This gig is not on anymore.

Trying to find out if this gig was running, over the years, I have sent 2 emails to the organiser, with no reply.

I was in the venue; Night & Day, on Wednesday, talking to staff who told me that they have no current regular spoken word events booked.

Review is about Chanje Kunda and Cultureword presents Speakfreely on 4 Aug 2013 (event)

HI JULIAN

yes i mean wrapped in the patina.
the other is just a typo.
thanks for your comment!

Comment is about Sunshine Faggio (poet profile)

Original item by Sunshine Faggio

Poetry 24 have just published this effort as today's poem of the day :-)
http://poetry-24.blogspot.co.uk/
feel free to add a comment on there if you like it - or, in fact, if you don't :-)

Comment is about Daniel In The Hyena's Den (blog)

Original item by Ian Whiteley

Thanks guys. Aaron is delighted with your comments and would like me to pass on his 'thank you' to you all.


Francine, yes, you are right, it is the same thing and You are not wrong about the monkey ha ha

Comment is about Monkey on the park (blog)

Original item by Kath Hewitt

Hello Cate,
Glad you enjoyed "Lord Frackin Howell".
On another front I have received from Isobel the prestigious 3rd prize from the 52 Hertz competition. I must say I was a little disappointed with the "inflateable" but have successfully adapted it for purpose.

Comment is about Cate (poet profile)

Original item by Cate

Hello MC,
I very much appreciate your take on the North-South divide vis-a-vis 1066 and William the Frackin Conqueror.

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

Original item by M.C. Newberry

Many frackin thanks for your frackin comments on Lord Frackin Howell, Harry.

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

Original item by Harry O`N eill

Apologies, Greg. I did, of course, mean "Lord Howell".

Comment is about Greg Freeman (poet profile)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Hello John,
Many thanks for your thoughts on "Lord Howell" and, once again, apologies for the stab at the accent.

Comment is about John Embley (poet profile)

Original item by John Embley

Many thanks for your kind thoughts on "The Rhymes They Are A-Changin'". One I wrote for Bob Dylan which he never used.

Comment is about Greg Freeman (poet profile)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Dave,
We used to do this with empty beer-bottles and beer-mats in the square at Paxos in Greece.

I like the way the two lines:

`The range of our senses is limited.
There are sounds we cannot hear.`
(both line-stopped)

Plus the chill of those last two lines

Open it all to interpretation as a moral tale about ourselves in the present day.

It`s as `sweet` as the spoonful of sugar that made the medicine go down.

One of the things good poetry can do.

Comment is about August jam jars (blog)

Original item by Dave Bradley

haha!very humourous Larisa.x best regards.x

Comment is about Today Is Thursday! Hurray! (blog)

Original item by Larisa Rzhepishevska

Oh do stop putting yourself down Mikey!!as to the track? very Doctor Who-ish.Try and get your lugholes around Lisa Gerrard or Raintree Crow-yummy!keep well chuck and thanks for the track.x

Comment is about Make Her Smile Boy (blog)

Original item by Noetic-fret!

Ahhh! I really like the comment on Matchbox, clever!! : )

Comment is about Nigel Astell (poet profile)

Original item by Nigel Astell

Hi Dave

No I haven't but will check it out!

Comment is about Dave Bradley (poet profile)

Original item by Dave Bradley

I don't really know what you deserve. May be more, may be less...but... I am sure that only chess will confess where you were less.

Comment is about Tom (poet profile)

Original item by Tom

oh ill share the answer only with you or you will with me in reverse role. if theres a cost for that answer, would you pay it? would I?maybe that cost would be following me or you... maybe 1 day we'll find out when our times up on this humdrum world lol:)

Comment is about Later (blog)

Original item by NICK ARMBRISTER

re the last two lines-what happens if I pop me slippers before you Nick? Will you tell me when you follow me into heaven? what if I go to hell?

oh,so many questions,so little time.
good poem Nick.x

Comment is about Later (blog)

Original item by NICK ARMBRISTER

You can hear it here.

https://soundcloud.com/mark-mrt-thompson/he-saw-a-hooded-figure-know

Comment is about He saw a hooded figure (blog)

Original item by Mark Mr T Thompson

Originally unusual and enjoyable-cheers David.xx

Comment is about Weather Crossword (blog)

Original item by David Blake

yep!works for us big guy!xx

Comment is about Language (blog)

Original item by Steve Higgins

Cheers for the shout-out :-)

Comment is about Guardian readers nominate debut poetry collection for award (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Enjoyed this Gareth. Very clever

Comment is about Rejection (blog)

Original item by Gareth Glyn Roberts

Well Limericked...(and appreciative!)

