Glad you enjoyed Living Doll, Ged. We really need more culture like this.

Comment is about Ged Thompson (poet profile)

Original item by Ged Thompson

Don't you believe it, Ian. That Flash lady would have had it!

Comment is about Domestosterone (blog)

Original item by Ian Whiteley

They say that in Paris being a waiter is almost considered a profession; that we undervalue the role in this country.
Likewise when we went to Prague the standard of mendicating was altogether superior to ours.

Comment is about BEGGAR ME! (blog)

Original item by M.C. Newberry

I've been accused of plagiarism before (their words, not mine!)
http://www.writeoutloud.net/public/blogentry.php?blogentryid=33314

Comment is about The Write Out Loud interview: Ira Lightman (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

What is a 'working class writer'? Presumably, a strident emotionalist who knows nothing. Which is classist in itself, not to mention wrong - low income New York Jews in the 30s had academic standards to rival the Harvard Club.

Thought: why is the spoken poetry scene so intimately associated with left wing politics?

Comment is about Pussy Riot protest anthology a winner at indie lit awards (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

If poetry comes not as naturally as the leaves to a tree, it had better not come at all.

Comment is about Carol Ann Duffy's poem to mark 60th anniversary of coronation (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Save The Household Germ!

Comment is about Domestosterone (blog)

Original item by Ian Whiteley

re 52 'ertz and a'that an a'that
ta fert'thupdate Isobel.xx

Comment is about Isobel (poet profile)

Original item by Isobel

My tribute to hillwalkers everywhere!

Comment is about (Not) Up a Height (blog)

Original item by Marksy

Hello Isobel

You are so right... amended straightway... damn it all youare correct in your assumption regarding the bedspread...

what a girl you are!!!!

Hope to see you soon

Loveya ta bits
Gus xx

Comment is about We Are Missing You (blog)

Original item by Gus Jonsson

Hi Gus - and we've missed you too!

I like this one - lovely internal rhyme and good use of end rhyme without being a slave to it - you feel the void good and proper. Would the fleur of Scotland be on a bedspread or a bedstead by any chance? ;)

I think you could make your penultimate line smoother by getting rid of 'all but' avoiding the repetition of all.

Sorry to be picky but I know you'll forgive me xx

Comment is about We Are Missing You (blog)

Original item by Gus Jonsson

Ageing summed up beautifully for those of us who wish to avoid it.

Comment is about I Wish I Had A Harley (blog)

Original item by Ian Whiteley

One for Toilet Duck, perhaps. Maybe it can find that germ.

Comment is about Domestosterone (blog)

Original item by Ian Whiteley

Yes, the Art Gallery. Same time, 7 pm. I will have to confirm it with the Art Gallery, though.

Comment is about Heaton Arts Trail News (blog)

Original item by Stockport WoL

Ingenious. Will think of this when next using the humble bleach bottle.

Comment is about Domestosterone (blog)

Original item by Ian Whiteley

Thats good, thank you John, will it be at the Art Gallery as usual? Now I shall have to think of a poem to write. Maggie

Comment is about Heaton Arts Trail News (blog)

Original item by Stockport WoL

OK, I am going to get the Gig Guide altered and the monthly meeting will be rescheduled to the 17th of June.

Comment is about Heaton Arts Trail News (blog)

Original item by Stockport WoL

Super

love cycling great opportunity

Comment is about On your bike: cycling poems wanted for Yorkshire anthology (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

:) I would never wish to be called a politicians Isobel - it is nigh on impossible to separate the good from the sleazy. Pity we don't have someone of Mandela's stature to show our lot a bit about principles...

It does seem like the LD's have been dragged down to tory levels and allow grossly unfair measures to be pushed through. Elections can't come soon enough, but whoever gets in is still going to have to tackle the power of multinationals ripping us ll off in regard to taxes.

