This poem reveals just what 'real love' actually means and those sacrifices involved.

Heart felt, Val. Heart felt.

Comment is about A Mothers Soliloquy (blog)

Original item by Valerie Cook

Hi Michael, that's a beautifully unsettling track, of which I can only deduce about 40% at first hearing. Trying to follow the the foreground while straining to pick up some clues from the background is a challenge. Beautifully read. I'll try it again later.

Comment is about Prayer to K-PAX (blog)

Original item by Noetic-fret!

I find that I'm also aligned with Grahams observations. And being a father myself I recall those baby frowns rather well....... :)
Dave

Comment is about Dad (blog)

Original item by Lydia

Beautifully written Dave...
I remember... I will never forget.

Comment is about Nine Eleven Tribute (blog)

Original item by Dave Dunn

Love "Lilley", love "Stuff" and I love "Glass Eyes". Your writing is intriguing, heartfelt and moving.

Comment is about Nicky Burrows (poet profile)

Original item by Nicky Burrows

and my BRAIN became
and...
purple a ...all this bewalmes

Comment is about Newcastle accent (blog)

Original item by Tommy Carroll

be careful what you wish for indeed, cynthia... nice stuff!

Comment is about Three A.M. on an Old Computer (blog)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

good stuff, tone... i know how many of these you've wrote.. is this going to be a ongoing series?

Comment is about Pointless 5 (blog)

nice ending janet.. like the movement in this!

Comment is about Holiday Break (blog)

3 a.m.? A night owl? Enjoyed this, Cynthia.

Comment is about Three A.M. on an Old Computer (blog)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

Hi Cate

This has rightly got a lot of comment. A crafted, thought-provoking poem that I would love to discuss with you. Possibly your best yet. Thanks for yours on mine.

Comment is about For Whom The Wheel Turns (blog)

Original item by Cate

What a lovely comment! I once made the mistake of reading Sylvia Plath at a most unhappy time in my life. How I kept my head out of the gas oven, I'll never know - perhaps the streak of me that is pure Marge...

Comment is about stephen smith (poet profile)

Original item by stephen smith

Thanks for your comments Gus. Yes, I guess if one can believe in the virgin birth, one can also believe it possible for a busy mother to write half decent poetry - I'll have to try harder - now where have I heard that line before???
Where have you been hiding - hope to see you at the Tudor on Thursday or I shall be forced to make the journey to some nasty part of Manchester again.

Comment is about Gus Jonsson (poet profile)

Original item by Gus Jonsson

Very nice, Dave. I look forward to your beat boxing debut next year followed by the album!!!!

Comment is about Big Chill Festival (article)

Cum Cum Jon...

Dinosaurs ...what will you have us swallow next?

Gus

Comment is about Hope (blog)

Original item by Jon Ridgeway

Good poetry - signs that point in two directions at once.
Steve Smith

Comment is about WHAT THE HOROSCOPE SAYS (blog)

Original item by Rodney Wood

This is a poignant and pwerful narrative. Captures so many aspects of the grieving experience..
Steve Smith

Comment is about MOTHER OF THE DISAPPEARANCE (blog)

Original item by Rodney Wood

These are wonderful comments! The title of my masterpiece comes from my belief that hope will triumph over adversity, just as perfect love drives out fear! Authorities may be frightened but lovers choose ffffrrrreeeeeeeeddoomm!!!!

Comment is about Hope (blog)

Original item by Jon Ridgeway

Hey Val, send me next time X

dave

Comment is about A Mothers Soliloquy (blog)

Original item by Valerie Cook

Three spires? Litchfield? Dr Johnson? Or am I barking?

Comment is about Pointless 5 (blog)

Hi John,
thanks for your explanation of 'Hog.'
My ignorance of poets and where they come from is apparent. I do however enjoy reading the greats such as Dylan Thomas and many others.

I really found your comment interesting as to how you write and can relate to what you say. I too enjoy picking up the pen intuitively and sometimes almost with some urgency of the need to write something down. I also agree that it will be flawed because the ego comes in to play regardless of the natural flow.
Do you find that it is often when you attempt set out to write poetry deliberately that it appears weaker? Lacking in true inspiration from within?

Thanks again,
Janet.x

Comment is about John Darwin (poet profile)

Original item by John Darwin

Photographs by Darren Thomas

Comment is about Baz Alder at the Wigan slam 2009 (photo)

Hi Antonionioni,
i've enjoyed reading this series of poems very much. They're quite philosophical.

Janet.x

Comment is about Pointless 5 (blog)

Brilliant turns of phrase in this Cate.
I had an image of the grim reaper in the first stanza which grew to a kind of grisly knowing towards the end of the poem. I was quite pleased with my initial re-action and imagery but the under-lying image of the grim reaper scared me a little.

I'm in the belief that we shouldn't fear the reaper and face our fears but only when we're good and ready to do so.
Sorry, i went on a bit there and there's so much more i could say i think it's best i stop now. :-)

Janet.x

Comment is about For Whom The Wheel Turns (blog)

Original item by Cate

Scanning in poetry is another term i don't understand and would love someone to provide an example or to show and tell why it does or doesn't ''scan''.

I enjoyed this poem and it i for one can certainly relate to its content. :-)

Janet.x

Comment is about Waiting For You (blog)

Original item by Dave Dunn

I like a man who can smile at his own moments of silliness. I like the little poem too. :-)
It's time we had some fun poetry on here again,
Janet.x

Comment is about TV Kisses (blog)

Hello John, with regard to your explanation of Hog, can I just say that when I comment on a piece of work, I never expect/recommend that the writer change it afterwards. I certainly wouldn't. However I appreciated the explanation and find that I agree with your comments about origin. I often feel that I have a sense of place with places more exotic than that of my own place of birth, but we get what we get don't we, a bit like families, you can't change them. thanks again.

Comment is about John Darwin (poet profile)

Original item by John Darwin

By the way: clever title. One that draws in readers by association, to see what you have to say.

Comment is about For Whom The Wheel Turns (blog)

Original item by Cate

Fabulous! All-absorbing. Crafted with real style. Sense of inexorability well maintained.
The tiniest pickiest point imaginable - I would reverse 'Moons wane, suns die' to emphasise immensity ... more like a poke - kick! than a kick! - poke'.

Comment is about For Whom The Wheel Turns (blog)

Original item by Cate

Yep, been there done that!
I'm with the others, if you can't replace it for a newer model, give it a good kick up the ass. It works wonders for the ego even if it doesn't work to boot the computers logic.

Janet.x

Comment is about Three A.M. on an Old Computer (blog)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

oops sorry, my finger got stuck on the key. Didn't realize it would be such a long trek to reach the end. :-)

Janet.x

Comment is about A Mothers Soliloquy (blog)

Original item by Valerie Cook

This is terrific Val. I love it!
I just love the feeling of warmth of a mothers love and safe in the knowledge her off-spring is well and happy can go back to where her home is.

It has an element of sadness and a quiet acceptance which i find very endearing. Lovely poem.

Janet.x

Comment is about A Mothers Soliloquy (blog)

Original item by Valerie Cook

Hi Isobel
Now there's a thought!!!
If I wrote an arse poem, I could probably use the same photo.
x Steve x

Comment is about Isobel (poet profile)

Original item by Isobel

Hi Cynthia
I just found myself puckering up watching the TV last night, and wondered how many other people did it, and how many will own up to it.
x Steve x

Comment is about Cynthia Buell Thomas (poet profile)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

Thank you all for the comments on 'Hog'. I thought I would explain a little about it, I hope this is of interest to you! Firstly, as for almost all that I write this was completed swiftly, in no more than 10 minutes or so. The only revision made was swapping two of the lines in the second stanza. I like to write like this it feels natural, I am not a ponderer over a sheet of paper I believe in intuitive and impulsive writing. I think this is where the best work comes from. This means of course that it is usually flawed, as this poem undoubtedly is! The idea for the poem was simply that Dylan Thomas had stolen more than his share from the 'genius gene pool' - I should explain that I am of Wesh parentage although I was not born there - leaving none for anyone else, and me in particular! The first verse is just a superficial portrait of Thomas, his appearance, his drinking and smoking (stubs here is a reference to his fingers, not a cigarette stub) - and the delivery of his poetry when he read it. If you listen to recordings his delivery is very theatrical and sounds very much of the time that it was done; dated to modern ears.

The second stanza (understandably criticised by some of you) is part reference to the location of the Boat House his residence in Laugharne and partly my own memories of summers spent as a boy In Wales. My relationship with Wales is one of love and awkwardness. Stake a claim to Welshness in England is often met by ridicule, do the same in Wales in an English accent and the result can be the same! I like to think that this somehow comes across in the second verse. The alliteration is obvious and probably overused I can see why come may not like it.

In the second stanza I was also trying to use words for their sound purely, I like the para-rhyme of somnambulant and ambient, drunkenness and genius.

Finally I did write 'hog' whilst drinking which may explain the good and the bad in it also.

I hope you liked my explanation.

Best Wishes.

John

Comment is about Anthony Emmerson (poet profile)

Original item by Anthony Emmerson

One I can identify with and will identify with from a mother's perspective in the not too distant future. Have spent most of my life moving - I'm somewhere wet and windy now - but at my happiest - I am glad your daughter has found happiness. The poem is well written Val and from the heart - which I like.

