I like the idea of justice as a shape shifter. For me that sums up best what you are saying: there is no one absolute definition of justice that can cut across all faiths, all social groupings, all cultures, all time. Or is there....? Hope the performance went well for you. XXX
Comment is about the great fallacy (blog)
Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas
Intriguing - why is the bride pensive I wonder? Lovely images, Ann. XX
Comment is about fascinators (blog)
Original item by Ann Foxglove
Like this a lot, Dave. The line "emotion off-line" is very good. I really like questions in poems - it directly challenges and engages the reader. X
Comment is about Free will (blog)
Original item by Dave Bradley
Ohh, fantastic, John. The final line: "moulding your little death" is extremely powerful. I really like your work as the darkness feels real not melodramtic.
Comment is about Alabaster (blog)
Original item by John Darwin
Such a poignant poem, John. So strange the things we keep and what they record. What is it they say, about 2 things you can't avoid in life - death and the taxman! Think I've more old bits of paper to do with filthy lucre than anything else. Find the end of the photos in your poem very sad. But it leaves me pondering as to who and why and this leads the reader (well, me anyway) to make up stories to fill this space. XX
Comment is about memory box (blog)
Christine, loved this poem when you read it at the Tudor. Love it all over again here today. Glad you posted it as it's always good to be able to read over and savour a good poem at leisure. You have caught just the right amount of dark and light in the poem. XXX
Comment is about Me mam (blog)
Original item by christine yates
I love how short, precise and packed with images this poem is. X
Comment is about World Affairs (blog)
Original item by Alison Smiles
OMG !!! I don't want to just drip drip away but sadly I think i've gone down the plug hole but I have still got the dusty cardboard memory box!!
Comment is about memory box (blog)
Thanks for your comment Anne and I'm glad you find my latest stuff more acessible.
Comment is about Ann Foxglove (poet profile)
Original item by Ann Foxglove
Anthony
Thanks for your comments on my poem I appreciate your reaction to it.
You asked if my book is available online
and yes they are, my latest is on www.pighog.co.uk and it is called The Dreaded Boy.
My first collection is online too or you can email me at antony.owen@hotmail.co.uk
Comment is about Anthony Emmerson (poet profile)
Original item by Anthony Emmerson
thanks got your comment dave
Comment is about Dave Bradley (poet profile)
Original item by Dave Bradley
Hi Lynn,
How did you manage to resist a rhyme with "bankers?" :)
Regards,
A.E.
Comment is about Limerick for the Goverment (blog)
Original item by Lynn Dye
Hi Tommy,
Like Isobel says, there's education and there's education. Methinks you're doing fine - we probably share similar libraries.
Regards,
A.E.
Comment is about War-chest (blog)
Original item by Tommy Carroll
Love your stuff. Do I mis-remember (prob!) or have you published a book or got one on the go? I'll buy one if so! x
Comment is about chris stevenson (poet profile)
Original item by chris stevenson
I think you should add "goliard" to your list of accomplishments Win! ;)
Comment is about Winston Plowes (poet profile)
Original item by Winston Plowes
Hi Cynthia
You've a brilliant eye for detail I applaud you. I should explain that the poems I post on here are the first drafts and sometimes when I'm distilling the poems I repeat an image. I've changed the latex line in Pearls as I wanted the bones to the poem so later I could flesh it out. Editing is a huge russian doll of which I'm constantly unlayering.
Your comments are always brilliant.
Comment is about Cynthia Buell Thomas (poet profile)
Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas
Your poem tells a story Alan. Very many people are scarred by their past - it is one of life's great tragedies - the things we do to each other. Finding the courage to move on is the key - lost to some.
I like all the earth/physical imagery you have used and the melding of poetry into that. I also liked the poignancy of the last two lines.
Comment is about Attitude (blog)
Original item by Alan Morrison
Am not reading all the other comments or it will sway me.
I think you summed it all up in your initial verse. Justice is subjective. Then you gave me a right head ache trying to follow your very clever brain and argument. You are definitely a philosopher Cynthia!
You could look at Justice in its bigger meaning. We are all born unequal - some draw terrible straws - life is a bit of a lottery. Faith helps many to get their heads round the inequity. The idea that things will be fair or 'just' beyond the grave.
Whatever justice is meted out on Earth is man-made and as you say subjective. If anyone harmed one of my kids, I'd want to tear their balls off and exact an excruciatingly painful death. Life imprisonment would be a holiday.
