Dear John as you've been kind enough to leave positive comments about my poems I thought you might like to check out this link to some poems of mine on You Tube, at least it will increase my count from single figures!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pa5DFRyKC60&feature=related

Comment is about John Coopey (poet profile)

Original item by John Coopey

Dear Kealan as you've been kind enough to leave positive comments about my poems I thought you might like to check out this link to some poems of mine on You Tube, at least it will increase my count from single figures!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pa5DFRyKC60&feature=related

Comment is about Kealan Coady (poet profile)

Original item by Kealan Coady

Dear Dave as you've been kind enough to leave positive comments about my poems I thought you might like to check out this link to some poems of mine on You Tube, at least it will increase my count from single figures!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pa5DFRyKC60&feature=related

Comment is about Dave Bradley (poet profile)

Original item by Dave Bradley

Dear Andy as you've been kind enough to leave positive comments about my poems I thought you might like to check out this link to some poems of mine on You Tube, at least it will increase my count from single figures!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pa5DFRyKC60&feature=related

Comment is about Andy N (poet profile)

Original item by Andy N

Dear Winston as you've been kind enough to leave positive comments about my poems I thought you might like to check out this link to some poems of mine on You Tube, at least it will increase my count from single figures!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pa5DFRyKC60&feature=related

Comment is about Winston Plowes (poet profile)

Original item by Winston Plowes

Dear Isobel as you've been kind enough to leave positive comments about my poems I thought you might like to check out this link to some poems of mine on You Tube, at least it will increase my count from single figures!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pa5DFRyKC60&feature=related

Comment is about Isobel (poet profile)

Original item by Isobel

Dear Cate as you've been kind enough to leave positive comments about my poems I thought you might like to check out this link to some poems of mine on You Tube, at least it will increase my count from single figures!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pa5DFRyKC60&feature=related

Comment is about Cate (poet profile)

Original item by Cate

Dear Ann as you've been kind enough to leave positive comments about my poems I thought you might like to check out this link to some poems of mine on You Tube, at least it will increase my count from single figures!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pa5DFRyKC60&feature=related

Comment is about Ann Foxglove (poet profile)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

Dear Rachel as you've been kind enough to leave positive comments about my poems I thought you might like to check out this link to some poems of mine on You Tube, at least it will increase my count from single figures!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pa5DFRyKC60&feature=related

Comment is about Rachel McGladdery (poet profile)

Original item by Rachel McGladdery

Hi Greg - Trying to catch up with poems on the site. I've just read and enjoyed Tomboy and the Paperbacks poem. AS usual lively and very skilful. As for the sestina - Wow, but I'll have to have a few reads before I get to the bottom of that one! It's a real tour de force.

Comment is about Greg Freeman (poet profile)

Original item by Greg Freeman

This is the poem I read on Saturday night at the fantastic Big Weekend. Thanks to everyone who organised it. Aren't poets great?!

Comment is about The wisdom to know indifference (blog)

Original item by Michael Scott

Hi Laura - I think that's a lovely story, & yet again, synchronicity must be at work here, cos - like I said - I heard the Exact same phrase used on TV - and whenever I see/hear/read something unusual like that I always squirrel it away to think about later - and it was such an odd phrase - yet something that you could imagine any of us doing at one time or another. all the best. B

Comment is about Laura Taylor (poet profile)

Original item by Laura Taylor

It's a real poem! Love it. The rhythm, the rhymes are beauteous. With warmest wishes, Larisa

Comment is about Osterone Test (blog)

Original item by Christopher Dawson

cheers Is, suck ya thumb if you like but I know what I prefer!

goodness Jo, thank you, I had no idea that the girl in the pic was anyone in particular. not really that suited is she.

Comment is about The dim little girl from the Secondary Modern (blog)

Original item by Christopher Dawson

cheers foxy.

Comment is about My Garden Genie (blog)

Original item by Christopher Dawson

Enjoyed this. Some really lovely lines:

"Well, they were beautiful when you wore them."

and

"How can empty air be so full?
All around us all the time -
we move in dust"

Beams of dustlight, also very good. Reminds me of being entranced by the streams of smoke issuing from my mother's mouth in a sunny room - it's the sole reason why I tried my first fag.

Damn her!

It doesn't feel prosy to me at all, and I'm with Quentin Crisp on the subject of dust.

