thanks for your kind comments on the 2 war poems mate - this is a topic I'm really enjoying getting my teeth into - wait until you hear the audio versions :-) see ya on the 14th mate

Ian

Comment is about Jeffarama! (poet profile)

Original item by Jeffarama!

Babestation John??? Does that get your creative juices flowing then? ;-)

Comment is about John Coopey (poet profile)

Original item by John Coopey

thanks for the kind comments aND SUGGESTIONS RE 'pASSHENDALE' aNDY - I haven't made the change you suggested simply because the rest of the piece is written in first person perspective - so it's meant to convey a sense of being there - so 'fall like flies' works better than 'fell like flies' in that respect - if you see what I mean.
thanks mate
Ian

Comment is about Andy N (poet profile)

Original item by Andy N

thanks for the kind comments on 'slamming flies' Cynthia - I am trying to write a selection of war poems in first person differing styles. it seems to make them more real - thanks for commenting
Ian

Comment is about Cynthia Buell Thomas (poet profile)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

May's performer, Pete the Temp, a favourite with our audiences, is now teaching and boy, did he have a lot to say about the school system, amongst other things! 'Kids' Imaginations are depressed. Three hours of advertising and four hours of TV a day leaves no space for creativity'. He spoke of how kids don't laugh, see humour. 'Comedy isn't rewarded'. 'If I ruled the World, I'd make laughter available on prescription from your GP'. He talks of how individual problems are ignored. 'the kids who do not listen', the folded arms...' He said schools 'are sinister' and have become 'exam factories, with kids as obedient automatons, contained for a system of workers, which is making other people extremely rich'. It's about school detention, work hard, get a degree. Pete's trying to teach them to expand their minds. Not be afraid to think and write poetry. Use metaphors. Not be afraild they'll be laughed at if they write funny stuff.
He speaks of poetry used as therapy during times of stress and trauma. 'Write 15 minutes a day for 3 days'. It can stop high blood pressure, heart failure, cancer. (this writer got through her divorce by writing poetry day and night) However, if you're thinking too hard about it, it can have adverse affects. In which case, try running or something else. Pete describes himself as an 'activist' - one of many. 'There are more CCTV cameras in London than in the entire continent'! He counted 32 while sitting facing the Shard building! They have facial recognition, know habits of walking...undercover people who have babies with the people they're watching to make it easier for them to follow every move. 'It's very dark'. His poem 'Call to Arms' talks of '.. armies of guards and dogs....give us some space. Grannies are shivering from the cold. We are the flesh below the hard caps. Without us, there'd be no you'. There was much more. 'Don't go back to the person you loved and lost' 'It's like re-frying refried beans'! He still has an entire file on her but 'now here I am, scribbling her Out!'
There's no doubt Pete is passionate and dedicated to changing what he considers a world gone mad! He does it with clever and witty poems and a great performance style. It was hard not to cling onto every word. Definitely a highly loveable and memorable performer!
Meantime, our Open Mic started with the outstanding Lysander White, whose poem, similar to Pete's, 'If I ruled the World', (I caused the flutter in the stomach of the butterfly)...also captured the essence of someone who could do everything, including '…..extract sunshine from cucumbers'....(is he God? Nature?) Rich in metaphors, from start to finish. Michael Sherman then followed with some ideas from poetry classes which inspired him to write 'If ever there was a Spring day so perfect' (originally written by Billy Collins). His was 'that first kiss'. He encouraged the audience to 'try doing a similar exercise'. Then, 'The Message', trying to explain to a 110 year old woman, that 'your son is dead'.. Her response? 'That little bastard! He owes me money!' He then did 'The Seven Ages of Love'. 'Once we were slipping thin...now is the time for hand holding'...'Rock of Ages' was about getting older, that inevitable time stealer!
Barry Smith followed with Meteoric', 'from one incarnation to another'. He described the hurling of rocks...from the beginning of the World. 'Was there ever a beginning or is it just a continuous state?' Then onto 'South of the Isle of Wight', 'Mottistone Monument NT' describing the magnificence of the monument and added the 'tea room', tourist attractions.. Gilly Gillingham decided to write poetry for pensioners, and read of his 'loving partner, now frail'. How much they travelled together but hey, they missed Iceland. (Life's not over yet)! 'Who stole all my days' he asked in another poem, then, 'I haven't changed. I just look different. 'Even when not there any more, I will not change. Just look different'.
Ivor Bundell brought guitar but started with some love poems including 'Black and White' 'He fell in love with a movie star in glorious black and white'. Then, 'The Squid of Serendipity' glides in from the East. A musical tribute to Dylan Thomas brought 'The Towy and the Taff', written in a boat house. Angela Edwards, first timer at WA, an artist from Norfolk did 'A Wet Wednesday at Wells' ending with 'tomorrow will be a better day'. Then, 'September Sun', 'I raised my face toward the warm sun'. Her last poem, quite different, described the six or seven hours at A&E, with her mother in law. Medics rushing and the patient pleading to be left to die. 'She was not afraid. No, not death, but dying'. Phyllida Carr brought out some sunlight with her harmonica. She played 'Rock of Ages' (a running theme?), 'The Fox going out on a chilly night' and 'When the Saints go Marching Home. The room lightened with the sound of voices joining the music.
Audi Maserati, last but not least blew into a jar (it's a DAda thing) to describe what happens when his dog sees a cat. He pointed out that since the room had been painted, if you look upside down, it's a latte! He had everyone laughing. His popular poem of Buffalo Bill, Aristotle, Billy the Kid and Les Paul 'they polished off the biscuits and solved all the problems of the world' stole everyone's heart, yet again as well as a song about Barbara, a hefty female, who dipped into the water with her clothes on and came out with all parts clinging....someone he knew and never forgot.
All in all, a very good evening in a newly painted room which gave it a fresh feeling.

