My thanks to Frederick, John and Russell for your 'likes'.

Stephen- thank you for your very supportive coment.

Comment is about GOOD MEN AND TRUE (blog)

Original item by Flyntland

Truly philosophical and beautifully crafted portraying the inevitability of our ultimate demise. Yet somehow also comforting.
Thank you for this
Keith

Comment is about I Am Your Friend (blog)

Original item by Steve Higgins

Gy John Botterill under his pseudonym J.G.Barwell
Available on Amazon for £6.50.

All proceeds will be donated to the Teenage Cancer Trust,

"it's a rattling good read!" Peggy, (John's mum) 😂

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0BHRFHJM9/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2T94ANMPND5I0&keywords=jg+barwell&qid=1665742573&s=books&sprefix=jg+barwell%2Cstripbooks%2C78&sr=1-1

Comment is about IMG-20221016-WA0000.jpg (photo)

Original item by John Botterill

Intriguing, moving and with a wealth of meaning. Fab, Clare.

Comment is about Lady With The Sad Eyes (blog)

Original item by Clare

I think you convey the horror which is surely being felt by ordinary people uncannily well, Stephen. Brilliant poem!

Comment is about Apartment Block (blog)

Original item by Stephen Gospage

I probably owe my life to a black bus conductor who, back in the 1970s, saved me from falling off the back of a Routemaster in East London. Fortunately, he didn't seem to prioritise the 'familiar race'.

I find this poem depressing and pointless.

Comment is about WE ARE ALL RACISTS (ULTIMATELY) (blog)

Original item by M.C. Newberry

This poem saddens me and I simply can't be arsed to explain why.

Comment is about WE ARE ALL RACISTS (ULTIMATELY) (blog)

Original item by M.C. Newberry

Thank you, Bethany. Yes, this war must have led to so many individual tragedies, coupled with all the emotions that each of us would feel. As you say, violence is never the answer, but when will people learn?

And thanks to Frederick, Julie and Holden for liking this one.

Comment is about Apartment Block (blog)

Original item by Stephen Gospage

A pleasant contrast to some of the stuff that's around. Thanks, Flyntland.

Comment is about GOOD MEN AND TRUE (blog)

Original item by Flyntland

kj - thank you for the considered comment.
Flyntland - Indeed; no denial from me. That said, I sought to
address the dichotomy that sees contrasting behaviour and
attitudes "across the "spectrum". We seem so accept traits in
others that we deny in (or to) ourselves. That intrigues me.

Comment is about WE ARE ALL RACISTS (ULTIMATELY) (blog)

Original item by M.C. Newberry

Thanks so much for your support, Stephen A. Hope it lives up to the billing I have given it 😂 I will be buying yours, too. Let us know when it comes out!

Comment is about Poetic Licence Book Release (blog)

Original item by John Botterill

Congratulations, John. Its the same reason I'm so quiet, busy compiling my first book. I didn't realise id wrote so many lol. I'll definitely get a copy, & for such a worthy cause. 🌈

Comment is about Poetic Licence Book Release (blog)

Original item by John Botterill

Thanks Holden. You're a star 😀

Comment is about Poetic Licence Book Release (blog)

Original item by John Botterill

" and that applies to the familiar race" your words - never mine.

Comment is about WE ARE ALL RACISTS (ULTIMATELY) (blog)

Original item by M.C. Newberry

Congratulations, John, I will definitely be purchasing a copy! 😊

Comment is about Poetic Licence Book Release (blog)

Original item by John Botterill

My initial reaction was to take issue with the title of this piece, and assume some moral high ground.
But unfortunately I have to admit that to a degree you are probably right.
That having been said, if there is a spectrum I think that we'd be on opposite ends .

Comment is about WE ARE ALL RACISTS (ULTIMATELY) (blog)

Original item by M.C. Newberry

Thank you Bethany, you are very kind.

Writing in English is the most ingenious torture ever devised for sins committed in previous lives. The English reading public explains the reason why. James A Joyce

Comment is about Be-witched (blog)

Original item by John E Marks

When oh when will this violence dominated world ever learn the necessary lesson's it most certainly needs to Stephen? Yet in the midst of all of this mayhem, we must not lose sight of our everyday emotional needs so to speak.

A very well and realistically written poem. Thank you, Mr. G!

Comment is about Apartment Block (blog)

Original item by Stephen Gospage

Thank you Stephen G, Clare and K.Lynn for your very welcome likes.

Comment is about BREATH (blog)

Original item by Flyntland

Thanks for the likes Russell and K. Lynn 😀

Comment is about Poetic Licence Book Release (blog)

Original item by John Botterill

“Asked.....to stand aside” is the terminology, I believe, Stephen.

Comment is about 5000 MILES (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

Thanks so much Stephen and Clare. It's great to be part of Writeoutloud! Such great people on this site! 😀

Comment is about Poetic Licence Book Release (blog)

Original item by John Botterill

'Nature's showiest season' - yes, that's right.

Comment is about Metallic Hues (blog)

Original item by julie callaghan

Thanks, MC.

Comment is about Heyday (blog)

Original item by Stephen Gospage

Spot on, John, and there may not even have been a first-class seat available.

