Too true. Well written

Comment is about Us and Them (blog)

Original item by Lynn Dye

Hi Winston

Glad you've joined in with 'Bullet' - in such an interesting way too! Thanks for the suggestion. Whoever does it next may well take it up, but I'm actually quite optimistic about people voting - we'll see come Friday and the weekend.

Comment is about Winston Plowes (poet profile)

Original item by Winston Plowes

Hi Lynn - thanks for your appreciation of 'Riff Raff', glad you like it. :) Best wishes, Dave

Comment is about Lynn Dye (poet profile)

Original item by Lynn Dye

Good evening Larisa-very clever poem-your best one yet! lots of love-Stef-xx

Comment is about I Am an Actress (blog)

Original item by Larisa Rzhepishevska

Up the workers!-whats left of them! nice poem Lynn-sleep well-see you soon-Stef-xx

Comment is about Us and Them (blog)

Original item by Lynn Dye

This is lovely, Ann. I think either option works. On reflection, maybe your newer idea. xx

Comment is about two women on the edge (blog)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

Oh, the joys of Lego land! I enjoyed this, Ann, brought back a few memories of my own. xx

Comment is about plastic garden (blog)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

Really enjoyed reading this, Cynthia, love your descriptions.x

Comment is about Martini On The Rocks (blog)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

hi Dave. Sometimes in this sort of comp you can only win if you vote. (and obviously not for yourself)Controvertial perhaps but it does ensure participation. Could be in the rules of future comps but not here as it would need to be anounced at the start I think, Thanks for organising this it has added another dimension to the site Dave. Win x

Comment is about Biting the Bullet. Prize follow-up to Pandora (blog)

Original item by Dave Bradley

Thanks both. Not sure about the last line. Might change it to

"Behind us in the dark a planet sparkles."

Hmmm......

Comment is about two women on the edge (blog)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

I think this is really good, Dave. It's sad but unfortunately true.

Comment is about Riff Raff (blog)

Original item by Dave Dunn

Hi Dave. Managed to squeeze one in :-) Win

Comment is about Biting the Bullet Final Reminder (blog)

Original item by Dave Bradley

I can definitely associate with your poem, David - I've had a few nights like that on and off! Good poem.

Comment is about Do Another Day (blog)

Original item by David Mac

Hi Lynn. thanks for the comments on the bullet thing. Just looked your contribution up. A great passionate tale. Win

Comment is about Lynn Dye (poet profile)

Original item by Lynn Dye

I love the tenderness in this too, Isobel, beautiful poem xx

Comment is about Praying (blog)

Original item by Isobel

Hi Dave thanks for the bullet comments. In fact I started another some weeks ago which had some very strong similarities to your first stanza! Win x

Comment is about Dave Carr (poet profile)

Original item by Dave Carr

Thanks, great site you've got here.

Comment is about Michael Scott (poet profile)

Original item by Michael Scott

very sad, isobel.. hope it isn't based on fact my dear but i love it... wonderful stuff xx

Comment is about Praying (blog)

Original item by Isobel

really enjoyed this, phil.. particularly strong ending for me...

get submitting this!!!

Comment is about Life is.... (blog)

Original item by Phil Golding

welcome onboard michael.. nice start..

Comment is about Michael Scott (poet profile)

Original item by Michael Scott

very touching, ann indeed - up to you whether you want to do it, but i am wondering whether stanza 5 and 6 are needed as i like stanza 4 when it finishes 'but we are here,

above it.'

and then moves to the concluding line...

either way, enjoyed it.. x

Comment is about two women on the edge (blog)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

I found this very touching. A simple moment but full of life and feeling.

Comment is about two women on the edge (blog)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

For a dear friend

Comment is about two women on the edge (blog)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

Wow - I like your stuff! Welcome to WOL. Swindon eh?

Comment is about Michael Scott (poet profile)

Original item by Michael Scott

Hi Michael, Welcome to WOL. Winston

Comment is about Michael Scott (poet profile)

Original item by Michael Scott

Hi Anna, Welcome aboard. Hope you like the site. Winston

Comment is about Anna McCrory (poet profile)

Original item by Anna McCrory

C'est tendre et doux, Isobel.

xxx

Comment is about Praying (blog)

Original item by Isobel

I think it is a lovely poem Isobel. Hope you sleep better tonight - but if you don't can we expect another one tomorrow? xx

Comment is about Praying (blog)

Original item by Isobel

This is excellent Isobel. Very moving. I didn't read it as a nod to religious faith, more the contrast between innocent - some might say 'blind' - faith we all, at one time, invested in the world and the jaded, fearful creatures we become. But it can be read in different ways, which is why I like it.

Comment is about Praying (blog)

Original item by Isobel

I'm so glad you all liked it. Thank you so much for your generous comments. I love to write poetry that makes people think or touches them in a a non sentimental way - that is the kind of poetry that often appeals to me.

The poem was inspired by Cynthia's poem Usufruct combined with the experience of putting my daughter to bed. She rarely does formal prayers at home but just happened to do them as all this was mulling over in my mind.
Thanks for taking the effort to re-work it Ann. Yours may have better flow but it changes the feel of it for me. I appreciate your interest and comment though.

Graham I am undecided about your suggestions - one minute I think it is better the next I want to stick with what I have. Not enough sleep to make proper decisions maybe - that'll teach me to write poetry in the early hours!

Thanks again all. x

Comment is about Praying (blog)

Original item by Isobel

I think in the second line it should say "to stay the hand" etc and "and palm to palm" etc, the pressed is too much aliteration. Overall the work is a tender piece, an almost secretive glimpse.

