Your bio is fabulous - especially 'on the tarmac' : waiting for take-off is prime poet's time - the suspension of thought and action - always with a tiny prayer tucked in there somewhere as the engines roar. I'll try to catch up with your work.

Comment is about Lucas B. Foley (poet profile)

Original item by Lucas B. Foley

Captivating - catches the scene, activity and mood splendidly. Wow!

Comment is about Pier 39 (blog)

Original item by Lucas B. Foley

A fitting tribute Laura

Comment is about Syrian poet opposed to president is killed by Islamic State extremists (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Charming - a feast of delicious words and sound effects.

Comment is about Synaesthesia (blog)

Original item by Pixievic

And who should be on line but the mighty Greg and Graham - so much for sneaking this on site, on a quiet Monday morning! I couldn't resist it. It was such fun to write.

Comment is about Privacy was never promised ... (blog)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

I've read it John, it a fascinating book that everyone who wants to know where our lingo came from and is interested in the origin of words should read.

Comment is about English (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

Harry

I've never had a long run on stage and never intend to. I therefore do not have to think about my audience. I just like to observe but I will tell the lads when I see them again. Thanks for reading and commenting.

Comment is about Played to Death (blog)

I haven't got that far into it yet, Harry, to find out; it's a bit heavy.
I like the question though. Some time ago I heard on the wireless an ask-around inviting listeners to say what they thought languages sounded like.
French was sexy, German aggressive, American English chewing gum. British English was said to sound like a glass of milk to Johnny Foreigner.
I wonder what we make of Polish or Arabic or Urdu or Spanish. Answers on a postcard please....

Comment is about English (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

Lynn,

This is the trouble with long runs (the need to periodically `rouse oneself`) Think of the audience girl!

Comment is about Played to Death (blog)

Hey Jim, many thanks for your recent comment on my poem!

Comment is about Jim Trott (poet profile)

Original item by Jim Trott

Stu,
The way your line four raps itself out reminds me of some of the things I was thinking about John`s poem next door. (acoustically Anglo Saxon perhaps?)

Anyway, the line `works`.

Comment is about inhale/exhale (blog)

Original item by Stuart Buck

Very interesting John.

I like the thief and whore :)

All the points are valid.

Did he say anything about the sounds of language? (I mean: Why does French always sound so sexy...or German so brutal?)

Comment is about English (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

This one got me thinking again while on holiday.

I once did a lengthy dissertation comparing Milton`s Paradise Lost with Shelly`s Prometheus unbound. (yes, I was that green) I draw an embarrassed veil over the result but the idea of myth has bothered me ever since.

One (dictionary) definition is: `A story that is believed by many people, but that is not true.`

I thought of this definition when a woman on the television declared that she believed in God because deep down in her heart she had to believe that there had to be a place where all the justice and injustice of our world was eventually punished or rewarded.

The truth - or falsity - of this is, of course, not testable on
earth and no one comes back to report on anything post death. In the meantime both justice and injustice go on their usual ways.

I suspect that the power of myth resides in a conviction
that some sort of a desire for a general evening -up is
inherent in human nature. (either supernatural or secular)
...in other words in the power of the word `should`.

This - to me - leaves room for both despairing rage or pius
hope from either side.

I realise Cynthia is talking about the paraphernalia of myth but her last stanza gives room for deeper thought.

Comment is about Do not dismiss Mythology (blog)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

: )
jackie, welcome back
thank you so much for reading this. i was in a big panic to scribble it down after i woke up

keep writing

Comment is about the nightmare of the spray (01/02/2016) (blog)

Original item by Zach Dafoe

Thank you MC it is undoubtably where it starts (and being currently single ends for me!!) I'm glad you enjoyed it!

John - ooooo er indeed!! Thanks xxx

Comment is about Riversong (blog)

Original item by Pixievic

This would go down well at the Saturday Happenings an exhibition going back 50 years which is on next Saturday 26th March 3.30 pm to 4.30 at Stockport Art Gallery!

Comment is about March 2016 Collage Poem (blog)

Original item by Stockport WoL

brilliant. powerful, nocturnal and eerie all shot through with enough sexy alliteration to last a lifetime.

and it made me want to listen to styx which, i am sure, was the point.

Comment is about At the gates of Hades (blog)

Original item by Leo

Even if they're all the same colour/pattern, they never match up properly! I think there must be a sock fairy with an evil sense of humour! Like this one David.

Comment is about Socks (blog)

Original item by David Lindsay

Brilliant, Steve. I enjoyed this and agree with your comments too.

