we all need freedom especially the feathered kind and this poem makes me want to fly away x

Comment is about Bird in a Cage (blog)

Very clever and funny and only too true, as we succumb to advertising. A suggestion - consider the last two lines as:

'So...

When can you deliver!'

Short, punchy, and maybe, even funnier. The rest of the line is a given anyway.

Comment is about Kitchen - Made (blog)

Original item by Yvonne Brunton

Thank you MC for your comments. I am sure you are right in as much as the Tories believed their measures were what the country needed for the long term. But they are hardly working, when they are needing to borrow even more money for unemployment, while receiving less tax revenue. Added to that more and more people have no money to spend in a consumer based society, which hits many of our businesses, creating still more unemployment.
I have mixed views on the EU, but certainly take your point, and I admire your optimism that things will be better in a year or maybe three.


Greg,
Thanks for comment, yes, you are right, but my point was - where is the loony left these days?!

Comment is about The Tory Press And The Loony Left (blog)

Original item by Lynn Dye

Vote loony left, is what I say, Lynn!

Comment is about The Tory Press And The Loony Left (blog)

Original item by Lynn Dye

The unanswered question is WHY would any elected political party actually choose to make unpopular decisions that might prevent
its re-election? Since that suggests self-
destructing idiocy - and one can hardly imagine public school minds seeking that - perhaps the Tories really believe that they are obliged to do what they do...for the long
term. It's been said that a week is a lifetime in politics so who knows what people
will be saying in a year...let alone three...
when things are very likely to be better than now. Perhaps we should haul back on the billions we send each year to an unaccountable
political entity in Brussels and spend it closer to home. But I can just imagine the
cries of anguish from the Lib-Dems who vote
for anything EU and would have had us give up
our currency for the Euro.

Comment is about The Tory Press And The Loony Left (blog)

Original item by Lynn Dye

Thank you all for your kind comments.The poem is i think still a work in progress. So shall re-post when I have edited it.

Comment is about Mother's girl (blog)

Original item by fiona sinclair

Thank you Laura for your great comment. I was asked had I been on stage when I was younger, but have always been a bit shy because of my deafness.
Hazel

Comment is about Laura Taylor (poet profile)

Original item by Laura Taylor

Thank you Lynn for your comment on Bird in a Cage.
Hazel

Comment is about Lynn Dye (poet profile)

Original item by Lynn Dye

Well researched Yvonne :o)

Comment is about Kitchen - Made (blog)

Original item by Yvonne Brunton

I can identify with this, Hazel. It doesn't seem right to me to keep birds in cages either, even more so after reading this, so well done.

Comment is about Bird in a Cage (blog)

Hi Greg, sounds like I missed a good night. Next time maybe!

CHEERS. P.

Comment is about Greg Freeman (poet profile)

Original item by Greg Freeman

aaahh cute. When was it recorded?

Comment is about Together (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

I agree with Chris about .....Liverpudlian way making a cracking final line.
Loved the sentiments.

Comment is about A SCOUSE CONGRATULATION (blog)

By heck Ray, you gave me some uncomfortable feeling with this one.If, as Steve says, it's a metaphor for writing it is a jolly good one.Although writing is not as traumatic as excising the 'gems' one has produced that do not actually bear scrutiny. XX

Comment is about Poor Poem (blog)

I like the theme, the mutual emotional support over the dying father, and then, of each other physically: 'Can I sleep in here tonight?' At the end, knowing the worst scenario, and finally privy to 'the grown-up truth', 'pride' is a real twist, and yet, very universal.

Comment is about Mother's girl (blog)

Original item by fiona sinclair

well, Philip, as you can see I haven't, in fact I've got loads and loads of gigs all over the place, which means the public isn't as apathetic towards me as you'd obviously like :)


A

Comment is about ALBANIA! My Glastonwick festival! And LOADS and LOADS of gigs (blog)

Original item by Attila the Stockbroker

The review is a bit long-winded, but it does cover some good points.

In my opinion, we are now completing a full circle back to the bards of ancient years, the oral traditions in all cultures, mostly minus the musical instrument. 'Performance poetry' can be, and often is, barely more than prose turned/versed as the performer pleases, according to audience feedback. What exactly makes it poetry, except that the performer says it is so, and the audience doesn't object? I think the 'open-mic' piece really should be 'a poem' with the basic skills of poetry crafting well observed, a 'work' that would be recognizable as 'a poem' on paper. What we really need is a completely NEW WORD to cover these performances. And concrete tuition in the theatrical presentation of a one-man show.

The above scenario is entirely separate from the gatherings of like-minded people who share their poetry in a spirit of friendship and mutual criticism. Such meetings, long in existence below the academic radar, are becoming more high profile in our popular culture.

Perhaps, the ideal is an 'open-mic' practice session, a 'stop-and-start again' idea where the participants are interactive. Then, the actual open-mic performance would be of much higher quality. These sessions would be at a level far below the current Slams, not competitive, more inclusive.

