@ Cynthia Buell Thomas :: Pls take this as my in-person Thanks for your inputs

I will surely practise :)

Comment is about Fate’s handwriting (blog)

Original item by Juhi Gupte

Evening Tommy. Thank you for your comments on Colour Me In, which I just managed to read before the comment disappeared! Technology eh!

Comment is about Tommy Carroll (poet profile)

Original item by Tommy Carroll

Hello Juhi

The way you write is 'right up my street'. Look forward to reading more of your work.

Comment is about Fate’s handwriting (blog)

Original item by Juhi Gupte

Fantastic poem sis! Forgot about this one.

Comment is about The Scarf (blog)

Original item by christine yates

Thank you very much, Huw, much appreciated.

Comment is about WOODLAND WONDER (blog)

Original item by THE PEN AND THE PAGE

Sorry I have come late to this thread.

One thing that perpetually intrigues me is the way readers appear to automatically think that "personal" pieces are autobiographical.

All poems should be critiqued objectively (I think I mean that) as stand alone words without the writer being castigated for committing those views to publication.

Saving libel, no-one should be thought culpable for their printed opinions. That sort of censorship is the brow of a very deep chasm.

Comment is about AND NOW! a free minded,unapologetic response,to closed minded pomposity (blog)

Spell binding work.
Will continue to follow with anticipation.

Comment is about Amy McAllister (poet profile)

Original item by Amy McAllister

I can't grab the crayons on this one Mr Bibby. It is about a mother who has a brain disorder and wishes her child could make it all better with the basic picture he/she creates.

Comment is about Colour Me In (blog)

Brave to have somebody else do the colouring. Crayola gripped withtight knuckles bunched and tongue gripped between teeth beneath a furrowed brow. careful careful carefully don't cross the lines .. you will make her all fuzzy. ....ahhh too late she fuzzed and fuzzed . ....grab the crayons yourself lynn you will make better choices on colour combinations and borders. Make her fizz and fizzier

Comment is about Colour Me In (blog)

It's a pleasure to catch a few thoughts in the fishing line of opportunity, even if you end up with the rubbish....
That line about the birds does maybe add a surreal touch, a sort of cinematic liberty. Cheers for your comments.

Ray

Comment is about I CAUGHT HER ON A SOFT TURN (blog)

Original item by ray pool

yes, absolutely. And the idea is that Sundays are kept free for the ritual of pollution , of noise and air!! Ray

Comment is about POWER TOOLS (blog)

Original item by ray pool

Glad you enjoyed this Colin. It was supposed to be neurotic houseowner but I'm sure we've all being there!
The last line is the bottom line obviously!

Comment is about YOU CAN'T GET QUICKER THAN A KITCHEN FITTER (blog)

Original item by ray pool

I love the way you throw in a slightly off-kilter line - 'a flock of birds escorted her in a livening breeze' - an added depth and dimension. You've been busy and it's been a pleasure to read your posts Ray.

Comment is about I CAUGHT HER ON A SOFT TURN (blog)

Original item by ray pool

Thanks for the comment on "The Tory Highwayman" Tommy, much appreciated mate :)

Comment is about Tommy Carroll (poet profile)

Original item by Tommy Carroll

Ray, it's a good job he didn't get the kitchen fitter in to do the heaven and earth - we'd all still be swimming around in the proverbial soup

Comment is about POWER TOOLS (blog)

Original item by ray pool

can I replace 'kitchen' with 'shower' Ray? It took several months for our shower fitter to fit the shower and fix the subsequent leaks - well actually, he didn't fix the leak in the end, I did!

great poem with cracking last line.

Comment is about YOU CAN'T GET QUICKER THAN A KITCHEN FITTER (blog)

Original item by ray pool

Hi David,

I've really done it now! No axe to grind really, but observations especially about one person who is also a musician. All the sensitivity of paint stripper....
I expect I will ruffle a few feathers. It is a difficult job and demands all the timing and foresight of a bungee jumper no doubt. cheers. Ray

Comment is about A POLICEMAN'S LOT (blog)

Original item by ray pool

Hey thanks Cynthia.. looking forward to be a part of this amazing spectrum of imagination .. :)

Comment is about Juhi Gupte (poet profile)

Original item by Juhi Gupte

'Love to ink my emotions' is a superb phrase in English. I look forward to many examples. Welcome to WOL, Juhi. We are becoming wonderfully international.

Comment is about Juhi Gupte (poet profile)

Original item by Juhi Gupte

A very interesting idea. A bit rough in language maybe, but ideas themselves are the real gold of poetry. The actual words are just the 'next part', which can be duly acquired as you practise. Keep writing.

Comment is about Fate’s handwriting (blog)

Original item by Juhi Gupte

Cynthia revisit "Konnichiwa" were you'll find a recording that I've now placed. Tommy

Comment is about Cynthia Buell Thomas (poet profile)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

OMG! what a storm you have created,guys.So I won't add any logs of contention to the fire,simply to say that as with ANY similar topic,it is accepting the 'EVERYONE to THEIR OWN'.

