A really interesting poem, John. Perhaps we only remember the discouraging comments. 'Get retaliation in first' - wasn't that the British Lions?
Comment is about My Mother Said (blog)
Original item by John Botterill
Warsan Shire's poem 'Home' on the experience of fleeing persecution and becoming a refugee is remarkable cry of despair and anger, yet is somehow infused with humanity and the power of the spirit. If I could write 1% as a well as this, I would be delighted. It deserves to be read and re-read.
Comment is about Poet's plea for boat refugees quoted on BBC's Question Time (article)
Original item by Greg Freeman
Thank you, Uilleam. A very good point.
And thanks to Nigel, Tom, Ruth, Aisha and Manish.
Comment is about Left Field (blog)
Original item by Stephen Gospage
Thanks, Uilleam. 'Against all odds' is right. It must be hard to observe basic decency when faced with a brutal, ruthless enemy. But we have to try to not be dragged down to their level.
And thanks to Ruth and Aisha.
Comment is about Niceties (blog)
Original item by Stephen Gospage
Thank you all for the likes Suvendra, Helene, K.Lynn, Aisha, Philippa and Tom , glad you enjoyed it.
Thank you Greg. the mantle of the north hangs heavy. I was thinking I suppose of the sun as witness to the decision making! Another railway poem for the menu.
Thank you Graham. I have a ready lucky dip of poems , lots need the edit button like this one did, Yes, you have hit on a truism there, as time passing in oblivion is a strange non sensation. I was inspired by your communication too, thank you.
Stephen, always nice to hear from you, as it has been some time my end! I did three chess poems of all different aspects but I felt this one had a back story. Where that phrase came from no idea, but I thought i'd leave it in, thanks for picking up on it. The desultory black sack I always found an anti climax of any journey.
Ray
Comment is about CHESS KILLING TIME (blog)
Original item by ray pool
I have long maintained the importance of debate, and that
applies to poetry, not least when it is politically connected.
Much of what I see comes from a certain point of view that
appears to be very ready to resort to indignant moral high
ground when comments are made about what is on offer.
Action engenders reaction and that's healthy, I hope that
WOL maintains a proper balance when approaching poetry
whatever its content and point of view. It is always possible to
agree to disagree! Pip-pip! 😌
Comment is about Poet's plea for boat refugees quoted on BBC's Question Time (article)
Original item by Greg Freeman
<Deleted User> (5011)
Mon 3rd Jul 2023 14:20
Bravo, Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, for quoting those lines of poetry; bravo to Warsan Shire for having written them; bravo, Write Out Loud, for reporting this. (Yes, I declare my interest.)
There is nothing in this, as Greg says, that denigrates Rwanda (though I imagine the country's reputation over the years might take the edge off its appeal as a migration destination for many of our readers).
Comment is about Poet's plea for boat refugees quoted on BBC's Question Time (article)
Original item by Greg Freeman
What a great subject for a poem John. I shudder to think what mine would be like if I wrote something similar! Well done.
Comment is about My Mother Said (blog)
Original item by John Botterill
The first time I read your poem Warsan, I said, and I meant BRAVO! 💗
"...i dont know what i’ve become
but i know that anywhere
is safer than here."
As I've previously posted, I've read the recent Amnesty International, and UN Expert Group reports on Rwanda, with horror.
50 years ago, I read similar stories from those and other parts of the world with equal horror.
Now I've read your poem again.
You last three lines perfectly sum up your predicament, which is now also mine.💗
Comment is about Poet's plea for boat refugees quoted on BBC's Question Time (article)
Original item by Greg Freeman
Thank you all for your uplifting and incredible comments. No doubt, they are written by incredible people!!!
Comment is about Emerald Lake (blog)
Original item by New Shoes
There is a trend on WOL to post politically edged poems, particularly left-leaning and particularly from one member. Designed to goad the 'idiots' who voted for Brexit and for the Tories it is hardly surprising that reactions come on the political content rather than the quality of the writing itself.
Comment is about Poet's plea for boat refugees quoted on BBC's Question Time (article)
Original item by Greg Freeman
I find it rather disappointing that there has been no comment on the actual content of the poem quoted so far on here. This is a poetry website, after all. I like to remind people of that from time to time.
