What happened here then?

Comment is about Head of Steam Station Bar (blog)

Original item by Graham Ramsden

oh.................
flip!

Comment is about Wtf? (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

Laura
seriously good stuff this - funny, because I've been having musings about the EXACT same topic - only recently went back to a little library I was a member of from age 4 to 13 - AND THE BASTARDS HAD KNOCKED IT DOWN! so I didn't have the chance to re-tread the steps as you did - so I couldn't write about the nostalgia - because there was just a pile of fucking RUBBLE!
anyway - this is one of the best things I've read of yours - there's a really great rhythm to it - it rolls along and the reader feels like they're taking those steps with you. You capture the ambience and the trepidation expertly - and then the frustrations of adulthood - all of this while leading the reader on - hand in hand - saying 'look at this' and 'isn't this interesting?'
I really love it!
did I say I liked it?
Yay

Ian

Comment is about The Demise of the Library (or, Xanadu Deceased) (blog)

Original item by Laura Taylor

class act again Tommy - there's a real heart beating behind that hard bastard exterior - and if you're not careful folk will cotton on :-) really enjoyed this - as always a simple form but with so, so much power in every word and phrase - no excess fat on these bones mate - just raw emotion - brilliant!

Comment is about Blackened berries (blog)

Original item by Tommy Carroll

great stuff Steve - very simple and understated but very powerful - good 'un

Comment is about Lampedusa (blog)

Original item by steve pottinger

thanks for your kind comments regarding the cuckoo waltz poem MC - sorry i'm a bit late in responding - I'm getting a bit behind due to other commitments at the moment - so in catch up mode with the thank you's - anyway, very kind of you - cheers
Ian

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

Original item by M.C. Newberry

thanks for the supportive comments re 'the cuckoo waltz' Dave - my favourite comedians of all time - just ahead of Morecambe & Wise :-)
Ian

Comment is about Dave Bradley (poet profile)

Original item by Dave Bradley

thanks for your kind comments regarding the cuckoo waltz poem Steve - totally agree with you about the Chaplin/L&H comparison - sorry i'm a bit late in responding - I'm getting a bit behind due to other commitments at the moment - so in catch up mode with the thank you's - anyway, very kind of you - cheers
Ian

Comment is about Steve Higgins (poet profile)

Original item by Steve Higgins

thanks for your kind comments regarding the winterfylleth & graffiti poems John - sorry i'm a bit late in responding - I'm getting a bit behind due to other commitments at the moment - so in catch up mode with the thank you's - anyway, very kind of you - cheers
Ian

Comment is about John Coopey (poet profile)

Original item by John Coopey

thanks for your kind comments regarding the winterfylleth poem Andy - sorry i'm a bit late in responding - I'm getting a bit behind due to other commitments at the moment - so in catch up mode with the thank you's - anyway, very kind of you - cheers
Ian

Comment is about Andy N (poet profile)

Original item by Andy N

thanks for your kind comments regarding the winterfylleth poem Laura - sorry i'm a bit late in responding - I'm getting a bit behind due to other commitments at the moment - so in catch up mode with the thank you's - anyway, very kind of you - cheers
Ian

Comment is about Laura Taylor (poet profile)

Original item by Laura Taylor

thanks for your kind comments regarding the winterfylleth poem Starfish - sorry i'm a bit late in responding - I'm getting a bit behind due to other commitments at the moment - so in catch up mode with the thank you's - anyway, very kind of you - cheers
Ian

Comment is about Starfish (poet profile)

Original item by Starfish

thanks for your kind comments regarding the winterfylleth poem David - sorry i'm a bit late in responding - I'm getting a bit behind due to other commitments at the moment - so in catch up mode with the thank you's - anyway, very kind of you - cheers
Ian

Comment is about David Blake (poet profile)

Original item by David Blake

thanks for your kind comments regarding the winterfyllth poem Harry - sorry i'm a bit late in responding - I'm getting a bit behind due to other commitments at the moment - so in catch up mode with the thank you's - anyway, very kind of you - cheers
Ian

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

Original item by Harry O`N eill

thanks for your kind comments regarding the JCC poem - sorry i'm a bit late in responding - I'm getting a bit behind due to other commitments at the moment - so in catch up mode with the thank you's - anyway, very kind of you - cheers
Ian

Comment is about Dave Bradley (poet profile)

Original item by Dave Bradley

this is a 'Johnny Wilkinson' of a poem Ian.One not to be 'passed' by.If you need any needle and cotton to sew your sides up due to the quality of my humour,let me know!(good one matey)x

Comment is about Full Contact (blog)

Original item by Ian Whiteley

very,very nice.I think scarecrows are always a great subject for poems.Thanks Tom.x

Comment is about Fall Into Autumn (blog)