Review is about Petersfield Write Angle Poetry and Music + OPEN MI on 20 May 2014 (event)

Paxman has a point there are some academic poems
that leaves me unmoved

Comment is about Poets should engage with ordinary people much more, says Forward prize chairman Paxman (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

ta very much Stefan n pat yuk about the toilet paper not a good image haha thanx anyway tc

Comment is about A QUESTION OF FREEDOM !!! (blog)

Original item by jean lucy thompson

so whats wrong with Blackpool tower then jean? as long as you keep an eye out for seagull bombs-nothing! love your new mugshot! is it our imagination or are you getting younger instead of older-do you know something we don't?

'gnarled crevices'...that reminds us..we need some more toilet paper-haha!

seriously-very good poem.xx

Comment is about A QUESTION OF FREEDOM !!! (blog)

Original item by jean lucy thompson

nie poem indeed.xx

Comment is about Reflections (blog)

Original item by Mike Hilton

MC - I'd agree that the internet is great for giving us interactive on line sites like WOL; also for the ease with which we can now read poetry on line.

I'm questioning whether this shrinks how much people actually go out to buy books of poetry though. I also think that sites like Facebook and Twitter are very easy to get bogged down in. They can suck you in and steal the time that you might once have spent reading. Those are just some random thoughts I'm chucking out there though...

Comment is about Poets should engage with ordinary people much more, says Forward prize chairman Paxman (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

New to WOL and just discovered this. I could feel my own heart begin to race along the further I read. Delightful Poem. Wonderful outcome Mike.

Comment is about Mother ! Can you see me ? (blog)

Original item by Mike Hilton

Hi Martin
'Glasto' was about having just as much fun... and mud... in your own garden without having to pay three figures for a ticket and far better toilet facilities than Glastonbury. Thank you for the comment. Appreciated.
I really like your poem 'He's not the one' especially as it gives the reader the hope that there may be a chance for the future. Nice one.

Comment is about Martin Elder (poet profile)

Original item by Martin Elder

Hi Lynn
Thank you very much for your comment and to welcome me to WOL it is much appreciated. On your 'Teardops in my Coffee' I love the first verse..
'My eyes as wet as the windows, mirroring my pain'
Sets the mind of the reader to think why. You just want the waitress to give you a little more time in the cafe. Lovely poem.