Comment is about Poet's plea for boat refugees quoted on BBC's Question Time (article)
Original item by Greg Freeman
Sun 2nd Jul 2023 19:18
I like this one. Good innuendo
Comment is about Masked Mystique of Venetian Hedonism #9 (blog)
Original item by Rob Cohen
'As the outside flashed by like an unanswered prayer'.
I wish I had thought of that one, Ray.
Fascinating story, culminating with the sad but inevitable fate of the two cups.
Comment is about CHESS KILLING TIME (blog)
Original item by ray pool
Amnesty International. Report dated 17 Feb 2023.
• Members of the March 23 Movement (M23) rebel group (Rwandan-backed) killed at least twenty men and raped at least 66 women and girls in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo in November 2022,
• In 2022, M23 took control of large territory in Nord-Kivu province, which borders Rwanda and Uganda, driving half a million people to flee their homes according to the UN.
• In 2012 Justine Greening withdrew £21m in aid funding to the country when she was international development secretary after the United Nations first reported that the Rwandans were helping the M23 rebels.
Comment is about Poet's plea for boat refugees quoted on BBC's Question Time (article)
Original item by Greg Freeman
So, all the people who say what we shouldn't do to tackle unwanted immigration, please would they say what we SHOULD do as the current level of immigration can't go on unchecked. Or perhaps you think that we should accommodate anyone who turns up on our shores, even taxi-ing them in from the French coast?
Comment is about Poet's plea for boat refugees quoted on BBC's Question Time (article)
Original item by Greg Freeman
UOC - have you checked the levels of UK violent crime,
especially murder, these days? It sees the UK arguably within
to any definition of an "unsafe country" yet no one suggests
we can refuse migrants! Gun and knife crime (machetes seem
popular...check the users) are at criminal levels - and that's
being generous to the criminals. Interestingly, the MSM seems
ready to leave the reports of these offences to the local media.
One can only guess why! Rwanda seems to have little to
fear from comparison - and has a lot more room too.
GF - to describe an aspiring land as an "unsafe country" in this
century world is denigrating it by any term of reference IMHO.
Comment is about Poet's plea for boat refugees quoted on BBC's Question Time (article)
Original item by Greg Freeman
Sun 2nd Jul 2023 14:25
Wow, I started this blog last night and already have comments.
Thank you guys for the inspiration to keep going.
On another note, how does discovering poems work exactly?
Is everybody's posted on the front page?
Comment is about Haikus (blog)
Original item by Carmen Rose
Haha, I love this Carmen. Exactly how I feel every time I've tried to write one. Long live the verbose.
Comment is about Haikus (blog)
Original item by Carmen Rose
Lovely writing Hélène. I feel this one, for sure.
Comment is about The Scent of Roses (blog)
Original item by Hélène
Thank you Clare, Ruth and Uilleam 😃 I hope I didn't dream up the idea of a thunderhead cloud, I think it's real metrological term... Let's hope so anyway.
I appreciate this poem is pulling in a few different directions and should probably be edited down and more 'pure' but you all took away the original idea; gratitude for finding a pretty little patch of land and the joy it brings. Peace and calm can provide as much joy as wild & adventurous excitement.
Thanks also to Helene for reading this one and the 'like'.
Comment is about Peace In The Garden (blog)
Original item by Tom
That's it, Suvendra-poetry's the answer!
Comment is about : Prose and Poetry : (blog)
Original item by SUVENDRA C DASGUPTA
Thank you Carmen.
Don't fuck with haikus
like Larkin's mum and his dad,
they'll fuck you up too!
😈
Comment is about Haikus (blog)
Original item by Carmen Rose
Another beautiful poem from you. I love this! You are very talented. 🌻🌻🌻
Comment is about : Prose and Poetry : (blog)
Original item by SUVENDRA C DASGUPTA
Thank you so much Stephen, Uilleam and Ruth. Inspired by Ruth's flash fiction and by England's seeming inability to duck under bouncers. Get a grip lads! 😡
Comment is about Ashes to ashes (blog)
Original item by John Botterill
Yes, thank you, Ruth. It's coming along nicely I would say. Away with Words! 😂
Comment is about Clematis (blog)
Original item by Ruth O'Reilly
When BBC Question Time’s Fiona Bruce asked the audience: “In the interests of balance, is there anyone here who supports sending people to Rwanda?”
…Not a single hand went up! That shows just how out of touch the Tories are with the UK public, and with their own voters.
