Hi 'A.E'

First of all, many thanks for your comments. Secondly, where have you been? This site needs those Salmons who swim against the tide of mutual gratification. We don't want a site full of 'suckers' - we need the odd 'blower' too. Now get your boney linguistic ass back on here and do some mother f**%$£g blowin'!

Comment is about Anthony Emmerson (poet profile)

Original item by Anthony Emmerson

Perhaps so, Augusta, but I just speak as I find.

Comment is about How Does Everybody Stop Having Sex? (blog)

She made a beeline for me

She was going to get it

Bee down

Buzz 999 on my Orange

daa daa daa daa daa daa

Spent the whole night in A&E

Ward 7 in the ‘Viccy’

Hope she makes it

Most times she’s a honey

But today in Glasgow she was a cow

I need more space

I need time to reflect and get back to my music

Comment is about Get Creative! (article)

Thank You John .. Thank you for recognising a style reminisent of Longfellow... Were it only one % as good... still I try... thank you for your remarks about my legs... perhaps you could show us yours...??

Augusta x

Comment is about John Coopey (poet profile)

Original item by John Coopey

Hi Cynthia - thanks for the comments - it's much appreciated. all the best. B

Comment is about Cynthia Buell Thomas (poet profile)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

Hey, i,m glad someone likes my character in 'Space dust', as she is sweet and mis-understood, haha. Thanks x

Comment is about Ann Foxglove (poet profile)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

The 1st line in the first stanza is incorrect!!

Augusa XX

Comment is about How Does Everybody Stop Having Sex? (blog)

I like this poem very much... accertive yet appealing.

Augusta x

Comment is about For My Unloved (blog)

Original item by Max Wallis

Fabulous, Marianne. 'your absence that sucks me like a parched clarinet' etc. etc. - so many amazing comparative figures of speech, unexpected verb usage, and internal music throughout with all poetical guns firing. Sorry I missed it last week.

Comment is about Mr Piano (blog)

Original item by Marianne Daniels

Kealan, I find it unreal that no one else has commented on As the Moon Prevails. Would you consider reposting it into April's lot?

Comment is about Kealan Coady (poet profile)

Original item by Kealan Coady

Hi Ann - you be a daffodil if you want, but they dont do a lot, now do they? whereas monkeys on the other hand stuff their faces all day, pee all over their cellmates, have copious sex - often with other species; oh, hang on a minute, maybe I was thinking of jodie & ken there.

Comment is about Ann Foxglove (poet profile)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

Hi Beulah,hope you are keeping well-thanks for comment,non-critical,or critical.Either is welcome and neccessary of course! on 'Becoming Bonaparte' thank you-my best regards.Stefan-x

Comment is about Beulah (poet profile)

Original item by Beulah

John, yes "guarantee full well" I recognise. Ta for your comments on the funeral poem. It were nerve-wracking but the red wine and Valium saw me through.

Comment is about John Coopey (poet profile)

Original item by John Coopey

Interesting insight on 'sleep dust', why do you think she is bad luck? Thanks Winston

Comment is about Winston Plowes (poet profile)

Original item by Winston Plowes

Following a comment from Paul, I now realise that the footnotes are the most important part of this blog; the understanding of cross cultural differences that make translation so difficult.
Having read through those more thoroughly, I can see that the Arabic version must be very different indeed.
What struck me in particular was the fact that the impact of a relationship on outer friendships was not something that would be considered or identified with, within the arab world.
This led me on to thinking also about the differences between the sexes and of just how women and men interract within both cultures. This must have a huge impact on the nature and validity of such translations. Thank you for bringing this to our attention - fascinating stuff.

Comment is about Unsuited by Fred Holland translated by Fatima Al Matar (blog)

Original item by Poetry in Translation Group

Thanks Winston - my audio files are on my other computer right now but I intend to upload them!

Comment is about For Help (blog)

Original item by Max Wallis

Another belter... well done Thomas / Ann / Steve. I wonder if we eventually had say 15 of these they could be brought together on a CD?

