Powerful thought provoking statement...love it Tina x

Comment is about justice for the 96 (blog)

Original item by tina

Thanks Tina x

Comment is about LAS VEGAS (blog)

Thanks stu x

Comment is about Mud (blog)

Original item by tina

This makes me want to go there x

Comment is about LAS VEGAS (blog)

Absolutely beautiful x

Comment is about 13 YEARS (blog)

Dats Dead Gud Dat Mud is Tina, love it, Stu x

Comment is about Mud (blog)

Original item by tina

as you now know - I have to keep doing it until I'm sure it's right :-)

Comment is about Pure O (blog)

Original item by Ian Whiteley

I'm wondering now Ian,that in order to make it up to you-I should place you at the front of that 'Orderly Queue? dont forget the suntan lotion!

I think we can both be allowed to laugh now!x

Comment is about Pure O (blog)

Original item by Ian Whiteley

you didn;t have to remove the comment Solar - I actually laughed when I saw it :-) and it sort of highlighted the problem in a humorous and innocent way - by describing the illness I appear to have introduced a tone of admonishment which wasn't really my intention :-( all comments are valid - but thanx anyway x
Ian

Comment is about Pure O (blog)

Original item by Ian Whiteley

thanks for that Ian-I shall remove my original mistaken comment,because now I dont see it as funny.I Hope that with time,and with help,you might be able to overcome the disorder.x

Comment is about Pure O (blog)

Original item by Ian Whiteley

I think we've had this discussion before on a poem CAD wrote. What happened to PC Blakelock was horrendous and deeply sickening - it was altogether different from the Stephen Lawrence murder though.

Every policeman knows that he may encounter danger in the line of duty, particularly in riots. You don't expect to be murdered at a bus stop though, out of the blue for no other reason than your skin colour.

Stephen was young, his whole life ahead of him, all those choices to be made...

The only thing I would say, is that coppers are no different to human beings - there are good ones and there are bad ones. I do not believe that Stoke Newington is typical example of how forces run. Let's hope at least that lessons have been learnt from this.

Comment is about One Of Us - A Stephen Lawrence Tribute (blog)

Original item by Mark Mr T Thompson

hey - it's no problem Solar m'dear - no offense taken - it's a weird afliction because you know what you're doing and you know it's stupid - but you still do it. It takes me 5 minutes from deciding to leave the house or go to bed to actually doing it - because you have to keep re-checking - and then you go back and check it again just to be sure.
I appreciate your comments as always :-)

Comment is about Pure O (blog)

Original item by Ian Whiteley

thank you by the way for making me aware of the disorder-I see now what the 'O'referred to.x

Comment is about Pure O (blog)

Original item by Ian Whiteley

oh dear Mr.Whiteley and oops!on my part-
along with my sincere apologies.

Most definitely no offence intended
I obviously missed the point and have no
qualms about admitting it.Sorry mate.x

Comment is about Pure O (blog)

Original item by Ian Whiteley

Wow, I don't know why I expect more from poets but that is the most ignorant post I have ever seen, even by Mr Newbury, our resident right-wing troll.

Stephen had not one, but two stab wounds, that both severed arteries.

The first officers on the scene not only failed to give first aid, they actually prevented anyone else from doing so, in part because they mistakenly believed stephen had been in a gang related incident.

The police then deliberately obstructed and repeatedly bungled the investigation (according to the report of Lord Macpherson, not me). The conclusions to the report finding thay the Met was an institutionally racist (a term coined by Macpherson) organisation.

It is so ironic that you choose to talk about an officer (assume you are referring to PC Keith Blakelock?) killed in the line of duty, as the death of this young man might have been avoided if only these officers had done their duty and applied pressure to his wounds. If these officers had done their duty ALL five of the suspects in this case that were identified by their own community within five days might have been successfully prosecuted. Then somewhere in the region of £50,000,000 would have been saved from the public purse. The family of Stephen and the people of South London would have had justice and a little more confidence that the colour of their skin would not mean some of them were second class citizens in the eyes of the the law. The biggest part of this story is not the murder, it is the negligent, incompetent response, from the the police, motivated by racism and probable bribery.

