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M.C. Newberry

Tue 15th Dec 2015 23:38

My tax return arrived recently. The "welfare" debit was
the largest slice of the cake - around 25%, with "health"
second at app. 20%. The listed other social essentials to which I still contribute in my pensioner's existence fell way behind these two to make up the remaining 55% or so
of the amount paid. There is surely a need to address this unworkable state of affairs, and the sooner the better if
the shit is not to hit the proverbial fan...and I don't mean
the footie variety. :-)

Comment is about IF (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

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Harry O'Neill

Tue 15th Dec 2015 22:45

Andy,
I can imagine the growing gales of laughter at you reading this one :)

(and imagine what you could do with those true loves at
the end of the stanzas)

Merry Christmas.

Comment is about 12 days after Christmas (blog)

Original item by Andy N

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Andy N

Tue 15th Dec 2015 22:17

http://www.writeoutloud.net/public/blogentry.php?blogentryid=53009

As requested for you m8.

Speak soon.

Enjoy christmas (:

Comment is about Nigel Astell (poet profile)

Original item by Nigel Astell

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Graham Sherwood

Tue 15th Dec 2015 21:10

Clinical lines.
Lines 6,7,8 say it all.

Comment is about Distance (blog)

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raypool

Tue 15th Dec 2015 20:12

Well I'm so delighted you got this one Stu. A ding dong ride in the arena I'm used to. The back stage can be revealing believe me. You've completely got the idea here and I know you're a fastidious reader so thank you.
On a certain level Elvis was a flag to American dreams - and like so many of them they end up flushed away. (Or should I say bombs away). Sorry for the black humour.

Ray x

Comment is about ELVIS LIVES ON (blog)

Original item by ray pool

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raypool

Tue 15th Dec 2015 20:05

Thanks Stu for your interest on this. Pretty much the incongruity of weather in consideration of the image that Christmas espouses, and constant radio music in its honour . all to jazz up the expectation of present buying etc (the red carpet) and the caves are simply the shops. All pretty dysfunctional stuff!! cheers Ray

Comment is about CAVES OF TEMPTATION (blog)

Original item by ray pool

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Stu Buck

Tue 15th Dec 2015 17:59

brilliant ray. so tragic and funny. there is great juxtaposition here, both personal (the new and old elvis), musical (the crowds played to by both elvis' show the lack of perceived 'culture' nowadays, and a more global scale (lines 4+5 in verse 5). missed this when it first came on, but glad i peeled back.

Comment is about ELVIS LIVES ON (blog)

Original item by ray pool

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Stu Buck

Tue 15th Dec 2015 17:56

intriguing. the last two lines are great. you know, i will own up here and say i have no idea what it is about which I like. enlighten me!

Comment is about CAVES OF TEMPTATION (blog)

Original item by ray pool

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Tommy Carroll

Tue 15th Dec 2015 17:40

Thank you Erin for your response to "Strangers' meeting." Tommy :-)

Comment is about Erin (poet profile)

Original item by Erin

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raypool

Tue 15th Dec 2015 17:12

A real close up - gritty and factual. You do it best Tommy. Ray

Comment is about Radstock road (blog)

Original item by Tommy Carroll

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raypool

Tue 15th Dec 2015 17:10

Just picked up on this and it has a simple immediacy and delicate quality which conveys a strength of feeling and quite moving for me. Well done - the final lines are the wrapping with the present!!

Ray

Comment is about My Brother (blog)

Original item by Ravi Tanna

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raypool

Tue 15th Dec 2015 17:07

Great quality and finesse with a sort of humble tragic twist. Something for every taste in this - you always have a way of demanding curiosity which is so nice Stu.

Ray

Comment is about The Flower Ladies of Tallinn (blog)

Original item by Stuart Buck

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M.C. Newberry

Tue 15th Dec 2015 16:07

JG - glad u enjoyed it. It's always a pleasure to provide
pleasure!
JC - it was tempting to include the weed but it's so well
known as a modern "no-no" and I decided to let it be...
even tho' it was hard to resist (like fags themselves :->).

