Politicians with with some sense? Now that would be a turn up for the books...
Comment is about God invented by Man? (blog)
Original item by Ken Gorman
Awww Harry - I mentioned you on the show LOL - in connection with my self praise poem :) Then I promptly forgot that I wasn't supposed to swear and nearly came out with the word 'cock' - I had to just bleep myself out instead - it was very difficult!
And Mr. B, if you are reading this, thanks for tuning in - you made my day! xx
Comment is about If you're feeling bored on Wednesday afternoon (30th April) ... (blog)
Original item by Isobel
Thank you for commenting. I am an instinctive writer, having been to three universities, I don't like the effete, deconstucted style they promote, emotionless and precious. This particular poem was inspired by a pub argument where I argued that texting all the time with plugs in your ears is a sign of being antisocial and alienated from the natural world. The person I was arguing with wouldn't have any of it, didn't concede even an inch, thus my wisdom theme.
Comment is about Some people have it, some don't (blog)
Original item by joe ranter
I'll say this - whenever there is a post from either J.C. or Harry O, you can be sure to be informed and entertained.
Bottoms up!
Comment is about The Judgement of History (blog)
Original item by John Coopey
Punchy, and sadly too true of so many of us.
I'm surprised that you have not had more feedback on your work; but commenting has tailed off remarkably this year. Anyway, I think WOL does reach a wide reading audience, even if individuals no longer respond so often.
Comment is about The Battle (blog)
Original item by Twilbury Wist
Splendid theme, well-expressed. The empathy factor of some persons is unexplainable. I appreciate also the final thought - good ending - leaves the reader engaged past the poem's personality.
Isn't it the aim of us all - to write a work that is a new thing - complete in itself?
Comment is about Blinded (blog)
Original item by Twilbury Wist
I like this - lots. The theme of 'spaces between things - words, notes, pictures etc' is always excellent fodder for an active mind. Probably the poem could be half the length with less 'turning' but it does twist down much like a 'rope' of thought. So it works.
Comment is about A tribute to Chinaski (blog)
Original item by Twilbury Wist
Kenneth Eaton-Dykes
Wed 30th Apr 2014 11:34
I like this abridged summary of terrible events since God knows when. Can you counter balance it
with an equally good sequence of the nicer happenings during the same period.
Comment is about I Am Become Death (blog)
Original item by Simon Austin
Kenneth Eaton-Dykes
Wed 30th Apr 2014 11:19
Hi Harry
Wish I could remember the words to mine.
they would be lost forever with a slip of the mouse. (Hurrah I hear you all cry)
Comment is about Harry O`N eill (poet profile)
Original item by Harry O`N eill
Thanks Harry - it was inspired by really wide range of subjects and themes (Tolkien, The Bhagavad Gita, the Bikini Atoll nuclear tests to name a few!) and I wanted to try and go for something a bit more fantastical as opposed to my usual style of gritty/historical.
Not perfect by any means but I really enjoyed writing it and being a bit free with my language, so thank you for your comment :)
Comment is about I Am Become Death (blog)
Original item by Simon Austin
Mike, I don't think you should regard John - who is a former miner, I believe - as a natural Tory. He has a keen interest in history - the first thing I spotted about him on this site, a few years ago now - and, as this piece shows, is just posing the question. My view is emphatically the second of the two verdicts. But maybe history will opt for a mixture of the two. History can be wrong, of course!
Comment is about The Judgement of History (blog)
Original item by John Coopey
It's not your computer, Dorinda! The link had broken, but I've fixed it now. Thanks for pointing out the problem. Greg
Comment is about Let's dance: Emma Press seeks submissions for new anthology (article)
Original item by Greg Freeman
<Deleted User> (4172)
Wed 30th Apr 2014 07:25
Old Tory's enjoying the thought of men's bottoms being spanked - now there's a surprise!!
Comment is about The Judgement of History (blog)
Original item by John Coopey
Is anyone else having the same problem as me? - in that I cannot access "more details" - is it this site which is the problem, or is it (more likely) my computer being particularly difficult? I'd be grateful for any help out there!
Thanks - Dorinda
Comment is about Let's dance: Emma Press seeks submissions for new anthology (article)
Original item by Greg Freeman
Call it a personal predilection if you will but I particularly enjoy the image of her spanking Tory grandees.
Comment is about The Judgement of History (blog)
Original item by John Coopey
Considered and insightful, Harry.
Comment is about The Judgement of History (blog)
Original item by John Coopey
Izz,
Everything in scouseland is of a higher quality (people flock to us)
Best of luck with the radio!