Comment is about Lynn Dye (poet profile)

Original item by Lynn Dye

Hello Daniel, welcome to Write Out Loud. Thank you so much for your kind words on 'Sleep'. Much appreciated. Look forward to reading more of your work.

Comment is about Daniel Dwyran (poet profile)

Original item by Daniel Dwyran

Thank you very much, Larisa and Daniel.

Comment is about Sleep? (blog)

Original item by Lynn Dye

I enjoyed this too, Daniel, very amusing.

Comment is about GLASTO IN MY GARDEN (blog)

Original item by Daniel Dwyran

Ahh, many thanks Greg! Enjoyed both the reading and the writing :)

Cheers!

Comment is about Prayer to Imperfection: Lucy English, Burning Eye (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Thanks for this excellent review, Laura. It's great to have a proper performance poet among our reviewers!

Comment is about Prayer to Imperfection: Lucy English, Burning Eye (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Mays gathering was enriched by the presence of guest poet Ian whitely who performed excellently,straight from the head, a selection of his first class work with just the occasional prompting glance at the lectern,(wish I could do that)

In support Marion read a couple on behalf of a favourite poet of hers, While Eileen as usual gave us a demonstration of how to write and execute good presentation.

Thankyou to Joy, Chris, Jefferama, John,
and everyone who contributed to a successful evening

Special mention in appreciation of the delightful performance given by a young
lady duo of what sounded to me a medieval folk
song. Watched by an equally talented, proud Mum.

Thanks to Norman our compere for filling the short interludes with a mixture of poetry and amusing banter.

See you all on the 22nd June.

Review is about Write Out Loud - Middleton on 22 Jun 2014 (event)

With absorbing images and flashes of great authority as ever, oddly I didn't take in the title on the first reading: titles can be separated from the body of a poem, Death here seems too much, or too little. Always worth reading your stuff, when/where you send out work that's in your view complete: let me know!

Comment is about Death (blog)

Original item by Marianne Daniels

Listening to Paxo's speech I'm happy to say I agree with everything he says... but inquisition is a dirty word, with it's unamusing overtones of duress. Poets should be happy to explain their work, as best they can, but definitely under no great obligation to make a good case, they shouldn't be "put to the question" as the old system had it.

Comment is about Poets should engage with ordinary people much more, says Forward prize chairman Paxman (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Thank you for trying Graham, it is much appreciated x

Comment is about Raven (blog)

Original item by Marianne Daniels

Hi Daniel

Thanks for the kind comment.

After reading your splendidly well constructed excellently rhymed work, I sincerely return the compliment.

Are these pieces based on episodes of past experience? First World war work apart.

Comment is about Daniel Dwyran (poet profile)

Original item by Daniel Dwyran

thanx very much solar was looking up a photo for this in google image; called up freedom tower and up came the freedom tower in new York was actually unaware it existed :(

Comment is about A QUESTION OF FREEDOM !!! (blog)

Original item by jean lucy thompson

I like this very good. it strikes a chord with me. Why pay for the thrill of mud when you can an experience it at home.

Comment is about GLASTO IN MY GARDEN (blog)

Original item by Daniel Dwyran

I'm somewhat surprised by the comment about art
and poetry suffering from the effects of the internet.
If WOL is any guide, the 'net is hugely beneficial
in bringing the written word to a huge audience.
Its only downside...the dispiriting variations of thuggish illiteracy on show in various forums I've
found when browsing this information "super highway".

Comment is about Poets should engage with ordinary people much more, says Forward prize chairman Paxman (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Hi Mike. Good to see you surfacing again.

Nice poem.

Was that dream the result of a healthy
nights kip.

Or one of the more pleasant symptoms of dragon chasing?

