Some thoughts to keep.

I often think that use of the seasons as metaphors is a risky business, as it assumes all readers come from the same global climate belt, not to mention terrain. A bit like 'Christmas must have snow' or it isn't truly Christmas, an immature 'European' take on a magnificent concept that crossed the oceans imperialistically, and has been very selfishly distorted from a world viewpoint.

Comment is about Cynthia Buell Thomas (poet profile)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

Very atmospheric and a good story well-told. I really enjoyed the diction skills.

Comment is about Drop at Prater Park (blog)

Original item by harry

Enjoyed this.

Comment is about ON THE NORTHERN LINE (blog)

Original item by ray pool

Hilarious! I burst out laughing.

Comment is about Just the Three of Us (blog)

Original item by Nigel Astell

Very timely, and clever.

Comment is about Anything they can do we can do.....? (blog)

Original item by Harry O`N eill

Thanks all for your appreciation. I can't comment individually, though I would like to. Don't know why I chose that line, I hardly used it myself, but as the terrain gets higher it obviously goes deeper, and therefore more mysterious! The idea of being trapped I think makes it work and the mayhem of noise echoing . Patricio and Stu, you have the benefit of being involved close - up, so that makes it especially piquant. Cheers all, and a happy post- Halloween!

Comment is about ON THE NORTHERN LINE (blog)

Original item by ray pool

Are we to reduce all this cauldron of animated thoughts to Prester John?

Comment is about cineri gloria sera est (blog)

Original item by Stuart Buck

I like Patricio's 'take' on the possible metaphor, intended by the poet or not. Poems often really do take on a life of their own with expanding circles of ideas. You have a deft poetic hand.

But, in fairness, I have often found that non-stop symbolic interpretation can become a real PITA. Unless, of course, we exist only in metaphor anyway. ;0)

Comment is about Fish in the fog! (blog)

Original item by Anita Connor

Oh! You saw him too?! ;)

Great poem Ray. I love a good yarn.

Anna

Comment is about ON THE NORTHERN LINE (blog)

Original item by ray pool

This subject gives writers so much to feel. We are compelled to pen creative lines about these events despite never having been there as witnesses ourselves. The closest I got was on a holiday to northern France two years ago when I took my young children to the fields where the front lines of WW1 would have been and to pay our respects in a cemetery where I was so moved thinking about those young boys beneath our feet, that I wrote a piece too.

I enjoyed the way your poem was written in the first person Daniel, and that it was all from 'your' point of view. I liked "A para-flare lights up all our sorrow" - here I can almost see their faces.

I'll post the poem I wrote after my visit to northern France up here on my blog page when I can find it.

Comment is about THE PLACE WHERE ONLY DEAD MEN SLEEP (blog)

Original item by Daniel Dwyran

Thank you for your kind feedback Ray. Most appreciated - it really made my day :)

Comment is about Always Down The Front (blog)

Original item by Anna Ghislena

Brilliant story telling Ray-love it!

Comment is about ON THE NORTHERN LINE (blog)

Original item by ray pool

a very sad time for communities losing livelihoods, no the mines were not comfortable, nice places to work but at least it was work and when closed they were viable still, towns became deserted and desecrated. thatcher had a lot to answer for, I don't think the nation has ever really recovered fully from the uninspiring treatment the Tories bashed it with, now with Cameron it never will. The unions played their part too, however weren't they fighting for safe healthy working mines against greedy profit? Nice poem, I'm sure will open up many conversations.

Comment is about TRUNCHEON FOR LUNCHEON (blog)

Original item by Daniel Dwyran

I used to run Mornington Crescent station as a young station foreman, eerie tail yet somehow seems surreal and a very good Halloween story ray.

Comment is about ON THE NORTHERN LINE (blog)

Original item by ray pool

continual water changes lol, funny but also a warning one thinks to all of us. In the bigger scale of the planet. Are we living in a fog?

Comment is about Fish in the fog! (blog)

Original item by Anita Connor

Very intuitive, very brave young men that knew suffering beyond most people's comprehension
Good write

Comment is about THE PLACE WHERE ONLY DEAD MEN SLEEP (blog)

Original item by Daniel Dwyran

This poem was read by JOHN CAMPBELL.

Comment is about Jimmy Rockford (blog)

Original item by Shirley Smothers

You are not perfect but neither are you!
Xxxx

Comment is about Who am I? (blog)

Original item by Anita Connor

Lynn, I tried leaving a comment on this earlier but was distracted away by my mother bless her and now I've forgotten what I was going to say. But I like this a lot. My mind is being dim tonight after a long car journey. Any poem that mentions thighs is good for me. But I know there is more to this than just thighs. God help me. It's a mystery.