Comment is about In Search Of Honest Politicians (blog)

Original item by Dave Dunn

Repaired now. Thanks, Julie!

Comment is about On your bike: cycling poems wanted for Yorkshire anthology (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

That held my attention. I wanted to complete it. A nice little slice of life.

Comment is about terry ireland (poet profile)

Original item by terry ireland

link broken (not a pun)

Comment is about On your bike: cycling poems wanted for Yorkshire anthology (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Moving On

Time stops
Dreams begin
Magical love
Fluttering leaves
New start
Time then
Moves on.

Comment is about The Oak Tree IV (blog)

Original item by Katy Megan

Thanks very much to Tony for his interview replies that cover a lot of ground. I was interested in his comment that "poetry operates in a series of very different worlds from which there are only limited points of crossover". I think that's true. He goes on to say that although "we should stop trying to reconcile the irreconcilable ... the different sides of the art form have lots of learn from each other". His message, as I see it, is that performance poetry may often be better at communicating than page poetry, and certainly should not feel inferior to it.

Comment is about The Write Out Loud interview: Tony Walsh (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Maybe you should run for office Dave? I often think the same thing myself. We need strong politicians with common sense, insight and a bit of compassion as well as a raft of policies they haven't thought through properly...

Comment is about In Search Of Honest Politicians (blog)

Original item by Dave Dunn

Good on ya for getting it all out in the open Lynn - and what strong coffee!

Personally, I'm not against ill health benefits being reviewable because some people do get better - it's all about how the system is managed - and the ATOS crowd seem to be very callous.

Someone within my family received not a penny to live on throughout the long period of their illness due to the loopholes they found in the claimant eligibility rules. They are still now inviting him along to an interview though - to fight for his right to a benefit he isn't and hasn't ever received...

Comment is about Wake up Britain and smell the coffee! (blog)

Original item by Lynn Dye

Zeitgeist Heist is genius. How the hell did you manage to get THAT volcano name into a poem? And a Raoul Moat reference too. As someone who grew up in the very street he did his killing, can relate to that and so much in that poem.

Comment is about Charlie Sparkinson (poet profile)

Original item by Charlie Sparkinson

Glad you enjoyed, "Your First Hut Is The Cheapest", Simon. Sheds seem to be a rich vein for me (I think it's an age thing) although this was the first one on which I've inflicted one of my many parodies.

Comment is about Marksy (poet profile)

Original item by Marksy

hi Richard, cheers for joining Performance! open mic night at the cadence cafe, see u at the festival!

Comment is about Richard Alfred (poet profile)

Original item by Richard Alfred

awesome!and 'thensome!'xx

Comment is about The Oak Tree IV (blog)

Original item by Katy Megan

Spot on Lynn. I keep wondering when the ATOS crowd will demand I attend some tick box interview. I will happily go if they send an ambulance, lol. Last time they asked me to attend was a date when I was having spinal surgery, so they accepted that as a viable reason to miss them. I did stress to them that their directions for me to walk a mile and a half to a bus stop, travel for an hour with one change and then walk another mile to their office was a bit unreasonable for someone normally bed ridden - they don't have a clue!

Comment is about Wake up Britain and smell the coffee! (blog)

Original item by Lynn Dye

Hello Lynn - many thanks for your comments on "In Search Of Honest Politicians" - as Ged remarked, we can live in hope, but best not to hold our breath ... ;) Best wishes, Dave

Comment is about Lynn Dye (poet profile)

Original item by Lynn Dye

Thanks for commenting on "In Search Of Honest Politicians" Ged - it is hard to use those two words in a single sentence isn't it? I've yet to visit Hope (Derbyshire), but bet it is crowded... ;) Best wishes, Dave

Comment is about Ged Thompson (poet profile)

Original item by Ged Thompson

Thanks for commenting Lynn - hard to see an end to corruption unless we monitor everything politicians do...