Original item by Tom Doolan

I think that the trepidation that many feel
contemplating mental illness in others is affected by the manner is can suddenly
manifest itself - or just as worrying -
disguise itself.
Isobel - your observation about the rarity of
incidents I mentioned has not been helped
by a number of attacks "out of the blue" on
innocent persons - one, a young girl stabbed
without warning on a bus; another young girl
stabbed in a park, and a third person pushed to their death under a tube train...with mental
illness being cited in the assailants. This is not very reassuring for "Joe Public" and
only exacerbates the unease that can be felt
when the term "mental illness" is mentioned.
It is the unpredictable nature of it that can
feel most threatening. Of course, those who
suffer have their side of the story to tell but
it should be accepted that there are victims
OTHER than those who suffer the disease in whatever form.
Lastly, a personal recollection.
I was once walking down a local street after
leaving the gym in my tracksuit when I was
struck on the head without warning from behind.
I turned to see a woman (unknown to me) walking
away - holding a carrier bag that she had
used to hit me. That bag COULD have contained
a brick or worse and I might have been left
lying at death's door. This is what I mean by
the sudden and worrying unpredictability of
mental illness in the public arena. Should I
blame the woman? the system that she may nor
may not have been subjected to? her freedom to
move around and assault without reason a total stranger?
Simple - it is not! But we need, as a society
to be aware of what's out there.

Comment is about 1 in 4 (blog)

Original item by Tom Doolan

Thank you for the comments and thank you to all who turned up to both events. Greatly appreciated after a small team of us worked so very hard to put it on. I agree about the noise, David, and will have a think about that. I dislike having to ask people to be quiet which they did at first, then it came back up, though got better in the second half.

We decided to pitch to do this quite late in the day, so it was a minor miracle that Barney, the festival artistic director, agreed to put it on, it being a bit of an experiment really. I think we have learned a lot from doing this.

There were some last-minute hitches too, which seem not have been noticed - I hope - by the pleasingly big, enthusiastic crowd.

Thank you to our fantastic performers: Ralph Dartford, Dave Cooke, The Green Door Ensemble (Dave Morgan, Kevin Bates, James Hartnell), Anjum Malik, Lavinia Murray and London's Jazzman John Clarke.

I want to single out the musicians, Edward Henderson on piano and Louis Archer on tenor sax, who did an incredible job of improv behind some of the poems. They are at the Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music at Greenwich University and we shall be putting more up about them and this once we have reviewed and edited the video footage.

I really want to go on record here and thank Greg Freeman for his heroic support over the weekend, above and beyond the WOL of duty. it just would not have happened without you. Thank you.

The weekend at Marsden has a brilliant atmosphere with music in every pub and club and cafe. Do get yourselves booked in for next year.

Comment is about Shades of the Beats: a poetry-jazz happening in the heart of the Pennines (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

LOL - then I shall post again, just to take it to a very lucky 15!

I think mental illness manifests itself in many different ways - from the 'blues' that wouldn't be that noticeable the average person, right through to the depths of psychosis - which would. I suppose we all have our own experience of that reality which will colour our own views on the subject.

I hear what you are saying about an uncaring society though Mike - and the lack of understanding for the kind of trauma any returning soldier might feel.

From my understanding of it, sedative medication is a starting point, to give the brain time to heal - then in mild doses a defence system against the stresses of day to day life which might otherwise cause re-occurrence

It would be great if they could invent a proper cure that just magic-ed everything away - perhaps one day they will.

A better society in which people didn't have to struggle to survive might also help. I don't think it would ever be possible to remove negative experiences though - they are part and parcel of life.

It's good that we've all been able to talk about this though. More openness is so important to the mental health issue.

Comment is about 1 in 4 (blog)

Original item by Tom Doolan

Fantastic mix of poetry and jazz. Great to see something so different at the festival. It was a shame that the layout of the pub and the chatterers at the back made it difficult to hear some of the words.

Comment is about Shades of the Beats: a poetry-jazz happening in the heart of the Pennines (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Really was a fantastic session with such a great family friendly atmosphere. Thanks for the review, Judy and Greg.

Comment is about Write Out Loud's poetry jam: an eye-opener for a reviewer (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Thanks Ann

Comment is about Paul Hawkins (poet profile)

Original item by Paul Hawkins

hello mate , welcome to the site ,
and thanks for your comment ,
ive not been into slayer for long really but have been a fan of necro for a while and he is influenced by them .
plus ill bill has done a song dedicated to slayer where he says their album names in order and i liked the flow
i liked the idea of all their song tittles in order making a long dark poem
anyway mate enjoy the site !