Comment is about Reflections (blog)

Original item by Mike Hilton

really lovely albeit sad poem Larisa.x

Comment is about Spring Meets Summer (blog)

Original item by Larisa Rzhepishevska

my kind of poem Jean,and beyond any doubt,your best one to date.Brilliant!x

Comment is about A QUESTION OF FREEDOM !!! (blog)

Original item by jean lucy thompson

Just joined, David.
And what would we do without Miles?
I have a lot of his cds from different periods.

Comment is about John Eliot (poet profile)

Original item by John Eliot

Thanks for the comment on 'Miles'. Didn't know you were here, John!

Comment is about John Eliot (poet profile)

Original item by John Eliot

I have oft quoted Adrian Mitchell before, and I shall quote him again:
Most people ignore most poetry
Because most poetry ignores most people.

Mark, brilliantly written. Do let the poetry world's best news editor, Greg, have full details of your show when you can.

A friend of mine was at a 'do' where someone said to Paxman, you're not big and you're not clever. Superb eh?

Comment is about Poets should engage with ordinary people much more, says Forward prize chairman Paxman (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Too right. What else can you say about the great man!

Comment is about Miles (blog)

Original item by David Cooke

Thank you for the welcome, Graham.

Comment is about John Eliot (poet profile)

Original item by John Eliot

It has love, sympathy and empathy and proves hindsight is a wonderful thing Lynn. Loved it.
(Now where did I put those earplugs)?

Comment is about Sleep? (blog)

Original item by Lynn Dye

For all those writers - not just poets - who value opportunities ,development and progress.

Review is about Destiny Poets monthly workshop session on 3 Jun 2014 (event)

Hello Becka

Welcome to Write Out Loud.

I hope you enjoy the site. We're really looking forward to reading some of your work and I know that you will be warmly welcomed by other WOL-ers too.

Thanks for already uploading a picture of yourself, it’s good to see what our fellow poets look like.

Have a good browse around, there’s lots going on and if you have the time to make some comments about the work of other poets please feel free. It’s the best way to get some constructive feedback about your own work too.
There’s always someone who’ll help you out with a problem, so just ask and someone will get back to you. It’s a friendly place, so welcome once again.

Graham Sherwood

Comment is about Becka Brush (poet profile)

Original item by Becka Brush

Hello John

Welcome to Write Out Loud.

I hope you enjoy the site. We're really looking forward to reading some of your work and I know that you will be warmly welcomed by other WOL-ers too.

If you haven’t already added a picture to your profile please try and do so. It’s good to see what our fellow poets look like.

Have a good browse around, there’s lots going on and if you have the time to make some comments about the work of other poets please feel free. It’s the best way to get some constructive feedback about your own work too.
There’s always someone who’ll help you out with a problem, so just ask and someone will get back to you. It’s a friendly place, so welcome once again.

Graham Sherwood

Comment is about John Eliot (poet profile)

Original item by John Eliot

Hello Daniel

Welcome to Write Out Loud.

I hope you enjoy the site. We're really looking forward to reading some of your work and I know that you will be warmly welcomed by other WOL-ers too.

Thanks for uploading a picture of yourself, it’s good to see what our fellow poets look like.

Have a good browse around, there’s lots going on and if you have the time to make some comments about the work of other poets please feel free. It’s the best way to get some constructive feedback about your own work too.
There’s always someone who’ll help you out with a problem, so just ask and someone will get back to you. It’s a friendly place, so welcome once again.

Graham Sherwood

Comment is about Daniel Dwyran (poet profile)

Original item by Daniel Dwyran

Saw the title and thought it may be something about a break-in at a Laugharne boathouse!
Ian this is superb. I will never be able to hear Bob sing this without a quiet giggle to myself anymore. Nice one.

Comment is about Robbing Dylan (blog)

Original item by Ian Gant

I seem to be in agreement with Isobel to a large extent here.

To me all seemingly relevant poetry must have a performance angle to it, even the major prize competition entries (the winners required to perform at some glitzy do) insist on this.

Being no lover of performance poetry and not willing to read publicly any work that I have ever written, competition entry would be out of the question for me.