Comment is about Live Poetry: An Integrated Approach to Poetry in Performance by Julia Novak (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Thank you, Stef, wasn't too sure about this one, so good to get feedback. xxx

Comment is about Forgotten Hero (blog)

Original item by Lynn Dye

Enjoyable Harry,

'beloved mass of masonry' is a nice alliterative turn of phrase. I like the idea that in some way we are the buildings, or they are a part of us. In some sense of course the latter is true.

Obviously I'm not religious and though I note you don't account for us atheists in your third verse lol j/k...I do like your use of language. Oddly the use of the word gods in the plural, rather than the singular can allow for the consideration of Everton and Liverpool football clubs. Not sure if you deliberately considered multiple interpretations here, but it is a nice thought :)

One thing I would add by way of subjective criticism;

Personally I would either lose the last verse or rework some of its lines to create an earlier verse. It could be just me, but I think you have your killer last line at the end of your penultimate verse.

Loyal...(but in our Liverpudlian way). In the setting of that verse is very good and I can't see you ending on a higher or indeed more wry/apt note than that.

Best

Chris

Comment is about A SCOUSE CONGRATULATION (blog)

Hello Cynthia. I didn't know that about it/Id. So thanks for that.I like the idea of subplots/buried meaning, though I'd have to say that's not what subplots are generally supposed to mean.

Comment is about it (blog)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

well spotted Winston now been sorted

Comment is about Blog (blog)

Original item by Chris Lawrence

Good response Cynthia! x

Comment is about it (blog)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

I really like this - can identify with parts of it too.

I like how it moves through from the vulnerability and pain of the childhood, to the knowledge and understanding of the adult. Funny how the power dynamic shifts as you get older isn't it?

Comment is about Mother's girl (blog)

Original item by fiona sinclair

Eh, and cheeky - I bloody well don't laugh at the bosses jokes! ;p He doesn't know any, for a start!

Comment is about Tommy Carroll (poet profile)

Original item by Tommy Carroll

Wow Tommy what a poem the last verse especially. Your poetry is breathtaking!

Comment is about On stolen sheets (blog)

Original item by Tommy Carroll

And for my experience of your poem "becomes" is better as these last few words describes the man's relationship now, the rest of the poem relating the "before " of his story.

Comment is about A Lady's dismissal (blog)

Original item by Tommy Carroll

Oh this is really good Tommy, brilliantly clever imagery.
You have woven the start and end of a relationship from just a few short verses.
The steamy hot flush of new love: your names inside hearts on windows, which are altered and changed by the temperature drying out causing condensation "tears" to dribble down the window and the "smile becomes a snear"
True poetry.

Comment is about A Lady's dismissal (blog)

Original item by Tommy Carroll

Another peach in your collection John, I've decided to read one of your poems a day to cheer me up. You should make a CD it would be a big hit. I'd definitely order one!

Comment is about Mammaries Are Made Of This (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

Im a bit sheepish to admit but this is so funny-ewe definately have a brilliant sense of humour matched only by your craftsmanship skill. Parody on I 'm loving it!

Thank you also for the lovely comments on my dittys-I wasn't up early just not gone to sleep. Got carried away with reading these wonderful poems. This site is just amazing. It's like a window has opeñed into a world of beautiful places to explore.

Comment is about I Got Ewe Babe (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

Where Chris?

Comment is about Blog (blog)

Original item by Chris Lawrence

David, thanks very much for your encouraging words on Hope Cross. Kind of you to say my writing is going "from strength to strength" - my walking certainly isn't! Keep us posted with your launch/publication date.

Comment is about David Cooke (poet profile)

Original item by David Cooke

Sad and very well written Lynn.
lots of improvements in your poems lately.

Keep it up girly!xx

Comment is about Forgotten Hero (blog)

Original item by Lynn Dye

A very worthy read.

We loved it.

Comment is about Mother's girl (blog)

Original item by fiona sinclair

Nice poem. I think the beginning and end are better than the middle.

like sucking venom from snake bite,

I think if you can avoid "like" in this context then you should - I think you can.

orchards and fields of his office - that's great.

"detected" lying sounds, I don't know, inauthentic somehow. "or lying"?

the ramshackle un-saleable house - sounds better?

I like the way you finish the poem, how the daughter all of a sudden achieves equality, adulthood.

Comment is about Mother's girl (blog)

Original item by fiona sinclair

I really like this, Ann, reminded me of reading Rebecca some years ago, and I admire the descriptions and contrasts you portray. xx

Comment is about Waiting for Maxim . . . (blog)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

...PPS Also I just wanted to be the 9,000th visit to your site.

Comment is about Laura Taylor (poet profile)

Original item by Laura Taylor

Laura I know you avoid 'correspondence' and like to be evasive and on the whole don't give a damn about practically everything... but you are quickly becoming my favorite person in the world.
So keep it up and 'rage, rage against the dying of the light'.
Tommy
PS I also know you giggle at the bosses jokes.
A-hem.

