ray. first off, let me say how much i enjoyed the fact you posted two blank pages before this called 'ser' and 'ser'. i believe it was a mistake but if you say it out loud, it sounds like arkwright from 'open all hours'. he was always giving 'ser...ser...service with a smile'. that is a quite brilliant error. or perhaps it was intentional, in which case you are some kind of genius.
secondly, the poem is jaunty and well written. strong rhyming as well. especially functions/injunctions. thats inspired!

Comment is about SERVICE WITH A SMILE (blog)

Original item by ray pool

Thanks for all your comments on this one. Much appreciated. xxx

Comment is about I Nearly Need (blog)

This sort of barbaric mindset reminds me of the lines in
a famous Oscar-winning David Lean epic - placed in
the mouth of TE Lawrence when he confronted Sherif Ali
after the latter shot another Arab at a life-giving well in the desert. His condemnation of the behaviour of Arab peoples ("silly, barbarous and cruel" as I recall) still
seems entirely relevant today in Saudi Arabia.

Comment is about Saudi Arabia sentences Palestinian poet to death after appeal against 800 lashes (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Hi Wendy, :-) (With permission M.C.:) "...We must all write things down and leave a thread because if we don't who will listen". Regards Wendy . Indeed Tommy

Comment is about Wendy Higson (poet profile)

Original item by Wendy Higson

With permission M.C.: "...We must all write things down and leave a thread because if we don't who will listen". Regards Wendy . Indeed.

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

Original item by M.C. Newberry

I hate to draw uneasy parallels, David, but you could almost suggest your path could be the straight and narrow. You're really the lone warrior, a hero in my book.

Ray

Comment is about THE UNPROTECTED STREET (blog)

Original item by ray pool

Astute observation Ray re 'Taxi' Tommy

Comment is about ray pool (poet profile)

Original item by ray pool

Thank you Ash for your words, to touch is to be touched. Tommy

Comment is about Ash (poet profile)

Original item by Ash

a heartfelt poem, very touching

Comment is about Paris, 13 November 2015 (blog)

Original item by Dorinda MacDowell

People in Syria and Libya a few years ago "flocked together to take out their oppressive leaders", David, and look what happened. It's not as simple as that. But I agree that the west needs to be a lot tougher on Saudi Arabia.

Comment is about Saudi Arabia sentences Palestinian poet to death after appeal against 800 lashes (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Thanks so much David. We are exactly in harmony with this theme I know. I read it again today and had to insert a word on the penultimate line! The grand send -off usually escapes the underdog.

always nice to get your response.

cheers Ray

Comment is about THE UNPROTECTED STREET (blog)

Original item by ray pool

Another poem from my new pamphlet, "Speak The Unspeakable: Cool words for an overheating world"

Comment is about No Warning (blog)

Original item by Tim Ellis

Reminds me of Idi Amman (not sure if I spelt that right), who also persecuted poets and artists if they refused to promote the police state of Uganda.

Comment is about Saudi Arabia sentences Palestinian poet to death after appeal against 800 lashes (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

It will never happen though, because us humans are just too fucking dumb do anything about it.

Comment is about Saudi Arabia sentences Palestinian poet to death after appeal against 800 lashes (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Sick, that's what it is. 2015 and this type of thing is still going on, on Earth. Haven't we learned anything?

The world powers are supposed to be tackling extremism and yet we are allied with Saudi. I think it's time that we all flocked together and took out all oppressive regimes and leaders across the globe to ensure a more positive future for the human race.

I'm only being hypothetical - mouthing off. Not that other people are not thinking the same. It's upsetting to say the least and cruelly misguided.

Comment is about Saudi Arabia sentences Palestinian poet to death after appeal against 800 lashes (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

They call it Subtherapeutic Antibiotic Administration

(Which is just another term for making the farmers richer)

Comment is about Modern Science (blog)

Original item by Harry O`N eill

MC, the increase of ice in the Antarctic is sea ice. The ice sheet on the land is melting, but the meltwater going into the ocean freezes more easily than seawater, and it is exacerbated by increased cold winds coming from the interior of the continent. This video explains what's happening better than I could https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10154639113640008 The world's climate is an incredibly complex system, so I'd recommend you take note of what climate scientists have to say - they understand it better than the rest of us!

Comment is about DO YOU BELIEVE? (blog)

Original item by M.C. Newberry

Thanks Ray, Stu and Laura again for giving it a second reading I am really grateful for all your comments. It is good to get positive feedback from such brilliant poets, as yourselves Patricio and David. After a disappointing week this has made my day. Cheers !
My problem is that I have to resist the temptation to tinker with it any further.