Comment is about Rust Never Sleeps (blog)

As one of 'those open-mic poets who clear off once they have read', according to Julian Jordan, could I repeat (as I explained when I read last Thursday) that I had to collect my son in Leeds at 10 p.m. (I was, of course, late but he's used to that.) I have never previously left an open-mic early. Anywhere. Ever. I could, of course, have decided not to make the 40-minute journey from my home to Todmorden to support Kava Kultura, so that I didn't give the entirely false impression of disrespect to my fellow open-micers. All of whom, incidentally, are accustomed to my staying until the end of a session.
Finally, thank you for an otherwise excellent review of another excellent Kultura evening.

Comment is about Kultura, a literary salon in the land of Tod (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Hi Stu and thanks. This really was a joint effort. I can't take all the credit. It came from that lovely warming word 'inspiration' xx

Comment is about Rust Never Sleeps (blog)

i used to ride the northern line right through to high barnet from bank. it was terrifying at night. this is brilliant, really gothic and tense and beautifully constructed.

Comment is about ON THE NORTHERN LINE (blog)

Original item by ray pool

love the poem and the neil young reference. rust rubs her thighs on the galvanised. brilliant, brilliant first line.

Comment is about Rust Never Sleeps (blog)

Thank you for the write up :)

We usually (Kulturá has been going for 2 years) have no problem retaining our audience for the open-mic section of the evening. In fact, we are still chatting long after the last poet has performed! lol

People had to leave earlier this month due to roadworks on the Burnley Road and the road being closed overnight. Everyone who had to leave earlier than usual explained why and apologised for doing so. We all understood their reasons and were happy to have their company for as long as we did.

Comment is about Kultura, a literary salon in the land of Tod (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Thank you! When I wrote it I thought the same thing about wanting it to go longer, but I couldn't get it to continue in the right way, so I stopped it short.

Comment is about Nervous -- 07/2015 (blog)

Original item by Amanda

Ray,
A good - and timely -one

Comment is about ON THE NORTHERN LINE (blog)

Original item by ray pool

M.C.
I think I `get`the drift of that last word and - given the religiously tee-total nature of much immigration I see the point about the possible dangers of `ghettoising`newly arrived immigrants with their differing beliefs.

I am encouraged by the American experience where -
despite an approaching majority of Latin speakers, one still gets an unmistakable feel of the U.S.A. about the country.

That is one mix that seems to have succeeded,I wonder what is going to happen to old nationalistic Europe...The
back to before...or...what?

Comment is about Uber Alles. (blog)

Original item by Harry O`N eill

Agreed. I married a Polish girl!

Comment is about Anything they can do we can do.....? (blog)

Original item by Harry O`N eill

Graham,
Someone very close to me came here nearly sixty years ago as a very lowly paid nurse, Several of her children variously became: a B.B.C. news reader, An I.t. expert, an administrator in a large firm, and other responsible jobs.

Their children have since gone to university.

Comment is about Anything they can do we can do.....? (blog)

Original item by Harry O`N eill

Harry, all this talk of wellies and wombs is making the migrant crisis news on the TV take on a new persona. Perhaps each EU country should lobby for how many Willies and/or wombs it is prepared to take in and not how many nurses, builders, etc.

Comment is about Anything they can do we can do.....? (blog)

Original item by Harry O`N eill

I`m not sure if this is what Roger McGough meant about `crying` out about migration...but its a thought!

(Particularly when you think that a quarter of the babies born here last year were to mothers born in other countries)

(Its a sister Limerick to Uber Alles)

Comment is about Anything they can do we can do.....? (blog)

Original item by Harry O`N eill

I love ghost stories, Ray. And a ghost poem - there aren't too many of those. Wonderfully atmospheric, and great control of rhythm and tension throughout. I echo Graham's final comment.

Comment is about ON THE NORTHERN LINE (blog)

Original item by ray pool

This has such a breathless pace Amanda. I wanted it to be five times longer at least. Well done!

Comment is about Nervous -- 07/2015 (blog)

Original item by Amanda

Really quite brilliant Ray. Believable too on the Northern Line. Bloody well written!

Graham

Comment is about ON THE NORTHERN LINE (blog)

Original item by ray pool

Hi Stu, thanks for your comment on dismantled - feeling very flattered that you enjoyed it. It was one of those ones that just came out and I wasn't really sure about posting it - I love that I rarely have any idea which ones will interest people. When I read your comment at first I was thinking 'is he having a go' and then I realised there was no sting in the tail - a lovely surprise, so thanks again x
Not that I think you often, or ever to my knowledge make sarcastic comments - that is all about my own insecurity. I'll stop now, my explanation is becoming unwieldy.

