I don’t think you’ve ever bettered this, Stephen.

Comment is about Cold Soup (blog)

Original item by Stephen Gospage

This reminded me of a film I watched last year - “They Flew Together”, starring Walter Pigeon, Mia Sparrow, Steven Seagal and Charlie Drake.

Comment is about My fantasy bird table (blog)

Original item by Tim Ellis

Thankyou, Helene for your thoughts and Pete for the Like.

Comment is about TOGETHER (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

Like every gardener I love my garden😃

Comment is about My wild and wonderful garden (blog)

Original item by hugh

Thank you so much for your responses to this, John Botterill and Helene. I want you to know that I am absolutely fine!😁. It’s just sometimes I find I have to dig deep to find the poetry.
I don’t always write from where I am, I write from where I have been. I really do appreciate your support.

Comment is about Bumbling Mess (blog)

Original item by Clare

Thank you, reaffirming message to read 😊

Comment is about False sense of security (blog)

Original item by Nicole Macqueen-Jones

Despair knocks at our door, endlessly.
Powerful: "I want to have faith, believe there’s a God,
But was a decent man nailed to the cross,
To make way for this dung heap of a world,
This foul dominion of the half-brick?"
So much sorrow on this planet...I have given up trying to understand it. But I look to the stars for solace and hope, and to the kindness of people that arises no matter what...thank you Stephen for writing such compassionate poetry about war.

Comment is about Cold Soup (blog)

Original item by Stephen Gospage

Your poetry is an inspiration, Clare. Strength from brokenness. Such an important message, and so well-written. Keep writing!

Comment is about Bumbling Mess (blog)

Original item by Clare

Love this, John. Bravo! Kids, dogs, old people...the fun things in life!

Comment is about TOGETHER (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

Really powerful poem. Thank you Ralph for sharing these stories of suffering. In the listening and the telling, there is compassion. Much appreciated.

Comment is about Jumping Trains (blog)

Original item by Ralph Dartford

The irony, Bethany, is that I hate kids. And dogs, for that matter. And old people. Etc.

Comment is about TOGETHER (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

Now with audio!😁

Comment is about Per Ardua ad Astra (now with audio) (blog)

A CLASS! albeit deeply saddening poem Stephen. All due respect and thanks

Comment is about Cold Soup (blog)

Original item by Stephen Gospage

For me John your postings are ( always ) not only a great read but also an essentiality to write out loud-many thanks!

Comment is about Throwing stones at the stars (blog)

Original item by John E Marks

Wise and wonderful words JD!

Comment is about If They Can, Then So Can You (blog)

Original item by JD Russell

You are definitely in a class of your own in certain subjects Master Coopey-enjoyed the lesson!

Comment is about TOGETHER (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

Thank you John.
If ever I do get round to bringing a book out I'll put this one in it.

Comment is about The Rocky Horror Picture Show (blog)

Original item by kJ Walker

Comment is about The Rocky Horror Picture Show (blog)

Original item by kJ Walker

It's hard to equate the ebullient poet I read with your description of yourself, Clare. It makes your phenomenal achievements all the more remarkable.

Comment is about Bumbling Mess (blog)

Original item by Clare

The decision to leave the grip of the EU and all its yellow star ability to outvote any UK decision was no "crock of shit".
That definition can, however, be applied to the result of the
approach by the occupants of Parliament who clearly still held
their pre-referendum zealous belief that we were better off
being run by a supra-national entity led by the centuries-old
trouble-makers in Europe.

Comment is about Per Ardua ad Astra (now with audio) (blog)

Oh wow, Clare. What a fabulous piece of family history. You must be so proud of them. I thought there was reality in there, along with gift you have for imparting greater meaning within the narrative. I hope there iare more stories to come about this great man 😀

Comment is about Cotton Candy Man. (blog)

Original item by Clare

Thank you Stephen A, Stephen G and you Bethany. Donne is my favourite poet. I never tire of reading his poetry. I am entranced, and somewhat terrified, by 'A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning' which inspired my relatively insipid 'Twin Compasses'. Donne has it thus:

A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning
BY JOHN DONNE
As virtuous men pass mildly away,
And whisper to their souls to go,
Whilst some of their sad friends do say
The breath goes now, and some say, No:

So let us melt, and make no noise,
No tear-floods, nor sigh-tempests move;
'Twere profanation of our joys
To tell the laity our love.

