I recall those lines in that song about watching
the girls go by..."You can't go to jail for what
you're thinking..."
Just as well perhaps! But it certainly livens
up some posts on WOL.

Comment is about John Coopey (poet profile)

Original item by John Coopey

Now then Young Blood,
Glad you liked "The As Lives Longest..."
But to question my honesty! Really, harry!

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

Original item by Harry O`N eill

hello Starfish,
Glad you enjoyed "Then As Lives Longest Learns Most". I'm rather flattered that you think my stuff is worth reading. Most of the time I don't think it was worth writing.
The most honest line in it is, "My motives were not allus honest". I never went on any marches and certainly never enjoyed any success with women, two character traits I retain to this day!

Comment is about Starfish (poet profile)

Original item by Starfish

hello MC,
Glad you enjoyed my Squitters and my confession of dishonesty, Them as Lives Longest Learns Most. (In truth, I never went on any marches and was certainly no good with women).

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

Original item by M.C. Newberry

Yes, they were on a hiding to nothing really, after the superb stuff on Radio 4 and on TV. Yet your excellent review captures a sense of occasion that allows those unable to attend to share. Thank you.

Comment is about Let freedom ring: dreaming of Martin Luther King on the Southbank (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

I can't say that I ever saw men on trolleys but I did see a man who lost his legs on a regular basis as he shuffled his way to the night shelter opposite where I used to work shifts

shelter

every evening

without fail

I would watch
from my third floor
neon, Freon, digital eyrie

as he scraped his arse along the street
shuffling, scuffing the rags that passed for raiment
ripping the empty legs further each night
as the chorus of inebriate fighters,
noses swollen veined plums,
caroused and cajoled his every
gravelled slide
while throwing punches, and each other, can in hand
at passing cars

his limbs, of wood and plastic,
would arrive later
under police escort

old world problems under the new world’s
hardened, refrigerated glaze

every evening

without fail

until the day he didn’t

Comment is about Plus ça change… Can you write a trolley poem? (article)

Yes, I thought I detected a flavour of MLK there. I was listening to a commemorative programme yesterday and suddenly heard the strains of Heatwave, which is in my all-time top 10, which probably has about 50 tunes in it!

Comment is about David Cooke (poet profile)

Original item by David Cooke

I don't know if she was in charge of actual choreography, but she taught them all stage presence, deportment, fashion, etiquette, all that kind of stuff. Basically getting them presentable to break into the white market and not show themselves up in front of royalty and other vips. I thought the poem was quite timely in view of the MLK anniversary. She was a great lady in her own way and opened the first black charm school a decade before Berry Gordy's mum recommended her to Motown. Some MOtown is a bit saccharine, but they still produced masses of top class pop. DIana ROss ain't no Aretha though!

Comment is about Greg Freeman (poet profile)

Original item by Greg Freeman

I've been to the London book fairs for the last two years, Andy. It certainly is a publishers' thing, but I don't think there's anything wrong in that. After all, it's not that easy selling books of poetry! The readings are set up in advance, as you'll see from the programme, so in that sense it is the publishers promoting their own poets, or published poets publicising their books. You get a chance to talk to individual publishers manning their stalls, of course. But there's no open mic free-for-all. The event has a real buzz all the same, in my experience. So much poetry in one space! And the whole thing is free, including the readings.

Comment is about Publishers and poets set out their stalls at day-long bazaar (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

I was told by someone in the trade that there was no point attending the Poetry Book Fair if you were a casual poet looking to find a publisher or to promote your own work - and that it's only really for the publishers. This seems at odds with the write-up here.

Does anyone have any experience of this event who could comment?

Comment is about Publishers and poets set out their stalls at day-long bazaar (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Not Mad

You are inprisoned
not in madness
but incarcerated in
a lost love.

This demon has
let you go
villain to blame
is dark Juliet.

Alone at night
burning with desire
inflicting jealous bites
is her torture.

Comment is about Voyeur (blog)

Original item by Katy Megan

Hi Cynthia! Sorry have just seen this now and what a lovely thing to read! It was so so very lovely too to meet you the other week and glorious to hear you read - you have such a beautiful voice!

