Donations are essential to keep Write Out Loud going    

Profile image

John Botterill

Mon 31st Oct 2022 12:49

Thanks for the comments Frederick and Martin. I genuinely feel that some drivers don't care! I was going for the grumpy old man humourous approach but the issue is serious, I know 👍
Thanks for the like too, Steve 😊

Comment is about Boy Racer (blog)

Original item by John Botterill

Profile image

Martin Elder

Mon 31st Oct 2022 09:21

Some lovely lines and a great flow to this poem. Love it

Comment is about Where the Soul Meets the Floor (blog)

Original item by New Shoes

Profile image

Martin Elder

Mon 31st Oct 2022 09:18

Sadly those who do this will do it because they think they can and all the time they get away with it that's what they will do.
great poem

Comment is about Boy Racer (blog)

Original item by John Botterill

Profile image

John Coopey

Mon 31st Oct 2022 07:58

You’re welcome, Stephen. I often think when I see what passes for entertainment these days on “I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here” that we haven’t come so very far.

Comment is about YOU'RE PULLING MY LEG (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

Profile image

Red Brick Keshner

Mon 31st Oct 2022 07:19

Yes Rudyard! That would be a dream come true! Should someone with heart and skill to bring us thus together then it would be an excellent anthology!

Comment is about Ebook out and charting! (blog)

Original item by Red Brick Keshner

Profile image

Red Brick Keshner

Mon 31st Oct 2022 07:06

Speed is a plague and it ails us all across the globe! I've been to several funerals stemming from this and what do you say, what could you say!?

Comment is about Boy Racer (blog)

Original item by John Botterill

Profile image

John Marks

Mon 31st Oct 2022 00:00

Thank you dear Stephen and dear Frederick and dear Holden. Through all the insincere remembrance tinsel that comes with November in the UK Siegfried Sassoon's poem 'Suicide in the Trenches' stands out.

I knew a simple soldier boy
Who grinned at life in empty joy,
Slept soundly through the lonesome dark,
And whistled early with the lark.

In winter trenches, cowed and glum,
With crumps and lice and lack of rum,
He put a bullet through his brain.
No one spoke of him again.

You smug-faced crowds with kindling eye
Who cheer when soldier lads march by,
Sneak home and pray you'll never know
The hell where youth and laughter go.

Comment is about BEGGAR (blog)

Original item by John E Marks

Profile image

Graham Sherwood

Sun 30th Oct 2022 22:39

Stephen it’s difficult to consider any sort of normal life carrying on in Ukraine at the moment but our next door neighbour’s Ukrainian displaced visitors (mother and child) have a trucker husband still in the thick of it. The heart bleeds!

Comment is about Brass Monkeys (blog)

Original item by Stephen Gospage

Profile image

Stephen Gospage

Sun 30th Oct 2022 21:29

Many thanks, Nigel, and thanks to Steve, Candice, Holden, Stephen and Rudyard for liking.

Comment is about Foot Soldiers (blog)

Original item by Stephen Gospage

Profile image

Stephen Gospage

Sun 30th Oct 2022 21:27

Thanks for reminding me, John. Timothy Spall was good in that and since then has played almost everyone.

Comment is about YOU'RE PULLING MY LEG (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

Profile image

Stephen Gospage

Sun 30th Oct 2022 21:17

Impeccable logic! Very clever write.

Comment is about the weather (blog)

Original item by sloppyjoe

Profile image

Stephen Gospage

Sun 30th Oct 2022 21:12

A very strong poem. The Ukraine conflcit shows both the futility and waste of war and the fact that so many are prepared to lay down their life for their freedom.

Comment is about Fields of Poppies (blog)

Original item by JD Russell

Profile image

Stephen Gospage

Sun 30th Oct 2022 21:04

An exquisite poem, Greg. A real sense of transition into a new life. So pleased it is going well.

