Congratulations cobber on your Poem of the Month. Nice to see someone win it who I have actually met (Hebden Bridge briefly). There is much truth about long term relationships in your poem. Would agree with Graham that the line breaks are odd but like the interesting imagery and think that the poem is well executed. Hope you don't mind me commenting here.

Comment is about Ross Kightly (poet profile)

Original item by Ross Kightly

HtS,

I enjoyed your Ringworm & grease. Brilliant. Graham Fellows would be proud.

Mwoar!


Fassbinder

Comment is about Horace Thespider (poet profile)

Original item by Horace Thespider

Hi Cynthia. Thanks for looking at Social Algebra Alphabet. Glad you enjoyed it. Not really that cleaver, this one. just a bit of fun and anexperiment. Win x

Comment is about Cynthia Buell Thomas (poet profile)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

dear red shoes - Thanks for looking at Social Algebra Alphabet. I lost it at the begining! don't look too deeply at this one it was just a bit of fun. Win

Comment is about Isobel (poet profile)

Original item by Isobel

Hi Ann, Thanks for looking at Social Algebra Alphabet. and for putting things right in your comments! lol win

Comment is about Ann Foxglove (poet profile)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

Oh Marianne, this one is a great piece. Strewn with evocative images you have catepulted us back to a time before memories and described the bond in your usual amazing style. Winston x
(Typo in devEstated?)

Comment is about Mothers (blog)

Original item by Marianne Daniels

Good afternoon Clare

"If I was" is a really clever poem and clever for its funny & sad. Loved the Grandmother knitted eyebrows story/poem. I thought of Alan Bennett with all that analytical detail of the woman. I can't get gravy-on-the-legs-to-give-the- impression-of-tights out of my mindl

Joseph


ps. Congrats on getting a prize at the Troubadour. Your name is on a list I have just received by email .... I am assuming you are THE Clare Kirwan!

Comment is about Clare Kirwan (poet profile)

Original item by Clare Kirwan

Hi Ann,

thanks for taking the time to read and make comment on my work

steve x

Comment is about Ann Foxglove (poet profile)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

HI Cynthia

thanks for taking the time to read and make comment on my work

as for your question - lovely question and thought

thanks

steve x

Comment is about Cynthia Buell Thomas (poet profile)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

Hi Andy,

thanks for taking the time to read and make comment on my work

steve x

Comment is about Andy N (poet profile)

Original item by Andy N

Dear Anthony,

I can't seem to locate an e-mail address for you on here, otherwise I would have e-mailed you privately just to offer you some solidarity in the face of a recent tirade against you posted elsewhere.

I agreed with your comments wholeheartedly and thought they were expressed in a very succinct and witty way. To say so on the actual discussion board would, in my opinion, just invite another tirade of hypocritical invective upon both our heads and I have elected to abdicate from that particular battle....until the next time. There is bound to be a 'next time' as I cannot envisage being able to keep my trap shut the next time a piece of egregious clap trap is posted here disguised as 'poetry' or even 'comment'.

Keep the faith.

Jx

Comment is about Anthony Emmerson (poet profile)

Original item by Anthony Emmerson

almost made me want to weep, but beauitful piece..

Comment is about solitude (blog)

Original item by Steven Dark

Good morning Ann

I enjoyed the dancing poem and the array of gentlemen that abound in it v much. The descriptions are clever, believable and familiar. I recall 'wearing' a pencil behind my ear once (for emergency villanelle-writing-on-the-bus you understand) and someone assuming I'd be good at carpentry! I can't even put up the Christmas Decorations let alone shelves!

It's a great poem Ann and there are a lot of great observations in it. I think Goethe appreciated the dance just as much:

Please send me your last pair of shoes, worn out with dancing as you mentioned in your letter, so that I might have something to press against my heart. ~ Goethe

look forward to reading more of your stuff.


Joseph

Comment is about Ann Foxglove (poet profile)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

I realize you won
You always did.
I gave,
You hid.


'End of the affair' really enjoyed it. Reads/performs well, just read it aloud and loved it.

Very tight writing, clean and cutting.
Great.

Comment is about Tommy Carroll (poet profile)

Original item by Tommy Carroll

This has really beautiful descriptions in it, but overlayed with a great sadness.
For me a moving poem, with a sharp edge to the end.
TC.