Comment is about Dean Carroll (poet profile)

Original item by Dean Carroll

......laughter can help but, only recently Tesco had to withdraw it's stock of Halloween costumes that depicted, 'a mental patient.' It still seems the norm that those who are mentally unwell are ridiculed. As for the cessation of medication by a sufferer, I cannot blame them. If big pharma had there way, we would all be on medication for something or other. Not only that, but some medications are more harmful than that which we are supposed to be relieving. I still say, as most would, that prevention is better than cure. At the moment, we go about treating the symptoms, often only sedating a patient, without getting to the root cause of the conditions. My suggestion is, if we got to the root cause, we would have to change society for, we live here in the UK with a history of child abuse, social problems emanating from poverty, let alone those who are exposed to trauma in service for our country, service in faith that goes overlooked once they come down with varying degrees of mental ill health.

The way we treat people who have these conditions is appalling yet, it is better than some countries who still practice archaic forms of incarceration for sufferers. I have said it before and I will say it again; Mental Ill Health is like a scab we place a plaster over, but not to treat the wound, but for fear of contaminating ourselves.

One of the main reasons Mental Ill Health is not out there in regular discussion by the medical practice and politician alike, is because it is not a vote winner. Once the powers on high, recognize just how prolific, just how demeaning too, these conditions are, they may well go some way into changing the way society conducts itself, starting perhaps with something so simple, such as the cessation of hitting children. If they could responsibly acknowledge this fundamental parameter of experience many sufferers go through, they may well conceive a more caring society in the future. The Swedish Model's statistics speak a lot about this issue, and it is perhaps something we could learn from. Alas, 'we' still won't acknowledge what we do to our young, yet alone what we do to each other as adults.

Just my two penneth, and for the record, I posted this to get past 13 comments. 13 might be an unlucky number! I have humor as a sufferer too, but in all seriousness, know that we have to change the way society conducts itself, for the sake of our future generations.

Best wishes, mike.

Comment is about 1 in 4 (blog)

Original item by Tom Doolan

Sensitive and quite touching. Thank you.

Comment is about Blackened berries (blog)

Original item by Tommy Carroll

Thanks Isobel. It's the nearest I've got to writing something and hearing my voice and rhythm...if that makes sense..

Comment is about It Has To Start Somewhere.... (blog)

Original item by Jim Pitt

Yes - I realised the 'contentment' word was wrong as soon as I'd posted it. I don't think many poets are contented - we all think too much for that.

The closest we can get to contentment is perhaps the lack of abject misery :) I've been there a couple of times in my life - enough to value this lack of contentment phase perhaps :)

Intrepid - moi? I like the idea...

Comment is about stephen smith (poet profile)

Original item by stephen smith

I think the cases where people do horrendous things are rare and often exaggerated. Skipping medication is far more likely to harm people themselves, by making them ill again, when it can be avoided.

We are lucky to live in modern times when the excesses of illness can be relieved by medication - and that medication need not be a forever thing. Over time and in the right circumstances, everything can be adjusted.

I sometimes wonder if they'll one day cure mental illness, like they hope to cure alzheimers. After all, it's a chemical imbalance - they just need to understand the balance better.

Comment is about 1 in 4 (blog)

Original item by Tom Doolan

Isobel is spot on about the need to "keep taking
the tablets" and not to abuse drugs. The great
advances made by the commitment of the medical
profession should never be treated with casual
disregard. Too often, there are reports of those who have failed to take their prescribed
medication and committing horrendous acts - some
resulting in the death of innocent souls.

Comment is about 1 in 4 (blog)

Original item by Tom Doolan

Thanks for your comment Isobel, I am not often content -always troubled by.."and no-one will remember/just what made you", to quote you.I am basically optimistic until I start to think...oops!Anyway,not as intrepid as yourself.

Comment is about Isobel (poet profile)

Original item by Isobel

I'd agree there Tom - laughter is the best medicine out there. It's only topped by one - and that's love. That probably sounds very corny but it's true - and that's why I said what I said about support networks. When people are ill, they can be changed, and it takes very deep love to see beyond those changes, to never give up and to will them through it.

There will always be problems within society - pressure points and reasons for people to crack - we just have to hope that we can foster an environment where our own fallibility becomes accepted and understood.

Comment is about 1 in 4 (blog)

Original item by Tom Doolan

I have worked in mental health as a support worker for a number of years. Although my own mental health is stable. I have a family member who is very unwell, as I am sure we all will be touched in some way.

I wanted to write something for 'World Mental Health Day' to highlight, raise awareness and spark debate.

Thanks everyone for all your comments. I certainly seem to have started a big debate. Then again it's good to talk :)

Laughter is good medicine :D

Tom

Comment is about 1 in 4 (blog)

Original item by Tom Doolan

I'm obliged, Isobel. You don't think I was on LSD when I wrote it? It's been suggested ...!

Comment is about Shades of the Beats: a poetry-jazz happening in the heart of the Pennines (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

I've read this poem several times but found it difficult to comment on.

The poetry is lovely - it speaks for itself.