Comment is about Rejection (blog)

Original item by Gareth Glyn Roberts

La-La re 'After the leaving' I had not seen the woman in the foto in 20 years- I don't know if she still lives. I have other poems and fotos abt her done at the time.

Comment is about Laura Taylor (poet profile)

Original item by Laura Taylor

thanks for the great review Greg. It was great to have you and Julian over. I really must make it to the Marsden jazz week poetry this year. I must crack on with the Manchester poets. Did you know Gaia Holmes is launching her new book at Dean Clough? its on the 19th Aug. prestigious venue that.

Comment is about Greg Freeman (poet profile)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Thanks Cynthia... I sort of did know, but because I've never used it I forgot when I was posting this. I certainly know what Dylan Thomas meant. When I start something I have to write it out. Every damn stanza. It's not unproductive time though. Most of the material gets used in one piece or another. Plath was into revision. I love to hear old BBC archives of her reciting her 'classics' and lines appear that aren't in the printed versions. It adds to the interest for me.

Comment is about For A Second I Forgot #2 (blog)

Original item by Jonnie Falafel

Hi Miles,

The lines below are the heart of the poem for me. They contain a truism - very well thought!

His ghost, a sad, silent accuser demoted
To an extra in his own story. His name’s a word
For headline writers to play with, his
Violent end a fact for lawyers to wrangle.

..........

Flicker of CCTV, re-broken into bulletin-shards
His final minutes projected onto partial truth,

Excellent image, though subjectively I would have prefered;

" projected a partial truth"

......

An irritant to be clubbed down and lied
About and watched, over and over,
In courtrooms newsrooms chatrooms living rooms,
A man who can’t, who won’t, get home.

The final line captures the essance of all that goes before and emhpasies the cognitive dissonance that we all feel when re-watching (rightly or wrongly) this trauma.

Of course there can be no other ending, and over, and over is how it has played out in all replay. But the tense of "can't", even won't suggests the present tense, suggests that it is in the now as we watch him try to get home. Of course the reality is he "didn't" as in past tense. Had you used the past tense you would not have achieved this terrible groundhog day like effect - so the word selection was very much correct. It also helps to achieve this sense that this man became an extra in his own story - it reinforces the sadness of his fate.

A poem that touches the human aspect, rather than replaying the replays it in one sense rightly critisizes.

One thing I would add given the last point. I personally would change the title and honour the man with his name. The poem is not generic - like the man, despite the media.

Very emotive and very well written.

P.S

Please excuse any typis - virtual keyboard has its issues.

Best of

Chris

Comment is about Kettled (blog)

Thanks Laura, I do hear the critique, and I am struggling with the fact that best lines in the piece are not the conclusion. But I like the idea of there being a possible consequence to the lack of understanding, the Victorians found it in infectious disease, french aristocracy faced it staring at a basket, who knows where this lot will find it, but I sincerely hope they do.

As to the rest I was not at all upset. What we had was a deeply empassioned debate, where both parties brought hearts, ideas and ears to the exchange. I wrote a provocative piece and you were provoked to respond. I thought we had a healthy exchange in which we both ended up understanding each others views. I only ever seek appology where I think people have been insensitive or intended to offend. You did neither and I welcome your input and I am very flattered and little embarrassed by your kind words. What you have outlined is what I hope to do, I am delighted that you can see and appreciate my efforts.

Best wishes,

Mark

Comment is about If you don't understand us (blog)

Original item by Mark Mr T Thompson

Neat - and a relevant observation on the more
immediate (and more acceptable) means of contact that makes rejection more bearable.

Comment is about Rejection (blog)

Original item by Gareth Glyn Roberts

Another good 'un from the mirth meister!
If their problems are all Greek to you
And you want to see their backs,
Here is what you need do -
Just smile and mention "tax"!

Comment is about Lending (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

Beautiful. A haunting image in words about 'parting in great sorrow', whatever the reason might be. Poets past and present must be smiling over a fellow spirit.

Comment is about After the leaving (blog)

Original item by Tommy Carroll

Did you realize there is a 'forum' on Discussions that deals expressly with poems where the author wants critical reconstruction. It draws some fine comments and suggestions to the original.

I'll try to get back to this tomorrow. Maybe it was Dylan Thomas who said he was so addicted to reworking he had to 'stop himself' or nothing would ever be published. Some poets apparently even rework poems between publishing events.

Comment is about For A Second I Forgot #2 (blog)

Original item by Jonnie Falafel

Cathy, I am in awe. This is brilliant, with a reverberative snap that nearly breaks the reader's neck. It is personal honesty and writing skill seldom available to be 'enjoyed'.

