There’s such a lovely lightness in your poem, Julie. I can almost feel the warm Mexican breeze and the unexpected joy of being noticed just for being yourself. It’s a sweet reminder that sometimes just “chillin” is enough to brighten someone’s day. Thanks for sharing this delightful moment!
Regards,
Rolph

Comment is about Just Chillin! (blog)

Original item by julie callaghan

John,
Your poem deeply touched me. The way you hold your mother’s spirit alive — through memories, shared smiles, and her enduring presence — is both beautiful and heartbreaking. Dementia is such a cruel thief, stealing pieces of who we know, yet your words remind us that love remains, even when memories fade. It’s a different kind of loss, but the tenderness and history you share keep her close. I’m so sorry for your pain, and for the loss of your brother, too. Holding onto those precious fragments is all we can do sometimes, and you do it with grace.
Take care,
regards,
Rolph

Comment is about Me mam (blog)

Original item by John E Marks

Hélène,
It’s wonderful to see someone like you living each day so fully, just as you express in your "Affirmations." That’s not something everyone manages, and the awareness of how to do it—how to stay open, joyful, and at peace—is truly gold. Your words are a gift.
Regards,
Rolph

Comment is about Affirmations (blog)

Original item by Hélène

Robert, there’s a quiet power in how you dismantle binaries without ever shouting. The lines blur not just concepts, but identities — “I can’t explain” hits especially hard. This feels like a poem about seeing — or trying to — in a world desperate for easy labels. Beautifully done.
Regards,
Rolph

Comment is about Non-Binaries (blog)

Original item by Robert C Gaulke

Tom, this is deeply felt — the repetition of “Hope is gone” really brings the weight of your grief home. There’s a plain honesty here that makes the sorrow ring true. I’m so sorry for your loss, and grateful you shared this.
Take care,
regards,
Rolph

Comment is about Hope Is Gone (blog)

Original item by Tom Doolan

Comment is about Thanks For Sharing (blog)

Original item by Ray

Ray, this made me grin — sharp, fast, and funny. The final cut-off line is a perfect self-edit that proves your point while delivering the punch. Poor Mr. Ferret… or maybe poor us. Either way, thanks for sharing indeed.

Regards,
Rolph

Comment is about Thanks For Sharing (blog)

Original item by Ray

Good morning Red,
This is beautifully done — a quiet hymn to rooted living, full of warmth without sentimentality. The title “hobbitual” (what a lovely portmanteau) is brilliantly chosen, and I love how the poem moves with the same unhurried grace it describes. That line “kneading sun into soil” stopped me — such a rich, grounded image. It holds work, memory, and reverence all in one. You’ve captured peace not as retreat, but as resistance — and that’s powerful.
Regards,
Rolph

Comment is about hobbitual (blog)

Original item by Red Brick Keshner

Good morning Red,
Thank you for your "flower". I really appreciate it.
Have a nice day.
Regards,
Rolph

Comment is about The March of One (blog)

Original item by Rolph David

Thanks to Yanma, Stephen A., Stephen G., and Red Brick for the like — glad the piece spoke to you.
Regards,
Rolph

Comment is about The Banquet of Blinders: When Vanity Met Valjean (blog)

Original item by Rolph David

Thanks, Stephen — vacuous banality sums it up perfectly. It’s astounding how someone can be physically present and yet entirely absent from the meaning unfolding around them. Appreciate you catching that.
Regards,
Rolph

Comment is about The Banquet of Blinders: When Vanity Met Valjean (blog)

Original item by Rolph David

Thanks to Yanma, Hélène, K. Lynn, Aisha, Stephen, Uilleam, and Red Brick for your thumbs up. Glad the piece landed with you — always good to know who’s really paying attention.

Comment is about The Emperor Wears a Badge (blog)

Original item by Rolph David

Thanks, Uilleam — you’ve nailed the hypocrisy in a single line. They chant “law and order” while dismantling both. And yes, the fact that this playbook has admirers abroad is as chilling as the acts themselves. Appreciate you standing watch with me.

Comment is about The Emperor Wears a Badge (blog)

Original item by Rolph David

Thank you Uilleam, Red Brick and Nigel for your 🌷!

Comment is about A Day That Changed All Days (blog)

Original item by Rolph David

Haha, no “Diddly Dee” intended — just a quiet tribute to those who stepped into history with courage. Glad you read it.