Moving of th' earth brings harms and fears,
Men reckon what it did, and meant;
But trepidation of the spheres,
Though greater far, is innocent.

Dull sublunary lovers' love
(Whose soul is sense) cannot admit
Absence, because it doth remove
Those things which elemented it.

But we by a love so much refined,
That our selves know not what it is,
Inter-assured of the mind,
Care less, eyes, lips, and hands to miss.

Our two souls therefore, which are one,
Though I must go, endure not yet
A breach, but an expansion,
Like gold to airy thinness beat.

If they be two, they are two so
As stiff twin compasses are two;
Thy soul, the fixed foot, makes no show
To move, but doth, if the other do.

And though it in the center sit,
Yet when the other far doth roam,
It leans and hearkens after it,
And grows erect, as that comes home.

Such wilt thou be to me, who must,
Like th' other foot, obliquely run;
Thy firmness makes my circle just,
And makes me end where I begun.

Comment is about Twin compasses (blog)

Original item by John E Marks

Thank you Stephen.
Your last line sums up how we tend to lose our sense of perspective.

Comment is about Cold Soup (blog)

Original item by Stephen Gospage

Thank all for your comments and likes.
I detect a grudging acceptance that Brexit was from the very start a veritable "Crock of Shit", and that "Project Fear" was 100% correct.😒

Comment is about Per Ardua ad Astra (now with audio) (blog)

A poem written with passion and clouded with despair. I sums up well the ghastly state of affairs in the Ukraine and the war which ravages their country. The world is plagued by this evil. I was drawn to the line "I want to have faith, believe there's a God". Many people will feel like this but I think we need to see the world from another perspective. God has given us the most incredible planet on which to live, rich in beauty and diversity. As humans and a part of this creation we have been given freedom. We have abused this freedom through greed, intolerance and violence. Only we can make amends.
Stephen, thank you for another brilliant poem.
Keith

Comment is about Cold Soup (blog)

Original item by Stephen Gospage

Thanks for your thoughts, MC.

Comment is about I WENT DOWN TO THAT LONDON (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

Thanks, John. It’s about my grandfather who was an Irish itinerant. He and his father, and his son were travelling story tellers, chimney sweeps, tin workers and thatchers.
I am trying to grab the essence of their lives but it is difficult.
So many interesting stories! His son (my great uncle) was the first Irish traveller to be recorded in a series for the BBC. He translated the family stories from Gaelic to English - it was the first time they had ever been recorded and spoken in English.

Comment is about Cotton Candy Man. (blog)

Original item by Clare

Having just needed to re-position the car, I thought I'd have another Guinness when passing the pub just before 10pm -
only to be told that they were closing! Ah well...these funny
hours at least saved me a further £7.50. But I took the
opportunity to mention that pubs are obliged to post their hours
of business, upon which the charming young lady imparting the
news put her hand to her heart and smiled apologetically.
It's a hard life making a pub work these days so I also smiled and
instantly forgave her.
SG mentions St Johns Wood. Back in the 70s I was part of the staff of the now closed local nick. The Wood was
always a sought-after place to live and the prices matched the aspirations.
It still enjoys that reputation and the reflected prices, it seems! Local
residents included Beatle Paul MacCartney and wife Linda, and the
likes of famous conductor Sir Georg
Solti; plus, I will add, a number of excellent pubs!!!

Comment is about I WENT DOWN TO THAT LONDON (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

John, you may be concerned if you receive a number of erratic messages from me! 🤣 My internet is playing up and nothing seems to work the way I want it to. 😂😂. Thanks for letting me know about the glitches - hopefully I have been able to rectify them. 🥹

Comment is about Cotton Candy Man. (blog)

Original item by Clare

All fine now Clare. I thought my mind was playing tricks on me!
I find this poem utterly fascinating, almost mythical in its style. Another work of triumph from your pen.

