Thank you for your varied responses to ths poem. To give serious consideration to this poem it requires a good knowledge of world history stretching back to the beginning of the last century. This added to a balanced appraisal of the news from a number of media outlets will assist one's overall perspective. It is a mistake to rely solely on State Broadcasting organs as they have their government's agendas to adhere to first. Reggie I love your use of the word 'stuttered'.
Thank you to one and all,
Keith
Comment is about The Evil Empire (blog)
Original item by keith jeffries
rob1967able
Sat 30th Mar 2024 10:44
Thank you guys, again. Hholden you are still the best! Love.
Comment is about hostage. (blog)
Original item by RudyardK
Thankyou, Stephen. And, in the words of the Master Lyricist Benny Hill “Have you noticed that all the people in favour of birth control have already been born?”
Comment is about STAIRLIFT TO HEAVEN (blog)
Original item by John Coopey
I like the way this takes a turn from semi-humorous to deeply serious, Trevor, without stuttering for a moment. Our grandchildren will indeed pay the price.
Comment is about The Price (blog)
Original item by Trevor Alexander
A disturbing, well-written poem, David. It is very evocative of something that I think we have all experienced.
Thank you for this.
Comment is about Wild Dogs (blog)
Original item by David RL Moore
Thanks to those who sent flowers.
Awaking to check my own dogs this morning I noted they all returned safely with no damage done, as intended.
David.
Comment is about Wild Dogs (blog)
Original item by David RL Moore
The great taboo, speaking of one's own demise.
I often feel there is a veiled vanity in those who plan their own funerals right down to the music and the readings.
Alternately, funerals planned by those who remain in a way that celebrates the life they witnessed seem more appropriate and truthful.
Not a judgement, I do understand the desire to plan one's own send off. Merely an observation derived from experiences of ceremonies.
I like your poem.
David.
Comment is about More or less (blog)
Original item by Mike McPeek
I see this is called alter ego and is relatable as such.
I am an atheist, that said the text and sentiment of this poem could relate to the Easter story of Christ. A vessel for the three in one, his father. Sacrificed for all, to find himself betrayed by a whispering disciple, alone. The ultimate altar ego.
Subtle work if intended.
David.
Comment is about Alter Ego (blog)
Original item by Jordyn Elizabeth
Hail to The Witch is what I say.
Comment is about The river witch (blog)
Original item by John E Marks
Silence is often mistaken for something else by those not able to understand a world without perpetual noise, even if that noise is often meaningless rattle.
If writing is a way to use your voice then let that be your conduit.
David
Comment is about Not Broken, Just Outspoken (blog)
Original item by dark at heart
Must admit Stephen, I was stretching it a bit with Norman Nicholson, but my Dad was from Ulverston, so he was a bit of a local South Lakes hero… growing up, our poetry volumes in the book case were : Selected Wordsworth , Selected Norman Nicholson and The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayam!
Comment is about The Best Poet's Name (blog)
Original item by R A Porter
https://www.facebook.com/100086255827049/videos/1876058072853239/
Comment is about These places (blog)
Original item by Phils Words
https://www.facebook.com/100086255827049/videos/339541652424886/
Comment is about Family portraits, snap shots of life (blog)
Original item by Phils Words
The US is full of noble and decent people, Keith. It is sad that its governments have often fallen below the high ideals its founders set themselves, using methods which you refer to here.
Still, I would rather have the US as an ally compared to say, Russia, Syria, North Korea, Venezuela etc. The imperfect trumps (!) the truly evil.
Thanks for a committed piece of writing which makes people think.
Comment is about The Evil Empire (blog)
Original item by keith jeffries
Beautifully constructed, RA.
Lord Byron was GG Byron but I don't think that counts!
Comment is about The Best Poet's Name (blog)
Original item by R A Porter
A winner here, John. In the words of Tony Hancock 'now that I've read it, I'm going to recommend they ban it,'
By the way, why do all the people in stairlift ads on TV look about 40 and tanned? I think we should be told.
Comment is about STAIRLIFT TO HEAVEN (blog)
Original item by John Coopey
Some great lines in this David, and although they say the pen is mightier than the sword I know which one I would rather encounter when walking home from a night out!
I jest... things said have a long lasting effect that can split families and cause wars.
Comment is about Wild Dogs (blog)
Original item by David RL Moore
rob1967able
Fri 29th Mar 2024 07:36
Thank you Holden, you are the best! Love.
Comment is about tearing us apart. (blog)
Original item by RudyardK
Wow, Tim you've just brilliantly put in words how my writing process often is. "Just when I feel like tossing my pen
A new thought pops up and I start again."
Very relatable my friend.😌
Well done.
Comment is about Sitting To Write (blog)
Original item by Tim Higbee
Thank you Auracle and Tim for you comments and continued support. It means a lot to me.😊
Comment is about Peninsula (blog)
Original item by Manish
Fri 29th Mar 2024 03:59
It also singles you out,
Until you feel peninsula.
Great summation to strong expressive lines. Well done Manish.
Comment is about Peninsula (blog)
Original item by Manish
Thank you Holden Moncrieff. I do appreciate you this very much.
Comment is about In memoriam... (blog)
Original item by Holden Moncrieff
Yes, we're going back into our history of poems now. Feels good, doesn't it?
Comment is about Another Shadow (blog)
Original item by Manish
Keith why pick on the US when there are dozens of countries with evil regimes.?
