I have to admit defeat.It seems an elegant rant against a loved one, introverted, lovely in sound and image, but just too personal.

Comment is about Eyas (blog)

Original item by Marianne Daniels

Oh and thank you Andy and Isobel. Appreciated :)

Comment is about Commodities (blog)

Original item by Laura Taylor

Hey Cynthia - thank you for all of your considered comments - always appreciated :)

Mmm, well, I'm wondering why so much is being made of the race/heritage/culture aspect, and nowhere near as much attention (if any) is being focussed on the fact that the Council had contracts with one or more taxi firms who were known to be involved. There were two formal police operations, Chard and Czar, in 2010 and 2011, and although taxi licences were revoked in some cases, these firms continued to be used by the Council. The taxi drivers were in constant contact with the children. Names were supposedly not taken, no one knew which driver would be collecting etc. Shaun Wright was head of Children's Services slap bang in the middle of the time period of the report. What does it tell us that he still refuses to resign or take any responsibility at all?

Read Section 8 of the report about the taxi stuff - in fact, read the whole thing. Eye-opening. Gut-wrenching.

Add all of that to the total incompetence, moral bankruptcy and, in my opinion, criminal behaviour of the South Yorkshire Police (architects of Battle of Orgreave and Hillsborough) and you end up with continuing trafficking of children for sex, their evidence destroyed, their complaints turned into 'No Crime', and thousands of lives and futures destroyed.

Did you know that a senior CID person claimed that a 12 year old girl had "100% consensual sex" with at least 5 men? This is a person employed to uphold the law, with the legal age of consent being 16. What they are saying is illegal. She CANNOT give consent under the law. Anything else is classed as rape.

Sorry for epic post - there's so much involved here, and I am utterly incensed and distressed by it.

Comment is about Cynthia Buell Thomas (poet profile)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

Hey Cynthia - thank you for all of your considered comments - always appreciated :)

Mmm, well, I'm wondering why so much is being made of the race/heritage/culture aspect, and nowhere near as much attention (if any) is being focussed on the fact that the Council had contracts with one or more taxi firms who were known to be involved. There were two formal police operations, Chard and Czar, in 2010 and 2011, and although taxi licences were revoked in some cases, these firms continued to be used by the Council. The taxi drivers were in constant contact with the children. Names were supposedly not taken, no one knew which driver would be collecting etc. Shaun Wright was head of Children's Services slap bang in the middle of the time period of the report. What does it tell us that he still refuses to resign or take any responsibility at all?

Read Section 8 of the report about the taxi stuff - in fact, read the whole thing. Eye-opening. Gut-wrenching.

Add all of that to the total incompetence, moral bankruptcy and, in my opinion, criminal behaviour of the South Yorkshire Police (architects of Battle of Orgreave and Hillsborough) and you end up with continuing trafficking of children for sex, their evidence destroyed, their complaints turned into 'No Crime', and thousands of lives and futures destroyed.

Did you know that a senior CID person claimed that a 12 year old girl had "100% consensual sex" with at least 5 men? This is a person employed to uphold the law, with the legal age of consent being 16. What they are saying is illegal. She CANNOT give consent under the law. Anything else is classed as rape.

Sorry for epic post - there's so much involved here, and I am utterly incensed and distressed by it.

Comment is about Commodities (blog)

Original item by Laura Taylor

I appreciate your intellectual scope and related associations. And those final two lines are dynamic - to be receptive. It is humanly amazing what we deny ourselves of individual understanding.

Comment is about Water and sand (blog)

Original item by Twilbury Wist

I have not read the comments below. So - I'm influence free. And probably so far in left field I'm out of the ballpark.

I think this poem is terrific - a topic targetted with empathy and superb gear control of poetic craft. Your imagery is outstanding - like 'stone age suitors...''lavender-laden longing for lads', just as one example. I just fell through the lines. Hilarious title.

Did you really mean 'tea bag tea shirters' instead of 'tee shirters'? Only curious.

OK, now for the other comments, including your own. I shudder.

Comment is about Fairy Tail (blog)

Original item by CathyLCrabb

Renown is yours. It has to be. Your rocket is flying - and deservedly so. It's the phony high-fliers who get my ass. Whatever the idiom, it isn't brains and content that launches them.

I like that this poem could be directed to anyone in your life, even yourself. Perhaps to a mother? That works most for me.

Comment is about Ward 3D (blog)

Original item by Laura Taylor

This is excellent, a strong, sour, current topic brought vividly forward.