Anything else would have to work miracles to change that
and would be so wrong if it did.x

Comment is about AND NOW! a free minded,unapologetic response,to closed minded pomposity (blog)

My goodness- what a feast of words in a strong formal voice.

Is it so much noise as vision, as 'windmills' break up the scenery like the march of a galactic invasion? It's hard to think 'benign'.

Comment is about Dragon's Nest (blog)

Original item by Ian Whiteley

This is, perhaps, a bit strong, even biased, but you still make a very apt case with some good points.

Comment is about A POLICEMAN'S LOT (blog)

Original item by ray pool

Oh, I do like this, Tommy. Although I can't yet imagine a Japanese' ring-tone. You pull the readers right inside the room. And leave us hanging for more detail. Admirable technique.
I spent six weeks in Japan some years back, in Tokyo specifically, but travelling about. So I heard 'konnichiwa' a lot.

Comment is about Konnichiwa (blog)

Original item by Tommy Carroll

Now - back to the original question - was there any specific incident that caused you two to write this poem? IMO, it didn't sound like the 'war' or 'terrorist' kind of 'let live.' More like a nasty neighbour -for such like can make life hell. Or a fellow church member - scenarios like that. Whatever the impetus - it is great rant.

Comment is about AND NOW! a free minded,unapologetic response,to closed minded pomposity (blog)

before you condemn half the world to the gallows Huw maybe you should remember that some offenders do reform their ways and that many others would be able to given the proper resources for rehabilitation which are often sadly lacking throughout the world's prison systems. There have also been many convicted criminals who have been sent to the gallows and later been found to be innocent. I'm not a religious man but I believe no person is truly evil, their actions result from many different factors too many to list here. To wipe them 'away like scum' would be succumbing to the same 'scum of the earth' tactics you so despise. Humanity needs to aspire to a greater collective morality. Time to read a few peace loving poets from the sixties methinks.

Pat and Stef, I was wondering what made you write and post this neat little poem?

Comment is about AND NOW! a free minded,unapologetic response,to closed minded pomposity (blog)

JC - Claude Rains? Wasn't his most famous line about a
"beautiful friendship" - aimed at Humphrey Bogart?
We can only guess what the twits would make of that
line, given half a chance!

Comment is about Craig Raine hits back at 'Gatwick' critics (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Marie-Anne,
Those first five lines would make a good poem on their own.

Comment is about Stillness (blog)

Original item by Marie-Anne

Cynthia,

Nice selection of `out` rhymes. And only repeated one word (appropriately) at the end of the first and last line.

Comment is about Morning Mantra (blog)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

M.C.
The reasons for the growth of the benefit - dependent under-class include:

The decision of Thatcher government to neglect the manufacturing side of the economy and go for the the
financial service option after globalisation.

The discovery of North sea oil, which enabled them to pay reasonable benefits to the consequent manually unemployed.(remember those posters of the long dole queues?) As we changed to a mainly service economy.

The deliberate collusion of the government in turning a blind eye to the ease of people going on to benefits like
invalidity etc; (I can personally attest to this) for the purpose of reducing the (vote losing) unemployment
figures, while all this was happening. (this is now freely
admitted by the parties)

The service sector was `betrayed` by the financial arm, and there is now a dire need of a robust manufacturing
arm to rescue it...hence the benefit cuts to force people back to any sort of work. (and save the money).

We now seem to be in the ludicrous situation of so many extra workers that the productivity level is sagging.
Plus that the `strong` pound is doing us no good at all.
Not only that,, but if many of the new workers are also on some kind of benefit, then the government is
subsidising this weak productivity.

Despite the fact that - in my opinion -we have not yet seen any real austerity (where is it?) two internationally
respected financial watchdogs have, this week, urged the government to go easier as we move ahead. Yet
the government is still talking gung ho.

We don`t want a benefit dependent any-class of able-bodied or brained worker (benefits are for the needy)
What we need (and want) is a more equable salary
and wage system... things are too disparite.

Comment is about THE SOCIALIST SHIRKERS PARTY (blog)

Original item by M.C. Newberry

nice one Ian.

the irony now is that government subsidies fuel Drax to use wood chip from the US where small-scale landowners are shredding their trees for our energy greed. I believe it's 3 ships a day to feed the dreaded Drax and it's only us that's bought in to this nonsense.

anyways, enough of the rants and three cheers for renewables and a decent poem too. Cheers.

Comment is about Dragon's Nest (blog)

Original item by Ian Whiteley

Travis
missed this.

The rain, the steam, the grease (even the yoke) suitably
portray a bleak and bleary view of the modern world.

The episode of the (dam?) tells of the impossibility of pleasing everyone (adding to the confused cussednes of the feeling?)

The Consumption bit I take to be self-criticism.

Adam and Eve re-call the reason for the whole sorry mess.

I don`t get the atoll-eating, and - unless the title means seeds of some kind of dawning conscience - I don`t really get that either.

