Really liked this.
Cx

Comment is about Rites Of Spring (blog)

Original item by Tom Harding

But who needs a bear when they've a stuffed monkey in their pocket? Tut. Kids these days, they want it all.

Comment is about Childhood Recollection (blog)

Original item by Anna Percy

Yes I do agree with you Isobel about not just posting but commenting on others. That's what i've always done and it's a main reason why I don't post that often - because it is wrong not to read other people's stuff and comment on it in a supportive way, and I don't always have time to do this properly. If you don't like it at all, best not to comment, I'd say - unless it;s actually offensive in some way and you feel really strongly the need to comment anyway, but it can and should be done maturely - not something everyone is capable of on here sadly, altho no doubt they consider themselves well-endowed intellectually!

Comment is about Isobel (poet profile)

Original item by Isobel

A very enjoyable read - thanks.

Comment is about Rites Of Spring (blog)

Original item by Tom Harding

Thanks for commenting on my La dee da dee da poem. With all these wonderful site changes, it looks like I'll soon have nothing to write or complain about! Will have to start writing serious poetry then! x

Comment is about Gus Jonsson (poet profile)

Original item by Gus Jonsson

Thanks for commenting on La dee da dee da Elaine; it was a bit of silliness inspired by a very boring night in. It seems to have struck some chords though. Hope to see you around :) x

Comment is about Elaine (poet profile)

Original item by Elaine

Emma, thanks for your comments. Wonderful to hear that you have a collection published. Best wishes to you. x

Comment is about Emma McCourty (poet profile)

Original item by Emma McCourty

Hi Greg congratulations on being poem of the month worthy prize winner great stuff

Comment is about Greg Freeman (poet profile)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Hi Gus
Many thanks for your response to my comments on Raged the Wind.
Good to hear you keep in touch with Augusta. She was, in fact, something of an inspiration for me when I did Cradle, my latest blog. I tried to capture some of that sense of "oooo..err" she puts into her mysteries.

Comment is about Gus Jonsson (poet profile)

Original item by Gus Jonsson

Hi John


Thanks for the tip re Augusta... Dont worry on that score ... we are very close.

Thank you so much for the wonderful and extremely flattering comments made to my poem.

‘Raged the Wind’

The catalyst for the poem was one of trying to capture a moment before the world as we know it through history and geology actually deciding to render up the spark that began the development of life. To the dizzy heights and progress of today’s Homo sapiens in let’s say for example in Wigan today.

Once again many thanks for taking the time to read and comment I very much appreciate it.

Gus

Comment is about John Coopey (poet profile)

Original item by John Coopey

Hi Laura

You thought you could hear the wind... Believe me thats possible I should never go near brussel sprouts before i settle down to write an epic.

Thank you so much for the wonderful and extremely flattering comments made to my poem.

‘Raged the Wind’

The catalyst for the poem was one of trying to capture a moment before the world as we know it through history and geology actually deciding to render up the spark that began the development of life. To the dizzy heights and progress of today’s Homo sapiens in let’s say for example in Wigan today.

Once again many thanks for taking the time to read and comment I very much appreciate it.

Gus xx

Comment is about Laura Taylor (poet profile)

Original item by Laura Taylor

Afternoon Isobel

I used to be a bouncer at Mothercare...

Thank you so much for the wonderful and extremely flattering comments made to my poem.

‘Raged the Wind’

The catalyst for the poem was one of trying to capture a moment before the world as we know it through history and geology actually deciding to render up the spark that began the development of life. To the dizzy heights and progress of today’s Homo sapiens in let’s say for example in Wigan today.

Once again many thanks for taking the time to read and comment I very much appreciate it.

Gus xx

Comment is about Isobel (poet profile)

Original item by Isobel

This is very good Dermot.
"what’s the use in still having feelings? Still, standing close, I feel, but I try to go numb.
AHW XXXXX

Comment is about Standing close (blog)

Original item by Dermot Glennon

i love the last stanza. excellent poem.

Comment is about Stuffed (blog)

Brrrr.... my, it's cold in there :-)

Reminds me of a scene from Paradise Lost in moments where the devil wins.x

Comment is about Raged a Wind (blog)

Original item by Gus Jonsson

Thanks for the comments.