Comment is about North (blog)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Profile image

Greg Freeman

Sun 30th Oct 2022 18:52

Many thanks for commenting and for your good wishes, Stephen and Ray. I will always treasure that picture of two of us at the Lightbox shaking hands, with the Sean Henry statue between us, Ray! I read this poem out at Morpeth Poetry Group at the Tap and Spile pub last week and said afterwards: 'I suppose you think I'm a bit starry-eyed about this area.' They all just seemed to feel that I'd got it right

Comment is about North (blog)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Profile image

raypool

Sun 30th Oct 2022 16:45

Terrific sense of new life and how a decision can be made at any time that benefits the soul. Someone told me once and I think it was true that if you just keep doing the same thing repetitively you are not really living a life. Sadly we all have to most of the time. The poem reflects the sureness of a trained eye with loving detail. So pleased for you. !

Ray

Comment is about North (blog)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Profile image

raypool

Sun 30th Oct 2022 16:37

Amusing with a bitter -sweet experience I can vouch for. Better to visit Turkey I suppose Hugh

Comment is about A question implanted into a conversation at the dentist (blog)

Original item by hugh

Profile image

raypool

Sun 30th Oct 2022 16:35

I love the insinuations of this Ralph - how do we take it, with a pinch of salt or on draught as it were? A lot of subtlety, some irony, hero worship dashed but poignant too, and would Gareth have been as deep an observer as you. Not on the poetry front I suspect. A lovely offering!

Ray

Comment is about England's Dreaming (blog)

Original item by Ralph Dartford

Profile image

HĂ©lĂšne

Sun 30th Oct 2022 15:49

Your poetry is beautiful Chloé!

Comment is about Chloé (poet profile)

Original item by Chloé

Profile image

Stephen Atkinson

Sun 30th Oct 2022 15:07

Short but powerful JD

Comment is about Fields of Poppies (blog)

Original item by JD Russell

Profile image

Stephen Atkinson

Sun 30th Oct 2022 15:03

Julie, yes it's at the back of the book & thanks.
And Thank you Steve H. Yes I did get a little rosy glow feeling when it was complete! Thanks again

Comment is about Book out now!... or you could just read them on here lol! (blog)

Original item by Stephen W Atkinson

Profile image

Stephen Atkinson

Sun 30th Oct 2022 14:58

Hope you settle in like a hand in a glove, Greg! I've gone past the Angel so many times (mainly to go to the Metrocentre, where 'the wife' loves to spend time & money!) I don't even notice it anymore. Which is a bit sad! I'll have to rediscover it once again!
Good luck

Comment is about North (blog)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Profile image

Greg Freeman

Sun 30th Oct 2022 10:41

John, you told me that last year as well! I'm sorry, I can't help it. I love this place. And the Angel does kind of take you by surprise as you come up the A1. Graham, many thanks for your comments. Rothbury is just along the road from us. Thanks too for the Likes, Nigel, Clare, Stephen, Holden, K. Lynn, HĂ©lĂšne, and Frederick

Comment is about North (blog)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Profile image

John Coopey

Sun 30th Oct 2022 09:15

Ssshhh, Greg. Keep Northumberland a secret. Incidentally, I love the way Gormley has made the Angel androgynous.

Comment is about North (blog)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Profile image

raypool

Sat 29th Oct 2022 21:34

Thanks for your lovely likes: Frederick, Tom, Holden, K..Lynn, Helene and Kamran. welcome to H and K .

A philosophical approach Graham. A dishwasher can be a bit of a pain with its restrictions and guidelines. We enjoyed the suds too this time round. I never put decent glasses in there, also hand turned mugs etc. blah blah! All in all, a therapeutic experience and we talked so there you are.

Russell, sounds like a special case, I bow to your needs of course.

Thanks Stephen, you've seen the truth of it as always. The last line a RP special.

That sounds better than a telly Greg. Add a soupcon of birdsong and a sly fox etc and I would swop (or is it swap) places. The dishwasher is by nature a bit furtive, even arty farty I reckon. I hope you're both settling in and getting logs in, etc.

