Thankyou, Stephen and Greg. I too take my tea and coffee dacaf (although the latter is like mazzy watter) and I’ve started drinking green/fruit teas because even decaf teas have some caffeine in. I rarely drink after 7pm anyway..
And thanks for the Like, Tom and Kevin.

Comment is about I COULD HAVE SLEPT ALL NIGHT (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

Thanks for your commiserations, Steve. I hope this poem doesn't sound too much like sour grapes? Here's the Philip Larkin poem that I refer to https://bedepoems.wordpress.com/2010/06/08/philip-larkin-show-saturday/

Comment is about Unplaced at the Simonside Country Fair (blog)

Original item by Greg Freeman

I love this, Stephen. And John Clare would have done, too!

Comment is about Lazy B (blog)

Original item by Stephen W Atkinson

Commiserations from a fellow sufferer, JC. This may not work for you, nor even for me in the long-term, but my nocturnal visits seem to have lessened since I was advised to try de-caff tea and coffee ...

Comment is about I COULD HAVE SLEPT ALL NIGHT (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

Brilliantly written, Steve. It's true that many people who are put off by traditional 'politics' end up voting for people (Trump, Bolsonaro etc) who care even less about them, except when it comes to election day.

Comment is about Politics For People Who Don't Do Politics (blog)

Original item by Steve White

Nicely done and well sung, John. I feel your pain, as they say!

Comment is about I COULD HAVE SLEPT ALL NIGHT (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

Thank you very much, John.

And thanks to Nigel, Hugh, Stephen, Pete, K Lynn, Purplemoon.

Comment is about Soldier Boys (blog)

Original item by Stephen Gospage

Radiant love
warm heart
that never
stops beating
reason to
never doubt.❤

Comment is about There's no reason (blog)

Original item by Sunshine

One of your very best, Stephen. You are the War Poet for these troubled times.

Comment is about Soldier Boys (blog)

Original item by Stephen Gospage

Thank you so much for all the positive comments - Manish, Graham, Steve, Tom and John Gilbert. And thanks to Purplemoon for your like.

I think you're right, Graham. It doesn't really matter which side he was on. The youth of Ukraine and Russia is being sacrificed in this senseless conflict.

'So young.' It comes home to you when you visit war cemetries and look at the ages on the graves. So many lives cut short. Wasted.

Thank you all again.

Comment is about Soldier Boys (blog)

Original item by Stephen Gospage

Very good. Agree with Steve White, the 'so young' refrain builds through this and the last one signposts to inevitable replay.

Comment is about Soldier Boys (blog)

Original item by Stephen Gospage

So very true, a grim but very good poem.

The human race doesn't have a clue how to stop itself destroying everything around it. Judge us on our track record.

What a killer (as Neil said).

Comment is about Cortez the Killer - Stewardship (blog)

Original item by John E Marks

Brilliant Steve!!!

Comment is about Politics For People Who Don't Do Politics (blog)

Original item by Steve White

Thank you for the kind comments.

Stephen - I agree, we want steam locos to return and the speeds to match. We can be a backward looking nation at the best of times. Probably because at least some of our past looks so enticing.

Greg - yep, the money should be used to improve for the country, not just London and I live in London.

Comment is about HS2 Is Not Coming Soon (blog)

Original item by John Gilbert Ellis

Wow, Stephen this is great. Very powerful.

Comment is about Soldier Boys (blog)

Original item by Stephen Gospage

Excellent, Stephen.

The "so young"s fall heavier with every verse and every re-reading.

Comment is about Soldier Boys (blog)

Original item by Stephen Gospage

One thing strikes me about this important piece Stephen and that is the unidentified woman in the picture. She could be Ukrainian or Russian? Frankly it doesn’t matter. The tragedy is borne by both sides at grass roots level. If only the could hit Putin!! and stop this senseless mess.

As always finger on the pulse 👍

Comment is about Soldier Boys (blog)

Original item by Stephen Gospage

Or the marvellous Joey Barton giving a post- match interview to the French press.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=dovfYaQoPoY&pp=ygUZam9leSBiYXJ0b24gZnJlbmNoIGFjY2VudA%3D%3D

Comment is about “JA NEIN JA” (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

There’s only one Neil! Untidy brilliance personified. An endangered species if ever there was one.

Comment is about Cortez the Killer - Stewardship (blog)

Original item by John E Marks

Yet another masterpiece, Stephen G. I feel so lucky to read your poems. They're so perfect, emotional and touching, this one's one of my favourite.
Thank you for this.

Comment is about Soldier Boys (blog)

Original item by Stephen Gospage

A fine poem, John.

Comment is about Cortez the Killer - Stewardship (blog)

Original item by John E Marks

A lovely poem, John, and cleverly rhymed. It shows our fleeting presence on this planet, the 'pinprick'.

Comment is about The Calder Valley (blog)

Original item by John Botterill

A very fine poem, John. Is it possible that there is something deep in the British soul which does not like high-speed rail? Or perhaps the gain in travel time is not sufficient?
A rather sad white elephant, as you say.

Comment is about HS2 Is Not Coming Soon (blog)

Original item by John Gilbert Ellis

Thinking about it John, he could try the Kevin Keegan 'Fussball ist ein sport fur mannen', except that it isn't any more.

Comment is about “JA NEIN JA” (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

Bad luck, Greg. I reckon you were robbed. They can spot a southener a mile off.

Comment is about Unplaced at the Simonside Country Fair (blog)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Thanks, MC. It's telling that in the 2-2 draw yesterday both our goals were scored by defenders,
And thanks for the Like, Stephen.