These are some of the reasons why this event and this lost life are so significant. Why they must be remembered.

Any case of murder, including that of PC Blakelock (in which, coincidentally various failures to follow procedure also contributed to failed prosecutions and a number of officers were, albeit unsuccessfully, prosecuted for perjury and perverting the course of justice) is tragic. But Stephen was not protected by those who were paid to do so.

Mr Newbury, please do me the favour of never commenting on my work again, or at least make sure you do a little research before spouting ill considered nonsense, where it is not welcome.

Thanks for all the other supportive comments,

Comment is about One Of Us - A Stephen Lawrence Tribute (blog)

Original item by Mark Mr T Thompson

How de doody Mike.
On the Block was one of the earliest poems I wrote. Thought I'd put an early one on and hopefully get a bit of feedback. Tried reading it a bit JCC. You're right it does lend itself to that style of delivery, never thought about it. Thanks for the comment mate, much appreciated.

Comment is about Mike Hilton (poet profile)

Original item by Mike Hilton

*ouch* Solar
if it wasn't such a pain in the ar*e it would be funny - one of the problems with this affliction is that many people don't realise it's a mental illness and most sufferers, myself included, remain in denial far too long. But I get on with it and this isn't meant to be a 'poor me' rant - i wanted to raise awareness. so MC can put away his poisoned pen right now :-)

Comment is about Pure O (blog)

Original item by Ian Whiteley

The last word sums up your poem up perfectly.

Comment is about Banished from Eden (blog)

Original item by Katy Megan

Hi Pete,

I read this straight off in with a 'Cooper-Clarke' style in my head.

I don't know if that's how you intended it to be but it worked for me.

Nice one mate - good stuff

Mike

Comment is about ON THE BLOCK (blog)

Original item by Pete Slater

Hi Pete,

I read this straight off in with a 'Cooper-Clarke' style in my head.

I don't know if that's how you intended it to be but it worked for me.

Nice one mate - good stuff

Mike

Comment is about ON THE BLOCK (blog)

Original item by Pete Slater

Having considerable experience of working with humanity "in the mass" in the past, it is clear that there is substantial evidence to show that many adults (I use the term in the physical sense) have regressed - if they ever reached it - from the onset of "mental maturity" to a state of being unwilling to accept responsibility for - or fulfilling the conditions of - being properly functioning grown-ups. The behaviour of certain footie "supporters" at many venues - often with dire consequences - is another indication of this infantile phenomenon. The immature undisciplined and the aggressive love a crowd- which can quickly become a mob out of control and beyond reason.

Comment is about COMPASSION FATIGUE BLUES (blog)

Original item by M.C. Newberry

If we rightly remember this young man - struck down by a single knife blow from young white thugs, then why are we so slow to do likewise for a young police officer sent to keep the peace who was mercilessly struck down and then literally hacked to death by over a hundred machete and knife blows from a rioting ethnic mob in a crime-ridden London housing estate?
Where is the outrage and the media interest over the
absence of evidence or help towards solving this UNDETECTED crime?
I feel a poem coming on!!

Comment is about One Of Us - A Stephen Lawrence Tribute (blog)

Original item by Mark Mr T Thompson

You must everyone else does - - - well done

I wonder if he still lives in that old caravan
with his Dad?

Comment is about Jimmy Rockford (blog)

Original item by Shirley Smothers

Anthony,
I presume you already know of it...But MAGMA are having a `shaped` poetry competition.

They say they `welcome` unpublished stuff, but don`t seem to put a specific bar on blog stuff
(I.M.O.)

The problem is that the words are so confoundedly difficult to squeeze in to the shape legibly.

Comment is about Anthony Emmerson (poet profile)

Original item by Anthony Emmerson

Handsome beast!

