Hi Belinda, a nice evocation of nice times by the seaside. Oysters, I love 'em. I used to work in Colchester and Whitstable - which are both big oyster towns

Comment is about Oysters (blog)

Original item by Belinda

Thanks Carol, I just wish I had taken the time to write something more conventional, but then, perhaps, I might have failed to get my point across -which is probably a reflection on my poetry skills? And you are right, we are all part of it. I like your plea for Burma, short and to the point.

Comment is about Carol Falaki (poet profile)

Original item by Carol Falaki

Hi Sian,
And firstly, thanks for your generous comment on "The Gift."
Liked this very much, there are observations that all of us will identify with here (or at least those of us who have ever cast off our armour in the cause of love.) I echo Winston's comments re favourite lines. Maybe we need to keep those hurtful memories as reminders not to repeat our mistakes, although I have to admit, the technique has never worked for me! Clever, pithy, true. Good work.
Regards,
A.E.

Comment is about Loose Ends (blog)

Original item by sian howell

Hi Carol,
So true. But you're lucky to have a suitcase. I seem to have degenerated into armfuls of frayed and ragged carrier bags. Must remember to recycle.
Regards,
A.E.

Comment is about Head-case (blog)

Original item by Carol Falaki

It was lovely of you to say so

Many thanks for that Sian
Gus x

Comment is about sian howell (poet profile)

Original item by sian howell

Hi Antonionioni,
Some neat links and undercurrents in here - blink and you miss them! Thoughtfully constructed and cerebral; like others have said makes you think, a prerequisite for interesting writing.
Regards,
A.E.

Comment is about Barbarossa v Barbarella (blog)

Yes, I was never a an old Tom but she was a bit of a hell cat as I recall...happy days!

Comment is about Winston Plowes (poet profile)

Original item by Winston Plowes

Crikey Sian, this is an awkward piece of work to get into. I understand the pain from reading it. I get the plaintive requests and the sheer anticipation of arriving somewhere better. The final statement is a flash of defiance, but sounds half-hearted? Anyway a thinking work for sure. Always good to read your work. Graham.

Comment is about Loose Ends (blog)

Original item by sian howell

“We come spinning out of nothingness, scattering stars like dust”
Jalal ad-Din Rumi quote

“We all of us deserve happiness or none of us does”
Mary Gordon

"Happiness always looks small while you hold it in your hands, but let it go, and you learn at once how big and precious it is." Maxim Gorky

"Follow the stream, have faith in its course. It will go its own way, meandering here, trickling there. It will find the grooves, the cracks, the crevices. Just follow it. Never let it out of your sight. It will take you...".Sheng-yen.

You are good enough to live and be happy.
Deb xx

Comment is about NOT GOOD ENOUGH. (blog)

Thanks Christine and Sian.
This is an old one I found in the loft along with a whole bunch of poems I wrote years ago and forgot about.
I still can't close the lid though, nothing changes.

Comment is about Head-case (blog)

Original item by Carol Falaki

Thanks Sian, I've not done any audios, but I might just give it a go.

Comment is about Matching Pairs (blog)

Original item by Carol Falaki

Absolutely! - and to add insult to injury they always slap a label on mine saying 'Heavy load - bend knees when lifting'.
:)
Cx

Comment is about Head-case (blog)

Original item by Carol Falaki

Interesting, and very different. Felt the reading would've benefitted from a change of pace at some point.
Cx

Comment is about Barbarossa v Barbarella (blog)

Great piece , very enjoyable read. Have you thought to do an audio with this one, I bet it would sound great. Sian X

Comment is about Matching Pairs (blog)

Original item by Carol Falaki

I know just what you mean. Sian x

Comment is about Head-case (blog)

Original item by Carol Falaki

Absolutely loved it. Liked the song too.
Cx

Comment is about home is where the heart is, ain't that what they always say? (blog)

Really liked this,
Cx

Comment is about The Gift (blog)

Original item by Anthony Emmerson

Very good,
Cx

Comment is about And next tonight... (blog)

Original item by Mike S.

