Hi Patrick . Welcome to WOL. Hope you enjoy the site. Winston

Comment is about Patrick Widdess (poet profile)

Original item by Patrick Widdess

Hi Kieran Welcome to WOL, Good set at WOL Sale the other night. Keep rocking! Winston

Comment is about Kieren King (poet profile)

Original item by Kieren King

I really like the story in this. Great work!

Comment is about The Continuing Story of John the Hat (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

Wow! what a bio. Welcome to WOL.

Comment is about Kat Francois (poet profile)

Original item by Kat Francois

A lovely wistful snapshot, although wondering drily doesn't work for me.

Comment is about The Hope Chest (blog)

Original item by Rachel McGladdery

It's very complex, often contradictory, with loaded allusions. I don't necessarily see Steve's metaphor. I wonder whose 'Hope' chest it really is, the significance of the 'brailled blind' exactly, and why the key is 'hidden' as opposed to lost by the poet, 'I'. And how did 'grit' get into a sealed chest? I guess you are in an attic generally disinfected with 'camphor' somewhere in 'apple' country; or maybe you are storing apples over the winter in hemp baskets. Or 'apples' are homey-thought inducers. Where did the 'grease' come from? Love you Rachel. Wonderful to have you posting again.

Comment is about The Hope Chest (blog)

Original item by Rachel McGladdery

Freedup is on the 19, May. I must have misheard last night. I am in; see you there. Thanks for the encouragement to be part of this gig.

Comment is about Dominic Berry (poet profile)

Original item by Dominic Berry

That is the Picasso 'Aperitif' which I wrote about. Winston was in Sale last night, and he suggested it might be a good one. I'm a bit apprehensive - but it sort of suits. Not that I look anything like that, but still - it kinda suits.

Comment is about Ann Foxglove (poet profile)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

Hi Anna, Send your deets to thom@royaldaylight.co.uk and I'll post you the prize. It's been collecting dust on my bookcase for months... at least I hope that's where it is. Thom

Comment is about Anna Percy (poet profile)

Original item by Anna Percy

I love this Marianne, great gollops of fab poetry! Solid with fluid imagery! Wonderfull!!

Comment is about The Wreckers (blog)

Original item by Marianne Daniels

And I knew that you knew that Rachel McG wasn't a thick fakester - nor me for that matter. I just like to make trouble...

Comment is about The Hope Chest (blog)

Original item by Rachel McGladdery

Yes, but she IS your muse after all! xx

Comment is about Minerva (blog)

Original item by Crackling

Hey! Great piccie!!! xx

Comment is about Cynthia Buell Thomas (poet profile)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

The trouble with being a smart arse is that one is often misinterpreted. Of course, I don't think R McG is a "thick fakester"! I am a fan of hers.

However, thick fakesters certainly do abound - on the poetry scene as in life generally.

Comment is about The Hope Chest (blog)

Original item by Rachel McGladdery

Tee hee, I asked for that! Thanks Steve, along with Russell Grant, you really do know me better than I know myself ;)

Comment is about The Hope Chest (blog)

Original item by Rachel McGladdery

enjoyed your sample poem, Kat. Hope there is more to come x

Comment is about Kat Francois (poet profile)

Original item by Kat Francois

LOL - who you callin a thick fakester then?

Comment is about The Hope Chest (blog)

Original item by Rachel McGladdery

It's a highly symbolic poem - basically about ... 'If I could open it / Hope would fly free'.

So there's the central metaphor, and with it the unspoken criticism about how (some of us, at certain times) must content ourselves with "tracing round the carvings".

This poem shows it's unsettling to be a modern poet - even for those fakesters who are too thick ever to be true poets.

Comment is about The Hope Chest (blog)

Original item by Rachel McGladdery

I am such a fool I had no idea I won! Cynthia told me this evening at WOL in Sale! I am ecstatic! and where do I email for my prize I can't use outlook.

Comment is about Childhood Competition - And The Winner Is... (blog)

Original item by Tom

Hello I am so sorry I only found out this evening at a wol event in Sale that I had won! I must check write out loud more often, I am honoured! and also since I don't use outlook I couldn't access the email in order to email my address claim my prize...

Comment is about Childhood Recollection (blog)

Original item by Anna Percy

haha - sounds rather like Mr Black

Comment is about Minerva (blog)

Original item by Crackling

what nicer compliment could I ask for - you're too kind Cyn - but many thanks :)
(our lot)

Comment is about Cynthia Buell Thomas (poet profile)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

Thanks you two, Isobel you certainly can, we can swing our legs together :) xxx

Comment is about The Hope Chest (blog)

Original item by Rachel McGladdery

Hi Cynthia - thanks for the comment over 'lost shadows' there was a typo on the last line where servants should have been said instead of the second shadows.. must have been more tired than i originally realised when i blogged it before.. oops... but anyway, glad you liked it.. i wrote it under workshop conditions so it was wrote pretty quickly, and considering i am delighted with the end results.. hope you are good x

Comment is about Cynthia Buell Thomas (poet profile)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

Hi Cynthia - there was a typo on the last line where servants should have been said instead of the second shadows.. must have been more tired than i originally realised when i blogged it before.. oops... hope you are good x

Comment is about Lost Shadows (blog)

Original item by Andy N

Sad but lovely Rachel. Should I sit on the chest and keep you company?

