thanks for the comment, val about 'up on the roof'.. - glad you like it.. must admit it took ages to write - am pleased you and so many others have really enjoyed it x

Comment is about Valerie Cook (poet profile)

Original item by Valerie Cook

Not like today's glorious Manchester sunshine then! Looks like a few of us who were on the weekend have become quite productive here recently - nice to relate poems to people.

Comment is about Winston Plowes (poet profile)

Original item by Winston Plowes

Thanks for the comment Winston You were right about the banks and I got rid of one - some would say that was nt enough :) Seriously, it's better with the change - you have a good eye - Dave

Comment is about Winston Plowes (poet profile)

Original item by Winston Plowes

Glad you liked the poem - remember to stick to the "country lanes and bridleways" on your bike
:)

Comment is about Alison Smiles (poet profile)

Original item by Alison Smiles

Great to reaquaint in Mankinholes. It was a fine weekend of poetry and open discussion and exchange of ideas, oh and the odd drink. Win x

Comment is about Greg Freeman (poet profile)

Original item by Greg Freeman

P,S. Went out on my bike round the haworth and calderdale moors for 4 hrs on mon. Wet cold and v.Windy. nearly got blown off several times and at the end too cold to speak properly. Spring! Win X

Comment is about Alison Smiles (poet profile)

Original item by Alison Smiles

Hi Again Alison. Lovely to meet you and chat at the Big Weekend. Hope you got lots out of it, and judging by your recent offerings, you did! Win X

Comment is about Alison Smiles (poet profile)

Original item by Alison Smiles

Hi Ann;

Thanks for the comment over 'Up on the Roof'. The image of headless bees actually was a accident oddly enough when I was originally wrote it, but I liked it that much it stuck - lol.

Glad you liked it

Cheers x

Andy N x

Comment is about Ann Foxglove (poet profile)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

Hi Elaine;

Thanks for the comment over 'Up on the Roof'. It's similar in a way this way because of the use of memories and also in the way I undersell the action. I'm a firm believer in holding back a little bit with action with pieces like this as it can when well done have twice as much power.

but glad you like it.

Hope you are good x

Cheers

Andy N x

Comment is about Elaine (poet profile)

Original item by Elaine

thanks for the comment over 'Up on the Roof', Melanie... Glad you like it... It's one of those pieces I must admit that I wasn't sure how everybody would react to it, but pleased you like it... Thanks - Andy N x

Comment is about Melanie Coady (poet profile)

Original item by Melanie Coady

Thank you for your comments on "Luxury".

Comment is about Anthony Emmerson (poet profile)

Original item by Anthony Emmerson

Thanks for your comment, Tom.

Comment is about Tom Harding (poet profile)

Original item by Tom Harding

Many thanks for taking the time to dig out "Luxury". So glad you got something from it. X

Comment is about Isobel (poet profile)

Original item by Isobel

Hi Freda - This is me keeping in touch as you mentioned when I left on saturday. Unity and Wimple were pleased to see me and the cosmos, dahlia and nicotinia seedling had survived in my absence. Hope you're well. David

Comment is about Freda Davis (poet profile)

Original item by Freda Davis

Appreciate your comment - tucked in - like the notes themselves - tucked away all those years. Thank you Greg.

Comment is about Greg Freeman (poet profile)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Hi Alison, Thanks for your comments on Sleep if only.. Dreaming is over rated ?? i'll have to have a good deep ponder on this. Dreams is sometimes all you got to hang on to!! And when your Dreams don't come true then you know its only a dream.. Food for thought... Cheers Ian....

Comment is about Alison Smiles (poet profile)

Original item by Alison Smiles

Hi Anthony,

Thank you for the very kind comments on my poem- that sort of thing keeps me going.
Your poems are great - alpha et omega is fantastic.

Comment is about Anthony Emmerson (poet profile)

Original item by Anthony Emmerson

ello Cate
Thanks for your thoughts on 84-0.
It really did happen. One of our first games for the u13s.
I have cribbed almost entirely one by Pam Ayres called 13-0 about her son making the school football team. You should check out her superior original.

Comment is about Cate (poet profile)

Original item by Cate

Hi Greg Thanks as ever for your warm comments. I thought this one was going to slip under the radar! When I started it I ordered Elizabeth David's 'Harvest of the Cold Months' thinking it might give me some ideas, but I finished the poem before it arrived. Will have to try to do another Ice poem now to justify the tenner I spent on it!

