Thanks, Ian. I missed yours first time round. It certainly adds to what I knew about Yggdrasil.
Comment is about YGGDRASIL (blog)
Original item by John Coopey
Thanks Stu. I thought of you in your bolthole! I have a friend from South Wales who has promised to convert this into valleyspeak; I hope to post that in due course. (by 'ere.)
Such a lyrical language- you can always practise on the road signs.
Thanks Wolfie - identify thou dost !
Thanks Jemima - the joy of reading such effulgent(gulp) comments makes WOL a nice experience. I have the book of the scripts and enjoyed it, but never seen the actual boathouse etc. The wooden cross sounds too basic -but who knows? Your corpse seeking worms was fine by the way, a hyphen between would have eradicated any confusion - just a thought.
Thanks Colin: bring it on. The DTs maybe brought on by matching pints to poems?
Ray
Comment is about A VISITOR IN WALES (blog)
Original item by ray pool
Wed 2nd Mar 2016 11:48
Hi Laura, thanks for your comment on Ad Libbing. Funny, unlike the title, this one did take a bit of work and rewriting etc, so glad you like it. The 're-right' was on purpose, kind of cheesy, but somehow had to be that way. Thanks again :)
Comment is about Laura Taylor (poet profile)
Original item by Laura Taylor
<Deleted User> (13762)
Wed 2nd Mar 2016 11:09
I go to a poems and pints evening at Brown's Hotel in Laugharne once a month - where the hallowed drunk used to drink - just over there in the bow window next to the mic and amp - in staggering distance of his boat house and writing shed - everyone here's got the DT's now - can't wait to get out me.
Comment is about A VISITOR IN WALES (blog)
Original item by ray pool
Wed 2nd Mar 2016 10:34
Theres lovely for you boyo! excellent piece Ray.I think I am right in saying your reference to Thomas is of one of my all time fave poets Dylan-Under Milkwood-wowsers! I have actually visited his little house/boat house on the Laugharne estuary and nearby cemetery where he is buried.Must say I was surprised to see it only had a little wooden cross on it unless a headstone has been erected since then? But in walking through the house I could DEFINITELY feel his presence-and WHAT a beautiful feeling that was! even remembering having experienced that is bringing on a tear or two-(gulp) if you haven't been there you must go.Thanks for this Ray.Jemima.
Comment is about A VISITOR IN WALES (blog)
Original item by ray pool
Wed 2nd Mar 2016 09:30
Returned greetings and thanks Ray
(wrapped in Kleenex tissues .)
Jemima.
Comment is about ray pool (poet profile)
Original item by ray pool
good stuff John - it is an interesting myth - I wrote something on it a while ago - but gave it a twist into more modern problems: http://www.writeoutloud.net/public/blogentry.php?blogentryid=33868
Comment is about YGGDRASIL (blog)
Original item by John Coopey
I'm not sure heroin addiction cares much for modernity or civilisation.
Comment is about Smacked (blog)
Original item by jeremy young
Thankyou, Victor.
I believe it got printed in an anthology of "ghost" verse, called something like "Pressed by Unseen Feet", along with a tribute to a former Tottenham player called "The Ghost of White Hart Lane".
Comment is about YGGDRASIL (blog)
Original item by John Coopey
Dydd Gŵyl Dewi Hapus!
i love this ray as, living in the valleys and not being welsh i do see a bit of this.
my welsh isnt too bad though so i get by.
love the last verse moving into more spiritual grounds. there is a performance of under milk wood on bbc 2 as i type which is rather good.
Comment is about A VISITOR IN WALES (blog)
Original item by ray pool
brilliant martin. an absolute joy to read.
Comment is about Dawn is dusk (blog)
Original item by Martin Elder
This is an excellent piece of work, beautifully crafted and beautifully spoken as well. I'm assuming your work has been published somewhere?
Comment is about YGGDRASIL (blog)
Original item by John Coopey
Years Ago You Coloured Me Book Cover
Comment is about Years Ago You Coloured Me Book Cover (photo)
Original item by J.S.Watts
Yes, Harry, I confess I don't buy into that abrogation of personal responsibility stuff. It's all a cop-out to me. But it does make a cracking coat hanger for a yarn.
Also, my nod towards Bernard Cornwell doesn't do the great man anywhere near enough justice. The line about weaving a darker cloth, for example, is total plagiarism on my part.