Comment is about “JA NEIN JA” (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

Many thanks for your comments, John and Graham. I will do this one at the next Wooler Poetry Cafe, and hope it gets a few laughs.

Comment is about Unplaced at the Simonside Country Fair (blog)

Original item by Greg Freeman

I'm thinking of the advice from Paul Hogan to hopefuls at The Oscars: Be graceful; be grateful. Get off.
How about adapting those words to the "illegals" paying for
criminally enabled passage from a safe land to the UK..
Be graceful; be grateful - or get going.
Oooh...how inhumane, do I hear you say? 😋

Comment is about The Bibby Stockholm (blog)

Original item by Steve White

Got it, JC...thanks. Wasn't aware of his interview technique! Got the German connection anyway! It will be interesting to see
how he himself gets on with BM. - and how Spurs fare without
him under their new regime.

Comment is about “JA NEIN JA” (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

A classic poem of great relevance to WOL and the UK. Great stuff, John Gilbert! 😎

Comment is about HS2 Is Not Coming Soon (blog)

Original item by John Gilbert Ellis

Thanks for your recent comment re Michael in the Mountains, John

Comment is about John Gilbert Ellis (poet profile)

Original item by John Gilbert Ellis

I love a good train poem. And here's one that is 'state of the nation' as well ... Ingenious, unlike our transport planners. Spend whatever money's left on neglected northern rail connections instead.

Comment is about HS2 Is Not Coming Soon (blog)

Original item by John Gilbert Ellis

I see the ‘transculturalisation’ of Greg Freeman is well and truly underway old friend. You’ll be putting a crooked stick on your Christmas list next 😂

Seriously a wonderfully candid snapshot of life ‘up north’. Wives eh? What would we do without etc etc !

Comment is about Unplaced at the Simonside Country Fair (blog)

Original item by Greg Freeman

High Speed 2 (HS2), the public rail project should give the UK a fantastic system to unite the nation and properly connect to Europe.

Instead, it’s a wasted opportunity, a white elephant and byword for failure. I’ve gone poetic on it.

Comment is about HS2 Is Not Coming Soon (blog)

Original item by John Gilbert Ellis

Very funny and heartfelt. I feel your pain!

Comment is about Unplaced at the Simonside Country Fair (blog)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Houses built on greenbelt as it's more lucrative. Mostly not affordable housing. What ever happened to the heroes?

Comment is about CANAL SONG (blog)

Original item by john short

Love the way that builds and darkens, also a fantastic final line that ties it all together.

Comment is about My Champion (blog)

Original item by Shonda Hurley Bell

Thank you for this powerful piece, Keith. The consequences of man-made climate change are already here, as you graphically describe.
We have to do our best to turn things round, although it is already very, very late.

Comment is about Climate Change (blog)

Original item by keith jeffries

Thank you, Graham and Uilleam. These are fascinating comments. The notion of music and dance being represented in (and ultimately being brutalised by) war is both intriguing and terrifying. In a way, war can be presented as a horrifying dance, which ends in exhaustion and death. Any beauty in this only exists from the comfortable vantage point of peace.

And thanks to Nigel, John C, Manish and Koya for liking this.

Comment is about War Dancers (blog)

Original item by Stephen Gospage

It's just pure bliss to read your poems, John B. Another masterpiece to your collection. I loved the description and vocabulary.
Thank you.🌻

Comment is about The Calder Valley (blog)

Original item by John Botterill

Yes, I have, Greg. Unusually for me. Fabulous descriptive poetry, if a tad bleak. Hughes was a Mytholmroyd man initially and fished in the Rochdale Canal (hence 'Pike'). Scout Hill was his backdrop, he said
Thanks Greg 😀

Comment is about The Calder Valley (blog)

Original item by John Botterill

Recommend Ted Hughes's poetic guide to the Calder valley in 'Remains of Elmet'. Have you read it, John?

Comment is about The Calder Valley (blog)

Original item by John Botterill

Thank you, Ruth, for having me on your show yet again (Sunday, 13th August). You really are such a wonderfully supportive host and a gifted radio presenter.
I recommend any WOL poet in the Manchester area to go on the ALLFM Ruth O'Reilly Show. She will do you proud and promote your writing!😎😊

Comment is about Ruth O'Reilly (poet profile)

Original item by Ruth O'Reilly

Thank you uilleam

Comment is about Maybe (blog)

Original item by Keith Byrne

Comment is about Maybe (blog)

Original item by Keith Byrne

Thanks MC. Harry is well known for starting his answers to interview questions with “Yeah No Yeah” or “No Yeah No”.
And thanks for the Like, Uilleam.

Comment is about “JA NEIN JA” (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

Ach, so! Vee know you are Kane unt vee hope you are able!!

Comment is about “JA NEIN JA” (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

Pass the dictionary - but i think I get the drift. 🎃

Comment is about CLEANING HIS KITCHEN (blog)

Original item by Lee Campbell

This is more like it - short and sharp. But it has to be said that
dissenting views can get cancelled (personal experience) or
instantly attacked, not least if they mention Nigel Farage et al. 😋
By the way, my own experience of marches and demos. saw the presence
of "The Socialist Workers Party" far more than any "Blackshirts" on parade.
And it was the former who usually
started any trouble that ensued, with
my uniformed colleagues and I in their sights as "fascist lackeys" or the more impolite "pigs". How to make friends
and influence people????

Comment is about Verboten (blog)

Entertaining lines that combine a welcome rhythm and points
to ponder in a pertinent "package" for thought.

Comment is about Otherwise free (blog)

Original item by Luke