Irresponsibility succinctly stated. Full of bite and anger at those who reap the rewards whilst robbing the masses.

Comment is about Bullet (blog)

Original item by Isobel

A lovely piece! Keep on writing - you clearly love it and so do we, your audience!

Comment is about How Clever is my Daughter? (blog)

Original item by Isobel

Isobel, Many thanks for your welcoming message on this my first venture onto this site! I very much enjoyed seeing you at the last Open Mic night at the Tudor - we were sat right by you at the end of the table! Hoping to see you again on the 14th.

Comment is about Isobel (poet profile)

Original item by Isobel

Hi Jeff, Many thanks for your comments on my poems. And many more thanks for all your help and encouragement. You are a true champion of poetry and a champion person to know!

Comment is about Jeffarama! (poet profile)

Original item by Jeffarama!

Good evening Dave.Thank you very much for comments on 'lingering in shadows'-best regards to you-Stef.

Comment is about Dave Dunn (poet profile)

Original item by Dave Dunn

I don't usually do as I'm told ;-) but I agree Jo about fusty dusty. Have changed it, thanks. Might change to another word if I think of one I like better. Thought maybe frousty, partly because miners used to call their meal croust. But maybe that's a bit esoteric!

Comment is about Nineveh (blog)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

Lovely. I like the contrast of mystical syntax and quaint, homely words like 'pasties' and 'rounding off'. Not sure about 'fusty dusty' possibly a little twee for my taste, but I could get used to it.

Comment is about Nineveh (blog)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

Good Afternoon David
Whilst the tricky nture of the subject can be harrowing i think I have given it a slightly different slant.
I thank you for commenting but in particular for reading. The subject matter whilst unpalatable to many has taken a different outcome and slant to that implied by many other poems of similar ilk.

The poem is a completely different in construction to my standard ‘typical’ and yes it is haunting but moreover it is a construction of woven memories and fleeting images, if I was only able to capture odours and taste and include them within this poem they to would have been included.
The description of the odour and taste would have been superfluous within this poem… a ‘you would have to have been there moment’.

Once again many thanks.

Augusta xx

Comment is about Dave Bradley (poet profile)

Original item by Dave Bradley

Hi Ann
It is very kind of you to believe this one of my better poems... however I think there are others which are much better. Nonethe less it is so kind of you to say so


I thank you so very, very much for commenting but in particular reading. The subject matter whilst unpalatable to many has taken a different outcome and slant to that implied by many other poems of similar ilk.

The poem is a completely different in construction to my standard ‘typical’ and yes it is haunting but moreover it is a construction of woven memories and fleeting images, if I was only able to capture odours and taste and include them within this poem they to would have been included.
The description of the odour and taste would have been superfluous within this poem… a ‘you would have to have been there moment’.

Once again many thanks.

Augusta xx

Comment is about Ann Foxglove (poet profile)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

Thought-provoking and not a very encouraging handprint on our world.

Comment is about Bullet (blog)

Original item by Isobel

I'm often moved by the names of old cottages, also places here in Cornwall. This is the name of one that I have passed a lot recently.

Comment is about Nineveh (blog)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

Gemma says she wants you all to know that she caught a shrew about three months ago - and she is planning to catch another one soon! But thay do taste nasty! Memo to shrews - it's no good as a deterrent to getting caught if you taste nasty - I can see where you're coming from but somewhere there is a fault in your logic!

Comment is about or gently go . . . . (blog)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

Hi Ann. Thanks for your kind words on my poems.

Comment is about Ann Foxglove (poet profile)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

To give her the full title, she is "the first wife".

Comment is about Disappointment (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

Interesting that it's "my" mother! Maybe he's more scared of his mother than his wife! And I'm sure it can't be true John! Nice to see you posting again! xx

Comment is about Disappointment (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

I'm not a critic, I can't say anything clever about this poem, but I think it's very good, that panic when you hear birdsong and realise that you've been awake all night! Love the last verse especially.

