JC - - you encouraged me to find your poem...ta
ever so for the chuckle.
For my part, I am intrigued by the sheer number of SCOTS managing English clubs.
"Sir Alex Ferguson - yet ANOTHER Scot
In England. but in Scotland - NOT!
:-)
Up the Gunners!
Comment is about 'Made from grit and granite': Tony Walsh's stirring poetic tribute to Sir Alex Ferguson (article)
Original item by Greg Freeman
A lovely review Greg - by yourself and Judy, who it was a pleasure to meet.
I do think the quality of the readings was quite remarkable, especially given the fact that some had only recently taken up the challenge to write poetry.
How rewarding it must be for Julian to see all that happen and know that he was the impetus.
Comment is about Write Out Loud's poetry jam: an eye-opener for a reviewer (article)
Original item by Greg Freeman
Thank you Frances, for this introduction, I will track down a volume of his collected poems, I heard The Coming the other day, I thought "crossed boughs" a little clumsy but the poem was luminous, wise. In full below.
Dom.
The Coming, RS Thomas
And God held in his hand
A small globe. Look, he said.
The son looked. Far off,
As through water, he saw
A scorched land of fierce
Colour. The light burned
There; crusted buildings
Cast their shadows: a bright
Serpent, a river
Uncoiled itself, radiant
With slime.
On a bare
Hill a bare tree saddened
The Sky. Many people
Held out their thin arms
To it, as though waiting
For a vanished April
To return to its crossed
Boughs. The son watched
Them. Let me go there, he said.
Comment is about Poems to Elsi: RS Thomas, Seren (article)
Original item by Greg Freeman
Love it. It puts me in mind of the undertow that's the drag of modern life. On the surface all is well, neatly packaged, swell. But beneath there is the damage, to us all, it's just that some pull the quick release.
Comment is about Cuckoo (blog)
Original item by John Darwin
<Deleted User> (8795)
Fri 18th Oct 2013 20:17
Well said - I too have used it, eg. when nearly being killed by a manic motorist, or having been extreeeemely annoyed. Its use doesn't offend me, unless by children. Overuse of ANY word lessens its impact.
Comment is about Wtf? (blog)
Original item by John Coopey
<Deleted User> (9882)
Fri 18th Oct 2013 13:51
awww nice albeit sad poem Steve.What gets me,although I am all too ready to sympathise with the farmers I still cant understand why (A)inoculations are available and their use not taken up more. And (B)Surely to erdicate this problem once and for all,they need to kill ALL the badgers in this country otherwise the disease would come back again and again..?
all the best matey.x
Comment is about Badgers! (blog)
Original item by Steve Higgins
what's the latest with this, guys. I know Gemma is sadly no longer involved with this. Has somebody else took over? if not, shouldn't the events be cancelled off at least for the moment?
Review is about Write Out Loud - Middleton on 27 Oct 2013 (event)
Cynthia hi, I had forgotten your post re'Blackened berries' from yesterday. The edit was minimal, but more was envisaged-but the un-used edits where forgotten. I have an increasing problem with memory- I hope this is due only to medication. I know this will sound pretentious- I was intrigued by the individuals Rumi and Shams both Persian poets ('amongst' other things)referenced in work by Philip Glass in 'Monsters of Grace'. I'm now getting 'off' subject. Thanks for your interest.
Tommy ps the track in reference is: 'Like this'
pps the line that sparked it all off-''When Shams comes back from Tabriz,
he'll put his head around the edge
of the door to surprise us.
Like this.''
ppps I'll now attempt to address the missing edits.
Comment is about Cynthia Buell Thomas (poet profile)
Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas
This is worth another read (of HRMLW), but then again Michelle, I warrant that you would say that etc. Tommy
Comment is about Michelle Madsen (poet profile)
Original item by Michelle Madsen
I searched all the way back to 2009 to find the first post. You've done a lot! I'm glad you have reposted: it must be a personal favorite.
Comment is about Blackened berries (blog)
Original item by Tommy Carroll
How did it go on Monday? Were there m/any responses to the prompt?
Comment is about Stockport WOL Prompt 9/9/13 (blog)
Original item by Stockport WoL
Thanks for the good wishes, everyone!
Comment is about Linda Cosgriff's South Africa poem in human rights anthology (article)
Original item by Greg Freeman
HI Is ta for the comment re 'Blackened berries'. :)
Comment is about Isobel (poet profile)
Original item by Isobel
cheers CBT for you comment re 'Blackened berries' :)
Comment is about Cynthia Buell Thomas (poet profile)
Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas
HI my five-fingered-friend- happy shake hands to you re 'Blackened Berries.:)
Comment is about Starfish (poet profile)
Original item by Starfish
Hi Jane- ta for your comment re 'Liverpool Tate'. I think you hit it on the head- nail that is. :)
Comment is about jane wilcock (poet profile)
Original item by jane wilcock
Ged- If your in Kensington/Old Swan-i'll buy you a pint for your to-the-point critique on 'Blackened Berries' Tommy:)
Comment is about Ged Thompson (poet profile)
Original item by Ged Thompson
Hi Laura- I think middle-eastern- and get carried away myself (re Blackened Berries)I appreciate the emotional effort you have invested here. :)
Comment is about Laura Taylor (poet profile)
Original item by Laura Taylor
Hi Ian, a big thanks for comments on'Blackened berries'. :)
Comment is about Ian Whiteley (poet profile)
Original item by Ian Whiteley
Thu 17th Oct 2013 23:24
Thank you for this comment, Charles, and best wishes with your own stirring work.
