LOL - and how many of them were child molesters I wonder? Remember going to see the old Gary Glitter at Wembley before the scandals emerged - it kind of casts a nasty pall over much of the era for me now.
Comment is about GLAM!!!!!!!! (blog)
Original item by Ian Whiteley
Lovely piece steve. There are so many layers to it. Sorrow for them because the future doesnt necessarily get better, sorrow for their future loss and our own losses. Community spirit and identity IS breaking down and it IS something to mourn.
The coronation day was before my time but I do remember May day and church walking days where all the roads were closed, occasions where communities naturally came together.
Comment is about Coronation Party, Amy’s Terrace, 1953 (blog)
Original item by STEVE RUDD
Evocative and delicious as a street party. Loved it.
Comment is about Coronation Party, Amy’s Terrace, 1953 (blog)
Original item by STEVE RUDD
I have a picture of myself at a Coronation party aged nine months, tucking into blancmange or whatever. And my street got flattened, too. Conjures up a lot for me, Steve, including the Lone Ranger. "Your staid gaiety in checked dresses / Bunting fashioned from austerity" are a lovely, very affectionate couple of lines.
Comment is about Coronation Party, Amy’s Terrace, 1953 (blog)
Original item by STEVE RUDD
Well done Rod, some great nights at Sale. And great news that you have regenerated into John Darwin who will do a fantastic job.
Comment is about John Darwin is new compere at Write Out Loud Sale (article)
Original item by Greg Freeman
<Deleted User> (10832)
Wed 20th Nov 2013 13:31
Your very lucky to have a daughter. No son would do owt like that - theyd just come and borrow some money then bugger of, which would make the street a lot greyer.
I don't do criticising but I think this would have been nice with some rhyme in it. Theres a rhyming dictionary on google if you find that hard.
Comment is about Touch and Go (blog)
Original item by Cate
Emotionally devastating. Anyone who has seen
the face of someone suffering the disease will
immediately recognise the feelings expressed
here - and the impotence of being a witness.
Let's console ourselves with the belief there
IS a light at the end of the tunnel.
Comment is about FOR 'OUR KID' (blog)
Original item by Pete Slater
Congrats Harry.... your poem made me laugh and that is a precious gift to give anyone!
Lady Ha Ha... so did yours. More of a snigger though than a belly laugh like Harrys.
Nice to see humour taking its rightful place in the poetry world though, instead of angst and doom and gloom!!
Cate xx
Comment is about Touch and Go. Result (blog)
Original item by Dave Bradley
So no Tiger Tiger burning bright for you then? Never mind... I enjoyed reading this. AND I enjoyed reading the comments! lol
Cate xx
Comment is about If I were a proper poet (blog)
Original item by Gray Nicholls
Hehe :D
(psst - there's a surplus 'a' in "take a look")
Comment is about GLAM!!!!!!!! (blog)
Original item by Ian Whiteley
Sometimes I wait months to hear about an acceptance or rejection.
I see that the Faber and Faber New Poets award has just been extended for the second time - now it's January 2014. It states specifically the reason is due to the large number of submissions.
As for creative writing courses, I have a bit of an inverse snobbery about them. Mainly because competition winners all seem to write in that same vein - inaccessible and totally obscure. Must be clever though, eh? If they win? ;)
Comment is about Poetry magazines and the creative writing boom: are editors being swamped with poems? (article)
Original item by Greg Freeman
Like the humour in this great, observational piece.
Comment is about GLAM!!!!!!!! (blog)
Original item by Ian Whiteley
Brilliant! Brought a lump to my throat. Who can't empathise with this?
Comment is about Touch and Go (blog)
Original item by Cate
Heartfelt and heart breaking to read. A lovely tribute.
Comment is about FOR 'OUR KID' (blog)
Original item by Pete Slater
If you take those `teats` out it wouldn`t be fair to Tennyson...Leave them in and give him a thrill!
I like the humility of it.
Comment is about If I were a proper poet (blog)
Original item by Gray Nicholls
Cate,
The comments of `ache` and `humanity` and `emotion` say it all.
Shame about the lateness, A genuine heartfelt
one beats the humour every time.
