Funny.
'That's so gay' was a phrase abused for years by school kids up and down the country in the 90s as another meaning for lame or naff.
Good efforts to reclaim it.

Comment is about That's so gay (blog)

Original item by Ushiku Crisafulli

Nice one M.C. What is the point in a large universe that may be full of life if death is oblivion? Take care, Tony.

Comment is about MAN MADE RELIGION (blog)

Original item by M.C. Newberry

Many thanks Tom re 'Voyager'
means a lot,coming from thee.xx

Comment is about Tom Harding (poet profile)

Original item by Tom Harding

Jake La Motta-wow!what a scrapper!
and what a poem!xx

Comment is about EYES AT THE SCENE (blog)

Original item by Mike Hilton

Isobel, lovely tribute. I like how you open it up to the universal in the last verse, the last four lines are lovely.

Comment is about The Sky at Night (blog)

Original item by Isobel

this is a lovely rolling poem. reminded me of the simple beauty of gary snyder.

Comment is about The Rapids. (blog)

Hi Joe. This poem could go on forever! Part two please? Nice one. Take care, Tony.

Comment is about Poems About Poetry (blog)

Hi Isobel,

Thanks for the comment on Paxos, much appreciated!

Comment is about Isobel (poet profile)

Original item by Isobel

Cheers loads Cath(it happens)
piece of advice-re inadvertant walkies
keep away from lovers leap!xx

Comment is about Cathy Crabb (poet profile)

Original item by Cathy Crabb

I don't recall mention of the "global banking crisis" (shades of "global warming"!!) when this person was flogging off the nation's gold reserves (years ago) at bargain basement price or plundering our renowned private pension schemes to fund tax breaks and hand-outs at a time when NHS nurses and doctors took 2nd place to huge "buggins turn" levels of micro-management that have almost sunk that great service, putting countless patients at risk from in-house infection leading to death in its care. At the same time that UK government was also sending (and increasing?) UK billions p.a. to the EU...not the way, in my view, to instill confidence in the ability of a chancellor/PM who boasted of his "prudence" managing our finances
during many years in power.

Comment is about WHERE ARE YOU GORDON BROWN? (blog)

Original item by M.C. Newberry

Thanks for your feedback on 'A Tradition Saved' John-I have remedied the unforgivably sloppy non use of paragraphs. If Master Miles had seen that he would've nailed me to the mast by me ears!

Comment is about John Coopey (poet profile)

Original item by John Coopey

Kathy ( Hi :o) )you have now edged out Laura as my favoorite person. I will en-devour to teach, amuse and enlighten you regarding humour.
Call me on my private number anytime except Wednesdays and Saturdays evening as I will be shopping at Tesco's.

Tommy. (Bachelor)

Comment is about Cathy Crabb (poet profile)

Original item by Cathy Crabb

Now Laura give him his due- they are always more likely to laugh at your shoes than your jokes. This made me laugh- I look forward to knowing how to tell a joke Tommy x

Comment is about Advice to women (blog)

Original item by Tommy Carroll

Ha! What I like about this is that facebook is actually you talking to yourself. A friend of mine calls it E-Damn x

Comment is about Sermo ut parietis (blog)

Original item by Isobel

Frank and funny! They certainly cover a lot of ground those gays x

Comment is about That's so gay (blog)

Original item by Ushiku Crisafulli

Haha - great ending John!

Comment is about You've Met The Met (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

Hi Christina. Thanks for your comment on First Class Ticket. Glad you like it. Take care, Tony.

Comment is about tina (poet profile)

Original item by tina

Hi MC, good poem, but have to say I totally agree with our good friend, John.
It was actually the global banking crisis that caused our deficit, which has only risen in the last two and a half years.
Even so, I am no fan of Brown, agree with John on that one too.

Comment is about WHERE ARE YOU GORDON BROWN? (blog)

Original item by M.C. Newberry

"If you want misery and disgruntled bitching please go elsewhere.

"Is that so ; lol - will remember that.

I'd agree with your comments re Janet Ramsden - it really upset me also. Thanks for remembering her. All anyone can ask, is to be remembered. Shame you missed our memorial Tudor night - for Janet and for John Clays.

Can't make your Monday Bards but will try to get along to summat soon. Hope it all goes well you mad lot.x

Comment is about Such misery - in Goole, Hull and Wigan (blog)

Original item by Steve Regan

This is great :D

Comment is about First Class Ticket. (blog)

Glad you liked it Nick x

Comment is about full moon (blog)

Original item by tina

John,
As a former striker you might be interested in this.

