You’re so right, Kevin. And unless you can trace your genealogy back to when Britain lost its land bridge to Europe in Stone Age times, we’re ALL from immigrant stock.
Comment is about WHEN WE WERE A KINDER NATION (blog)
Original item by John Coopey
Thanks so much for your generous comments Holden and Stephen. Your appreciation means a great deal to me. The poem uses some material from first hand accounts displayed at RAF Oulton Museum in Norfolk. True heroism!
Thanks too for the likes Julie, Frederick, KJ and Greg. 😀
Comment is about A Postcard From R.A.F. Oulton (blog)
Original item by John Botterill
Good point well made John.
Non of us have EARNED the right to live in this country... We live here by coincidence of birth.
To then deny that right to others who have made great sacrifices to get here is totally wrong.
Comment is about WHEN WE WERE A KINDER NATION (blog)
Original item by John Coopey
A rewrite for the Lionesses 🌈
Comment is about The passion & the pride (blog)
Original item by Stephen W Atkinson
Where was it? I think I can make a wild guess. Poor Fred.
Hilarious write.
Comment is about Wrong end !! (blog)
Original item by hugh
Yes Nigel, Basking in God's glory and mercy. Always.
Thnx Nigel. Your words complete my poetry.💕
Comment is about Tonight (blog)
Original item by Sunshine
I'm sure this is not the first occasion I've posted this poem here, but thought I would again because of the parallels between this summer and 1976 - not least because I and my then-girlfriend are contemplating moving north again! It was first published by Stairwell Press in an anthology titled simply York many moons ago, an anthology that was co-curated by John Coopey, I believe. It can also be found in my full collection Marples Must Go!, published last year and now available - at last - online from Waterstone's https://www.waterstones.com/book/marples-must-go/tony-earnshaw//9781913329501
Comment is about The road north (blog)
Original item by Greg Freeman
I’m sure Uganda’s Asians would have been thankful that you weren’t counting heads at the drawbridge in the 1960’s, MC. Likewise, Europe’s Jews in the 30’s and 40’s. Should we send back today’s Ukrainians because “we’ve got enough”?
To paraphrase JFK, did we ask what they could do for us or did we offer what we could do for them?
Yes, we were a kinder nation once.
Comment is about WHEN WE WERE A KINDER NATION (blog)
Original item by John Coopey
A wonderfully constructed, moving poem, John. We still owe such people so much.
Comment is about A Postcard From R.A.F. Oulton (blog)
Original item by John Botterill
Great to see it back Isobel. Always had a good time on the ones I've being to. Not sure yet if we can make it, Amanda (my wife)s younger sister is due to give birth i think the week before so it's a bit up in the air. I'll let you know nearer the time if we can make it.
Comment is about 'Don’t go down to the Railway Inn with anyone else but us!': Write Out Loud's poetry jam returns to Marsden jazz festival venue (article)
Original item by Greg Freeman
I enjoyed this very much. I spent the best part of a year in Portsmouth in the 1970s and remember one crossroads in the dock area where you could almost touch four pubs - one on each corner - from the middle of the road.
Comment is about Ahoy there! BBC radio programme looks at the dialect poetry of 'island city' Portsmouth (article)
Original item by Greg Freeman
As someone who often writes poems on trains, I found Jeremy Corbyn's approach to arts funding to be admirable.
Comment is about Labour leadership contender Jeremy Corbyn 'writes poetry on the train' (article)
Original item by Greg Freeman
Thank you for the nice comments, Carol, Russell and Ruth. Sadly for us all, it seems that this one will run and run.
And thanks to Nigel, Frederick, Holden, Brenda, Reggie's Ghost and K Lynn for liking this one.
Comment is about Blockbuster (blog)
Original item by Stephen Gospage
Well done, Graham! A good example of 'on a whim' that is a lesson to us all. Hope the readings go well. I'm sure they will.
Comment is about Reading to Literature students in Chile. (blog)
Original item by Graham Buchan
Sat 30th Jul 2022 03:31
A truly powerful poem, John, made all the more so by your skilful use of the first person! I found the penultimate stanza brilliantly poignant and profound! 🌷
Comment is about A Postcard From R.A.F. Oulton (blog)
Original item by John Botterill
Brilliantly pure and so intoxicating - this poem and love. Great writing.