Comment is about Neil Fawcett (photo)

If they had can't see them just using rubber bullets

Thanks for your comment

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

Original item by M.C. Newberry

A touching tribute to parenthood, its joys and
pride, with the all-too soon passage of time to
the reality of adulthood and leaving the family
"nest".
As usual from this source, a perfect vocal
realisation of the words.

Comment is about Has Anybody Seen My Little Sarah? (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

One of the best TV series...helped no end by the engaging world-weary performance of its star James Garner, who I recall equally fondly for his performance as Brett Maverick years before this famous private eye series came along. Answerphones have never had so much good publicity!! I can understand your glee about having your poem sent to the man himself. I felt the same way when the subject of my poem "Dambuster" asked if he could submit it to the famous WW2 RAF squadron's museum.
Good for you!!
N.B. Shouldn't "quiet" be "quite" in line 16?

Comment is about Jimmy Rockford (blog)

Original item by Shirley Smothers

Thanks Cynthia for generous comment on my photographer poem.

Comment is about Cynthia Buell Thomas (poet profile)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

Good grief! A little knowledge and a glib pen can wreck civilizations; it isn't always chain balls and volcanoes!

Comment is about J F Keane (poet profile)

Original item by J F Keane

I'm with you! Lots of people are in this camp - do not feel alone! This 'concept' has gained great ground with our 'advanced' technology that shows us persons and events that we can no longer be certain are 'real life' or 'real time' (whatever those are supposed to be.) It really isn't far off the celebrated notion of 'all the world is a stage...etc.' which S. so aptly captured at the level of the not so magically educated.

Comment is about Checkpoint (blog)

Original item by Kealan Coady

good poem-great series!x

Comment is about Jimmy Rockford (blog)

Original item by Shirley Smothers

great stuff Frederick-keep on keeping on!x

Comment is about 21st century maladie (blog)

Sorry Harry - meant to reply to your last note and forgot! It was heartening to read :) Thank you.

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

Original item by Harry O`N eill

As mentioned on facecrack - love it!

Comment is about The Blahs (blog)

Original item by Marianne Daniels

This is fantastic - so densely packed with ideas and images. You are experimenting like crazy these days and it's ace!

Comment is about Virus (blog)

Original item by Marianne Daniels

Very atmospheric John - am with you there in the dark, at that time when you are most alone

Good poem

Comment is about Two a.m. (blog)

Mr Cooke- ''unfortunately the one I refer to isn't to be found anywhere so I couldn't post it.'' this is just not good enough. Tommy

Comment is about David Cooke (poet profile)

Original item by David Cooke

As proud as Lucifer

you breathed your devil's breath

O accursed angel of hell

spurned from heaven to prey on death.



Subject us no more to your closed doors

O vicious Iron Maiden,

return to purge the evil dead

leave the living to find a haven.



Bluebeard soul reincarnate

your bloody hands harassed the meek

persecuted the elderly

and destroyed the weak.



So go back. Go! With your blue devil disciples

return no more with that apron of blue.

May just fires rise to melt your iron

till liquid, it runs from view.

Comment is about The Iron Lady's funeral blues poems (article)

Hi Tommy I suppose I could have tried my photographer poem less enigmatic! It's Willi Ronis - although Cartier-Bresson was pretty close. There's a lot of his photos online, but unfortunately the one I refer to isn't to be found anywhere so I couldn't post it.

Comment is about Tommy Carroll (poet profile)

Original item by Tommy Carroll

ER, you Harry?

Nice one Cathy. A neat universal-in-the-particular here; the particular being your mum's gender agenda.

Comment is about Wolves (blog)

Original item by Cathy Crabb

I completely concur with Shirley.
In Berne's model of transactional analysis he suggests each of us combines elements of Parent, Adult and Child. So may people these days seem not to be able to throw off the Child - seeing misfortune as something others have done to them, hoping some other authority will provide for them.
We may not sit on the same end of the political spectrum, MC, but you have my respect and support to post whatever you wish.