Comment is about A Day That Changed All Days (blog)

Original item by Rolph David

Thank you so much, Yanma, Auracle, Hélène, Aisha, Stephen, and Uilleam, for the flower! I truly appreciate your support — it means a lot to know the piece resonated with you.

Comment is about The Sandbox Brawl: The End of Bromance (blog)

Original item by Rolph David

Stephen, thank you — I’m especially glad you picked out that “no rockets, roads, or subsidy” line! I tried to echo that particular cadence of menace veiled as policy. And yes, you put it beautifully — “government by hyperbole” makes us want to disengage, but we can’t afford to. That very exhaustion is the tool they count on. I’ll keep writing, and your encouragement means a lot.

Comment is about The Sandbox Brawl: The End of Bromance (blog)

Original item by Rolph David

Thank you, Uilleam — your words cut right to the heart of it. The Epstein reference was difficult to include, but necessary, I felt — not for shock, but to expose the brutal hollowness behind the pageantry. You’re right: the point-scoring has long overtaken any real sense of care or conscience. That we’re watching this unfold with a mix of disbelief and grim familiarity says a lot about where we are — and how easily this kind of decay can leap across borders. I share your concern, and I’m grateful you read the poem not just as satire, but as warning.

Comment is about The Sandbox Brawl: The End of Bromance (blog)

Original item by Rolph David

Enjoyed the read.
the markets redrew our graphs, - I'm not quite sure what you're meaning there. I wondered about something like

When it became history

we saw the real photographs.

Just a thought.,

Comment is about Too late too late (blog)

Original item by David RL Moore

So there was a part 2. Lots of clever lines, I was thinking there's a lot of unnecessary punctuation and I wonder if it might be better without any punctuation. The white spaces do a lot of that work.

Comment is about This Imaginary Life -Part 2 (The Nurture of) (blog)

Original item by Phils Words

Beautiful and unexpected meaning.

Comment is about Just Chillin! (blog)

Original item by julie callaghan

picture well painted.

Comment is about In Time (blog)

Original item by Mike McPeek

Hélène,
This would lend itself well to an audio poem production, it is strong and peaceful.

Comment is about Affirmations (blog)

Original item by Hélène

Thanks, Hélène. Wishing you and all California, all the best for the future. You might be interested to read this. I'm sharing a FB post by the LA-based poet Charlotte Innes, who took part in a No Kings demonstration there yesterday:

"I’m home now, pretty exhausted, but so glad I went. The protest was totally peaceful and upbeat, with a brass band and people dancing spontaneously as the band went by. After hanging out in front of City Hall for a while, we marched down Spring Street. I think the marchers must have turned along 7th and marched back along Hill. I skipped out at 5th to join the returning marchers on Hill, then stopped at the City Hall park to eat my sandwich. That was where I saw the Baby Trump blimp! There were some great signs too, and I had several wonderful conversations throughout the day. On the bus back to Silver Lake, the driver’s shift ended mid-way and as he got off (and let the next driver on) he paused for a moment and thanked us for our good work! “Something has to be done,” he added. Wow! Both going Downtown and coming back the bus was packed with protesters. It was a good feeling."

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jun/14/no-kings-protests-trump-military-parade

Comment is about I can still hear music (blog)

Original item by Greg Freeman

awww.

It don't have to be that bad.

That's just a media narrative.

Or a narrative that tries to narrow down experiences into words.

I like to find humans who can get me out of my comfort zone. Teach me new things.

Gotta make something out of this life!

Comment is about the poet’s barren tale (blog)

Original item by Red Brick Keshner

So it seems with us all in these our present days… tres triste🙏🏻🕊🌷thanks @Auracle. Blessings

Comment is about the poet’s barren tale (blog)

Original item by Red Brick Keshner

Sounds like Nirvana to me. 🙂 🙏

Comment is about Affirmations (blog)

Original item by Hélène

Many thanks Hélène for your kind words and feedback. It is very much appreciated. 🙂🫂🥀

Comment is about Heal Me (blog)

Original item by Tom Doolan

Yeah, things are pretty sad and challenging in California right now (the place I grew up in & currently reside; although I could never qualify as a California girl described in the early Beach boy songs!). My teenage grandkids did go to the beach yesterday. The sun keeps shining; people take to the streets; forces collide; we hope things move towards peace and understanding and kindness. We have a long way to go. Blessings on Brian Wilson; freed from this earthly plane, his music lives on (send us some good vibrations, Brian!). Thanks for this commendable poem, Greg! A precise, well-written depiction of the current state of affairs here on the West Coast of Cali.