Comment is about Dark (blog)

Original item by Martin Elder

Thanks, everyone, for commenting.
I certainly take the view that Mankind must act to
control his polluting effects on the World, and say so.
But the natural world and its support systems, mainly the sun, continue beyond our control, with NASA's
"altimetry data" from satellites recording an annual
increase of Antarctic ice of 112 billion tons per year
between 1992 and 2001, and that continent gaining
more ice than it is losing according to latest records.
Politicians relish power and influence; scientists relish
influence and money. True independence is free of any
of these in an ideal world. I note the frequency with
which "climate change" (e.g. down to Man) is now being
connected with effects on various other spheres of
importance - like finance and future prosperity. And
so its "umbrella effects" increase under the auspices
and influence of "experts". After over 30 years of
public service, my opinion of "experts" retains a
healthy circumspection of their alleged expertise
and their motives.
To borrow a well-known saying from elsewhere:
"Let's be careful out there"
- and that means all of us!
Cheers.

Comment is about DO YOU BELIEVE? (blog)

Original item by M.C. Newberry

Many thanks for the tip about this group. As you say, Greg, their work is excellent. Coincidence, I suppose, that I was reading Housman's poem only this morning, unaware of its treatment on this CD. I had also read the Yeats poem this morning, The Irish airman foresees his death, and it too is on the CD.
It is part of our raison d'être to bring more people to poetry, so our promoting this CD via the news pages seems spot on to me.
Like Graham, I am always hesitant to look at poetry CDs, so having this testimonial has opened my ears/eyes to the possibilities.

Comment is about Christmas cracker: Carol Ann Duffy teams up with Little Machine on festive album (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

So you have to trust the experts, people whose whole careers have been studying climate, and whose conclusions are meticulously checked by other independent experts. The IPCC's most recent report was quite unambiguous.

Comment is about DO YOU BELIEVE? (blog)

Original item by M.C. Newberry

Light and lyrical, with a fine point to make. Well done with the rhyming pattern.

Comment is about Kite Flying (blog)

Original item by David Lindsay

I really like this work, the message and its presentation, and its insightful title which alone speaks volumes. 'Lanterns' are powerful symbols/metaphors, and 'Lantern Lane' fits poetically perfectly.

Comment is about Lantern Lane (blog)

Original item by Tom

There are again 'revolutionary' theories about the shape of Earth, and other concepts. Social media can give a platform to anyone, who can then construct 'pathways of investigation' to support any given claim. I cannot fathom how any reader/listener does not appreciate the levels of guided manipulation. Finding 'truth' is often finding whatever 'someone' wants you to find.

I know this has always been the case; but the new network powers take this influence to currently unheard-of heights. Wisdom was never more needed.

OK, I'm done. Good topic, M.C.

Comment is about DO YOU BELIEVE? (blog)

Original item by M.C. Newberry

This is really good in content, and the 'scroll-roll' presentation is brilliant, whether 'biblical', or mocking a cigarette roll-up, or both. Your content is always very interesting. I do think 'NEARLY nothing' is a huge point of honesty, even in a rant-type work like this; the writer is still clearly anchored in reality, that nasty unpoetical word. But it makes the whole poem more relate-able to the reader, more universal.

So, IMO, the title is superb, pointing directly to your main point. I enjoy your work very much.

Comment is about I Nearly Need (blog)

That was time very well spent then Martin. I've returned to say a bit more because it is such a fantastic write. The words you selected are big and scary and have a thunderous quality to them. They are majestic and you have placed them such that I can HEAR and SEE this oceanic cacophony. As the daughter of a sailor, he described to me many a time how they would have 60 foot waves (and then some) rearing up and crashing down around them. God, makes me shiver just thinking about it.

The syntax and rhythm are just perfect, can't fault them. You should be very proud of this piece.

Comment is about Dark (blog)

Original item by Martin Elder

I have ambivalent views about Global Warming, MC. We are still coming out of the last ice age so warming is inexorable until we recede into the next. On the other hand I do believe we are exacerbating the situation. I read Al Gore's "An Inconvenient Truth" when it was current many years ago and found it very persuasive.
On the broader concept I do believe we believe what we want to believe despite any evidence to the contrary.

Comment is about DO YOU BELIEVE? (blog)

Original item by M.C. Newberry

Really enjoyed this Daniel.
For an alternative take on a crock of shit try this
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zztkoVNf2So

Comment is about CROC OF SHIT (blog)

Original item by Daniel Dwyran

You have definitely found a niche with this kind of delivery Lynn. There is a real lyrical quality to this one in particular.
Fab

Comment is about I Nearly Need (blog)

This would be a good one to read at gigs. I fully endorse your feelings about facebook. I have never ventured on to that particular medium. I get enough nonsense from spam e mails. One of which told me that two people had 'unfriended 'me from facebook, which would be difficult as I had never been on it.
Nice one Daniel. Keep then coming.

