Ah! The logic of childhood! Nice poem! I wish I'd had sisters to chat to! When I stayed at my friend's house I made them talk all night - or so it seemed - probably till about 8pm! xx

Comment is about Heat Wave (blog)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

Gosh, I met with a friend Friday last, he has been a week out of hospital after having his tumours out..this definately lead me down the garden path. I think it's great. :)

Comment is about motherhood (blog)

Original item by alan barlow

as soon as i read "a creature from the jungle again" i grinned again i like the piece it follows on nicely from the last and i think this could turn into a short book or an epic dante'esque write but perhaps no descending to the circles of hell...
on that basis i disagree with anne as a stand alone poem then yes it may very well be better suited ending where ann suggested but as a series of poems or as a continuation i agree with the path you have taken in writing it, im definitely stayed tuned..

Comment is about Beyond the Garden #2 (blog)

Original item by Dave Bradley

Hi Cynthia

Thank you as ever for your very kind comment on 'Beyond the Garden #2'. Your comments are always appreciated even if I don't say so. And yes, I did think of a creature a bit like the Gruffalo - you can chalk that up as a 'gotcha'.

Comment is about Cynthia Buell Thomas (poet profile)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

Terrific. You are on a philosophical roll here; the 'garden' theme could be endless. Give us more. I love them. Your home-y little details are priceless. Of course we need to know what the 'china' teacup looked like and that he set it into its saucer 'carefully'; it's part of the poet's character, and his sangfroid attitude: 'Oh, bother'.

Shades of the Gruffalo! (which I adore - first the book then the film. Our four-year-old sat on the loo doing a poo and chanting: 'roasted fox - scrambled snake - and owl ice cream' over and over like a litany. Do you see a connection of any kind? I'm just asking)

Comment is about Beyond the Garden #2 (blog)

Original item by Dave Bradley

a haiku written by a freind that saw my poem :)

Who has size 3 feet?
That is not a proper foot
Bollox to it all

Comment is about click click click (blog)

Original item by Shoeless Carole

Dave - do you hate gardening or what? ;-) I think you could end the poem on "staring back/blankly". I'm not so keen on the rest, for me it goes into too much detail and the "feed me" makes me think of that film with the gynormous plant "Little Shop of Horrors". Maybe this part could be "Beyond the Garden # 3"? xx

Comment is about Beyond the Garden #2 (blog)

Original item by Dave Bradley

(aspirations) I think that bras are made to make all men look like utter pricks at that most vital moment - not that we need any help.
Ah - the delightful Catherine D!
I remember reading of some famous actor who said his idea of heaven would be Miss Deneuve dipped in chocolate -(looked on google - can't find it) - but I did find a reference to Melanie Sykes dipped in chocolate - I'm getting all trembly just thinking about it :D

Comment is about John Aikman (poet profile)

Original item by John Aikman

Hi - "Donkey Jacket" by Ray.
Yes, I see what you mean... it does also work without the "out".But you know me & cliches - Oi loves me a good cliche - also maudlin stuff, corny stuff, schmaltzy stuff, connectives, split infinitives etc. Seriously - and it's only my view - I'd rather not avoid even a well-worn cliche if it IS the way folks speak... in other words (for me) the avoidance of any phrase, even a cliche, if that is what Would be said (by most), is of itself, a conceit - but ONLY in the type of poem I'm talking of (demotic stuff). If I'm trying to do something a bit more heartfelt or sincere ("real" poetry, I guess), then I agree fully and avoid them cliches like the plague :D But this was only a throwing-down-the-gaunlet by Ray, took me all of a minute, and isn't a very good or well-thought-out poem anyway - just a bit of a laugh.

Comment is about John Aikman (poet profile)

Original item by John Aikman

Yes, I see what you mean... it does also work without the "out".But you know me & cliches - Oi loves me a good cliche - also maudlin stuff, corny stuff, schmaltzy stuff, connectives, split infinitives etc. Seriously - and it's only my view - I'd rather not avoid even a well-worn cliche if it IS the way folks speak... in other words (for me) the avoidance of any phrase, even a cliche, if that is what Would be said (by most), is of itself, a conceit - but ONLY in the type of poem I'm talking of (demotic stuff). If I'm trying to do something a bit more heartfelt or sincere ("real" poetry, I guess), then I agree fully and avoid them cliches like the plague :D But this was only a throwing-down-the-gaunlet by Ray, took me all of a minute, and isn't a very good or well-thought-out poem anyway - just a bit of a laugh.

