Just read MC's comments. I did indeed have a bike - a BSA Bantam and then a Honda.
Looking back there is a bit of street cred about owning the Bantam. But there wasn't at the time.
I pushed it miles.
Even when it was going it was an embarrassment. I remember getting overtaken and jeered at by a possee of 20 scooter boys as I was flat-out at 50.

Comment is about Traffic Lights (blog)

Original item by Ian Gant

Thanks guys.
Dave - I think it was Anne of Cleves who was "sold" to Henry on the strength of a rather flattering portrait (possibly by Holbein) rather than by seeing her photo.
MC - A little bit of historical licence in the interests of pitching it at kids. (Catherine of Aragon was not, for instance, his Aunty Cath). Apparently she's used it today at school.

Comment is about Henry the Eighth (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

Basically, it's an old English adage in action:
Making the best of a bad job.

Comment is about what is the world coming to when... (blog)

Original item by SPACEGHOST

Thoroughly enjoyed this one John. I was reading recently that he got on well with Ann of Cleve's after he divorced her. No chemistry but a good friendship.

Comment is about Henry the Eighth (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

JC - I guess the fact that we have the freedom to
do as we see best (or not) is the prize that
generation fought for. No more, no less.
By the way, to offset some common class beliefs,
it is revealed in a forthcoming publication that
78 British generals and 179 British army chaplains were killed; and the oldest British
soldier to die was a Lieutenant Harry Webber - aged 68. And out of 3000 British Army
soldiers sentenced to death after courts martial
- 346 faced a firing squad for offences that
ranged from murder (37) to desertion (266).
These numbers should be compared to the total
of 8,975,954 who served in the British armed
forces. Extraordinary statistics from a
different time.

Comment is about BLACK BLOOD - a poem for the Great War (blog)

Original item by M.C. Newberry

What kid could not benefit from this little bit of
historical (hysterical?) teaching?

Comment is about Henry the Eighth (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

I never owned a motor bike...sports cars were my
thing directly I passed my test. Open topped
joys like an MG TC, a Triumph 1800 Roadster
(anticipating Bergerac!) and an Austin-=Healey
100M with a louvred bonnet. But the time and
delight captured in the words match my own and
I can tell their author that having just renewed
my own D/L in anticipation of my 70th birthday,
I had no cause for requiring a "medical". Long
may it be so!

Comment is about Traffic Lights (blog)

Original item by Ian Gant

I love it! I'm halfway through doing the same thing and keeping it rubber side down. Long may you continue

Comment is about Traffic Lights (blog)

Original item by Ian Gant

Hello everyone! - I could do with some help, please! - tried to enter the Women's Anthology comp entitled "Furies" (shown on Write Out Loud site), but all I could find was the bit for payment - could not find a submissions form! I was quite disappointed as I had tailored two entries specifically for this comp! If any of you 'hi-tech guys' can help, I'd be very grateful!
Yours in puzzlement........Dorinda x
ps: do be patient with me: I will be 70 this year - senility gallops on at an alarming rate!
D x

Comment is about Stockport WoL (group profile)

Original item by Stockport WoL

Oh Chris - I've circled this topic for hours, with a small voice in my head saying 'don't bite - don't bite' - but I've bit ;-)
"We don't need labels - said the boy who put curry powder on his cornflakes". It's OK if it's in your kitchen - you know what everything is and where everything goes - but if you've got guests - well, it becomes a little more difficult.
If it's 'all us poets together in a room' then, of course it doesn't matter what your poetry is or is about or how it's delivered - because we all know what to expect.
But if you're going to be on a bill with a folk guitarist, a country singer and a rock band - then just advertising it as 'poet' will come as a bit of a surprise for most. after all - the first 3 examples on this superstar bill didn't just sell themselves as 'musicians'.
So - the words 'performance poet' do need to be stated - because you're not just 'speaking words' and you're not just 'a poet' you are going to 'perform' - with all the 'mysteriousness' that that word can conjure for an audience not brought up on 'mere' poetry.
PERFORM - to act a part,to play or sing,to do feats, tricks or other acts of exhibition.
SPEAK - to utter words or talk.

I know which word I'd prefer to precede 'poetry' if I'm selling it to a wider audience - and which description - not label - would work best at drawing in the casual attendee.

