Yeah David and Goliath. That's it. Spot on.

Comment is about David and Goliath (blog)

Original item by Steve White

I have some sympathy with the views expressed here - but that
is the privilege of being a mouldy oldie. I spent a while looking
out of my bathroom window overlooking the street yesterday
waiting for a non-arriving mail delivery, and saw a number
of fancy dress costumed kids pass by. None bothered to ring
any of the doorbells here. Suits me! 😋

Comment is about LITTLE BASTARDS (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

Many thanks for all the readers who liked this: Red Brick, Hugh, New Shoes, Holden and Helene.

Thanks for that Graham - I sweated myself over those lines as a matter of fact.

I'm pleased you liked this Greg - it's good when the moon sails free to show itself all griss to the hunter.

Thanks for your appreciation Stephen..

Ray

Comment is about HUNTER'S MOON (blog)

Original item by ray pool

In response, there is no exclusivity when it comes to hypocrisy.

Comment is about The tiger sniffs the rose (blog)

Original item by John E Marks

Thank you Massoud. I can imagine that. We civilians are hypocrites indeed. We rely on the 'rough men' to protect us during war and don't give a damn about them in peacetime.

“Dark clouds are smouldering into red
While down the craters morning burns.
The dying soldier shifts his head
To watch the glory that returns:
He lifts his fingers toward the skies
Where holy brightness breaks in flame;
Radiance reflected in his eyes,
And on his lips a whispered name.”
― Siegfried Sassoon,

Comment is about The tiger sniffs the rose (blog)

Original item by John E Marks

Thanks for all your likes
Holden
K. Lynn
Stephen G
Hugh
Red Brick Keshner
New Shoes
Moonlight
and
Auracle.

Comment is about Love in Hibernation (blog)

Original item by Nigel Astell

A short pithy teratment of an old theme. Neat.

Comment is about Us (blog)

Original item by w3sko

Thank you very much, Hélène. Peace seems further away than ever; perhaps evil, in all its forms, has to be confronted first.

And thanks to Frederick and Purplemoon.

Comment is about Circus (blog)

Original item by Stephen Gospage

November rides in, bringing with it a sense of foreboding that sits in the pit of my stomach until it rides out again. Its rider having dulled the edge of his sword on too many old mens memories.

Your beautifully sad poem reminds me of these things. Of our own isolation from much of society, some of it self imposed some of it cruelly engineered.

What saddens me is that I imagine many people believe men like me revel in war (some do) I despise it having lived its reality and sometimes its necessity, that necessity is almost always due to the failure of men who do not fight, who then afterwards look upon us as savages and hateful beings.

War is evil and repellent but it taught me to love, imagine that.

Thank you for your excellent words.

Comment is about The tiger sniffs the rose (blog)

Original item by John E Marks

This gives a nice representation of the hearts affinity over the mind

Comment is about Heart Wisdom (blog)

Original item by Hélène

Are you inferring that the thought of falling in love again along with the messes of life can be literally lost by having your nose in a book?

Or are the "pages" a metaphor for life and the desire for love is lost in the minds shifting states of madness?

Comment is about For the love of Poetry. (blog)

Original item by Jordyn Elizabeth

This is all so deeply sad. Prompted by what's happening I re-read The Second Coming recently, Yeats sounds more relevant now than ever.

Comment is about The beast of war (blog)

Original item by Greg Freeman

A topical treat - ho-ho.
But, in passing......
I once used Warfarin but now this old man
Is thinning his blood with Rivaroxoban!! 😋

Comment is about Halloween (blog)

Original item by hugh

Has there ever been a time when conflict did not exist somewhere in the world? Modern science has added to the
tally and the means of bringing these things to wider attention,
with the very worrying contrast between the horror at what
is happening and the corresponding real horror of "compassion
fatigue" that repeated exposure to awful events can create...
when "not again" takes on a tone of exhausted patience.

Comment is about The beast of war (blog)

Original item by Greg Freeman

LOVE it! The repetitive format is well done, using its eternal
theme in convincing style, with the plus of a neat conclusion.

Comment is about Love (blog)

Original item by Tim Higbee

Hugh - thanks for taking the time to "like" this entry.

