Great to read something beautiful and normal amongst all the doom, gloom and weirdness.

Comment is about Only Once the Spring Comes (blog)

Original item by Larisa Rzhepishevska

Glad to see you mastered the "blog section". Sorry I was too late to help.

Comment is about The Hat (blog)

Original item by Twilbury Wist

Hey Poetry Lovers: This event is on the LAST weds of the month..... everything is correct but the date; It will be on the 30th of April. See you there :)

Review is about Uncle Errol's Poetry Jam on 23 Apr 2014 (event)

JC - I see elsewhere that an Essex poet called John
Cooper Clarke (how's that for coincidence in nomenclature?!) says that Farage is the only
politician whose language he remotely understands.
Perhaps the man on the Clapham omnibus is about to
make way for the man from the City exchange?!

Comment is about Nigel Farage (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

Hello Twilbury and welcome to Write Out Loud. I’m really looking forward to reading some of your work. I know that you will be warmly welcomed by fellow WOL-ers on the site. 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 the site, there’s lots going on and if you have the time 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.
Any problems, please ask. There’s always someone who’ll get back to you. It’s a friendly place, so welcome once again.

Graham Sherwood

Comment is about Twilbury Wist (poet profile)

Original item by Twilbury Wist

Hello Neil and welcome to WOL. I hope you'll find it a stimulating site, there's plenty to dig around in. I'm sure your fellow poets would appreciate your constructive criticism and some will be happy to critique yours too if offered.

Enjoy,

Graham

Comment is about Neil Clarkson (poet profile)

Original item by Neil Clarkson

Enjoyed this Ian. Linking the Levellers with fracking - great idea!

Comment is about Bruises Of The Norman Yoake (blog)

Original item by Ian Whiteley

Inside the Sunlight Wish
a theme is hidden
have a wild guess
don't tell a soul
using what you think
perhaps write one yourself
then bring it along
to Stockport Monday night!

Comment is about Write Out Loud at Stockport art gallery tonight (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Thanks for the comments guys. In Portugal with Nigel at the mo so couldn't respond immediately. I can't help seeing "something of the night" about him, mc.

Comment is about Nigel Farage (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

I enjoyed your review of the Middleton night, Peter. It is great to get participants' comments - especially when they are so positive.

Comment is about Pete Slater (poet profile)

Original item by Pete Slater

A good night - I'd agree with Dave, very well compered by Darren. It had the appearance of being enjoyably disorganised whilst running to time - no mean feat.

A high standard of poetry interspersed with moments of madness.

Bohemian
clockwork

lol

Comment is about Poets in all their glory at Write Out Loud Wigan tonight (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Sunlight Wish

Concentrate hard
Make one
Fingers crossed.

Open eyes
Keep wishing
Spring Summers.

Autumn winds
Winter snow
Flight delayed.

When they
Never arrive
Cancelled indefinitely.

Only then
Do you
Really know.

That wishes
Can sometimes
Come true.

Comment is about Write Out Loud at Stockport art gallery tonight (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Thank you Harry! :) :)

Comment is about Harry O`N eill (poet profile)

Original item by Harry O`N eill

What an enjoyable evening. Very well compered by Darren whose anarchic verbal duelling with hecklers was a delight. Joy, Louise and Dave Carr stood out for me but there were also excellent contributions from Chris Co, Steve Smith, Julian, Ian W, George, Baz, Shaz and many others. I was especially struck by Rachel's poem about Saharan dust and Isobel's about her daughter's stone collection. I've never seen Matt so uninhibited. Darren gave his "we are MEN" another fun run out and then morphed it into we are ...poets...Wiganers... There was no limit to what we could be, and we believed him. All rounded off with another mystifying offering from John T which even Darren couldn't understand. I believe Greg's coming next time - he's in for a treat.

Comment is about Poets in all their glory at Write Out Loud Wigan tonight (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Thank you, dear Lillian, for commenting and understanding.

With warmest wishes,

Larisa <3

Comment is about Only Once the Spring Comes (blog)

Original item by Larisa Rzhepishevska

I could feel your sadness through this poem. I thought the writing was quite impressive. I enjoyed the way you expressed the emotion in the poem but still managed to keep a kind of pattern to your stanzas. Also, I thought that your connection to spring really pulled the poem together and made it very interesting to read.

