I racked my brains about Arthur Greenwood, John, and found this quote: "Speak for England!" in the back of my mind.

Here's what Wikipedia says: Greenwood became Deputy Leader of the Labour Party under Clement Attlee. Arguably his most famous moment came on 2 September 1939 when, acting for an absent Attlee, he was called to respond to Neville Chamberlain's ambivalent speech on whether Britain would aid Poland. Preparing to respond, he was interrupted by an angry Conservative backbencher, Leo Amery, who exclaimed "Speak for England, Arthur!"[2]
A flustered Greenwood proceeded to denounce Chamberlain's remarks, to the applause of his colleagues.

The good old Labour party, eh? Knew what was right, on that occasion, at least.

Comment is about THE MAN WHO MADE MODERN BRITAIN (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

James,

Cripes!...another Villanelle! (Dave Carr, Dave Subacchi...and now you)

Life is being too kind to me!

You could write line two of each stanza sequentially to make a poem of it`s own...(The rest of the lines without without line two would also make a poem of their own...try it.) It`s like two (pessimistic) poems in one.

It is an example of the how this poetic form can tie the words to the theme repetitively without being tedious.

A minutely minor (and fixable) quibble could be the `pluralising`of the endings of line two in the second and last stanzas.

Thanks for waking me up.

Comment is about Nothing Pure, Unbroken lasts (blog)

Original item by James Roper

I love this one so much, you make me cry. thanks

Comment is about so Far, yet so Close (blog)

Original item by someone

Excellent poem Jacqueline!.I think expecting too much of people,although common,remains a very big mistake for anyone to make.

Becoming your 'own creation?'..essential!
'death-trap day'...sooo cool!

Suggested titles? Seeing the light?
Throwing the switch?
Clarity?
If not,I'm sure you will come up with a goody.x

Comment is about As Yet Untitled (blog)

Original item by Jacqueline Phillips

Thanks Darren for you lovely comments on my poem 'The Man Next Door'. I never thought I would live to know someone who is truly homeless as I would like to think my door is open to any of my friends or family if they are in need. I have learnt though, that some people can feel so worthless it leaves them unable to grasp a helping hand, even when it's thrust right under their nose. There are too many holes within society's safety nets for these people to fall through.

Comment is about dazzer (poet profile)

Original item by dazzer

Brought a tear to my eye Wendy. A lovely poem.

Comment is about EDITH (blog)

Original item by Wendy Higson

Hello Tommy, just browsing after your enquiry about not seeing your work on the main page but I found this straight away. I am sure they'll work out the problem, the good thing is others can see it okay.

regards,

Graham

Comment is about Her parted lips (blog)

Original item by Tommy Carroll

Lynn, thanks for your comment on" Her parted lips". I can't find my work on the main page! How did you and Ged? Tommy

Comment is about Lynn Dye (poet profile)

Original item by Lynn Dye

Cheers Ged for your comment on "She parted her lips". Feedback is something I keep forgetting to provide. I'm not kidding. Tommy

PS Ged were did you see this piece? As I can't see it on the main page. Cheers TC I'm

Comment is about Ged Thompson (poet profile)

Original item by Ged Thompson

Brilliant! So is poetry where all the young people who should be in politics have gone off to? We need them!

Comment is about 'I was so stoked to get this, I cried when they announced my name': Hollie McNish on winning a £10,000 spoken word award (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Thanks Darren for you lovely comments. I never thought I would live to know someone who is truly homeless as I would like to think my door is open to any of my friends or family if they are in need. I have learnt though, that some people can feel so worthless it leaves them unable to grasp a helping hand, even when it's thrust right under their nose. There are too many holes within society's safety nets for these people to fall through.

Comment is about The Man Next Door (blog)

Original item by Jacqueline Phillips

wow...i like that one. like is probably not the best word i know.
i think there is probably a man next door for all of us unfortunately

Comment is about The Man Next Door (blog)

Original item by Jacqueline Phillips

cheers jacqueline, i have done a few but this was the first time i decided to not go for laughs and actually do a couple that had a bit of a serious note.
im such a coward sometimes. i think you are right, i get very nervous but as soon as i get up im ok, i struggle more with the reading than with the bits inbetween.
thanks again for taking time to listen
daz

Comment is about Deansgate Bridge (first ever reading). Do You Remember Heart and Soul (blog)

Original item by dazzer

I just want to say, I love your work. Reading back through it, I really admire your honesty/ authenticity, get a sense of someone who is grounded, thoughtful, funny and (sorry, not sure how else to say this) gives a shit. Thanks :)

Comment is about Madness on The Moon (blog)

Original item by Ged Thompson

thank you Ged

Comment is about A bad day (blog)

Original item by David R Mellor

Hello Tommy

I really like the subtlety and simplicity of this

Ged

Comment is about Her parted lips (blog)

Original item by Tommy Carroll

I like this

think there's a typo on the 3rd line

Knew/ need?