Comment is about Donkey Jacket (blog)

a great story, sparely told & evocative as ever: just enough & not too much. Marvellous.

Comment is about ghazal - under grass (blog)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

Oh I read this too quickly and had to go back to the beginning to savour the scene again..a lovely picture.

Comment is about Heat Wave (blog)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

Thanks for the comment Alan! I've not seen any of those films for ages but have always been interested in the Thermopylae myth.

As for inspiration, not sure, the idea just popped into my head, so I wrote :-)

Comment is about Lullaby for Thermopylae (blog)

Original item by Steven Kenny

Well, it's up to you...'out in the cold' is a fucking dreadful cliche and 'our place in the cold' maintains the rhyme structure and avoids the cliche.

It's up to you...I mean. it's only poetry.

:-0

Jx

Comment is about Donkey Jacket (blog)

HaHa - but they Are "out in the cold" - that's the saying, ain't it ?
- (new/old labour, that is)

- just "in the cold" doesn't do it, does it?

Comment is about Donkey Jacket (blog)

Great!

Comment is about Heat Wave (blog)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

You set the scene beautifully for me at least in the words 'The richness of privilege when you weren’t even sick!' Lots of delightful images in this and a lovely childhood memory in totality

Comment is about Heat Wave (blog)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

Cynthia - thank you very much for your views on Wind-Blown Tree - metaphor and symbolism of course - not sure I went as far as human life with the tree but certainly some kind of consciousness and an affinity I cannot quite explain

- was also very grateful for your very kind comments on Through the Looking Glass exactly the sort of remarks that spur me on x

Comment is about Cynthia Buell Thomas (poet profile)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

When you join a public internet forum you have to get used to the odd random twat Naomi. I've found the twat is a subjective concept. Often the people I think are real twats can be quite popular with others and vice versa. Sometimes I start off thinking someone is a twat and then find out they're not - it is just a question of tuning into the right wave length. And then there are the people who you think are your friends only to find out in the due course of time that they are twats or dickheads (let's not be sexist). The best policy is to ignore people you don't get on with - I find that works well for me - though I used to go for the jugular, I don't have the energy any more.

Comment is about Naomi Hefter (poet profile)

Original item by Naomi Hefter

Hi Elaine,
there is such melancholy in "The Old World" lots of lovely images too, "a mirror to reflect /
The unconfessed imaginings of life" and also, "Trees held onto liquid bunches of fruit"

Comment is about Elaine (poet profile)

Original item by Elaine

Hi Isobel.there seems to be nasty comments flying around the place.i just had to report some random twat who kept writing nasty things about my work . dont worry about it x

Comment is about Naomi Hefter (poet profile)

Original item by Naomi Hefter

ive reported you to the admin team. Who the hell do you think you are to tell strangers their work is bad!!??? who the F*** do you think you are??you are clearly a very insecure person who justs wants to feel better about yourself. You vile nasty person. do your self a favour and get your self something constructive to do

Comment is about John Aikman (poet profile)

Original item by John Aikman

I've no idea what all the commotion is about. I just wanted to say that when I made that comment it was a jokey one. I had an ostrich picture up as me. I have no illusions about looking like a WAG - nor would I want to.

Comment is about Naomi Hefter (poet profile)

Original item by Naomi Hefter

if you leave another nasty message i will report you. get a life!!!

Comment is about John Aikman (poet profile)

Original item by John Aikman

So many images I love in this piece; "the ovens of August", "left all our bumps in the bed", "yipping and yowling in cacophonous chorus"

A well told tale :) x

Comment is about Heat Wave (blog)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

Thank you Cynthia.

I have written many pieces for my son, Joseph.

This piece was written in September last year though the event took place in November 1991.

This type of pain, I think, never leaves, its something we learn to live with and is dulled with enough time.

Comment is about Cynthia Buell Thomas (poet profile)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

I have loved dearly two cats who were friends and helpmates through many hard times. This poem is delightful, although I do not expect to curl up with my cats when I die. Mind you, I still feel them in spirit, even under the bedcovers sometimes.

Comment is about a little journey (blog)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

Cynthia, I enjoyed this. It reminded me of the excellent "Elergy on the Death of a Mad Dog" by Oliver Goldsmith.
"The man recovered fom the bite,
The dog it was that died".

Comment is about Heat Wave (blog)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

Thanks for your comments, again, Dave. This time on Doing It Twice. The after-dinner speaker I filched the story off (Steve Womack) also adds that the only time these days that he thinks about doing it twice is just before he's done it once. (I wish I'd said that!).