Comment is about COMPASSION FATIGUE BLUES (blog)

Original item by M.C. Newberry

I agree so much with Tommy on this. if it has taken so long to prosecute the racist thugs, how long is ti going ot take to prosecute both the guilty, and the inadequate police officers? In many ways this is perhaps more important than the Thatcher stuff.
Well done Mark, for your well-judged poem, and for the reminder.

Comment is about One Of Us - A Stephen Lawrence Tribute (blog)

Original item by Mark Mr T Thompson

john, thanks for your comment and sentiment on my recent poem. much appreciated.

Comment is about John Coopey (poet profile)

Original item by John Coopey

isobel, thanks for your comment on my recent poem. very kind.

Comment is about Isobel (poet profile)

Original item by Isobel

thanks harry for your comment on 'as she lay dying'
sometimes i get frustrated by my ability to write effectively about those things that most effect me most. the poem came as a result of that frustration.

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

Original item by Harry O`N eill

thanks all, much appreciated.

Comment is about As She Lay Dying (blog)

Original item by Tom Harding

You poems are beautiful and powerful. I found your profile through Julian.

Welcome to a great site.

Shirley

Comment is about Suhad Hijazi (poet profile)

Original item by Suhad Hijazi

If you are a native speaker of a language other than English, we would love you to have a go at translating this poem into your language. We would also appreciate it if you can get other users of that language to help with either translating or commenting on the translation. You can contact the original poet via her profile or by leaving a comment here.

Comment is about link

The following are Fatima's notes on the challenges in translating an English poem into Arabic:

For this cross cultural poetry project I have asked my dear friend and poet Fred Holland for permission to translate his poem ‘Unsuited’ included in his poetry collection ‘In Guarded Conversation’. Here are some of the difficulties/challenges I was faced with:

Meaning of words and expressions:
I had to double check meaning of words to make sure I understood the correctly especially in the context in which they were used.
Expressions such as “Alas!” (first line of the poem) are not available in the formal Arabic language, however, this differs according to the various informal dialects found in each Arabic country.
“but I would hate you make you cry” the word but in the beginning of the sentences can not be translated literally as it will not give the same meaning which the poet had intended and thus was replaced with the equivalent of “without”.
“make you cry” also was not easy to express in Arabic; as I had to use a very different verb than “make”, I used “push you to cry”
The expression “say” (the end of the fourth line) has no equivalent in the Arabic language there is a letter that can be linked to words to indicate the giving of examples which I have used to translate this sentence.
2. Literal translation led to loss of meaning:

When I tried translating some words literally I felt the meaning, the music and the feeling of the poem was lost, e.g. the word 'unsuited' (the title) if I had written the exact equivalent in Arabic it would sound like objects not being suitable such as clothing, the term when used for a couple will not give the meaning which the poet intended and thus was replaced with 'incompatible'.
3. The forming of a sentence:

All English phrases/sentences read to an Arab upside down! The Arabic sentence always starts with a verb and not the noun, e.g. “Not a day would pass” (second/third line) cannot be translated without changing the place of the verb “pass” and having it in the beginning in order to make sense of the sentence.
4. Genderising:

Every word (noun/verb/adjective) has a gender in Arabic and thus words were changed in order to indicate gender.
5. Cultural ambiguity:

Even though I have translated the phrase “no friends would come” (seventh line) an Arab reader will wonder why it was put there, and would question whether a line such as this one would serve the poem at all, mainly because relationship in the Arab world are very personal and private, looking beyond the relationship on to how friends would feel almost never happens.
In many instances in the poem the sentences were short, summarised, as if the less the poet had to explain the better the quality of the poem. I find in Arabic poetry there’s almost a need to explain, to extend description (as describing and the beauty of description is highly appreciated in Arabic poetry) to give the reader a clearer picture of what the poet intends to say rather than the minimalist approach often used in English poetry.


Fatima AL Matar http://www.writeoutloud.net/poets/fatimaalmatar

Comment is about link