I like the play on the word 'loss' at the end. I think very many people in contented life styles must wrestle with the same riddle. Contentment isn't the same as extreme happiness - which in my opinion, not many people manage to find or hang on to.

I think I'd call that kind of happiness 'the holy grail' - but not in its religious sense.

Comment is about At The Bombed-out Church (blog)

Original item by stephen smith

Just...beautiful. Had me welling up there Tommy.

Comment is about Blackened berries (blog)

Original item by Tommy Carroll

I like this. It's quirky and macabre and that internal rhyme would help it to perform well.

Comment is about It Has To Start Somewhere.... (blog)

Original item by Jim Pitt

Awww bless him! He's a talented young lad Dave - many kids are still getting to grips with 'The cat sat on mat' at that age.

Now - are you going to take some lessons of him? ;)

Comment is about The Autumn Season (blog)

Original item by Dave Bradley

ps Great review Greg!

Comment is about Shades of the Beats: a poetry-jazz happening in the heart of the Pennines (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Two radio 4 play writes, a host of talented poets and musicians - and all for free!

It made me realise how much we miss Moxy on here. I know that I malign surreal poetry now and again - but hers was rather special - and I could often find meaning in it, if I thought hard enough. I do hope she makes a return some time.

What do I feel about the mixture of poetry and jazz? I think it works well when it's been previously rehearsed, as some of these pieces had - otherwise, better with the music in between the verses, so not to distract from the words. That's just my opinion though - being more of a wordsmith than a musician.

Comment is about Shades of the Beats: a poetry-jazz happening in the heart of the Pennines (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Ha!! Copyrighting :D They'd be proper chuffed about that eh?! ;D

Comment is about stephen smith (poet profile)

Original item by stephen smith

Congratulations, Tony, on a moving and wonderful poem - and this is a Chelsea fan saying this!

Comment is about 'Made from grit and granite': Tony Walsh's stirring poetic tribute to Sir Alex Ferguson (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

or...'solo in my sheets tonight?'
great poem!xx

Comment is about Human Wreckage (blog)

Original item by Marksy

Hi Maggie, John and Nigel

A palindrome is "a word or phrase that reads the same backwards as forwards, eg: madam".

William Ross Wallace 1819 - 1881 (Wallace was my Mum's maiden name so maybe I have some sort of illustrious ancestor?!) wrote "The Hand That Rocks The Cradle Rules The World". I've just printed it off as it really is rather beautiful (and John, it rhymes!!!)

Last of all, Maggie, were you thinking of Slim Whitman (Country and Western singer - late 50's), as opposed to Walt Whitman (marvellous poet?) Slim Whitman's name popped into my head yestersday evening when I got home!

Enough! - great meeting last night - and see you next time!

Have a good month.........Dorinda

Comment is about Stockport WoL (group profile)

Original item by Stockport WoL

Hi Maggie, John and Nigel

A palindrome is "a word or phrase that reads the same backwards as forwards, eg: madam".

William Ross Wallace 1819 - 1881 (Wallace was my Mum's maiden name so maybe I have some sort of illustrious ancestor?!) wrote "The Hand That Rocks The Cradle Rules The World". I've just printed it off as it really is rather beautiful (and John, it rhymes!!!)

Last of all, Maggie, were you thinking of Slim Whitman (Country and Western singer - late 50's), as opposed to Walt Whitman (marvellous poet?) Slim Whitman's name popped into my head yestersday evening when I got home!

Enough! - great meeting last night - and see you next time!

Have a good month.........Dorinda

Comment is about Stockport WoL (group profile)

Original item by Stockport WoL

this is a nice piece of work, Dave.Darwinian ruthlessness is in us all.

Comment is about August jam jars (blog)

Original item by Dave Bradley

Thanks for your thoughtful comment Dave.I think you are probing the tender area- I write
some of these poems,it seems, to avoid their meaning.

Comment is about Dave Bradley (poet profile)

Original item by Dave Bradley

I just love this.....not to encourage privatisation but if you were that way inclined "BBC Manipulingo" is worth copyrighting...I shouldn't even be thinking that way!

Comment is about Brand New Lexicon (blog)

Original item by Laura Taylor

Much to like in this Steve. At one level it is about the search for love. But that seems to be subtly interwoven with the search for meaning. The randomness of omens - does that mirror the randomness of German bombs? The poem seems to express a determination to hang on to the possibility of love even if life seems meaningless and everything is subject to decay. It is courageous in facing fundamental anxiety unflinchingly. Saint Lukes is a great place to pick for that kind of exploration

Comment is about At The Bombed-out Church (blog)

Original item by stephen smith

Many thanks for your comments on Mental Health victims. AS a mental health sufferer myself I found this subject therapeutic to write about. Many thanks Dean.

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

Original item by M.C. Newberry