Hi Greg Your comments are greatly appreciated. I wasn't sure that these two would have much appeal to anyone else. The first one is very formal and the second one probably presumes a bit too much background knowledge about the weird conjuction of Islam and Ireland in my family background!

Comment is about Greg Freeman (poet profile)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Hi Isobel;

easier answering you on here instead of the forum over editing.. the bit I told you about me giving one of the pieces to other vocalists in my band wordmusic is quite common for us lot as we swap it round a lot, and i have ended up reading other people's pieces before now... it is a great experience..

my new band (word music is on hold for a bit now)is operating on a similar level as it will be more moody and dark! lol x

Comment is about Isobel (poet profile)

Original item by Isobel

haha - schooldays Eh?
well, I for one am glad that they make em use Izal - a valuable lesson in
"life aint fair-so get used to it"
- might as well wipe your arse on a carrier-bag: Izal doesn't clean anything, just spreads it around a bit :)

Comment is about Crafting Your Own (blog)

Original item by Isobel

(Ramblers Assoc)
Fight!!!!!!!
sorry Isobel, but you are in there - just look a little closer :)

Comment is about Isobel (poet profile)

Original item by Isobel

Lovely old-fashioned station at Hebden Bridge, isn't it, Ann? This tinge of sadness reminded me of that feeling after Open University summer schools. Sounds like it was a great weekend

Comment is about coda - hebden bridge (blog)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

I love this!
My 'interpretation' is as follows (loosely you understand)
Love on an ocean wave and behold the applause :-)
Seals cannot drown.x

Comment is about three signs (blog)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

Hi Cynthia, thanks for your comment on 'Poem.'
I am enjoying this new phase in my writing. Not sure how long it will last but hey, no worries :-)

Janet.x

Comment is about Cynthia Buell Thomas (poet profile)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

Hi Isobel, thanks for the welcome back and your comment on my entry, 'Poem'.
Not sure how long the minimalist style will last but i am enjoying it for now :-)

Janet.x

Comment is about Isobel (poet profile)

Original item by Isobel

Thanks again for your comment on my recent poem 'Poem.' :-)
x

Comment is about Andy N (poet profile)

Original item by Andy N

Thanks everyone, i'm beginning to like the new me. Not sure if they will all be this sparse but i am getting there :-)

Yes Ray - not all Lowry characters were matchstick men and match stalk cats and dogs :-)

Comment is about Poem (blog)

Great poem Isobel. A wealth of thought and ideas in this.
The last verse is particularly haunting. The iniquity in which women live in some cultures should be commented on and not swept under the carpet. We as you say are the lucky ones who have a voice and can comment on our opinions, good or bad. We have the freedom to do so.
Cate xx

Comment is about Cry Freedom (blog)

Original item by Isobel

Sean - you might be interested in a poem I put up on the blogs - about Conscientious Objectors' Day

Comment is about Sean Kavanagh (poet profile)

Original item by Sean Kavanagh

Winston - I quite like to see what people make of it before saying where it's from. That way, it makes me see more if it works.

Actually, this was all taken from graffiti in Richmond Castle Jail and from a transcript of a case put before the Tribunal in the 1st World War. I'd originally included some of my own words. I spotted a couple of bits where I'd actually still used my own words - they'll have to go.

Comment is about The Word No Is A Long Sentence (blog)

Original item by Steven Waling

No tricking and treating for you then Dave? lol
Clever three lines. I like to think of my lost love ones strolling "through realms of splendour"
Cate xx

Comment is about Halloween haiku (blog)

Original item by Dave Bradley

Note for Banksy
Well the poor little devils still have that tough cheap izal stuff that scratches and rarely absorbs any moisture{thats when there`s any left!} Crafty teachers are not just allowed to use the left over roll to cut and paste and make straw dollies {and such like } anymore. So sayeth our powers that be. {In case they catch germy wormies!}
Cate xx

