Hello Harry. Thanks for taking the time to comment on 'Alone In Cyberspace'. I wrote it a couple of years ago now, but the subject matter is growing increasingly relevant I find.
Comment is about Harry O`N eill (poet profile)
Original item by Harry O`N eill
No worries Ian. And haha, yep, making the most of my waning youth my friend, making the most of it.
Comment is about Ian Whiteley (poet profile)
Original item by Ian Whiteley
A wonderful piece! The next best thing to being there! I adore Tony and Benjamin.
Comment is about Tony Benn's festival appearance: the politics is in the poetry (article)
Original item by Greg Freeman
David,
This got me thinking (I like that `into the infinite vault`) Also the confusional mix-up with the apparatus in the first half.
Cyberspace is almost bloody miraculous!
Comment is about Alone In Cyberspace (blog)
Original item by David Blake
Cynthia,
changed it a bit, and parenthesis-ed
that `beckoning` bit to make it clearer.
Comment is about (blog)
Original item by Harry O`N eill
Sat 13th Jul 2013 10:03
Thanks for the comment Yvonne. Enjoyed your samples.
Comment is about Yvonne Brunton (poet profile)
Original item by Yvonne Brunton
There's something really compelling about this one Katy - I love the symbolism in it all - the blood, the sweat, the pain, the exorcism - sums up how love can be sometimes! I enjoyed it.
Comment is about Rebirth (blog)
Original item by Katy Megan
I'd agree with Greg there - what a great poem - and who would have thought that a poem about hands could say so much. Love it!
Comment is about You've got the whole world in your hands (article)
Original item by Greg Freeman
thanks for the comments on 'westgate run' marksy - the haze is the best of daze :-)
Comment is about Marksy (poet profile)
Original item by Marksy
thanks for the positive and supportive comments on my last 3 efforts David - as always, they are much appreciated. You've been a bit quiet on the blog front recently, getting out too much rather than slaving over a hot laptop eh :-)
Comment is about David Blake (poet profile)
Original item by David Blake
What a marvellous poem, Katherine! "Tell my story better than palmistry" is a wonderful line, but then there are many in this poem. Condensed, confident music and rhythm. Very impressive work.
Comment is about You've got the whole world in your hands (article)
Original item by Greg Freeman
Thanks for your thoughts on "Route 46".
You present me with an image I can't get out of my mind, Katherine!
Comment is about Route 46 (blog)
Original item by John Coopey
Thanks for your thoughts on "Route 46".
You present me with an image I can't get out of my mind, Katherine!
Comment is about Katherine Shirley (poet profile)
Original item by Katherine Shirley
Hello Ian.
Thanks for commenting on "We Are Lion".
I have to say I do prefer Union to League although I'm perfectly happy watching either.
In fact I was at Odsal last night watching British Police playing Fiji Police in a triangular tournament with the Aussies.
They shared a 72-point thriller. The score was 72-0 to Fiji.
Not surprising really. When the final whistle went the GB team only had 11 players on the pitch. We reckon the Fijians had eaten a couple.
Comment is about Ian Whiteley (poet profile)
Original item by Ian Whiteley
Nice twist. I especially enjoyed the middle finger.
Comment is about Route 46 (blog)
Original item by John Coopey
Aye, aye, Y.
Thankyou for your kind thoughts on "A Toast to Craig and Hannah". Originally I thought of getting them A Toaster for Craig and Hannah as a prezzie but the pome was a lot cheaper.
(Not sure what you meant by 'well executed'. It wasn't a recommendation for me, was it?)
Comment is about Yvonne Brunton (poet profile)
Original item by Yvonne Brunton
As to 'The Parting',go ahead. It really is one of my favourites. I often reread it myself, and I WROTE IT! I think the anguish resonates. I'm presuming I'd still be free to publish it myself, in a book?
Comment is about Katy Megan (poet profile)
Original item by Katy Megan
Isobel, 'the fanfare of competition' and 'having an excuse for a party' are great ways to put the desire to participate in a poetry 'event'. I totally get it, and will continue to join in. And to 'vote' whenever I can. I'm still looking forward to going through all the entries which have been included in this past 52 Hertz-themed exercise. The scope of interpretation intrigues me. I did expect counter-reaction as my second paragraph clearly states. It's a very thorny subject, and has been, since - forever. Opinions will always run strongly. Thanks for getting back to me.
Comment is about Message to Isobel (blog)
Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas
O.K John
Tweet hashtag start
fast or slow
creative poetic tone
pressing words on
must twitter off
see you soon!
Comment is about Stockport WoL (group profile)
Original item by Stockport WoL
As an effort to bing some peace to this.
As someone who owes more than they can say to a black person and was also once mugged and robbed by three of them (Its on police record) I can claim to be unbiased.