Philipos.It's a fascinating subject to me. There really was a belief that the splendour of the old asylums would raise the spirits of the inmates.Appearances and reality, eh? Can a sign not request?

Elaine. It's nice to see one's subtleties noticed! Ta.

Ann. At my age, a measured pace and dignity means everything.

Isobel. These days there isn't even a pretence to external magnificence!

Jules. I'm talking about the old asylums. What do you think I'm talking about?

Comment is about Stuffed (blog)

Enjoyable read. Love the line 'each time you lie, a bit of your soul dies'.. it gives it a dark edge ;-)

Comment is about Lies (blog)

I was just about to say that the Macleod reference is whiskey and you went and beat me to it Dave :-)
I read this on Tuesday and didn't have time to comment.

I love the references, too many good ones to pick out but if i had to choose one it would be the Mcavity one because it reminds me of my junior school days and my headmaster who loved reading poetry to us.x

Comment is about Burns Night (blog)

Original item by Dave Carr

I love the intrigue this portrays for me. Nice one Ann :-)

Comment is about like paper (blog)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

Well done Marianne, i love this ;-)
I agree with Dave Carr, the words do knit well together.

The Sestina form always reminds me of John Clays. You may have met him on the circuit. He's written loads of 'em and they always go down well when read at venues too.x

Comment is about Reading (Sestina) (blog)

Original item by Marianne Daniels

Very romantic. Here's one in return.

My Flower of Hope

You are my cyclamen
My oasis in the desert
Blushing with life, breathing, pulsating
Yet still and auspicious
Trapped in a moment in time
I’m reassured
By your sturdy green leaves
I’m entranced
By your wispy pink blossom
My thoughts turn to a painting
To a moment in time
I think of you
And I smile

Comment is about You Could Call Me (blog)

Original item by Larisa Rzhepishevska

I like the pale corona of hair. I have cycled the wall from one side to the other. I live in Durham, and found this poem very moving.

Comment is about Childhood Recollection (blog)

Original item by Anna Percy

I like the line spirits of the mad, for a while I thought you were referring to a psychiatric hospital. I'll post The Lunatics Have Taken Over The Asylum soon

Comment is about Stuffed (blog)

Some social problems are impossible to solve. Within 'madness' I suppose there are all kinds of levels from temporary to deep and irreversible - housing all those levels appropriately being impossible. Care in the community would only work if the community was caring - loneliness being a large factor in mental illness, I would imagine.

Your poem reflects very well the old style asylum where on the surface things are fine but not beyond.

Comment is about Stuffed (blog)

Hi mate, thanx for comment, good to see u in action at middleton, hope to see you tmrw and next thurs @ Butterflies, cheers Jeff

Comment is about Kealan Coady (poet profile)

Original item by Kealan Coady

Thank you for your comments. Ray, this poem is tuned for sound, i.e sound patterns, hence the syntax,and omission of ''teddy'' etc I think it is also rather obvious that a small girl wouldn't be carrying a real live bear. I was unsure if shaken sheet was a cliche or something I lifted from somewhere accidentally, we shall see.

Comment is about Childhood Recollection (blog)

Original item by Anna Percy

I like this a lot. I like the measured pace, it has a dignity about it. As I suspect you are trying to give dignity to these poor souls. Good poem!

Comment is about Stuffed (blog)

Thanks for your thoughts on Cradle, Tom.
I didn't know of LC's The Faith. I checked it out though and you're right - it is that poem. Apparently it's a traditional Quebec folk song. There is a lot of rhyme repetition which serves to reinforce the sense, but it isn't a villanelle.
I've had a pop at a couple of these, which I find a bit unsatisfying - something to do with the 3 line structure, I think. In fact I submitted one a couple of blogs back called "Wrong Road Roun'" - it's a bit ripe in language, though.
Anyway, once again, thanks for your thoughts.

Comment is about Tom Harding (poet profile)

Original item by Tom Harding

Absolutely great Tom! Lovely drawing too. I love the cat!(In the poem as well as the picture)xx

Comment is about Rites Of Spring (blog)

Original item by Tom Harding

i like the theatrics of this. it reminds me of a leonard cohen song - possibly 'the faith' - which is a villanelle, i think? it has a similar hypnotic repetition to that form.