What I like here is that you haven't pointed fingers at individuals. You have expressed the cold situation which is not acceptable in our current British culture, nor, in your opinion, as human beings in any culture. I agree.

Also, through this whole 'story', runs the fear of being labelled 'ethnically opposed' or 'racist'. That is a chilling factor too, very potent, and needs to be taken into consideration. Perhaps fear as well.

But the unacceptable age of the girls is a very western cultural thing, fairly recent in fact, and not agreed upon by men and women themselves in other parts of the world. This conflicting attitude is divisive.

Of course, we must support the culture we choose to live in. This 'story' is way too big to be 'simple', as the vigilante media so stridently insists upon - black or white -right or wrong - hang somebody! I hate being treated like a stuffed head puppet!

Comment is about Commodities (blog)

Original item by Laura Taylor

This is really engrossing. I think writing poetry is like 'harvesting', very much as you so eloquently put it right here. You know - the personal, often unintended, exposure of the conscious and unconscious. IMO, I read a fine metaphor here. But metaphors work according to experience. Someone else will read an entirely different scenario - life and death and sin and - and - and - . IMO, such versatility of meaning is the mark of a great poem.

Isn't writing absolutely glorious! Like your brain goes into gears you never dreamed of. And then, you appreciate so much more the experiences of other writers.

Comment is about Twisted Harvest (blog)

Original item by Laura Taylor

Hello Michael,

Welcome to Write Out Loud, we hope you are enjoying the site and we're really looking forward to reading some of your work. I know that you will be warmly welcomed by other WOL-ers too.

It would be great if you could upload a picture of yourself, it’s really good to see what our fellow poets look like.

Have a good look around, there’s always lots going on and if you have the time to make some comments about the work of other poets please feel free to do so, it’s often the best way to get some constructive feedback about your own work too.
There’s usually somebody who’ll help you out with any problems that you might encounter, so just ask and someone will get back to you.
WOL is a friendly, creative and unassuming place, so welcome from all of us once again.

The Write Out Loud Team.

Comment is about Michael Dennis 'The Black Cab Poet' (poet profile)

Original item by Michael Dennis 'The Black Cab Poet'

Hi Cathy, stick up for your poems, this is a good piece of work and if you love it that's good enough for me. (-:

Comment is about Fairy Tail (blog)

Original item by CathyLCrabb

Raw and so painful to think about - you nail it Laura. Everyone who knew and turned a blind eye to this needs sacking from the top down.

Comment is about Commodities (blog)

Original item by Laura Taylor

Thanks for your comment on my poem Laura - forget who I've thanked and who I haven't! x

Comment is about Laura Taylor (poet profile)

Original item by Laura Taylor

Brilliant review - dry, funny, thought provoking and not too reverent... just what you'd expect from DT, really...

Now someone on here needs to write that poem about 'the three empty seats'!

Comment is about Is Billy Collins still at the top of his game? A fan's view from Edinburgh book festival (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

hi shirley - anne; thanks for the comment on my poem for stefan. wasn't thinking about that when i wrote it, but i think you are right. it does make you wonder considering what has come to light since. glad you liked it.

Comment is about For Stefan Kiszko (blog)

Original item by Andy N

hi shirley - anne; thanks for the comment on my poem for stefan. wasn't thinking about that when i wrote it, but i think you are right. it does make you wonder considering what has come to light since. glad you liked it.

Comment is about Shirley-Anne Kennedy (poet profile)

Original item by Shirley-Anne Kennedy

lovely, sian. has a very lyrical feel to it. nice to see you back but with such a lovely poem.

Comment is about Force of Nature (blog)

Original item by sian howell

you work that well to the last line cynthia. top stuff.

Comment is about The Blessed Man (blog)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

very raw here jolene. totally agree with cynthia here but i did really enjoy it.

Comment is about Awoken (blog)

Original item by Jolene94

i'm in the process of writing something about this too, laura as i am sickened by this.

however, i loved this (if this is the right word) as its excellently wrote for such a horrific topic.

Comment is about Commodities (blog)

Original item by Laura Taylor

Hahahaha, but I guess one would prefer one with less rust however, one cannot control the weather!!