Comment is about Dust (blog)

Original item by Dave Bradley

Enjoyed a lot. Well observed, especially liked this bit:
and single quiet dogs

winced at misspellings in descriptions

free of grammar

Comment is about poem (blog)

Original item by pauline sewards

Thanks for your comments banksy and Dave

banksy - nah, I wrote the original version of this back in March of this year, and it was something I said, in exactly that way. I do do that though, with phrases I hear around and about :)

Comment is about Called you babe by accident (blog)

Original item by Laura Taylor

Wow, you are pulling this out Larisa - good luck in the comp in this one also! x

Comment is about FREEDOM (Freedom) (blog)

Original item by Larisa Rzhepishevska

enjoyed this, dave - lot of good images for me in this - there is a lot of movement in this to me which only settles down by the end which is very, very clever..

top one!

Comment is about Dust (blog)

Original item by Dave Bradley

looks like you had fun here, Gemma.. A good workshop or two - can result in a number of good poems or pieces you can work on further... this'll need more time off me to properly comment, but nice one from first impressions! x

Comment is about What an awesome weekend (5 new poems - I'll let you guess the workshop that inspired each one) (blog)

Original item by Gemma Lees

Hi Pauline;

Your poem I think is a excellent example of something I was discussing with somebody last week oddly enough of detail in poetry...

I've never lived in London for example, but know enough of Leytonstone (Have a ex who lived there) to tell a story or two myself, but what I like about this piece it is skillfully told enough you don't have to know the area to be able to see the piece in question.

I particularly like the ending.. Top stuff! x

Comment is about poem (blog)

Original item by pauline sewards

What a Performance

draughty massive methodist chapel
warmed by a hostel full of poets
speaking in tongues and whispers
speaking out loud
sent crafted words over Hebden hills
sent warm shivers down spines

ps sorry for using your comment space Gemma (lovely words by the way and good to meet you and t'other WOLers...but I had to lob this somewhere before I complete my profile.

regards

tony

Comment is about What an awesome weekend (5 new poems - I'll let you guess the workshop that inspired each one) (blog)

Original item by Gemma Lees

Thom this write really got to me.

The reference to ghosts around the table makes me quite sad as although you don't say this, it's that haunting reminder of that precious time ticking by. Makes me want to pack my bags and go home.

I particularly love the line

'somersaulted in my mother's complete understanding'.

This is really beautiful and clearly a very touching heartfelt poem about the love you have for your family.

Ally

Comment is about Disorder of My Family (blog)

Original item by Tom

The subjects you find to write about, never cease to amaze me Dave! This is one I could probably do to death. I've never yet seen any I've found beautiful. It is what we crumble into when we die, it is what we try hard to ignore when we are writing our poetry, it is what our dreams fold into at the end of a weary day.... perhaps I'll write my own on it one day - or you could set it as a task for us.

I think the poetry could be worked on to be less prosy in this but I do like the thought processes. I also like the picture which captures the most beautiful aspect of dust. It's when the damn stuff settles that the problems start. x

Comment is about Dust (blog)

Original item by Dave Bradley

Thank you so much Cynthia for your wonderful crtique of 'The knot Within'...you are very kind


Many many thanks once again.


Augusta xx

Comment is about Cynthia Buell Thomas (poet profile)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

I believe that excision still happens down backstreets & in some closed communities in the UK - a woman was jailed for it not long ago. Burkhas - I would ban them - just as I would outlaw the wearing of ski-masks on the high street - but I can see both sides. xxx

Comment is about Cry Freedom (blog)

Original item by Isobel

You've got me on this one Banksy. Though I loathe, hate, detest everything the burkha stands for, I'm not sure where I am on banning it. It seems that once you start putting on the boxing gloves and playing hard, it reinforces the opposition. They would hold tighter to the tradition because it would be symbolic of their fight for freedom from western intervention. The knock on effect might mean that some women didn't get to see the light of day... I think the move for change has to be a lot more subtle than that - involve communication with elders - leaders - politicians. Which leads me to think that change will be a long time coming. The plight of women being much lower on the agenda that other issues in the middle east...

I can't imagine female excision happens in the UK? Surely that is a foreign practise - too hideous to even go there Banksy - that makes me feel like throwing up and very, very angry.