In the early seventies I was a delegate at A T.U.C. conference in the Brighton Pavillion and was sitting behind Arthur Scargill and heard him and joe Gormley (Who I think was the president of the miners union by then) throwing jibes at each other across the chairs.

It`s sobering to know now that one of them ruined the industry, and the other was accused years later of passing on information about exremists to the secret service.

Funny old world, isn`t it?

Comment is about You've Met The Met (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

Thanks for the comments folks,

Changed line six to make it say more what I meant.

Comment is about unwanted (blog)

Love this! Take care, Tony.

Comment is about WHERE ARE YOU GORDON BROWN? (blog)

Original item by M.C. Newberry

JC - you are too gracious by half towards that dour smug pot of ambition! I am intrigued by the number of politicians with Scottish connections who have shafted this country...and he is one...minus the grinning ninny smarm that his predecessor used to fool so many and which irritated the hell out of me. I always watch the speed with which a smile leaves a face, an infallible guide to its sincerity. Both Blair and Brown failed the test.
Laura - Confucious, he say "Change is as good as rest". I rest my case :-)
Yvonne - Agreed; thanks.

Comment is about WHERE ARE YOU GORDON BROWN? (blog)

Original item by M.C. Newberry

GBH = Grim Bloody Humour??
By the way, the Met. sergeants and PCs also wore blue shirts (inspectors and above wore white) until it was agreed that all would wear white in some pay and conditions arrangement long before any required "aid" was sent ooop norrrth. And the old black helmet badges and rose were replaced by the less impressive slightly garish "chrome metal" versions that still adorn their high hats here in the Smoke - no doubt a great help to night-time neer-do-wells who could see them coming a mile off!! Such is progress.

Comment is about You've Met The Met (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

Hello MC
Glad you liked "Gays". I was rather quick off the mark with that one!

Comment is about M.C. Newberry (poet profile)

Original item by M.C. Newberry

Hello Greg,
Thanks for your comments on "Gays".
You have made your preferences plain!
SOOTY!!! BLOODY SOOTY!!!

Comment is about Greg Freeman (poet profile)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Hello Yvonne,
Thankyou for commenting on "Gays".
There is an old (rather politically incorrect) joke about 2 blokes in a pub. The 1st one says he is emigrating. His mate says "That's a surprise" and asks him "Why?".
"Queers" his friend replies.
"How do you mean?"
"Well" he explains, "500 years ago they were burnt at the stake; 200 years ago they were hanged;100 years ago an man like Oscar Wilde was imprisoned; 50 years ago it could ruin a man's political career; 10 years ago it was still in the closet. I'm off before they make it compulsory".
Myself, I am more liberal but would not welcome compulsion!

Comment is about Yvonne Brunton (poet profile)

Original item by Yvonne Brunton

Phew! we get to keep our food stained chins!xx

Comment is about Man In The Mirror (blog)

Original item by Steve Higgins

Hello Dave,
Thanks for your thoughts on "Gays".
I have to confess that I don't have strong views either way re the gay community but to try to police a "no sex" rule seems rather laughable. On another front, this may come as a little surprise to you given my rather irreverent and often downright crude writings, but I am actually a verger for Selby Abbey!

Comment is about Dave Bradley (poet profile)

Original item by Dave Bradley

SOOTY!!! BLOODY SOOTY!!!
No wonder that Freeman's a soft southerner!

Comment is about Oddle Poddle (blog)

Original item by Dave Bradley

I can't see anyone under 60 having much to say about this, Dave!
Personally, I preferred the wildlife programme - Rag, Tag and Bobtail.

Comment is about Oddle Poddle (blog)

Original item by Dave Bradley

Enjoyed the poem, MC. I suspect I sit a little left of you (though not as near the touchline as a lot of these barmpots!).
Personally though I always felt a little sorry for GB. Shafted politically by Blair, managed the economy perfectly well for so long, became PM just as we and the rest of the world hit recession, but crucially lacking charisma and leadership qualities. Not a man I could warm to.

Comment is about WHERE ARE YOU GORDON BROWN? (blog)

Original item by M.C. Newberry

Another strong link perhaps to Stockport

You can buy dodg'y motor cars here too.