Comment is about OPERATION OVERLOAD (or D<FOR DEMISE>-DAY!) (blog)

Original item by M.C. Newberry

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Tim Ellis

Tue 15th Dec 2015 15:34

Yet another poem from my climate change themed pamphlet "Speak The Unspeakable". This one was first published in my book "On The Verge". Both publications are available via my website.
http://www.birdbard.co.uk/bookshop.html

Comment is about Rhino swansong (blog)

Original item by Tim Ellis

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Nigel Astell

Tue 15th Dec 2015 11:30

Lying underneath the petals
deep inside your scent
soft words of colour
that finds new love
which will slowly fade
the memories you hold.

Comment is about Unrequited (blog)

Original item by Katy Megan

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Nigel Astell

Tue 15th Dec 2015 11:12

Loved the twelve nights after Christmas

all the best mate for the new year

thinking of enrolling at Cambridge

but only to enter the free competition

on my first day I must find out

what rooms will be free for the photo shoot!

Comment is about Andy N (poet profile)

Original item by Andy N

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Nigel Astell

Tue 15th Dec 2015 11:03

Merry Christmas everyone and all the best for 2016
really enjoyed the last meet up for this year and now to work on a poem for January - - - or perhaps I won't be there to read it - - - with the theme being the end of the world!

Comment is about Stockport WoL (group profile)

Original item by Stockport WoL

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John Coopey

Tue 15th Dec 2015 11:01

Thanks, Tommy. "My best yet" doesn't have a lot to beat!

Comment is about IF (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

J Graham

Tue 15th Dec 2015 10:58

I enjoyed reading this.

Comment is about OPERATION OVERLOAD (or D<FOR DEMISE>-DAY!) (blog)

Original item by M.C. Newberry

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Tommy Carroll

Tue 15th Dec 2015 09:33

Sorrel and worrel (what will)?! Your best yet John.

Comment is about IF (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

Lynn Hamilton

Mon 14th Dec 2015 23:01

Anita

Lovely xxx

Comment is about Elf in the shed (blog)

Original item by Anita Connor

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Shirley-Anne Kennedy

Mon 14th Dec 2015 22:46

Thanks, Julian.

I am over the moon, Harry. Thank you :)

Comment is about Poetry student Shirley-Anne Kennedy gets off to flying start (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

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Anita Connor

Mon 14th Dec 2015 22:26

Thanks Cynthia! Think it was an inner child moment! Gnomes are summat quite different for me as I have quite a collection! Feeling inspired right now so thanks again!

Anita Connor

Comment is about Elf in the shed (blog)

Original item by Anita Connor

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John Coopey

Mon 14th Dec 2015 21:35

Thanks, Harry. Yes, "skunk'll" took a bit of knocking in to rhyme with"uncle".
(But "shit'll" and "it'll" are pretty good too)

Comment is about IF (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

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Harry O'Neill

Mon 14th Dec 2015 20:49


John, I once did `shit`ll` and `It`ll` but I bow to skunk`ll
and uncle.

(The whole point of Osborne trying to grab that benefit money - which he will get anyway later - was to fix it in time for the next election...but he got his eye blacked)

Comment is about IF (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

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John Coopey

Mon 14th Dec 2015 20:39

I'd best start smoking, .

Comment is about OPERATION OVERLOAD (or D<FOR DEMISE>-DAY!) (blog)

Original item by M.C. Newberry

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M.C. Newberry

Mon 14th Dec 2015 20:20

Harry - I was about to log off after reading the "news"
section on WOL when your reply popped up.
I'm glad my wry take on the modern predilection for keeping
us in a high state of fear and alarm merely elicited the :-)
response from you - one of the old school who can doubtless recall more optimistic times when "smile through
adversity" was the order of the day.
Merry Christmas!!

Comment is about OPERATION OVERLOAD (or D<FOR DEMISE>-DAY!) (blog)

Original item by M.C. Newberry

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Harry O'Neill

Mon 14th Dec 2015 20:09

Well, thanks very much M.C..I`d just been congratulating myself on being spared being stabbed by that guy on the tele tonight when I read this and find that I`m not safe after all.