Comment is about Greg Freeman (poet profile)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Thanks for your comment on the Yeung Sing Greg - glad you found it entertaining. Am sorry I couldn't make the WOL week-end - it was too much on top of last week-end - hopefull we will get chance to meet at summat in the future. It's good to hear that you are now on the admin team. x

Comment is about Greg Freeman (poet profile)

Original item by Greg Freeman

I was the model guest - all I took were the free biscuits in the room - which for some reason were still within sell by date, unlike the little pots of milk... x

Comment is about Anthony Emmerson (poet profile)

Original item by Anthony Emmerson

hi Lynn-your comments on'neglected garden' and'Tynonidae' are very much appreciated-hope you and yours are well(incl Mr Benji)xx)

Comment is about Lynn Dye (poet profile)

Original item by Lynn Dye

Hi Greg, re; RIP - sad old story as I know the parties involved - you might have read the summary in this week's Surrey Ad. Thanks for commenting.

Comment is about Greg Freeman (poet profile)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Thanks very much for your comment the poem is not too finely balanced but does in part refer to the story of the Talents (coins) given by a father to his 3 sons with differing results in the Bible.

For explanation my poem adds a fourth son who is extremely gifted but becomes so absorbed in his own genius that his "talents" are destroyed taken away - I suppose Icarus and Narcissus are similar in mythology and certainly a lot of the rock stars who died early because of their excesses would fall into the same category.

Explanation is not my strong suit so I hope you now get the jist - Thanks again David

Comment is about Cynthia Buell Thomas (poet profile)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

Hello Foxy
No Pam Ayres didn't play rugby, you numpty!
She did write a poem much, much better than mine called 13-0 about her son's debut in the school football team. Despite having written it years before mine, the structure she copied off me along with the subject matter, title and rhyming pattern!
Incidentally, would you like to see my Up and Under?

Comment is about Ann Foxglove (poet profile)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

Hello Greg
Thanks for your comments on 84-0.
It is almost a complete copy (idea/structure/rhyming pattern) of a poem by Pam Ayres called 13-0 (complete change there then!). Hers was about her son's debut in the school football team rather like your experience.
Incidentally I have a secret admiration for PA (a crush) whom I think is enormously under-rated.

Comment is about Greg Freeman (poet profile)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Yes, that's why I was in more analytic mode on your last poem! I'll tell you how good the WOL weekend was - it wasn't until 8.30pm that I realised it was Saturday and I had no idea of the football scores!

Comment is about Ann Foxglove (poet profile)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

Hi Julia

Thanks for updating your profile, Win

Comment is about Julia Deakin (poet profile)

Original item by Julia Deakin

Nice to meet too Dave. Let me know if your going to any open mics or whatever not to far from Macc. and I'll come along if possible. Got home in good time last night but am still recovering from the ravages of my weekend poetic retreat. Keep up all you good works and take care - Dave

Comment is about Dave Morgan (poet profile)

Original item by Dave Morgan

Oooh! You were at the WOL thing were you - wish I'd had time to go. I loved it last time! Hope it was good! (I'm sure it was!)xx

Comment is about Greg Freeman (poet profile)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Hi Alan

Thanks for putting those samples up on your profile.

Comment is about Alan Gillott (poet profile)

Original item by Alan Gillott

Anne

Thank you so mulch for having a read of my latest.

... But they grow for a bit beyond March don't they?!

Actually ... if you look at Breck's catalogue, apparently, summer flowering Daffodils are available!

Thanks for revealing what a complete anus I am in the flower garden. If you can think of a different one ( flowering March to late August) I'll change the name!

Monty (Don) Fassbinder

Comment is about Ann Foxglove (poet profile)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

Hi Isobel (re: RIP)- many thanks for your comments not a nice topic I know but this is life in the raw and sometimes we have show what is happening around us - so am grateful that I might have pitched this about right x

Comment is about Isobel (poet profile)

Original item by Isobel

Dave (re: RIP)I am sorry if this opened up old wounds and can only empathise with your loss - it took courage to go back and read the poem again and I appreciate your comments even in the light of your difficult circumstances

Comment is about Dave Bradley (poet profile)

Original item by Dave Bradley

Hello Fatima,

Your poem 'mother' was very moving to me. It made me think firstly of my mother and her thoughts. It made me think of me as a parent also. 'I don't enjoy being a mother' is such a great line. Seems so shocking sandwiched as it is between 'gawking faces' and 'calculating oneself'. I suppose that is the whole point. I look forward to reading more of your poetry on this site ...

Thank you


Fassbinder

Comment is about Fatima AL Matar (poet profile)

Original item by Fatima AL Matar

I love your poem 'My Hearts Triumphant Cry', Valerie.
Congratulations on it being nominated for Poem of the Month!

Comment is about Valerie Cook (poet profile)

Original item by Valerie Cook

Hi Anthony - Re; RIP thanks for commenting - true what you say about mankind sometimes we are not very nice - especially when loved ones left behind must pay the price in such a case as this

Comment is about Anthony Emmerson (poet profile)

Original item by Anthony Emmerson

Thanks for your comment Elaine - the poem is based on a true life moment, as you may have guessed. Kids are great for inspiring, aren't they?
Missed you at the Tudor last month. Hope you can make Aprils. x

Comment is about Elaine (poet profile)

Original item by Elaine

You are right - I wouldn't have said 'why, no' - it sounded more poetic than 'no' though - the line needed one more syllable. The way we say things isn't always that pretty and I don't think it hurts to bend things a little in poetry.
I can't see myself on the South Bank Show any time soon - but yes, I am slowly growing in confidence - that's what it's all about really, isn't it? If I could gift anything to my kids, it would be confidence. I should write a poem about that...

