It's rather like a sea shanty - I like it!

Comment is about Never Knowing (blog)

Original item by Gus Jonsson

Smacking - it's a contentious subject isn't it!! I was smacked - it didn't stop me testing & pushing boundaries - I don't smack my son & he responds to a look or tone of voice! Your poem is a lovely balance of this - the parent who decides to smack, societies new level of un acceptance & the children who flourished & became swans despite it. Nice one xx

Comment is about Spare The Rod (blog)

Original item by Yvonne Brunton

Children have a habit of testing how far they can go -
a trait perhaps designed by Mother Nature to equip them
for the maturity they will face in their own time.
If their minds are not developed enough to reason with
the whys and wherefores of what is socially acceptable
then the threat of a smack or the deed itself - within the
parameters of a loving set-up can be of immediate benefit.
Studies of higher animal life show similar corrections by
parents of wayward behaviour by offspring. Ever seen a
lioness cuff one of her naughty cubs? The result was
instant.

Comment is about Spare The Rod (blog)

Original item by Yvonne Brunton

So much fun - getting away with things by using increasing years as the excuse!

Comment is about Young and wrinkly (blog)

Original item by Mark Mr T Thompson

This has a great lyrical feel to rather like a song.it flows along nicely at a good pace

Comment is about Never Knowing (blog)

Original item by Gus Jonsson

Ah, yes, I remember it well - and the corner shop where black jacks and the like were 4 a penny and I could buy just one with my precious farthing (for our younger artists that's a coin not a distant object)

Comment is about POUNDS (NO SHILLINGS) AND PENCE (blog)

Original item by M.C. Newberry

Fabulous Vicki, I can feel the throbbing beat, the sweat, the intensity of the moment. Great poem

Comment is about The Circus (blog)

Original item by Pixievic

Yes I agree. Lets remember all poets and artists who don't enjoy the freedoms we do in this country. Thank you for your comments.

Comment is about Sentenced to death for writing poetry (article)

Original item by Frances Spurrier

Thanks Stu. I can't forget those days of chasing dog ends away down the channel. Another world. Perhaps in a parallel universe they retain their original flavour while I await the men in white coats.

Ray

Comment is about WAITING - FOR URINATION (blog)

Original item by ray pool

Hi Stu
Thank you so much for your very well constructed critique...thank you for taking the time to read.
I'm pleased you enjoyed my poem.

Gus

Comment is about Stuart Buck (poet profile)

Original item by Stuart Buck

Thank You Andy
much appreciated.....hope you are well
Gus

Comment is about Andy N (poet profile)

Original item by Andy N

Comment is about Andy N (poet profile)

Original item by Andy N

Thank You Andy
much appreciated.....hope you are well
Gus

Comment is about Will It Ever Snow Again (blog)

Original item by Gus Jonsson

The media's role is to spread disquiet by reporting worldwide atrocity.

One can only be infected with guilt if one feels susceptible to such coverage.

Comment is about Is it (blog)

always use a cubicle ray! im neither mentally or physically ready for the inevitable comparisons made at those porcelain extrusions...

Comment is about WAITING - FOR URINATION (blog)

Original item by ray pool

Ah, Jeremy; "damning with faint praise" - an art form in itself.
Thanks for your comments, Yvonne. I don't really like political poetry but this offered so rich a vein I couldn't resist.

Comment is about DONALD THE ELEPHANT (TRUMP TRUMP TRUMP) (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

Thank you J - that's what I was aiming for xx

Comment is about Circles (blog)

Original item by Pixievic

"Here's one, just to demonstrate how mistaken the Saudi courts are in thinking they can silence anybody"

yes I took that poem as a theme - the difference between us is that I recognise why it is revolutionary, and why he stands condemned as an apostate for writing what he did

this statement alone

"you too tend to forget that you are
a piece of bread"

and that is before you get into

"prophets have retired
so do not wait for yours to come to you

and for you,
for you the monitors bring their daily reports
and get their high salaries..

how important money is
for a life of dignity"

he's certainly a brave man, deserving of support, and doesn't deserve to be beheaded

at which point - this being the internet - there should be a but... but... I'll not succumb and simply pose the question posed by Tom Holland, in a debate on free speech (with regard to the film innocence of muslims) 'but what of god?'

Comment is about A poem for Ashraf Fayadh (blog)

Original item by Tim Ellis

Great poem!! Love the circular flow it has :)
The end is a great, because it doesn't actually end.