As I said earlier - all performance poetry has to involve 'spoken word' not all 'spoken word' will include 'performance'.

I agree with you that it's up to us as individuals whether we want to be labelled or not - but it surely isn't our choice if the form is described in such a way.

respect

Ian

Comment is about Has 'performance poetry' been replaced by 'spoken word'? Discuss (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Well, I agree with that, John, no point in both being awake. To be fair, sometimes Colin goes in the spare room because I'm snoring, lol.
Thank you very much for comment.x

Comment is about Sleep? (blog)

Original item by Lynn Dye

I think this is the relevant info, Dorinda:

"Unless a different composition is important to the sense of the poem, please use Times 12pt font and submit your work as a .doc, .docx, or .pdf attachment with your Paypal reference number to furies@forbookssake.net. Please also include a short biography of no more than 100 words."

In other words, there doesn't seem to be an entry form as such. That's often the case with submissions. You should just send an email with the poems as an attachment. Hope this helps. Greg.

Comment is about Women's poetry anthology seeks 'hellcat heroines' (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

I'm a huge fan of Edward Thomas, but can't say I've ever been directly inspired by this particular poem of his. Having said that, I can still certainly see why it's his most famous.

Good luck to all who decide to enter! :)

Comment is about 'Yes. I remember Adlestrop.' Village's competition to mark poem's centenary (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

"She pours it on herself
Then stands
In a puddle
On the cold floor
Drenched in what
She's never understood "

You know me better than you think. I miss you J. Otis.

Comment is about Esoteric (revised) (blog)

Original item by J. Otis Powell‽ (with interrobang)

Wayne, I feel flattered by your comment. I'm really glad that you liked it.

Comment is about No finish line (blog)

Original item by Noris Roberts

I think you should let all of your exes sort out the garden (no money needed) and come with me to North Africa (the quiet part) and with long robes and head-scarfs wander and read to each other and write verse. Wine and sunglasses obligatory. I shall of course foot them surfwashedsandy bills. Tommy

Comment is about untitled (blog)

Original item by Kath Hewitt

It dispirits me, MC, when I look around me to see my contemporaries hold so cheap respect for democratically elected governments (whatever their colour). It prostitutes the memory of those who gave their lives for democracy.
My views on radical change are simple. Persuade 10 million more people to agree with you and use the ballot box.

Comment is about BLACK BLOOD - a poem for the Great War (blog)

Original item by M.C. Newberry

Sounds like you've a few years on me, Ian, but I get far more mischievous pleasure out of driving slow than ever I did driving fast.
Some of these lines are almost too good to be in a poem with so "light" a tone.
You have excellent touch with words.
Do you ever perform them live?
Incidentally, if ever you get stuck behind someone driving even more slowly than you who has an "Old Bastard On Board" sticker in their rear windscreen - give me a toot.

Comment is about Traffic Lights (blog)

Original item by Ian Gant

You're welcome, Lynn. And thanks for the comment.

Comment is about Marvo, Leo and Flo (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

Ha ha, Lynn. Our Gert pokes me when I snore which I think is the depths of bad manners. Why need two of us be awake?

Comment is about Sleep? (blog)

Original item by Lynn Dye

Brilliant, John, thanks for another good laugh!

Comment is about Marvo, Leo and Flo (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

Congratulations to you Jo! Couldn't have happened to a finer poet.

Comment is about Jo Bell wins £3,000 Charles Causley prize (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

I am having problems getting to the submission form for this comp - all I can find is the part regarding payment. Can anyone help please?
Thanks so much! - Dorinda x

Comment is about Women's poetry anthology seeks 'hellcat heroines' (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Bare back cover like no other
sexual power of love to share
beast and slave, man and woman
find out more open the page.

Comment is about Of Lilith and Anthony - front cover preview... (blog)

Original item by Katy Megan

A fine example of over-analysis of a medium that has and will survive - in spite of efforts like these to categorise and define what is what, and who does it. The only things that ever change are the 'labels' that people keep trying to attach to the fog that is creative thought.

Comment is about Has 'performance poetry' been replaced by 'spoken word'? Discuss (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Here are the results for this one: http://www.therialto.co.uk/pages/2014/01/30/the-rialto-rspb-poetry-competition-2013/

Comment is about Ruth Padel to judge £1,000 Rialto/RSPB nature poetry prize (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

This is a well versed intruiging piece. I can relate to the journey of life crisis depicted within.