Hee hee so don't worry about being forward! x

Thank you for your kind support - it is very inspiring to hear such from a writer that you admire for I am an avid reader of yours too. Lets arrange a reading soon and perhaps I shall stop being so microphone shy x

Comment is about Rock pool (blog)

Original item by Marianne Daniels

Hi Julian,
Please see Urdu translation put up! Its been fun and would be great to see what people think. I've had to change one line slightly - The feeling was so wonderful- to a literal Urdu translation - my heart was bursting with happiness - as I couldn't think of a closer translation, if I do, will come back and edit it.
The other thing to note is if Amy is Ann's daughter's daughter or son's daughter. I think I am right in thinking that the translation would be different. I have taken a guess here.

Comment is about link

Excellent. Gets the imagination going.

Comment is about Eyes in the Darkness (blog)

Original item by Shirley Smothers

I like this Ged - what it says and how it says it. Throw in a verse about how precious other people are and what it means to walk in their shoes and it could be complete. It's interesting how the sense of wonder unites people of a wide variety of beliefs and backgrounds.

Must get down to the Tate so I can complain too.

Comment is about True life's an art (blog)

Original item by Ged Thompson

I'm sorry I cant answer that Isobel, your question was rhetorical

I know your going to kick some arse over this anyway (-:

That's why i like you so much

Comment is about True life's an art (blog)

Original item by Ged Thompson

Many thanks for the positive comments about my
two most recent posts. Funny but although I
"dabbled" in such stuff during my working life,
it was only in retirement that I got stuck in
and found I could get it together...albeit that
revision (very unromantic!) is usually essential
before I'm happy. Wish I had your ability with
the guitar though!!

Comment is about John Coopey (poet profile)

Original item by John Coopey

Thanks for reading "The Provider" Harry. Loved your comment mate, made me chuckle. Hope you liked what you read.
Cheers
Pete.

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

Original item by Harry O`N eill

No piece of 'art' has ever upset me as much as this Ged. It was like it was ok to experiment with these women because they were prostitutes - the way they'd lined them up had echoes of the Holocaust. You are probably right about the artist seeking notoriety - but what are you supposed to do when something like that becomes accepted art - sit back and accept it?

Comment is about True life's an art (blog)

Original item by Ged Thompson

Thanks Harry that mean a lot, Isobel when exploiting people becomes art. It is the art of wickedness that triumphs over the art common decency.

Its cheap sensationalism, they count on reactions like your own to raise the artists profile, its the emperors new clothes scenario though. Underneath all the hype there is nothing of substance.

Comment is about True life's an art (blog)

Original item by Ged Thompson

'Follow compassion not fashion, for that never grows old'

Admirable words, Ged - if only compassion were a universal quality.

I went to the Tate gallery in Liverpool today and ended up leaving in a rage. In the name of art, they were showing a video on the second floor; a row of women sat straddling chairs, having one ugly black line tattooed across their backs. They were Italian drug addicted prostitutes, who had agreed to have this done for the money. The video was supposed to explore exploitation and objectification of the human body. I think they should have included soul somewhere.

I was enraged that the Tate should be complicit with the economic exploitation of those most vulnerable in our society. I wrote a formal complaint before I left the building - I hope other people are as revolted as I am.

I do sometimes wonder where our humanity is going to. That video must have made it's way through all kinds of artistic, intellectual channels before ending up at the Tate. Why couldn't they see what I saw?

Comment is about True life's an art (blog)

Original item by Ged Thompson

I omitted a verse I wrote in my shed blackboard (the rest were on paper)

"Deception in this was all Coopey's
And tantamount really to theft
But it kept me supplied with my groupies
All sourced from the gullible Left"

Comment is about "Them As Lives Longest Learns Most" (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

I could visualise this as a Roy Orbison song. (Well, you know what mean!).
Classic middle bridge, MC.
Your lyrics deserve popularising. I envy anyone who can write love songs. Something always gets in the way when I try.

Comment is about FOR EVERMORE - a lyric (blog)

Original item by M.C. Newberry

... And how could I possibly have forgotten, "chicken tikka"?