Comment is about Inter urinas et faeces nascimur (blog)

Original item by CathyLCrabb

Full of mood, well developed with telling diction. It's interesting that it is a 'radio' instead of any old box, however beautifully made. That choice must be deliberate for all kinds of associated ideas; and that the 'sounds' and 'shape' are rural in the sense of open water, pine woods, damp caves and a 'fox'. Also the 'last' radio - as in last - because of what exactly? And who has gutted the electronics inside. It's like a sci-fi movie in a moment.

Comment is about The Radio (blog)

Original item by Tom Harding

Eli, better later than never! You probably write much differently after two years' further experience, but, just in case, IMO, there is more punctuation than really needed. I find myself using less with every poem, but prize-winners are still full of it, used very carefully. And do beware of the 'its' meaning ownership/possession as compared with 'it's' meaning 'it is'. Who would know in performance, of course, but once paged, it is important.

Comment is about Fear (blog)

Original item by Eli Anderson

But, presuming the vowels are pronounced, the rhythm is superb. It just flows along like an ancient chant - with the murmured beat of drums under the fingers. I, too, would enjoy knowing what the words actually mean. While they don't sound aggressive, who knows?

Comment is about Hands of Ankh (blog)

Original item by Eli Anderson

What forces are at work? Good question and good work
Steve

Comment is about Whereabouts (blog)

Original item by Tom

Thanks Isobel. I was reading a book about Richard Burton and hes quoted as saying 'the only thing in life is language' and thats what started me off. Actions are important of course but the root of our speech and what we say has always fascinated me.

Comment is about Language (blog)

Original item by Steve Higgins

Great poem, and I love your comment Chris about why would the gown be felt at all.

That is an achingly beautiful photo as well Tommy, I do hope the woman involved consents to be shown in public though.

Comment is about After the leaving (blog)

Original item by Tommy Carroll

Great poem - thought of writing something myself but couldn't get beyond my anger

Comment is about Kettled (blog)

Mmm very atmospheric this, like a private sneaky peek into an intimate moment. Love the 'words like spoons' verse - excellent writing.

Comment is about INTERLUDE (blog)

Original item by John E Marks

And that's where I'd disagree, though I used to think like this.

It's our actions that really count - words can sound very pretty - but it's what we do that makes us who we are. I'd probably be lost without the words too though.

Lovely thoughtful poem though.

'Because words come from deep within
Because all our thoughts
All our feelings
Are melted down inside our skin'

Comment is about Language (blog)

Original item by Steve Higgins

Ah, good one! This would definitely have been a contender in our nonsense poem competition in March last year. I kept meaning to write another one cos I loved messing about with the language so much! :D

Comment is about Sci-Fi So Good (blog)

Original item by Ian Whiteley

Hi Mark - I tried to send you a message but not entirely sure it's gone through!

This is another great poem, a living document of injustice and passion. I love it. In terms of critique, I'm not sure that the last verse is absolutely necessary - the 'cake' reference doesn't QUITE fit for me, although I do really like the threat of the last line.

Anyway, if you didn't get the private message, I might as well make it publicly:


Hello Mark

I know you and I had scuffles in the past, but I am just reaching out with an olive branch to see if we can put it behind us. I was out of order in the way I reacted to your poem (and I remember just what it was about!) so would like to extend the hand of peace.

Your latest poems are not just good or great poems, they are crucially important documents, and are what I personally see as part of a poet's 'duty', for want of a better word. I applaud your passion, your commitment, and your integrity.

Anyway, you don't have to accept this, there's no obligation, but it's here.

Cheers

Laura

Comment is about If you don't understand us (blog)

Original item by Mark Mr T Thompson

Lovely images - though I feel I want to hear more.

Comment is about After the leaving (blog)

Original item by Tommy Carroll

lot of great,thought provoking lines Tom.Thanks.xx

Comment is about Whereabouts (blog)

Original item by Tom

Thank you Alex. It was fun writing it and I've had fun performing it to my family. Poetry should be fun - now and again :)

Comment is about Beautiful (blog)

Original item by Isobel

Excellent Tommy. Almost the odour of memory.

my smile's cheek - indeed, offering the literal and the image of sexual flirtation and mannish pride.

Perhaps without the photo - the poem would also hint at a darker loss...maybe in its title it already does.

Of course the fear here is also that the memory will be no longer. Otherwise why would the gown be felt at all, if it was not in order to induce the ever fading memory?

quality.

Best of

Chris

Comment is about After the leaving (blog)

Original item by Tommy Carroll

Thanks Chris, really constructive feedback. May well consider a review, agree that those are both the neatest and most effective lines, I have tidied a little (I often share far too early in the process, my poems of grow considerably when I take them of the page). I have edited out the extraneous word, you're right I reworked the line and left it there in error. Appreciate the both the time time you invested and nature of your input.

Comment is about If you don't understand us (blog)

Original item by Mark Mr T Thompson