Thank you dear Lynn for the comment.

Comment is about ODESSA - MY PRINCIPESSA (blog)

Original item by Larisa Rzhepishevska

Thank you, my dear Lynn for your kind comment. Hugs. Larisa

Comment is about How Many And How Few (blog)

Original item by Larisa Rzhepishevska

Beautiful poem Dave! Love it so much. With warmest wishes, Larisa

Comment is about Night & Day (blog)

Original item by Dave Dunn

We could get a group of say twenty fit members
all go naked then run up and down the steps of the Art Gallery.
After finding out which pile of clothes are yours just swop mobile phone numbers.
The main topic on the next meet could be how many got inspired by the stand against whatever it was!!!

Comment is about Stockport WoL (group profile)

Original item by Stockport WoL

The age-old conundrum that troubles mankind (rather than womankind)....can't see an end either. But...
"Men are in this world, I'm thinking,
To set it right: with words...and drinking!
Best, of course, to stick with writing -
When drinking often ends in fighting!"

Comment is about Men Can't Dance (blog)

Original item by John Darwin

Ar hey, as they say in Liverpool, she's been voted out by the dumb-ass viewers.

Comment is about Sheer poetry from rough-as-rats Lancs (blog)

Original item by Steve Regan

Thanks chuck for your comment on Bed :)

Took ages to find the flow of it...then the conception theme just slowly started coming together and bang! :)

Hope to see you Saturday x

Comment is about Isobel (poet profile)

Original item by Isobel

You don't need to justify yourself John. I don't mind critique so long as it is offered politely. All critique is subjective and a poet can choose to listen to or reject it. Besides - you are a lovable old windbag :)

I'd agree that this is an odd poem and that it leaps from one thing to another in style. You can get away with that in music and in performance - it's a bit harder with page poetry though. If I had more energy I might tinker with it, but I don't. I'd just like to tackle something else now. I'm glad if people get something out of it at any level though.

The youtube link now works - though I don't think I performed it very well on there. My delivery was too flat - I need to up and down my voice more. A big thank you to Chris Coe and the Wirral Ode Show for videoing it and putting it up. x

Comment is about In the Footsteps... (blog)

Original item by Isobel

I'd pay no heed to me (why do? Nobody else does : ) ) I just have an aversion to certain tropes...mostly anachronisms (bemoans) and cliches (stark anythings). Less is always more in poetry (IMHO) so, if something is stark...then illustrate it as so, using language.

Isobel is a fabulous poet...and I'm a pompous windbag...so what?

Enjoy : )

: )

Jxxx

PS 'all the lifelines lost to draglines' marvelous!

Comment is about In the Footsteps... (blog)

Original item by Isobel

Thank you Stef and Tricia, you are very kind. xx

Laura, I expect the problem is that this is my recollection of a day I enjoyed, so it's more of a personal thing, and does not compute so well to anyone else. I agree the middle needs changing in some way, shall have to think about that one. Thanks very much for comment. x

Comment is about Crescent Moon (blog)

Original item by Lynn Dye

Thanks for your comment on my poem MC. I think I'll stick with bemoaned for now cos I wanted to get across the idea of grumbling - which I really did have to put up with! In the past children used to lay down and sleep by the roadside on the way home, so tired were they from the work they did in the mines. I think I would rather have suffocated mine at birth.

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

Original item by M.C. Newberry

Yes - I like the conception imagery too - that's my favourite verse. I've never really thought of beds in that way - but I guess they do have a story to tell, the older and more stained they become :)

I think this is a very original poem.

Comment is about Bed (blog)

Original item by Laura Taylor

I'm waiting for a storm to cause the shipwreck...

Comment is about Nigel Astell (poet profile)

Original item by Nigel Astell

Thank you Hugh!

Katy

Comment is about hugh (poet profile)

Original item by hugh

Good luck, Ann! Hope it goes well. Maybe there'll be a video? ...

Comment is about Two on the verge ... Sue Farmer and Ann Foxglove (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Rewarding in words and music...the effort that has gone into this presentation is obvious and pleasing. It also has a sad resonance - with the recent sad reports of sudden deaths from a surging sea invading the unsuspecting holidaymakers' coast.