Comment is about Only Once the Spring Comes (blog)

Original item by Larisa Rzhepishevska

I truly loved this poem. It was very deep and the writing conjured up wonderful images. I loved your starting line. It set the mood of the poem even though the poem had barely begun. Also your break choices amplified the poem's mood, and imagery, and made it feel as if someone was speaking, not writing. I thought it was a very well written poem.

Comment is about Chapter One (blog)

Original item by David Blake

thanks for your comments over my last few poems on here.

the ghost story is taking some thought as i am trying to write one a day throughout april, but it is getting there but by keeping them fairly short - i am tending to find they have more impact.

to answer your question over 'silhouetting in Wagner'. i picked up a story regarding Wagner been played in one of the camps fairly recently (a work of fiction), and i put silhouette in by accident in front of it (was going to put in something else) and it seemed to work.

thanks for the comments again x

Comment is about Cynthia Buell Thomas (poet profile)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

thanks for reading and commenting hope you are well keep writing ! peace and love

Comment is about fitzroy herbert (poet profile)

Original item by fitzroy herbert

I think this says it all Ian. Thank You

Comment is about the red regret of Thomas (blog)

Original item by Ian Whiteley

Thanks, Graham. I stumbled upon this "message in a box of ammo" practice in a book of social history; I had never heard of it before. It was in a section about behaviour between men and women becoming less laced-up during the war. The "canary girls" were those whose skin became yellow as a result of exposure to sulphuric acid in TNT while manufacturing shells; the women workers generally were known as munitionettes.

Comment is about To My Unknown Soldier (blog)

Original item by Greg Freeman

This is a very charming, poignant and clever reverse on the unknown soldier idea Greg. There's a lot of this stuff on the TV lately, and although I didn't lose a known relative (at least at this point I don't think I have) the thing that captures me is the way that people coped, handled, endured the pressures whichever side they were on.

This is quite lovely, harmless and a totally believable message in a bottle thing.

Well done!

Graham

Comment is about To My Unknown Soldier (blog)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Great article Greg - and performance from Jess, who's really found her voice.

What she says about teaching and Gove is bang on, from my experiences of working in and around teaching, at any rate.

Comment is about Performance poet Jess Green's attack on Michael Gove and plea for teachers is runaway YouTube hit (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Superb. Well spotted Greg!

Go, Jess! Gove: go! And take Ms Miller with you.

Comment is about Performance poet Jess Green's attack on Michael Gove and plea for teachers is runaway YouTube hit (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

thanks cynthis..yes it was all over mine and everyone elses cars..not one person mentioned it all day...till someone i write to in london said people were really suffering with it...i thought it unusual that it didnt stir more people to comment...

Comment is about sand (blog)

Original item by Rachel Bond

thanks Laura - as discussed it's a Sicilian Octave - and, as also discussed, I agree about the 'flops' - so I've made a few changes - see what you think now :-) cheers

Comment is about The Bicycle Scout (21st August 1914) (blog)

Original item by Ian Whiteley

Just asked you this on FB but might as well put it here. Is this a 'form' type of poem, and if so, what type?

And - can a tyre 'flop'?

Comment is about The Bicycle Scout (21st August 1914) (blog)

Original item by Ian Whiteley

Thanks Simon, it took me a while to get it right, and there's every chance it'll change. I can't help editing and re-editing.

Comment is about CAR WASH (blog)

Excellent, pearls of wisdom from Stingray. What more could you want?

Comment is about John Cooper Clarke: 'Poetry is not something you retire from. There is no heavy lifting involved' (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

I really like this, Rachel. There's a lot to absorb, but the first plunge into your work is always invigorating and challenging. I'm glad you picked up on the romance of Saharan sand drifting and falling over the UK - the natural event was begging to be 'poeticized'.

Comment is about sand (blog)

Original item by Rachel Bond

You are GOOD! This theme is excellent and your images and diction are captivating.

I give way to full poetic license to punctuate as you feel fit to present your own work. In stanza 2, first 5 lines, I get the intent of your idea, ie. still scene setting, but it took three readings. IMO, perhaps it was the punctuation of those lines. Also, I think it is the jump into 'They sit...lost in ether.' with its solid new idea and precise structure which jarred me. I did notice both Stanzas 1 and 2 were nine lines, but no further exact structure seemed intended; so you weren't bound by prescribed verse lengths.

This is a comment, not a criticism.

Comment is about Chapter One (blog)

Original item by David Blake

My kinda poem - short, but makes you think.

Comment is about CAR WASH (blog)

Well, I liked it John!

Comment is about Nigel Farage (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

thanks for the comment on my Nordic piece Dominic - yours, mine and Laura's make a good trilogy I think :-)
Ian

Comment is about Dominic James (poet profile)

Original item by Dominic James

Howdy again - thank you again for your note on The Bitter Skald :)

Ooo just read your Nordic poem - most excellent and reverential! Almost feels like it should have a single hand drum accompanying it. But maybe that's just my drum obsession! :D

Great to hear from you, and on TWO poems at that! Thank you so much :)

Comment is about Cynthia Buell Thomas (poet profile)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

Top class - a best example of originality in thought and skill in language.

I remember doing 'Hymn of a Northern Clime' in 2011. Just mentioning the Nordic interest from back then.

Comment is about The Bitter Skald (blog)

Original item by Laura Taylor

Hi Cynthia I'm glad that you're enjoying the poems! Better for you to be reading them than to have them stacked up on a shelf! I'll have a new collection out called 'A Murmuration' towards the end of 2015 from Two Rivers Press. I'll keep you posted!

Comment is about Cynthia Buell Thomas (poet profile)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

David, I am so relishing these books of your poetry, especially since they are widely separated in age, experience and intent. It is a very personal look into yourself.

One thing was really funny. I was very taken with one poem and the apt description of 'rain ...... dissolving window'. I thought: "What an exceptional image - 'dissolving' is perfect." Then, a few days later, I read a different poem in the other book, and I recognized that this second poem was similar, sort of, to a previous one. Maybe just on a related theme. But then, the same 'dissolving window' jumped out and I laughed out loud. Of course, I had to scope the two books to find the other poem. It was insightful to compare the two, the younger and older man, years apart. But 'the dissolving window' wouldn't let go!

BTW, after the fact, I did notice your comment about re-doing some works for later publication. When is a poem ever finished!

Comment is about David Cooke (poet profile)

Original item by David Cooke

I don't recall Farage seeking a country that's all white
And when he talks of us being had over, he's
absolutely right.
He puts the case for a United Kingdom that's governed from within
And I don't consider that to be some sort of
original sin.
Cheers.

Comment is about Nigel Farage (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

Hello Olivia and welcome to Write Out Loud. I’m really looking forward to reading some of your work. I know that you will be warmly welcomed by fellow WOL-ers on the site. 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 the site, there’s lots going on and if you have the time 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.
Any problems, please ask. There’s always someone who’ll get back to you. It’s a friendly place, so welcome once again.

Graham Sherwood

Comment is about olivia (poet profile)

Original item by olivia

Hi Val, thanx, glad you like Snakeskin Sid, hope you're good, all okay here (my book is out by the way hint hint), next Bolton WOL is 20 April, at the Brooklyn, be great to see you if you can make it! X

Comment is about Valerie Cook (poet profile)

Original item by Valerie Cook

Sounds like the headline should more accurately be 'On the tale of Ted Hughes', or even 'On the tail of Ted Hughes'..

Once HarperCollins is involved..

Like dust on the Mirror
As smoke hides the Fire
All is coloured
By Fear and Desire..

Comment is about On the trail of Ted Hughes: more twists in tale of biographer's row with estate (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

thanks for your comment on The Artful Bodger, Val. My dad was a serious Heath Robinsonn DIY-er but usually successfully, so I guess this is rooted in my psyche somehow. xx

Comment is about Valerie Cook (poet profile)

Original item by Valerie Cook

Haha, cheers Jeff, re Before and After. Why do we do it?! ;D

Comment is about Jeffarama! (poet profile)

Original item by Jeffarama!

Whhelll, who knew there were so many Nordic poems on here?! :)

Comment is about The Bitter Skald (blog)

Original item by Laura Taylor

Hi Cynthia

thanks for commenting - apols for late reply

too little weight i suspect

Comment is about Cynthia Buell Thomas (poet profile)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

I enjoyed reading your poem Yvonne.I know one or two fellows like this,great fun.

Comment is about The Ballad Of The Artful Dodger (blog)

Original item by Yvonne Brunton

Jeff this is brilliant.

Comment is about Snakeskin Sid! (blog)

Original item by Jeffarama!

Brilliant, we've all been there but you summed it up perfect! :-)

Comment is about Before and After (blog)

Original item by Laura Taylor

Simon Cowell, Cliff Richard? Probably could be a few, whoever, really enjoyed it! cheers Jeff

Comment is about Mr Twee (blog)

Original item by Marksy