This is a lovely poem Vicki that describes the pain and stress evident in this. It reads almost like a song to me.
Nice one.
Comment is about En Pointe (blog)
Original item by Pixievic
<Deleted User> (6895)
Mon 7th Mar 2016 16:49
Very nice Simon. I love the flow and pace of this poem that seems to positively rattle along with such verve and a great use of words. Nice one
Comment is about She (blog)
Original item by Simon Austin
This is a really great poem Tommy. I love the description of 'gathered gently like the corners of a folded towel'. Wonderful
Comment is about Her shadowed look (blog)
Original item by Tommy Carroll
THanks Vicki; this account fleshes the whole thing out.
Sorry that it impacts in this way - I still play and try to give my best - working with younger people is great , as age is no real barrier!
Ray x
Comment is about En Pointe (blog)
Original item by Pixievic
thanks all - you are right, its a fine idea. urn or coffin shaped is a must.
Comment is about free bird (blog)
Original item by Stuart Buck
Laura's made a good point there Stu.
I think we've all got our three "Crem Songs" already lined up and this subject would make a great genre of poetry. I wonder if anyone else would care to add to the mix as it were?
Comment is about free bird (blog)
Original item by Stuart Buck
:) My brother's best friend had this for his funeral song. Never seen so many smiling faces in a crem before. Took us all right back in the day. I was fully expecting some to stand up with their air guitars, REALLY send him out!
Damn though, what a great idea for a poem. I shall leave it a decent 6 months before pinching it ;)
Comment is about free bird (blog)
Original item by Stuart Buck
Thanks for your note on Mothering Sunday, ray. Hope all's well with you :)
Comment is about ray pool (poet profile)
Original item by ray pool
Thanks for your note on Mothering Sunday, Greg.
Comment is about Greg Freeman (poet profile)
Original item by Greg Freeman
I love this poem. Thanks so much for giving me a copy. As predicted, it made my son chuckle. Lisa
Comment is about Hey Hipster (blog)
Original item by dazzer
Thank you Ray - I'm an ex ballerina (professional until an injury) this was inspired by a composition a friend of mine wrote - a haunting lone piano. I hope you still get to play!! Xx
Comment is about En Pointe (blog)
Original item by Pixievic
Enjoyed your Thoughts at Christmas, M.C.
Comment is about M.C. Newberry (poet profile)
Original item by M.C. Newberry
Light Not Dark and Dark not Light are better read alongside each other. Part of a 55 selection of poems I have written under the subject Dark & Light where some stuff is whimsical and the rest is definitely not.
Inspiration - well that was just recording how I felt at the time - still need something to dust the lampshade... Nah. Just having some fun.
Anyway, enjoy or otherwise. Any feedback always welcome. I am new to this lark since being forced out of work for a year, so decided to fill my time writing rubbish. God, I so need a job now. Skint. I am only a dustbin man after all, which is why the rubbish comes so naturally to me. But a broken ankle and ribs have not helped the cause. Anyway, I'll skip that part.
Comment is about Dark & Light (blog)
Original item by Andy Smyth
Sat 5th Mar 2016 23:31
Very nicely 'framed Ray.Love the ending.
Thank you.Jemima
Comment is about THE CYCLIST (blog)
Original item by ray pool
I'm pleased that you have picked up on Touchdown, Cynthia, and especially that you havn't sought fit to invade its contents! I know you often bristle with ideas, and I feel quite happy to try to give an account if I can of my intentions. As to its cleverness, perhaps it doesn't really open itself up, but is frozen in a world of weirdness, and maybe that is its strength. I wanted to indicate the vulnerability and also the invasive naivety of the explorer mentality as against the enormity of arriving on Mars with its laying of flags which justifies the act itself. This account sounds grandiose, I'm sorry, but I had dismissed any chance of it appealing to anybody! I do try to present a view of things that often lay outside the norm, shall we say.
Thanks a lot for your interest.
Comment is about Cynthia Buell Thomas (poet profile)
Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas
A very eloquent tribute to the beauty of sound and its convolutions . As a pianist myself I am always aware of the responsibility to fully express the best of the music. A rather sad termination of a natural desire - wings clipped as it were.
Ray
Comment is about En Pointe (blog)
Original item by Pixievic
<Deleted User> (6895)
Sat 5th Mar 2016 20:28
Great poem.Suggestion? last line,second sentence-
'But no one on earth can save something DISHEARTENED?