Comment is about Crafting Your Own (blog)

Original item by Isobel

enjoyed this josh.. maybe a little long in places but i did enjoy this! x

Comment is about When More Has Been Said Than Done (blog)

Original item by Joshua Van-Cook

like this janet.. sparse suits you well, i felt.. x

Comment is about Poem (blog)

like this janet.. sparse suits you well, i felt.. x

Comment is about Poem (blog)

nice one, luce.. offer more comments on here when the comp is finished, but glad you have entered and it is nice to see you on board here (text you next day or so about the new band too!) x

Comment is about Freedom Competition Poem (blog)

Original item by MissLucy

Hahaha!! I'm not the only traumatised one then :P

Comment is about Freedom Competition Poem (blog)

Original item by MissLucy

Hi Steven, Nice to see some of your poems on WOL. So... what to make of this one? Well, it seems a mixture of 3 elements 1) slang outbursts (perhapse from a squadie) 2) Religous references. And then the largest part 3) the rest... which seems to make gramatical sense if you switch word order a little and add a few short words for continuity (not for meaning) which seems to be an account from a conciencious objector. This 'analysis' is interesting as I am pondering if pieces like this and my last one (A-g I) are more interesting with some info about their origins (As I included). If I have deduced the origins of this one correctly then I tend to think that such background information is unecessary. If I haven't and what you offer illuminates BETTER than my efforts than I tend to think that the inclusion of such info is a good idea. RSVP. Win x. P.S. Wonder what Sean would make of THIS War Poem?

Comment is about The Word No Is A Long Sentence (blog)

Original item by Steven Waling

Thanks Cate. Much appreciated
xxx

Comment is about Cate (poet profile)

Original item by Cate

I like this. How to read the world? Watch out for the priests and gurus...

Simple, imagistic elegance.

Comment is about three signs (blog)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

Sticky-backed plastic !(BTW I meant "poor kids" as in unfortunate - all of them)

Comment is about Crafting Your Own (blog)

Original item by Isobel

Why - what did you used to wipe YOUR arse on?

Joking apart - you are right. I am lucky. I tend to think that we often make our own luck though. A childhood like mine, where there were no silver spoons, prepares you for life better. You learn to do things for yourself - not to expect the world to fall around your feet. So many kids could do with learning that one.

Comment is about Crafting Your Own (blog)

Original item by Isobel

Oh, I forgot!
"you should be so lucky,
lucky lucky lucky".
- that's you, that is.

Comment is about Crafting Your Own (blog)

Original item by Isobel

Love it dave !

Comment is about Halloween haiku (blog)

Original item by Dave Bradley

Thank you very much to all for kind comments.
Isobel, I am sure you are right in all that you say. You have obviously thought much more deeply on the subject than I did writing it! ;) xx

Comment is about Elusive (blog)

Original item by Lynn Dye

Hey !
I've stayed in that Travelodge

Comment is about Freedom Competition Poem (blog)

Original item by MissLucy

it was for a story called
"my first journey as an astronaut" (aged 12) - complete with diagram of how to construct a ray gun capable of blasting aliens to smithereens ! Not very PC nowadays & the gun diagram has gone AWOL, but I've still got the story (my mum gave me some family photos a while back & it was in there). I swapped the badge at school for something or other along with half my grandad's WW2 medals & badges. Ah well. xx

Comment is about Crafting Your Own (blog)

Original item by Isobel

Hey Matt, this is hilarious.

Comment is about Matt Panesh, Monkey Poet (poet profile)

Original item by Matt Panesh, Monkey Poet

Thanks for your comments, 'Dance' is truly stunning :)

Comment is about Michael Scott (poet profile)

Original item by Michael Scott

I really like this Isobel... and are you even surprised?!
It made me think of all the things I've attempted - I tried to follow the 'rules' but never quite could.

Comment is about Crafting Your Own (blog)

Original item by Isobel

To make the last line work I would have said "I asked you for three signs" in line one.

