can relate to that m8 - usually most weekends when not in work but good stuff
Comment is about A BREAK IN THE OLD ROUTINE (blog)
Original item by NICK ARMBRISTER
excellent, gray. short and funny. made me giggle throughout. love it m8
Comment is about Don't take your Elephant to School (blog)
Original item by Gray Nicholls
Hi,
What's your idea?! :-)
Comment is about Tommy Carroll (poet profile)
Original item by Tommy Carroll
Harry, I think the rise in the national minimum wage has something to do with electioneering.
I'm not quite sure what you mean about the growing discrepancy in pay - but certainly we have become one of the most unequal countries in the developed world.
Starfish, I totally agree with your findings on welfare spending, and pensions etc. I think Cameron may sometimes forget that even pensioners have children and grandchildren they don't wish to see demonised, let alone go hungry!
It was the banks that caused the recession, yet the new help to buy scheme could land us back into another crash, our politicians just don't learn, do they?
Even the drop in unemployment is largely a lie, because over 500,000 people have been sanctioned and while they are not able to claim, they are not included in the unemployment total. Neither are the tens of thousands that are on Workfare, forced to work for nothing. The more I read, the worse it gets.
The national debt was £760 billion in 2010. It is now £1.26 trillion. And they talk about Labour borrowing!
Thanks for comments, guys.
Comment is about Democracy is dead (blog)
Original item by Lynn Dye
No worries Harry. It would be intriguing to see where it goes next. I appreciate the straightforward, 'building blocks' approach to play-writing rather than crowding everything with context. The more ambiguity the more the audience has to think about, always a good thing!
Comment is about Harry O`N eill (poet profile)
Original item by Harry O`N eill
Dominic, thanks for commenting on Surbiton Lagoon, which has legendary status on Facebook these days. Other lidos survived - Tooting Bec, Guildford, Hampton - but Surbiton's did not. Shame on the royal borough of Kingston-upon-Thames. Talking of Kingston, I hope to be at Rhythm & Muse this coming Thursday. Maybe see you there?
Comment is about Dominic James (poet profile)
Original item by Dominic James
I rather hoped you might have done more with your Babushka to cement East-West relations than leave her a copy of Country Life!
Comment is about The Time I Saved Western Democracy from Communism (blog)
Original item by John Coopey
Sad but it did burn pretty well which was nice when the cenral heating conked out!
Comment is about The Christmas Tree (blog)
Original item by Steve Higgins
"..the worst (government) I can remember, in terms of the brutal damage they've wreaked". Since this
poem is about conflict and its assessment, I suggest that a certain Tony Blair and his government would
win the "brutal damage" nod any day...no contest.
That "citizen's arrest" waiter had the right idea!
Comment is about A Centenary War Poem for my father Bill Baine (1899-1968) (blog)
Original item by Attila the Stockbroker
<Deleted User> (9882)
Sat 25th Jan 2014 17:29
<Deleted User> (9882)
Sat 25th Jan 2014 17:25
tis sad Steve(re the eleventh line)x
Comment is about The Christmas Tree (blog)
Original item by Steve Higgins
<Deleted User> (9882)
Sat 25th Jan 2014 17:20
roll on Spring!and roll on more of your poems David.x
Comment is about The Ides (blog)
Original item by David Blake
<Deleted User> (9882)
Sat 25th Jan 2014 17:16
<Deleted User> (9882)
Sat 25th Jan 2014 17:16
<Deleted User> (9882)
Sat 25th Jan 2014 17:11
<Deleted User> (9882)
Sat 25th Jan 2014 17:09
LOL!bigtime.x
Comment is about Don't take your Elephant to School (blog)
Original item by Gray Nicholls
<Deleted User> (9882)
Sat 25th Jan 2014 17:07
Hi Otis.A lot of work has gone into this wonderful poem,with excellent results.x
Comment is about Forgetting Home (or how can I forget you if you won't go away) (blog)
Original item by J. Otis Powell‽ (with interrobang)
Well done, JC! Their cunning ploy was thwarted.
I recall visiting Leningrad (as was) in the late
70s. Flying in by Aeroflot to an airport which
had barely any lighting and an empty arrivals
hall manned by surly young men in coarse uniforms - immediately reminding us where we
were. I was amazed that my copy of "Country Life" (taken for in-flight reading) wasn't found and seized!!
It was, however, an eye-opener is so many ways,
remembering that this was the St Petersburg of
Tsarist Russia - with all its history including its famous hold-out against German forces in WW2.
On departing, I left my "Country Life" in my room to give the Babushka who minded my hotel
floor an insight into the capitalist way of
life. I still wonder about its fate!