Comment is about CROC OF SHIT (blog)

Original item by Daniel Dwyran

Enjoyed your poem Daniel. Is FB the picture book of WOL? Lynn

Comment is about CROC OF SHIT (blog)

Original item by Daniel Dwyran

Martin and David. Thanks again for reading and commenting. Helps to encourage the ink to flow! xx

Comment is about No RSVP Required (blog)

Thank you Mr P LG for reading and commenting

Comment is about I Nearly Need (blog)

sorry to use this as a platform, but I managed to upset two "friends" by trying to use the original thought tactic and commenting about something I felt was relevant , only to be berated for it. Ray

Comment is about CROC OF SHIT (blog)

Original item by Daniel Dwyran

Wow,Thank you..I think... Sorry for the late reply. At the end I did yes as they were the ones to escape with their lives whilst the previous didn't....from a survivors point of view.

Comment is about Our Lives, Our Lives (blog)

Original item by Quiet Comet

I'm pleased your picked up on this Stu. I sweated over a long dissertation about the Waterloo departure larded with detail but thought it had no power to move. So this is brevity as you say, and I wanted to convey the motion.
I often rewrite brutally to whittle down.

cheers Ray

Comment is about SOUTHERN ELECTRIC (blog)

Original item by ray pool

great cyclical nature to this one. benefits from brevity, both per line and overall, and uses so few words to tell such a big story.

Comment is about SOUTHERN ELECTRIC (blog)

Original item by ray pool

captured the single worst aspect of facebook for me. only 'joined up' this year after someone suggested it may increase my online presence. what a wonderful microcosm of everything that is wrong with humanity it turned out to be. guilt trips, pictures of dead kids and inane racism interspersed with hallowed snippets of where someone was drinking coffee. brilliant.

Comment is about CROC OF SHIT (blog)

Original item by Daniel Dwyran

fantastic tone poem full of dread and fear - and also exhilaration for those with strong nerves! Great use of description. I could hear the noise of it, and the lungful of relief by the end. It reminds me of Britten's Sea Interludes, also really evocative.

Comment is about Dark (blog)

Original item by Martin Elder

With no further sign or smell

Of blackened brimstone squall

No smoke to choke the very heart and lungs

thats a pretty sexy three lines right there.

i enjoyed this, then left it at that. today i came back, studied the painting and re-read. for me, its a fine piece of writing and borders on ekphrastic in its detail and commitment to the artwork.

Comment is about Dark (blog)

Original item by Martin Elder

thanks all. it just spilled out which i think serves the tumbling performance notion well.

martin, i'd love to come. i just need somewhere to stand and shout! its hard at the moment, the wife is VERY pregnant so i have to plan trips really carefully. i often look at all the events quite ruefully, i feel there's a lot more i could be doing but sadly i chose a) not to learn to drive and b) live slap bang in the middle of nowhere. so i'm limited! but given a concrete invite i'd make the journey.

Comment is about bile (blog)

Original item by Stuart Buck

My grandfather apparently believed that the world was flat, he belonged to the flat earth society -my father could not dissuade him from this. I don't think he ever travelled abroad. A confusion of ideas as they bring out the possibilities, Mark.
Nice one.

Comment is about DO YOU BELIEVE? (blog)

Original item by M.C. Newberry

Fill your boots Daniel. I wholly agree with this , we don't need propaganda to spread like the proverbial ordure. Ray

Comment is about CROC OF SHIT (blog)

Original item by Daniel Dwyran

We all have strong values that are surprisingly weakened by the idea of a cup of tea and a cigarette lol

Comment is about I Nearly Need (blog)

I really would have liked to fit more in, however it would have had to have been a lot larger but then if it was larger it would not have worked, thanks anyway David. Enjoy if it's bearable

Comment is about Magnus (blog)

Original item by PatricioLG

Thanks David, Laura and Patricio. I spent a lot of time on this one trying to get it right.
Your comments are much appreciated.

Comment is about Dark (blog)

Original item by Martin Elder

sounds great. I love the sparseness in the way it is set out as much as the use of words.

Comment is about No RSVP Required (blog)

A powerful piece Ray. I particularly like the line 'with a hatred of light'

Comment is about THE DAY THE CLOUDS CAME (blog)

Original item by ray pool

Beautifully put Graham. I love your description.

Comment is about Summers End Turvin Moor to Cragg Vale (blog)

Original item by Graham Ramsden

This is great Stu. I particularly love ....'fuelled by dollar and decay and the cancerous open wound'...
I like the way the whole piece flows as David says the tumbling sense of this. I agree this would make a fabulous piece to perform. Are you coming over to the North west again any time soon.
Fantastic

Comment is about bile (blog)

Original item by Stuart Buck