Comment is about IDS (blog)

Original item by steve pottinger

Very much appreciated Mark. One of the rare piers that offer entertainment , maybe the only one left now! I have worked there as a pianist - a nightmare to back the band coach from the high street on to the parking area.

Comment is about ON CROMER PIER (blog)

Original item by ray pool

You're right, MC. Politicians who resign on principle are rare indeed. But it would be stretching credulity way way way beyond breaking point to suggest that's what happened here.

So I didn't.

Comment is about IDS (blog)

Original item by steve pottinger

Hello MC. Like many I have a distaste for Dr Beeching. But I recognise it has its roots in nostalgia.
I have just bought a copy of his report so I'll be wiser shortly but I recollect reading somewhere that 90% of traffic travelled on 10% of the track. Financial measures were similarly skewed.
As travellers we aspired to cars and Beeching can scarcely be criticised for not predicting the case for rail travel in the 21st century (road congestion, carbon footprint).
In any event the full scale of rail cutbacks owed far more to the incoming Labour government than to Beeching's recommendations.

Comment is about 60103 (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

A theme which deserves attention - with some fine lines.
I love the image of Cromer pier waiting on tiptoes in its
time-faded existence...struggling to continue in
competition with holiday attractions of a foreign sort.

Comment is about ON CROMER PIER (blog)

Original item by ray pool

JC - like you, I've got (somewhere!) share certificates for
a steam railway - in my case, it was "The Watercress Line"
in Hampshire, bought when the company put out ads.
of its prospectus inviting public investment. It is now one
of the more successful preserved railways and I wonder
sometimes if I will ever get any benefit from my shares
other than the satisfaction of knowing that dreams don't
always die. I imagine Dr. Beeching as being somewhere
tormented by the sound of continual wailing of dying
steam trains sent for destruction.

Comment is about 60103 (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

Politicians who resign from office on a matter or principle are as rare as hens' teeth. IDS's father - a
WW2 fighter pilot, would surely have approved of taking such a stand.
I've never thought that "austerity" measures which cut
back on essential services here in the UK are in any way
compatible with paying billions of pounds per annum to
a Brussels based bottomless pit which resists accounting
of its finances, even to forcing those who try from their
employment.

Comment is about IDS (blog)

Original item by steve pottinger

Enlightened rulers should make an effort to understand
the motives and the words of the writers in their midst
and harvest their talents to the benefit of being
acknowledged accordingly in a shrinking world with fewer
hiding places for despots.

Comment is about Surprise release of pardoned Qatari poet after four years in jail (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Blimey, the things that happen while I`m on a few days holiday!

I think what made I.D.S. move (and will gain him support) is the sight of those wheel-chair protesters already out there in the streets...And this at a time when pension tax benefit for the well off is (however temporarily) off the table for Brexit reasons...(no wonder certain Tory m.p`s are already feeling the cold draught of the next election...
there couldn`t be a clearer case of unfairness.

Given the electoral consequences of possibly dumping the pensioner`s t.v. and bus passes. ( plus the Tory dislike of
flat rate pension tax relief) It looks like austerity ambitions
of the chancellor are not going to be in place in time for the next election.

Even Corby`s guy is sounding more reasonable.

Comment is about IDS (blog)

Original item by steve pottinger

I like a large banana with mine!

Comment is about Paul Blackburn (poet profile)

Original item by Paul Blackburn

Thanks, Stu. The charity shops were certainly piggy-backing the Flying Scotsman. Their shop windows were crammed with railway books, DVDs, models, mugs, caps etc. I myself invested in a copy of the Beeching Report (£1.50).
Thirty years ago Me and Our Gert bought £100-worth of shares each, for which we get to ride the train for free. All very well and good but I am disappointed that the staff don't touch their fore locks at us and greet us with a cheery "Master Coopey!"

Comment is about 60103 (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

Agreed, Stu. When I first heard he'd resigned, I assumed it was because the Treasury was retreating on the disability cuts. Turns out IDS has some sort of conscience after all, or claims he has. Things certainly don't go better with coke. Nice poetic/political analysis in a few lines, Steve.

Comment is about IDS (blog)

Original item by steve pottinger

pickering has the finest second hand bookshop in the world. its run by a loon but still.

i spent many a day at that railway station and on the track (on a train not standing there)

this is a beautiful ode and i love the numeric rhymes.

Comment is about 60103 (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

it begs the question, how bad do policies have to get regarding the disabled for the person who essentially destroyed half of remploy (one of the best things this country does for the disabled) to stand up and say 'thats not right'.