Comment is about Stuart Buck (poet profile)

Original item by Stuart Buck

Hi Michelle, thanks for commenting on dismantled. The violin string but is my favourite too. I'm not to sure what this one means, sometimes they become clearer to me with time, thanks again x

Comment is about Michelle (poet profile)

Original item by Michelle

Many thanks for the directions, William!

Comment is about No one gets hurt as A Firm of Poets do the business (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Thankyou for your comment much appreciated ,we all have to hope peace will come some day .Not in my life time but have hope for the next generation .it is a very cruel world and things have to change .We must all write things down and leave a thread because if we don't who will listen Regards Wendy .

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

Original item by M.C. Newberry

Hi Eric thankyou for your comment having seen so much hatred in this world and having four boys and two girls numerous grandchildren my hope is we all find peace good luck with your poems and keep writing. Wendy

Comment is about Eric Berard (poet profile)

Original item by Eric Berard

It was a special time for me, 55 minutes walk from work No main road just country, dormice, nature, woodpeckers and little owls for company home. Sad I moved away from that, joy of having lived something, I'm sure if I was chained to a radiator like Terry Waite my memories would suffice, not that I recommend being chained to a radiator!.
Thanks again ray

Comment is about The shape of the pine table (blog)

Original item by PatricioLG

So pleased you liked this Stu. It's short enough to learn so get it engraved on your brain, maybe. I've just watched The Dresser, with Anthony Hopkins and Ian Mckellen. Wonderful acting.

Comment is about GOOD LUCK (blog)

Original item by ray pool

Liked this

Comment is about All of our Fathers are dead (blog)

Original item by John Darwin

ooh i like this. its half fortune cookie missive half dalai lama philosophy. excellent.

Comment is about GOOD LUCK (blog)

Original item by ray pool

brilliant. im lambasted year in year out for turning down the poppy nazis. those people fought for freedom (such as the freedom not to wear a poppy...)

Comment is about Remember Me (blog)

So impressive Anna. I'm a first time reader of your work, and this stunned me with its up close and personal in your face style! It's like a complete life style in a nutshell - a musical Hades, and all too real for comfort.
I especially like : flashing eyes like glazy treacle - too much. Ray

Comment is about Always Down The Front (blog)

Original item by Anna Ghislena

Hi MC, my thanks for commenting on 'Exposure' - and congratulations on winning out against the powers that be. :) Best wishes, Dave

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

Original item by M.C. Newberry

Hi MC, thanks for reading and commenting - good to hear you were victorious on this occasion. :)

Fair play ought to be reliable here and in other 'democratic' countries, though sadly pseudo democracy would be a more appropriate term for any 1st past the post system where a mere 25% of registered voters can elect a party into power.

Best wishes, Dave

Comment is about Exposure (blog)

Original item by Dave Dunn

It all seems a long way from the Aryan ideal of yesteryear.

Once across the herrenvolk's border
Will they learn to march in order?
And will they meet respect sincere
By developing a taste for beer?

Comment is about Uber Alles. (blog)

Original item by Harry O`N eill

Hi Huw, thanks for the comments. :)

I brought this one out from the pile as it seemed to have some relevance to the UK prisoner just released after all those years under US control - but without any due process.

You asked about stanza 4 - no, I have the highest regard for Nelson Mandela, but the reference there was to the cult tv series 'The Prisoner' who was simply known as No.6. Although it was by no means comparable to the vicious regime endured by detainees in Guantanamo Bay, the lack of any trial or explanations and the ongoing questioning seemed to be relevant,

Maybe justice is never clear cut - but I've seen police lie in court and I've seen witnesses lie too. Hardly conducive to justice, but certainly good for vested interests.

The man tied up in red tape represents not just the guy in the street fighting for common sense on the part of his local council, etc, but for the many people in the world who don't get a realistic chance of success in life.

Be it Stalin's Russia or Mugabe's Zimbabwe, or any of dozens of past regimes that suppressed truth and opportunity, the spirit of man to seek a way through those barriers must be commended. Certainly few men in recent history could have matched Mandela - and few deserved freedom more.

All men should expect justice to be accountable, just as they should be for their own crimes - but the biggest sins must be the corruptions that bend justice out of shape.

Comment is about Exposure (blog)

Original item by Dave Dunn

I've just experienced the upside of authority, having
incurred a congestion charge fine that deserved - in the
cause of "fair play" - to be appealed. Result - fair play
and a charge cancelled. One of the aspects of our
system that was exported is the code of fair play and
its close proximity to justice and civility in life... one
that always stands in the way of despots, tyrants and
dictators whose upbringing had no such experience.

If conscience is left untought
Men will think all can be bought
And the only thing that's free
Is the price of you and me.

Comment is about Exposure (blog)

Original item by Dave Dunn