I like the chair picture. It tells me that you don't take life/yourself too seriously. I would like to have seen a picture of you climbing up there also - that would have been funny! xx

Comment is about Anthony Emmerson (poet profile)

Original item by Anthony Emmerson

Hi Val,

Congratulations on POTM! A celebratory and uplifting poems of what might be a dark moment in a life - well done! You go for it girl!

Regards,

A.E.

Comment is about Valerie Cook (poet profile)

Original item by Valerie Cook

Hi Isobel,

Sorry for the delay in responding; I haven’t had much time or inclination for the pen of late.

“Haven” is a very old poem – although I still have a soft spot for her. Any fan of Coronation Street – or the shipping forecast for that matter, could probably date it fairly accurately. I freely admit to having no knowledge whatsoever of the musings of the celebrated Ms Cartland - the perils of using one’s imagination! As for the character, she may or may not exist; all I know is that she was somewhere around the misty periphery of my butterfly mind. I guess it was written to illustrate how we are able to isolate ourselves from the larger world, living in our own warm cocoons while life and its wild perils carry on regardless. Sometimes people seem able to do this without feeling the pain of loneliness.

Your own writing/performing seems to be going from strength to strength – deservedly so. (Yes I still read, even when I’m not writing!) Yesterday The Morton Arms – tomorrow The South Bank show! Who knows? You go for it. You know I admire the “directness” of your writing, and I suspect others do too.

“The Stuff of Life” is very clever by what it implies and leaves unsaid. A poem to read “between” the lines of. I think it probably says a lot about you. Just one word that I felt was superfluous – the “why” as in “Why, no.” I admit it’s not exactly the proverbial sore thumb – but I can’t for one second imagine a solid northern lass like yourself ever saying it in preference to the plain “no”! (Sounds a little too “Gone With the Wind” for your neck of the woods! But then you probably don’t give a damn!)

I have tinkered with my profile a little – and yes, that really is me on the big chair. (Or is it that the chair is normal and I’m really tiny?) I may change it all again soon – even back to the guy with his head up his butt – more me sometimes . . .

Take care,

A.E.

Comment is about Isobel (poet profile)

Original item by Isobel

Oi've been invoited to the Time Team Dig
Oi'm gonna have to buy a silly wig
Oi'll have to talk in a gormless voice
they basically said oi ad no choice
Oi'll 'ave to get me bum-crack waxed
or else me invoite might get axed
them ancient viewers don't want fluff
If they did they'd seek out Annie's muff
an so me stupid little ditty
is gonna end 'fore it gets too shitty
Oi'm off to see yon Blackadder chap
'e said me poem's fuckin crap !

Comment is about Ann Foxglove (poet profile)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

Non... Tu m'as très bien cité : )

Comment is about Isobel (poet profile)

Original item by Isobel

Congratulations Val, on Poem of the Month. I love it - it is one I can really identify with - the answer for me was YES,YES, YES!!!!

xx

Comment is about Valerie Cook (poet profile)

Original item by Valerie Cook

Yeah! But then they all go down the pub! I like to pretend they are all my friends! Don't you? ;)
... with friends like them, I really wouldn't need any enemies, now would I ??

Comment is about Ann Foxglove (poet profile)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

cheers Mr Freeman for comments on 'Tynonidae'I had left a line out by mistake(listens intensely)pardon late reply-just back from hols-thanks Greg.

Comment is about Greg Freeman (poet profile)

Original item by Greg Freeman

belated thanks Mel for comments on 'Tynonidae'-just back from hols-to discover I had left a line out(listens intensely)doh! ta lots.xx

Comment is about Melanie Coady (poet profile)

Original item by Melanie Coady

'I used this as team name in a pub quiz once. ha ha!'...I used the name 'wet wet wet' in a quiz at a summer camp- there were three in the teem and we all got drenched (tents) then 6 months later a Scottish band emerged with the same name!

Comment is about Marianne Daniels (poet profile)

Original item by Marianne Daniels

Cynthia, many thanks for your comments on both "Moon" & "Luxury". I really appreciate you taking the time to comment. I also agree with Julian's comments on "Luxury" and will have a go at re-posting. Never done that before so here's hoping I don't delete the lot!
Hope you are well & all our best to Stan too. XX

Comment is about Cynthia Buell Thomas (poet profile)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

Thank you for your comments on "Luxury". Glad you enjoyed it. XXX

Comment is about Dave Bradley (poet profile)

Original item by Dave Bradley