulate debate, introduce people to poems they might otherwise have missed, and showcase a piece of work we felt deserved it.

It's also worth remembering it's a bit of fun. You may read the POTW and wonder what the fuss is about, or think you could write (or have written) something better. You may love – or hate – the style, the subject matter, or the language. That's all fine. POTW is, as I said, a bit of fun, and a chance to give a poet the oxygen of a little publicity, a day (well, a week actually) in the sun.

So, if you *don't* like the poem, and want to say so, I would respectfully suggest that something as simple as adding "I think..." to your comment is not only a good move, but also good manners. (If you're not convinced, imagine the difference between being told "You're rubbish" and "I think you're rubbish"). Doing so doesn't, in any way, stop you expressing your opinion!

For those who may have missed it, all the information regarding the POTW, and how it is chosen, is here: http://www.writeoutloud.net/public/blogentry.php?blogentryid=55344

Comment is about 'Airways, Breathing, Circulation' by Peter Knaggs is Poem of the Week (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Me again! Could somebody please clarify who the Judge/s actually are for these poems. Other writers may be aware but I'm not.

Comment is about 'Airways, Breathing, Circulation' by Peter Knaggs is Poem of the Week (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Thank you Lynn... I value your comments xx

Comment is about To be a Nobelman or pauper? (blog)

Original item by Ria Richardson

Wow!

Lynn x

Comment is about unwritten (blog)

Original item by Corr Lens

Hi Phil

Oh my I'm not sure where to start. You've managed with your words to transport me head and heart first into the dilemas, complexities and frustrations of this relationship.

Thank you

Lynn x

Comment is about My mate Nick. (blog)

Original item by mentalelf. Philk.

Hi Ian

Really enjoyed reading your words.

Lynn x

Comment is about Splendid Is The Flower (blog)

Original item by Ian Whiteley

Hi Ria

Our paths have crossed and sometimes that can dampen a comment but I absoluetly love this piece. This comment comes bone dry.

Lynn x

Comment is about To be a Nobelman or pauper? (blog)

Original item by Ria Richardson

Very nice, Stu. I totally agree with Martin about the lines. Fellas, if you love someone just tell them.

Lynn x

Comment is about sad/beautiful (blog)

Original item by Stuart Buck

Well-spoken, Ian..

It can be difficult to bare one's inner thoughts. Our most common interactions with others can be so mundane because truth is more than superficial. And, sometimes, our truths become fodder for the common when they are spoken.

Thank you for this, Ian.

elPintor

Comment is about Splendid Is The Flower (blog)

Original item by Ian Whiteley