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Uilleam Ó Ceallaigh

Thu 6th Apr 2023 11:19

When aged about 6 we moved house to a different part of town in the early 50's, because our home had been condemned as a "slum".
I think our new neighbour was a Hungarian lady; the first time I had met a "foreigner"; someone who didn't have an Irish or Lancastrian accent.
Then aged nine or ten, I remember our Roman Catholic "witness" walks through town; the Polish and Ukranian contingents in their beautiful national costumes. "WW2's over, now we can get on with life", was the feeling.
But no; decades later, I found myself helping Iraqi refugees and a Chinese speaking lady with English lessons; my only "qualifications"? being a native English speaker.
How very fortunate I am, in what I have, compared to some.

Thank you to all who do what they can to help out.💐💐💐

Comment is about Glory Days (blog)

Original item by Stephen Gospage

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Uilleam Ó Ceallaigh

Thu 6th Apr 2023 10:26

The bigger they are, the harder they fall!
The name Daniel: literal meaning, "God is my judge".
😏

Comment is about STORMY DANIELS (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

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Uilleam Ó Ceallaigh

Thu 6th Apr 2023 10:10

Thank you Mirabel, for your lovely poem which got to me.

Oh for a few days on the Island of Lewis,
Now that would surely be bliss,
Oh to hear the rhythmic song of the sea,
To hear our mother, much older than any of this,
How I long for the kiss of the Hebridean mist,
For the poetry of nature and all of her creatures,
For her wisdom, to be on my soul impressed.

Comment is about Eilean Leòdhais (blog)

Original item by Mirabel

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Nigel Astell

Thu 6th Apr 2023 09:39

Only a Shadow of Yourself

I'm late
My friend
Is waiting

I'm late
My bus
Is due

Ghost shadows
Spirit light
Finding time

Encouraging essential
Human smiles
Prompting hellos

Not letting
Life pass
Slowly by

People need
To talk
Shadows do.

Comment is about Copy of Stockport_research_039.jpg (photo)

Original item by Stockport WoL

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Stephen Gospage

Thu 6th Apr 2023 09:00

A fascinating article, Greg. I must learn more about him and his work.

Comment is about An attic room with a view of the railway sidings: on the trail of Norman Nicholson (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

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Stephen Gospage

Thu 6th Apr 2023 08:51

Watch it, John, or he'll start giving you a nickname!

Comment is about STORMY DANIELS (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

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Stephen Gospage

Thu 6th Apr 2023 08:49

What counts is making the effort, John. I help to give English lessons to Ukrainians here and although we make progress and get on well, I am always struck by the sadness of their situation. So well done for reaching out.
And thanks to Manish, Hugh and Steve for liking.

Comment is about Glory Days (blog)

Original item by Stephen Gospage

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Mirabel

Thu 6th Apr 2023 00:49

I wrote this about the slow, simple life in the Hebrides, reading folk tales, walking to the sea, having tea, creating, following a better rhythm in harmony with the earth.

Comment is about Eilean Leòdhais (blog)

Original item by Mirabel

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John Coopey

Wed 5th Apr 2023 22:38

"Tyrannosaurus Rex". Superb, Branwell. Sometimes the Gods of Rhythm drop gifts into your hands,

Comment is about Sometimes The Cleverest People In The World Are Also The Stupidest (blog)

Original item by branwell kent

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John Coopey

Wed 5th Apr 2023 22:32

I tried my best Ukrainian on a waitress at the restaurant we visited tonight. She didn't understand a word I said!

Comment is about Glory Days (blog)

Original item by Stephen Gospage

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Stephen Gospage

Wed 5th Apr 2023 22:08

Good point and well written, Uilleam. They should at least take responsibility for their nutjobbery, and not blame it on a biblical text as if it is inevitable
.

Comment is about It Sez So In The Bible! (blog)

Original item by Uilleam Ó Ceallaigh

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John Botterill

Wed 5th Apr 2023 22:07

Thank you, Stephen and Keith for your lovely comments. It means a lot to me 😀

Comment is about At Water's Edge (blog)

Original item by John Botterill

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Stephen Gospage

Wed 5th Apr 2023 22:01

This is a work of genius, Bramwell. Who could not enjoy it?

Comment is about Sometimes The Cleverest People In The World Are Also The Stupidest (blog)

Original item by branwell kent

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Rick Varden

Wed 5th Apr 2023 22:00

Thank you Uileam, I nearly wrote another verse, well not quite!

Comment is about Nearly but Not Quite (blog)

Original item by Rick Varden

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Stephen Gospage

Wed 5th Apr 2023 21:59

A fine poem which brings us face to face with our dependence on nature, and its interaction with us, John.