Comment is about Circles (blog)

Original item by Pixievic

it's a nice parody - with some nice word play

but "Despite his never being ever schooled in politics" - this clearly isn't true - if only because he was buying Hilary Clinton for years

still I'm sure it will go down well with the right crowd

Comment is about DONALD THE ELEPHANT (TRUMP TRUMP TRUMP) (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

But Donald lives in an ivory tower
in which he can take up his stance
He may disparage women -
But wives- well he's had three
And if he wants to close down
US immigration policy
He'd better send his third wife back
To her own home country.

Comment is about DONALD THE ELEPHANT (TRUMP TRUMP TRUMP) (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

I just realized you added another comment to The Warren House Inn. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I went on a classic rail trip to Buckingham from Kings X in Jan. 63 steam hauled throughout, and believe you me those carriages were freezing! Imagine the moor then - and of course some locos ran backwards with no protection for the enginemen. Ray

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

Original item by M.C. Newberry

I love this one. I especially like the sense of the smoke room keeping the cold night at bay with its own world of warmth, drink (and smoke!). It reminds me also of a Hemingway story where men are frightened to leave the lights of a bar for the cold, empty void of night (Nada) lurking outside.

Comment is about Smoke room (blog)

Original item by Martin Elder

Lovely Lynn - & great twist at the end x

Comment is about How Do You Do? (blog)

Thanks for the words on English Epilogue Ray. Much appreciated. David.

Comment is about ray pool (poet profile)

Original item by ray pool

compulsive reading, a real sense of desolation of abandonment and very appealing to me. It speaks of Ted Hughes in his bleak moments.

Ray

Comment is about English Epilogue (blog)

Original item by David Blake

Hope you enjoyed reading Mr Pool and thanks for commenting. Lynn x

Comment is about How Do You Do? (blog)

Nice idea Lynn. Completely unexpected jolt at the end, and it makes sense, though leaves you thinking! Ray

Comment is about How Do You Do? (blog)

Fair comment Wolfie, but I spent much of my early life arguing with people who said international pressure would never change South Africa, and history has shown that I was right and they were wrong. The uprisings of people against their leaders during the "Arab Spring" have so far mainly proved disastrous. I don't believe Ashraf is in any way a revolutionary, he's just someone who's been unlucky in falling victim to a dysfunctional legal system whilst trying to express himself through poetry, something we take for granted in free-world democracies. Us poets all need to show our support for him because it is our own freedoms that are being challenged here too.

At the end of the poem I'm pointing out the futility of trying to suppress poetry by killing the poet. Ashraf's poems will be available for all time, or at least for as long as the Internet exists. Here's one, just to demonstrate how mistaken the Saudi courts are in thinking they can silence anybody http://monakareem.blogspot.co.uk/2015/11/ashraf-fayadhs-disputed-poems-in.html

Comment is about A poem for Ashraf Fayadh (blog)

Original item by Tim Ellis

and while protesting this, we should also remember other poets who have been imprisoned - mohammed al-ajami springs to mind

Comment is about Sentenced to death for writing poetry (article)

Original item by Frances Spurrier

These lines - brief and plaintive - brought a smile.
If you wear a top coat, one of those ubiquitous plastic
drink bottles can be placed in a suitably covered position
standing leaning towards the door between carriages in an absolute emergency!
Not that I ever wish to try it, mind...but if it helps
when "needs must"...?
:-)

Comment is about WAITING - FOR URINATION (blog)

Original item by ray pool

The grip of tyranny anywhere is identical - strangling the
question and the questioner in abject fear of losing
power and control over minds open to indoctrination.
The sheep have wolves for shepherds!

Comment is about Sentenced to death for writing poetry (article)

Original item by Frances Spurrier

Children get eager to be young.Adults on the other hand want to stay young.
If you see the age milestone youth seems the best
For instance a girl is at the height of her virginal beauty at her youth.
Thank you for the feedback!

Comment is about Youth (blog)

Original item by Alem Hailu G/Kristos

this is staggering and with astonishing imagery. im not overly familiar with the history of herodotus, but this makes me want to find out. startling stuff.

Comment is about the histories - after herodotus (blog)

Original item by jeremy young

Thanks Ray. You read that right! A cry for help , thus the capitals.

cheers.