Comment is about The Time I Saved Western Democracy from Communism (blog)
Original item by John Coopey
Thanks Harry.
But I must admit...there is something very
satisfying about alliteration: perhaps to do with the form of rhythm it employs.
Comment is about FALLEN ANGEL - a song (blog)
Original item by M.C. Newberry
<Deleted User> (11846)
Sat 25th Jan 2014 12:55
Firstly, let me thank you David for your kind support. Secondly, in response to M.C. Newberry, the reason for the funds being withdrawn are sad - the patron lost their additional funds on the stockmarket last year. Eyewear's business model was and is sound, and this is why new investors are coming to us with interest. Regarding age-restriction, Eyewear publishes poets of all ages, including Elspeth Smith, in her 80s.
Comment is about Publisher comes out fighting after losing funding (article)
Original item by Greg Freeman
Happy to collect from you any time, Starfish!
(I assume OBE = Other Buggers' Efforts?)
Comment is about The Time I Saved Western Democracy from Communism (blog)
Original item by John Coopey
I reckon naming Gove actually places it even stronger, historically. It marks a time, and ascribes the ideology and the propagandist lexicon to a member of this particular government – the worst one I can remember, in terms of the brutal damage they’ve wreaked.
Comment is about A Centenary War Poem for my father Bill Baine (1899-1968) (blog)
Original item by Attila the Stockbroker
Thank you, Mr. Coopey. We owe you so much, I think you deserve an OBE.
Comment is about The Time I Saved Western Democracy from Communism (blog)
Original item by John Coopey
Also, it now seems we are recovering from the recession which was claimed to have been caused by the incompetency of the previous government. Another fact I read recently was that this government has borrowed more in one term than Labour did in its three whole terms in office.
Comment is about Democracy is dead (blog)
Original item by Lynn Dye
Indeed the unemployed and the disabled are being demonised and branded scroungers to justify cuts to benefits causing untold distress and even suicides. However, when you look at welfare spending only a small percentage is actually spent on unemployment and disability benefits, the majority is spent on pensions and tax credits to top up low and part-time wages to give people a liveable wage. The Government know it would be political suicide to demonise pensioners as they are more likely to vote, so they attack the people in society who are most vulnerable.
Comment is about Democracy is dead (blog)
Original item by Lynn Dye
thanks starfish appreciate the time taken to comment and im glad you liked it, i look forward to reading you again soon.
Comment is about Starfish (poet profile)
Original item by Starfish
Kenneth Eaton-Dykes
Sat 25th Jan 2014 01:34
Thanks Harry
It's hard keeping healthy doing retirement. (Never get a day off)
Comment is about Harry O`N eill (poet profile)
Original item by Harry O`N eill
Lynn,
Thanks for your comment on the play
(I thought I`d blogged this, I don`t know where it went :))
Comment is about Lynn Dye (poet profile)
Original item by Lynn Dye
jan oskar hansen
Fri 24th Jan 2014 21:44
very enjoyable
Comment is about While waiting for inspiration (blog)
Original item by Harry O`N eill
REGARDING WORK,
Is anyone else as surprised (astounded) AS i AM
at the sudden support for a higher minimum wage and all the strange interest in - not the difference between rich and poor - but the growing discrepency between the pay of people in the jobs that exist. It sems to be becoming a problem.
Comment is about Democracy is dead (blog)
Original item by Lynn Dye
Harry - We in British Coal were pretty much the doziest bunch you would ever meet on a long day's march.
Comment is about The Time I Saved Western Democracy from Communism (blog)
Original item by John Coopey
Agree with all said.
My mate always used to say:
`When your poem`s not doing well
Alliterate like bloody hell`
Comment is about FALLEN ANGEL - a song (blog)
Original item by M.C. Newberry
David,
A belated thanks for your comment on the play
I was trying to get rid of the `explanational` stuff and get down to the bare bones of the thing and give the actors something to play with...It`s much harder when trying to bring in sub plots.
Comment is about David Blake (poet profile)
Original item by David Blake
John,
You dozy swine! WE COULD HAVE FOUND OUT THEIR WHOLE CHEMICAL SYSTEM!
(Shortly after the war we got a german management trainee at my Tobacco factory who had been a Luftwaffe bomb aimer over Liverpool
He told us that -on bright moonlight nights - they used to locate the river, the canal, and the railway lines reflecting as ribbons and aim accordingly)
The point is that the factory was located plumb between the canal and the railway lines.
Ya!...we told him...Missed !!!