To me the whole thing reads like the begining of a feel of conscience for our sorry world mess that is felt but eventually rejected.

Comment is about SEEDS. (blog)

Tomas,
I like your comparison with Ireland, and the sheer cack-handedness of modern Politics when it comes to
`toppling regimes`.

Comment is about Coffin Ships of the Modern Age (blog)

Original item by Tomás Ó Cárthaigh

Oops! I was talking about Claude Rains!

Comment is about Craig Raine hits back at 'Gatwick' critics (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Twits on Twitter/ No surprise there!
The content of a poem and the way it is set out are two
separate things. The first comes within the aim of
poetry to get people thinking (even those who don't
normally indulge) - whilst the second is more subjective
and may be food for criticism according to the skill or
lack of it perceived in the presentation.
The anti-human aspect of age-ism is one of those
fashionable isms of today that appeal to those who
see no further than their own immediate little existence
and would deprive others of thought. The comment from
GS about "thought police" is well taken.
A popular song of the past told us "You can't go to jail
for what you're thinking..."
Hah! If the twits on Twitter had their way, you would!

Comment is about Craig Raine hits back at 'Gatwick' critics (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Laura, just noticed your profile total. Are you having a party for your 30,000?

Comment is about Laura Taylor (poet profile)

Original item by Laura Taylor

Oh no! another one for the thought police.
Perhaps he didn't disguise it well enough. Without spilling too many worms out of the can, I for one (and there must be many of us) can still muster up enough strength to notice a finely turned heel and fly off into fantasy land wishing I were forty years younger. Isn't that healthy?

Comment is about Craig Raine hits back at 'Gatwick' critics (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

f*****g brilliant response as they say in our house. Cheers Laura x

Comment is about Laura Taylor (poet profile)

Original item by Laura Taylor

Hi Martin-love this! the title brings to mind the recent loss of B.B King.

Now there WAS a hoochie-coochie man!

Thank you.

Rose.x

Comment is about Hoochie Coochie man (blog)

Original item by Martin Elder

You've done it again Tommy lad - written a poem that is so evocative it aches; I can feel it, smell it, it is poetically dense. Just the fact of 'stolen sheets' is pregnant with potential interpretations. That first line is just killer. How to open a poem!

The clinical white plastic bucket contrasting with the physical remains of passion - just...wow!

Fucking brilliant, as they say in our house ;)

Comment is about On stolen sheets (blog)

Original item by Tommy Carroll

I didn't like the poem much although it had nothing to do with the subject matter.
As for its "pervy" aspect, would it be permissible for a 25 year old to have these thoughts? I might have slowed down a bit now I'm in my 60.s but I'm not celibate. Aren't we being a touch ageist?

Comment is about Craig Raine hits back at 'Gatwick' critics (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Wonderful little poem. Loving the metaphor and the message. However, one tiny niggle for me - can you get 'thin' bricks? Aren't all bricks, by their construction, thick? I would be tempted to change that. Perhaps something along the lines of 'scorched', or something else to add to (build on, if you will!) the metaphor?

Comment is about Judgements (blog)

Hiya Helen

Many thanks for your note on my 'medley' :D Haha - eh, it's taken 5 years to get to that point! You should have seen me for the first two years - a quivering nauseous wreck haha ;)

I've only done one gig down south so far and that was at a festie. It's a bit far to travel really and I'm not famous enough to get paid top (or even middle, sometimes bottom) dollar for performing ;) And I'm deffo not organised enough to sort out my own mini tour like a mate of mine just has. But anytime you're up North, gis a shout lass :)

Comment is about Helen (poet profile)

Original item by Helen

From what I can gather the criticism of Raine's poem had two strands. One was that it was that its subject was sexist and perhaps a bit creepy. The other was that it was thought to be an utterly rubbish piece of writing and was only published where it was because of the name attached to it. Some people didn't like it for both these reasons. So perhaps Sophie Hannah is missing one aspect of the criticism- namely that your name can get what is, in some peoples opinion, dreadful work published in esteemed magazines.

Comment is about Craig Raine hits back at 'Gatwick' critics (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Thank you

Comment is about DREAMS OF A LIFE (blog)

Original item by THE PEN AND THE PAGE

fantastic poem, well written with pure depth Tommy, could imagine it read with a bit of jazz in the background :) beautiful!

Comment is about On stolen sheets (blog)

Original item by Tommy Carroll

The heart of Stockport has to be the River Mersey it is where the birth of how Stockport came to be a trading place at the crossing in which a bridge dating back to 1937 has now been brought back to life.

Comment is about Stitching together text and textiles at Write Out Loud Stockport tonight (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Your shadow has and is most welcome.

Comment is about Katy Megan (poet profile)

Original item by Katy Megan

Ha that was an education Laura!!! Now I know I could never be a performance poet but my god I'd love to come and see you some day. Do you ever gig down south???

Comment is about Performance Medley (blog)

Original item by Laura Taylor