Comment is about Touch and Go (blog)
Original item by Cate
<Deleted User> (9882)
Tue 19th Nov 2013 21:22
'other lunchtime(s)with Teats.Describes my now grown up baby's once favourite time of day-lol! very good poem.No doubt thou shall correcteth thy typo.x
Comment is about If I were a proper poet (blog)
Original item by Gray Nicholls
(-: Actually, Lady Ha Ha you got a lot of second places, meaning that if there had been a third it would have been yours. A 'notional bronze' perhaps. I thought your poem was very good.
Looking forward to seeing what Harry comes up with
Comment is about Touch and Go. Result (blog)
Original item by Dave Bradley
Hi MC I'm glad Annus Mirabilis struck a chord. I've just enjoyed your poem on the Menin Gate.
Comment is about THE MENIN GATE - 11/11/2013 (blog)
Original item by M.C. Newberry
Starfish - Happy to make you titter.
MC - Shirley does a mean pie and gravy.
Comment is about Jilted John (blog)
Original item by John Coopey
Verse 3 - line 2: I trust this refers to "Keats"!
As for sticking Kipiling's (sic) head into a cup of worms...
no comment. But he lost his own son to the war
that took Owen and his lines about "Tommy Atkins"
were full of pride about the ordinary British
soldier of his own day.
Comment is about If I were a proper poet (blog)
Original item by Gray Nicholls
Nigel, the Arts Trail books have arrived. And look magnificent!
Comment is about Stockport WoL (group profile)
Original item by Stockport WoL
Hya Andy
Always think about performing most of my stuff once written. Thank you for your comment and taking the trouble to read Voice of the Innocents. Look forward to seeing and hearing you at Joshua's Charity 'do' on the 7th Dec. Also thank you for offering to partake mate, much appreciated.
Comment is about Andy N (poet profile)
Original item by Andy N
<Deleted User> (10832)
Tue 19th Nov 2013 14:48
beauitful, cat. it aches this piece. really does.
i totally forgot about the comp. maybe in future ones i will try, but this was worth posting even without entering the comp.
good stuff
Comment is about Touch and Go (blog)
Original item by Cate
am writing lots of anti war poetry and poems about war, pete so this sits well with me.
guesssing you are going to perform this also as it has a kinda screaming / ranting kinda style.
good stuff man
Comment is about VOICE OF THE INNOCENTS (blog)
Original item by Pete Slater
I normally sign in as 'Gig Administrator', that's my main work at WOL, but sign in now as myself.
Very pleased to hear from those involved in 2 of the principal poetry magazines.
Could I encourage others to share their recent experiences, both as poets submitting work and as those making the selections.
Comment is about Poetry magazines and the creative writing boom: are editors being swamped with poems? (article)
Original item by Greg Freeman
<Deleted User> (9882)
Mon 18th Nov 2013 22:39
oh my Sainted Aunt!!..touch of modesty!go on,shatter the tank girl image I had of you,see if I care
-haha.x
Comment is about Smoke Rings (blog)
Original item by Laura Taylor
Pass the chocs
play a tune
turn it up
dance only slightly
steady the beat
tap your shoe
munch to rhyme
suck the centre
open another box
now rock those
blues far away.
Comment is about Happiness? (blog)
Original item by Shirley Smothers
Anyone who has spent days and nights out "under
canvas" will identify with the feelings this
engenders. A reminder too that there are things
in life that return to give us simple joy.
Comment is about Smoke Rings (blog)
Original item by Laura Taylor
The humanity in this shines like a welcoming lamp.
Touching - about going!
Comment is about Touch and Go (blog)
Original item by Cate
Dazzling - and emotive, and poignant. I echo Philipos completely - my faves: 'falling asleep in my hair' because it can mean almost anything; even the obvious is truly enchanting. And 'a clip of sunlight'-what an unusual metaphor.
Comment is about Morning (blog)
Original item by Marianne Daniels
<Deleted User> (11585)
Mon 18th Nov 2013 13:40
This is lovely, Cate, and well worth the wait! The emotions can be felt through the gazing out, the 2cv and how it can represent time and journey moving a bit more slowly than we'd like at times.
(The only thing I would change are the capital letters where they don't belong - to give it more of a visual and reading flow)
Comment is about Touch and Go (blog)
Original item by Cate
I appreciate the two comments given. They are honest and applicable.
It's a given - more people - more freedom of style - more poets (even without speciallized courses.) IMO, worthy attention, and then deserved reputation, must be increasingly local. How 'local' is 'local' is an amusing question. But selection for prize or print no longer expresses superior quality, or negates the worth of rejected work. Personal preference is the major key, and you can never buck that. All is just a gambol/gamble.