Comment is about Death Wish (article)

Thanks for commenting on latest Cross Cultural Poetry project.
The point of the project is not the translation per se but to understand and appreciate the problems, particularly concerning cultural differences, the translation process throws up. That's why I asked Fatima to provide notes on the translation process.

I think your idea about an audio version of the poem is a good one and I'll try wherever possible to get one in future.

Comment is about Isobel (poet profile)

Original item by Isobel

Ta for reading Poet's Death. Actually I wrote this a few weeks ago, just popped into my head, don't know why. I expect I'll be found slumped over my computer keyboard making my last blogg entry on WOL (as opposed to a blogg exit - sorry bad taste Elvis joke!)xx

Comment is about Isobel (poet profile)

Original item by Isobel

Actually I wrote this a few weeks ago, just popped into my head. I expect I'll be found slumped over my computer keyboard making my last blogg entry on WOL (as opposed to a blogg exit - sorry bad taste Elvis joke!)xx

Comment is about a poet's death (blog)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

This is an interesting project. What a shame you can't get more feedback on how well you translated it. I have recently written something in French which I might post at some point. It is nigh on impossible for me to translate it into English in a poetic yet meaningful way though. Or maybe the poem/song is naff to start off with. French is such a beautiful language that you could listen to the ingredients on a can of dog meat and not fail to be moved. You should perhaps consider attaching sound to translations like this, so people can at least hear the flow.

Comment is about Unsuited by Fred Holland translated by Fatima Al Matar (blog)

Original item by Poetry in Translation Group

I'm guessing this was inspired by the tomb stone discussion thread...
Yes it would be good to die in genteel pursuits - a pen in hand, working out your iambic pentameter. I'd hate to be remembered as poor Elvis is.....

Comment is about a poet's death (blog)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

Just to say this is supposed to be a bit tongue-in-cheek. I don't take myself this seriously! (I hope I don't anyway!) ;-)

Comment is about a poet's death (blog)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

Rachel try leaving out completely ''an obscenity of frog spawn'' and add a 'd' to ''an'' and-
''The frog had gone,

and in it’s place

gazing blandly up

with a thousand jelly eyes.

Comment is about Rachel McGladdery (poet profile)

Original item by Rachel McGladdery

Lovely - this is where poetry wins over fiction - you can tell an entire story in a few lines. Is there even one of us who does not know what this feels like? B

Comment is about Forget (blog)

Original item by Lisa Milligan

Hi again Max. Just listened to 'For Help'. A commanding reading on your website. You know that you can upload an audio to accompany any blog entry

Comment is about For Help (blog)

Original item by Max Wallis

Anne Thank you so much you are very kind... I've tried to get a Longfellow feel to my poem... so consequently it needs to be beneath instead of Neath... Yes that would be lovely lets go Dilly Dancing on Friday...

Once again many thanks.

Augusta xx

Comment is about Ann Foxglove (poet profile)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

Thank you - you have combined my voice with my favourite voice on WOL. xx

Comment is about Death Wish (article)

I like this, Steven. Your vocabulary evolves a darkly moody, introspective tone, albeit self-indulgent. Your observations are quick, quirky but precise, and true. And the touch of self-humour is delightful, drawing the reader in sympathetically, sort of. Makes one want to say 'Boo-hoo for you!' which I think is exactly what you intended. You are very clever.

Comment is about Cracks (blog)

Original item by Steven Kenny

Kealan, you are fucking brilliant! This poem is remarkable. (I could throw in another 'fucking' but that would be OTT, wouldn't it?)

Just adjust 'Its...' no apostrophe, and 'disappearing' to keep this work top class.