Comment is about At Water's Edge (blog)

Original item by John Botterill

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Wiktoria Zieniuk

Wed 5th Apr 2023 21:51

Thank you

Comment is about Doing (blog)

Original item by Hélène

William

Wed 5th Apr 2023 18:54

yes it does refer to Paris...but the sentiment is universal

Comment is about Easter 2018 (blog)

Original item by William B McGee

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Manish Singh Rajput

Wed 5th Apr 2023 15:39

"Breath lives, and so do we." Beautifully written. The sorrows or unsettling of hearts comes unexpected and can be shattering, perhaps what's important is to just to keep on breathing. Thank you for this.

Comment is about Breath (blog)

Original item by Hélène

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keith jeffries

Wed 5th Apr 2023 13:05

This poem held my attention as I had no idea where it would lead.
Thanks
Keith

Comment is about At Water's Edge (blog)

Original item by John Botterill

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Uilleam Ó Ceallaigh

Wed 5th Apr 2023 12:21

...the City of Lights...?????
Which one do you mean William? I believe there's at least a dozen by that name.
Surely not beautiful Paris?

Comment is about Easter 2018 (blog)

Original item by William B McGee

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Uilleam Ó Ceallaigh

Wed 5th Apr 2023 12:17

I love that-
Well, nearly but not quite!😉

Comment is about Nearly but Not Quite (blog)

Original item by Rick Varden

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Uilleam Ó Ceallaigh

Wed 5th Apr 2023 12:15

All you need is love.👍

Comment is about Someone New (blog)

Original item by Jaded_Jas

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Uilleam Ó Ceallaigh

Wed 5th Apr 2023 12:11

Absolutely fabulous!
I always wanted to get their autographs.
Glad I didn't bother now.😁

Comment is about Sometimes The Cleverest People In The World Are Also The Stupidest (blog)

Original item by branwell kent

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Steve Higgins

Wed 5th Apr 2023 11:29

Fabulous!

Comment is about Love (blog)

Original item by Clare

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Uilleam Ó Ceallaigh

Wed 5th Apr 2023 11:06

Before and after Coleridge's time, there were "Christians" (I use that appellation loosely) who sought to justify the slave trade, on the grounds that the Bible justified it.

And there are today, obnoxious nut jobs, who, on the grounds that The Bible tells them to do so, seek to justify the persecution and ostracisation of men and women who are attracted to people of their own sex.

And I've heard it argued on WOL (usually by those of the "I'm not a racist but...", persuasion) that we should not judge the moral standards of the past by those of the present; however, Coleridge DID know it was wrong then, and so did many of his contemporaries.

Comment is about Call to keep £20,000 Coleridge anti-slavery poem in UK (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

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Stephen Gospage

Wed 5th Apr 2023 08:21

A lovely, rounded, satisfying piece, Hélène.

Comment is about Night Becomes Day (blog)

Original item by Hélène

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Stephen Gospage

Wed 5th Apr 2023 08:18

My thanks to Nigel, John C, Hélène and Manish for liking this one.

Comment is about Ventriloquist (blog)

Original item by Stephen Gospage

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Stephen Gospage

Wed 5th Apr 2023 08:16

Thank you, Rasa. I like the way that the physicality of this piece is ramped up, culminating in the last verse.

Comment is about Covet (blog)

Original item by Rasa Kabaila

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Stephen Gospage

Wed 5th Apr 2023 08:10

A timely poem, Keith. Thanks.

Comment is about Palm Sunday (blog)

Original item by keith jeffries

Holden Moncrieff

Tue 4th Apr 2023 21:01

A really beautiful, heart-warming poem, David! 🌷

Comment is about My Grandson Writes his Name (blog)

Original item by David Cooke

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Isobel

Tue 4th Apr 2023 20:51

Hi Graham

Thanks for saying hello! Yes i do need to get writing again. Or even finishing off half written poems might be a start. Will do my best to make time for that because I do love the interaction on here. X

Comment is about Graham Sherwood (poet profile)

Original item by Graham Sherwood

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Nigel Astell

Tue 4th Apr 2023 14:50

Bedtime Buses

Crisp packets
Aluminium cans
Paper tickets
Sweet wrappers
Free newspapers.

Even when
You think
Bus seats
Supposedly empty
Perhaps not.

Snack obsessions
Alcoholic dreams
Passenger counting
Tooth destroyer
Intriguing eye-opener.

Even when
You think
Bus seats
Supposedly empty
Perhaps not.



Comment is about Copy of Stockport_research_024.jpg (photo)

Original item by Stockport WoL

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Clare

Tue 4th Apr 2023 12:53

Hi Keith. Just want to say thank-you for all the thoughtful comments you have left for me recently - they are very much appreciated. 😊

Comment is about keith jeffries (poet profile)

Original item by keith jeffries

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Mirabel

Tue 4th Apr 2023 09:45

This was written in the perspective of my beloved, talking to me in despair.