Comment is about Raineth (blog)

Original item by CathyLCrabb

Thanks for your comment Dominic. I love this poem myself and will be keeping it exactly as it is. It isn't that I don't value your opinion, I really do! It's just that it is an ode to a specific place and time that I loved, and I love how it looks, and sounds and the words I've used. It's about a time when I used to escape to Manchester's gay village with friends of mine, dress in very little with the freedom that no one was going to think I was doing that to attract them, and dance and drink the night away, only by the end to be holding the chips for one of my friends as they would be getting on with someone at the far end of the canal, as was the popular cottage of the time. I use Macbeth and fairytale and myth and legend because is seems so long ago, and bullshit to reflect the ill thought through excuses of those who wanted to get off with men, but be secretive about it. I like it. It makes me happy! Hope you don't find this er...shirty, it's just me sticking up for me poem xxxx

Comment is about Fairy Tail (blog)

Original item by CathyLCrabb

I think styles are mixed here Cathy, and I didn't understand it all,[ eg. the situation of a girl friend left holding the chips... what ducks? ... are they after the chips, where are you taking us with the bank's slimy lips?] But this is strong writing, and the cement pun is a good one. Not for me I guess, but funny I'm brought up short not by the smoking swords of the first stanza but the too lazy "bullshit" of the third. You're on to something though, best wishes Dom.

Comment is about Fairy Tail (blog)

Original item by CathyLCrabb

congratulations on the Pilgrim's Trail Frances and thank you for a very good article on poetry. "Read the dead white males" doesn't exactly sing to me, but your approach is spot on and a good reminder of the how and why of it all. Best wishes for the collection, and launch night! Dom.

Comment is about Read lots of poetry, listen and learn: the road to publishing your first collection (article)

Original item by Frances Spurrier

What a grand review Darren! At once both prosaic and wh... No, only kidding, or showing I was listening. This was one of those occasions when I had wished I could have gone to Edinburgh just to see the man, so was delighted and very grateful to have your review as the next best thing; or perhaps even better, given your knowledge of his work.
And you it was who introduced me to his poetry. So, thanks twice.

Comment is about Is Billy Collins still at the top of his game? A fan's view from Edinburgh book festival (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Great poem Joseph, especially the last last line. I'd love to see what explorers found atop Mt. Ararat for myself one day. If it truly is Noah's Ark, what a find!

Comment is about Poem: Show of Hands (blog)

Original item by Joseph J. Breunig 3rd

Thank you, Frances! - I very much enjoyed what you had written. I shall re-read it, learn from it; take it with me as I labour with a difficult word or phrase - and hopefully rejoice at the eventual and beautiful birthing of my very own creation!
Dorinda (MacDowell)
x

Comment is about Read lots of poetry, listen and learn: the road to publishing your first collection (article)

Original item by Frances Spurrier

Thank you Greg.

Comment is about Read lots of poetry, listen and learn: the road to publishing your first collection (article)

Original item by Frances Spurrier

Thanks for this really valuable insight into the amount of groundwork involved, Frances. And congratulations, of course. I'm looking forward to reading the collection. See you at the launch night! Greg

Comment is about Read lots of poetry, listen and learn: the road to publishing your first collection (article)

Original item by Frances Spurrier

Thank you very much Jonathan.

Comment is about Read lots of poetry, listen and learn: the road to publishing your first collection (article)

Original item by Frances Spurrier

Oh Yes. A jolly good topical poem and well thought out into the bargain I might add. Will this begin a torrent of like-minded muse I wonder, and what would Robbie Burns might have to say about it all.

Comment is about THE LATE DEPARTED (blog)

Original item by M.C. Newberry

Hello Jeremiah

Welcome to Write Out Loud, we hope you are enjoying the site and we're really looking forward to reading some of your work. I know that you will be warmly welcomed by other WOL-ers too.

It would be good if you could upload a picture of yourself, it’s really good to see what our fellow poets look like.

Have a good look around, there’s always lots going on and if you have the time to make some comments about the work of other poets please feel free to do so, it’s often the best way to get some constructive feedback about your own work too.
There’s usually somebody who’ll help you out with any problems that you might encounter, so just ask and someone will get back to you.
WOL is a friendly, creative and unassuming place, so welcome from all of us once again.

The Write Out Loud Team.

Comment is about Jeremiah Vintage (poet profile)

Original item by Jeremiah Vintage

Hello Anthony

Welcome to Write Out Loud, we hope you are enjoying the site and we're really looking forward to reading some of your work. I know that you will be warmly welcomed by other WOL-ers too.

Its good to see that you've already uploaded a picture of yourself, it’s really good to see what our fellow poets look like.