Comment is about 5000 MILES (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

Congratulations, John. I shall certainly buy it.

Comment is about Poetic Licence Book Release (blog)

Original item by John Botterill

I think they are, MC. But she’s left him on the pew on his own.

Comment is about 5000 MILES (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

Thanks, Tom. I sincerely hope you enjoy reading it. much appreciated!

Comment is about Poetic Licence Book Release (blog)

Original item by John Botterill

I retain a number of copies of newspapers and their cuttings
from the past. Both serve to remind me of things that are too
easily "deleted" in today's instant gratification market place.
I've just been re-reading a copy of the London Evening Standard
from nearly two decades ago that reports the UK population to
be 70 million by 2030. Only 8 years out but a warning that
we should have taken seriously.

Comment is about Heyday (blog)

Original item by Stephen Gospage

Hah...it seems that they are not singing from the same song sheet! 😎

Comment is about 5000 MILES (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

Flyntland - thanks for the kind words. Positivity in life is always
to be encouraged as we pass along our individual paths.
Thanks also to those who "liked" this entry.

Comment is about PASSING WORDS (blog)

Original item by M.C. Newberry

Congratulations John, great work. I look forward to getting my hands on a copy. 😃

Comment is about Poetic Licence Book Release (blog)

Original item by John Botterill

Please accept my condolences, some things are so hard to bear.

Your quotation is a sound one - and is one that that I shall remember. Thank you for printing it here.

Comment is about PASSING WORDS (blog)

Original item by M.C. Newberry

Thanks so much to Julie, Russell, Frederick, Graham and Flyntland. Supportive and kind, as always! 😀
"The name's Barwell. J.G.Barwell!"

Comment is about Poetic Licence Book Release (blog)

Original item by John Botterill

This is such a gentle, comforting, tender poem.

I liked

"But life is full of all shapes and sizes
many unique individual souls"

" And supportive arms into which you can hide"

Well done on this one.

Comment is about Running scared little maiden (blog)

Original item by JD Russell

Thanks for the kind note, Bethany!

Comment is about Air to Austin (blog)

Original item by Candice Reineke

Brilliant, grief intertwined

Comment is about Guilt (blog)

Original item by Jaded_Jas

Congratulations and well done you hope it’s sells well and makes lots of money for a great cause.

Comment is about Poetic Licence Book Release (blog)

Original item by John Botterill

Well done JGB or is it JB, very envious. Good on you!

Comment is about Poetic Licence Book Release (blog)

Original item by John Botterill

Thanks for your comments, Greg and John. In a way, it's surprising that in 2022 there are still so many print versions of newspapers out there. I find the prospect of only on-line newspapers, mostly behind paywalls, very sad. I suppose we have to admit that the Mail knows its readership - it's just worrying that there are so many of them out there. (OK, I admit that Guardian readers can also be a bit odd at times).

Thanks to Nigel, Frederick, Holden, Graham and K Lynn for liking this.

Comment is about Heyday (blog)

Original item by Stephen Gospage

Thankyou for your further thoughts, Massoud and MC.

Comment is about SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT - OLD SPIES (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

brilliant! loved this, Candice. Thank you.

Comment is about Air to Austin (blog)

Original item by Candice Reineke

All in all Mike, a very nice poetical package. Thank you.

Comment is about Toll Collector (blog)

Original item by Mike McPeek

Massoud - claiming to be an idiot seems to make you even more
likely to fit in on today's benches in Parliament. You could even
go straight to the House of Lords!! 😌

Comment is about SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT - OLD SPIES (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

Love it, great story telling, I was engrossed and keen to know whether there was a happy ending, 😮

Comment is about Reunited (blog)

Original item by Etchy Mary

A great read, lots of involved content, love and angst! Well done!

Comment is about Reunited (blog)

Original item by Etchy Mary

Indeed, Stephen. In the 70’s The Mirror sold more copies than all newspapers are sold today. I suspect the biggest driver of their decline is what I am using now - personalised technology, the iPad, smart phone etc. It is still good to see The Daily Mail averting its gaze from news it doesn’t like.

Comment is about Heyday (blog)

Original item by Stephen Gospage

Thank you Frederik and Graham. I appreciate your support of frontline workers. People often think that Nurses and healthcare workers get burnt out by the stress of the clinical work. However the statistics show that it's the love that Nurses and healthcare workers have for patients and the clinical work that keeps them there, and it's how they are treated by the managerial system which forces them to leave. I have always adored my patient work-even while working in a crisis mental health work, which is very full on. My love to be able to help and support others will never change.

Comment is about It's Time to Leave (blog)

Original item by Rasa Kabaila

Arguably the excesses of the tabloids, the phone-tapping and all the latest allegations, have hastened their decline. They say young people don't really read newspapers any more. I like the way your poem conjures up the language of those times, Steve. There are certain words that you only see in newspaper headlines, that were never, ever part of everyday language.

Comment is about Heyday (blog)

Original item by Stephen Gospage

The mere desire to stand for election should dismiss the candidate automatically.

Definitely not for me thanks, also I'm an idiot.

Comment is about SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT - OLD SPIES (blog)

Original item by John Coopey