Hi Neil,

Finally got here! Well, it's an ambitious piece, that's for sure! Kind of "Shakespeare meets The Lord of the Rings." I'm wondering what you would like your potential audience to take from this - i.e. the "message" of the piece? What were your influences in writing it and why did you choose this particular style? I'm a little hesitant to offer any depth of comment prior to having some understanding of your intentions. Enjoyable and different read though!

Regards,
A.E.

Comment is about Home Front (part 4) (blog)

Original item by Neil West

Hi Nicky. I'll be honest, I've hung around and around this poem trying to find the right words. I think it took tremendous courage to write and share them in the first place and I couldn't possibly think how writing that is so raw, powerful and emotive could be made to have any greater impact than it already does!

Comment is about The Poem That Should Never Have Been A Poem (blog)

Original item by Nicky Burrows

that has gotta be the longest poem off yours i have ever seen janet but it didn't flag.. good stuff!!

Comment is about Stand and Deliver. (blog)

good un - know both quite well!

Comment is about Driving about in London and Paris (blog)

Hi Emily.... I am with Steve (M) and Cynthis.I am with Michael but definately not Steve (B).With Maipenrai but Alvin's a distraction. When it comes to Graham I couldn't agree more. Win x

Comment is about he has a sleeping disease (blog)

Hi Tommy... Can't get my brain round what you are trying to do here? sorry. Definately a Marianne style (yet if I may say, a copy is only ever at best a copy). I am sure you have done this in jest yet the orig has dissapeared! Why? I will ask. Incidentally I was working at a party this weekend within view of the Heptonstall grave yard... Win

Comment is about relapse (blog)

Original item by Tommy Carroll

Ooops, that should have read ''Half a sixpence.''
(doh)

Comment is about Driving about in London and Paris (blog)

What's this about a revolt in Manchester?
(groan) :-)

I always enjoy your sonnets Antonionioni. Never been to Paris, i believe they shunt cars out of parking spaces there. Is this true?
As for London, well let's say, 'sing a song of sixpence.'' :-(
Oh well, one day maybe.

Janet.x

Comment is about Driving about in London and Paris (blog)

burgeoning in boredom for me. Yet looking back, young minds (and bodies) need time to grow. This is it for me. made me think . Liked
Win

Comment is about Sweet Sixteen (blog)

Hi Win
Glad it raised a smile. It's a good job for nature to provide us with the absurd.
Hopefully see you around
Steve M.

Comment is about Winston Plowes (poet profile)

Original item by Winston Plowes

I enjoyed the use of older language in this too.
I think from the first image and idea of a woman in clothing of a different era carries the language used through towards the imagery of soldiers dress very nicely.

Have to admit it took me a while to pluck up the time to start reading such a long piece but happy i did. Will try to read the next edition tomorrow. A good story.

Janet.x

Comment is about Home Front (part 1) (blog)

Original item by Neil West

Hi Debz
I'm with you kid
Steve M.

Comment is about Endless (blog)

Original item by Deborah Jordan Bailey

Hi Cate
Glad it brought a smile.
Again, loved your story of the Pumps. My humour only comes in short bursts (old age)
Steve M.

Comment is about Cate (poet profile)

Original item by Cate

Hi Cynthia
Thanks for your comment, it's much appreciated.
I manage to squeeze out a little something silly every now and then. From where? who knows.

Comment is about Cynthia Buell Thomas (poet profile)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

Hi again, in fact I am tempted to retitle it as "The Power of a Touch" now. Win x

Comment is about Endless (blog)

Original item by Deborah Jordan Bailey

The best poetry says most in the least words. Charming work but Im afraid the title spoilt it a little. Well done Emily.

Comment is about he has a sleeping disease (blog)

Hi Deborah, Thank you for sending us all the flowers. You are right of course, the slightest touch can change things. Feeling a bit spooked as I wrote a piece last night and called it "The Touch" maybe I will post it. Win x

Comment is about Endless (blog)

Original item by Deborah Jordan Bailey

I totally agree Deb...
Beautiful... Merci : )

Comment is about Endless (blog)

Original item by Deborah Jordan Bailey

If you have a sleepy but badly behaved dog

he wakes next to me
and touches me
i'm here i say
don't worry
sheep

Comment is about he has a sleeping disease (blog)

by this I mean myself, i often underestimate this power and I wanted to say thank you to everyone for the lovely and supportive comments you have written to me these last months. thank you.deb : )

Comment is about Endless (blog)

Original item by Deborah Jordan Bailey

liked this Emily.
Bernie

Comment is about he has a sleeping disease (blog)

Hi Anthony... Great descriptive piece. does exactly what it says on the tin. Lovely. Win

Comment is about Anthony Emmerson (poet profile)

Original item by Anthony Emmerson

Liked this Janet, appeals to my sense of humour, as one who as done the grand total of two , yes folks thats right, two spots in total I am still at the stage where I need notes , unless of course they are three or four lines only.
Bernie

Comment is about Stand and Deliver. (blog)

This is excellent Neil, as for the "out dated language" I think the use of it makes this piece so special.
Bernie

Comment is about Home Front (part 1) (blog)

Original item by Neil West

Hi Isobel, Glad you liked "On meeting a poet", and found you could make your own interpretation and be happy with that. Thx for commenting. see you soon. win x.