Just my thoughts of the day on this nice peaceable Sunday morning in our civilized society....
Comment is about the great fallacy (blog)
Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas
Love the humour in this one Dave. Think you performed it at the Tudor if I'm not mistaken. It is so good to read it though cos some things go too quickly on stage - even for a french speaker LOL. Speaking of which, I think you must have more than a little knowledge just to be able to write this. Very clever ! xx
Comment is about Femme Fatale (blog)
Original item by Dave Carr
I'd echo what Chris said, Mike. Love poetry is so hard to write convincingly but no-one could doubt your sincerity - maybe it's the inkpen!
Having a child turns your life upside down - is so hard for many to adjust to. From my experiences with friends, time and understanding from a partner is the greatest healer. x
Comment is about The Hearts Quill (blog)
Original item by Noetic-fret!
You've got me wondering what it's all about. I suppose it could be whatever appeals to the reader. To me it would be love or hope. Very original.
Comment is about Did you brush it from your hair? (blog)
Original item by Tommy Carroll
An interesting idea for a poem Tommy. My father had similar shelves. There is so much an adequate education can't teach you, also...
Good to see you back posting. I hope you are well. x
Comment is about War-chest (blog)
Original item by Tommy Carroll
..hello Ann..thank you...(the whole poem is on the profile)..chris.
Comment is about Ann Foxglove (poet profile)
Original item by Ann Foxglove
Philipos
Sun 22nd May 2011 08:32
Thank you very much Cynthia for your words on Saving Grace your advice is always spot on and I have reworked this accordingly. Much obliged.
Comment is about Cynthia Buell Thomas (poet profile)
Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas
Just for interest: I wasn't going to touch such a hot potato as Justice'. But the idea wouldn't let me go. I looked up the term 'justice' in several books and followed the related threads until I had two A4's full of notes. I was quite amazed at the bizarre spread, each with supportive material. This is, after all, only a short poem, but I did put a lot of thought and editting into it, to make at least a slight inroad into the shocking contradictions which I found. Writing the poem made me realize even more ambiguities about this thorny subject.
Comment is about the great fallacy (blog)
Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas
John, this is really good, a deep and passionate portrayal with a few inspired words. The title is superb. I look forward to more of your work.
Comment is about Fruits of the Narrow Seam (blog)
Original item by John Embley
It isn't likely that this is as obvious as it might seem at first glance. I don't know who 'Roxy' is, or what the name lampoons, or personifies ... could be anything, which is actually very appropriate. Sarah Palin does come to mind. The poem is very well done with its consistent rhyme scheme and the musical scanning. Could you possibly be referring to the famous 'sweet spot' of female genitalia which seems to be so little known?
Comment is about Roxy (blog)
I find this poem delightful. I finally picked up on the italics of 'can', and the wince of annoyance. It's never easy to consort with a know-it-all companion, especially an artsy one who talks about bluebells as 'a slide made of sky'. This piece winds about, with great imagination for one who 'barely gives the time of day' and can envisage history warring all around him. I like the 'Butterflies.....new Zealand' best. The speaker seems so young, with 'stuff' swirling in his head, so much to reconcile. And the homily to conclude is superb! I may be in outer space with this whole idea, but it did strike me in this way.
Comment is about Dandelions (blog)
In sex, let the bodies do the talking; they can't lie. And the listening. Perfect communication.
Comment is about 'The Honesty of Love & the Ending of it' (blog)
Kealan, you want 'YOU'RE'. If I thought it was deliberate, I'd say nothing; but I think it's just a common mistake - which doesn't look good.
Comment is about You Think Your The Only Lonely Person On This Fuckedforsaken Planet (blog)
Original item by Kealan Coady
This does come under the idea of 'horny old goat', doesn't it? Very amusing and well-maintained throughout; good pronunciation too.
Comment is about Femme Fatale (blog)
Original item by Dave Carr
You've got your priorities straight. Enjoy your revision and the exams themselves. I do think you like a challenge. Share with us again when you are truly able.
Comment is about Exams (blog)
Many thanks for the kind comments on Port Isaac Dave. some pieces just write themselves. just spent a week there and the surrounds. Does Ann live near there then? Regards, Graham
Comment is about Dave Bradley (poet profile)
Original item by Dave Bradley
I'd love to see/hear you sing this in the Stretford End John. I guess there are only two types of football supporters, the Manchester United fans -
and the jealous . . .
