Yours are never easy to understand Ray.
If I had to stick an interpretation on it (which I have to do in order to enjoy my poetry) I would say that you are talking about social interraction.
So many of us not knowing how to conduct ourselves, leads to reservation, holding back. 'as if nature, by its nature, were dumb'.

Still life is of little benefit to humanity - pretty to look at but lifeless.

I like the ideas in it - if I am anywhere warm - also like the anology of dogs not being able to keep their own business - that's another soap box of mine - can't believe what I have to step around in my locality. If I let my kids shit on the pavements, there would be uproar.

Comment is about Frieze (blog)

Hi Cynthia, thank you so much for your lovely comments on "Mr.Cameron". Much appreciated.

Comment is about Cynthia Buell Thomas (poet profile)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

Thanks Greg - yes, it was the last verse that came to me first!
So in agreement, Jeff, glad you have clarified my thoughts with your comments, thank you.
Cynthia, thank you so much for your kindness. xx

Comment is about Mr. Cameron (blog)

Original item by Lynn Dye

Thank you so much val for your kind comment so glad you liked my story best wishes from ben xx

Comment is about Bens story..The cat the mouse and the spider..by Ben age 7 yrs for my grandma Bernadette (blog)

Original item by bernadette herbertson

thank you grandad steph for your kind comment and my gold star ..from ben...hi stef glad you remember me !! hope to be back blogging soon. i now have another little grandson ' Alexander Jordan ..AJ for short he is 3wks old !! lots of love and best wishes to you all and hope you are all well. Ben really enjoyed doing his little story .lets start them young I say ! xxxx

Comment is about Bens story..The cat the mouse and the spider..by Ben age 7 yrs for my grandma Bernadette (blog)

Original item by bernadette herbertson

Dave, thanks for spotting That Inward Eye. It's the first and only sestina I've attempted, and needs a bit more work yet. I felt I was running out of puff towards the end ...

Comment is about Dave Bradley (poet profile)

Original item by Dave Bradley

Thank you Ben that was a really interesting story. Well Done X

Comment is about Bens story..The cat the mouse and the spider..by Ben age 7 yrs for my grandma Bernadette (blog)

Original item by bernadette herbertson

Very nice indeed to see you back on Bernadette-my best regards to you and family-off for me baff now-hope to catch you later-love-Stef-xxxxxx

Comment is about bernadette herbertson (poet profile)

Original item by bernadette herbertson

...hello Ann...thanks..'Bleasby Street' is one of a series of poems that came out of researching the 'family tree'a few years ago..it's about my gr.gr.grans eldest son who died of double pneumonia in Oldham leaving a wife ,Margaret, the street has gone of course and after a hundred years we're all just a 7.50 death certificate at the register office..or maybe a poem...chris.

Comment is about Ann Foxglove (poet profile)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

Well done Ben! you go to the top of the class! plus two gold stars-one for you and one for the typist!-can we expect 'Ben&Bernadettes Blog from now on? lots of love to you both-Grandad Stef-xx-xx

Comment is about Bens story..The cat the mouse and the spider..by Ben age 7 yrs for my grandma Bernadette (blog)

Original item by bernadette herbertson

...hello Dave..thanks for comment..Bleasby Street came out of trying to trace the 'family tree'and visiting the places they lived..cheers.

Comment is about Dave Bradley (poet profile)

Original item by Dave Bradley

Hi Jane - after my Sage & Onion and your Thyme, perhaps we need Rosemary & Parsley..... :) Best wishes, Dave

Comment is about jane wilcock (poet profile)

Original item by jane wilcock

Hi Elaine, Hmm odd that. Just had a nap and woke up. woke up the pc also to find WOL on the page containing your 'The Lane'. in another tab my inbox shows I have a comment, From you! I really appreciate your comment. That is what I am always driving at (to make every work count) the found/experimental thing is not something I have talked about on here (but everyone else has LOL). It has been Fascinating. Win x

Comment is about Elaine (poet profile)

Original item by Elaine

Of course!!!! I really love some of my poems - they are like my family! xx

Comment is about John Aikman (poet profile)

Original item by John Aikman

Thank you for your comments on 'Under the Wire' only a year since it was posted :). I still think of it as my apotheosis....although I was less than 2 weeks post op and, because of infirmity I had nothing else to do but write poetry. I still enjoy it myself (can we say that about our own poems?) Kind thanks for your forebearance.