Comment is about Poet's plea for boat refugees quoted on BBC's Question Time (article)
Original item by Greg Freeman
Thanks all for likes and comments.
Correct John- no offence whatsoever- I'm proud of Lancashire all the way from the Duddon to the Mersey. The sound of Lancashire is the sound of home.
I usually put on my "telephone voice" when reading poetry (for what imaginary audience I know not), but I made the effort to try to be a bit more myself this time.
Comment is about On Beauty (blog)
Haha! I hope my gentle nudge didn’t spawn this intriguing piece Ray. I particularly like the juxt between the slow consideration of the game and the rush of the train journey.
Great to see you back. A welcome return.
Comment is about CHESS KILLING TIME (blog)
Original item by ray pool
Clár a chara. Tá mé ceart go leor mar a dúirt mé i mBéarla. Ach ní bhíonn sé éasca agus ní bheidh riamh. Eoin
Comment is about Conjugations & Confabulations (blog)
Original item by John E Marks
I like this poem, Ray, particularly for some reason "The sun began to give up over Chesterfield". I hope this does not betray any anti-northern bias!
Comment is about CHESS KILLING TIME (blog)
Original item by ray pool
Where in that little story does anyone denigrate Rwanda, MC?
Comment is about Poet's plea for boat refugees quoted on BBC's Question Time (article)
Original item by Greg Freeman
A moment of mindfulness brilliantly captured in your poetry Tom, enjoyed how this takes us to the peace garden
Comment is about Peace In The Garden (blog)
Original item by Tom
Brilliant storytelling with such brevity John - well done👏
Comment is about Ashes to ashes (blog)
Original item by John Botterill
Uilleam thanks for reading,really appreciate it. Happy Gardening!
Comment is about Clematis (blog)
Original item by Ruth O'Reilly
Thank you so much Stephen, It means a lot to me that you understood exactly what I was aim to do with the rhythm expressing the essence of a climb!
Comment is about Clematis (blog)
Original item by Ruth O'Reilly
This is lovely, Helene. You are very wise. 🌻🌻🌻
Comment is about The Scent of Roses (blog)
Original item by Hélène
I suppose the thorns are there for a reason, Hélène, to stop rose lovers like me picking them...there's a lovely wild rose bush on one of our walks-just love the scent.
Comment is about The Scent of Roses (blog)
Original item by Hélène
...the realm of the criminally insane, in many cases Stephen, who actually believe the pack of lies published about him, because various Daily Drivels tell them to.
Greg: Probably the reason for the criticism is a knee jerk at the fact it's Corbyn.
Comment is about Jeremy Corbyn and Len McCluskey to edit poetry anthology (article)
Original item by Greg Freeman
Bravo Warsan Shire!💗
Comment is about Poet's plea for boat refugees quoted on BBC's Question Time (article)
Original item by Greg Freeman
<Deleted User> (35565)
Sat 1st Jul 2023 15:12
I would like to know how we differentiate between genuine migrants and terrorist wolves in migrants clothing please?
I would feel a lot happier if we were helping the poor suffering people while at the same time weeding out those who for all we know are at this very moment hatching plans for a British version of 9/11-if being able to do that proves possible I will eat my hat and everyone else's!
Don't anyone tell me that they haven't seen the so-called ' children ' in designer clothes jumping off various rescue crafts and then legging it into the undergrowth x number of times as well!
LS
Comment is about Poet's plea for boat refugees quoted on BBC's Question Time (article)
Original item by Greg Freeman
But what do the people in Rwanda have to say about this
denigration of their country? Has anyone asked?
Comment is about Poet's plea for boat refugees quoted on BBC's Question Time (article)
Original item by Greg Freeman
Thanks Galen.
I just love lavender-kept a sprig of it in my shirt pocket when backpacking in the heat.
Comment is about bloom (blog)
Original item by galen
Thank you Stephen- of course, there are no "niceties" of war, only the remnants of compassion and humanity which we struggle against all odds to observe.💖
Comment is about Niceties (blog)
Original item by Stephen Gospage
And one man in his time plays many parts,
Comment is about FRIENDS..... (blog)
Original item by Nitika Prabhakar
Stephen Gospage
Mon 3rd Jul 2023 16:55
A fine, timely poem, John. It looks as though the US Supreme Court would like these times to come back.....
Comment is about "NO IRISH NO BLACKS NO DOGS" (blog)
Original item by John Coopey