Comment is about Cry Freedom (blog)

Original item by Isobel

I agree 100% with everything you say there - and if it is within our remit to (say) enforce the ban on female excision in the UK & EU & ensure equal pay etc, I'm all for it - but do we (say) ban the burkha then? I say yes, like the froggies, but then there are plenty who'd say that I'M the one who's meddling? xxxxx

Comment is about Cry Freedom (blog)

Original item by Isobel

Hi Dave, thanks for your comment on my poem 'Freedom'. I hope I do win because I'm a penniless, crippled orphan who has been cruelly treated by this wicked world and could do with a bit of joy in my life - but don't let this influence you in your voting.

Comment is about Dave Bradley (poet profile)

Original item by Dave Bradley

Hi Gus,
Hope you are well, haven't seen you for a bit, hope you are well and thriving.

Thanks for commenting on my poem 'Freedom' though your original comment threw me as I didn't know what a 'urist' was - a dwarf? I enjoyed your 'Plate and spoon' poem and your picture for Augusta's poem too.

Comment is about Gus Jonsson (poet profile)

Original item by Gus Jonsson

Yes - I can see where you are coming from there Banksy - but I'd rather have a surfeit of empathy, than to not think beyond the end of my nose or my own needs. I am at least grateful and not complacent about the freedom I enjoy. Though I'm not proposing to organise any task forces to go over there, I will take a verbal pop at sexist foreign cultures as often I can, just hoping that one day things might change. If everyone keeps schtum then we are complicit.

Rant over. I think we are in agreement really - you just know what buttons to press. xxxxxxxxxx

Comment is about Cry Freedom (blog)

Original item by Isobel

I don't think I'll ever understand all of one of yours Laura but I like 'em all the same. Lovely images and intriguing teasers.

Comment is about Called you babe by accident (blog)

Original item by Laura Taylor

Yes indeed ! that last verse!
and I think that your sentiments are laudable & your heart in the right place, but empathy for others is in no small part why we have been fighting 2 wars for several years now. I'm not saying that it's not right to feel for your fellow man {or woman :) }
but here we are fighting wars to try & better the lot of others, when often it's just not possible. Many said we were in Iraq just for the oil - well, there ain't much oil in Afghanistan ! Sometimes methinks we can have a surfeit of empathy then it boils over into "meddling" which is (IMHO) where we're at right now.
You Go girl - jump up on yon soapbox. xxxxxxxx

Comment is about Cry Freedom (blog)

Original item by Isobel

I love the sentiments you are expressing here. It seems easier to write about the angst that families cause us - effectively communicating affection is difficult but you've managed it!

Comment is about Disorder of My Family (blog)

Original item by Tom

Hi Laura - really like this a lot.
BTW - pls excuse me if I'm wrong - but I heard that same phrase on a TV programme or film just the other night & I wondered if maybe you had drawn your inspiration from it like I often do(ie unusual phrases or mis-heard words etc) {called you babe by accident} ??
I'm intrigued. XX

Comment is about Called you babe by accident (blog)

Original item by Laura Taylor

thank you, Gus

btw, lovely, down to earth poem about a vain plate!

Comment is about Gus Jonsson (poet profile)

Original item by Gus Jonsson

Yes - I see where you are going with that cigarette analogy Gus. If I apply that logic to the malodorous dish, what the dishwasher upper really wants is to be free of the onerous task of washing up. Crack that habit, learn to eat with one's fingers and life would be a little simpler. A communal eating pot is what my family needs (a saucepan maybe) along with more simplified table manners. I've always enjoyed eating with my fingers - vastly underutilsed implements in the western world... But then I guess, the fingers might start to rebel and then what?

Forgive my rabbiting - just like thinking aloud in a silly kind of way.

Comment is about Gus Jonsson (poet profile)

Original item by Gus Jonsson

Why thank you, steve - appreciated.

ray - don't make me chortle, you wouldn't like me when I chortle

A pig or a dog inDEED. Tsk.

Comment is about Called you babe by accident (blog)

Original item by Laura Taylor

Good afternoon Andy

It seems to me that FREEDOM is a catalyst of circumstance, for example the cigarette crying for freedom is at once set ablaze and is extinguished humiliatingly into the stench of the ash tray who in turn cries out to be set free from its foul labour.

Of course not one of them realising that the cigarette smoker desires to cease his or hers odorous habit and be set free ….and so on.

By the way still waiting for your poem..??

Once again many thanks
Gus

Comment is about Andy N (poet profile)

Original item by Andy N

Elaine. Thanks for your comments on Genealogy.