Comment is about As The Moon Prevails. (blog)

Original item by Kealan Coady

Winston - I write on average about 8 poems a xeek at the moment as well as prose. My website is http://somethingeveryday.tumblr.com x

Comment is about For Help (blog)

Original item by Max Wallis

I look forward to the next insallment Max. A couple of things.1) Obviously you care about how the font size and layout looks on the page. I am afraid thatthe WOL text editor box is not so accomplished :-( . you could create some blank lines before the first line of the poem and then it wont be pushed over by the pic in the blog entry. 2) Great idea posting a series. Try and put up one every week or few days as if you put them up all at one people tend to get a bit flooded. Keep writing. Toodeloo. Winston

Comment is about For Help (blog)

Original item by Max Wallis

Welcme to the site Max... interesting stuff already! Winston

Comment is about Max Wallis (poet profile)

Original item by Max Wallis

Dear Donna,

Well spotted! The closing date for entries is the Fiday April 23rd

Entries can be made in the comment box at the bottom of the page and only one entry per person.

Comment is about Hadrons and Hustings (article)

Donna from Barnsley writes:

Dear Dermot,

Is the Reykjavik competition still open and when is the last date for entries?

Comment is about Hadrons and Hustings (article)

Thanks ever for your comment on Old Flame Cynthia, you got it spot on about the voices and the choice of 'improper'. Cheers, Thom

Comment is about Cynthia Buell Thomas (poet profile)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

Happy April Fool's Day to you, too! Hope you play lots of tricks and don't get fooled yourself. xx

Comment is about Ann Foxglove (poet profile)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

Ann you mad bat! Lovely poem

John

Comment is about the bat (blog)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

Precioussss will do nisscely, she says, hissing in her very best Gollum impersonation...

Comment is about Beautiful Minds (blog)

Original item by Isobel

LOL
Well then how would you suggest making the point perhaps a bit clearer?

Tu me fais toujours rire... et en plus je t'adore ; )
xxx

Comment is about Gus Jonsson (poet profile)

Original item by Gus Jonsson

i know Is...nice is a terrible thing to say...blasphemous! we will not fight near your poem because it is protected only by the finest of silk threads it is so precious.any better?

Comment is about Beautiful Minds (blog)

Original item by Isobel

This is beautiful. I've been reading your work and you have a great style - I like your word choice, format/flow and subject matter. There's always a little mystery to what you're writing about, but I'm like that too. Or maybe I'm too dense to figure it out. In any case, I like your style.

Lisa

Comment is about At Least We Tried. (blog)

Original item by Kealan Coady

What a wonderful way to interpret this - thank you!!

Comment is about Dave Bradley (poet profile)

Original item by Dave Bradley

Re:Poem 'Alone'
'Well jeez Gus... the girls get it ; )

'Saw the reflection' can be both his and hers - an understanding/connection of their souls...

'Felt the connection
As he glanced right through'... Too intense so is afraid to acknowledge the connection...

It was written to be interpreted as either only her perception or a shared perception...

Comment is about Gus Jonsson (poet profile)

Original item by Gus Jonsson

Great poem ...great performance.


Very well done!

Gus

Comment is about For Dicks (blog)

Original item by Max Wallis

Hi Cynthia - thanks for the kind & constructive comments - "laying on of hands" & I agree that it would work as well without the added words & I only told it as I saw it. I do generally agree with the maxim to cut it to the bare essentials, but here the guy is stepping out into the post-coital sunshine & breeze & these were his sentiments in that scenario, but you do have a valid point. BTW Cyn - I wouldn't feel too sorry for the woman - Scarlett Johansson - I just thought that the image fitted the words. B

Comment is about Cynthia Buell Thomas (poet profile)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

My father gave me a cricket bat when I was a lad... years later we found it hanging upside down in the back of the wardrobe.

The lines...
...spread the webbed gabardine of your wings
and twitter your secrets to me.

...are superb observations.

Well done!

Gusxx

Comment is about the bat (blog)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

Enjoyed this Lisa. Something wild and beautiful breaking into a tame and ordered world and being rejected. Well written

Comment is about I Thought White Was Beautiful (blog)

Original item by Lisa Milligan

A gentle and unusual take on something that actually has huge potential to disrupt lives, and that is yet common to us all. I do like your stuff Thomas

Comment is about Old Flame (blog)

Original item by Tom

Hi Ann - "laying on of hands" - thanks for your kind comments. all the best. B

Comment is about Ann Foxglove (poet profile)

Original item by Ann Foxglove