Have a good look around, there’s always lots going on and if you have the time to make some comments about the work of other poets please feel free to do so, it’s often the best way to get some constructive feedback about your own work too.
There’s usually somebody who’ll help you out with any problems that you might encounter, so just ask and someone will get back to you.
WOL is a friendly, creative and unassuming place, so welcome from all of us once again.

The Write Out Loud Team.

Comment is about Anthony Kasazkaja (poet profile)

Original item by Anthony Kasazkaja

oh!and heres silly me,thinking there are no rules to poetry.

Only chain pulling Graham-nice one-Sir!

Comment is about The Rules (blog)

Original item by Graham Clifford

Thanks for your note, Laura. I knew the poem 'Wishes' might irritate some persons greatly; and also, that somebody would know exactly what I meant.

It was written after much thought, years of thought, until one day, it just slipped through my pen, complete, exactly what I wanted to say.

Thanks for sharing.

Comment is about Laura Taylor (poet profile)

Original item by Laura Taylor

So - an interested comment Like that of Philipos opens new doors about the poet's experience - and the resultant reservoir of poetical ideas.

I now live in Sale, Cheshire, in the UK. But I miss the sea and sky of the islands - achingly. We do love England, and the great variety of persons now called British. The ethnicity 'variety' is becoming more apparent, something I really missed when I first moved here. BDA was very cosmopolitan. (And 'the Brits' were the 'ex-pats'.)

Comment is about I Feel Fall (blog)

Original item by Candice Reineke

Wonderfully written.

When I think of Stefan I always wonder if the cover-up and his conviction were connected in any way with the 'highly connected and protected' paedophile ring operating in the area at that time.

Comment is about For Stefan Kiszko (blog)

Original item by Andy N

Like it!
But in politics it can be refreshing to find
"Careless in disingenuous stupidity -
rather than...
"Careful in well-rehearsed cupidity".

Comment is about UKIP JABBER WOCKY (blog)

Original item by Attila the Stockbroker

What could be more philosophical than hop-scotch? Or hip-hop for that matter?

Comment is about Twilbury Wist (poet profile)

Original item by Twilbury Wist

thnq...will rectify dem

Comment is about Oh! My Dilemma (blog)

Original item by SATYAJIT BEHERA

thanks for the comment over my Stefan Kiszko poem. Been a poem that has been dangling around in my head for years, daniel. delighted you enjoyed it. it's a case that should never be forgotten.

Comment is about Daniel Dwyran (poet profile)

Original item by Daniel Dwyran

Thanks you Patrica&Stefan :)

Comment is about Pre-Loved Skin (blog)

Original item by Shirley-Anne Kennedy

thanks for the comment over my Stefan Kiszko poem. Been a poem that has been dangling around in my head for years. pleased you got what i was trying to say.

Comment is about Tommy Carroll (poet profile)

Original item by Tommy Carroll

Just goes to show Ken, you're crap at writing rubbish. ha! :)

Comment is about Shirley-Anne Kennedy (poet profile)

Original item by Shirley-Anne Kennedy

thanks guys. this is a topic that i've wanted to write about for ages and ages but never found the right words until recently.

it was before my time the case in question in the 1970's but i remember it well when he was released in the 1990's and what happened afterwards.

special thank you to Loraine Darcy who was really there and described much better in her comments than i ever could in this poem.

Comment is about For Stefan Kiszko (blog)

Original item by Andy N

Liverpool gained a great deal of its wealth from those two trades in the 18th century, especially the slave trade:

http://www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/ism/slavery/europe/liverpool.aspx

"It would be wrong to attribute all of Liverpool's success to the slave trade, but it was undoubtedly the backbone of the town's prosperity. Historian, David Richardson suggests that slaving and related trades may have occupied a third and possibly a half of Liverpool's shipping activity in the period 1750 to 1807."

As a city, Manchester does not really have the same taint.

Comment is about Stockport WoL (group profile)

Original item by Stockport WoL

I like your poem John called Artery
on the second line you talk of the slave trade
then again later in tea and men.

Comment is about Stockport WoL (group profile)

Original item by Stockport WoL

I used to work at the psychiatric hospital where Stefan was incarcerated and remember this gentle and innocent man well (his mother too). I also remember the continual hounding by the press. Tragic. What more can I say. Brilliant poem Andy.

Comment is about For Stefan Kiszko (blog)

Original item by Andy N

Very enjoyable, Graham. Thanks for posting it here.

Comment is about The Rules (blog)

Original item by Graham Clifford

Basic spelling error, thank you for pointing it out. And the comment

Comment is about The friend I love (blog)

Original item by Biscuit