Comment is about solitude (blog)

Original item by Steven Dark

Hi Dave, Dont suppose you remember me from Lancaster early 70's. I remember you coming up to read at a University poetry gig organised by Dave Ward. Ring any bells? Your poetry is as strong as ever.

Comment is about Big Chill August 2009 (blog)

Original item by Dave Morgan

A beautiful, lovely, loving and life affirming poem. Ta xx

Comment is about Auryn's Heartbeat (blog)

Original item by Noetic-fret!

Thank you Andy for your comments and suggestion but alas I know little of Manchester, more of a Cheshire chick.

I do hope you have news soon about your missing friend Alex , it is very very sad.

Augusta x

Comment is about Andy N (poet profile)

Original item by Andy N

How diligent and observant you are Isobel, of course I was utilising the stresses rather than the syllables, ( I'm fibbing)

A king’s ransom spent on my education too…

I have made amends.

Thank you.
Augusta X

Comment is about Isobel (poet profile)

Original item by Isobel

i know some would not enjoy the short short lines, but i think these are really good in this case m8... good stuff!

Comment is about we are one (blog)

Original item by Steven Dark

enjoyed this Cynthia.. defo has being a bite in its bark or is it the other way? lol

Comment is about Just Three Thoughts (blog)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

That is a beautiful last verse Mike.

Comment is about Auryn's Heartbeat (blog)

Original item by Noetic-fret!

Hi Ann,
Thanks for the kind comment. i think in that picture- i'm pausing before the blank page, frozen in fear. i may have been stood there for several minutes. either that or i'm getting a coffee.
I like the repetition in your poems. I see desire and nature are the same here. Do you read much Ted Hughes? i felt a lot of him when I read your poems.
Thanks.

Comment is about Ann Foxglove (poet profile)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

Hi Kealan. Youcan now edit your blog entries without them jumping up to the top of the pile. Win (Admin)

Comment is about Kealan Coady (poet profile)

Original item by Kealan Coady

Hi Kath

I really enjoyed these poems. Very well crafted too. I liked:

what distant ocean
dreams,
had drawn their
silent vigil

very lyrical. And the "Tadpoling" was triffic. I've noticed that in next to no time, people have forgotten Woolworths ever existed. Maybe that's just down here in London. I remember 'the nets' too!

I shall pop-by again and read more of your great memories.

cheers

Fassbinder

ps. 'Eating sandwiches with pondwater hands' is such a great image.

Comment is about Kath Dodd (poet profile)

Original item by Kath Dodd

Thanks for your comment on my poem Jeff - the voice is tuning itself up for Christmas and so looking forward to the next Tudor!

Comment is about Jeffarama! (poet profile)

Original item by Jeffarama!

Thanks for your lovely comment on Coming Home - I was very touched. Quite an emotional one to write and read so I am glad that I didn't cross the fine line and make it too sentimental.

Comment is about Cynthia Buell Thomas (poet profile)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

Heard you do this at the Tudor House, Wigan a couple of weeks ago. Really good.
John

Comment is about The Pensioners Are Here! (blog)

Hi, Thanks for the comments. I agree the alliteration maybe too much but it was intentional.
canard (noun)
/ˈkæn.ɑːd//kəˈnɑːrd/ n [C] literary a false report or piece of information which is intended to deceive people

Comment is about cathedrals of illuminated sins (blog)

Original item by Steven Dark

Hi Alain, sounds like tenancy relations very harmonious! Enjoyed reading about it, Jeff

Comment is about Unholy Occupation (blog)

Original item by Alain English

Hi Jeff, like the idea, might have added a few lines to accuse her of being a bit more devious etc etc!! cheers Jeff

Comment is about MONA LISA (blog)

Original item by JEFF.W

Hi Chris, hope all good, I'm just catching up, really enjoyed this, deep and gets to the centre of things, nice one Jeff

Comment is about Coward Review (blog)

Original item by Christopher Dawson

Yeah Kealon agree with the others, great writing here mate as Rach says loads of fine lines, great stuff see ya soon Jeff

Comment is about Man of Many People. (blog)

Original item by Kealan Coady

I liked this, very funny!