"Between fear and courage,

cold and misery tally each step,

waiting is in vain,

I have nothing left to believe in..."

Just brilliant!

Comment is about No finish line (blog)

Original item by Noris Roberts

Oh thank you for this beautiful piece. I loved the way it painted an image of exhilaration and then snapped back to present day. It took me away.
There were a few lines that didn't flow as well as they could have but overall I thoroughly enjoyed this piece. Thank you again!

Comment is about Traffic Lights (blog)

Original item by Ian Gant

No clear definition exists between performance poetry, spoken word, or even arguably poetry written for the page that is read/performed with a high degree of skill.

For this reason the entire article and conversation is, frankly bollox.

P.S

Even if someone wishes to define, each of the above in turn (why would anyone?) you will find yourself failing miserably on a number of counts.

But why do you say that Chris?

Because;

a) you cannot delineate or clearly create a definitive boundary between the above. Many a poem will have elements of performance, elements of the page, elements of xyz.

Because;

b) poets themselves write (I know this is shocking) different poems, and poems differ, some are more apt for performance, some are more page, some could be more errr spoken-wordish or def jam in style etc.

The person that wishes to define what each of the above might be, fails when they try to apply ridged definitions to poetry and poets, what's more and what's worse - they seek to put poetry and poets in a box and stereotype them. If you are attempting to define these things and then use them as labels to denote who fits where - that is exactly what you are doing.


I write poetry. I write it on a page or type it onto a cpu or tablet. I sometimes perform or read this poetry. Some of it suits being read aloud, some of it suits being performed - some suits "the page" more and stays there.

Whilst I write some poetry with page or stage in mind, ultimately it is all poetry and I am a poet. I reject all other labels - for the straight jackets they are!

Comment is about Has 'performance poetry' been replaced by 'spoken word'? Discuss (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Hi there. Any chance of a 15 minute slot in the future? I've got more than enough poems to read and would love to check out your event.

I'm booked up til April but anytime after then would be great.

Thanks

Wayne (aka HC)

Review is about Poetry by Heart on 26 Feb 2014 (event)

Graham Sherwood still on the G spot - now that conjures up interesting images :)

Just read the poem before this but don't have time to think of a quick comment. I'm wondering what on earth you'll come up with for Z or S even - lots of things you could probably think of S :)

Comment is about Women are also.... (blog)

Original item by Dave Bradley

Hi Helen. I'm pretty new to this site but I'd like to say how much I enjoy your work.

"And who
is banging her hooves together?
Like windchimes
in dirty light

who lops the brick,
startles the foals? –
scattering stars around a farmhouse."

This particular passage creates such a great mind visual.

Keep up the good work!

HC x

Comment is about Helen Calcutt (poet profile)

Original item by Helen Calcutt

Hi! Really enjoying this one. Simple but clever in its delivery! Particular like the closing line "out of sight gorgeous". Reminds me of a cross between Scott Walker and Alex Turner (Arctic Monkeys). As you'll soon see from my posts, I always relate to poetry in terms of musicians! Keep up the good work.

Comment is about Women are also.... (blog)

Original item by Dave Bradley

Thanks for commenting again, Laura. I suppose the follow-up to in and out should be 'shake it all about', but I think I'll pass on that.

Comment is about Laura Taylor (poet profile)

Original item by Laura Taylor

Keep trying Dave, you'll never understand them even if you go through A to Z. I've been trying 42 years and I'm still only on G=string, spot, whizz etc etc!

Comment is about Women are also.... (blog)

Original item by Dave Bradley

Oh! for inspirational teachers who could be left to teach. Oh! for interested parents who help their children to learn and not just send them out to get educated. Oh! for more inner city schemed who's aim is to teach dis-advantaged kids something that will help them in later life, instead of just pandering to their need to communicate through rap music or other oversubscribed media outlets. Oh! for someone to realize that single-parent families do disadvantage kids in education, in spite of how well the single parent commits him/herself to the task. Oh! Oh! Oh! shit.

Here ends the non-party political broadcast for every party. Parents, wake up and smell the coffee!