Good Vibrations by the Beach Boys
https://youtu.be/apBWI6xrbLY?feature=shared

Comment is about I can still hear music (blog)

Original item by Greg Freeman

I nominate your poetry for "Best in Rhyming" category, Tom. I always enjoy reading your well-crafted poems that speak so eloquently and straight-forwardly to the human condition. This one is a keeper for sure. The spoken/musical presentation is also compelling. We all are crying out to be healed. The war-torn areas, the planet, the whole enchilada of life on this planet.

Comment is about Heal Me (blog)

Original item by Tom Doolan

Sure. I often watch a video of Ocean Park Hong Kong.

Because a human dear to me went there.

That's not the full story.

But this is The Internet 2025.

Not worth the risk.

I grew up with Batman. You know what the problem is with The Joker? You don't really know if he's behind it.

Unfortunately I was already famous as a child....

Not taking the risk here. Not taking it.

Comment is about the poet’s barren tale (blog)

Original item by Red Brick Keshner

Thanks, Greg.

Comment is about Nineteen Eighty-Five (blog)

Original item by Ray

Thanks for likes: Voice of the Soul, Red Brick Keshner & Holden 👍

Comment is about Heal Me (blog)

Original item by Tom Doolan

this little one being in part inspired by the song: “Pub With No Beer.” Hope you enjoy “clink”😀

Comment is about the poet’s barren tale (blog)

Original item by Red Brick Keshner

Well put, Rolph. The sheer vacuous banality of his participation was breathtaking!

Comment is about The Banquet of Blinders: When Vanity Met Valjean (blog)

Original item by Rolph David

Cheers, Ray! It was written quickly. The poetic equivalent of a three-minute single?

Comment is about I can still hear music (blog)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Voices in the head ... I like that idea, Ray, to describe the politics and notions of the last 40 years. You cover a lot of ground here.

Comment is about Nineteen Eighty-Five (blog)

Original item by Ray

Thank you Stephen.

Comment is about Canal Walk (blog)

Original item by ErasmusBlack

It does go on a bit, Ray...thankfully...loved the gritty gnarled nature...

Comment is about I Live Over There (blog)

Original item by Ray

Only part 1...

Comment is about This Imaginary Life Part 1 (The Code of Hammurabi) (blog)

Original item by Phils Words

Thanks for you're constructive feedback and proofread...really appreciated .

Comment is about This Imaginary Life Part 1 (The Code of Hammurabi) (blog)

Original item by Phils Words

Enjoyed the read, though it does go a bit longer than necessary, perhaps. You probably want praying, not preying, caste rather than cast and does indifference need pluralising?

Comment is about This Imaginary Life Part 1 (The Code of Hammurabi) (blog)

Original item by Phils Words

Very good, Greg, I like the 3rd stanza a lot.

Comment is about I can still hear music (blog)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Thanks all. Graham, two poems mentioning dogshit, I've probably got a turd somewhere.

Comment is about I Live Over There (blog)

Original item by Ray

Thanks for your comments, Uilleam, Graham, Steve, Isobel, and Stephen, and for the Likes, Auracle, Naomi, Holden, K Lynn, Red Brick, Aisha, and Manish. My first LP, bought with paper round earnings, was Best of the Beach Boys vol 2. Included on it were I Get Around and California Girls. I have no idea what was on vol 1 ... My favourite lyric may be simple but it's perfect: 'We've been having fun all summer long ...'

Comment is about I can still hear music (blog)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Some great hard truths here, Ray. 👏

Comment is about I Live Over There (blog)

Original item by Ray

Nicely done, Greg. 👏

Comment is about I can still hear music (blog)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Quite right, Uilleam, on all accounts! Thanks for taking time to comment.
And thanks for the 🌷 everyone ☺️

Comment is about Forgotten Towns (blog)

Original item by Stephen W Atkinson

So it's the realness that brings poets a certain healness.

At least that's how I type.

Comment is about I Live Over There (blog)

Original item by Ray

How poignant Greg - I love how you tie in nostalgia for yester year with the hideous realities of the here and now. If only America wasn't such a big player in world events.

Comment is about I can still hear music (blog)

Original item by Greg Freeman