Comment is about If you're feeling bored on Wednesday afternoon (30th April) ... (blog)
Original item by Isobel
Margaret Thatcher had some amazing pieces of luck.
When her own penny-pinching decision to withdraw the guard-ship Endurance from the South Atlantic tempted the troubled Argy leaders to invade the Falklands and win some patriotic `street cred`. She happened to be the leading political face of the force that was compelled to go down there and `whack em`.
Finance went Global, and the fact of business language being English and the centrally geographical location of Britain on the G.MT. line placed us in the prime position to take advantage of the fact.
This, and the increasing proceeds of North sea oil enabled her to finance the growing cost of social security during the period when low-cost foreign production was putting many Britons out
of work. (And therefore reduce the electorally unpopular effect of the unemployment numbers) This was the commencement of the benefit-dependence versus work issues that we have today.
During the short and sharp miners strike she was greatly helped by the fact that the public (although sympathetic to the miners) realized that no individual- interest group should be allowed to dictate economic policy to a democratically elected government.
Her leadership qualities almost made me believe in Feminism.
One of the great memories of her departure was the sight of those senior Tory prefects (who had enjoyed long electoral power by having their `bottoms spanked` by her so often in public) suddenly realizing that the party was over and – pulling their trousers up without shame – ingloriously expelling their very own
headmistress.
Comment is about The Judgement of History (blog)
Original item by John Coopey
Hi Tomas, cheers for your comment on my Doctor poem!
Really enjoyed your McGonagle poem .. very funny and perfectly written. I just heard of this guy fairly recently on a Horrible Histories Audio CD!
Comment is about Tomás Ó Cárthaigh (poet profile)
Original item by Tomás Ó Cárthaigh
Thanks John! I would do Chlamydia but for the fact that it has the F word in it and I'm not sure I'd get away with that on daytime radio.
From my experience, most scousers have a sense of humour and can take some ribbing - in fact, they give as good as they get!
So I'll take the mick out of the Hispanics instead - dare I write a poem about the Welsh I wonder?.....
Comment is about If you're feeling bored on Wednesday afternoon (30th April) ... (blog)
Original item by Isobel
As I listened to her, I kept wondering if she would mention that poem, Frances. She didn't mention any poems by her parents, as it turned out.
Comment is about Frieda Hughes, Much Wenlock, 2014 (article)
Original item by Greg Freeman
Great article again Greg. I think how difficult it must have been for Frieda always to be the child in 'The Moon and Little Frieda' rather than a poet in her own right. I'm glad she's found her way out of that situation.
Perhaps Aeronwy Thomas, daughter of Dylan, may have suffered similarly. I remember hearing her speak and read her own work once.
Comment is about Frieda Hughes, Much Wenlock, 2014 (article)
Original item by Greg Freeman
Those blue remembered hills.
Sounds like it was a great festival Greg. Thanks for such a comprehensive report.
Comment is about Older and young poets sum up the spirit of Wenlock (article)
Original item by Greg Freeman
They do, indeed, David. Much Wenlock is a delightful place, and you and I stayed at nearby Ironbridge, overlooking the Severn, which is a World Heritage Site. I have a marvellous picture of you enjoying a Guinness at the George and Dragon in Much Wenlock, during the lunchtime Poems and Pints conducted by Mark Niel on Saturday. Happy days!
Comment is about Older and young poets sum up the spirit of Wenlock (article)
Original item by Greg Freeman
Hi Cynthia, hope you're feeling better, yes I thought you might have been there so was a shame not to see you.
It went very well, great night and my set was well received from a nice crowd as I did some old stuff and a few from my new book.
Hope to see you around, take care :-)
Comment is about Cynthia Buell Thomas (poet profile)
Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas
Well said, gets me how some companies can make a massive loss and still give their bosses millions, beggars belief, most of us would be sacked!
Thanks for your comment on Blame the Poor, glad you like it, best wishes Jeffarama!
Comment is about Capitalism Is Sick (blog)
Original item by Tomás Ó Cárthaigh
This made me smile, good stuff!
Comment is about I Blame It All On TESCO (blog)
Original item by Tomás Ó Cárthaigh
Very atmospheric Tomas, great words ;-)
Comment is about Give to Me an Angry Sea (blog)
Original item by Tomás Ó Cárthaigh
Thank you Tomas, I'm glad you enjoyed it. :D
Comment is about Tomás Ó Cárthaigh (poet profile)
Original item by Tomás Ó Cárthaigh
Thank you Tomas and Hailey, I'm glad you enjoyed it.