Comment is about Vitai Lampoonda (blog)

Original item by Marnanel Thurman

Haha :D

Love the contrasts of in and out - very clever little device that Dave.

Comment is about Women are also.... (blog)

Original item by Dave Bradley

outcricketing!!! EASY!EASY!EASY!x

Comment is about Women are also.... (blog)

Original item by Dave Bradley

awww thanks Dave!xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Comment is about Women are also.... (blog)

Original item by Dave Bradley

Good luck with it all Katy! x

Comment is about Of Lilith and Anthony - front cover preview... (blog)

Original item by Katy Megan

Well - there are lots of big Os there Dave - which is always a good start ;)

Out shopping for outfits? - Aaah - twud be nice....

Well - I'm glad at least one male has sussed it all out - and I just love this!!!

Comment is about Women are also.... (blog)

Original item by Dave Bradley

I enjoyed this article and it's nice to see an article actually eliciting any kind of response on WOL nowadays - it proves that at least that we're stimulating thought!
Like others before me, I've never seen the difference between spoken word and performance poetry and I could do with someone explaining it all to me.

'Spoken word' sounds a whole lot more boring - though I guess it depends much on who is doing the speaking and how they are speaking it :) Clearly, if you are hoping to entertain and keep an audience switched on then it helps if you make your words interesting and understandable. For me also, poetry isn't just about words - it's how you put them together, make them flow, make them fly. I've never enjoyed venues where people read tomes, or short stories - or let's be frank - PROSE. Poetry rises above all that, when it's done well.

I found the allusion to Apples and Snakes interesting. I heard someone perform from that venue at another Northern location recently. She was obviously white English born but adopted the most bizarre style for performance - a bit like a slurred south African/Caribbean rap artist. I couldn't make head nor tail of it and it sounded awful. If performance poetry is going to flourish, we need to find our own voice, not try to mimic the voices of others - then we only sound like parrots or monkeys.

Comment is about Has 'performance poetry' been replaced by 'spoken word'? Discuss (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

glad to Hear Laura X

Comment is about Dragging my Life to School (blog)

Original item by David R Mellor

Thanks for the comment Laura. The encouragement was all that was needed for a follow-up.

Comment is about Laura Taylor (poet profile)

Original item by Laura Taylor

Hmm. Reminds me of last year when I spoke to a festival organiser, who got all excited when I said I was a performance poet, and asked me to apply. Then when I did apply, they said they 'only wanted spoken word'. The whut?!

I loathe the phrase 'spoken word' anyway. What else are you gonna do, bloody well mime it?!

Comment is about Has 'performance poetry' been replaced by 'spoken word'? Discuss (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Jan - I think you're confusing 'performance poetry' with 'slam poetry' - because, trust me, there are certainly no 'medals' given out in performance poetry ;-)
Helen - I guess the difference is akin to a musical allegory - with spoken word poetry being a band 'running through' a number to get it technically correct (spoken word) vs a full blown gig with real spirit, verve and enthusiasm thrown into it (performance). One is technically fine - but is just a 'reading' the other has more pzzazz for a better way of saying it :-)
just my opinion of course

Comment is about Has 'performance poetry' been replaced by 'spoken word'? Discuss (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Perhaps Performance Poetry has died out - because I don't know what the difference between Spoken Word and Performance Poetry is. So, somebody teach me?

Comment is about Has 'performance poetry' been replaced by 'spoken word'? Discuss (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Thanks Harry - the whole thing rests on the idea of liminality. There was a moment when she was walking away into her new place, waving at me, and then I turned to my right and my dad was walking very slowly (with a stick) to the car, and me in the middle - it was very much a moment of threshold, of liminality. Dawn is liminal, a flame is liminal - just seemed to fall together once I'd focussed on that.

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

Original item by Harry O`N eill

But Greg - poems ARE personal, an awful lot of the time. That's what connects them with the reader :)

I think that's a grand idea actually - expanding on them. You could have a series of poems, interlinked. Gwan gwan gwan - you have loads of time and energy! ;)

Comment is about Snapshots (blog)

Original item by Greg Freeman

I dislike performance poetry, the best "actor"
poet gets a medal...

Comment is about Has 'performance poetry' been replaced by 'spoken word'? Discuss (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman