Hi Isobel, I've lost your moby nnumber (if I ever had it) but I particularly want to make you aware that we have changed most things about our LIverpool poetry night - name, dates, venue, and we've dropped the monthly themes.

The LIVER Bards, as the sessions are now called,take place on first Tuesday of each month in the performance space at the very beautiful Shipping Forecast bar, Slater St, city centre, L1 4BW, starting 8pm.

It's a straightforward open-mic with poems of humorous, philosphical, political and spiritual content particularly encouraged.

The first of the new-style nights is tomorrow Tue 7 Sept, starting 8pm. The postal code for the Shipping Forecast is L1 4BW.

Comment is about Isobel (poet profile)

Original item by Isobel

There were the bangers you ate with the cream of tomato soup - why was it always cream of tomato? - and the bangers that exploded around your feet ...

Comment is about comet tails (blog)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

Hi Rachel they sometimes make me cry to. especially when the buggers won't come out right oe I don't know where to go next! Teanka again for the recommendation. Really appreciate it.

Comment is about Rachel McGladdery (poet profile)

Original item by Rachel McGladdery

Thanks Isobel - to me, finding the rocket sticks was exciting not sad, as I could imagine where they'd been, right up in the sky and helping to create all the magic and excitement. Also, they had that lovely burny sulphorous smell. I seem to have described the "before" and the "after" of bonfire night. But, as is so often the case, the before and after are even more exciting than the event! As to Jumping Jacks - speaking as a parent I say "hear hear" but if I was speaking as my childhood self I'd say "what a spoilsport!!" ;-) xx

Comment is about comet tails (blog)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

Thanks Isobel & Stef. My next one might be about the other side of the coin!

Comment is about camille, emily and me (blog)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

Guitar & Verse, September 2010

Comment is about Guitar & Verse, September 2010 (photo)

Oh you are naughty, but I like you...

(quoting Dick Emery there - for our younger readers - and you have to imagine a chiffon scarfed man in drag with a strong chin)

Comment is about Breathing (blog)

Original item by Isobel

You express well the imminent doom that brings about apprehensive feelings.

Comment is about Biting The Bullet (blog)

Original item by Cate

You capture the boldness - love these lines...

'a dark pull from somewhere
a fizzing warning shrivelling on a synapse line
ignored'

Comment is about Biting The Bullet (blog)

Original item by Rachel McGladdery

Goood late evening Bernadette-hope alls well with you,and your weekend has been good too-hope to see you soon-best regards to you and yours-Stef-xx

Comment is about bernadette herbertson (poet profile)

Original item by bernadette herbertson

Bloody men eh Lynn!I just hope that if I get a bottle of anything poured over me,it has to be nothing less than vintage-and I,m given the time to lie on me' back with me'gob open! night night love-Stef-xx(B-xx)

Comment is about Deceived (She Bites the Bullet) (blog)

Original item by Lynn Dye

Hi big Dave-longish time-no see-hope you are alright-and hope you are back soon-best regards-Stef

Comment is about Dave Dunn (poet profile)

Original item by Dave Dunn

Hi Isobel - hope you dont mind me lowering the tone (for a change) :)
A girl goes to the doctor.
Big breaths, he says.
Yeth, and I'm only thixteen she lisps.

Comment is about Breathing (blog)

Original item by Isobel

Thank you dear Lynn, thank you Stefan. I am so happy to know that some people understand humor.

Comment is about I Am Laura's Stomach (blog)

Original item by Larisa Rzhepishevska

Ha ha, no, not biographical at all, just a good imagination, Isobel! Thanks very much for comment. xx

Comment is about Deceived (She Bites the Bullet) (blog)

Original item by Lynn Dye

Oo-er - you are a passionate woman Lynn! I have never understood anyone who could hang around any length of time waiting for the crumbs from someone else's table, so I find this interesting. It must be a lot of fun hating someone so much you could pour a bottle or glass of wine over them also - very Scarlet O'Hara!

I'm not presuming any of this to be biographical but it makes for a very interesting story! x

Comment is about Deceived (She Bites the Bullet) (blog)

Original item by Lynn Dye

ps Jumping Jacks were down right dangerous, weren't they? Don't think they sell them anymore. Who the hell would want uncontrollable lit gunpowder jumping towards their kids?

Comment is about comet tails (blog)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

This is lovely. There is nothing like the childhood expectation before bonfire night and the thrill of the danger. You tie that in neatly with the looking towards the future.

I guess the ending could be seen as a little sad - the future is here and all the explosions over - just burnt out debris left - but that could be me being overly miserable and reading too much into things. That's easily done. x

Comment is about comet tails (blog)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

Love it, Laura, very amusing. xxx

Comment is about I Am Laura's Stomach (blog)

Original item by Larisa Rzhepishevska

Thanks Cate - you are right about that line - in a poem about kids, it's out of place.

Comment is about Breathing (blog)

Original item by Isobel

Good evening Lynn-enjoyed this very much-ta m'dear! lorra love-Steffers-xx(B-xx)

Comment is about Biting the Bullet (blog)

Original item by Lynn Dye

Good evening Larisa-a very clever and funny poem-really made me laugh! brilliant-thank you-Stef-xx(M-xx)

Comment is about I Am Laura's Stomach (blog)

Original item by Larisa Rzhepishevska

Thank you Dave. Definitely not zillions, in fact, only two. ;-) xx
Thanks Isobel and Cate, yours were both so good I nearly didn't bother, but to me it's all a bit of fun really. xxx

Comment is about Biting the Bullet (blog)

Original item by Lynn Dye

Hi Lynn thanks for your comment on Biting The Bullet
Cate xx

Comment is about Lynn Dye (poet profile)

Original item by Lynn Dye

Hi Rachel thanks for your comment on Biting The Bullet.... Im enjoying seeing the different styles and interpretations on the theme.
Cate xx

Comment is about Rachel McGladdery (poet profile)

Original item by Rachel McGladdery

Hi Dave thanks for your comment on Biting The Bullet.... Im enjoying seeing how others interpret it!
Cate xx

Comment is about Dave Bradley (poet profile)

Original item by Dave Bradley

Powerful and very very touching Isobel.It must be every parents nightmare to be in such a situation, you would gladly give your life to change places.
Not sure I like the line "(No nasty innuendo please…)" it seems strangely out of place in a poem of such gravity. The rest though is beautifully written.
Cate xx

Comment is about Breathing (blog)

Original item by Isobel

This is soooo good Rachel.There is nothing more lethal than nostalgia, and this highlights the sadness and loneliness of when love has ended. We may try to recapture it but it rarely happens.
I think you have captured the essence here. I am so enjoying reading everyones take on this new theme!
Cate xx

Comment is about Biting The Bullet (blog)

Original item by Rachel McGladdery

Hi Dave - thanks for the comments -its much appreciated. (bullet). B

Comment is about Dave Bradley (poet profile)

Original item by Dave Bradley

Hi Lynn.... so did I! I always enjoy reading everyones take on a theme. Nice one!
Cate xx

Comment is about Biting the Bullet (blog)

Original item by Lynn Dye

I love the subject matter - very different and life affirming. It is good to read a poem that is as positive as this - and rare. x

Comment is about Our Land (blog)

Thanks for your very kind comments on my last 2 Cynthia. Don't know whether it has anything to do with the study of language - who knows - I seem to be writing by feel at the moment. I could write tons every day - if only I had time to breathe...Funnily enough, I've just started one about poverty which is inspired by the poem Poverty Is that you posted some time back. I love the inspiration one can get from other poets on this site. Half the stuff I write would never be, if it weren't for that. x

Comment is about Cynthia Buell Thomas (poet profile)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

I wrote 2 for Pandora's Box - the subject just stimulated me.

I like the ending to this Lynn - it was a total surprise - I really thought we were talking children for a while!

Comment is about Biting the Bullet (blog)

Original item by Lynn Dye

Hi Lynn. Thanks for such a positive comment. You've put me on the spot. I should have thought of a rule for this, but since there aren't any rules, post as many as you like. The limiting factor is (I would hazard a guess) that people won't vote for someone who posts zillions. I'm sure two must be OK though - and this one is a good start!