Comment is about Anne Maney (poet profile)
Original item by Anne Maney
John - re: Full Contact - my face and body would tell you that you are absolutely correct :-)
Comment is about John Coopey (poet profile)
Original item by John Coopey
John - my face and body would tell you that you are absolutely correct :-)
Pat & Stef - This Sporting Life was filmed at the rugby league club I support - Wakefield Trinity - quite a few of the players 'starred' in it along with him out of harry potter :-) it's great to see the old ground in the film - we're still there and I don't think it's had a lick of paint since :-) the picture accompanying this poem is of the memorable 'watersplash final' at Wembley in 1968 - just after the film was made - unfortunately we lost due to a missed kick right in front of the posts (always shown on grandstand - grrrrr) that's when Wakefield were a side to be reckoned with :-)
Comment is about Full Contact (blog)
Original item by Ian Whiteley
Unlike football, there's nowhere to hide on a rugby pitch, is there, Ian?
Comment is about Full Contact (blog)
Original item by Ian Whiteley
<Deleted User> (6895)
Thu 17th Oct 2013 22:33
great stuff.Ian,you have seen a film
called 'This sporting Life?
if not,do get to see it.Top notch!xx
Comment is about Full Contact (blog)
Original item by Ian Whiteley
The hand in the bucket of water, I'm afraid, Ian. To be remembered for a generation is perhaps all we can hope for.
Comment is about OPUS (blog)
Original item by Ian Gant
<Deleted User> (6895)
Thu 17th Oct 2013 22:14
flecked with sadness and giving off great imagery.
P&S.xx
Comment is about Between The Hats (blog)
Original item by Paul Sands
I wonder if he'd like mine?
Written after they lost the Champions League Cup Final to Barcelona.
http://www.writeoutloud.net/public/blogentry.php?blogentryid=21041
Comment is about 'Made from grit and granite': Tony Walsh's stirring poetic tribute to Sir Alex Ferguson (article)
Original item by Greg Freeman
Izzy Old Fruity!
Nice to see you again last Sunday, and with Cate too - the stuff of which dreams are made! (Well, my dreams, anyway).
Thankyou for your thoughts on "Wtf?". I agree entirely about flogging to death words at the extreme of our vocabulary.
I suppose the F word has been replaced by the N word in terms of offensiveness. Perhaps that's because the elephant in the room for our grandparents was sex whereas for us it's race.
What's next for our grandkids?
Comment is about Isobel (poet profile)
Original item by Isobel
Hello MC,
Many thanks for your thoughts on "For These", Said The Father. My own thoughts are that, anthropologically speaking, we haven't come so very far. Indeed the dinosaurs didn't get so far in the millions of years they were around; it's expecting a bit much to think we can move on much in a few thousand.
With regard to "Wtf?", despite the tongue-in-cheek ending I really do think the word is worked to death. Isobel's quite right when she asks if we dilute the usage of words at the extremes of our vocabulary, how to you then express extremes?
Comment is about M.C. Newberry (poet profile)
Original item by M.C. Newberry
Mike - this is simply stunning - such a mighty tale of the loss of war and the futility of it - and how it was ever so. You've set a fantastic pace to this piece and the final 3 lines come as almost a redemptive chant or prayer. Really - Really powerful poem mate - well done :-)
Comment is about Gentlemen of the Cotton Towns (blog)
Original item by Noetic-fret!
good one Paul - some nice turns of phrase and well put together. 'umbilical wool' is a great image regarding those gloves tied with string :-)
Comment is about Between The Hats (blog)
Original item by Paul Sands
What a pleasure to be involved with this event. I've been dreaming of it for years. Looking forward to more poetry/music collsborations in the future. Thanks to Julian, Greg and co. for organising and for all the performers who travelled far to turn out for something which was more than the sum of its parts.
Comment is about Shades of the Beats: a poetry-jazz happening in the heart of the Pennines (article)
Original item by Greg Freeman
Thanks for that Dorinda
The only thing we missed was the collage poem
maybe next time.
Like the photo Maggie and you got a mention well done.
The Road
On a road
no signs seen
following the person
marching in front.
We ask him
wait a minute
are we going
the right way?
He turns around
saying to us
who of you
made me leader?