Comment is about Love? (blog)
Original item by Clare
Truth of the light
don't wait too long
before darkness takes hold.
thanks Ruth
Comment is about Lighten Up (blog)
Original item by Nigel Astell
Share or relinquish? You do not address the basic vital questions
of supply and demand across the spectrum of social and environmental well-being. How much is enough? Answer that!
Comment is about WHEN WE WERE A KINDER NATION (blog)
Original item by John Coopey
Such a poetic description of the Ukraine situation. Wonderfully written Stephen!👌
Comment is about Blockbuster (blog)
Original item by Stephen Gospage
Love how medieval meets modern in this timeless treasure 👌
Comment is about The Chalice (blog)
Original item by Stephen W Atkinson
Love the positivity in this Nigel 👌
Comment is about Lighten Up (blog)
Original item by Nigel Astell
The fundamental division between us, MC, which underpins your questions is whether we’re prepared to share our wealth or hoard it.
Thanks for the Like, Brenda.
Comment is about WHEN WE WERE A KINDER NATION (blog)
Original item by John Coopey
Having lived for many years in warm climates there is nothing I enjoy more than to kick off the shoes and socks and put on a pair of flip flops. Sandals are second best. I like to allow my feet to breathe and loathe them being permanently wrapped up in cumbersome footwear.
Thank you for this
Keith
Comment is about Mr. Flip-Flop (blog)
Original item by Martin Howard Samuel
Well meant and well said. Perhaps it's a combination of things
that have resulted in today's situation concerning attitudes.
Our size - a third of that of France, our nearest neighbour from
which we see so many leave for these shores; the truly mind-
boggling rise in the population in recent decades - equal to
the population of Greater London (look it up!), with its knock-
on effect on the environment and vital public services under
catch-up pressures that are not diminshing - rather the reverse;
These - and the distinct feeling that the resident peoples of
these islands are under some sort of global siege from the
dissatisfied."deserters" from lands that need THEIR people to
work for them - not depart for places whose own peoples have
sacrificed so much - may indicate just why the old hospitality
factor is wearing thin right now. Not forgetting the security
aspect of undocumented aliens that adds to justified concerns
for the future. What fidelity do these people owe to the UK?
and its age-old Christianity-based way of life? Just asking for
the purpose of sensible clear headed debate. ..
Comment is about WHEN WE WERE A KINDER NATION (blog)
Original item by John Coopey
A powerful, heartfelt piece that conveys some very strong images.
Thank you for sharing
Comment is about I saw you standing there (blog)
Original item by Tommy Carroll
The phases of the moon, the movement of the tides, the menstrual cycle. A concurrence or a coincidence? Lunacy used to be associated with the moon, menstruation and hysteria. Certainly, such concepts seem to coalesce around the goddess Sati, Hindu goddess of sex, also known as the “menstruating goddess.” In Greek mythology Selene is the goddess and the personification of the Moon. She is also known as Mene! (Also unfinished!)
Comment is about La Luna (unfinished) (blog)
Original item by Clare
“In the midway of this our mortal life, I found me in a gloomy wood, astray.”
Dante Alighieri, The Divine Comedy
Comment is about Your Choice. (blog)
Original item by Clare
Hits me like a punch.
You made me
A petal
Newly birthed
Bashful and shy
In the fresh morning dew
Don't we all want that
one way or the other?
Comment is about In You. (blog)
Original item by Clare
Thank you Stephen, Carol, Nigel, Tom, Frederick and dear Holden.. This year I've carried three coffins, and spoken three eulogies, but suicide is by far the most difficult to accept.
"The fountains are dry and the roses over.
Incense of death. Your day approaches.
The pears fatten like little buddhas.
A blue mist is dragging the lake."
Sylvia Plath, "The Manor Garden."
Comment is about Loss has no end (blog)
Original item by John E Marks
Thanks Greg. You are quite right. We are all in the same mess! Thanks for the like, Nigel 👍
Comment is about Levelling Up (blog)
Original item by John Botterill
Dating game fun to play
Lovers turn on instant match
Hot Stuff needs to kiss off
He who has second thoughts.