:)

Jxxx

Comment is about Ann Foxglove (poet profile)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

Are they like Waterstones? Sell a calender for every taste imaginable - 2011 Airedale Terriers in Drag Calender - no probs! Or so it seems! I liked the cat doing housework calender of a couple of years ago. But my cat still refuses to do the ironing!

Comment is about John Coopey (poet profile)

Original item by John Coopey

'Ey up Foxy.
I can't believe I'm the only one who skanked Borders judging by the crowd in Starbuck's and the lack of queues at the tills. Although I reckon that I personally owe them a couple of hundred quid in lost sales.

Comment is about Ann Foxglove (poet profile)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

Thanks for the comments on Borders, Isobel. I can't believe that I'm the only one who skanked Borders. I think we all did it, judging by the crowd in Starbuck's and the lack of queues at the tills.

Comment is about Isobel (poet profile)

Original item by Isobel

Funny, but when I wrote this a few days ago there was no connection in my head with undead walking etc. Just the general gloom of a sleepless night. Then I happened to post it on Halloween. Hey ho!

Comment is about sleepless (blog)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

This created such a clear picture, for me, of the characters in the poem. It really made me giggle with recognition of this kind of situation. Which is to say, you conveyed it very well and I enjoyed it a lot.

Comment is about The Subtitles (blog)

Original item by Marianne Daniels

The sense of the familiar is very strong for me with this poem. Very succinct - unquestionably, lived experience shines through. I appreciate the contrast between what is promised and the memories of the reality.

Comment is about poem (blog)

Original item by pauline sewards

This really struck a chord with me. I enjoyed it very much. Many fine phrases: "Well, they were beautiful when you wore them", "while the sky itself is dusted with stars". Love this playing with ideas & images.

Comment is about Dust (blog)

Original item by Dave Bradley

Really enjoyed the wistfulness of this piece. Very touching.

Comment is about Disorder of My Family (blog)

Original item by Tom

Spot on for the time of year! Liked "an excited shiver warps his body". Good to go with the vibe - and this certainly does it! E x

Comment is about The Witching Hour (blog)

Original item by Steven Kenny

Like this very much, thought provoking.
Cx

Comment is about Must be the season of the witch (blog)

Original item by Shoeless Carole

I like the simplicity of this and yet it says such a lot. Great title too.
Dave

Comment is about Autonomy (blog)

Everything is at risk and desperate hearts on parade and more besides in this piece. Dug deep, well done you. Win x

Comment is about freedom - no such thing (blog)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

They do, Cynthia. I should know. I'm one of 'em.
Thanks for the comment.

Comment is about Another Row (blog)

Original item by David Mac

fanx for the comments, everyone

Comment is about Crash (blog)

Original item by David Mac

very thought provoking Janet-perhaps apostrophe after 'stranger!-regards-Stef-xx

Comment is about Autonomy (blog)

(Steve) - Ha - the money is mine - I'm saving up for a facelift... for the kitchen!

Can't make Liver this month. I'm looking for somewhere quiet and out of the way to practise my pieces - somewhere with no scousers in sight!
I can't speak for Dave - the only thing we share is a car - when I venture into Mordor...

Am looking forward to Saturday - I've a feeling your poems may be even less flattering than mine! Will definitely try to make Liver next month - I love the atosphere at all the venues you run. x

Comment is about Isobel (poet profile)

Original item by Isobel

Ha - the money is mine - I'm saving up for a facelift... for the kitchen!
Can't make Liver this month. I'm looking for somewhere quiet and out of the way to practise my pieces - somewhere with no scousers in sight!
I can't speak for Dave - the only thing we share is a car - when I venture into Mordor...
Am looking forward to Saturday - I've a feeling your poems may be even less flattering than mine!
Will definitely try to make Liver next month - I love the atosphere at all the venues you run. x

Comment is about Steve Regan (poet profile)

Original item by Steve Regan

Ta dearie for recent nice/jocular comments you always keep me inspired! for which-aythankyor chuck!Steffy-xx

Comment is about Ann Foxglove (poet profile)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

Unexpected end! Not sure if you needed the word lepidepterectomy? or indeed the very last line. This would give a better ending for me and leave the reader to work a bit harder, but thats ok (IMHO) Win x Liked.
P.S I have also learn't a new word. Thx

Comment is about The Departure (blog)

Original item by Dave Carr

Hi Dave, thanks for commenting on my boat poem, maybe its the fish who had their FREEDOM. Win x

Comment is about Dave Carr (poet profile)

Original item by Dave Carr

A feather from an angels wing! brilliant stuff! Win

Comment is about World (blog)

Hi Isobel, Belated thanks for looking and commenting on my boat poem. Your highlighting of knock on effects (ripples) is an interesting observation. Win

Comment is about Isobel (poet profile)

Original item by Isobel

Ha ha. You is in the Lennon slam; one of the 12 finalists. Don't win, pleaee, coz I need that money. It's for booze for me baby!
ARE you and Dave coming the the LIVER BARDS tomorrow Tue 2 Nov, Shipping Forecast, Slater Street.