Comment is about Laura Taylor (poet profile)

Original item by Laura Taylor

We loved it all Joshua
especially the last three lines.

Comment is about The Night (blog)

Original item by Joshua Van-Cook

Thanks for the comments on Tea Party it is a biographical snippet of the mad hatter world my mind sometimes inhabits with the dark chaos echoed in Carrol's Alice. I don't know the Jefferson song but love early genesis and yes and the feel of the way they are written crept in to my delight.

Your poetry styles are amazing in texture, scope and design. Brilliantly crafted. I am really enjoying reading them.

Comment is about Tommy Carroll (poet profile)

Original item by Tommy Carroll

I wouldn't ever consider myself an ardent monarchist. I don't buy into how tough a job it is. They fight wars to keep the throne, so the benfits must be pretty good.
On the other hand I am in some difficulty when I suggest an alternative state figurehead - David Cameron is the obvious choice, or Cameron/Clegg? or Ed Milliband? or someone non-political? David Beckham, perhaps? Katy Price? You see the problem.

Comment is about Sixty poems to mark Queen's 60 years (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Thanks both of you. Maxin de Winter is the not really very nice hero in the Daphne du Maurier book Rebecca. The Housel Bay Hotel has a du Maurier feel to it (from the outside anyway, I've never been inside.) It's on the Lizard where I've just spent a couple of weeks. M de W was my idea of a smoothy kind of guy, and I could imagine meeting such a chap in this rather 1930s oppulance - but would be happier camping with a thermos flask (and a nicer chap)I'm sure :)

Comment is about Waiting for Maxim . . . (blog)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

The obvious is just that - often derided through ignorance, curious to relate.
The system here is all about checks and balances and if some people are unable to understand that, then they do not see the obvious...that it works! The preference for
what is chosen elsewhere is not relevant.
Even the Yanks agree: If it ain't broke, don't fix it...past, present or future.

Comment is about Sixty poems to mark Queen's 60 years (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

a great review! and if Dominic says someone's good, he is.

Review is about WRITE ANGLE POETRY & MUSIC +OPEN MIC on 15 May 2012 (event)

Indeedy Isobel

Mike - that's a massive over-reaction to pointing out a small typo. I point them out all the time. Don't you want to know if you got something wrong? Cos I sure as shit do. And the verse that distracts - well, that's how it affects Ray. Everyone is affected differently. Tbh - that's the biggest response to anyone posting on your poems that I've ever seen you do.

Disable comments if you don't want them. I used to be a bit prickly over critiques but these days I've progressed and actively seek them out.

Comment is about Insignia (blog)

If I were going to preserve something, I'd stick it in an air tight container. On here, you have the option of disabling comments. If you leave comments enabled, then you are inviting a response from anyone who reads the poem. That response could be positive or negative. It's great when it's a positive - but if not, a lot depends on the tone. Some people post on here to get genuine critique and meaningful feedback - it takes a while to suss out who those people are and some times we all make mistakes.

Comments that are downright abusive will be removed. In fact we all have the power to remove comments from our work. If a poet is only seeking positive feedback, perhaps they should leave a comment to say so...

Comment is about Insignia (blog)

What about - the subtle meanings that creep through our choices of figurative ideas/specific word usage - that often reveal far more about ourselves than we realize? 'it' is the original Latin meaning of 'id'... just plain old 'it' ...undefinable ... Freud was a clever bloke.

Steve and Ray, I'm thinking that we aren't in sync with the idea of 'subplots' as being 'buried meaning.) What is your definition? And I'm open to suggestions always.

Comment is about it (blog)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

You can always tell someone who never thinks past the obvious by the way they always seem to think that any 'republic' that might happen would be like the previous one in England. As if we live in the age of the Puritans...

Ireland seems to do OK without kings, queens and all that paraphernalia. So does most of Europe. And America does pretty well...

Oh but we couldn't possibly be part of Europe... whatever next?

Comment is about Sixty poems to mark Queen's 60 years (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

I post stuff on this site mainly to preserve it and if other people take enjoyment out of it then that's an added bonus. I have no ego problem at all, but i sometimes find it incredible how certain members dissect other people's poems and then critique them in a way that i would find extremely patronizing. No offence taken, i assure you. please feel free to delete this comment after you've read it.

Comment is about Insignia (blog)

Thank you Lucy ... :)

http://wytchewoode.co.uk

Comment is about Once I Loved You (blog)

Original item by Steven Dark

John
I really love. "Ikea" (your poem not the shop I hasten to add!)

You write brilliant poetry it is so well structured, paced and crafted, and this is absolutely hilarious.

I was looking around for a poetry group and stumbled upon write aloud and yours was the first poem I read and thus I joined.

You are a bard in its truest sense.

Comment is about John Coopey (poet profile)

Original item by John Coopey