Comment is about YGGDRASIL (blog)
Original item by John Coopey
Nice clear and rhythmic re-telling of an old myth John, I know almost nothing about Nordic myth but am often impressed by the way the `warlikeness` of it seems to be
effective in poetical terms.
This is a kind of fatalistic one (it seems to tell that things just seem to happen to us rather than us `doing` them)
As Lancs (and your last stanza) point out the core of the thing seems to be that we are not responsible for our own actions . (It`s a great alibi)
Comment is about YGGDRASIL (blog)
Original item by John Coopey
As apposite as ever Tommy. Nice one
Comment is about A Palestinian child's enquiry (blog)
Original item by Tommy Carroll
Thank you so much everybody for reading & commenting - I'm so glad you enjoyed it :))
Thanks Martin, I am a passionate soul - yet still woefully single .... !! I often think of energy something you can dive into & lose yourself!
LCPTB - it's one of my favourite lines too - thank you
Scarlet - nature & love - what more is there? Thanks!
Jan - I'm so so pleased you liked it - thank you xx
Comment is about Lovelonging (blog)
Original item by Pixievic
Wow! Powerful words Mr C xx
Comment is about A Palestinian child's enquiry (blog)
Original item by Tommy Carroll
Many thanks for your kind comments, fellas.
Lancs - you've added to my limited knowledge about the mythology. I didn't know about the animals.
I have to acknowledge an enormous debt of gratitude to the writings of Bernard Cornwell who is the gateway to my researching the historical basis of his stories.
"Wyrd bid ful aread".
Comment is about YGGDRASIL (blog)
Original item by John Coopey
Very fine almost epic poem John. Completely satisfying and even in my ignorance of the subject it still gripped me ! Lovely to read a rhyming style from time to time.
Ray
Comment is about YGGDRASIL (blog)
Original item by John Coopey
jan oskar hansen
Tue 1st Mar 2016 12:58
I liked tis poem it Had a Snorre quality to it
Comment is about YGGDRASIL (blog)
Original item by John Coopey
jan oskar hansen
Tue 1st Mar 2016 12:56
absolutely beautiful a delight to read
Comment is about Lovelonging (blog)
Original item by Pixievic
This is incredibly beautiful, for its imagery and its truth. I love all of the metaphors and references to nature. My favourite that I have read by you so far. Very nice work.
Comment is about Lovelonging (blog)
Original item by Pixievic
Tue 1st Mar 2016 12:34
Good afternoon to you Wendy.And awwww! (re The gravy train)I feel sooo guilty now for having corrected your spellings-especially since I too have been corrected for misspelling-haha! Had I known you were a (lovely)lady of senior years I can assure you that I would have withheld my suggestions. Please accept my apologies and the warmest of wishes.Thank you.Jemima.
Comment is about Wendy Higson (poet profile)
Original item by Wendy Higson
booka in oswestry is my local bookshop and definitely isnt in need of a boost. the readings and performances are constantly sold out and the little cafe (alas it has a cafe) does a roaring trade at all times. still, i will attend as i do have a soft spot for the worlds wife.
Comment is about Carol Ann Duffy plans readings tour in support of independent bookshops (article)
Original item by Greg Freeman
The problem is not that there isn't a very diverse range of talent out there, from many 'people of colour'; but that it often doesn't get past the first hurdle of actually finding an audience. You have to be visible to find that audience; and that visibility only occurs if people are given the opportunity to read, to publish and to be seen by the reading and listening public.
And when it happens, and a person of colour actually wins an award, along comes the 'they only got it because of political correctness' brigade, to keep them as far away as possible from that visibility, or to denigrate that achievement. Because they couldn't possibly have got their because of talent...
There are some very good writers out there of a very diverse range of backgrounds: Kei Miller, Vahni Capildeo, Sandeep Parmer, Mimi Khalvati and many more. Something for everyone in fact (and I've only mentioned poets here...)
Comment is about London literary weekend aims to redress festivals imbalance for writers of colour (article)
Original item by Greg Freeman
Well, I guess if it gets us thinking of and even going into independent bookshops a little more, it's got to be a 'good thing', Graham. I was pleased to see that a bookshop in Haslemere where I did a reading last year has made the national final, no less, for independent bookshop of the year. It was a very jolly evening but the reading - attended by Mr Ray Pool among others - was in an upstairs room at the bookshop which only housed two dozen people at a pinch. It wouldn't have done for Carol Ann Duffy, that's for sure!