Comment is about Do Another Day (blog)

Original item by David Mac

Powerful stuff! I'm sure it would also be really good in performance. Positively visceral!

Comment is about I thought of you today (blog)

Original item by David Mac

Well, Dave, if you're asking, I think definitely be rid of the last line. I think a closing line of "Like you" would be better. Oh, and call it Plane Thinking or summat like that.

Comment is about Hard to know (1) (2) (3) (blog)

Original item by Dave Bradley

This is now 3 poems ending at the 3 indicated points - like the alternative endings to films. My personal preference is still (3).

There will not be a competition (-:

Thanks for commenting, everyone

Comment is about Hard to know (1) (2) (3) (blog)

Original item by Dave Bradley

Gemma says she isn't dead yet! In fact she seems quite bright this morning - must be all the kind thoughts floating around, courtesy of you lovely WOL lot! xx

Comment is about or gently go . . . . (blog)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

Well done Ann. The pace and structure do reflect well your sadness, your affection and the reflective mood. There seems to be quite a bit about death on WOL this month

Comment is about or gently go . . . . (blog)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

I am not sure if honesty is the best policy with mothers or wives. Did you write this in the shed or the doghouse?

Comment is about Disappointment (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

while I eating an endive

Comment is about I Bit The Bullet (blog)

Time passes and somehow softens the loss, but we all remember them still. Hugs, Dave

Comment is about Empty (blog)

Original item by Lynn Dye

Hi Lynn - thank you muchly for commenting on 'Dreams Of Great Men'.
Best wishes, Dave

Comment is about Lynn Dye (poet profile)

Original item by Lynn Dye

Great, John. Who minds a short 'un? Cynthia, when we say "the wife" we mean it as in "the one and only", it's just that our delivery lacks a little zest sometimes.

Comment is about Disappointment (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

Thank you very much all. Cynthia, who said anything about nipped? I bit The Bullet, and I've got my own teeth still.The big error in this poem, I think, is the P60.Don't I mean P45? It's been so long I can't remember.

Comment is about I Bit The Bullet (blog)

Very moving, Ann. So sad when our pets get old. Give her a cuddle from me. xx

Comment is about or gently go . . . . (blog)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

What a lovely dream, Dave! I enjoyed this, good one. xx

Comment is about Dreams Of Great Men (blog)

Original item by Dave Dunn

Dave - before I read any of the other comments I thought this is really great as it is. I like the last 2 lines a lot: if it was my poem I'd only change the title so as not to repeat your key phrase 3 times. just my 2 cents & I think it's great anyway whatever you decide.

Comment is about Hard to know (1) (2) (3) (blog)

Original item by Dave Bradley

very touching Ann. I wonder if you have to be a cat-person to understand this one fully ?
a cat of ours died last year at 18 & he'd never been very affectionate, but in the last few days - when I even had to hold him up to get a drink of water - he'd cuddle up & look straight into my eyes, like he was trying to talk. Corny, I know, but it was as if he knew something was imminent. X

Comment is about or gently go . . . . (blog)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

Well, it made me smile anyway, John! x

Comment is about Disappointment (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

Hi James - hope you're not having a runny nosey around the site! (How is the cold?) Thanks for kind comment on my cat poem. Hope to see another blog from you soon!

Comment is about buying time (blog)

Original item by James Lancaster

Thanks James - and it is really nice to know that my punctuation was noticed - I did think about it! My cat is 20 and we are nearing that time I fear. But she still purrs when I stroke her. And we've been through a lot! And . . I KNOW she loves me!

Comment is about or gently go . . . . (blog)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

Hi Cynthia, yes def could condense this, I must admit I do dislike relying on emotional responses only, for that reason I often layer my works, I also have a punt sometimes and just throw stuff out there to see how it lands, this poem requires work but i think sticking with the orginal idea of having an argument or conversation with death as he sits at the end of the bed is the best way to go so I think ill work it around that idea. thanks for the input. x pete.