Hi Winston, Thanks for readin & commenting on 'A Poem' - your opinion is always welcome. And as I've been poorly this week and am feeling very sorry for myself, your kind remarks are doubly appreciated.
Cx

Comment is about Winston Plowes (poet profile)

Original item by Winston Plowes

Loved this,
Cx

Comment is about Phoenix (blog)

Original item by Anthony Emmerson

thanks for reading and commenting Sian ,
yeah sometimes poetry surprises me in its anger when i write it down

Comment is about sian howell (poet profile)

Original item by sian howell

The amazing George Szirtes steered me towards this site as a result of his publicising his Bloodaxe Newcastle gigs, and I am mightily impressed - your poem cries out to be read aloud with so rollicking a rhythm - Well Done!!!

Comment is about The Greatest Gig Of All (article)

Hmmm, you know memories can hurt us, taint us, particulalry if they are of previous relationships. But these days, speaking personally, I find my memories are faded and indistinct. I actually miss the pain of sharp memories that used to pop up from nowhere at unfortunate times. Lovely piece, Sian, and made me remember you previous posting, banana boxes, I think it was called.

Comment is about Loose Ends (blog)

Original item by sian howell

oh dominic,
i was hoping you'd have that aubergine-y one posted up here-
because what i reeeeeally want to know is....
whats been really bugging me is....
is it 'oh l'amore' or 'oh la mort' ???
i dont think i will sleep soundly until you tell me!
sally xx

Comment is about Dominic Berry (poet profile)

Original item by Dominic Berry

Thank you for your kind words Steve...
very much appreciated.

Comment is about Steve Regan (poet profile)

Original item by Steve Regan

great line ..I often explode in loneliness, I can identify with that feeling. That line seemed to underpin the poem - the sense of a need for love and yet held back by a regard for what can be the grim hidden reality of relationships. I speak from experience Sian X

Comment is about Despising of the happy (blog)

Very good Steve, particularly being able to inspire such interest in a subject matter that may otherwise be overlooked. Sian X

Comment is about Fresh (blog)

Original item by Steve O'Connor

Hi Ant . I've had week off and it was good to come back to the site and see what others are doing. Loved your latest offering. Very different in its approach , kept me on my toes and made me pay attention. Great stuff. Sian X

Comment is about Barbarossa v Barbarella (blog)

you always have so much to say about violence and conflict and it is always thought provoking and stunning in its portrayal. Sian x

Comment is about A Simple Case of Child Hate (blog)

Original item by Noetic-fret!

I really like this poem.
All of it, right down to the devils seed.
I think it's a perfect example of parental love and care and to me, the devils seed is the kind of life a teenager leads in modern society but is the parents nightmare.

Janet.x

Comment is about An Angel's Calling (blog)

Original item by Christopher Dawson

Well Antonionionio,
Oh!
Hm!
Let me read it one more time. Then listen to it again.

Haven't seen or heard you for a while so i had to try to adapt to your new way of doing things.
Actually, i quite like it i think. It's certainly different. All power to Barbarella!

Incidentally, have you been to the nightclub of the same name ?
Not many ice maidens in there from what i hear.
sorry, don't know if i'm allowed to say where it is.

Janet.x

Comment is about Barbarossa v Barbarella (blog)

Hi Steve,
thanks for your comments on my profile poems.
I wrote them ages ago and blogged them at the time. Occasionally, i post some old stuff to change the look of my profile.
There are so many new poets here now though, i could probably get away with blogging an odd one now and then.
The book poem was once used as a philosophy. With the idea of a life being like an open book or in this case, a fallen one. Also in the literal sense of having to pick it up out of some sense of curiosity or to find some deep meaning message in it. :-)

You're welcome to my encouraging comments, although i doubt you really need them. You seem to be very well versed in the art of writing anyway but it's always nice when it's appreciated.