Comment is about Do not judge me, as my sin deserves (blog)
Original item by Noris Roberts
Nice to listen to your readings and music
Comment is about David Franks: Walkabouts Verse (poet profile)
Original item by David Franks: Walkabouts Verse
Nice to meet you here again! Another enjoyable read...
Comment is about Do not judge me, as my sin deserves (blog)
Original item by Noris Roberts
What a doctor! Was it not free on the NHS??? lol. A rolicking read, look forward to reading more of yours...
Comment is about Alex Frankel (poet profile)
Original item by Alex Frankel
Love the rhyme and structure. In the spirit of the war poets. We learned their message, but the wars go on...
Comment is about Grandchildren Of The Somme (blog)
Original item by Ian Whiteley
Carly
Only love can lead us to the elevation of the soul, joy and happiness, even when mistakes are made, but sometimes it also inflicts wounds and leave very deep scars that are almost impossible to erase and yet we still love love.
Thank you for reading me.
☺
Comment is about I only asked... (blog)
Original item by Noris Roberts
Good for you, Izzy. And good luck. Do "Clamydia". Dares ya.
Comment is about If you're feeling bored on Wednesday afternoon (30th April) ... (blog)
Original item by Isobel
<Deleted User> (12181)
Mon 28th Apr 2014 21:13
Joseph,
This is beautifully written and hits deep within the heart. A great reminder of the perspective we should have towards our faith and ultimate goal. Thanks for sharing.
-PS
Comment is about Poem: Unfinished Is... (blog)
Original item by Joseph J. Breunig 3rd
Many thanks for your kind comments, guys.
Comment is about The Judgement of History (blog)
Original item by John Coopey
Thanks everyone - I wrote the poem a year ago. I seem to write songs now and the poems have disappeared.
Funnily enough, the title came from messing around with those magnetic words you can put on your fridge etc. I chose some random words and "sleep" "queen" and "memory" were among them. The poem just itself formed after that. Re capital letters Cynthia - good idea!
I hope all of you are well! xx
Comment is about queen memory... (blog)
Original item by Ann Foxglove
<Deleted User> (4172)
Mon 28th Apr 2014 16:09
Graham, i'm sorry for the misunderstanding. Political poetry, by its nature will always incite a reaction, which is why i steer clear of it. It's my experience that there are certain people on this site who seem to revel in the controversy of it which is why they post it in the first place. It's just a shame that they haven't anything more interesting to write about. No offence meant and no offence taken,Graham.
Comment is about The Judgement of History (blog)
Original item by John Coopey
The premise of JC's post is well taken. History
will be the judge when the rest of us are too
close to the times and the personalities in question.
Much is made of the demise of the pits and that's
readily understandable from the POV of those
directly affected. In the wider context, history
recalls how the hugely innovative and important
coaching trade that brought hitherto unknown
contact between communities found itself crashing
to ruin on the arrival of the railways. Those in
many connected trades - including roadside inns -
lost their livelihoods or adjusted, with many
seeking a change of employment, even with the new
powers behind the newly arrived means of travel.
My thought is that "history" will view our own
recent divisive social changes in a similar
light to what has gone before...and how many times...in our Island Story.
Comment is about The Judgement of History (blog)
Original item by John Coopey
It's short but it's strong, slamming home a vital truism that needs a clear voice.
The 'half' sentence is interesting - capitals but no punctuation.
Comment is about Some people have it, some don't (blog)
Original item by joe ranter
I was thinking of you only on Saturday. It's weird how thoughts flash up, mine probably tickled into being by the Cornish 'recognition'. I've missed you.
This poem is simple, and simply haunting, in its philosophical thought and embracing universality. 'queen memory' is a very original image. Or, at least, I've never met it before. You are really gifted.
Would you consider no 'capitals' whatsoever, since they aren't consistent?
Comment is about queen memory... (blog)
Original item by Ann Foxglove
Jeff, I'm so sorry to have missed your slot at Sale, Waterside. My allergies knocked me flat - tree pollen probably. I haven't heard you in ages.
Comment is about Jeffarama! (poet profile)
Original item by Jeffarama!
Ian, I'm so sorry to have missed your slot at Sale, Waterside. My allergies knocked me flat - tree pollen probably.
Comment is about Ian Whiteley (poet profile)
Original item by Ian Whiteley
John Coopey
Wed 30th Apr 2014 19:52
Excellent points, each.
My own view is that Lincoln's elevation to sainthood has been a little fortunate. He has ridden well posthumously the need for another hero of nineteenth century American liberalism. There is a famous quote which, paraphrased, goes. "If I could save the Union by freeing slaves I would do it. If I could save the Union by not freeing slaves I would do it".
Comment is about The Judgement of History (blog)
Original item by John Coopey