Comment is about Beyond the garden (blog)

Original item by Dave Bradley

Thanks for all the comments, guys.
Banksy's right - it is an old joke. I heard it as part of an after dinner speech by Steve Womack (worth checking out).

Comment is about Doing It Twice (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

oh indeedy

Comment is about The pen is mightier than the sword ? (blog)

Original item by alan barlow

Thank you for commenting on Wind-Blown Tree Dave - I really appreciate the feedback

Comment is about Dave Bradley (poet profile)

Original item by Dave Bradley

Hi Ann thank you for your comments on Wind-Blown Tree - I don't know why it is but I always feel there is some kind of tragedy when I saw a tree blown over - a life pulled out of the ground to rot whereas mankind rots beneath

Comment is about Ann Foxglove (poet profile)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

who are you to leave such a vile comment on my blogs??? poetry has no right or wrong. i just write from my heart!!! if you happen to rea my comedy poetry you will find a flip side to my style.. but clearly you think you are too good so i advise you just stick to your own work instead of insulting other talents

Comment is about John Aikman (poet profile)

Original item by John Aikman

Vintage Coopey. Very enjoyable

Comment is about Doing It Twice (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

Poem was inspired by a garden I passed this morning, when I was on the bus. It was the rusty swing that did it!

Comment is about ghazal - under grass (blog)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

really enjoyed how the line below read,
take the piss out of school teachers
not fat chicks,

I have come back to this a few time josh..makes me think life can be shit sometimes, for the most simple of reasons..nice work.

Comment is about Absent Friends (blog)

Original item by Josh Coates

Atmospheric. I enjoyed this, Ann. For some reason it reminded me of the Radley place in 'To Kill a Mockingbird'.

Comment is about ghazal - under grass (blog)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

Hi Alan - re: Wind-Blown Tree I'd like to think I thought as deeply as you suggested about my poem but I simply stopped and wrote what I saw on my evening walk - yours was a very interesting take though I have to say - as to the offset printing that's just started happening and I have absolutely no idea why - thanks for the feedback appreciated

Comment is about alan barlow (poet profile)

Original item by alan barlow

I enjoyed this read very much Dave..the interpretations that can be put to it are great, but just the thought of him leaving his tidy life and deciding to venture into the jumgle is so very interesting..hmmm the again ending did make me wonder how many times he had done this tho!...neat write.

Comment is about Beyond the garden (blog)

Original item by Dave Bradley

Oh I did enjoy the feel of this one...yea it left me smiling which is a good thing isn't it? :)

Comment is about She (blog)

Original item by alan barlow

I think you and Gemma must have had a great life together Ann, and that is all we can wish for..made me go awww too..x

Comment is about a little journey (blog)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

I too on reading the first line wondered, ambiguity is such a great thing to hide behind isn't it?

Comment is about The pen is mightier than the sword ? (blog)

Original item by alan barlow

Done as instructed oh ghazal master! x

Comment is about ghazal - under grass (blog)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

Your ghazals have enough elements to be ghazals in their own right, I don't think you should give them the (slightly dispirited) "Nearly tag". Win

I liked this. Had the effect of stopping the music which I think is what you were going for, Win x

Comment is about ghazal - under grass (blog)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

Hi There Harry. Welcome to Write out loud, hope to see some more of your work posted on here, Winston

Comment is about Harry Giles (poet profile)

Original item by Harry Giles

Hi Barry, Welcome to Write Out Loud, Winston

Comment is about Barry R Tench (poet profile)

Original item by Barry R Tench

how I wish I were a nob like sarah parker,then after giving you my adress you could come round(preferably just as I am putting a thin lardy leg in my jimjams and give me a bloody good going over...just in case...hello I,m Sarah Parker! hey Naomi you wanna do one of your poem type jobs on Parkers kid(FIGHT!)and as for izzy..aw no way is she a WAG-shes more of a...er...smashing Nana mousekori look-alike..this grey n gorgeous git welcomes you.xx(mm thats nice!)

Comment is about Naomi Hefter (poet profile)

Original item by Naomi Hefter

haha cheers stef im saying nowt ambiguity is king and i was wondering who would pipe up first well done ;-)

Comment is about The pen is mightier than the sword ? (blog)

Original item by alan barlow

Banksy...that 'out' in the last line...fucks up the whole thing. Ditch it!

:-)

Jx

Comment is about Donkey Jacket (blog)