If you`re fated to be robbed in Catherine street Liverpool (like me) or in any other `black` area (as is much of London) then it`s very likely that your assailants will be black. If fated to be operated on, nursed, or looked after in a care-home, then those who minister to you are also quite likely to be black.
Black people are here to stay, and any Black criminals –as any other colour criminal –must be dealt with. (I doubt – given its relative un-success – that stop and search is any help at all in the process).
Comment is about Lemn Sissay condemns police stop and search behaviour (article)
Original item by Greg Freeman
Love Poem to my hands
These small scars and subtle lines
The marks of canula and razor blade
This triangle of raised skin from an
Unlikely first foray at false nails
Tell my story better than palmistry.
Strong hands, cast in my grandfather’s mould
The broad span of a peasant-pianist
Clasping my mother’s work ethic
My grandmother’s curved third joint.
My hands are rebels, weatherbeaten
Eschewing my father’s manicured elegance
With overgrown cuticles, nails kept short.
Functional fingers, well-muscled
And only two permanent ink stains
On the right hand, unmoved since school;
The wart on my left a source of teasing
My witch mark, mocked
By ignorant children. I would not change
The fine hairs on my fourth knuckle
Hidden by the ring I sometimes wear
For the world.
Comment is about You've got the whole world in your hands (article)
Original item by Greg Freeman
Can feel the haze in front of my eyes just reading this. Great stuff.
Comment is about The Westgate Run (blog)
Original item by Ian Whiteley
Good on you, Hollie! The kind of people offended by breastfeeding in public are the sort of people we should take delight in offending more.
Comment is about Why should we hide? Hollie McNish's breastfeeding anger (article)
Original item by Greg Freeman
Hi Richard,some good lines in this and I can see where you're coming from with the various 'types'of friends,etc. 'I didn't ever crave to have a social circle,to help me build my page',great emphasis on the correct value of the correct type of friends imo :)
Comment is about Friends (blog)
Original item by Richard Alfred
M.C.
Apparently they read us in Sumatra and both sides have done a bit of `extincting` for themselves:
telegraph.co.uk tigers
I am amazed that the prosperous west has not yet worked out the long-term demographics of what is happening on the birth control front. Everyone seems to be suddenly incensed at the number of immigrants without asking why they are here.
If Britain doesn`t start sorting this out then we are all going to be more `up the tree` than those guys in Sumatra.
(by the way, I think tigers are beautiful (but from the other side of strong bars)
Comment is about QUESTION (blog)
Original item by M.C. Newberry
great stuff Chris - I love a stat or two :-)
really rewarding and selfless effort by you to promote others - keep up the good work :-)
Comment is about 10,000 hits on YouTube for poetry videos (blog)
Original item by Chris Co
Well the stats thing is a bit nerdy of me I must say Hehe. But I have to fess up and admit that putting countries to poems - I do find that fascinating.
Nice try with the family remark by the way. Good attempt at humility and hiding under a bushel and all that, but I think we have to accept it's a fantastic poem and in part that has brought people to it.
The New Zealand reference Mmmm - it doesn't goes down into the level of names or the bank details - damn! I could made a million :)
You could ask them?
The thing with the bigger picture of this has been, we just think it's great to have worked for people...got people out there y'know. Got a lot of poetry and poets out into homes - some homes across the world.
Not really bothered about who carries the water Hehe - just the results :)
Best of
Chris
Comment is about 10,000 hits on YouTube for poetry videos (blog)
Original item by Chris Co
I like the way this keeps to the five beat iambic.
Although - even varying where the stresses fall naturally - it moves a bit too sedately for me.
Lines sixteen and seventeen (unintentionally?)
read a bit snobby.
Respectfully, I feel it needs to loosen itself up (but still keep to the form)
Comment is about The Roads: Heaton Moor Road (blog)
Original item by J F Keane
How fascinating, and rewarding for you Chris!
I'm amazed by those statistics - I didn't realise my family was so big or so interested in poetry ;)
I'm very curious about the one viewing I had from New Zealand - I've got a NZ friend request on FB I've been ignoring - I wonder if it's him?
Well done to you and Natalie for taking all that trouble - I think you are both stars - and make lovely welcoming hosts also. x
Comment is about 10,000 hits on YouTube for poetry videos (blog)
Original item by Chris Co
I think we need to get more Tweets from Stockport members, first. It's pretty easy. Open a Twitter account. Compose a poetic Tweet. Add the hashtag @heatonstwaiku to your offering. Send the Tweet. It goes to the Heatons Twaiku Twitter account, where I retweet it to all the followers.
Comment is about Stockport WoL (group profile)
Original item by Stockport WoL
Should we send details to News and Features
about the Heaton Arts Trail?