Nice write though, sorry if I'm wrong about typo

Ged

Comment is about The palm of your hand (blog)

Original item by @d@m

A very sweet and thoughtful piece that mate

I liked that

Especially the end line

Nice work

Comment is about A bad day (blog)

Original item by David R Mellor

WSC himself demonstrated a noted reluctance
towards wasting time in the company of Boers or bores.

Comment is about CHURCHILL'S FUNERAL (blog)

Original item by M.C. Newberry

I remember how nervous I was when I did my first reading, only a few months ago. I enjoyed listening to this and I promise, although the nerves never truly leave, it does get easier the more you put yourself out there. Well done.

Comment is about Deansgate Bridge (first ever reading). Do You Remember Heart and Soul (blog)

Original item by dazzer

Coincidentally Eugene De Kock gets released on the same day. Hahaha

Comment is about CHURCHILL'S FUNERAL (blog)

Original item by M.C. Newberry

Thank you, Jacqueline. I was privileged to be
on public service along the route of the funeral
procession. It was a truly irreplaceable
experience for a 20 year old.

Comment is about CHURCHILL'S FUNERAL (blog)

Original item by M.C. Newberry

Throughout history, there are only very few characters of such strength that they affect the world in such a way that their death invokes a mass outpouring of feeling. The funeral of Winston Churchill was obviously one of these events and the feelings that it brought about ring clear still, within many peoples minds. Your poem gives voice to the memories of all who were there that day.

Comment is about CHURCHILL'S FUNERAL (blog)

Original item by M.C. Newberry

I was feeling very much like this a couple of days ago but then when I was ready to give up, the ideas flooded in and I now I have too much happening in my head all at the same time and can't get it down on paper fast enough. A nice happy poem, not enough of these about :-)

Comment is about Writer's Block (blog)

Original item by Chris Briggs

Well done, our Tony! You are one of the best ambassadors for open mic poetry, even though you have gone well beyond that yourself. No ladders pulled up behind you; your past is - in terms of your poetry career - your future. the way you weave your own story into everyone's story is what, for me, makes you so special. Your most poignant line, I find, is:
posh things, like dads and that

a story in six words.

long may the flame live.

Comment is about Tony Walsh, London, 2015 (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

thanks for lovely comment jacqueline , yes but lived through it thanks

Comment is about Alone (blog)

Original item by David R Mellor

definitely! I have always had a difficult time finding a rhythm, and reading it out loud it definitely sounds much better. Mind if I update it with your idea?

Comment is about The Art of the Clueless (blog)

Original item by R. L. Fitzpatrick

I would echo Harry's words. Clever. If there was one thing I might think about, it would be the title. As it stands you understand what the poem is, in a sense from the beginning. Yet without the title, the words of the poem cleverly hide intention and meaning to the last.

It makes me wonder, is it possible to find a title that is appropriate, but keeps secret the words of the poem?

A thought - enjoyable regardless.

Comment is about Book (blog)

Original item by Jacqueline Phillips

Thankyou M.C that was a typo

Appreciate that!

Comment is about When I meet her in the night. (blog)

Original item by Ged Thompson

This post poses thoughtful questions and,
despite some grammatical errors, gets its
message over well...perhaps even better
with a little editing to reduce the
length. An enquiring mind is at work here.
I like the last two stanzas but would be tempted to replace -
"Being clueless is good, I caused myself misery"
with...
"Being clueless is good but I knew misery" -
with its paradox between being "clueless"
yet "knowing" something like misery..as
well as keeping the rhythm of the lines.
Just a personal view, you understand.

Comment is about The Art of the Clueless (blog)

Original item by R. L. Fitzpatrick

Charming and true in equal measure. Hence my
reply:
"There is something that is true
And in truth is easily said;
Silence - when it comes to you
Doesn't mean an empty head."

I am not totally sure about the (grammatical) sequence in the line...
"The man that silenced kissed, he then transformed to little boy" -
mainly the "silenced kissed" part. Can the two words work together like that when they are
individual actions in their own context or is
there a comma or other "interval" missing?
Just asking.

Comment is about When I meet her in the night. (blog)

Original item by Ged Thompson

An interesting observation noted on the "coloured"
dispute: that black and white aren't colours
but shades, which, when added to others, alter
the colours to which they are added. Pretty
accurate if you consider the range of skin
tones in kids resulting from inter-race marriages.
I don't see why the word "coloured" causes such
annoyance as there are degrees of black & brown
in human skin pigmentation, just as there are
degrees of so-called "white" - through its more
accurate ranges of pink, red and bronze!