Comment is about In Search Of Honest Politicians (blog)

Original item by Dave Dunn

Very funny, John, gave me a chuckle.

Comment is about Living Doll - With Hair What Grows (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

Well written, Dave, and yes, it is all too true, unfortunately.

Comment is about In Search Of Honest Politicians (blog)

Original item by Dave Dunn

Thanks Ged - it is hard to use those two words in a single sentence isn't it? I've yet to visit Hope (Derbyshire), but bet it is crowded... ;) Best wishes, Dave

Comment is about In Search Of Honest Politicians (blog)

Original item by Dave Dunn

Thanks Isobel - yeah, I'm not having a great spell so far this year, I have pain management issues from old spinal injuries that flared up. Nothing to do but drift through the chemical fog until they subside so I have some clarity of thought. But glad to be back and have something to post again. :) Best wishes, Dave

Comment is about Dave Dunn (poet profile)

Original item by Dave Dunn

Like Maggie, I wasn't able to come along on 10 June, so Monday 17 June would be great for me!
I'll wait to hear if it's going to be that date; thanks.

Comment is about Heaton Arts Trail News (blog)

Original item by Stockport WoL

Hello Dave - thanks for the comment on my Lonely Whale - where've you been? It's good to see you back on the site! x

Comment is about Dave Dunn (poet profile)

Original item by Dave Dunn

A great topic for a poem Dave - I find the different way people interact fascinating.

I always thought that whether you were introvert or extrovert depended on self confidence - but have to come to realise that it's not the same thing - though it's hard to be a party animal when you lack confidence, it is possible to be confident in yourself but awkward socially - if that makes sense.

It just goes to show what complicated animals we are.

I like the contradictions that run through this - the fear of extroverts being tied up with being pleased for them.

All in all, very well expressed.

Comment is about The Introvert (blog)

Original item by Dave Bradley

My dad was a wagon builder in Preston during the war Harry. There was bomb damage to the roof of the factory where they worked, which no-one could spare man time to fix - so the men worked in the freezing cold. And yet his aunt would get flak from one particular neighbour because her son had been drafted whilst my dad was in a protected industry. You just can't imagine what kind of turmoil people lived in - or what it must have done to their minds.

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

Original item by Harry O`N eill

As always very good (-:

Love your stuff mate

The lines Isobel picked out, thats the one that stood out for me too.

Well done

Comment is about 52 Hertz (blog)

Original item by Dave Bradley

I like it John, I was going to buy one myself however the price of them now is far too high for me. Well thats inflation for you (-:

Comment is about Living Doll - With Hair What Grows (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

Very true my friend, I fear the term 'honest politician' may be a contradiction of terms. But we can wait in hope

Ged

Comment is about In Search Of Honest Politicians (blog)

Original item by Dave Dunn

'Twas me, Maggie. Maybe we should change it to the 17th, then?

Comment is about Heaton Arts Trail News (blog)

Original item by Stockport WoL

Isobel,
Thanks for the comment on the war one (I messed up posting it) I wish I could have done justice to that episode about us all dragging the fuel wood past the grounded barges in procession along the frozen sliver of the breached canal - It truly was like a scene from Doctor Shivago` (The wood was case-wood from the bombed factory where-eventually - I would work.

Comment is about Isobel (poet profile)

Original item by Isobel

John
Thanks for the comment on the war one.

You`re right about the medal, that custard was well worse than the bombs.

That young blond, who sat languidly licking stamps and eying all of us contemptuously, was my very first impossible Godess.

Comment is about John Coopey (poet profile)

Original item by John Coopey

Ian,
Apart from one, every time I`ve tried a sonnet I`ve found myself copying Shakespeare (as if I could!).

Unless I feel the poem going that way, I leave them alone. For me they are a straight-jacket.

Comment is about A Step Towards Summer (blog)

Original item by Ian Whiteley

Like the music

Comment is about The Sparkle (blog)

Original item by Ian Whiteley