I think I`ll have some chocolate and go for a walk (Oh, I forgot)

Like I said...thanks very much :)

Comment is about OPERATION OVERLOAD (or D<FOR DEMISE>-DAY!) (blog)

Original item by M.C. Newberry

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Harry O'Neill

Mon 14th Dec 2015 19:52


Congratulations Shirley Anne,
Effectively ghostly piece, with the fog, the hissing gas-light the sound of the clogs and the silent mouthing of the mee-maws...You must be very proud.

Comment is about Poetry student Shirley-Anne Kennedy gets off to flying start (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

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Cynthia Buell Thomas

Mon 14th Dec 2015 17:44

Katy, I am going to be bold, because you know how much I admire your work. I think this poem has a splendid 'plan', but that it doesn't develop at the level of your talent. Keep the metaphor strong, but accurate to the reality of a 'rose'. The little 'gems' of poetry are often the hardest to capture, and offer the greatest delight to the writer.

Please, please know I'm not being 'nasty'; maybe wrong, for sure ... but not mean, or egotistic. By all means, disagree with my above comments.

Comment is about Unrequited (blog)

Original item by Katy Megan

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Cynthia Buell Thomas

Mon 14th Dec 2015 17:33

I like this -I like your work, period. Perhaps I am unnecessarily confused ... but ... is this a play on 'There's an elephant in the room?' Or is that so obvious my question is ridiculous?

A really good conclusion; thought-provoking. Otherwise - maybe fewer words would make a stronger impact.

Comment is about trunk (blog)

Original item by Stuart Buck

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Cynthia Buell Thomas

Mon 14th Dec 2015 17:19

Hilarious, full of fast-paced fun, well-captured. It's not easy to be funny. Your background of associated literature is delightful to see, and recognise. 'Gnomes' never go out of style, in any age.

Comment is about Elf in the shed (blog)

Original item by Anita Connor

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Cynthia Buell Thomas

Mon 14th Dec 2015 17:13

Eloquent and honest. The closing lines are very poignant, an excellent summation of the whole theme. There are new friends here, in this environment, and new horizons of exploration of your own writing talents. Are you in a position to join an interactive 'writing group' of any kind, one that stimulates both mind and body? If not, keep posting here, and commenting so wisely.

Comment is about Friends (blog)

Original item by Anita Connor

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Cynthia Buell Thomas

Mon 14th Dec 2015 17:04

Well-thought and well-presented. Kudos for topicality too.

Comment is about In the beginning (blog)

Original item by Anita Connor

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Cynthia Buell Thomas

Mon 14th Dec 2015 16:49

I once spent a night alone in my sister's very pleasant but very empty home. When she was called away that evening I had expected her to leave the big Lab bitch with me, an animal beloved, but my sister took her also. I was actually shocked. I had so anticipated the dog's warm companionship that I felt almost bereft... lonely ... and a teensy bit apprehensive. Of course, I knew the house layout, but not all the night sounds, inside and outdoors, with no familiarity to discern what were acceptable noises and what were not.

I told myself I was an idiot, dug a volume of T.S. Eliot's poetry out of my suitcase and began to read, aloud, just to myself. For hours. I was so absorbed, speaking it with fluency, that I laughed outright and even wept. There was beauty of words and sound lifting off the pages right into my mind and heart. It was a very unusual experience. I've not shared this with anyone before: I felt like a dork. But I sure learned a lot.

Comment is about After T.S. Eliot (blog)

Original item by Celia

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Anita Connor

Mon 14th Dec 2015 13:52

Hi JJ, many thanks for your comment on my poem Friends. Loved it!

Comment is about Jojomon (poet profile)

Original item by Jojomon

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Anita Connor

Mon 14th Dec 2015 13:49

Hi MC, thank you for your lengthy comment on my poem Friends.

Anita Connor

Comment is about M.C. Newberry (poet profile)

Original item by M.C. Newberry

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Vijay Chandele

Mon 14th Dec 2015 13:20

nice one

Comment is about Frances Spurrier (poet profile)

Original item by Frances Spurrier

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JJ

Mon 14th Dec 2015 05:52

Mind stays young as long as it wants to. :)

Our good deeds keeps us alive as long as we want to.

SMILE PLEASE! and DON'T STOP!