P&S
Comment is about Heartless (blog)
Original item by Karina
As someone with a sink, draining board and small food
cupboard here in my small rented flat, the images
conjured up here made me smile in relief that I have no
personal chance of such fancy domestic accoutrements.
But I'm sure there are those who would drool over the
equipment almost as much as the food they are meant
to serve.
Comment is about Kitchen-Made (blog)
Original item by Yvonne Brunton
What better cause can a person have than to bring a
smile to the day?..and this does the job.
Comment is about Sometimes Love Strikes When It Isn't Expected (blog)
Original item by George Stanworth
Hi George - your comment on "Dog Dancing" is much
appreciated from a poet with your own range of
imagery and humour.
Comment is about George Stanworth (poet profile)
Original item by George Stanworth
Wyrd bid ful araed, Yvonne. Fate is inexorable.
Comment is about YGGDRASIL (blog)
Original item by John Coopey
A great observation and imagery again MC. I always enjoy reading your poetry.
George
Comment is about DOG DANCING (blog)
Original item by M.C. Newberry
oh what a tangled web they weave
That leads Man carelessly to believe
His one insatiable goal:
To have the world in his control.
Great poem with the rhythm pulsing inexorably, emphasising the theme of no escape from fate.
I enjoyed this.
Comment is about YGGDRASIL (blog)
Original item by John Coopey
A great concept neatly encapsulated. Set me off looking at my old scars and reminiscing. Really enjoyed this.
Comment is about Scars are my stories (blog)
Original item by Marnanel Thurman
Sat 5th Mar 2016 10:01
'Premature Appreciation' has ruined fine narration evenings in my experience. People turn their backs, to purchase Dufmeister, and I am left spot-lit, alone behind a microphone, my face mid-syllable, is an indignation for my face, their disrespect, I say, 'respect my art,' I say and 'let me finish the chap book,' I say. Finally all facing me, to hear me say one line 'and a refulgent sky-line,' I say 'the end,' does feel foolish for me. Those people deserve another poem for that, I start again, read the same poem twice, sometimes, three times sometimes, the whole collection if they are not listening 'properly.' You can tell in their eyes.
Comment is about Applause or the sound of silence - should you clap between poems? (article)
Original item by Greg Freeman
<Deleted User> (6895)
Fri 4th Mar 2016 23:17
having read this brilliant poem earlier has inspired us to knock up a fiery type poem being blogged shortly.
Great stuff T.A.
P&S
Comment is about My dad (blog)
Original item by Tramping Artisan
I am not and will never be a performance poet, but the few I have seen choreographed their performances very well and the applause arrived when they wanted it to.
Comment is about Applause or the sound of silence - should you clap between poems? (article)
Original item by Greg Freeman
I have thought quite hard about this since seeing the article and the truth is that I don't really mind.
The thing that matters most is that the audience are listening and engaged, how they show that isn't too important because although I do still read I watch the audience quite a lot while doing so; smiles, laughs, applause, stunned silence and applause all communicate the mood.
Reading to or working with groups of people in very different environments I fully expect different reactions - but provoking thoughts and emotions in the audience (ideally with visible or audible reactions) is in part the purpose of most of what I read.
Comment is about Applause or the sound of silence - should you clap between poems? (article)
Original item by Greg Freeman
I like this. It speaks volumes in a few spiked words. IMO, very, very clever. But I may be reading things you never intended; but maybe not.
Comment is about TOUCHDOWN (blog)
Original item by ray pool
Hi Anilla, I loved 'Time.' Welcome to WOL. I look forward to reading more from you. Emer
Comment is about Anilla Dawn (poet profile)
Original item by Anilla Dawn
I don't think that you have lost a piece of your soul, I think you are just an old soul feeling a bit lost and scared in this big world. :-)
Comment is about Time (blog)
Original item by Anilla Dawn
There is nothing worthless about Wales, iconic country that 'she' is, worldwide. 'She', like a ship, whose destiny is movement from one point to another, over deep insecure waters, whatever the purpose might be.
Isn't 'destiny' and 'destination' a marvellous thought provoker?
Love your work, David.
Comment is about WHERE IS WALES (blog)
Original item by David Subacchi
I actually like applause after each poem. It's very encouraging.
I expressly ask not to have clapping if I read three or more poems upon a particular theme, and I prefer the 'intended' thought process to be uninterrupted until the conclusion.
I have goofed with 'endings', usually if my paper wobbles out of my control as I'm turning a sheet etc. Entirely my own fault; but it sure is a mood-breaker. I'm shy of memorising these days - or just plain lazy. Maybe 2016!