Comment is about Mirabel’s Labyrinth (blog)

Original item by Mirabel

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keith jeffries

Tue 4th Apr 2023 09:41

Love is the most powerful of all emotions. This poem is a tribute to its complexity and beauty.
Thanks
Keith

Comment is about Love (blog)

Original item by Clare

Holden Moncrieff

Mon 3rd Apr 2023 21:39

An amazingly profound poem, Katherine, skilfully rendered! 🌷

Comment is about The Silent Toll (blog)

Original item by Katherine Page

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Steve Higgins

Mon 3rd Apr 2023 10:08

Thanks to all for your kind comments. Much appreciated although after all, we all love our fathers

Comment is about The Ghost in My Car (blog)

Original item by Steve Higgins

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Reggie's Ghost

Mon 3rd Apr 2023 08:22

...and yet knowing the likely outcome the Scots will one day vote to be free from Westminster.

I'm sure Russia continues to tell the ex-Soviet states how much better off they were in the USSR.

It's a compelling thought, freedom.

Comment is about April Fools (blog)

Original item by Uilleam Ó Ceallaigh

K. Lynn

Mon 3rd Apr 2023 05:53

Beautiful thoughts, Carl.

Comment is about (blog)

Original item by Carl E. McClellan

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Nigel Astell

Mon 3rd Apr 2023 01:18

Wellcome colourful Spring
Your poems bring light
Goodbye dark days🌷.

Comment is about Haiku in Bloom 2023 Parts 1 and 2 (blog)

Original item by Andy N

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Rasa Kabaila

Sun 2nd Apr 2023 22:53

Thank you Graham for that very reflective comment. It's a complex area isn't it! Humans are complicated! 😇

Comment is about Covet (blog)

Original item by Rasa Kabaila

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Greg Freeman

Sun 2nd Apr 2023 20:42

John, I'm sure my old grammar school during my time would be classified as in need of special measures. It went co-ed in the 70s and fully independent, and is much better now, apparently. Isobel, I'm also sure that your niece is a super head, and that all you say is true. Why have we have tolerated Ofsted for so long?

Comment is about Song of the Ofsted Inspectors (blog)

Original item by Greg Freeman

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Graham Sherwood

Sun 2nd Apr 2023 20:33

Good to see you on WOL again. Time to get writing again!

Comment is about Isobel (poet profile)

Original item by Isobel

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keith jeffries

Sun 2nd Apr 2023 19:31

Carl,
Please keep writing as your poems are from a deep source of inspiration which has wisdom at its root.
Keith

Comment is about Carl E. McClellan (poet profile)

Original item by Carl E. McClellan

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keith jeffries

Sun 2nd Apr 2023 19:29

A truly spiritual response to the problems of forgiveness and being forgiven. I agree entirely that forgiveness releases the burden and lightens the soul. Thank you for this
Keith

Comment is about (blog)

Original item by Carl E. McClellan

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John Coopey

Sun 2nd Apr 2023 13:59

I’m rather grateful to Ofsted, Greg, for classifying my old grammar school as “in need of special measures” and subsequently merging it (shutting it down). I take great pride in that.

Comment is about Song of the Ofsted Inspectors (blog)

Original item by Greg Freeman

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John Coopey

Sun 2nd Apr 2023 13:31

You had very polite teachers, Uilleam. I used to get ATFQ.
And MC, everyone at some time or other has been on the wrong side of history; The Daily Mail is cemented there.

Comment is about THE DAILY MAIL (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

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Tom

Sun 2nd Apr 2023 13:00

I love this, great writing.

Comment is about The Ghost in My Car (blog)

Original item by Steve Higgins

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Isobel

Sun 2nd Apr 2023 12:59

They are all a load of bastards. My niece is a super head. She took over what had been called a failing school. She and her staff turned herself inside out improving that school but when they came back to reinspect, they wouldn't give it beyond a satisfactory because they had no statistics to judge that improvement on. Covid had got in the way of SATS. And if you happen to have a bad SATS year, I don't suppose it counts how hard youve worked.
Not enough credit is given to teachers teaching in deprived areas where they're having to try to feed some children before they can even think about teaching and the parental support to learning just isn't there.

Comment is about Song of the Ofsted Inspectors (blog)

Original item by Greg Freeman

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Uilleam Ó Ceallaigh

Sun 2nd Apr 2023 12:53

As my English teacher used to say about writing essays: "keep to the subject":
The Daily Mail's history of, and continuing racism.

Comment is about THE DAILY MAIL (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

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