Haha. Take it your house is the same as mine then!!! Chaotic, except between the hours of 9pm and early hours of the morning?! Nice to hear from you Neil.

Nicky x

ps. what do you think of my arty-farty pic?lol:-)

Comment is about Neil West (poet profile)

Original item by Neil West

This is a beautiful poem.It would be so nice to go back in time, or somehow recapture and regain our first loves.My fear is that both persons would have changed, as all things do.Im not sure that it could ever be as it once was.But I have heard of this happening, and few make it, because things have just changed. Great poem, full of wisdom and yerning for the old days and that one very special memory.

Comment is about Dormant Virus (blog)

Great poem, an inconcievable sense of dissapointment and anguish. I'm always of the negative.

Comment is about The Parting (blog)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

Have you been in my house???

Comment is about Apples and Pears (blog)

Original item by Nicky Burrows

Hi Nicky, sorry I have been quiet lately but I've been busy with work after idling the summer away, I only get a small window of opportunity to stealth surf WOL at the mo!

Thank you for your thoughtful comments. I would like to share one of my favourite poems that I first read as a teenager and I think it was the first poem that made me stop and think. It is by Yevtushenko. I suppose, consciously or otherwise, it has influenced my own ideas to some extent.

Lies

Lying to the young is wrong.
Proving to them that lies are true is wrong.
Telling them
that God’s in his heaven
and all’s well with the world
is wrong.
They know what you mean.
They are people too.
Tell them the difficulties
can’t be counted,
and let them see
not only
what will be
but see
with clarity
these present times.
Say obstacles exist they must encounter,
sorrow comes,
hardship happens.
The hell with it.
Who never knew
the price of happiness
will not be happy.
Forgive no error
you recognize,
it will repeat itself,
a hundredfold
and afterward
our pupils
will not forgive in us
what we forgave.

Comment is about Nicky Burrows (poet profile)

Original item by Nicky Burrows

Excellent poem Paul. Love the image evoked by ' a soft furnace of eyes spread the heat'. But I find it very sad - feels like a wedding but the marriage is doomed from the start.
Cx

Comment is about Burnt Sacrifice (blog)

Thanks for your comment on my little poem that's over 40 years old.

You must gird your loins and read your stuff at the next open mic. There's one at the Howcroft on Sunday!

Comment is about Kealan Coady (poet profile)

Original item by Kealan Coady

This is a great poem paul. The first two lines are absolute, dragged me in willingly to read the rest. perfect combination of theme and language.

Comment is about Burnt Sacrifice (blog)

I thought there were enough angst-filled love poems around

Comment is about A Soppy Love Poem (blog)

haha! LOVED a summary of T. Hughes' poetry! great stuff! And thanks for your comment, really made me laugh! xx

Comment is about Tommy Carroll (poet profile)

Original item by Tommy Carroll

Viruses aren't usually considered healthy. I do wonder if this is possibly 'tongue-in-cheek'. It's the little things that make a poem really embracing to its readers, and you covered so many- very honestly, but tenderly too. For some people, the 'first love' experience colours all other relationships with ensuing partners, for better or worse, like 'a virus' in a clearly negative sense.. It's a great topic, skillfully executed.

Comment is about Dormant Virus (blog)

I think I missed this one first time round, excellent stuff!
Cx

Comment is about The Parting (blog)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

Nice tribute Tommy.

Janet.

Comment is about Various poems and replies from others in thier style- a thank you! (blog)

Original item by Tommy Carroll

I truely have a wonderful son with a heart as big as the world, made me think back 20 years too, wish I could turn back the clock, lovley poem Peter, love you xxxxxx

Comment is about Dormant Virus (blog)

Thank you for your comment Cynthia.
I find it such an irony that Bamburgh Castle was 'restored' using money gained from arms sales, and that there is a war memorial below the castle.

I think it is a measure of how low we have sunk as a society, when a major British arms dealer is running schools all over Britain under the cover of being a 'registered charity'.

So much for the chances of our children living in peace !

Comment is about Cynthia Buell Thomas (poet profile)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

Hi Tommy

Thanks 4 listening...me cummin at u...

