You are quite correct Cynthia, in knitting terminology it is generally known as the 'purl stitch' and only sometimes referred to as the 'pearl stitch', for example seed-pearl stitch.

However, 'pearl' is a metaphor for something very valuable and very rare and admirable, also the pearl has a translucent beauty, an iridescent quality to it. The poem is about knitting, however, the knitting represents life - creation and the ongoing intricacies of life are synonomous to the intricacies of the pattern. The purl stitch the 'inverted stitch' - a change in the direction of that life, life being turned upside down by an event (which can be read as a wanted or an unwanted event depending on the reader), and the knitting remains unfinished - just as so many things in life do. We do not value life as much as we should and often take it for granted until something happens, in some cases that realisation comes too late.

Nicky x

So, yes, you also were correct when you commented that the title had significance.

Comment is about Cynthia Buell Thomas (poet profile)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

Loved 'Gallery'. A great sideswipe. The Ted Hughes poem also made me giggle.

pip pip

Comment is about Tommy Carroll (poet profile)

Original item by Tommy Carroll

Like this very much, but sort of want to re-arrange it a little. I feel the last line should be 'and understand how a healthy girl can die'. Very touching.
Cx

Comment is about how a healthy girl can die (blog)

Hi Steve: Just in from a bull wrestling session and fancy a glass of shiraaaaz! ''overated artists '' yes I have seen the posts, so will read it now!
cheers!!
hic!!!

Comment is about 5th of shall one day be...and upon the 7th it was forgotten. Are men (blog)

Original item by Tommy Carroll

Nicky, it just hit me (I was doing dishes) that your poem about knitting is "Purl Stitch', the inverted stitch. I looked up 'purl' and the various definitions show this spelling to be correct. Perhaps 'pearl' is used as well?

Comment is about Nicky Burrows (poet profile)

Original item by Nicky Burrows

Hello Steven
I shall add my two pennerth in a moment. I think it will be educational (in all senses of the word) to see what is suggested

Comment is about Steven Waling (poet profile)

Original item by Steven Waling

Hi Mia,
Yes... a fun day at the Royal Exchange.
I have attempted a serious cheese poem of my own however, it has become apparent I have neither your stamina nor rhyming ability...

CHEESE

I like edam cheese
its not as soft as brie is

And unlike orange cheddar
edam tastes much bedder ?!

Win

Comment is about CHEESE (blog)

Original item by Mia Darlone

Thank-you for the cheese.
:-)
Cx

Comment is about CHEESE (blog)

Original item by Mia Darlone

sod off Tommy you've already read it twice.

Comment is about Happy...thingy...what's his name...? (blog)

Original item by Tommy Carroll

This is beautifully written Val. Through some fault in our human nature the majority of us will always question why, and the difficulty is finding the balance between the lessons ( be them good or bad ) of the past with living 'in' today and 'for' the future. We only get one chance at life - except for those who believe in re-incarnation, I suppose I should say that we only get one chance at 'this' life.

Very thoughtfully written Val, I really enjoyed it.
Nicky x

Comment is about Why (blog)

Original item by Valerie Cook

Thanks again everyone for your help ,its really appreciated.

Comment is about Why (blog)

Original item by Valerie Cook

Thanks very much for reading and commenting on 'Important'. Very much appreciated.
Cx

Comment is about stephen smith (poet profile)

Original item by stephen smith

Thanks Win!
Loved Paul's pictures of you on facebook - must get up north soon and see your act.
Hope you're well?
Cx

Comment is about Winston Plowes (poet profile)

Original item by Winston Plowes

Keep going , Joshua.This is great.You've got talent and courage to take on the powers that twist us.The purpose of Newspeak was to control thought by controlling language.I've just done a play on the theme of linguistic enslavement,called'Comfort'. Hope to stage it before Christmas.Steve Smith

Comment is about Texting (blog)

Original item by Joshua Van-Cook

You can't use the word 'belch' on here - this is a family website.

In fact, I am so outraged by your poem that I will threaten to delete myself from the site (until all my friends beg me not to).

Furthermore, I will kick in the screen of my computer, for good measure. Just as soon as I've posted this comment.

Comment is about (blog)

Original item by Tommy Carroll

Hi there,
Thanks for the comments on Growing Up - I think actually Palate Cleanser might be a better title!
Glad you're still listening to Phil Ochs - have a listen to some Leonard Cohen, 'The Future' is very interesting, he's an amazing poet.
Cynthia - I love the story about F.U.C.K, in the version I heard it was written over the stocks when adulterous women (never men) were put in, but sadly, I think, it is apocryphal, though its etymology is very vague.
Cx

Comment is about Joshua Van-Cook (poet profile)

Original item by Joshua Van-Cook

Reality and acceptance is abundant in you beautiful life and your very lovely poem Val.
Some interesting observations as to how we can turn our lives around by awareness of ourselves as well as others. :-)

Janet.x

Comment is about Why (blog)

Original item by Valerie Cook

Hi Mia, i remember this at the Green room slam.
Thoroughly enjoyed the performance and happy you posted it for the readers. Great poem.