Janet.x

Comment is about Steve Regan (poet profile)

Original item by Steve Regan

Hi Neil, Liked this.
Singe your mind, great
Winston.

Comment is about Telescope (blog)

Original item by Neil Francis Brooks

Nice one Neil. God plays the piano ... worra gorgeous image.

Comment is about Telescope (blog)

Original item by Neil Francis Brooks

Aw, how sweet and so very spiritual.

Janet.x

Comment is about RAY (blog)

I'd have to disagree with the dying breed bit.
Definitely not on the verge of extinction.
There are more around than you think.

Janet.x

Comment is about SHANE ALEXANDER STANISAUSKIS (blog)

These memories forced upon me, intrusive, unwanted. Not even mine.
Those words and the fash-back at the beginning reminded me of a time when all i wanted was to be lifted up high out of this world, and i was.
The re-discovery was very enlightening. :-)

Nice one Sian.
Janet.x

Comment is about Loose Ends (blog)

Original item by sian howell

Oh no it isn't :-)

Sorry. Couldn't resist it.
Love the dreams.
Janet.x

Comment is about Telescope (blog)

Original item by Neil Francis Brooks

From the first line this gripped me. some great words in there

Memory scenes,
they blink and flicker.
Like spikes

stung

...with spite and salt.
Is it too much to ask
for a small slice of nice

are my favouites, you seen to have changed gear with this piece.

Winston

Comment is about Loose Ends (blog)

Original item by sian howell

This is written with such candor...
one can relate to this so well...

Make these words your mantra ; )


'I want to take back - me,

or what's left of me

and start to build something strong'

Comment is about Loose Ends (blog)

Original item by sian howell

as always you hit the mark and give a indepth insight into a difficult subject. Sian x

Comment is about finding the strength to leave (blog)

thank you Sian : )) Deb x

Comment is about sian howell (poet profile)

Original item by sian howell

Hh wow, how this evokes such an element of inheritance and shared history. Simply lovely. Sian x

Comment is about The Gift (blog)

Original item by Anthony Emmerson

Cheers Mike, appreciated.

I felt here that men would be 'devils' to nearly all fathers in such a circumstance.

Comment is about An Angel's Calling (blog)

Original item by Christopher Dawson

Thanks for your kind comment, Steve. Funny you should mention that song, as I did pretty much walk behind him when I married him, but was walking well in front if him when I divorced him some months later!

I learned a valuable lesson; first love is more romantic in memory than reality! LOL

I wrote that poem in my late teens; I can barely remember the feelings anymore unless I re read it! The past is another country; they do things differently there...

Comment is about Steve Regan (poet profile)

Original item by Steve Regan

Thanks Chris

For the comments re How The Days Go By...

Haven't grabbed anyone in long enough..
Thanks again
Gus

Comment is about Christopher Dawson (poet profile)

Original item by Christopher Dawson

I enjoyed this. I remember when very few people indeed had colour sets. Only posh folk such as doctors and guest house landladies in Blackpool had "coloured tellies", as they were called in those days. Most of us were so poor in Wigan back then we couldn't afford shoes to eat never mind coloured tellies.

Comment is about Our first colour TV (blog)

oh, here's The Song, if anyone fancies a gander...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yvAbusE1veU

xx

Comment is about home is where the heart is, ain't that what they always say? (blog)

Hey mike! Thank you for your kind words on my poems...! Im loving this poem it says so much about the current climate i read this poem from the point of view that you are condeming these kids desire to be gangsters? Am i right? And their desire to be like some of todays 'role models'? Either way its a good read and its spot on....Bless...

Comment is about A Simple Case of Child Hate (blog)

Original item by Noetic-fret!

I like this poem chris. Not sure about the devils seed bit. it seems to infere that men are but the devil. Just wondered is all. Nice poem though
mike

Comment is about An Angel's Calling (blog)

Original item by Christopher Dawson