Gus

Comment is about Tommy Carroll (poet profile)

Original item by Tommy Carroll

Windows is great, I have a few in a similar vein or would that be pane.
Anyway it's sharp and funny. I like it.

Comment is about Winston Plowes (poet profile)

Original item by Winston Plowes

John, as near as I can figure, the definition of what is poetry is now very broad, and your work so far posted certainly qualifies. You definitely have 'the feel'.

I do think attention to the entire background of poetic skills is essential, the same points which came up in your GCSE courses: a wide vocabulary for selective diction, the varied methods for acquiring vivid imagery and of sound, the colours of mood, and the overall effect of tone. If you don't know where you're going with a poem - stop. Or, if you digress - stop - and go back and find your direction again. Perhaps you need another poem, or six. Don't waffle. It's not fair to your reader.

If you don't know what I'm talking about, look it up. It's really important if you are really sincere.

Alvin's comment is excellent: it follows through with what I think is your intent: exclusivity.

Comment is about John Aikman (poet profile)

Original item by John Aikman

Thank you for the encouragement!

Comment is about John Coopey (poet profile)

Original item by John Coopey

Hi cynthia, thank you for the comments.
I see what you mean about science and poetry both being about discovery, unfortunately the science side of thing has lost any sense of discovery at the moment due to the dreaded exams causing me to have to keep dredging up and trying to memorise the same old facts!
I really appreciate how you dont just give me a little comment of encouragement, but provide constructive criticism i can work on.
Jessie.

Comment is about Cynthia Buell Thomas (poet profile)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

I like this, it is a good and interesting account of something which only a poet's eyes can see.

Comment is about skipping meals on the commuter run (blog)

This is a real head spinner , I get into the poem and then it takes me off in another direction. I like it , it could send you bonkers trying to justify a full meaning and be happy you had done so - it has a lot going on.

Comment is about point this way (blog)

Original item by Tommy Carroll

Hi Gus
good job on the stalker poem. Ihave mininised it further. Perarse to far! interesting exercise. Win x

Comment is about Gus Jonsson (poet profile)

Original item by Gus Jonsson

sad, very sad.

Comment is about the book of hearts (blog)

oh i like this. i'm a big fan of the word 'converge' it and 'merge' are two of my favourites. i love that sound.

Comment is about Six-fifteen on a Rainy Evening (blog)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

a zoetrope is kind of like one of those flick book animations. they are wonderful things. if you google image search the word lots of wonderful pictures come up. i'm glad you liked the poem :)

Comment is about zoetrope (blog)

cool

Comment is about Desert Scorn (blog)

Original item by Malpoet

Dave, I enjoyed this. Very clever and funny and true blue. Isobel's suggestion is a good one. Go for it.

Comment is about Looking for Blues (blog)

Original item by Dave Carr

See if I can guess what?

You are doing so many mental manipulations with minimal words. What are you aiming for?

Comment is about 1,000,000,000 others (blog)

Original item by Tommy Carroll

True a message to the untouchables , but,but, ,,, they won't read it because it doesn't affect them. They don't have a problem it is purely recreational. What a load of pants!.

Comment is about Tommy Carroll (poet profile)

Original item by Tommy Carroll

Funny how you never let go of that image, something that you'll never regain though, - sadly, your first love, is always something ephemeral that many always hang on to, and try and replicate. Unfortunately, the majority of us very rarely succeed in doing so. However, we are fickle creatures and even upon having the fortune (or misfortune ) to meet up with 'the one' again - are they the same person that we loved? Are we the same person that loved them? Interesting and thoughtprovoking words you have written Pete. Great piece.

Nicky x - I loved the 80's - big hair, brash make-up.

Comment is about Dormant Virus (blog)

Janet, imagery is fantastic in this. Don't know what more to say (just catching up on reading all the poems, and everyone has said it for me - this really stands out), beautiful rhythm, well executed. Love it.

Nicky x

Comment is about Out of the Darkness (revised edition) (blog)

Thank you , you are very kind.

