Ello lovely :)

Thank you re moura encantada. Yes, it does sound very songlike doesn't it? Kinda in keeping with the mouras themselves and their siren songs :)

Oh, and I had to google quite a lot too ;)

Comment is about Shoeless Carole (poet profile)

Original item by Shoeless Carole

Hi Laura - many thanx for feedback on The Hospice Cat - I should keep a pet really but next door's Labs got into my garden yesterday ripped up established fruit bushes and generally turned the place into a devastation zone - so pleased I don't - owner at work all day of course

Comment is about Laura Taylor (poet profile)

Original item by Laura Taylor

an extraordinary poem, puts my attempts on a similar theme to shame.

thanks
John

Comment is about The War of Attrition (blog)

I like the unsentimental way you handle this Ray and the way you compare the dog to the woman.
Your conclusion has me wondering whether it just wouldn't be better to be put down as a dysfunctional adult. Your poem doesn't handle the vile mood swings that such a person can be subjected to. My poor sister has to cope with this - sweet old dears who want to regress back to their youth are one thing - snarling old people who chuck you out and bad mouth you to all, when all you are trying to do is help - well that is something else.

Comment is about The War of Attrition (blog)

For some strange reason, when I read this I read it in the voice of Barry White. Like those words he often speaks softly in the opening few bars... you could add songwriting to your many talents Mister J.

Comment is about Waiting for 'Big' (blog)

Original item by Gus Jonsson

Aw, thanks Andy, much appreciated and have a fab christmas
Rach
xx

Comment is about Andy N (poet profile)

Original item by Andy N

Hi Win

You've flummoxed me there - I suspect you know far more about the Metaphysical poets than I do. That said, I would turn first to George Herbert, who was such a big influence on Vaughan. Vaughan seems to me to be a little flowery and extravagant, Herbert more economical, compact and precise, and thus more intense. But what do I know? For sheer compacting of thought, Herbert's 'Prayer' must be hard to beat. You could write a thesis on each 2 or 3 word combination in it, such as 'Angel's age' "Christian plummet' 'a kinde of tune' etc. The thinking in it is very dense (in the best sense of the word) and yet he manages to make it remarkably poetic as well. A desert island poem for me.

Comment is about Winston Plowes (poet profile)

Original item by Winston Plowes

Dave, you have posted something in the discussions section about Andrew Marvell ! Never heard of him till spent a day in Hull in a very nice square near a very nice church. Performed in the shadow of a statue all day which was of.... yes, Andrew Marvell. Looked him up since but struggle to connect with his work. Big fan of other met' poets e.g. Vaughan. can you recommend something? Win x

Comment is about Dave Bradley (poet profile)

Original item by Dave Bradley

Thanks for your comments on 'Fresh' which just seemed to run off the end of the pen

Comment is about Greg Freeman (poet profile)

Original item by Greg Freeman

yes, liked this. Guitar strings breaking. now thats a powerful image.

Comment is about slithering sediment (blog)

Original item by owen calvert

liked this , an origianl idea really well executed. (Sorry) Win X

Comment is about The War of Attrition (blog)

Just showing Bobs guitar how its done!

Comment is about Jeffarama & Rachel Bond at the Tudor, Wigan December 2010 (photo)

Our little book was a great start, but it was just the start of things, x

Comment is about Marianne Daniels (poet profile)

Original item by Marianne Daniels

what a trio!

Comment is about Music at the Tudor, Wigan December 2010 (photo)

Dear M . You are too kind. your own style is something special and rare. never compromise the truth

Win X

Comment is about Marianne Daniels (poet profile)

Original item by Marianne Daniels

The connection between the two and what occurs due to age and infirmity are touching.

Good subjective fly on the wall social commentary without the need to overly explain anything or tie up any loose ends.

In terms of the language I think the first stanza is of the highest quality. It just feels right in the palatte when read aloud.

Chris

Comment is about The War of Attrition (blog)

Thanks for the comment on Synechdoche.
Dave

Comment is about Dave Bradley (poet profile)

Original item by Dave Bradley

Thanks for your spandagulous comment on Synechdoche. Have a good Christmas.
Dave

Comment is about Ann Foxglove (poet profile)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

Hi Greg,
Thanks for your generous comment on Synechdoche.
Dave

Comment is about Greg Freeman (poet profile)

Original item by Greg Freeman

... and for 'Jesus', too!

Comment is about David Cooke (poet profile)

Original item by David Cooke

Hi David. Thank you so much for your kind words about 'At Cromer.' I appreciate it.

Comment is about David Cooke (poet profile)

Original item by David Cooke

Thanks to all and wishing you a very happy Christmas too.xxxx

Comment is about 2010 Onward (blog)

Fit to formula stuff really: create a cynical world of drudgery in a peculiarly engaging and beautiful way and have fun bashing its cheeky face in til its own mother wouldn't recognise it.

I probably ought to start selling these things as kits together with self-assembly instructions.

Comment is about What she said (blog)

Original item by Dermot Glennon

I dig it daddio - real cool

Comment is about Waiting for 'Big' (blog)

Original item by Gus Jonsson

excellent stuff, rachel..

'we are un-gendered,

muffled, pillowed

crack of face, eyes skenning

comfort only in the floor

to plant our feet on something stable'

i particularly love, but it's a excellent piece all round! x

Comment is about Snow at Solstice (blog)

Original item by Rachel McGladdery

seems a change in gears for you, gus but i like it a lot and it has a cracking last stanza too...

happy christmas m8

Comment is about Waiting for 'Big' (blog)

Original item by Gus Jonsson

Lovely thoughts Janet. It's good to explore the world, both within and without! I hope 2011 will be a fab year for you and for everybody. And have a good christmas! xx

Comment is about 2010 Onward (blog)

Thanks Janet,I think your poem rounds off 2010 nicely.