Comment is about A Mothers Soliloquy (blog)

Original item by Valerie Cook

Thank you all for the comments on 'Hog'. I thought I would explain a little about it, I hope this is of interest to you! Firstly, as for almost all that I write this was completed swiftly, in no more than 10 minutes or so. The only revision made was swapping two of the lines in the second stanza. I like to write like this it feels natural, I am not a ponderer over a sheet of paper I believe in intuitive and impulsive writing. I think this is where the best work comes from. This means of course that it is usually flawed, as this poem undoubtedly is! The idea for the poem was simply that Dylan Thomas had stolen more than his share from the 'genius gene pool' - I should explain that I am of Wesh parentage although I was not born there - leaving none for anyone else, and me in particular! The first verse is just a superficial portrait of Thomas, his appearance, his drinking and smoking (stubs here is a reference to his fingers, not a cigarette stub) - and the delivery of his poetry when he read it. If you listen to recordings his delivery is very theatrical and sounds very much of the time that it was done; dated to modern ears.

The second stanza (understandably criticised by some of you) is part reference to the location of the Boat House his residence in Laugharne and partly my own memories of summers spent as a boy In Wales. My relationship with Wales is one of love and awkwardness. Stake a claim to Welshness in England is often met by ridicule, do the same in Wales in an English accent and the result can be the same! I like to think that this somehow comes across in the second verse. The alliteration is obvious and probably overused I can see why come may not like it.

Finally in the second stanza I was also trying to use words for their sound purely, I like the para-rhyme of somnambulant and ambient, drunkenness and genius.

Finally I did write 'hog' whilst drinking which may explain the good and the bad in it also.

I hope you liked my explanation.

Best Wishes.

John

Comment is about Cynthia Buell Thomas (poet profile)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

This is touching, Val, and well written. I was 'transplanted' as a young wife. And my daughters went to a new land also. Being the mother involved was harder; so I moved too. Just a different scenario.

Comment is about A Mothers Soliloquy (blog)

Original item by Valerie Cook

I love a sense of humour, especially in clever rhyme.

Comment is about TV Kisses (blog)

Could I just say that the poet is quite fit too - he does seem to ooze something. A bit Sean Connery around the eyebrows - I am shaken and stirred. Any chance of you finding such a talented poet in Wigan Richard? Or would you like to make a critical switch from London - tee hee xx

Comment is about Critical Switch (article)

Gaudeamus igitur say I too! A very clever and dark little poem - I like it a lot.
I would agree with Rachel that there are far too few poems on Romans - though I had never considered it before. I shall swell the numbers by adding one of my own.

'A Roman whilst practising Yoga
Got stuck in the folds of his toga
His great empire exposed
Head and arse both transposed
When he spoke, such a ghastly aroma!

Comment is about Critical Switch (article)

Very silly Steve - don't ever write a poem about your arse - will you? You have prompted me to publish my poem about a Roman - there are far too few poems on Romans...

Comment is about TV Kisses (blog)

OK bring on the abuse, I can take it. But admit it, you've done it.
Just a bit of silliness
Apologies for the photo
Steve M.

Comment is about TV Kisses (blog)

If it just won't re-boot, you could give it a...

Comment is about Three A.M. on an Old Computer (blog)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

Thanks everyone and for those of you who haven't seen the earlier ones, they were posted as one blog in late August and is still there if you care to click on past blogs.

I really do appreciate your thoughts and comments.
Janet.x

Comment is about Kinsella (part iv) In the Cave. (blog)

Cynthia, if you wish to comment on anything I weite that is up to you, it is up to me to feel offended or not offended by your comments, not you, it is better not to presume.
Bernie

Comment is about Cynthia Buell Thomas (poet profile)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

Magic

Comment is about Scarecrow, Seagull, Dustbin and me (blog)

Original item by Christopher Dawson

A very well written and thought provoking poem Cate. It would be lovely to think that 'what goes around comes around' but there isn't always much evidence of that - unless one has the wheel in one's control that is...

Comment is about For Whom The Wheel Turns (blog)

Original item by Cate

Great review Dave. Hopefully we'll be seeing more reviews from yourself...possibly one of Paul performing on the John G Hall Joni Mitchell night perchance?

Comment is about Big Chill Festival (article)

Hi Cate

have read this a few times and think that the middle stanza stands alone as the poem and with the title and the last two lines of the final stanza feels more complete

think that the resdt of the words used here could make a further poem with a related title

Comment is about For Whom The Wheel Turns (blog)

Original item by Cate