Comment is about YOU SMILED (blog)

Original item by M.C. Newberry

Hi Helene - many thanks for the appreciation - and delighted you
enjoyed the recording. I have some family living in Oakland,
a marriage involving the eldest son of my late sister's marriage
to a US WW2 vet. from Louisiana. I hope to be in touch again
with Pete Dymond shortly and will enquire about the "set up" for this recording. Watch this space! 😃

Comment is about YOU SMILED (blog)

Original item by M.C. Newberry

Thank you Stephen

Comment is about 15 Minutes (blog)

Original item by Mike Bartram

Seize the day Stephen, Seize the day

Comment is about Until then...... (blog)

Original item by JD Russell

Glad I made you smile Moonlight sometimes love can be hidden away - - - perhaps never to wake up💗

Comment is about Love in Hibernation (blog)

Original item by Nigel Astell

Looking forward coast all clear
Moving ahead secrets gone
Good luck and warm wishes
You seem in full control.❤

Comment is about Best of luck!💐 (blog)

Original item by Sunshine

Thanks Stephen for another poem that helps us look at and process our sadness and helpessness about never-ending wars. Thanks also to Greg for well-stated comment: "Both causes are just, in their different ways. That is the terrifying problem in the case of Israel and Palestine." When my 40-year-old son was a young kid, he and his friends would jokingly greet each other by lifting their fingers in the peace sign & say "peace in the Middle East." A prayer that continues today...

Comment is about Circus (blog)

Original item by Stephen Gospage

This is a wonderful song! Kudos from an old gal in California (moi). If you feel like it MC, would be interested in recording details (eg Dymond on vocals, were the instruments (guitar, etc?) live in the studio or synthesized?) I know very little about music or recording thereof, but my adult son has recorded a bit at a studio here in Cali and I find it quite interesting. Thank you for sharing such a lovely lyrical song poem.

Comment is about YOU SMILED (blog)

Original item by M.C. Newberry

It's like reading the Old Testament and just shows how so little has changed over the centuries. Mortifyingly sad!

Comment is about The beast of war (blog)

Original item by Greg Freeman

A striking image, Greg. Sadly, this beast seems unstoppable at the moment. Too many people think violence is the way to solve their problems, and there are too many cheerleaders for war and terror around the world. The last two lines give us hope, though.

Comment is about The beast of war (blog)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Graham - that's a perceptive comment. When I read it again, I see exactly what you mean, although it was not my explicit intention.
In most conflicts, there is a clean up and reconstruction afterwards, although not paid for those responsible for the destruction in the first place. The 'polluter pays' principle rarely applies in war, even where strenuous efforts are made to implement it.

Greg - Yes, the aspirations of both sides are just. The moral dilemma with regard to Gaza is insoluble. When I talk about multiplying excuses, I mean that some people (e.g. Ukrainians) have better excuses for inflicting casualties than others.
But in the end, each death or wounding is tragic. Such is the pity of war.

Thanks to both of you for these comments, which make me think more deeply about the poem.

And thanks to Hugh, K Lynn and Manish for the likes.

Comment is about Circus (blog)

Original item by Stephen Gospage

Both causes are just, in their different ways. That is the terrifying problem in the case of Israel and Palestine. This argument was expounded by a British journalist who is also Jewish.

Comment is about Circus (blog)

Original item by Stephen Gospage

To TH/HM/SG/JC and RBK - many thanks for the "likes". They
make it worth the effort.

Comment is about YOU SMILED (blog)

Original item by M.C. Newberry

Stephen, I read this several times and each time it sounded in my head like news headlines. I don't know whether that was your intention or not.

the two lines that I keep going back to are these.

'Death queues for its daily spoils.
Someone always cleans up afterwards'.

Comment is about Circus (blog)

Original item by Stephen Gospage

Beautifully written, John.

Comment is about Something Found (blog)

Original item by John E Marks

Nicely written and rhymed, JD. Carpe Diem, I think.

Comment is about Until then...... (blog)

Original item by JD Russell

I suppose it's marginally better than him being on Russia Today, or is it?

Comment is about Somewhere close to Westminster Bridge, October 2023, lines written on hearing of a new presenter on GB News. (blog)

Original item by R A Porter

A fine poem, Mike. Children are the innocent victims of all wars.

Comment is about 15 Minutes (blog)

Original item by Mike Bartram

A positive poem for these sad times, Hélène. Thank you.

Comment is about Heart Wisdom (blog)

Original item by Hélène

Very nice thanks Greg. But let's not forget the close relationship with music in the poem.