Ray

Comment is about WORKING AS ONE (blog)

Original item by ray pool

Profile image

Steve Higgins

Sat 29th Oct 2022 19:56

ahh the sweet pleasure of having your work published. Well done and best wishes for the book 😀

Comment is about Book out now!... or you could just read them on here lol! (blog)

Original item by Stephen W Atkinson

Profile image

julie callaghan

Sat 29th Oct 2022 11:29

Thanks Stephen didn’t see my name but thank you for the acknowledgment. 🌈

Comment is about Book out now!... or you could just read them on here lol! (blog)

Original item by Stephen W Atkinson

Profile image

Nigel Astell

Sat 29th Oct 2022 11:00

Such a waste of life a strong emotional poem Stephen.

Comment is about Foot Soldiers (blog)

Original item by Stephen Gospage

Profile image

Nigel Astell

Sat 29th Oct 2022 10:51

Good idea Stephen you will be safe there.

Comment is about The Dead Good Halloween Party (blog)

Original item by Nigel Astell

Profile image

Graham Sherwood

Sat 29th Oct 2022 08:23

Greg I really like the stripped back look and feel of this. Makes me feel like I’m in the back of your car flashing past those landmarks.
Say hello to Rothbury for me and look after yourself up there!

Comment is about North (blog)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Profile image

Red Brick Keshner

Sat 29th Oct 2022 03:58

Circle of Life? I sometimes mix that up with the Lion Sleeps Tonight!

Comment is about use ubiquitous in a poem (blog)

Original item by Red Brick Keshner

Profile image

Stephen Atkinson

Sat 29th Oct 2022 00:26

Thank you Stephen, and for all your inspiring comments!
And likewise Tom! & I might give the authors page a try, though it might take another 5 year to fill another book! 😆
And John- a description well deserved!
And thank you Julie, hope you don't mind that I've mentioned you in the acknowledgement for your constant support 🌈

Comment is about Book out now!... or you could just read them on here lol! (blog)

Original item by Stephen W Atkinson

Profile image

John Coopey

Fri 28th Oct 2022 16:59

Thankyou, MC and Stephen. You’re right about Dickens. He also invited his friend Jake Thackray to witness one hanging. There is also a film starring Timothy Spall about Albert Pierrepoint, Stephen, which shows the old dropper in a sympathetic light as he hangs several Nazi war ctminals.
And thanks for the Likes, Stephen A and Holden.

Comment is about YOU'RE PULLING MY LEG (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

Profile image

Stephen Gospage

Fri 28th Oct 2022 16:54

I think he has done the BBC proud. Some of the content may annoy us from time to time but in the end you can't beat public service broadcasting, free from adverts and media moguls.

Comment is about 'Despite occasional interference ...': Simon Armitage's poem 'Transmission Report' celebrates 100 years of the BBC (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Profile image

Stephen Gospage

Fri 28th Oct 2022 16:47

Insanely good, Kevin.

Comment is about False teeth distort the truth (blog)

Original item by Kevin Vose

Profile image

Stephen Gospage

Fri 28th Oct 2022 16:39

Think I'll stick to BBC2, Nigel!

Comment is about The Dead Good Halloween Party (blog)

Original item by Nigel Astell

Profile image

Stephen Gospage

Fri 28th Oct 2022 16:34

I hope you are, John. There is remarkable film by the Japanese director Oshima called 'Death by Hanging', in which a Korean man is hung for murder in Japan but somehow survives. It turns out that they can't hang him again unless he confesses to his crime on the same day. The film (which is definitely anti-capital punishment) is quite disturbing but also manages to be hilariously funny. A neglected gem, I think, but no one tries to pull his leg.

Comment is about YOU'RE PULLING MY LEG (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

Profile image

Stephen Gospage

Fri 28th Oct 2022 16:23

Thank you for the generous comment, Greg. War is ultimately the consumption of human lives.

I hope the move went according to plan.

And thanks to John and Frederick for the likes.

Comment is about Foot Soldiers (blog)

Original item by Stephen Gospage

Profile image

M.C. Newberry

Fri 28th Oct 2022 16:14

Wasn't Charles Dickens motivated to end public executions by
what he witnessed as a young reporter?
But evil itself still exists - as was the case in the conviction in
Derby of a man who tortured and murdered an 86 year old
woman and viciously assasulted her husband during his
intent to steal money from them in their home. The sentence
of imprisonment seems woefully inadequate for such sustained merciless brutality and if he had been sentenced to hang (no
longer possible, more's the pity) he would have deserved the
end of a boot to help him on his way.