Comment is about Praying (blog)

Original item by Isobel

Thanks, Ann, steve. A play on my name! What, ray miller,putting a ray through a mill. If you like light bread? Who is steve black? Why is his name black?
Okay, what kind of person does have an illegible scribble, uses Latin labels, explains you with notebook and pencil? It's not Fabio Capello.

Comment is about Charades (blog)

Very fine poem, Cynthia. Loved the 2nd verse, heart-heard is great, and purpling water.The mighty multiple martini is a sublime touch. My only complaint is Fibonacci splendour. If I never hear Fibonacci again it'll be too soon.

Comment is about Martini On The Rocks (blog)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

Nothing worse than the swines who make the bullets for other folk to fire.
It took me a long time in life to realise I was firing other peoples bullets, and learn to play them at their own game. Nice one Isobel.
Cate xx

Comment is about Bullet (blog)

Original item by Isobel

Love this one Cynthia. Your language is richly descriptive, and the idea of being so engrossed in your novel, entwined with enjoying your evening martini is innovative and clever, {as is your choice of title!}
I really enjoyed reading this.
Cate xx

Comment is about Martini On The Rocks (blog)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

Well I took the ghosts out but now I've put them back. Can't think of another word for my first lot of ghosts. I was going to put before the shadows came, but that made me think of Cliff Richard! (Never a nice thought!)

Comment is about Nineveh (blog)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

Just beautiful Isobel. And so refreshing to see faith written about so tenderly and touchingly. Does this makes me old fashioned? Well I dont give a s..t!
Cate xx

Comment is about Praying (blog)

Original item by Isobel

Oh dear! Back to the drawing board! I do see what you mean. Will have another go! x

Comment is about Greg Freeman (poet profile)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Back to Nineveh, Ann: you're removed the second "ghosts", but in doing so lost that sense of ghostly sheets in the rooms, which was good. Words like shrouded or spirited occur to me, instead of "deserted" rooms ... do you know what I mean?

Comment is about Ann Foxglove (poet profile)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

This is a fine poem, Isobel, one of the best I've read on this site. Well-crafted, but also charged with emotion. Particularly liked the juxtaposition of your daughter? crossing herself - and you crossing your fingers.

Comment is about Praying (blog)

Original item by Isobel

I agree with Cynthia, but for me the rythm seems a little "out". Can I annoy you deeply by doing another version where the rythm sounds better to me? But of course, that will probably destroy your poem! Sorry in advance! xx

She pleads for time to say a prayer,

and stay the hand that snuffs the light,

impatient for the close of day.

Amidst the chaos of her bed

I watch the silent murmuring lips,

sweet incantations of her faith,

finger to finger, palm to palm,

forehead, stomach, left breast, right

crosses them all,

whilst I look on,

struck dumb by fear,

and praying for

the longer straw.

Comment is about Praying (blog)

Original item by Isobel

Isobel, this is wonderful. I think your work has the real gift of deep, probing thought and its cogent expression. And it touches people, certainly me, deeply.

Comment is about Praying (blog)

Original item by Isobel

Good morning lovely Lady-no, I,m not from Scotland-but I sincerely wish I was! I just had a short holiday there-will speak to you soon-thank you-Stef-xx

Comment is about Larisa Rzhepishevska (poet profile)

Original item by Larisa Rzhepishevska

usufruct - well, that's one of the great things about poetry I think, that the same words can often be given various interpretations. Insomnia - I have a rule for myself where I try not to log-on after 11.30 or else the cogs are still whirring. xx

Comment is about Isobel (poet profile)

Original item by Isobel

There is so much in this. Simple, powerful, effective. The innocence of a child measured against the looming threats of life, so much more menacing for not being spelt out. A parent's tender love and the anxiety which goes with it (and also that feeling "Phew it's the end of the day - time to myself"). And the big question - Is anyone listening? A really good one, Izz. It's a pity about the insomnia but if it means stuff like this it isn't all downside.

Comment is about Praying (blog)

Original item by Isobel

I like this poem a lot Larissa. It has a noble feel! xx

Comment is about I Am an Actress (blog)

Original item by Larisa Rzhepishevska

usufruct - we could talk about this forever, but I think we're mainly in agreement. a great word & concept & very well written by Cyn. XX
PS - fancy a threesome with you, me & Augusta ? the subject is paedophilia - is it all it's cracked up to be ?

Comment is about Isobel (poet profile)

Original item by Isobel

Your poem has a lot of passion in it Larisa. I could imagine you as an actress. I like the line about the masks that he does not bother to take off. At it's core this is about unrequited love. Not bothering to understand a person is the greatest sign of disrespect - or lack of love at any rate. You have expressed it well.

I love Audrey Hepburn. She is grace and beauty personified. One of my daughters reminds me a lot of her. Grace is something that is timeless - don't you think? Nice poem. x

Comment is about I Am an Actress (blog)

Original item by Larisa Rzhepishevska

I really enjoyed this, Larisa. Warm regards, Lynn xx

Comment is about I Am an Actress (blog)

Original item by Larisa Rzhepishevska

Thanks Steve. I like the word insidious - it describes such people well. The risk assessment is to do with how they might work out tactically all the likely repercussions before making any move whatsoever. Unlike the person who acts openly on instinct and is ready to meet any backlash personally and head on.
That makes me sound rather paranoid and condemnatory. We all lie on a scale - no-one is perfect. This is not a poem condemning the use of steady, considered action - just the manipulation of others and the abdication of responsibility.

Comment is about Bullet (blog)

Original item by Isobel