Comment is about Dissenter, mariner, spy, journalist, poet: the remarkable life of Basil Bunting (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Thank you Greg & M.C. I really shouldn’t let him get to me, but he does…

Comment is about Somewhere close to Westminster Bridge, October 2023, lines written on hearing of a new presenter on GB News. (blog)

Original item by R A Porter

Thank you Greg. I was in the kitchen. When I heard, I looked at my wife and involuntarily said “Not Bobby?” before tears started to form. Living in Manchester with two older brothers who supported United (apologies all,but in Manchester there really is only one), one of whom was at Wembley for the ‘68 European Cup Final, I grew up immersed in the romance of the club of that era. The Busby Babes were present in my life from a very early age and, because my brothers told me, I knew that Duncan Edwards was the greatest of all time. The names “Charlton, Law and Best” were scrawled on pencil cases and school exercise book covers. My first red football shirt had a white number 7 on the back and in my imagination I was always Georgie Best, dribbling between plant pots and hammering in shots from impossible angles. I idolised Bobby too, but his image as the quiet, modest, balding genius didn’t have quite the same appeal as George. Family holidays as a kid were spent driving between camp sites around Europe in my Dad’s less-than-reliable 1963 Singer Vogue. The 1967 trip was an epic odyssey, crossing the Alps in Austria and eventually reaching Yugoslavia. Wherever we travelled and whoever we met along the way from shopkeepers to Police officers (usually when the car broke down) the word “Manchester” would elicit smiles and the responses “Manchester United!” and “Bobby Charlton!” Even aged 6 it made me proud. Proud of where I came from, proud of who I supported - and proud of Bobby. Twenty years on, when I worked with him on a project for the Bobby Charlton Soccer School it was an absolute privilege although I was completely tongue-tied. Understated, shy, polite, but with a flash of steel in those blue eyes that was a testament to his inner strength and that astonishing life. I loved him. Thank you Bobby, Rest In Peace.

Comment is about Farewell, Sir Bobby (blog)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Mad Nads will be over the moon. Not only Wordsworth, Shelley would probably have something to say about this, too. Nice work.

Comment is about Somewhere close to Westminster Bridge, October 2023, lines written on hearing of a new presenter on GB News. (blog)

Original item by R A Porter

Thank you Stephen. I’ve given up trying to argue with such views. It’s an impossible task with some people. That’s why this poem is so curt.

Thanks also for the likes from Holden, Manish and Red Brick Keshner.

Comment is about We The People (blog)

Original item by John Gilbert Ellis

"Lying still"? Not yet he's not. But time will tell. I admire the
skill here but have reservations about the overall theme in the
context of the failures endemic in MSM.

Comment is about Somewhere close to Westminster Bridge, October 2023, lines written on hearing of a new presenter on GB News. (blog)

Original item by R A Porter

Thank you, John and Uilleam. Yes, it was quite a tough first day at work, but the solidarity of the postal workers was humbling.

And thanks to Nigel, Graham, Greg, Frederick, Hélène, Holden, John and Manish for liking.

Comment is about Don't Mess With The Post (blog)

Original item by Stephen Gospage

Superb, Ray. Atmospheric and slightly disturbing.

Comment is about HUNTER'S MOON (blog)

Original item by ray pool

Well put, John. A good response to climate change deniers ('the science is divided, mate, it says so on You Tube') and people who (still) claim that the moon landings never happened.

Comment is about We The People (blog)

Original item by John Gilbert Ellis

Some seem to be desperate to have something to be desperate about! I particularly like the closing line in your contribution.

Comment is about Disgusting messages (blog)

Original item by Sunshine

Two way communication
Fills those gaps
That misleading choices
Begin taking you
Totally different paths.❤

Comment is about Spectacles (blog)

Original item by Sunshine

This poem made me smile. Silently loving a person and never confessing could be confusing....love in hibernation 🌷

Comment is about Love in Hibernation (blog)

Original item by Nigel Astell

Gloom and despair makes a person happy....lol!

Totally agree with you Nigel 👍

Comment is about Disgusting messages (blog)

Original item by Sunshine

Thanks JC. My own test for my compositions in song is whether
the work bears repeated successive listenings by yours truly.
Using that "test", it remains a favourite of mine. Pete Dymond
did a grand job with the vocal and recording at his studio in
Bristol.

Comment is about YOU SMILED (blog)

Original item by M.C. Newberry

Those that send
Messages filled with
Gloom and despair
Themselves have nothing
Else to do.❤

Comment is about Disgusting messages (blog)

Original item by Sunshine

Excellent refrain, Ray. Seasonal words that get us in the mood for Halloween as well.

Comment is about HUNTER'S MOON (blog)

Original item by ray pool