Comment is about Isobel (poet profile)

Original item by Isobel

Managed to miss this very enjoyable poem first time round. Andy's list has brought it to light. Isobel is right - very good.

Comment is about You Are Free (Freedom) (blog)

Original item by Tom

Hi Cynthia
Thanks a lot for your comment on Anywhere Street - I'm always intrigued into how a poem is interpreted and comes across. The poem is not intended to be humourous it is entirely designed to be the opposite, for example 'BMP hit a bullseye here' implies not only a problem with literacy but highlighting a socially disadvantaged area often targeted by bigots like the BNP who fuel prejudices to promote the cliche that immigrants are the reason for unemployment and many social problems etc. The line about the police trying to speak da lingo highlights an attempt to integrate with the community it serves by trying to appear to speak like them in order for them to conform but with all things if there is no noticeable empathy these attempts fall flat. Jagdip is a typical victim here, did he truly grass? or was he the object of hatred pumped out by racist folk?

You're a very passionate reader and writer so I felt compelled to explain the intention of the poem and to highlight that is not what it may first appear to be.

It does concern me that you think its contrived as this poem was supposed to be more explorative of social differences and the motivators behind prejudice.

Good criticism like yours though is a wonderful gift it holds a mirror to a writer and I choose to look and not to look away, for holding up that mirror i'd liek to say thanks.

Comment is about Cynthia Buell Thomas (poet profile)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

I don't seem to have commented on this one though I remember it. (Must have been doing something on Nov 20th 2009 I guess!) I really love it. Better late than never eh! xx

Comment is about Under the Wire (blog)

Original item by John Aikman

A funny poem John - your speciality!

I envy you the luxury of sitting down with a coffee in a bookshop or library - some people experience an alternative reality - one that I can only dream of...

Comment is about Borders (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

Wot, strange that you like it? Hehe! It just came to me one sleepless night! Now we've changed the clocks I don't where I am. Well, I do know where I am, just not WHEN I am! xx

Comment is about sleepless (blog)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

So it was all your fault then! xx

Comment is about Borders (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

So that's what you've been up to while you've been away! ;-) Jolly good to have you back, nice poem - I see we've both been out in the moonlight on this All Hallows Eve. Spooky! xx

Comment is about Sometimes... (blog)

Original item by John Aikman

Good evening Jean Lucy-many thanks to you for taking time and commenting on my poem'Waste' your remarks mean more than you know-thank you-nice to hear from you-Stefan-xx

Comment is about jean lucy thompson (poet profile)

Original item by jean lucy thompson

Hi - I like it a lot Ann, it's strange. xx

Comment is about sleepless (blog)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

And quicker than a cat on a kipper...

Nice poem John - a subtle description of what it feels like to live with guilt - though I wouldn't really know of course, never having had to live with it. I can imagine though...

The quicksilver cooling and trickling to sheets is incredibly subtle - would love to read Cynthia's take on that one :-)

Love the last line - it hangs rather effectively.

Comment is about Sometimes... (blog)

Original item by John Aikman

Hey - you're right about HMHB - but I managed to find a few things that I haven't heard them take the piss out-of-the-proles for;
swimming with F***ing dolphins
(now shagging a dolphin's diffrunt)
going to Sharm el Sheik
going to any F***ing Disneyworld
going to Florida
buying a chiminea/patio heater
adopting a panda/elefunt/nig-nog
getting solar panels or crocs
getting a F***ing i-Pad
stroking a Tiger in Thailand
...no, sorry, I did that one :)

Comment is about Laura Taylor (poet profile)

Original item by Laura Taylor

Thanks for your comments on Tom Pudding, Lynn. It's a bit of a departure for me as I usually do much lighter stuff like my latest Dipso....
I took the opportunity to look at yours and was very impressed with it.
I particularly like Impossibility, not least because I have a lot of trouble myself managing abab rhyme patterns and realise how technically difficult they are.

Comment is about Lynn Dye (poet profile)

Original item by Lynn Dye