Yes, I think it is a great venue and it was a very special night indeed. I think Maggie's response to your review is the most important and she was moved by it.
I performed at the recent Mayfly Festival of Arts at the Square Tower, it was on the last May bank holiday and there was a great atmosphere. I think the owners are very willing to support the arts here in Portsmouth and it was great to have artists, musicians and poets sharing a platform.
I hear that you are a featured poet at the next Guildford event? That should be good. Have you ever been to a Tongues and Grooves open mic night?
Comment is about Greg Freeman (poet profile)
Original item by Greg Freeman
Harry, this is lovely. I agree with Travis, the rhythm is spot on. Perhaps if you'd have substituted 'mummy' for 'daddy' in that last verse, the element of surprise would have worked in your favour. Enjoyed!
Comment is about School time (blog)
Original item by Harry O`N eill
Hi Helen, thanks for your kind words about Maggie's book launch write-up. It was quite an occasion that night, and a privilege to be there. Glad you felt that the words did the job. There was a sense that a whole community was involved, and felt that it had played its part. I'd never been to the Old Square Tower before; it's a wonderful venue. And outside you can watch all the ferries coming in and out. Greg
Comment is about Helen (poet profile)
Original item by Helen
Shame on the magazine say I, they should have recognized real talent! I raised my 3 kids after their mum died so I know all too well how frenetic that life can be... Best wishes, Dave
Comment is about School time (blog)
Original item by Harry O`N eill
Thanks for commenting on 'The Family' Harry, much appreciated. :)
Comment is about Harry O`N eill (poet profile)
Original item by Harry O`N eill
thanks i"I am Lost" for words thanks
Comment is about I realised i was me (blog)
Original item by David R Mellor
First two lines were spot on Preeti. Persevere!
Comment is about I can (blog)
Sun 24th May 2015 22:22
Sun 24th May 2015 21:33
Thank you Harry, I appreciate your opinion a lot -I really enjoyed your poems too!Hope to see you in June!
Steve Smith
Comment is about Harry O`N eill (poet profile)
Original item by Harry O`N eill
Thanks for these comments David. I suppose it is corporate theft and usuary made respectable - so yes we do have to put faith in these people. They are just pawns in the bigger game after all and are to be pitied.
And, yes it is autobiographical, but I am old enough not to worry about it any more.!!
Comment is about WHERE DID HONESTY GO? (blog)
Original item by ray pool
Though you call yourself "I am lost," you have nothing to lose by expressing any personal thoughts, and that is a great thing in itself. Treat your mind like a blank canvas and dot some I's and cross T's and you will surely find a format that suits you, and I'm sure people will accept that as a unique effort. Nobody can have all the answers, but I think inspiration is very close to desperation and there may be a clue there somewhere!
Happy writing!!
Comment is about Clive (poet profile)
Original item by Clive
Hi Greg,
Just thought I'd stop by to say hello. I was at Maggie Sawkin's book launch at the Square Tower. Your review of the evening was spot on. Such a powerful and emotional collection.
Helen :)
Comment is about Greg Freeman (poet profile)
Original item by Greg Freeman
Thanks very much for this useful feedback Harry. Much appreciated.
Comment is about NOT REALLY A STRANGER (blog)
Original item by David Subacchi
love. we poets have a theme and they are the truths of life. I enjoyed this thanks
Comment is about All that you said (blog)
Original item by Martin Elder
M.C.
Fair is Fair, and - after all I`ve said - I stand humbly (and rhythmically)...F...d.
Comment is about QUESTION (blog)
Original item by M.C. Newberry
Thanks for your comments.
Comment is about 28 Years Later (blog)
Original item by Emma-Jane Stradling
<Deleted User> (9882)
Sun 24th May 2015 10:13
<Deleted User> (9882)
Sun 24th May 2015 10:03
hi chaps.Do you know where I could purchase a pair of those 'boots?' x
Comment is about Arse over pip (blog)
There'll always be an England etc
Comment is about 'Poetry should have bite and snarl, but it's better for joy and sadness than anger': Luke Wright (article)
Original item by Greg Freeman
<Deleted User> (6895)
Sat 23rd May 2015 23:07
Thanks all! xx
Comment is about Incision (blog)
<Deleted User> (6895)
Sat 23rd May 2015 22:02
<Deleted User> (6895)
Sat 23rd May 2015 21:57
Great dedication Jane to a true hero who wil never ever be forgotten.xx
Comment is about Alan (Henning) (blog)
Original item by jane wilcock
As an afterthought, Greg, have you seen any of Colin Gifford's books on UK railways. Great shots of the industrial areas in the sixties . Two reside on my bookshelf.... all the best.
Comment is about Greg Freeman (poet profile)
Original item by Greg Freeman
I'm so glad you enjoyed the tank graveyard. I tried one about pillboxes, but it didn't quite work. Plenty of atmosphere, which you like, I know! The final line perhaps was inspired by the Turner painting Steam Smoke and Speed(I think). Who know where these ideas come from, but that poem was an experience I had as a kid.
I enjoyed your poem Wrecks a lot. It drips with images of the sea.
Comment is about Greg Freeman (poet profile)
Original item by Greg Freeman
enigmatic pencilling...
Comment is about ;) (blog)
Just Hanging Around
Surrounded by Art
Pictures observe us
Collective images smile.
Poetry replaces brushstrokes
When we depart
They all comment.
Makes a change
From oddball artists
Trying to paint.
Comment is about Stockport WoL (group profile)
Original item by Stockport WoL
Hi Jane
Nice poem, both thought provoking and well written.
Comment is about Alan (Henning) (blog)
Original item by jane wilcock
Knowing when to retire from the field - gracefully. That's the secret. In the meantime - for auld lang syne...
