Ira has done a brilliant job in uncovering this. As poets so many of us sweat blood and tears in order to pen what we do. They are not just poems, but in many respects extensions of ourselves. Whatever standard any of us reach, we aspire to the highest of ideals and can take pride in our own personal high water marks. This on the other hand sullies the art, no insult could be greater, either to the reader, or to the poets that find their work "appropriated". There is of course another word for that!

Ira might to a degree be somewhat limited in what he can say, due to professional etiquette. I am not bound in such a way and will call it for what it is. It is disgusting, it is outright and it is plagiarism; a crude theft of the work of others. I hope the poets reputation is in tatters and I hope she loses her job and qualification to teach: both of which must now be called into doubt. I know that will sound harsh to some, but only when the price to be paid for such action is equivalent to the rewards of the crime will people cease to do this. Make no mistake, all of the excuses are simply lies that compound the original offences (more than one). Nobody just happens to copy entire poems start to finish and "mistake it" for their own work. I feel very sorry for those who have found their work, lifted. It must be so hard for these poets to re-claim their own work in the light of this. To me it would be like having someone burgle my home. I'm not sure I would feel the same again (at least for some time) with all that I had treasured.

I'm sure some will disagree with me, that's fine, in any regards, a huge thanks to Ira for his work and for uncovering this. He has done a great service, for poets and to poetry. As I say, my thoughts go out to the poets whose work was lifted. Perhaps though with high profile cases such as this, people will think twice and turn to their own creative ideas and focus on what may make them genuinely worthwhile - in their own right.

Comment is about Poet apologises for 'appropriations' as poems are withdrawn and book is pulped (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Power full. Tommy

Comment is about SOMETIMES (blog)

Nice combination, football and politics! Nothing against Villa, but I suppose he'll be at the final.

Comment is about ASTON VILLA (blog)

Original item by Ben Willems

I often worry about the state of the 'poetry industry', the commoditisation of creativity. This is absolutely disgusting. Quite unforgivable. And very worry that a person with such attitudes is teaching at the OU and receiving limited opportunities like reading at Ledbury. Everything that is wrong with modern poetry practice in one story.

Comment is about Poet apologises for 'appropriations' as poems are withdrawn and book is pulped (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Very encouraging!

Comment is about DONT GIVE UP (blog)

Original item by Autum

That's the way you do it! I'd love to possess a tiny fraction of your talent. x

Comment is about table scraps 2306 (05/07/2015) (blog)

Original item by Zach Dafoe

"Because that glass was your daughter..." says it all. Tommy

Comment is about What is an alcoholic? (blog)

Original item by Autum

Enjoyed reading your work Nigel. Think it was the 'blue nylon socks' that did it for me.

Comment is about The Laughing Policeman (blog)

Original item by Nigel Astell

Enjoyed reading your work Nigel. Think it was the 'blue nylon socks' that did it for me.

Comment is about The Laughing Policeman (blog)

Original item by Nigel Astell

Too crap to blog but you did ask!

Just for you Mr TC
(Top Cat tune keeps springing into my head)

Winky Face

Emotion without words
How does that work?
Display happiness with
A smiley face
Slighty abuse
Or amuse with
A winky face

Show sadness with
A downturned U
When you are so
Downturned
U don’t even know U
Are U

;)

On second thoughts I might blog. One glass of wine and it's starting to look ok ;)

Comment is about Tommy Carroll (poet profile)

Original item by Tommy Carroll

Great and honest attitude and what a fighter. The very best of luck in Manchester tomorrow Jackie. Hope to see you perform next time.

Comment is about Jackie Hagan: 'I figured I might as well milk the one-legged thing' (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

LFC

ynwa

Comment is about Hillsborough 96 (blog)

Original item by David R Mellor

good stuff, Ian. as i expected when i started it, i really enjoyed this. top stuff m8

Comment is about Once Upon A Time (blog)

Original item by Ian Whiteley

Put together a poem for the theme of humour
but not sure about the title of The Laughing Policeman
was going to call it The Hairy Banana!

Comment is about Stockport WoL (group profile)

Original item by Stockport WoL

Love this!! I spent a lot of time on a roof when I as a kid - brought it back :)

Comment is about Danny Nucci 0637 (blog)

Original item by Zach Dafoe

Hey, hope you're doing ok, absolutely know what the negative loop stuff is like x

Comment is about Zach Dafoe (poet profile)

Original item by Zach Dafoe

Love the plays on words and the raw emotion - gutsy poem - I struggle to be in most moments. Like this one a lot x

Comment is about table scraps 2306 (05/07/2015) (blog)

Original item by Zach Dafoe

Downstairs we are for one night only under the theme of poetry humour.