Comment is about Southbank poets pay tribute at 'I Have a Dream' anniversary (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Of course, greg, it's undeniable that he made a small contribution in the secondary field of human endeavour of civil rights, but did he give us "portaloo"? "Pooper scooper"? "Are those boots your mum's, ronaldo?" "Enhancing cream"? "Beaulieu view"? Or the pub lock-in song, "gimme gimme gimme a can after midnight"?

Comment is about Southbank poets pay tribute at 'I Have a Dream' anniversary (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Your passion, `not allus honest` John...perish
the thought!

Comment is about "Them As Lives Longest Learns Most" (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

Pete,
This one even frightens me (and I don`t go for all this warming stuff)

I like the title.

Comment is about THE PROVIDER (blog)

Original item by Pete Slater

I like the way you are begining to expand your forms and vary your rhyming styles.

Some wise things in this

Good.

Comment is about True life's an art (blog)

Original item by Ged Thompson

Great poem, John, which I'm sure the great man would have enjoyed. However, I'm glad to say that if you google 'I Have A Dream', it's Martin Luther King that comes up first, rather than Abba, which I find strangely comforting.

Comment is about Southbank poets pay tribute at 'I Have a Dream' anniversary (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Brilliant X

Comment is about Eyes in the Darkness (blog)

Original item by Shirley Smothers

I love this in all its darkness, concise with hints off sporadic despair and confusion. Very honest and very very brave writing, well done for having the courage.

Ged X

Comment is about Lune Poetry (blog)

Original item by Shirley Smothers

Hi Shirley. Thank you for reading THE FOLLY OF YOUTH. Your comments are much appreciated. Ta!!

Comment is about Shirley Smothers (poet profile)

Original item by Shirley Smothers

Thank you for your comments on THE FOLLY OF YOUTH MC. Much appreciated. I was that youth. (Still am inside my head, just wiser I hope)

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

Original item by M.C. Newberry

Greetings - and many thanks for the Youtube link provided on my profile page.
A wondrous montage of shots of predominantly
human activity over the face of our world - but
not the downbeat message "in total" I feared.
The extraordinary achievments of Mankind in leaving its mark on our planet is there to see
but not all bad by any means. The cycle of
life goes on; even our human excretory product
can appeal to other life forms! I was amazed
only this evening to learn how reindeer are
drawn to human urine because of its salt content.
I guess we're back to human numbers - and, as with
other life forms, these must be carefully watched to guard against betraying the essential balance
of nature. Otherwise, everything increasingly
points to the sky; with our greatest modern buildings seeming to grab hold of the heavens.
As for the whale at the end of that Youtube clip
- was it saying "we're still here, pal!" - or
waving "goodbye to all that". Being an optimist I prefer the former. As one who successfully
lobbied against the use of sperm whale oil in
the leather industry back in teh 70s - resulting in the adoption of a synthetic substitute, I believe that it rescued a species "on the brink"; and I well remember many doom & gloom-mongers
readily predicting how the atom bomb would see
humanity bringing down the curtain on all life.
But au contraire...it has provided a sentinel
for global safety and a supply of power. And
there are other examples to provide optimism
for the future. By all means, let us be on
our guard against excess in whatever form - but the hope is surely in the knowledge that we
are AWARE of the dangers in line and in time
with their appearance and threat. We cannot
say we have not been warned!
Onwards and upwards....

Comment is about Noetic-fret! (poet profile)

Original item by Noetic-fret!

I listened to the "echo" version and think that
you have a delightful voice. I think you'd
make a great job of one of my favourite English
songs "Barbara Allen".
As for the melodic line, I had some difficulty
with it and wonder if the material would be
better suited to a recitation-style performance -
emphasising the vocal inflexions suitable to
your words.

Comment is about Song - Lavender man (blog)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

This my favourite so far - good description of a rooster - would have liked to have seen a couple more verses though...

Comment is about This Crested King (blog)

Original item by Starfish

Like it ... lovely structure - what does Chloris mean?

Comment is about Spring (blog)

Original item by Starfish

A great book.... good poem - I don't get the meaning of rhyme on the last line....