Comment is about Cradle - A Triolet (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

It is a very nice poem. As Elaine indicated, corpse-still better than corpse still. I think.
My favourite part
Asleep, a puzzle, as fragile as a snake skin

Worst part, by far
my nose red raw, sore.

You really don't need "sore".

Comment is about As you sleep (blog)

Original item by Rebecca Audra Smith

This is a b*gger to do what with it only having 2 rhymes. But the repetition does seem to lend a certain juh nuh seh kwah.

Comment is about Cradle - A Triolet (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

Hi there,
Thanks for reading and commenting on 'Almost' - always very much appreciated.
I was actually the eldest of two, and the only certainty about our finances was that there was absolutely no money for anything - hence the cupboard under the table was the house for the paper dolls I'd drawn myself.
Obviously the poem not quite working :)
Cx

Comment is about Isobel (poet profile)

Original item by Isobel

Thanks Dave, for reading and commenting on 'Almost' ... very much appreciated.
Cx

Comment is about Dave Carr (poet profile)

Original item by Dave Carr

It's more than a social - it's a community, a caring one. It's your call though. x

Comment is about Kath Hewitt (poet profile)

Original item by Kath Hewitt

Isobel,

Thank you once again for reading and taking the time to comment.

RE tudor, it's a social event and i dont really do social ( ask steven kenny lol) but i appreciate the invite x

Comment is about Isobel (poet profile)

Original item by Isobel

hi Dave and thank you for reading x

Comment is about Dave Bradley (poet profile)

Original item by Dave Bradley

Hi
thanks again for reading and commenting x

Comment is about Laura Taylor (poet profile)

Original item by Laura Taylor

Hi
thanks again for reading and commenting x

Comment is about Laura Taylor (poet profile)

Original item by Laura Taylor

Hi Elaine,

Thank you for reading and commenting on my childhood rainbow poem.

Comment is about Elaine (poet profile)

Original item by Elaine

Very thought-provoking, Ray. I particularly liked the first verse: "visitors welcome within reason" with the play on the word reason - very good.

Comment is about Stuffed (blog)

this is great marianne, i am working on a sestina now as ive been inspired but bloody hell, not an easy one...ill post it whether i think it good or not, just to see what you think x

Comment is about Reading (Sestina) (blog)

Original item by Marianne Daniels

This was a joy to read. Very evocative and wonderful to think that you got this lovely poem from memories brought back to you by a faulty old photo.

Comment is about Childhood Recollection (blog)

Original item by Anna Percy

i really like the ideas of husks and even corpse is right for me, endings and beginnings within one night, during sleep that all sounds good to me, its only the slithering snake bit...
i think its the dark imagery that makes the poem beautiful, so please dont edit it too much x

Comment is about As you sleep (blog)

Original item by Rebecca Audra Smith

I do quite like "corpse-still" as the poem poses the question - where does one go when asleep: the body is left behind, as if dead. For me it wasn't so much the "snake skin" as the "slither". I'd suggest if anything you look at this word as that might be all that's needed. Still, whatever any of us take from your poem has got to be good - it's moved us all, one way or another. I liked it a lot.

Comment is about As you sleep (blog)

Original item by Rebecca Audra Smith

I like this very much and the idea of picking random words is very appealing. Really inspiring stuff!

Comment is about Reading (Sestina) (blog)

Original item by Marianne Daniels

Like the referencing of Auden and his comments on free verse. A very fulfiling, complete and pleasing poem.

Comment is about LAUNDRY (blog)

Hi Geoffrey - thought this was a very nice cameo - unusual topic an ode to a shirt but it is that originality that makes it work for me

Comment is about LAUNDRY (blog)

Very true Dave and well put. Got writing about how holy and sacred connections between people can be, today. There is something deeper that can go on if we let it which is, the Greeks would say, agape.

Comment is about Emotion (blog)

Original item by Dave Bradley

You bring this picture to us beautifully with all the nostalgia that only old photos can - well done

Comment is about Childhood Recollection (blog)

Original item by Anna Percy