Comment is about The Time I Saved Western Democracy from Communism (blog)
Original item by John Coopey
Thank God they do keep coming back for more. It's when they don't we've a problem. And of course, Ian, it's we the performers who can't but help go back for more!
Comment is about Cheap Whore (blog)
Original item by Ian Whiteley
Ha - well, I like the poem, and wouldn't it be fab to actually get paid? I have done, on the odd occasion - felt great! Aiming to get more of that haha.
I never feel hurt though afterwards - I must really enjoy it ;)
Comment is about Cheap Whore (blog)
Original item by Ian Whiteley
Aye, one of my favourite songs of all time that still has the power to tear me in two is Hot Burrito #1. Nice tribute :)
Comment is about Grievous Angel (blog)
Original item by Ian Whiteley
Did I not reply sooner? I've sent an email thanking you. Tommy
Comment is about Shevaughn Pimenta (poet profile)
Original item by Shevaughn Pimenta
thanks Dave for your comment the mountains are alive and well with madness , i don't know why i love doing them , when i am there i get confused and can think why am i here in this wind and rain? but always want to return , think i am addicted to the way things feel up there harsh and strange ,my parents are not fans of my hobby
but i like testing myself i think its human nature i could talk of mountains all day
stay well keep on it peace
Comment is about Dave Bradley (poet profile)
Original item by Dave Bradley
Not offended in the slightest :) Looking forward to lots of gigs in the NW soon - that appears to be where everyone else here is from....
Comment is about A Centenary War Poem for my father Bill Baine (1899-1968) (blog)
Original item by Attila the Stockbroker
Sorry if my suggestion offended you Attila. This is a poetry website where we often offer feedback - critical or otherwise to fellow poets.
There is a button for disabling comments - none that asks for positive feedback only though ;)
Comment is about A Centenary War Poem for my father Bill Baine (1899-1968) (blog)
Original item by Attila the Stockbroker
Even Siegfried Sassoon generalised (no pun intended) in his own form of protest poetry.
<"Good morning, good morning", the general said...>
SS might have put a name but didn't. The effect
of the poem still resonates - in posterity...
suggesting a wider (and damning) responsibility among those with power over others.
But each to his own form of protest. That much
is understood.
Good luck.
Comment is about A Centenary War Poem for my father Bill Baine (1899-1968) (blog)
Original item by Attila the Stockbroker
<Deleted User> (6895)
Fri 24th Jan 2014 10:40
ps.one Packard Bell p.c. and its cursed cursor is heading back to P.C.World-ASAP!!
got this comment on afer six attempts-ugh!!
Comment is about Disaster (blog)
Original item by Paul Sands
I write for now: I don't write for posterity. I've always thought that if you set out to write for posterity you'll end up writing for posteriority, ie talking out of your arse :)
Happy in the here and now, Attila
Comment is about A Centenary War Poem for my father Bill Baine (1899-1968) (blog)
Original item by Attila the Stockbroker
Tellingly well written. The understatement highlights just how horrific it was. When I was about 8 I remember listening to old Mr. Harris from down the road describing (with pleasure) running his machine gun along a row of Germans and seeing them all fall down. I was open-mouthed at the time. But now......even if you win a war like that, what have you done to the survivors on your own side? Left them with a nightmarish mix of traumatic memories and satisfaction at their own successful barbarism. What is happening in Syria right now?
Comment is about A Centenary War Poem for my father Bill Baine (1899-1968) (blog)
Original item by Attila the Stockbroker
cuts on a number of levels this you dirty whorebag haha i like it because it makes me think, so many references to this site and potentially to rainy days gone by, keep em coming whorebag ;-)
Comment is about Cheap Whore (blog)
Original item by Ian Whiteley
Kenneth Eaton-Dykes
Fri 24th Jan 2014 00:05
Thanks Starfish
This site needs a bit more humour to offset the prevalence of soul baring
Comment is about Starfish (poet profile)
Original item by Starfish
Who was the Kaiser? Queen Victoria's grandson. A whole generation were butchered and damned because of one dysfunctional royal family. http://www.channel4.com/programmes/queen-victoria-and-the-crippled-kaiser/episode-guide
It's 'sole survivor soldier' because he was the sole survivor of that battalion. 'Sole surviving soldier' has a different, more general emphasis to me. It's funny to get suggestions for changing my poems - first time ever, after 34 years earning a living at it - good on you :)
Comment is about A Centenary War Poem for my father Bill Baine (1899-1968) (blog)
Original item by Attila the Stockbroker
<Deleted User> (6895)
Sun 26th Jan 2014 12:47
keep 'em coming!xx
Comment is about Don't take your Elephant to School (blog)
Original item by Gray Nicholls