Comment is about Friends (blog)

Original item by Anita Connor

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Stu Buck

Sun 13th Dec 2015 22:13

thanks celia! i enjoyed writing it. im fairly sure the grass is purple in australia so i'm saving up for a ticket.

Comment is about ∞ (blog)

Original item by Stuart Buck

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M.C. Newberry

Sun 13th Dec 2015 16:43

Very much suited to a humorous seasonal monologue.
In my mind I can "hear" Stanley Holloway's lugubrious
tones telling this Santastic tale.
Ho-Ho!!

Comment is about An Explanation To My Son (blog)

Original item by Jacqueline Phillips

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M.C. Newberry

Sun 13th Dec 2015 16:31

A significant difference between the sexes is manifest in
these lines. Man is more suited to the solitary state of
mind - probably inherited from the genetic residue of
old hunter/gatherer days, whereas Woman is, by nature intended, the source of social gathering and nurture.
Today, in an age that permits, even encourages the
solo way of thinking and acting in many facets of life, the
onset of age can be a two-edged sword that can cut
deeply into a need for socialising and these lines elicit
that situation well. I note that my local council goes out
of its way to establish places and events that allow
older folk to enjoy company. Perhaps a good starting
point for anyone seeking that sort of solace in life.

Comment is about Friends (blog)

Original item by Anita Connor

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Stu Buck

Sun 13th Dec 2015 16:10

this is excellent especially the first five words which could have been lifted from a classic novel.

Comment is about Snap Shot (blog)

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John F Keane

Sun 13th Dec 2015 14:31

Andy Nicholson would have been a much better choice for this role.

Comment is about 'Curious pedestrian' Luke Kennard to tour the towpaths as new canal laureate (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

J Graham

Sun 13th Dec 2015 14:25

Thanks for commenting on "my son,my love".
It's well appreciated:)

Comment is about Tommy Carroll (poet profile)

Original item by Tommy Carroll

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Julian (Admin)

Sun 13th Dec 2015 13:08

Joe, do you remember when Lancashire mill women used to be able to talk to each other from a distance, like across a busy street, by speaking without a sound, moving their lips in an exaggerated fashion for the other person to lipread?
That's meemawing. It developed in in the cotton mills where the machines made ordinary conversation impossible. You might also remember that all the women meemawing wore headscarves, often with their curlers underneath.
Shirley-Anne, you are too young to remember this stuff, which makes your poem even more powerful in managing to evoke such images. Well done.
Joe, I remember the gaslights exaggerating the gloom on streets where I delivered morning papers, as the mill's nursery van picked up babies and toddlers so mum could go to her shift in the cardroom or on the MS2 spinning machines. Eeh! I'll go to t'foot of ar stairs.

Comment is about Poetry student Shirley-Anne Kennedy gets off to flying start (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

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joe kozarzewski

Sun 13th Dec 2015 07:04

incidentally what are me maws ??

Comment is about Poetry student Shirley-Anne Kennedy gets off to flying start (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

J Graham

Sun 13th Dec 2015 04:04

I like this :) very intriguing.

Comment is about strangers' meeting (blog)

Original item by Tommy Carroll

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M.C. Newberry

Sun 13th Dec 2015 01:33

TE...
I thought I should begin by stating that I have supported and contributed to Avaaz.
The world has survived thus far with or without any
actions by mankind. On the plus side, you might care
to dwell on the fact that for every downside registered
in the history of this planet, an upside has appeared to
balance things. Great planetary plagues have been &
gone, great natural disasters too, whilst Man's own contributions, good and bad, seem to appear in tandem.
The discovery of the possible loss of flora and fauna
has seen actions that provide means of ensuring their
safety and continuance across the spectrum.
The undoubted capability to destroy the world with our
nuclear knowledge sees the basic reality of sense allied
to self-preservation render that possibility obsolete.
The current campaign treating climate change as a man-
made phenomenon while downgrading the natural order
will attempt to see the balance restored to human satisfaction. Volcanic nature and the great solar effect
continue to go their own way as usual, far beyond our puny means of influencing, let alone controlling any of their actions and results.

Comment is about Noah was a modern man (blog)

Original item by Tim Ellis

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Ria Richardson

Sat 12th Dec 2015 23:32

Love this Lynn xx

Comment is about SHIT (blog)

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