Comment is about Poetry magazines and the creative writing boom: are editors being swamped with poems? (article)
Original item by Greg Freeman
Oh what a shame it was late Cate, it would have been good to have a serious poem in the competition. Having said that, I don't suppose it matters in the grand scheme of things. These little comps we run now and again are great in the fact that they inspire people to write - poems and thoughts that wouldn't otherwise have seen the light of day. Whether or not they hit a deadline is only important if you want to get behind the spirit of the competition or want to win.
I like the way you have experimented in this one - going right out of your comfort zone to free verse. It's very hard to tell a story in a poetic way, but I think you manage well.
For me, this poem isn't so much about the language as its humanity - and the way you have so beautifully exemplified the title. Although your poem is about filial/maternal love, we really do all have the capacity to make each others lives so much better - just by knowing how to support each other, in what at times can be a very grey life.
Comment is about Touch and Go (blog)
Original item by Cate
Sos its late Dave, but I thought while Id actually made the effort, Id post it anyway!!
Comment is about Touch and Go (blog)
Original item by Cate
For Magma 57 we had over 4,000 poems submitted by over 1000 poets. We had space for about 60 poems. There's your problem right there. I'd also add that there is remarkably little that is obviously badly written, probably a result of the explosion in creative writing education you have mentioned.
That said there is no excuse for sitting on poems longer than is needed - with three issues a year that means for us a maximum of maybe six months for a really close call (and they would have been told they were short listed at some point much sooner) while I was able to turn around rejections in a month or less.
Comment is about Poetry magazines and the creative writing boom: are editors being swamped with poems? (article)
Original item by Greg Freeman
Hi Ann thank you. I have just added a Youtube link to my profile showing me performing at a recent poetry night in Liverpool.
Comment is about dominicmartinpoet (poet profile)
Original item by dominicmartinpoet
FB group https://www.facebook.com/events/248645411958703/?fref=tck
Review is about Hammer & Tongue Bristol on 4 Dec 2013 (event)
Thanks Solar - shit hot? Nah. Just snapshotting that bittersweet moment. Ta though :)
Comment is about Smoke Rings (blog)
Original item by Laura Taylor
Briony Bax
Mon 18th Nov 2013 10:12
At Ambit Magazine we've recently gone to on-line submissions and we get at least 10 submissions of poetry, prose and flash fiction every day. We pride ourselves on reading everything but it is a constant struggle to keep up with the work. I'm adamant that we won't charge people to submit as some other magazines do so it does mean that some people have to wait a while to hear from us.
Comment is about Poetry magazines and the creative writing boom: are editors being swamped with poems? (article)
Original item by Greg Freeman
Hi Dominic - a very warm welcome to WOL :)
Comment is about dominicmartinpoet (poet profile)
Original item by dominicmartinpoet
Hi Leslie - a warm welcome to WOL. Hope you are enjoying being here on the site. Maybe try putting one of your poems on the blogs - more people see them there I reckon.
Comment is about Leslie Smith (poet profile)
Original item by Leslie Smith
yes my bayonet is like that. i sold it and doubled my cash on it. a bit of history from mankind's biggest ever event.
bet your bro wernt too thrilled on swapping it lol.
Comment is about Lorraine (blog)
Original item by NICK ARMBRISTER
indeed, the joys of youth and where nowt ever fazes you. all turned to dust...
Comment is about ENDLESS SUMMER (blog)
Original item by NICK ARMBRISTER
Congratulations Steve
you can`t get a more famous venue than that.
I`ll have to pay a visit next time I hit home.
Comment is about That's showbiz: new, historic venue for Liverpool's Liver Bards (article)
Original item by Greg Freeman
Dave,
Sorry about the late response. (cold)thanks to everyone for the votes.
I`ve got an idea for a comp which just might attract more entries. But I`m off the radar for a couple of weeks after friday. I`ll sort it out when I get back.
Thanks for running it (the prize to the Philipine disaster fund, like Isobels)
Comment is about Touch and Go. Result (blog)
Original item by Dave Bradley
Dominic Berry
Wed 20th Nov 2013 20:36
Awesome!
Comment is about John Darwin is new compere at Write Out Loud Sale (article)
Original item by Greg Freeman