Comment is about Give to Me an Angry Sea (blog)

Original item by Tomás Ó Cárthaigh

I admire the potency of the imagery, and its
then/now evocation of a child's world is imaginatively handled.
We can all think of changes to other folk's
work but...
if JA complains about "bemoaned", I would suggest "assailed" (e.g. thinking of kids pulling resentfully at adult hands!)...as a tie-in with "wailed". OK - it might also be
"archaic" but so what if it works?
I can see how effective this poem would sound when read aloud.
Lyric? Poem? I'd settle for lyric poetry.

Comment is about In the Footsteps... (blog)

Original item by Isobel

Great John. Enjoyed that.

Comment is about Men Can't Dance (blog)

Original item by John Darwin

It may also be said that one of the triumphs of
being raised and educated in England was the
preservation of German culture as a result of
the downfall of the book-burning Nazis.

Comment is about Review - Selected Poems: Rainer Maria Rilke (Oxford University Press) (blog)

It is a source of major disappointment when none of the main political parties seem interested in what concerns the people they supposedly represent.

Comment is about THE MAJOR POLITICAL PARTIES (blog)

Original item by M.C. Newberry

I really like the first and last verses Lynn, but feel it becomes too 'tell' and not enough 'show' in the middle, if you know what I mean?

Comment is about Crescent Moon (blog)

Original item by Lynn Dye

Bob can dance! And talk about all kinds of interesting things! He probably swims like a fish too but we've never been swimming so that'll have to wait.

I like 'whisper wise owl tones'

Comment is about Men Can't Dance (blog)

Original item by John Darwin

Eh up Dave! Cheers fella - appreciate it :) I did have to lug it upstairs too at the time...up a bloody ladder ha :D Glad you like the conception theme :)

Thanks Steve and Greg - took a while to kick this one into shape, so I'm pleased it worked.

Comment is about Bed (blog)

Original item by Laura Taylor

Glad you liked "Dedicated Follower of Thrashin", Dave. You really should busy yourself more if you've the time and inclination to look at my back catalogue!
"DFoF" is one of a number of disrespectful parodies I have been doing of late.

Comment is about Dave Carr (poet profile)

Original item by Dave Carr

Poignant poem that seems to be searching for love, Larisa. I like the sentiment - how few men to rely on - but there are some! ;-)
Hope you are well. xx

Comment is about How Many And How Few (blog)

Original item by Larisa Rzhepishevska

I enjoyed this, Larisa - it's great to have pride in your hometown, and from all I have seen, it is a beautiful city. I think this would make a good song :-) xx

Comment is about ODESSA - MY PRINCIPESSA (blog)

Original item by Larisa Rzhepishevska

Men do talk about football instead of really talking, don't they? As the new season starts I'm trying hard to cut down. I wondered about losing the words "to some meaningful achievement", then read it again, and realised you do need it, for the rhythm as well as the meaning. The first two stanzas work particularly well, I think.

Comment is about Men Can't Dance (blog)

Original item by John Darwin

You hit the mark, MC. But I sometimes worry about that "plague on all their houses" thing. You see people interviewed in the street who rubbish all politicians, and you can tell they haven't bothered to think about it in depth at all. I'm not saying that's the case with you, of course!

Comment is about THE MAJOR POLITICAL PARTIES (blog)

Original item by M.C. Newberry

This is very satisfying to read, Laura - condensed, tight and effective language, and with a story to tell.

Comment is about Bed (blog)

Original item by Laura Taylor

Has a fantastic, nightmarish quality to it. I'm thinking John Wyndham. A great idea, Ann

Comment is about gulls (blog)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

Thanks Tracey, glad you liked it & its given the imagery & feelings that I wanted, There's still a lot of mills in Bolton, but there were around 200 at one time which I think is amazing & of course a different way of life X

Comment is about Cotton Town (blog)

Original item by Jeffarama!

We think,tis your best one yet Lynn-
really nice.xx

Comment is about Crescent Moon (blog)

Original item by Lynn Dye

i really enjoyed your poem jeff :)
the monumental buildings that remain to symbolize a way of life & a ethic that's forgot,stand majestic to remind us who we are....
beautiful, nostalgic and heartfelt :)X

Comment is about Cotton Town (blog)

Original item by Jeffarama!

Thanks for your comments everyone. I'm glad if this struck a chord.

Dave - On the walk we took (last January), the landscape towards Aspull was still pretty bleak - flat and dreary looking - abnormally shaped. The trees around the small flashes were dead and bent over the water, much like a scrum. It reminded me of an alien landscape or something from a Dali painting.