Janet.x

Comment is about CHEESE (blog)

Original item by Mia Darlone

Hi cynthia, thanks for your comment on 'single malt', all criticism welcome - have left a comment on the blog. Really struggled with that piece, it was a rewrite of one I wrote 17 years ago - from a different perspective, you may prefer the other. I may blog it, to see if the re-write was an improvement or just self-indulgence on my part :-)

'The Painting' is fabulous! Represents how subjective Art really is. Enjoyed it.

Nicky x

Comment is about Cynthia Buell Thomas (poet profile)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

Hi Nicky, i've read this several times over.
It's very revealing as a kind of mirror image?

It gives me a very deep feeling of loneliness. To be able to connect with the loneliness of another person is a quality i both admire and aspire to. Though it isn't good to hold on to.

Not sure if any of this is autobiographical and certainly don't expect you to reveal if it is. It's just my observation. :-)

Janet.x

Comment is about Single Malt Rain (blog)

Original item by Nicky Burrows

Maybe I have re-worked this one too much Cynthia, appreceiate your comments. It's as much about the watcher as the watched - the alcoholic across the road that keeps to herself, and the watcher, who actually finds finds enjoyement in watching her as well as feeling shame in the addiction of watching, and finaly guilt at the fact that he watched but did nothing too help - maybe the self indulgence could be construed as the self indulgence of both parties present in the poem - I don't know. The 'single malt tears/rain represent alcohol addiction. I didn't think it was pretty when I constructed it. All criticism welcome :-) I struggled with this to try and retain the imagery and the emotions.

Nicky x

Comment is about Single Malt Rain (blog)

Original item by Nicky Burrows

The rhythm suffers a bit with the 'life's imperfections a realisation etc.'
How about - 'so we may find life's imperfections no counter foil for peace of mind'? Keeps rhythm and the word you must have liked 'foil' , and it's an interesting double negative to make a positive. Just a thought.

Comment is about Why (blog)

Original item by Valerie Cook

Very enjoyable. Can only imagine how it would go down a treat as performance.

Comment is about CHEESE (blog)

Original item by Mia Darlone

I'm trying to appreciate what you are trying to achieve with so many words, that wasn't quite clear within the first verse alone. For me, I find self-indulgence here - in prettiness, cleverness, lovely words etc.
I know about 'single malt' spirits, and their considered value above 'mixed malts'. Presumably, thus the singularity and value of anyone's personal problems. Please correct me if I'm off base.
I am expressing my view very boldly; I would quite expect some dissent.

Comment is about Single Malt Rain (blog)

Original item by Nicky Burrows

Anthony, thanks for your comments on 'Melt'. I wil probably be reading it tonight in Hebden Bridge, bit of a trek for you from Devon!

Comment is about Anthony Emmerson (poet profile)

Original item by Anthony Emmerson

Hi Nicky, thanks for the explanation of Pearl Stitch - very interesting. Also thanks for your comments on 'Melt' - I am glad people saw different things in it, largely different to what was in mind when it was written :-)

Comment is about Nicky Burrows (poet profile)

Original item by Nicky Burrows

:-) Never tire of hearing this, enjoyed it the other night at Royal Exchange. Any chance of sending that frog & bucket picture? My email address is on my profile.

Cheers (cheese)

John

Comment is about CHEESE (blog)

Original item by Mia Darlone

hi isobel;

good points over P.O.M. - I agree with you.. I must admit I haven't any of them in months and months - it seems to have gone off in a direction I don't like anyhow to the sort off poetry I don't read or particularly enjoy anyhow. Hope you are good! x

Comment is about Isobel (poet profile)

Original item by Isobel

Jackie
Nice poems. I like the light verse stuff, although you make strong points in them.
I especially like the more conventional rhythm and rhyme formats. It's the sort of thing I'm trying to do myself.
Put some more up.
John Coopey
John Coopey

Comment is about Jackie Juno (poet profile)

Original item by Jackie Juno

Hello Isabel
Many thanks for you comments on my submissions - I'm really new to this and feel like a fish out of water. Everybody seems to do such "weighty" stuff and mine's dead simple.
Anyway I checked out yours and I really like them both, especially "What's it all about?"
I look forward to more.
John Coopey

Comment is about Isobel (poet profile)

Original item by Isobel

I don't think it would be a good idea to put a replacement poem there Andy. Next month's poem was chosen months ago cos they work ahead. It was chosen by Ernesto, which is the way it works. I don't think I'll be bothering to comment on any POM again - tee hee - this one and the last one has really finished me off. I take your point that it is sad to lose any poet off the site - I am not sure that Ernesto would have stayed much beyond winning POM though - that seems to be the trend - has last month's winner posted anything beyond his winning poem? It is a great pity that POM has caused such a schism in the site though - amongst poets who are here for the long haul.

Comment is about Andy N (poet profile)

Original item by Andy N

I have left a reply on my blog for you if you have any further questions could we have a chat online?