Comment is about Elaine (poet profile)

Original item by Elaine

Good afternoon Isobel
Thank you so much for your comments you are very kind and just a little whimsical yerself at times... Mmmmm

It seems to me that FREEDOM is a catalyst of circumstance, for example the cigarette crying for freedom is at once set ablaze and is extinguished humiliatingly into the stench of the ash tray who in turn cries out to be set free from its foul labour.

Of course not one of them realising that the cigarette smoker desires to cease his or hers odorous habit and be set free ….and so on.

Once again many thanks

Gusxxx

Comment is about Isobel (poet profile)

Original item by Isobel

I should love to know what is about. That picture's not helping much. There's a lot to like about it, charming in many parts, but just downright confusing in others:
I won’t take it away

if you leave me alone

So don’t take it away

and we’ll let our God grow

I have variously thought it concerned a boy, a pig, a tomato plant, a dog.

Comment is about Called you babe by accident (blog)

Original item by Laura Taylor

Good afternoon Cynthia

Thank you so much for your comments you are very kind.

It seems to me that FREEDOM is a catalyst of circumstance, for example the cigarette crying for freedom is at once set ablaze and is extinguished humiliatingly into the stench of the ash tray who in turn cries out to be set free from its foul labour.

Of course not one of them realising that the cigarette smoker desires to cease his or hers odorous habit and be set free ….and so on.

Once again many thanks
Gusxx

Comment is about Cynthia Buell Thomas (poet profile)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

Good afternoon Dave

Thank you so much for your comments you are very kind.

It seems to me that FREEDOM is a catalyst of circumstance, for example the cigarette crying for freedom is at once set ablaze and is extinguished humiliatingly into the stench of the ash tray who in turn cries out to be set free from its foul labour.

Of course not one of them realising that the cigarette smoker desires to cease his or hers odorous habit and be set free ….and so on.

Once again many thanks
Gus

Comment is about Dave Carr (poet profile)

Original item by Dave Carr

Good afternoon Ann

Thank you so much for your comments you are very kind.

It seems to me that FREEDOM is a catalyst of circumstance, for example the cigarette crying for freedom is at once set ablaze and is extinguished humiliatingly into the stench of the ash tray who in turn cries out to be set free from its foul labour.

Of course not one of them realising that the cigarette smoker desires to cease his or hers odorous habit and be set free ….and so on.

Once again many thanks
Gus xx

Comment is about Ann Foxglove (poet profile)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

Thank you one and all for your outrageously encouraging comments you are all very kind.

It seems to me that FREEDOM is a catalyst of circumstance, for example the cigarette crying for freedom is at once set ablaze and is extinguished humiliatingly into the stench of the ash tray who in turn cries out to be set free from its foul labour.

Of course not one of them realising that the cigarette smoker desires to cease his or hers odorous habit and be set free ….and so on.

Once again many thanks
Gus xx

Comment is about The Plate and the Spoon (FREEDOM) (blog)

Original item by Gus Jonsson

Thanks for your comment on Called You Babe, Winston - am glad you enjoyed it :) Did put this comment on my blog, but not sure if you saw it or not.

Have you heard that album at all? It's actually my favourite album, ever, and I speak as a lifetime music anorak who has never once been able to say for certain which album is my actual favourite (or even my top 20 favourites!) :D Well worth a listen or 50. Jeff Mangum's a genius, imo.

Anyhoo, it played a major role in this love story, and continues to do so :)

Comment is about Winston Plowes (poet profile)

Original item by Winston Plowes

Cheers Winston - am glad you enjoyed it :)

Have you heard that album at all? It's actually my favourite album, ever, and I speak as a lifetime music anorak who has never once been able to say for certain which album is my actual favourite (or even my top 20 favourites!) :D Well worth a listen or 50. Jeff Mangum's a genius, imo.

Anyhoo, it played a major role in this love story, and continues to do so :)

Comment is about Called you babe by accident (blog)

Original item by Laura Taylor

Hi Laura... Well what to make of this one? It is an unusual one with an unusual picture. A love story thats great for open and personal interpretation with its short often questioning lines. I really like it. There is a child like, nursery rhyme feel to the rhythm and reference to fantasy elememts of lions, honey and tomatoes etc but there is also a deeper more serious side and a big Aww to wrap things up. Wonderful. Win x
P.S. Aha - In the Aeroplane Over the Sea! :-)

Comment is about Called you babe by accident (blog)

Original item by Laura Taylor