Harry - thanks for picking up on that contrast. I think when you have kids of your own you are more keenly aware of human suffering - particularly for children. I wrote this for a competition so I bothered to read up on working conditions. I learnt about them as a child in our history lessons but the full enormity of their suffering didn't really register then. I actually found myself getting very upset just thinking about how their lives must have been.

Steve - I'm glad you are coming round to performance poetry :) It IS more about entertainment. My mum was a singer round the clubs and I grew up watching her reach out to an audience through music. The first famous live performer I ever saw was Shirley Bassey. Perhaps us performance poets are all failed musicians :)

Thanks for enjoying Laura - and Julian/John - if I get chance, I might try to edit some of the rough spots - or I might just try to write something else :)

Winston - :-P

Comment is about In the Footsteps... (blog)

Original item by Isobel

Just found this. Very funny. Dave

Comment is about Dedicated Follower of Thrashing (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

Thank you Graham. I am delighted you liked the poem and I hope others will too.

Kind regards

David

Comment is about EDGE OF TOWN (blog)

Original item by David Subacchi

I can remember how black the landscape used to be and how dismal it was. The poem takes me back and sums up the mood of the time. Some good images. Dave

Comment is about In the Footsteps... (blog)

Original item by Isobel

Thank You Yvonne...don't forget you can now submit Poems to be featured on 'Poets Corner' thus giving more coverage for your Poetry and creating greater name awareness for you.
It is alo my intention to publish all the selected Poems in my PC Poetry Accomplices' booklet next year!
So I have now featured poems from - Joy France Laura Taylor and David Subbacchi...just Tag your poem with a 'PC' or private message me and let me know you are submitting a poem.
Thanks - Graham Robinson/Poets Corner.

Comment is about It Takes Courage (blog)

Original item by Graham Robinson

Ha! Not much to choose. Nice one.

Comment is about THE MAJOR POLITICAL PARTIES (blog)

Original item by M.C. Newberry

Great stuff - as usual. I like the squat stained stripey lumpen dough - perfect description. Imagine lugging that up the stairs! Also the conception theme is excellent. Thanks for comment on Compy Dompy too. Late but I've been v busy. Dave

Comment is about Bed (blog)

Original item by Laura Taylor

Well done Mrs B.
and well deserved.xx

Comment is about (blog)

Original item by Yvonne Brunton

Its our place to thank you Mike
not the tuther way round
for this brilliant piece of work.

The quality of your writing
never diminishes.

Our best regards.xx

Comment is about Feeling and Reason (blog)

Original item by Noetic-fret!

Hi David...I am pleased to inform you and all other Poets that your above poem 'Edge Of Town' has been selected as one of my featured poems of the month and will appear on 'Poets Corner' with immediate effect.

Thanks David and keep writing brilliant poems!

My Bests Graham

Comment is about EDGE OF TOWN (blog)

Original item by David Subacchi

Protests are pointless.

Comment is about Stockport WoL (group profile)

Original item by Stockport WoL

Excellent deeply felt poem Isobel, particularly
the contrast with the kids of today. The second and third `scenery` stanzas set the mood bleakly. (`stark` is dead right).

The airy spread of the kids climbing the trees is also a powerfully poetic contrastive image against the constriction of the ones in the mines.

Comment is about In the Footsteps... (blog)

Original item by Isobel

I absolutely love the storytelling idea in here - puts me in mind of The Lost Boys. I get the feeling that you were lying in bed listening to the gulls, and did that narrative weaving that we all constantly do :)

Comment is about gulls (blog)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

I've heard Isobel do this aloud at the Tudor and loved it

Comment is about In the Footsteps... (blog)

Original item by Isobel

Sustained fun that we can all identify with.
Especially those who go "private"! I once
uploaded a poem "No One Likes A Dentist" so I
sympathise with the content.

Comment is about The Dentist (blog)

Original item by Karen Robinson

Lovely. I tried to change a few words in my head, especially the 'stand forlorn' and 'for they do not..' which tweaked my anti-cliche, anti-archaiscism beeble boppers a bit, but in the end I decided it was...just lovely as it is.

Thank you.

: )

Jx

Comment is about gulls (blog)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

Let's do a demo! write to your MP. Person the barricades. Or a mass sulk outside the council offices?

Comment is about Stockport WoL (group profile)

Original item by Stockport WoL