Comment is about Isobel (poet profile)

Original item by Isobel

Hi Steve... Loved this little gem. Great stuff
Win

Comment is about Well Shod (blog)

an underground poetry group!!!
will it be truly revolting!!!!!!

Comment is about Driving about in London and Paris (blog)

http://www.songlyrics.com/radiohead/weird-fishes-lyrics/

Hi Cate

here's your starting point : )

steve x

Comment is about Cate (poet profile)

Original item by Cate

A fun poem Janet - would agree with Cate - the Tudor will love it! Some people manage to forget their lines with style though- Alan Grey never seems to get ruffled - and a few others I could mention. Unlike me who just curls up and dies at the slightest unexpected hurdle. Keep meaning to have another bash at remembering .. maybe next year.

Comment is about Stand and Deliver. (blog)

Love this one John. You are talking about what is left once all the fluff of romance has gone, the essential core of a successful long term relationship. Too few of us manage to find this kind of love.
Janet - how lucky are you - I gave up bathing a long time ago - I have to settle for showers - and not even golden ones....

Comment is about Love Isn't.... (blog)

Thanks Steve, glad you liked it.
Bernie

Comment is about Sweet Sixteen (blog)

I always enjoy reading your work. The narrator's part is so beautiful and sad and really draws you into the poem straight away. I'm looking forward to reading the next instalment.

Jessie

Comment is about Home Front (part 1) (blog)

Original item by Neil West

Janet thanks for your comments.
Bernie

Comment is about Sweet Sixteen (blog)

Thankyou for all your comments, they mean a lot as i enjoy your work so much. Thank you for all the encouragement!

jessie

Comment is about Andy N (poet profile)

Original item by Andy N

I didn't spot the Petrarchan sonnet for looking at the architecture in the driving mirror...

And the phone number of the booth is...?

Comment is about Driving about in London and Paris (blog)

Hi Anthony, so nice to see you posting again! Thanks for your lovely comment on Eer Olives Pumps. I love Lancashire dialect. Its dying out somewhat now with the closing of the mines and mills, but the older generation still use it in rural areas, and I find it a fascinating legacy of how Wigan used to be. I have written a few more dialect ones which might get an airing up here in time, so watch this space!!!
Cate xx

Comment is about Anthony Emmerson (poet profile)

Original item by Anthony Emmerson

Greetings Cynthia, thanks for the comment on Eer Olives Pumps, and for always taking time to read my stuff. Much appreciated.
Cate xx

Comment is about Cynthia Buell Thomas (poet profile)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

Greetings Neil, thanks for the comment on Eer Olives Pumps, I love humerous poetry, its much underated! Yes I suppose technology has moved on somewhat, but in my area "parent power" seems to have come full circle, and we had to have locks put on the classroom outside doors to stop parents coming in and berating us!!
Cate xx

Comment is about Neil West (poet profile)

Original item by Neil West

I enjoyed your take on love...
Nice to see it from a man's point of view,
BUT...
I NEED LOTS OF ROMANCE ; )

Comment is about Love Isn't.... (blog)

Greetings Dave, thanks for the comment on Eer Olives Pumps. Have a good holiday and see you sometime at the Tudor.
Cate xx

Comment is about Dave Bradley (poet profile)

Original item by Dave Bradley

Hi Mary, I so love this.... I used to have an Arab horse and she was a flier. One of my best memories ever was galloping along Ainsdale beach from Southport at the edge of the sea. Or doing cross country through the fields and over Ashurst Beacon... sheer magic!!Cate xx

Comment is about Dappled Horse (blog)

Hi Janet, short and pithy. Nice one!
Cate xx

Comment is about No Title. (blog)

How nice to see you back Anthony, weve not heard from you for a while.... and in such fine form too. Your clever use of imagery and language is always a joy to read.
Cate xx

Comment is about Beyond the Equinox (blog)

Original item by Anthony Emmerson

Only spent a day in London, but know Paris oh so well...
Yes, London seemed chaotic, and Paris has straight lines and elegance : )

Ok... So Manchester Town Hall next Wednesday at 7pm...

Comment is about Driving about in London and Paris (blog)

Thanks for your comment on 'It's hard to be a mum' Winston. The women love the poem, some men don't like the swearing - what does that tell me? Women know exactly to the knuckle where I am coming from, understand the frustration and the swearing....I guess sometimes you have to have walked the same line to really empathise. I am grateful for your comments though - they are honest and I like that. x

Comment is about Winston Plowes (poet profile)

Original item by Winston Plowes

Lovely! I think your wedding day is always a magical memory, even if things go wrong later on.... its something that you would never change.
Cate xx

Comment is about Happy is the Bride on Whom the Sun Shines (blog)

Original item by Neil West

Very amusing Steve..... like it!!
Cate xx

Comment is about Well Shod (blog)

Wow... sock it to them Janet! Id love to see this performed at the tudor!!
Cate xx

Comment is about Stand and Deliver. (blog)

Love might be all this for you John, {and Im not refuting its a huge part,} but we ladies do like a bit of romance too, and we feel cheated when we are deprived of it!! So be warned!!!!!
Cate xx

Comment is about Love Isn't.... (blog)

A little perfection.. I too love 'pared-down' poems that really work, like this.. American anthologies would love it too.

Michael

Comment is about he has a sleeping disease (blog)