Comment is about Stockport Council; Museums & Cultural Attractions Consultation‏ (blog)

Original item by Stockport WoL

The land called forbidden
So hard to leave
Half-packed suitcase waits
For understanding and truth
All dreams hang on
Or acceptance drops out.

Comment is about Choice or Dilemma? (blog)

Original item by Katy Megan

Lovely stuff Tom. I can see it all so vividly and though this is obviously a modern take on the place, I love the way you set it all in context - the timelessness to it all.

Comment is about Paxos (blog)

Original item by Tom Harding

Thanks for your lovely comment. It was actually quite liberating to write something unpoetic LOL - why on Earth have I taken up this poetry hobby, I ask myself...?

Comment is about Laura Taylor (poet profile)

Original item by Laura Taylor

Hi Dave, well done for putting this together, I am sure the WOL community will rise to the challenge and await the results with interest :-)

Comment is about Cat. Prize competition (blog)

Original item by Dave Bradley

M.C., hold that fort! (that only works using received pronunciation as in most parts of the North West it has almost two syllables).
Anthony, you are right about the greater reaches of poetry. In fact, our gig guide is the only entity demonstrating the truth of what you say and contributing to the network's growth. I was only mentioning the Write Out Loud "branded" nights. Oh, and it is the north, not the North West, as Marsden is in Yorkshire; about two miles in, in fact.
I think 'stonking' is a stonking word, Laura, and well done for your stonking year. Superb. Now 2013...

Comment is about Year of the Red Wheelbarrow: but how was 2012 for you? (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Hahahaaa!!! I'm not gonna quibble over it being 'unpoetic' - this is just funny as fuck :D Some touches of sheer genius in here :D

This had me choking on me coffee:
Would that be your only reason for using latin?

Of course not. I wish to make my poetry accessible

to any 8th century scribes and scholars

still alive and looking to hook up on Facebook.

Fanfuckintastic :D

Comment is about Sermo ut parietis (blog)

Original item by Isobel

MCN doing political poetry?! Well, never thought I'd see the day...

Comment is about WHERE ARE YOU GORDON BROWN? (blog)

Original item by M.C. Newberry

Often with a squint could we see more clearly. It's quite a varied and complex sight to look at, this life and all that it has to offer. Thanks for sharing.

Comment is about Education (blog)

Original item by Ludo

sometimes. In the poem the first expect should be crossed out but still there but couldn't get that to happen in that text box

Comment is about Jesuisnapoleon (poet profile)

Original item by Jesuisnapoleon

Magnificent and very "in the moment." It is as if we were all there simultaneously experiences it.

Comment is about Paxos (blog)

Original item by Tom Harding

Hilarious! I'm glad I've never encountered anything as harrowing on FB. I do hope you don't get sucked into a convo like that ever again. For all our sakes. :-)

Comment is about Sermo ut parietis (blog)

Original item by Isobel

Thank you for your kind response, Isobel, on "Gotta Keep On." It was written with a friend in mind, who has been struggling with a debilitating behavioural illness. And all the medics could do is aid them take it a day at a time. I have thus likened it to the anguished vagabond soul of an artist. You are much appreciated.

Comment is about Isobel (poet profile)

Original item by Isobel

I loved this short poem. Although I couldn't really read trhough it without replacing first "Accept" by "Except". It made more sense to me this way.

Sometimes when I write a poem, I write down one word, but latter I realise I meant a different word with similar sonority and that different word makes perfect sense anf fits forever.. Does it happen to you?

Comment is about Jesuisnapoleon (poet profile)

Original item by Jesuisnapoleon

art for the sake of art, i love this piece although IMHO it deserves a more luxurious ending

Comment is about The Formula for Art (blog)

Original item by Ludo

It's typical of a woman to complain about the generalizing of women.


How Do I count the shoes?

How do I love my shoes? Let me count the ways.
I love their comfort and style and price.
When my foot can slip in easily, when kicking out of sight foolish Insults and remarks.
I love them for their shine and waterproofing,
Quiet in the walking, by sun and LED torch-light.
I love the comfort as men do strive for Comfort.
I love their fashionability, as they bask In praise.
I love them with a passion when put to good use
In my old briefs, and with my manhood's faith And daily needs.
I love them with a love I show to women
With my swanky gait. I love them with the breath I breathe upon their shine,
The smiles of their buying and tears if their life comes to an end. And if I could be bothered, I shall love them even after recycling.

Comment is about Laura Taylor (poet profile)

Original item by Laura Taylor