Comment is about Biting the Bullet (blog)

Original item by Lynn Dye

Being 'enthroned in independent womanhood' is a great place to be Ann - apart from the very odd downer, I enjoy it immensely. I like the brevity of this poem and the mood and message you convey so well. x

Comment is about camille, emily and me (blog)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

I like this a lot. We've all been there - a glass of wine is lethal - you always end up sending. Perhaps that's why we drink... we'd never do half the things we do it we really thought about it.
I've also been looking through old photos recently and they do make the past look ever so rosy. I think you have captured this beautifully. x

Comment is about Biting The Bullet (blog)

Original item by Rachel McGladdery

I haven't tagged this yet, as I wrote two poems loosely based on the theme, and couldn't decide which one to post!

Comment is about Biting the Bullet (blog)

Original item by Lynn Dye

This is great, love the last part.
Dogstails.

Comment is about An Indulgence (blog)

Original item by Marianne Daniels

Thanks for your comment on Comet Tails. If only I knew how to do as you suggest!! I am also very greatful for your info re the Emily Dickinson article. I tracked it down as being in a book that I have recently bought on Ebay. It's great, so interesting!! Thanks!

Comment is about Cynthia Buell Thomas (poet profile)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

Friday was a magical day, sunny, misty, windy, and one of those days when I am so happy to spend time on my own. This is my snapshot of that day. (By the way, I have NEVER seen the Sloop without crowds of people outside - photo must have been taken at the crack of dawn!)

Comment is about camille, emily and me (blog)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

Cheers Ann, I did some brain warcking and then hovered over the 'make blog entry' button tee hee!G'wan gwan gwan...have a go! :)
xxx

Comment is about Ann Foxglove (poet profile)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

Great Rach - that email "shall I send it -DARE I send it" thrill, well captured! Also like the way you've chosen to illustrate the title. Biting bullets hasn't inspired me at all! xx

Comment is about Biting The Bullet (blog)

Original item by Rachel McGladdery

Cate, this is so moving. You really feel the pain when reading. fab poem
xxx

Comment is about Biting The Bullet (blog)

Original item by Cate

I like this poem, as you use the five 'physical' senses to form your stanzas. I realize that you go for 'feel' as in emotion, not touch. Is it possible to include some lines on 'taste' to keep the idea completely embraced. You dive directly in with 'Look/Listen/Feel; perhaps 'Take a whiff of' might be a single word. IMO, it is a bit 'charming' because it's so out of character with the other first lines; but maybe a single word would be better. But good thoughts for us all to consider.

Comment is about Our Land (blog)

Amazing. Your brain must work constantly, storing fragments of ideas, impressions, relationships etc. until you want to access them for a particular 'thesis'. Your love of language shines through. I also think your intellectual experience with French is a telling factor in your work - the discipline of another language. I loved Latin.

Comment is about Biting the Bullet (blog)

Original item by Isobel

haha how did I miss this one?

Comment is about What About The Bankers? (blog)

Zion my sentiments also. Nationalise them under workers control and management.

Comment is about Who Pays the Real Cost? (blog)

It's hard to believe you are not writing from hard experience. This is a wonderful poem, simply superb. And trust me, it exemplifies the issue amazingly. My family used to ask: What are you doing? And my answer: I'm enjoying Breath. But I never made it into a poem. Well done!

Comment is about Breathing (blog)

Original item by Isobel

good stuff, Isobel.. Not much to add here to the other comments but on a performance level, you could break it up a bit certainly towards the end perhaps repeat 'it's not so easy' a few times to pace it out a bit, but I did enjoy this (Good to see you have another on the way also - am in the process too of posting another one myself) x

Comment is about Breathing (blog)

Original item by Isobel

The last two lines are outstanding. I think every idea of the poem should refer precisely to these final two lines, and support their power.

Comment is about comet tails (blog)

Original item by Ann Foxglove