Comment is about Cate (poet profile)

Original item by Cate

I say, Cynthia you keep me on my toes don't you. My daughter asked for the piece ,it was lightweight I agree. If you want some real meat then I will have to oblige some time in the future.
Your comments are appreciated it keeps me on my toes.

Comment is about Cynthia Buell Thomas (poet profile)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

Hey John , thanks for the comments and yes St Peppers is a classic album which is well locked into the jukebox of historical recordings. A Day In Life !!!!.

Comment is about John Coopey (poet profile)

Original item by John Coopey

I keep coming back to this one Neil. Great poem, and although it can be a good thing to enter into a relationship with your 'photo album' of baggage etc, and bearing all the honesty of your past, so that you have nothing to hide ( which can create a very stable, honest and enduring relationship), it can also be a difficult one. People have a tendency to fling past wrongs at one-another in the heat of the moment, so maybe sometimes it is good to have a few secrets of ones own that may, if known, create ammunition. On the other hand, if you are not honest, then the baggage can come back to haunt you, and create even more of a hoo-ha! Even though I would love to look through 'rose-tinted glasses' - your poem strikes a note with me. Enjoyed it.

Nicky x

Comment is about An Anti-Love Poem (blog)

Original item by Neil West

Hi Tommy

thanks for taking the time to read and comment on my poem

steve x

Comment is about Tommy Carroll (poet profile)

Original item by Tommy Carroll

Hi Andy

thanks for taking the time to read and make comment on 'occupation'

steve x

Comment is about Andy N (poet profile)

Original item by Andy N

thanks for your comments on rowan tree Winston , sorry i have missed the juggling :)

Comment is about Winston Plowes (poet profile)

Original item by Winston Plowes

Cate
Thanks for the comments on my "70 Metres Dash". It really was true - I did keep comimg last. ("The Charge of the Light Brigade" is true as well - don't ever get electricians in your house to do some work!
Since you commented I took the opportunity to look at your stuff, ("Eer Olive's Pumps"). We seem to have a similarity of style - heavy meter and rhyme, light content.
Post some more.
John Coopey

Comment is about Cate (poet profile)

Original item by Cate

Hi Cynthia
Thanks for taking the time to comment.
I went to SA, as a 19 year old idiot, in 1967. I knew nothing of the world (who did in '67). I'd been as far as the Isle of Man, and never seen London until the plane took off from Heathrow.
Met my wife in SA (half Dutch; half Scot), and the children were born there. It was probably only when they came along that the light started to dawn. Returned at the beginning of '75 somewhat wiser.

Comment is about Cynthia Buell Thomas (poet profile)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

Big topics, for sure, which must be explored, especially by poets. You seem very self-conscious, very 'I' oriented, and just pouring out these broad ideas one on top of another. I think you might select a single idea and develop it more intensely. All poets are 'I' oriented, but we learn to discipline our ideas to share them effectively. Connecting the title and the last line is very good.

By the way, I'm so glad that you really liked Disco Dancing, a poem expressing my love of uninhibited dancing. You were the only reader who 'got it'. Thanks.

Comment is about The question of life (blog)

Original item by Daniel Hooks

Mystical experiences come from the most disparate sources.

Great connection, Winston.

Comment is about not reading old poems but listening to Kate Bush (blog)

Original item by Tommy Carroll

Very interesting - and so true.

Comment is about 1,000,000,000 others (blog)

Original item by Tommy Carroll

It's very clever, Anthony, sarcastic and snide - and bitter. And well-written. Pungent - a bit like Wilde.

Comment is about If You Were A Pub... (blog)

Really good, Steve.the title is excellent. I had a South African friend, a white gentleman, who left his homeland because of apartheid. Are you writing from experience or empathy?

Comment is about Complicit (blog)

Hi Cate
Thanks for the comment. I was in my 'rebel' years when I went to SA, but knew nothing of the ways of the world. The only things that bothered me were pop music, football and the odd? girlfriend. I know, now, that I knew nothing of apartheid. It was an illuminating period of my life.
A lot of the black South Africans had Biblical names. I think they were more Christian than the rest of the inhabitants.

Comment is about Cate (poet profile)

Original item by Cate