Comment is about YOU'RE PULLING MY LEG (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

Profile image

John Coopey

Fri 28th Oct 2022 14:07

Not yet, Frederick.

Comment is about YOU'RE PULLING MY LEG (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

Profile image

Red Brick Keshner

Fri 28th Oct 2022 12:35

Did any of my kin drop by and hand you a bob or two for that tugging on my leg!? 😂

Comment is about YOU'RE PULLING MY LEG (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

Profile image

John Coopey

Fri 28th Oct 2022 09:01

You’re welcome, Stephen. Delighted you gave me my full job description!

Comment is about Book out now!... or you could just read them on here lol! (blog)

Original item by Stephen W Atkinson

Profile image

John Coopey

Fri 28th Oct 2022 08:48

I have nothing against him having his vote, Stephen,. But until he can demonstrate a certain level of intellect (say, “Join Up The Dots”) I would restrict his democratic involvement to voting for Goal of the Month and getting rid of has-beens from Strictly.
And thanks for the Like, Frederick.

Comment is about FROM RAGS TO RISHI (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

Profile image

Greg Freeman

Fri 28th Oct 2022 08:00

An expertly crafted poem, Steve. You are a war poet de nos jours.

Comment is about Foot Soldiers (blog)

Original item by Stephen Gospage

Profile image

Stephen Gospage

Fri 28th Oct 2022 06:38

This is very impressive, Tom. You oral reading complements the power of the poem. Thanks.

Comment is about Like Someone Who Knows Me (blog)

Original item by Tom

Profile image

Red Brick Keshner

Fri 28th Oct 2022 06:35

Totally agree Kevin. We are all not better than anyone else. And fondness, well, that goes quite a long long way! 😊

Comment is about use ubiquitous in a poem (blog)

Original item by Red Brick Keshner

Profile image

Stephen Gospage

Fri 28th Oct 2022 06:15

This is beautiful, HelĂšne. I love 'See shapes, with no names attached'.

Comment is about Like a Child (blog)

Original item by HĂ©lĂšne

Profile image

julie callaghan

Fri 28th Oct 2022 05:51

Well done Stephen. Looking forward to revisiting some old favourites. Congratulations on the release of your book.

Comment is about Book out now!... or you could just read them on here lol! (blog)

Original item by Stephen W Atkinson

Profile image

Greg Freeman

Thu 27th Oct 2022 22:38

Fine poem, Ray. It's not always progress. We have a dishwasher in our kitchen in Northumberland but the view of the garden from the kitchen sink is so wonderful, I don't think we'll ever use it.

Comment is about WORKING AS ONE (blog)

Original item by ray pool

Profile image

Tom

Thu 27th Oct 2022 22:29

Nice one Stephen, looking forward to getting my copy (and John's new book too). Set yourself up a KDP author page so I can stalk your writing fully 😉

Just spotted the mention! :) Very nicely done. Thank you!

Comment is about Book out now!... or you could just read them on here lol! (blog)

Original item by Stephen W Atkinson

Profile image

Tom

Thu 27th Oct 2022 22:25

Thanks Kevin, that's a really interesting take and I'd love to imagine there's enough ambiguity in the words for it to be read that way.

This was my off-kilter, melodramatic (and admittedly self-indulgent) take on finding out about the transgressions of someone I knew (or thought I knew) who had been hiding their real self from everyone for a very long time. Thanks for reading and commenting.

Thanks Frederick and Kamran for reading and making it to the end of this very long poem.

Comment is about Like Someone Who Knows Me (blog)

Original item by Tom

More Comments

◄ Prev123 … 207208209210211 … 292 … 584 … 876 … 1168 … 1460 … 1752 … 2044 … 2336 … 2628 … 291229132914Next ►

This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse, you are agreeing to our use of cookies.

Find out more Hide this message