This might open up more poems going on Twitter from Write Out Loud members.
Comment is about Stockport WoL (group profile)
Original item by Stockport WoL
Lost Return Ticket
Dream train
has derailed
now it's
time to
get back
on track.
Comment is about Love's Circumference (blog)
Original item by Katy Megan
Coldness Bites on a Midsummer Night
Man and God
across the gap
both travel together.
While looking up
above the screen
touching heavenly faith.
Down to earth
white Heaton ghost
turns to dust.
Comment is about The Roads: Heaton Moor Road (blog)
Original item by J F Keane
My kind of poetry - - - send it soon
Comment is about Shirley Smothers (poet profile)
Original item by Shirley Smothers
And thank you Dave, Larisa and Alex xxx
Comment is about Message to Isobel (blog)
Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas
Thanks for your contributions, Francine, John, Ian, everyone!
I can totally understand Cynthia's line of thought, which I think is inspired by the dislike of judging other people's work, rather than dislike of competition. I feel the same way about judging in slams - have done it once and didn't much like the experience, particularly as it was so public.
I can also say that in some past competitions, there were much fewer voters, which made the end results less meaningful - and certainly the difference between 1st and 2nd almost insignificant.
I think people tend to like the fanfare of a competition though - I do - even when I know I've no chance of winning. In fact I can remember entering a really weak piece for the Olympic comp, just to be a part of things.
I think for now I'll stick to current procedures for futures comps - but hope that we all hold uppermost in our minds the point that we all agree on... that this is a bit of fun, a coming together community thing and that we are all winners by making it happen.
x
Comment is about Message to Isobel (blog)
Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas
Congratulations Cate, lovely work,
Comment is about 52 Hertz Competition Results (blog)
Original item by Isobel
Greetings to you all, and many thanks for your lovely comments and votes!
I was both delighted and surprised to win this. Delighted which is self explanatory,and surprised because I am not a frequent visitor to your site and not well known, and because my entry is traditional in style and composition which is sometimes viewed (erroneously in my opinion} as somewhat passe by the modernists. It is good to see such diverse and interesting takes on a common theme, and can only thank Isobel {however much she wishes she wasn`t my sister!)for making me put pen to paper after a long abstinence from this creative field
And do not even think of giving me paste or sending me plastic flowers Isobel you muppet! Both my pet hates as you well know! A steady supply of GnTs at the next Tudor will suffice! Poor John, I hate to think what your booby prize will turn out to be......the mind boggles, but do let us all know!!
Best wishes to you all
Cate xx
Comment is about 52 Hertz Competition Results (blog)
Original item by Isobel
The poetry competitions are meant to be fun, inspire and encourage a spirit of community participation through a given theme.
l also feel that anyone who takes part gains something positive from the experience - it is after all about reading, writing and sharing!
And as with anything in life - if you don't like it - don't be a part of it :-)
Comment is about Message to Isobel (blog)
Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas
Me too but also the discipline and the retro tone. Reminded me of Betjeman ("Miss J Hunter Dunn, Miss J Hunter Dunn, Furnished and burnished by Aldershot sun")
Comment is about The Umpire’s Decision (blog)
Original item by Fifi Fanshawe
So long as you
Don't entice a
Audit into
Our Gert's ISA
Comment is about The jaw-dropping scale of theft by the rich (blog)
Original item by Dave Bradley
know them all well john - quite a regular in Boons in my day. Now frequent a superb pub just behind the Raj Poot called Fernandes Brewery Tap - real ale and no music - bliss :-)
Comment is about John Coopey (poet profile)
Original item by John Coopey
"blue black night" yes, indeed, Ian.
It's about time you wrote something the rest of us could match!
Comment is about A July Evening (blog)
Original item by Ian Gant
Not a stomping ground I know that well although I've spent some time in Henry Boon's. There's a poetry meet there (I expect you know). And further down the road the Tap and Spile which was de riguer before a curry in the Raj Poot.
Comment is about The Westgate Run (blog)
Original item by Ian Whiteley
I'm with you, Ian. If you don't like the idea of competition, don't enter. Simples.
Comment is about Message to Isobel (blog)
Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas
Isobel
Sun 14th Jul 2013 09:50
Scary stuff - but so true for many models.
I remember going for a night out with one in London once - she'd had nothing to eat all day and kept nibbling of a flap jack she had in her pocket, to keep the hunger pains at bay. She'd also had one of those operations where they suck fat out from under your skin.
I can't imagine anything worse than your career depending upon your beauty - you'd have to be made of strong psychological stuff.
nubs of hard gristle
and dry sticks.
What a great way to describe muscle and bone.
Comment is about Sticks (blog)
Original item by Ian Whiteley