Comment is about three signs (blog)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

'About shaggin time' - that's a new one on me Mike - I don't think I've ever heard the expression before but it could definitely grow on me...
Glad to hear you are enjoying the poetry also. There has been a good crop - it is just hard to keep up with it all - difficult to comment on all, at least. Hope you are well.
x

Comment is about To All (blog)

Original item by Noetic-fret!

I demand to see the picture Cynth!

A very erotic picture you have drawn here. Only you can put 'perfumed wiff of rosy cunt' into a poem and get away with it. If you were to have added pungent you probably wouldn't have, even though it would have 'alliterated'.

I love the depiction of strong women, comfortable in their skin so this appeals to me. I like the 'sturdy ham' you finish with also - it portrays a substantial woman - oozing with life and presence.

Comment is about Lines on Picasso's APERITIF (blog)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

Hi Gemma,

Love 'We Watched It Live' especially after hearing you perform it, interesting that Al Jazeera do 'as is' news and we have to wait for Wikileaks to find out the truth.

Comment is about Gemma Lees (poet profile)

Original item by Gemma Lees

Mmmm - be grateful you aren't married to me Banksy! And dare I ask what you got your badge for?

Comment is about Crafting Your Own (blog)

Original item by Isobel

Good to see you back Janet. I thought this was a follow up to my toilet roll poem for a minute....

I like the containment of this. As Cynthia says - spare and enigmatic - way to go!

Comment is about Poem (blog)

drat & doubledrat !.... I can never get the last word can I ?
It's like being married all over again XX

Comment is about Crafting Your Own (blog)

Original item by Isobel

Thanks for your comments. This was just a light hearted piece - with a hint of sadness - I so regretted not having a craft box! It was inspired by Banksy's poem (can't remember the name) and John Coopey's comments about Val Singleton. It brought the memories flooding back - her fingers were black and white and they always shook as they applied the glue.

Both my younger two now have blue peter badges - they've made up for my failings - they got them for writing poetry!

Comment is about Crafting Your Own (blog)

Original item by Isobel

After you took some crystal meth you hallucinated and fell asleep. Now is the time to give up drugs and sleeping in fields!

Comment is about three signs (blog)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

Have tried to upload recording but the computer's not co-operating I'm afraid. Glad you like it, I'll try to get access to a computer that will not go out of its way to hinder me in nearly every way possible.

- Josh

Comment is about When More Has Been Said Than Done (blog)

Original item by Joshua Van-Cook

This is an interesting one Lynn - very unusual thought processes. I feel like I want to replace freedom with the word 'peace'. Sometimes you have to fight for your liberty - you have to do battle to survive - to be alive. Peace for me isn't a strong option. Freedom is the ideal - the goal - perhaps it exists in an ivory tower - or a mirage - I would never see it sitting on a fence. I do like your poem though cos it has made me think and I love poetry that makes me think. x

Comment is about Elusive (blog)

Original item by Lynn Dye

It wouldn't be a white feather you were looking for by any chance?

I would agree with Steve - this is elegant and mystifying. I like the ending - there is a sadness to it.

Comment is about three signs (blog)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

Yes, you're probably right, Cynthia. Thank you steve. Courting is still fairly common in these parts, usually coupled with disaster.

Comment is about Estrangement (blog)

This is nice, Janet - a curly confection.And a Lowry character is almost a lowly character.

Comment is about Poem (blog)

Rachel, had me crying. Brutally honest. Needs publishing.

rgds

Mike

Comment is about Heartbreaker (blog)

Original item by Rachel McGladdery

This is a truly amazing poem. Really liked its quality, authenticity and self awareness. Loved it!

Mike

Comment is about Water resistant to a depth of 1000 tears (blog)

Original item by Michael Scott

yes yes yes joshua. Brilliant.

Comment is about Absurdities (blog)

Original item by Joshua Van-Cook