As to JP's comments of suggested poetry navel gazing, it would appear that he does not appreciate the thriving performance scene.

Comment is about Poets should engage with ordinary people much more, says Forward prize chairman Paxman (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

"with eyes that warm

and lips that glide

her heart and mine collude, confide".

Just beautiful Christopher and portrays the inner subdued feeling of the male that somehow he knows the inevitability of his quest.

Comment is about She loves me not... (blog)

Original item by Christopher Dawson

Maybe Mark is challenging what 'an ordinary man' really is, MC? As he says, the average Joe Bloggs might not necessarily have the same taste in poetry as Jeremy Paxman...

I'd say that quite a lot of live performance poetry is written to be understood and appreciated by a wider audience. The reason for falling book sales might be down to other factors. Perhaps like the great British pub and the town shopping centres, poetry and arts in general are suffering from the effects of the internet and all it brings with it...

Comment is about Poets should engage with ordinary people much more, says Forward prize chairman Paxman (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

I note a Paxman quote from this posting:
"aim to engage with ordinary people much more".
This hardly seems at odds with "I write poems for
the ordinary man"" in the comment from MMS2014.

Comment is about Poets should engage with ordinary people much more, says Forward prize chairman Paxman (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Brilliant to hear this. Steve has never been good at selling himself and to see that he has managed to get this award on such a high profile shortlist is great.
There will be a lot of people wondering 'Steve who?' but hopefully not for much longer.
Can't praise him, his performances, his selflessness enough.
Bravo that young man.

Comment is about Steve Nash and Sophia Walker win Saboteur spoken word awards (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Paxo Poetry

It's entertaining to hear Paxman whinge
I hope to see him at the Edinburgh fringe
I'll be there too, performing my poetry
(It's called 13 Years An Artist - it's free!)

After my show is a Q&A session
I suppose you could call it an inquisition
If Jez is in the audience should I be cowered
After what he did to Michael Howard?

Nah, I'm not scared, why should I be
of a millionaire newscaster from the BBC?
I write poems for the ordinary man
Not really for the likes of Jeremy Paxman.

MMS2014

Comment is about Poets should engage with ordinary people much more, says Forward prize chairman Paxman (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

You shouldn't have posted this on the 31st Dave - it has a very short shelf life - much like the moth...

This is a sad one - reminds me of Madame Bovary for some reason. If this is an analogy for doomed romance it works very well. I think it can very easy to be dazzled by someone to the point that you stop looking elsewhere.

I like the subtlety of what you are saying. x

Comment is about The cost of fascination (blog)

Original item by Dave Bradley

Hello Rosie

Welcome to Write Out Loud.

I hope you enjoy the site. We're really looking forward to reading some of your work and I know that you will be warmly welcomed by other WOL-ers too.

If you haven’t already added a picture to your profile please try and do so. It’s good to see what our fellow poets look like.

Have a good browse around, there’s lots going on and if you have the time to make some comments about the work of other poets please feel free. It’s the best way to get some constructive feedback about your own work too.
There’s always someone who’ll help you out with a problem, so just ask and someone will get back to you. It’s a friendly place, so welcome once again.

Graham Sherwood

Comment is about Rosie Vallack Mor (poet profile)

Original item by Rosie Vallack Mor

Hello Mardell

Welcome to Write Out Loud.

I hope you enjoy the site. We're really looking forward to reading some of your work and I know that you will be warmly welcomed by other WOL-ers too.

If you haven’t already added a picture to your profile please try and do so. It’s good to see what our fellow poets look like.

Have a good browse around, there’s lots going on and if you have the time to make some comments about the work of other poets please feel free. It’s the best way to get some constructive feedback about your own work too.
There’s always someone who’ll help you out with a problem, so just ask and someone will get back to you. It’s a friendly place, so welcome once again.

Graham Sherwood

Comment is about Mardell Lindsey (poet profile)

Original item by Mardell Lindsey

Yes, dear Lynn! Very nice and funny poem. Enjoyed reading it.

Comment is about Sleep? (blog)

Original item by Lynn Dye