Without US involvement it is likely Europe, including the UK, would be part of the German Empire. And although they have stuttered recently they have done more than anyone to support Ukraine.
Comment is about The Evil Empire (blog)
Original item by keith jeffries
Glad you enjoyed it, Landi.
Comment is about STAIRLIFT TO HEAVEN (blog)
Original item by John Coopey
Thu 28th Mar 2024 17:55
Please know that you are not alone and that you are loved by so many people even if it seems unlikely right now. Keep pushing you will get through this. I will be praying for you (prayer works) and I'm here if you need me.
Kelsey
p.s. I love your poems
Comment is about In Case I Lose This Fight (blog)
Original item by dark at heart
Thank you very much. It’s a good place to share poems 😌
Comment is about Gone Girl (blog)
Original item by Emma-Jane Stradling
Let's set about with the cherry-picking...
Isolationist? The devil
Interventionist? The devil
They're each the same rose by different names.
The devil is your friend when he's your enemy's enemy.
Comment is about The Evil Empire (blog)
Original item by keith jeffries
I picked this up in the middle of the night, no daily news to cloud my humor, and I laughed out loud )
Comment is about STAIRLIFT TO HEAVEN (blog)
Original item by John Coopey
Thanks for your thoughts, MC. And for the Likes, Ghazala, Jennifer and Holden.
Comment is about STAIRLIFT TO HEAVEN (blog)
Original item by John Coopey
Loved whispers and wills plundered for half truths! Think it has already become a nightmare.
Comment is about TALES OF OLD HOLLYWOOD (blog)
Original item by ray pool
An exquisite poem, beautifully crafted with an abundance of wisdom. It merits several readings.
Thank you for this,
Keith
Comment is about Optimistic mindset (blog)
Original item by Ghazala lari
But in purely world-terms - the best of a bad lot. And they
make better allies than enemies!
Comment is about The Evil Empire (blog)
Original item by keith jeffries
An elevator vibrator? What next?! But this gives a sure "lift" to
the spirits on a dull day. "Stairway to Paradise" is a song title
that I'm amazed hasn't been grabbed for your use, JC ! 😎
Comment is about STAIRLIFT TO HEAVEN (blog)
Original item by John Coopey
Wasting edible food is criminal. Any system that enables it to be
available to the genuinely needy has to be welcome and
actively encouraged,,,scaling from low prices to free according
to circumstance, ensuring freeloaders do not take advantage of
good intent - human nature being what it is.
HEED THE NEED -
FEED THE NEED!!
Comment is about FareShare (blog)
Original item by Mike Bartram
Hey Nigel,
Only you could read between the lines...haha😱😂
Comment is about An apology (blog)
Original item by Sunshine
Hey Nigel, Who doesn't like happy endings... But not all endings are happy some are fabulous 🌷
Comment is about Towards a brighter future (blog)
Original item by Sunshine
<Deleted User> (35860)
Thu 28th Mar 2024 09:59
And here you better stay! so there! 😁
another cool compostion compadre!
Beth
Comment is about song of pure desperation. (blog)
Original item by RudyardK
<Deleted User> (35860)
Thu 28th Mar 2024 09:56
Hi Emma. Fab poem, and having read your bio and sample I must say its a an absolute pleasure to have your company on WOL.
Beth
Comment is about Gone Girl (blog)
Original item by Emma-Jane Stradling
<Deleted User> (35860)
Thu 28th Mar 2024 09:46
Thank you to everyone - David, Graham, Auracle, Tim, Ray, Telboy and John for your comments. You all make good points and I am very grateful to you for taking the time to set out your views.
I wrote this because I believe that freedom of speech, expression and the press is fundamental in the tolerant, liberal society in which I would like to live. 'Different views' can sometimes be infuriating and their expression (e.g. through demonstrations) disruptive but, nevertheless, there still needs to be a compelling reason to restrict them in any way. (Restricting free speech means shutting people up, and if they don't shut up, taking steps to make them do so. And we all know where this can lead...)
To put it simply, societies which uphold these freedoms are more creative and more fun.
Having said that, I am not so naive to think that the right to free speech is absolute. Democracy has to be defended, as you say, John. Incitement to violence or hatred, libel or slander require remedies. But criticising your government or saying things which 'upset' certain people does not. 'Balance', with a very high burden of proof, is the watchword here, as you say, Graham.
This why we have to reject the playbook of the 'Strongmen' (who are in fact mostly weak, insecure men), whose tactic is to brand anyone who disagrees with them as a traitor or an enemy of the state. In the end this is all self-defeating, as it stifles debate and inventiveness with disastrous results.
As regard pro-Russian opinions, Telboy, I would not object to reasoned arguments being posted, even if I found them objectionable. However, we should obviously not accept attempts to justify murder or destruction in Ukraine. I understand that the line is thin here and no one ever said that the defence of such rights was easy.
And my thanks to Hugh, Jennifer, Holden, K Lynn, Steve, Kelso, Manish and Rob for liking this.
Comment is about A Different Kind of View (blog)
Original item by Stephen Gospage
Thanks to all those who sent flowers.
David.
Comment is about Scrap yard philosophy, too late (blog)
Original item by David RL Moore
Graham Sherwood
Sat 30th Mar 2024 14:16
Standout last four lines!
Comment is about All Smiles Around Here (blog)
Original item by Manish