Comment is about Write Out Loud at Stockport art gallery tonight (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

quality and nothing less.x

Comment is about table scraps 2306 (05/07/2015) (blog)

Original item by Zach Dafoe

love it! x

Comment is about DONT GIVE UP (blog)

Original item by Autum

Autum, your poems portray a wretched life, and i can't claim to understand, but quite how you manage to find the energy and the will to write, and post your work, is, dare i say it, both admirable and humbling. This is a shocking poem, but it's clever at the same time. Keep at it.

Comment is about 10 Down to 1 (blog)

Original item by Autum

This is brilliant!

Comment is about Love Me; Let Me Be (blog)

Love this!

Comment is about Looking for the sky (blog)

Hi Michael. Thank you for your feedback. You are very kind an enthusiastic, which is good :) I am pleased that you enjoyed my work.

Comment is about Michael W. Lankford (poet profile)

Original item by Michael W. Lankford

Thank you for your lovely comment on "The Poetry Bug"! Was really nice to hear x

Comment is about Andy N (poet profile)

Original item by Andy N

thank you so much!!!! ?:)

Comment is about What is an alcoholic? (blog)

Original item by Autum

Hello Andy, thank u for always being so supportive and kind ! Much appreciated....

Comment is about Andy N (poet profile)

Original item by Andy N

Hmm.... I actually have a poem called 'Winky Face' somewhere lying around.

Comment is about Tommy Carroll (poet profile)

Original item by Tommy Carroll

Lovely, Preeti. x

Comment is about Fishing (blog)

yeah, would be interested in hearing a recording of this also as it definately deserves to be recorded.

the short short lines at the end really work well for me here in particular but it's a good un all round

Comment is about My Bedroom Floor (blog)

Original item by Genevieve

lot of good stuff here, steve.

the use of because works really well here.

excellent m8

Comment is about why you are #beachready (blog)

Original item by steve pottinger

last line really works Preeti.

gives it a very different meaning.

works well for me that.

excellent

Comment is about Fishing (blog)

Welcome to Write Out Loud, Melissa. Glad we were able to get along to your recent performance at Poets and Players in Manchester http://www.writeoutloud.net/public/blogentry.php?blogentryid=48352

Comment is about Melissa Lee-Houghton (poet profile)

Original item by Melissa Lee-Houghton

haha-this morning I feel like Michelle has got me on a lead,taking me for a walk to all her choices..but in this case,I,m glad she did! x

Comment is about Looking for the sky (blog)

and I am in total agreement with Michelle.Terrific! x

Comment is about What is an alcoholic? (blog)

Original item by Autum

When oh when? I like this very much.
M:)

Comment is about Looking for the sky (blog)

I don't have any clever words to offer. This is a compelling read. x

Comment is about What is an alcoholic? (blog)

Original item by Autum

hi friendo

thanks for reading me a while back. I haven't had much time to float along this site in a while, but I glance at it and your comments always do good to bring me back.

hope this message finds you well. :)

Comment is about Jacqueline Phillips (poet profile)

Original item by Jacqueline Phillips

thanks for the comments on 'National Wealth Service?' Harry - I think you are right - but that doesn't stop the idealist in me wishing that you are wrong - cheers
Ian

Comment is about Harry O`N eill (poet profile)

Original item by Harry O`N eill

Thank you for your wonderful feedback! I write on an impulse...cannot explain what drives me to capitalize or not :0

Comment is about Michael W. Lankford (poet profile)

Original item by Michael W. Lankford

Graham, thank you. Made the change. I was not too sure !
Thank you again.....

Comment is about Fishing (blog)

This is really impressive Preeti, I like it a lot. It's brevity but straightforward phrasing. I don't like the last line, make it one thing or the other.
Great work.

Comment is about Fishing (blog)

Thank you Colin, much obliged. I started this sucker seven years ago and thought, at various stages, it was complete; I was wrong.

Comment is about SEEDS. (blog)

Nice one Travis. Especially like the rain running from verse one through two and into three and reappearing at the end - 'puddles traffic ploughed' - 'slick umbrellas' - 'filthy spritz'. Cheers. x

Comment is about SEEDS. (blog)

Thank you for the feedback, folks.

Comment is about why you are #beachready (blog)

Original item by steve pottinger

Lots going on! :)

Comment is about Poetry at St Ives launches Cornish festivals spree (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Been there; still there, in fact; no plans to leave either.

Comment is about bedsit (blog)

Original item by jeremy young

Well sustained and nicely laid out, Steve.

Comment is about why you are #beachready (blog)

Original item by steve pottinger

Thanks for posting this Steve, absolutely great, and so good to have a guy saying this stuff :)

Comment is about why you are #beachready (blog)

Original item by steve pottinger

xlent! x

Comment is about Danny Nucci 0637 (blog)

Original item by Zach Dafoe