For all the things we might have seen
There's this tease of just what might have been!
And - serving as cruel fancy's factotum -
The niggling lust of a ageing scrotum!
:-)
Comment is about Don Juan in his decrepitude (blog)
Original item by Harry O`N eill
Jonathan Humble - a delightful riposte and a true heir to
the wit and wisdom of Spike Milligan. Like most comedy
films - however gifted and rewarding - this poetic equivalent will not be gaining any prizes in competitions, but it has more than that going for it: the priceless
ability to connect with us and make us laugh...an all
too rare occurrence in poetry today.
Seriously!!
Comment is about 'Self-schooled poet' Simon Armitage bids to become Oxford professor of poetry (article)
Original item by Greg Freeman
I found the attitudes towards poetry from this poet a
pleasing reminder of what inspires writers even today.
Politically, I'm unsure why he should find Nigel Farage/
Ukip "chilling". How far we seem to have moved - from a
proud self-regulating nation unafraid to take on the world
- to an easily frightened entity content to lurk among 27
other countries, many of which are former dictatorships
and failed communists states busy looking out for themselves with little obvious concern for this small
island nation and its wishes to revert back to sovereign
status and a TRADING nation - except when we threaten to leave and take our billions per annum contribution with us.
Perhaps Mr Wright could write (no pun intended) a poem
about the motives that saw virtually 4 million people
heed the message from Ukip about wanting the country
back.
Comment is about 'Poetry should have bite and snarl, but it's better for joy and sadness than anger': Luke Wright (article)
Original item by Greg Freeman
An enjoyable and interesting piece! Thanks. :-)
Comment is about 'Poetry should have bite and snarl, but it's better for joy and sadness than anger': Luke Wright (article)
Original item by Greg Freeman
Steve,
I like the way - at the moment of waking - the inanimate drawer `knows` what has taken place.
The silent rising tide image suits the powerful serenity of the coming dawn.
I think Cynthia has the pith of of the piece with her comment about pragmatist/dreamer (the effect of those
late lines about the day being stacked away give the impression (to me) of a sort of apology in case the rest of it might seem to be over sentimental. (it isn`t)
Comment is about Shore (blog)
Original item by stephen smith
Thanks JC - tho' not quite so timorous in its final appearance.
Comment is about GOODBYE TO A LITTLE LIFETIME (blog)
Original item by M.C. Newberry
I have my own memories of the days described in these
lines of a shock defeat. You would have thought that
the defeat of the French previously might have waved a
few warning flags but the Yanks (even now) believe that
fire-power is the be all and end all in warfare. I sometimes
wonder how the Brits, Aussies et al would have approached
the combat and its aspect of "hearts and minds" in a
part of the world where things material have to face
a very intransigent type of belief.
Comment is about birth of a nation (blog)
Original item by jeremy young
David,
An excellent title and very effective mood-setter which leads up to kind of drawing felt attraction.
The middle stanza is a really original way of describing a certain kind of weather (which suits the mood of the whole piece)
A (very tiny) quibble might be that the `burst`in stanza one doesn`t suit the mood of the rest of it.
Comment is about NOT REALLY A STRANGER (blog)
Original item by David Subacchi
Cynthia
Neat treatment of the boom boom end of the music of the spheres.
(made all the more effective by the last four lines kind of mocking your own thought)
Comment is about Moon Storm (blog)
Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas
I think Graham`s advice about interspersing here is spot on.
Comment is about matrix (blog)
Original item by Zachary
Very sincere reminiscence.
For me, Line fourteen is a very fine line of poetry.
Comment is about 28 Years Later (blog)
Original item by Emma-Jane Stradling
Sat 23rd May 2015 13:51
I like this poem. It's written so well that I can almost see the scenery.
Comment is about TANK GRAVEYARD (blog)
Original item by ray pool
For a particular event Thomas?
Comment is about Take hands and march (blog)
Original item by Marnanel Thurman
I love your rhythm. Narcissistically, cause it's like mine ;)
Comment is about Fishing (blog)
Another great review Judy.
It was certainly an evening to remember. Mandy Coe was lyrical and Brian Patten, as you say, a legend.
I would like to join Julian in extending a big Thank You to Live from Worktown for this and all the other fantastic events they have delivered throughout the Festival.
Comment is about Warmth and wonder from Mandy Coe and Brian Patten (article)
Original item by Greg Freeman
I enjoyed many lines in this, Ray, such as "the sunset of world-weary time". But the final line is my favourite!
Comment is about TANK GRAVEYARD (blog)
Original item by ray pool
Sat 23rd May 2015 09:01
Nice poem... "Time wasted, time wasted, time wasted me"
Comment is about I realised i was me (blog)
Original item by David R Mellor
Hi Harry, this made me smile, like the poem song, songs like My old mans a dustman, another species under pressure at the moment!
Thanks for comment on austerity no more, yes VE stuff overlooked, glad you liked how I tied it in, cheers Jeff
Comment is about The floating voter song (blog)
Original item by Harry O`N eill
Very dark, powerful stuff Martin, enjoyed reading, ps thanks for comment on 'Austerity no more', more dark times ahead, Jeff
Comment is about How dark (blog)
Original item by Martin Elder
Hi Tommy, really enjoyed reading this, love the description ands sounds spot on, cheers Jeff, ps thanks fro reading and posting about 'Austerity no more' yes no great solution, I just hoped an alternative result may have been a bit better :-(
Comment is about Is this what borders do? (blog)
Original item by Tommy Carroll
<Deleted User> (9882)
Mon 25th May 2015 22:45
Brilliant.Deep,as most of your work is Paul,but this one is at a very enjoyable depth.x
Comment is about that secret (blog)
Original item by Paul Sands