Comment is about The Pensioners Are Here! (blog)

Isobel, this is outstanding. Your words clutched me, and dragged me to the very end, and dumped me, leaving me feeling wonderful.

Comment is about Coming Home (blog)

Original item by Isobel

I'm sorry you lost the prior comments. Great revision.

Comment is about Typical Archetypal Archetypes (blog)

Original item by Steven Dark

I wrote this morning, but something malfunctioned. I think this is great. Marvellous images. Maybe the alliteration is a tad excessive sometimes, but that's probably on purpose, and therefore quite apt. 'canard' I just forget; I've read it; obviously 'duck' in French, possibly similar to a 'quack'; but more sinister? Anyway - super word in a list of well-chosen words.

Comment is about cathedrals of illuminated sins (blog)

Original item by Steven Dark

Great poem. Love your empathy with all things. Experienced a similar 'enlightenment' once in Canada's North, when I came unexpectedly upon two huskies in the snow, a male and a female, about to have sex. The female looked almost pure wolf. I paused in sheer interest, ie voyeurism. I tell you, I have never been so 'put in my place' in my life. I locked eyes with the female, and she communicated to me exactly what she thought of me. I backed off, apologizing profusely to her, and walked away, ashamed of myself. I'll never forget her.

Comment is about love like foxes (blog)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

My word, Mr Darby, is it only under the circumstances of the 'local tobacco shop' scenario? Or more generally applicable also?
Even though it's a very funny poem, please proof read; comedy requires accuracy. At least, I'm presuming 'comedy'. Jeesh! maybe not.

Comment is about The Pensioners Are Here! (blog)

You know how we all hold our own lines so close to us that we frequently get myopic about our own work? I never realized until today that someone might think that In Praise of Formality is about me. No way! It is about all the fantastic poets of any age who strive and succeed brilliantly in writing according to rigidly established structures. I am awed.

Comment is about Just Three Thoughts (blog)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

Hi John Boy! Pensioners just aren't like they used to be in our day are they? Really laughed at this!

Comment is about The Pensioners Are Here! (blog)

Ah, this does my heart good! Give it to them in spades! great language and images.
Steve Smith

Comment is about cathedrals of illuminated sins (blog)

Original item by Steven Dark

Love your stuff, so well crafted and full of pictures.
Steve smith

Comment is about pauline sewards (poet profile)

Original item by pauline sewards

Dear Ann,
thank you for commenting on my poem -you have seen the heart of it....I struggled with the word "Un-amputatable for a while , trying several others , but used it because it's an ugly word and when you think of someone you have loved and still love and wish you could see,but can't, it hurts and you could in one act brutal cut off that wish so it would no longer be painful...then, the longing returns with the pleasurable memory...that's love.Loved your 'dray' and thanks for bringing the smell of swarfega to mind...in that tender ,dancing poem...hmmm, your poems are so gentle ...it makes me realise how hard-edged a lot of poems are...hmmmm somethign to ponder..
Steve Smith

Comment is about Ann Foxglove (poet profile)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

Hi Sian.
it's good to hear from you again : ) thank you for reading and posting your very kind comments on Kilim, deb x

Comment is about sian howell (poet profile)

Original item by sian howell

Thanks, Ann. I stand corrected. I'm puzzled as to why I did take it as North TO South. I think it was the word 'heading' which implies directional movement; and then, 'huskies', pack dogs common to the North (and obviously the South as well - apologies)
Is it acceptable to lift the title of a book straight over to another art form? I ran into this problem with 'The Kiss', the title of a very famous painting.

Comment is about South with Endurance (blog)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

Thanks Greg - have corrected it! And thanks for your encouraging words.

Comment is about love like foxes (blog)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

Thanks for your kind comments on my Foxes poem, how come it's impossible to see your own typos! All corrected now - thanks!
I like your strangers on a train poem. Quietly touching!

Comment is about Greg Freeman (poet profile)

Original item by Greg Freeman

I really like this, Ann, for its unvarnished urgency, just as I admire another, more humorous poem of yours, Take Me, for its similar mood. The title is almost a pun on your penname. But I'm thinking the word "fixes" in the penultimate line is a mistype? Greg

Comment is about love like foxes (blog)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

Hi WInston

thanks for your comment as ever

steve x

Comment is about Winston Plowes (poet profile)

Original item by Winston Plowes