Comment is about TAKING OFFENCE (blog)

Original item by M.C. Newberry

I really did find it hard to believe the uproar over Cumberbatch's positive referral to 'coloured' actors as being so offensive. It was a bit 'old-fashioned', yes, but why so much more odious than 'black'? 'Black', currently, is often used for every skin 'tone' not pinkish-white, a referral that is ridiculous, but rampant.

'Negro', once a term of real respect, is now hardly ever heard, and yet, it just means 'black'. I know many people who would be offended if they were called 'black', yet could still accept without friction 'coloured'. The degree of 'colourism' among 'blacks' is still highly contentious. And that's a whole different social issue.

Comment is about TAKING OFFENCE (blog)

Original item by M.C. Newberry

Thank you so much Cynthia for your comments on my poem 'The Homecoming Battle'. Your words of encouragement mean a lot.

Comment is about Cynthia Buell Thomas (poet profile)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

Short and to the point. I have felt these sentiments on far too many occasions. :-D

Comment is about TAKING OFFENCE (blog)

Original item by M.C. Newberry

Well done, Larisa, to bring this 'situation' so clearly into focus. I wonder whether you saw the British 'Holocaust Remembrance' ceremony. It was very explicit and gut-wrenching. They included the further atrocities of the Bosnian genocide, just one of many since 1945. It highlighted so effectively that our human race has still learned very little about co-habitation upon our small, unique (at the moment) planet.

Comment is about "Night will Fall" (blog)

Original item by Larisa Rzhepishevska

Just read this and loved it. A little romance on a very cold snowy Thursday afternoon and it has a wonderfully calming flow, just what I needed. Thanks Harry

Comment is about Interlude (blog)

Original item by Harry O`N eill

It is through writing and talking about these events that we help prevent them from being repeated. Thanks for sharing

Comment is about "Night will Fall" (blog)

Original item by Larisa Rzhepishevska

Chris, Dave. Ken, and Ged,,

Many thanks for your much appreciated comments...Sorry for bunching my thanks up like this, but circumstances (and trying to write a new bloody poem at last!) have left me out of the loop for a short period.

Strangely enough looking through some of your old stuff
is giving me some points (I KID YOU NOT ...HONEST!)

Comment is about Interlude (blog)

Original item by Harry O`N eill

Brilliant, Tommy, this really works as a poem now.

Comment is about Her parted lips (blog)

Original item by Tommy Carroll

I love this, was trying to pick out my favourite line, but too many to choose from! Thanks for sharing it :)

Comment is about Rhetoric (blog)

Original item by Ged Thompson

Figured I'd share my experience with online dating, hope it gives insight to anyone else using it as a means to not meet people at the bar or club scene.

Comment is about The online dating game (blog)

Original item by R. L. Fitzpatrick

Hi Martin.
Good on you for taking my comments on your poem 'college years'
as they were meant to be taken-
inclusive of a little leg pulling
without any lecturing.

Look forward to your next piece.x

Comment is about Martin Elder (poet profile)

Original item by Martin Elder

Morning Andy

Yeh, your joy in writing it really shows through. I've just re-read it (which I hardly ever do due to the sheer number of poems I read!) and it really is a banging piece! I LOVE the 'curving into a maze of bodies' - I love all of it. The imagery is simply outstanding.

It needs publishing this does. Whether in your own book or somewhere else. It's a joy to read :)

Comment is about Andy N (poet profile)

Original item by Andy N

thanks Laura for your comment on 'the sermon..' thank you so so much for your praise which has made me blush a little but you are dead right, i am really proud of this one and if all goes to plan will be a feature piece shortly in a means to end pieces as both jeff and petrova love it also.

in the piece itself, it's one of those kind of pieces which has brewing for a few years and i enjoyed writing it big style.

thanks again. see you soon xx

andy x

Comment is about Laura Taylor (poet profile)

Original item by Laura Taylor

thanks Cynthia for your comment on 'the sermon..' thank you so so much for your praise which has made me blush a little.

this is a piece which has been in the back of my head for a few years and i enjoyed writing it big style.

thanks again

andy x

Comment is about Cynthia Buell Thomas (poet profile)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

thanks Cynthia and Laura. Stunned by your praise in a good way. thank you both so so much for this.

this is a piece as i said before has been in the back of my head for a few years and i enjoyed writing it big style.

Comment is about The Sermon of Reverend Collier (blog)

Original item by Andy N

Thank you for marking this anniversary on Write Out Loud, Larisa.

Comment is about "Night will Fall" (blog)

Original item by Larisa Rzhepishevska

Hi Cynthia
thanks for your comments on college years. This is based on some recent observations when I was travelling on the train to Wigan one morning last autumn. I think the girls were a mixture of natural blonde and the current fashion for not so natural. See you soon at Sale.

Comment is about Cynthia Buell Thomas (poet profile)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

I really like this. Its really good work. (:

Comment is about Partly Political Broadcast (blog)

Original item by Chris Briggs