Comment is about Applause or the sound of silence - should you clap between poems? (article)
Original item by Greg Freeman
Clearly inspired, this is a very moving reminder of other
times and other ways, lovingly linked to personal memories.
Hugely enjoyable for a number of reasons. I spent my formative years in the Wiltshire and Berkshire countryside,
in homes without central heating, becoming something of
an expert lighting fires using the ritual described so
eloquently in these lines, happy to feel the heat that
helped dispel the chill and the remaining ice on the inside
of ground floor windows - while my mother busied herself
at the Aga cooker in the adjoining kitchen, itself needed
the skill of familiarity to get it going.
As another comment observed - this "will resonate with
many men of a certain age"...and that includes me.
Comment is about My dad (blog)
Original item by Tramping Artisan
Hi Stu Glad you like the latest offering. Yes, I believe I've pretty well enough for a book now, although I have a few more pieces on the back burner. I've actually done a few tweaks to the 'Golden Lesson', so I'm going to repost it. These days on WOL if I just edit, my picture goes. Very annoying.
Comment is about Stuart Buck (poet profile)
Original item by Stuart Buck
Thanks Jem and Stu. Do I not respect such a glorious aspect of life - yes, but anything's fair game for me.,
and it was "tongue in cheek. "
Don't know which poem either Stu. Water bottles can also be sensuous .....
Ray
Comment is about SEXUAL UNION (blog)
Original item by ray pool
Thanks Stu. I can't possibly accept any praise after this poem but it still feels good!
Comment is about FALSE MODESTY (blog)
Original item by ray pool
Cheers, Ray. I think everyone thinks their voice is more sonorous until you hear it played back. Mine always seems a timorous squawk to me!
Comment is about YGGDRASIL (blog)
Original item by John Coopey
Fabulous! A free to enter competition - more of these please!!
Comment is about Entry free for £200 poetry competition on politics (article)
Original item by Greg Freeman
A wonderful ride through a certain period and strikes a chord right to the core. Powerfully nostalgic and moving ; when you lose parents the black hole can be the fire.
Ray
Comment is about My dad (blog)
Original item by Tramping Artisan
I think it would be unwise for an open mic night to make a rule about this. Every poet is different in their content and their presentation. We do tell the audience if we know the person is reading for the first time, to give them a great big Puzzle Poets welcome, and that helps most first timers, who do come back. We have one guest, with a 20-25 min set at the start of the night (unless held up by snow etc.) and these are usually experienced readers who give clear clues to the audience about when a poem ends, or if there are a few together that work better uninterrupted. Audience and readers sometimes give or read the wrong cues and interruptions sometimes happen, but we are a warm and forgiving lot at Puzzle Poets (which by the way is now at the BLIND PIG next Monday as the Puzzle is temporarily? closed) and we are always quick to offer an extra round of applause.
Comment is about Applause or the sound of silence - should you clap between poems? (article)
Original item by Greg Freeman
Aha! this is a piece that will resonate with many men of a certain age.
I vividly remember shivering in a thick dressing gown while my father twisted diagonally and tightly rolled pages of the Daily Express into firelighters. One page would also be held across the fireplace to help draw the flames (and often went up in flames itself!).
He would then go to his ablutions and return with his trousers half up and down before standing in front of the fire to carefully tuck in his vest and shirt with a warmed bottom.
As I said, very fond memories that your piece has rekindled!
Comment is about My dad (blog)
Original item by Tramping Artisan
Listening to your rendition of this fine poem for me was a great experience and illustrates so sharply how a good reading can convey a poem John.
I envy your measured tones - dare I try this at home?!
Ray
Comment is about YGGDRASIL (blog)
Original item by John Coopey
all i can think about when i read this is that bloody advert where the kid says 'express delivery' at the end. i cant for the life of me remember which advert it is though.
great poem by the way, amusingly sticky in its language.
Comment is about SEXUAL UNION (blog)
Original item by ray pool
a fine grasp of metaphor in this one. self effacing and humurous. the last lines are great.
Comment is about FALSE MODESTY (blog)
Original item by ray pool
M.C. Newberry
Mon 7th Mar 2016 18:09
If I was a performance poet I think I'd prefer any applause
to come after each poem - why should the final line plus
body language be that hard to communicate "the end" to an audience?
Volume (or lack) would act as an appreciation - or spur to greater things.
Comment is about Applause or the sound of silence - should you clap between poems? (article)
Original item by Greg Freeman