Can't pick out a favourite bit - just like the way it flows and the subtlety of the ending. xx

Comment is about The Hope Chest (blog)

Original item by Rachel McGladdery

Enjoyed this, Rachel, especially Beeswax breath and the surprise ending (-:

Comment is about The Hope Chest (blog)

Original item by Rachel McGladdery

Hi again. I have been rearanging your words. Have a look here -

http://www.writeoutloud.net/public/blogentry.php?blogentryid=20688

what do you think?

Win

Comment is about Modern Imperfections (blog)

Original item by Kealan Coady

A superb poem, Ann, full of your own, very special, observances and imagination. I did so like 'settling amongst a spangle of flowers'; it just drips music.

Comment is about the king and queen (blog)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

Always a mind-bender, aren't you, Kealan? Since I would have loved this titled 'The dark attacks', would you enlarge on your reasoning for 'Vanguard' which is very good. I'm presuming 'dark' can go anywhere in meaning. And how long is a 'thought'; I've often wondered myself.

Comment is about Vanguard (blog)

Original item by Kealan Coady

Many, many fine images and whole lines here, Andy. Your opening stanza is a striking thought-catcher. IMO, I might leave off the last two lines, or perhaps rearrange them, leaving only two words 'like shadows' as the ending. I'm glad you acknowledged A W's poem.

Comment is about Lost Shadows (blog)

Original item by Andy N

Very witty; sounded like a great night out. How many is 'too many'/

Comment is about What do you get if you cross a cat with a weazle? A: |cat x weazle x sin (theta)|, where theta is the angle between (article)

Hi Isobel; - I really like this. There's a lot unsaid with this piece, and for me I didn't feel anything to do with love or romantic disappointment... sadness over something but not them.

Like in particular 'Hollow rattle' here but it's a well worked out piece certainly with a perfectly pitched ending. x

Comment is about Untitled (blog)

Original item by Isobel

Love this Cynthia. My poetry at 13 were mostly terrible, but I think this is really charming.

Thanks for your help on my piece at Poetica the other week. I've now managed to finish re-re-editing that piece and it should be on here
over the next week or so. x

Comment is about Sunset (blog)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

Excellent, Kealan. One of the best of yours I've seen for a while. Particularly like the conclusion here.

Comment is about Vanguard (blog)

Original item by Kealan Coady

Loved this poem. Had the privilege of seeing 6 choughs together 9 years ago (if memory serves) near the Lizard. Later, was told that was the entire population of Cornwall, and it was only their second year back. It's great that people are looking after them. Thank you!

Comment is about the king and queen (blog)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

Hello Greg
Thanks for the comments on Betty's. You're right about Harrogate. I think it was the original. There are about 5 now though, with 2 in York. You're also right about the genteel ambience. I imagine Betty's to be rather like the old Lyons tea houses - not that I remember them of course!

Comment is about Greg Freeman (poet profile)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Welcome to WOL from me, too, Kat. You will like this site. I look forward to sharing your work.

Comment is about Kat Francois (poet profile)

Original item by Kat Francois

Hi Kat, Welcome to WOL. Hope you like what you find on here. Winston

Comment is about Kat Francois (poet profile)

Original item by Kat Francois

I've just spent a week "guarding" and monitoring the pair of choughs on the Lizard with a group of RSPB volunteers. Had the most wonderful time! Choughs rock!!

Comment is about the king and queen (blog)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

Francine is correct - there is no title cos I didn't want a title. Thanks for reading anwyay. x

Comment is about Untitled (blog)

Original item by Isobel

What a charming way of describing sunset - most original and stunning from a 13 yr old!

It is so well observed also - I love the 'salmon streaked horizon' - that is exactly the colour we see.

Comment is about Sunset (blog)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

Yay - to prosper and flourish they may have to look after their eggs a little better, I would have thought...

I do love the sense of freedom you capture in your poem Ann - oh for the wings of a chough eh?

Comment is about the king and queen (blog)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

thank you dearest Annie
(soft closure) xx

Comment is about Ann Foxglove (poet profile)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

Diolch, Dave, am eich sylwadau caredig.x

Comment is about Dave Bradley (poet profile)

Original item by Dave Bradley

thank you Greg, yes, thinking about that little bit of heaven on earth that is a bluebell wood here in the Dales did help. I took mum some bluebells from the garden into hospital but don't think she was able to see them as she wasn't really conscious of much but who knows? maybe the scent of them reached her, i hope so. I like that tune very much too, i used to play it on the flute (an old wooden one ala Matt Molloy style)thanks again,Debx

Comment is about Greg Freeman (poet profile)

Original item by Greg Freeman

There's a Ted Hughes element to this, Ann. I like "passion hard as arrows" and "raw cave" in particular. I joined the RSPB on the spot a few years ago after seeing choughs at South Stack in Anglesey.

Comment is about the king and queen (blog)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

So much to like about this poem - loved especially the carmine beaks and choughs so much in discussion at the moment - didn't know they ate ants though seems so insubstantial - may they be forever chuffed - I suppose they can fly off occasionally with eggs safer in caves than outside birds - makes you think this poem x

Comment is about the king and queen (blog)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

It's a really visual piece - I really like it - i liked the structure and the way it was laid out - some great use of language - really sits in the imagination

James

Comment is about My Wheel Two Love (blog)

Original item by Alison Smiles