Comment is about 2010 Onward (blog)

I love the Iris poem you wrote, it reads like both a painting and a poem at the same time.

Would you be interested in sharing it at one of my OpenMind events?

A poem like that would really make my birthday event special in January.

I've read a few of your pieces and would definitely like to offer you a longer guest slot at one of the later events of the year (we're getting pretty full up in terms of headliners/guest artists).

Email me on ushiku.crisafulli@googlemail.com and I can give you more details about the different dates and see when suits you best.

Comment is about Moira Eribenne (poet profile)

Original item by Moira Eribenne

I clicked this link because I love the song by Goo Goo Dolls.

This poem really paints the beautiful nature of the world, and it's true majesty.

Comment is about Iris (blog)

Original item by Moira Eribenne

Thanks for the feedback.

I don't usually write love poetry but I'm feeling amorous recently.

Comment is about Palindrome Girl (blog)

Original item by Ushiku Crisafulli

I can't have just one doughnut...

Comment is about Just a Synechdoche (blog)

Original item by Dave Carr

But unfortunately John Pilger is a wanker who sees a conspiracy round every corner when in reality most of what he reports is the normal run-of-the mill human greed & incompetence. If the superpowers had a fraction of the conniving intelligence that he credits them with, we'd probably have run out of wars to fight by now.
The lady pilger doth protest too much methinks (only my 2 dinars).B

Comment is about The War You Don't See Review (blog)

Original item by Alain English

Dermot - I really do try not to critique, but for me, the first 17 lines were totally masterful - superb - & after that it all seemed to go off the rails - but apologies if that's what you intended. If I'd written the first 17, I'd be very very pleased with myself. just my 2 cents. all the best. B

Comment is about What she said (blog)

Original item by Dermot Glennon

lovely encapsulated memories Ann

Win X

Comment is about silver polish (blog)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

I liked this a lot - to comply with rule of 3s you could drop one of the v words in line 4 of stanza 1 (suggest vivid) or risk over alliteration - nice understated piece

Comment is about Palindrome Girl (blog)

Original item by Ushiku Crisafulli

Reminded me of Men are from Mars - very well put together and entertaining not to mention skilful
thought the metaphors were great - favs were 'so shu’ up, she said' and 'laughing of the stream'

Comment is about What she said (blog)

Original item by Dermot Glennon

I very much liked the overall effect of this Moira and even though you have it tightly packed you could drop all 'the' words which IMO would make it even tighter

Comment is about Iris (blog)

Original item by Moira Eribenne

Hiya Gus, lolling at the thought of your chin and nose tissue balaclava, thanks for the kind comment on my latest one,
Rachel
xx

Comment is about Gus Jonsson (poet profile)

Original item by Gus Jonsson

Happy Winter Solstice Annie :) My next door neighbour just brought me in some (pretend)fir garland...how appropriate is that?
Thanks for comenting on my the latest,
love
Rach
xxx

Comment is about Ann Foxglove (poet profile)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

ah, s'okay there are no more dragons and maidens in the poem. Tower blocks and Vegas are still there though, I checked the other day.

Comment is about Where dragons and maidens are no more (blog)

Original item by Dermot Glennon

I enjoyed this, even though Vegas and dragons and maidens in the same verse is a bit of a stretch.

A shaft of hopeful sunlight on an uninspired graffito

on a tower block of empty grey

I didn't like the "on an" closely followed by "on a". How about "grazes uninspired graffiti"? First verse is excellent, I think.

Comment is about Where dragons and maidens are no more (blog)

Original item by Dermot Glennon

Thanks Gus I'll pop by some time when you're at the studio, or gi's a bell when you're there. Have a good xmas both of you!

Comment is about Where dragons and maidens are no more (blog)

Original item by Dermot Glennon

Wow Rachel superbo love the line

'crack of face, eyes skenning'

I always wear the inside of my nose on my chin when I;m out in the snow...

Wonderful poem
Gus

Comment is about Snow at Solstice (blog)

Original item by Rachel McGladdery

....5 gold rings!!!!!.....hoping you'll ever cheer up is much a fantasy as this wonderful written jouney . Wonderful stuff Dermot..love it.

Hp to c u soon.

Gus

Comment is about Where dragons and maidens are no more (blog)

Original item by Dermot Glennon

Lovely piece.
Cx

Comment is about Snow at Solstice (blog)

Original item by Rachel McGladdery

I see you're in festive mood! Really like this, though a little on the bleak side. Some fantastic lines there.
Cx

Comment is about Where dragons and maidens are no more (blog)

Original item by Dermot Glennon

Lovely poem."the wreck of the garden beautified by it" - I'll save that one for my wife.Never heard "skenning" before and not in my dictionary."syrup clad" is great.

.

Comment is about Snow at Solstice (blog)

Original item by Rachel McGladdery

If Gods were elected I'd vote for your God Dave but I'm not sure his/her principles would survive the inevitable coalition that would result

Comment is about Christmas (blog)

Original item by Dave Bradley

Hi Rach - lovely and sunny here! Did you seen the lunar eclipse earlier? Lovely poem - not sure about "stinking" though. Have a good solstice! xx

Comment is about Snow at Solstice (blog)

Original item by Rachel McGladdery