Comment is about Stockport WoL (group profile)
Original item by Stockport WoL
Extraordinary how the best laid plans and the
rigorous training can be ruined by something
so mundane as a "jammed" weapon. Having read
accounts of this mission, I'm amazed that an
automatic weapon had no immediate heavy calibre
(.45 ??)revolver back-up...as the latter was
rarely prone to failure. Even Colonel Colt's
famous old Peacemaker was made with tolerances
allowing it to fall into mud and dust and fire without failing. The grenade that drove foreign matter into Heydrich's body was literally "hit and miss", in retrospect and
his subsequent death from the blood poisoning
that resulted was certainly more chance than design.
The ghastly Nazi revenge at Lidice was "par for
the course" as far as reprisals for killing
their personnel (let alone such a prominent
hate figure) was concerned. They did this sort
of thing all over the place in occupied
territories.
Comment is about The Hangman of Prague (blog)
Original item by Dean Carroll
Lines that could only have been written by someone
whose heart had also known the dreadful arena of
conflict. In peace, it is easy to put aside
the reality of war and its cost...but we should
never ever forget the debt we owe.
We speak that we might be heard
We listen that we might learn.
For truth is like the flight of a bird
When all that we value we see burn.
Comment is about Gentlemen of the Cotton Towns (blog)
Original item by Noetic-fret!
It's funny how attitudes vary towards that word from culture to culture - and geographical region even.
I always found it much more highly used down South and more frowned upon up North. The Irish use it like anyone else would say damn.
It does seem to be embedding itself into our vernacular in subtle ways.
Children now say 'What the...' not really realising the implications of what they are saying.
I tend to like using it for real effect - if I'm exceedingly, exceedingly angry - if it becomes too everyday - what do you use for effect?
Comment is about Wtf? (blog)
Original item by John Coopey
Sporting poems are rare so any additions to the
genre are to be encouraged. Not the easiest
to write and well done to the author getting it
to the man himself!
Comment is about 'Made from grit and granite': Tony Walsh's stirring poetic tribute to Sir Alex Ferguson (article)
Original item by Greg Freeman
Hello there - and thank you for commenting on the
posts about mental health - result of Tom Doolan's
poem "1 in 4".
The subject is always emotive - from various
points of view - especially as the suffering
takes many forms and claims many victims. Talking
- or in this medium: posting - can be very therapeutic. The exchange of information and
support is always a positive thing.
Keep writing!
Comment is about Dean Carroll (poet profile)
Original item by Dean Carroll
lovely, tom. the use of the first line is quite clever and builds really nicely. well done
Comment is about Fall Into Autumn (blog)
Original item by Tom Doolan
blimely. excellent stuff, dave. keep encouraging him.
Comment is about The Autumn Season (blog)
Original item by Dave Bradley
<Deleted User> (5011)
Thu 17th Oct 2013 10:50
Jude, thank you for a wonderfully written review which captures the spirit of our annual feast of poetry that the Poetry Jam has become.
Such quality indeed. A mighty thanks to all involved, including all the poets who really stepped up, those who came to listen so attentively; and I particularly want to thank Greg and Drew for the hard work they put in behind the scenes (offers of gofering help for next year welcomed).
Viva la poesia!
Comment is about Write Out Loud's poetry jam: an eye-opener for a reviewer (article)
Original item by Greg Freeman
<Deleted User> (9882)
Thu 17th Oct 2013 10:46
interesting n rather moving 8 d same tym!!
Comment is about Between The Hats (blog)
Original item by Paul Sands
I really enjoyed reading this, and it sends out a message of sadness and need. I particularly liked the lines 1-3, and the fact that there is no punctuation.
Comment is about Between The Hats (blog)
Original item by Paul Sands
Extremely politically incorrect. Of course, political correctness is a transient function of the times we live in. In the Iron Age where this is set it would have been at the cutting edge of pc.
Comment is about "For These" said the father "Are The Things A Boy Should Know" (blog)
Original item by John Coopey
I'd be rather disappointed if anyone didn't see that coming.
Comment is about Wtf? (blog)
Original item by John Coopey
Haha Ian - said it before, will say it again - separated at birth me and thee! ;D
Oh god, though! How awful for you! To have it knocked down :( Did you just stand there for a while, staring at the space, thinking 'It was here! Where is it?' :( I'd be well gutted. My old school got knocked down and a private housing estate got thrown up on the site. That kinda makes me sad cos I'd have loved the chance to burn the fucking place down myself ;)
Harry - I know you're being flippant, but you're right. Even the smell has changed in there. I'm going back today, and I will try to keep the contempt out of my face this time. The carpet though...that breaks my heart!
Comment is about The Demise of the Library (or, Xanadu Deceased) (blog)
Original item by Laura Taylor
John Coopey
Sun 20th Oct 2013 00:24
Very powerful, Simon.
Someone said that all it takes for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.
How very close we came to that recently - and indeed may still yet.
Comment is about Forever Let This Place Here Be (blog)
Original item by Simon Austin