Comment is about Cynthia Buell Thomas (poet profile)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

I guess Cynthia that i meant don't reject my advances, because I love you and want the best for you does come to mind! In my life I have been rejected alot I probably was a bit too full on however the ladies in question didn't have the guts to tell me they didn't like me in that way.

Comment is about Please love this naked heart (blog)

Original item by Daniel Hooks

Lovely. Just one quibble. I remember a school report of mine from many years ago, where the Woodwork teacher wrote, in perfect copperplate, that he 'wouldn't be sorry to be loosing' me next term.My father snorted with recognition of the sentiment...but did advise me that he had probably meant 'losing'. Otherwise...quite perfect.: )

Comment is about Why (blog)

Original item by Valerie Cook

Yes Cynthia & Andy the last line isn`t right, what if I changing it to this ? `So we may find life`s imperfections a realisation for peace of mind.`

Comment is about Why (blog)

Original item by Valerie Cook

Hi Nicky
I feel as if I'm sitting with you, looking through the window at this fast fading shadow of a woman.
I feel a bit guilty myself
Steve M.

Comment is about Single Malt Rain (blog)

Original item by Nicky Burrows

i agree with cynthia here.. do like it, Val too..

Comment is about Why (blog)

Original item by Valerie Cook

Hi Cynthia.
I used "foil" as a noun - To intensify or set off by contrast.
Yes I agree dissatisfied and sad does work better.. Thanks

Comment is about Why (blog)

Original item by Valerie Cook

This is excellent. It's not very subtle but it's so funny and deep that the poetry police will leave you alone. Don't worry about your oppressors!

Comment is about Stand and Deliver. (blog)

Hi Marianne

thanks for reading and commenting on Benllech Bay

steve x

Comment is about Marianne Daniels (poet profile)

Original item by Marianne Daniels

Daniel, you scare me a little...like 'the man doth protest too much'! What exactly do you mean:'Don't see through me'? As though I were invisible? Or - as though I am basically false? 'Like we should....' Pressure! Pressure! This could portray more the intent of emotional manipulation than real love. I am making an unbiased observation, not a judgment. Steve Regan's comments are completely his, and mine are mine. But I do wonder about the viewpoint of the male versus the female.

Comment is about Please love this naked heart (blog)

Original item by Daniel Hooks

Joshua, I don't think you should have to qualify your poem by explaining what it is, or what it is trying to do. A good poem speaks for itself. A background of circumstances is another thing entirely. One recent ' performance reader' spent four times longer explaining a poem than the poem itself - a five-liner, which just got lost in too much word 'stuff'.

Comment is about Losing interest (blog)

Original item by Joshua Van-Cook

This is weighty material. I personally like the last two verses as sufficient in themselves for expressing your idea very strongly. Honestly though, I'm a bit confused with the last climactic line. If I substitute 'frustration' for 'foil' (as I understand it) then it seems as though the idea is in reverse to your intent. I may be all up a tree. If so, ignore me.
One small note: in the last verse, it would be better to balance your parts of speech either to read 'we feel dissatisfaction and sadness' or 'we feel dissatisfied and sad'. It simply reads better.

Comment is about Why (blog)

Original item by Valerie Cook

Hi Steve - cd tis good...

my only bother though is the recording levels used - impacts on the quality of the listen

steve x

Comment is about Steven Waling (poet profile)

Original item by Steven Waling

Daniel You are correct: That poetry IS the key and this mind opens vistas...beautiful and otherwise...If this is a 'door' I and others enter...wonders upon wonders behove!...(well it Is a Sunday...)

Comment is about Introduction to my poetry (blog)

Original item by Daniel Hooks

Hi Neil!

Thanks for your comments! There's never a right way to give feedback to someone else so if you disagree with anything I say, that's cool cause what do I know anyway!? :-)

ok, with the disclaimer out of the way, I did like the poem you posted. I did think the last stanza was a bit clunky and didn't, for me at least, fit well with the rest of the work. Overall though, it was good and I can see the similarities between our two poems, which is what you were getting at, right? :-)

I'm cheery too but you wouldn't know it from my work! I just find angsty stuff easier to write! It's the teen/emo in me I think!

Comment is about What's The Point? (blog)

Original item by Steven Kenny

Hi Steven, I read 'What's the Point' with interest, and on further reading appreciated your other poems too, it resonates with me from my own experience and reminded me of something I wrote. I'd be interested to know what you think.

About Being

You stand alone
Or so it seems
And all that’s left
Are empty dreams
And broken promises

You worked hard
Like they said you should
And still you find
It’s done you no good
You achieve nothing

You knew your worth once
Thought yourself special
But your ego is destroyed
A crushed flower’s bruised petal
What can you do?

You go each day and labour
Satisfy material needs
And return each evening
To four walls and TV
There’s no one there

By the way, I am quite cheerful really :)

Comment is about What's The Point? (blog)

Original item by Steven Kenny

Ah, but have you remembered the crackers?

Comment is about CHEESE (blog)

Original item by Mia Darlone