Comment is about an inch closer (blog)

Very effective - and economically - use of language, and well punctuated too. It's difficult when pets get to a certain age...

Comment is about or gently go . . . . (blog)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

Don't worry Ann, the final and definitive list will be blogged on 1st Oct with an invitation to vote and your bullet will be in there with the others.

More like a rocket wasn't it.

Comment is about Ann Foxglove (poet profile)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

Pete. I think the theme is potent and cogent, with some outstanding images. But I also think it diddles around. Ha! Diddles Death! There's a good one! Seriously, I think you could cull this into a more powerful work from a 'technique point of view' and not depend on an emotional response to entirely carry your reader's interest.

Comment is about an inch closer (blog)

Ooh this is quite intriguing, Andy.
Très bien fait !

Comment is about Biting the Bullet (blog)

Original item by Andy N

It might be: he calls his wife 'THE wife'. Most women hate that - 'THE', like chattel.

Comment is about Disappointment (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

I really like this perspective from 'the plane' - can be interpreted so many ways...
I agree that the last line should go - it's an opinion that reduces the impact of what the reader takes away.

OK - now I have changed my mind - I think.
It should remain as you wrote it because that last line can be understood from both points of view... I think ; )

Comment is about Hard to know (1) (2) (3) (blog)

Original item by Dave Bradley

Steven, I so like the first 8 lines, from 'she stands ... just a stone. I think they say it all. The 'frank headstone' is superb. I find the remaining lines sink into a kind of muddiness of past, present and future that is, IMO, just detracting from the power of the first part, and confusing.

Comment is about Requiem - A Response (blog)

Original item by Steven Kenny

Mind you, if she had a swimming pool!! You're going up in the world - in more ways than one!

Comment is about Hard to know (1) (2) (3) (blog)

Original item by Dave Bradley

Very sly, and truly funny, especially with the vernacular twist. Different styles are wonderful to work with, showing other facets of the poet's personality. Question - why would a nipped finger put him into a hospital bed? Rabies?

Comment is about I Bit The Bullet (blog)

I see I'm still not on your list. WodIdoo? ;-)

Comment is about Biting the Bullet Final Reminder (blog)

Original item by Dave Bradley

I'll check in later; I'm a bit compound-worded out here and need more fruitful time.

Comment is about Thoughts of Leaves (blog)

Original item by Steven Dark

This is very interesting with its play upon the opposites of 'anguish' and 'languish' and other related 'juxta's'; There's a word for the opening and closing lines switching meanings, but I can't remember it right now; it's a good technique. But I sure would lose 'nice' and smack my poetry muse for good measure.

Comment is about The Kiss (blog)

Original item by Steven Dark

I'm with: cut the last two lines because they are so out of sync with the prior stanza. IMO,the sheer physics of the receding 'form' by the pool makes 'worth the effort' sound contrived because no 'physical effort' can possibly delineate the figure; thus the connection falters. If you want the ending to be the whole point, and I think you do, ie. the Title, then, IMO, the comparison needs a bridge.

Comment is about Hard to know (1) (2) (3) (blog)

Original item by Dave Bradley

Thanks for commenting, Ann, Greg, Iz and Cate. Isn't this the beauty of WOL? I wrote the thing but never would have realised that without the last line it is a different poem and without the last two, different again.

Though I'd have probably worked out that without the last eleven it wasn't quite the same (-:

Comment is about Hard to know (1) (2) (3) (blog)

Original item by Dave Bradley

Very powerful Pete. I have had two friends die recently, and like you say, it brings home the impermaence of our time here.
The language you have used is richly dark and forboding, with dire warnings for the future of this planet, yet you still manage to bring a touch of humour and humanity to your subject matter.
Cate xx

Comment is about an inch closer (blog)