Comment is about Forbidden Love (blog)

Original item by Starfish

Your stuff is always worth reading. Like it.
Starfish.

Comment is about "Them As Lives Longest Learns Most" (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

For those of you inclined to post comments on this piece, thank you.

Please check this link out where you may just see the dilemma currently facing humanity.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sFBMIra45lU

thank you for your feedback.

Mike

Comment is about The Thief of Creation (blog)

Original item by Noetic-fret!

Hello there,

thank you for your comment regarding 'The Thief of All Creation.'

I have posted a link for you here which i think you will enjoy. I wanted to post this on the actual poetry blog itself. As someone who mentions from looking above, i think you will enjoy this post. But, don't reach for the handkerchief until the end, when you may just 'get it.'

Aye, we always seem to come back from the brink, but i fear this time, we have moved too fast and too ignorant to restore this planet to its former glory.

Enjoy the link

Mike

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sFBMIra45lU

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

Original item by M.C. Newberry

Rachel uses nature as a good background and it comes across so well in all her work.

Comment is about Stockport WoL (group profile)

Original item by Stockport WoL

Nice poem. Everyone has regrets. This poem states this very well. Sometimes I think I still make the same dumb mistakes.
Your poem makes one pause and consider their lives.

Good writing
Shirley

Comment is about THE FOLLY OF YOUTH (blog)

Original item by Pete Slater

This could just as easily been called
"Backwards - And Forwards". A well-considered
essay on then - and now; the presumption and
ego of youth revisited by the self-awareness
that age brings.

Comment is about THE FOLLY OF YOUTH (blog)

Original item by Pete Slater

A brief note of optimism:
However often this world seems "near the brink",
somehow something comes along - either awareness,
invention or both, to avert the disaster.
I'm always astounded, bearing in mind the many
dangers faced according to Man's own observations,
how pristine the planet looks from above - as if untouched by the latter's activities.
The biggest threat is surely human over-population
- yet how ironic that we are deluged with pleas
to "save" our species. How to resolve that conundrum?...that's the present "humanitarian"
quandary.

Comment is about The Thief of Creation (blog)

Original item by Noetic-fret!

It was Lenny Bruce who said "Communism is like
one big phone company" and clearly, in J.C.'s
lines, connections were being made!!

Comment is about "Them As Lives Longest Learns Most" (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

Thanks Peter, I am well again. Depression is bad thing to have but when the switch turns back on life is great. I have made contact with my daughter and friends again and back in a routine and writing poetry too. I don't do this when down.

I am due to read on Bishop FM soon. I am taking part in a reading of Anglo Saxon Poetry at Escomb 12th Century Saxon Church on 7th Sept as part of Lindarsfarne gospels events. I read a poem at The Puthon Gallery in Middlesbrough on Friday night. You may have heard of the poets Mandy Maxwell and Nominally known as Morbid. Anyway I have put the poem on sound cloud. Cheers....

Comment is about Pete Slater (poet profile)

Original item by Pete Slater

LOL - but you HAVE chosen to get bogged down into the politics of the poem :)

Most parents who care will move heaven and earth to give their kids the best start in life. I take your point that the grammar school system allowed bright kids in poorer areas further choice. That didn't make them the perfect solution to secondary education though. I don't suppose there will ever be one. A system needs to be flexible for it to suit all - and flexible it wasn't.

Comment is about The Eleven-Plus (blog)

Original item by Greg Freeman

A professional sound recording and good subject matter. Haunting sound and words. I have a decades old degree in Environmental Studies and am fortunate to live in a village in the countryside in Weardale. What does Noetic Fret mean...

Comment is about The Thief of Creation (blog)

Original item by Noetic-fret!

Enjoyed this one, Greg and can recognize much of what's going on it. I don't want to get too bogged down in the politics of it, other than to say that many of those who condemn grammar schools seem to have no qualms in buying there way into the best catchment areas. Having worked in a dodgy comp for decades I'm also glad that,as the son of immigrants who had no formal education after the age of 13, my (grammar) school gave me the chance of a decent education which I might not have had these days.

Comment is about The Eleven-Plus (blog)

Original item by Greg Freeman