Comment is about Carol Ann Duffy plans readings tour in support of independent bookshops (article)
Original item by Greg Freeman
Hi Ray :) Thanks for your feedback. Soon to be a grandad lol. You certainly have produced a smorgasbord of work. I like Pizza Express. Used to live in Tooting Bec, many moons ago.
Comment is about Little Boy Blue (blog)
Original item by Tom Doolan
I think you have woven a cracking poem here John. I love the way the rhythm of the piece literally weaves itself. Nice one
Comment is about YGGDRASIL (blog)
Original item by John Coopey
Wow there is some powerful phrasing here Vicki and a great metaphor. 'I long to swim in your energy 'I think is my favourite. Can also feel your passion with this. Fab
Comment is about Lovelonging (blog)
Original item by Pixievic
Thanks Cynthia Buell Thomas!!
To be honest, I did not attempt any specific form.I counted the lines later... :)
But yes no resistance in adopting any structured format.
Sonnet is the one I wish to try..
Comment is about In Limbo (blog)
Original item by Juhi Gupte
Thanks Scarlet...I penned whatever happens around us..humbled by your kind appreciation.
Comment is about In Limbo (blog)
Original item by Juhi Gupte
Hey thanks Tommy..:)
Kindly elaborate what all you think after reading this.. ;)
Comment is about In Limbo (blog)
Original item by Juhi Gupte
I like this. Very effective in the whole double-meaning of 'March'; the militaristic aspect is key. A bit rough around the edges, perhaps, but this too lends the whole thing charm. No battle is going to be pretty. Good work! DB.
Comment is about March (blog)
Original item by David Lindsay
This is brilliant. Much love. DB.
Comment is about WHERE IS WALES (blog)
Original item by David Subacchi
Intriguing. Looking forward to reading more of your work. DB.
Comment is about Edge (blog)
Original item by Scarlet
You can find more of my work on line simply by searching on DAVID SUBACCHI.
Comment is about WHERE IS WALES (blog)
Original item by David Subacchi
I have read through this several times and find that I cannot see its purpose.
Is it merely a caravan for CAD?
If it is to support independent bookshops why are some readings in cathedrals or music halls?
Accompanied by music?
I'm sorry!
Comment is about Carol Ann Duffy plans readings tour in support of independent bookshops (article)
Original item by Greg Freeman
Very funny picture up on your profile. Is that you? Or your general view of the world just now? Cheer up. You'll like WOL.
Comment is about Mem (poet profile)
Original item by Mem
You have clear thoughts, imagination and the will to write. Maybe even the necessity to write. I do like the repetition, as it binds the poem together.
Read a lot; write a lot; scrub out a lot; and I think you will find yourself getting better and better.
I'm still learning after YEARS of writing. And I do follow my own advice.
Comment is about Many (blog)
Original item by Mem
<Deleted User> (6895)
Mon 29th Feb 2016 20:37
the cheque is in the post Greg...;o)
Comment is about Greg Freeman (poet profile)
Original item by Greg Freeman
A universal theme, in very current 'speak', and insightfully handled. The 9/10-line stanzas are quite interesting, as they fall into place so naturally. Just out of sheer interest, would you ever standardise them into a 'structured form' of 9 or 10 lines each? Form can convey so much power. Or is that anathema to your principles?
Comment is about In Limbo (blog)
Original item by Juhi Gupte
Lynn Hamilton
Mon 29th Feb 2016 20:12
I can relate to this. X
Comment is about All I Want to Do is Write (blog)
Original item by Candice Reineke
Much appreciated comments folks; makes it all worthwhile. Greg, all us function musicians loathed the get in - I got a parking ticket after five minutes. Mind you there were no red lines then!
Ray
Comment is about AT THE CAFE ROYAL (blog)
Original item by ray pool
Evocative and classy. The ending is excellent.
Comment is about Burnt (blog)
Original item by Alexandra K. Parapadakis
Greatly enjoyed; fabulous diction expertly used to extract every nuance.
Comment is about AT THE CAFE ROYAL (blog)
Original item by ray pool
Lynn Hamilton
Mon 29th Feb 2016 20:04
Thanks Candice, for reading and commenting. Photography is another hobby (and I say hobbies because, unfortunately neither are going to earn me a crust) so I consider you very lucky to spend your working day doing what you do. X
Comment is about Roller Shutters (blog)
Martin Elder
Wed 2nd Mar 2016 19:28
Wow that's one hungry plant Stu. Written in your usual initimible style. I particularity love the use of the word spat in this context nice one
Comment is about apoca(tu)lypse (blog)
Original item by Stuart Buck