Comment is about He's an insta lover (blog)
Original item by Ruth O'Reilly
Sorry, my error. Perhaps foregiveable after reading a variety of
contributions over the years, not all of which can be described
as "poetry" (including some of your posts). In that light, I have seen WOL as a "writer's website" that gets people thinking beyond their
comfort zone.
Comment is about WOKE IS NO JOKE (blog)
Original item by M.C. Newberry
Film of 2022, don't like the baddy, but I've the good guy done a few previous films
Nice one
Comment is about Blockbuster (blog)
Original item by Stephen Gospage
<Deleted User> (33719)
Fri 29th Jul 2022 01:00
Wow! Poignant and descriptive in the detail.
Comment is about Blockbuster (blog)
Original item by Stephen Gospage
Thanks for your comment, Steve. I don't believe I ever saw that Fawlty episode. One other thought: Perks would have been on strike yesterday. And quite right, too! Thanks for the Likes, Frederick, JC, Stephen, Holden and Russell
Comment is about Oh, Mr Porter (blog)
Original item by Greg Freeman
This government doesn't care about any of us, John, north or south. In that respect we have already well and truly levelled up. Up a certain creek, in fact.
Comment is about Levelling Up (blog)
Original item by John Botterill
This is a poetry website, and the above is surely no poem, MC. So no, I won't discuss it. And frankly, there are far more important things to worry about right now.
Comment is about WOKE IS NO JOKE (blog)
Original item by M.C. Newberry
Thankyou, Stephen. We were better people then.
And thanks for the Like, Stephen A.
Comment is about WHEN WE WERE A KINDER NATION (blog)
Original item by John Coopey
Thanks Stephen. I did think of my friends in the south, including my son, but I knew you wouldn't mind 😂
Thanks Julie, Frederick and Stephen A for the likes.
Comment is about Levelling Up (blog)
Original item by John Botterill
A fine tribute, Greg. Interesting snippet about Noel Coward. I can never forget Bernard Cribbins as Mr Hutchinson in Fawlty Towers. ('I'm not a violent man, Mr Fawlty'. 'Yes, you are'.).
Comment is about Oh, Mr Porter (blog)
Original item by Greg Freeman
Good one, John. It even made this soft Southener smile!
Comment is about Levelling Up (blog)
Original item by John Botterill
A splendid poem, John, and a plea for common sense, which seems to be in short supply at the moment.
Comment is about WHEN WE WERE A KINDER NATION (blog)
Original item by John Coopey
Holden, your poetry is amazing. Discovering you on this site has brightened my life. There is much more stylistic unity in you than in my own work (which spans several decades and phases). Your poetry reads like a book of mysticism, replete with Classical allusion, witty word-play, sound-sexual connectivity, and underlying wisdom. I wish i could sit up in bed and read and reread a book of it!
Comment is about Ship of Theseus (blog)
Original item by Holden Moncrieff
Dave - I'm so glad you're coming - I know you'll pull a crowd in all on your own and it would be great to have that kind of atmosphere - and familiar faces who are rooting for you. A pint at 10.45 am? Now there's a nice thought 😁
Dorinda - you're on the list - look forward to seeing you - my exclamation mark doesn't work on this laptop so you'll have to imagine it.
Comment is about 'Don’t go down to the Railway Inn with anyone else but us!': Write Out Loud's poetry jam returns to Marsden jazz festival venue (article)
Original item by Greg Freeman
Indeed, Greg. It’s a good job it wasn’t our generation considering whether to let Europe’s Jews in during the 1930’s/40’s.And thanks for the Likes, Frederick, Tom, Holden and Russell.
Comment is about WHEN WE WERE A KINDER NATION (blog)
Original item by John Coopey
Thu 28th Jul 2022 15:03
Thank you so much, John, I really appreciate your kind comment! 😎
It was an attempt to consider the 'Ship of Theseus' thought puzzle in terms of a human being suffering and healing, and whether one is fundamentally changed by those cycles.
Comment is about Ship of Theseus (blog)
Original item by Holden Moncrieff
John Marks
Sat 30th Jul 2022 15:25
A call to arms, for sure. Well constructed. Sometimes it is a balance of harms.
Comment is about The Republic of Gilead Is Coming (blog)
Original item by K. Lynn