Comment is about IDS (blog)

Original item by steve pottinger

short sentences for sexual offenders just isn't right! Thank you.Jemima.

Comment is about It Trickles Down Your Leg (blog)

Original item by Nigel Astell

instant custard, you can't beat it

Comment is about It Trickles Down Your Leg (blog)

Original item by Nigel Astell

Thanks, Ray. I'm really glad you enjoyed 13th floor. It's a true story, and one I really wanted to tell.

Comment is about steve pottinger (poet profile)

Original item by steve pottinger

For full protection
to your body
apply sun lotion.

Last weekend to see Where is The Heart of Stockport?

at Stockport Art Gallery today 10am to 5pm
tomorrow 11am to 5pm.

Comment is about Stockport WoL (group profile)

Original item by Stockport WoL

I found your initial comment - saying that you had no words - very powerful and moving, Laura. That you were then able to find the words with your poem is admirable and remarkable. Thank you.

Comment is about Syrian poet opposed to president is killed by Islamic State extremists (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

My mum our mum truly touching evokes memories of a truly tragic time in our lives we loved her and unassuming ways well written jon heart breaks every day thinking her release from this world ... hope she is happier in the next one from your sis Christine ( : xxxx

Comment is about Her star (blog)

Original item by Jon Darby

Just read your sample - 13th floor. Not that you need praise, but I thought this was etched nay incised in words so vivid and direct that it was like a body blow. Certainly a wonderful read for me. Ray

Comment is about steve pottinger (poet profile)

Original item by steve pottinger

Thanks, Steve. We saw it in Pickering on Wednesday. The crowds wouldn't have been any bigger if it had been Elvis.

Comment is about 60103 (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

After the news about Mohammad Bashir al-Aani, the relevance of this event is – sadly – greater than ever.

Comment is about Literature festival aims to connect with writers at risk across the world (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Beautifully put together, this poem. A bit like the loco.

Comment is about 60103 (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

If you could bottle the scent of smoke and steam and oil and sell it as perfume, MC, you'd make a fortune.

Comment is about 60103 (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

For Mohammad

in a hot place a hot scribe writes fire
fears no evil
sits with a lit cigarette
bears an innocuous pen and makes marks;
page imprints in oppositional ink

not a bullet, gun, or bomb
not a sniper, missile,
or suicidal child
not dictating
only writing

in a hot place a hot scribe sets fire to ideas
fears no evil
leaves a phoenix to rise from rebellious ashes
the colour of courage
and faith

Comment is about Syrian poet opposed to president is killed by Islamic State extremists (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

jeez! we aint gotta put up with you again have we?

'working class kid'

blah
blah
blah

'middle class accent?

bollox!

get back to the Boars Head in Middleton
where yer belong

(doing a fucking brill job)

well it sounds brill when we're pissed (alcoholically)

P&S

Comment is about A voice said (blog)

Original item by Paul Blackburn

I should add, hastily, that I was the sole purchaser only because Cathy had brought just two books along for her reading and none to sell; not because of any lack of interest in purchase by other audience members. Buy these books if you get chance. They are truly superb.

Comment is about Poetry by gaslight: the fire burns bright with Bradford's Beehive Poets (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Otherwise typically excellent this, it is a poor review that neglects one of its major contributors, first-up guest poet Greg Freeman, with his assured delivery and wonderfully evocative, beautifully understated poems, particularly the one telling of his father's time on the death railway contrasting with his pre-war quiet job as a railwayman.

A great guest spot, Greg. You were, almost literally, on fire.

I agree about the overall standard of poetry, too. I felt particularly privileged both to hear Cathy Benson's magnificent poems, and have the privilege of being the sole purchaser of her books, complete with her handwritten notes therein. I read the books heading West over the Atlantic, and was transported back to my own childhood. A great evening in a great venue with some great poets.

Comment is about Poetry by gaslight: the fire burns bright with Bradford's Beehive Poets (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Thanks all for commenting. For broadening the context David ! Gossamer does suggest a slightly sexual element , but to no " a veil ". Haha.

Comment is about DANSE MACABRE (blog)

Original item by ray pool

Perhaps you were protected by the religious nature of the flapjack Stu. It seems rather strange that the idea of an allergy should be suggested before the experience of it. Which comes first, the chicken or the nut? I grew up with rationing, and in those days no allergies ever mentioned. (old fart).

Comment is about nut (blog)

Original item by Stuart Buck

Reminds me of Philip Larkin's famous lines about what
your mum and dad do to you!
(They don't mean to but they do).

Comment is about nut (blog)

Original item by Stuart Buck