Althouigh Barcelona must be a good team to be entering two events at the same time - the Champions League Final -
and the World Diving Championships . . .
COME ON YOU REDS!
Regards,
A.E. :)
Comment is about Manchester United 0 Barcelona 2 (blog)
Original item by John Coopey
Hi charlene, you better concentrate on your exams. But when you have the time keep your poetry interest going. we needs some ear candy every now and then. Good luck with your exams, stay well and stay safe.
Much love
Michael
xxx
Comment is about Exams (blog)
Googling just gives recipes.
If you put chevre chaud into the babylon 9 translator it comes back with WARM GOAT.
Which is what I thought!
Comment is about Femme Fatale (blog)
Original item by Dave Carr
Thought provoking in the narrow and particularly the broader sense.
Chris
Comment is about Two candles (blog)
Original item by Dave Bradley
The poem is interesting in terms of rhetoric and I think it would read well. It could be used in a discussion of the power of rhetoric and semantics. From a logical philosophical point of view there are lots of false arguments, not least the repeated use of non sequiturs.
Whether that detracts from the poem or not is subjective. For me it makes it interesting for the aforementioned reasons.
Chris
P.S
Dave- the wider discussion of justice in the context of humanity and history was not the issue in our prior discussion. The issue was justice in the context of western civilizations in the year 2011. What happened with OBL takes place int he context of that bubble and in context to what happened at Nuremberg and what happened with Saddam and with Milosevic. The issue also revolved around the nuanced difference we have between 'needs must' and 'justice'. High redefinition of the latter is a slippery slope- something I previously detailed.
I am perfectly aware of the angle you were coming from and accept that justice is far from easily definable when taking in all the lands/people and history of the world. I agree with you on that- but that wasn't the point.
Comment is about the great fallacy (blog)
Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas
"who often seem to use vicarious success to bolster their own fragile self-esteem, aided and abetted by a sycophantic media and international branding" - WOW!
It's a good job I wrote the poem, Dave, and not you!
Comment is about Dave Bradley (poet profile)
Original item by Dave Bradley
Greg
Thanks for the comment on Fergie, Fergie. Bravery doesn't come into it; I have stupidity on my side.
Comment is about Greg Freeman (poet profile)
Original item by Greg Freeman
Enjoyed this very much, Dave. :)
Like Ann, didn't know what a chevre chaud was, but googled it, good ol' google!
Comment is about Femme Fatale (blog)
Original item by Dave Carr
Homer Simpson voice: '...or is it?...'
Comment is about the great fallacy (blog)
Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas
Thanks for commenting on Pearls.
Comment is about Emma Robinson (poet profile)
Original item by Emma Robinson
Enjoyed this, John. We have friends coming to stay on the weekend of the final, and the male half is a fervent Man U supporter. Not looking forward to that - can't even crow if they lose, most impolite to a guest - I'll have to actually be sympathetic if I can manage it. At least he's from Manchester, unlike most Man U supporters, who often seem to use vicarious success to bolster their own fragile self-esteem, aided and abetted by a sycophantic media and international branding. Football was so much more enjoyable when there were genuine surprises in which teams finished near or at the top of the top flight. Murdoch has a lot to answer for.
Comment is about Manchester United 0 Barcelona 2 (blog)
Original item by John Coopey
I'm in the same boat here as Jules in particular the last two lines although you may have a few too and's in the last few lines for my personal liking..
Comment is about Untitled (blog)
loved this, Kath.. You may want to think about a split from 'I fall towards the blackness of release' as there seems to me like it could benefit from splitting the stanzas there, but either way - loved it...
hope you are good x
Comment is about Sunset (blog)
Original item by Kath Hewitt
enjoyed this, Cynthia... was a good night @ Freed Up although it did finish very late x
Comment is about the great fallacy (blog)
Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas
Brave man, John! There are a lot of Man U fans on WOL!
Comment is about Manchester United 0 Barcelona 2 (blog)
Original item by John Coopey
Elaine Booth
Sun 22nd May 2011 19:36
This was a show-stealer at the Tudor - so funny and so well performed. Wonderful inventive rhymes and some great jokes.
Comment is about It's a King Thing (blog)
Original item by Dave Carr