Comment is about Cotton Candy Man. (blog)

Original item by Clare

Bethany, you are so right. Stunningly beautiful, Matilda. You have distilled the essence of life into just one breath. Encore! 😀

Comment is about One Breath (blog)

Original item by Matilda Simakaj

I watched this tonight. I thought his piece about the harmonium was very touching. Not so keen on the music ensemble at the end though.

Comment is about Simon Armitage takes his harmonium to The Repair Shop (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

A very enjoyable poem Caballero

Comment is about Guidance (blog)

Original item by Caballero Cameron

Nicole go and look in that metaphorical sea there are plenty more fish to be caught I promise you!

Comment is about False sense of security (blog)

Original item by Nicole Macqueen-Jones

Fabulous poetry! My favourite Donne poem-

Death be not proud

especially when read
by the late treacle tone voiced Mr Richard Burton

Thank you John

Comment is about Twin compasses (blog)

Original item by John E Marks

Love the near tail ending analogy Aleksandra

Comment is about Resist (blog)

Original item by Aleks Mor

Nothing less than absolutely beautiful Matilda. I very much look forward to your next piece

Comment is about One Breath (blog)

Original item by Matilda Simakaj

Angst has a lot to answer for Stuart. Great poem

Comment is about Adolescence (blog)

Original item by Stuart Vanner

Really lovely piece of poetry Jordyn-well done!

Comment is about May. (blog)

Original item by Jordyn Elizabeth

Good timing Mark. We just lost our beloved Weimaraner after 12 years...we're living the first line now but I know the second will eventually settle in.

Comment is about CHOICE (blog)

Original item by M.C. Newberry

Today's parliamentarians are a sorry lot
A generation who plainly don't care a jot
What their forebears fought and died for
And older folk have sighed and cried for.
Now it's all about short-term twee-dom
Convenience and comfort - what price freedom?
Why would anyone worthwhile disagree
That anything worthwhile never comes free? 😐

Comment is about Per Ardua ad Astra (now with audio) (blog)

Keith. Thank you so much. I agree entirely. As Mark Twain remarked, a person who doesn't read has no advantage over a person who can't read. 😀
Thanks Stephen. Ah Hancock, his humour was far ahead of his time!
We should have a WOL competition to name the best book we've NEVER READ!
Thanks for the likes, Helene and Matilda.

Comment is about The Reluctant Reader Returns (blog)

Original item by John Botterill

A like for the rhyming and rhythm.

Comment is about Per Ardua ad Astra (now with audio) (blog)

A lovely poem. It's value cannot be overestimated, except by a cynic who knows the price of everything.

Comment is about A poem in place of a headstone: poet Andy Jackson talks about the Lonely Funeral project (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

What a great descriptive poem of appreciation and caring for the wild garden. Really enjoyed this poem Hugh.

Comment is about My wild and wonderful garden (blog)

Original item by hugh

A good idea to get away from the antiseptic and pristine, Hugh. It still requires work, though, doesn't it?😀

Comment is about My wild and wonderful garden (blog)

Original item by hugh

Thank you, John. I remember Tony Hancock ordering three classic works of English Literature in a library so that he could stand on them and reach 'Lady, don't fall backwards', a slushy detective novel.
I have often waited until they make the film, but don't always watch the film.
Sometimes despair at the quantity of unread books, but I wouldn't be without them.

Comment is about The Reluctant Reader Returns (blog)

Original item by John Botterill

Only in the Guardian, I guess, Uilleam.
Brilliant piece of verse.

Comment is about Per Ardua ad Astra (now with audio) (blog)

What is it about scabs that we just have to pick at them?

Comment is about Resist (blog)

Original item by Aleks Mor

Hahaha! Well done Stuart. This rings very loud bells as we have just hosted (if that is the right word) our 14-years old granddaughter Alys for a week! We packed the week with interesting things to do, including a day trip to Brighton (in brilliant sunshine too) but she still projected a semi-disinterested facade all week, even as she was cooing over the Vivien Westwood shoe exhibition in the Northampton museum.

It was a privilege to watch a teenager in full flight!!!

Comment is about Adolescence (blog)

Original item by Stuart Vanner