Comment is about WAITING - FOR URINATION (blog)

Original item by ray pool

Thanks

Comment is about Mepte (blog)

Original item by Jblaze

Thanks

Comment is about Tomorrow (blog)

Original item by Jblaze

Thanks for the comments guys. If there's anybody that's not yet signed the petition for Ahraf Fayadh, it's here https://www.amnesty.org.uk/actions/free-ashraf-fayadh-saudi-arabia-palestinian-poetry-apostasy-execution?from=issue
I wrote this poem for an open mic event we held in York last night to express solidarity. Feel free to share.
I'm going to stick with "admonished" - I think the mild rebuke that the word implies does jar with the word "murder", but in doing so it emphasises the excessiveness of the punishment Ashraf has been sentenced to. Plus it's a good weak rhyme for diminished and a strong one for astonished, which neatly ties together the octet ; )

Comment is about A poem for Ashraf Fayadh (blog)

Original item by Tim Ellis

Hi Cynthia, thanks for commenting on 'shut up...'
I really like the way you pointed out the three separate ideas/possibilities in it - I think I will work on that at some point (always think I'm going to magically find more time). It's great to hear what others see/ think, particularly if I've written something when caught up in the emotion of it - gives me some distance and another perspective - always a good thing. Hope all is well with you x

Comment is about Cynthia Buell Thomas (poet profile)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

I prefer the lines youve put down as your 'sample' here, I like that poem a lot. none of the others seem so good :/

Comment is about Lucifers Gift (blog)

Original item by Anna Grinter

Hi Michelle, thanks for reading & commenting on 'shut up...'. I always appreciate your comments, and agree with your observation about religion not being able to accommodate passion (particularly if that passion is expressed by a woman), at least in my experience, which I admit isn't extensive :)

Comment is about Michelle (poet profile)

Original item by Michelle

Vicki - I don't think the chat system is working properly as I did reply: Dancing rapping ranters - that's some imagination! More M.C. Hammer style than Morris dancers I think.
Rob

Comment is about Pixievic (poet profile)

Original item by Pixievic

Tim - sentiments that all those with a 'free' voice can relate to. Not sure you meant the word admonish though. Did you mean administered?
Rob

Comment is about A poem for Ashraf Fayadh (blog)

Original item by Tim Ellis

Thank you Vicki for taking the time to comment , and on such a sensitive subject its reassuring that that you like the poem

Comment is about I Was Just Thinking About You... (Blue Mosque Istanbul 12/01/16 10:40 am) (blog)

Original item by David R Mellor

Thank you Ray - I'm all about the rhythm!! And Tommmy ..... Why am I not surprised?!! X

Comment is about Nice Try ....! (blog)

Original item by Pixievic

We're on the same "hymn sheet" here. Thanks a lot.
It was inspired by a CD of Chet Baker "on a misty night."
I bought yesterday. For a fiver. masters of the craft in perfect sympathy. Not like the house of commons, come to think of it. Cheers Ray

Comment is about HEAR THE JAZZ (blog)

Original item by ray pool

When I was in hospital I heard two nurses discuss my case, one nurse remarked that she had seen my ***** and it had Ludo tattooed on it, the young pretty nurse blushed and informed her that was not Ludo, but Llandudno.

Tommy

Comment is about Nice Try ....! (blog)

Original item by Pixievic

I think she's a good poet, from what I've read of her work. Mainstream, I suppose, but rather more adventurous than most. I think she might change that area of poetry and make it a bit more adventurous. No bad thing, as it was beginning to look extremely stale.

So I think she probably deserves the prize - and comments about 'ticking PC boxes' are not necessary frankly. It's actually a pretty good thing that a poet of colour and a woman has won the prize for what is, actually, very good quality work.

My point was not to do with whether she was or was not any good. I just believe quite strongly that she won't change the whole of poetry. Poetry - like music, like the visual arts - it's not one thing. It is a various art that takes different directions and has different groups and movements in it.

As an experimental/linguistically innovative poet myself, I doubt she'll affect much of my practice, and I doubt that many performance poets will be affected for instance. I doubt she'll have much impact on the traditional rhyming poets either.

I think it's part of the mainstream's feeling of superiority that makes it think that one mainstream poet will affect all poetry. The idea that they 'are' poetry and everything else is 'something-poetry' and not really poetry at all.

Comment is about And the winner is .... (article)

Original item by Frances Spurrier

Thanks Wolfgar. Just a teaser/pleaser this, and it all feels dated now. Gotcha. Ray

Comment is about LETTER TO THE QUEEN (blog)

Original item by ray pool

I like your work, keep it up :)

Comment is about Mepte (blog)

Original item by Jblaze