Great stuff, only you could write this!

I'm moving on to February now, see you soon Jeff X

Comment is about Marilyn (blog)

Hi Melissa, do I sense you turning a corner? Hope so, nicely thoughtfully written Jeff X

ps thanks for comments

Comment is about Chapter's End (blog)

I was really sad to hear this news. Jeff was a lovely fella and it was always nice to see him and to hear his poetry at WOL.

My very best wishes go to Darren and all of Jeff's family and friends.

Comment is about Jeff Whitehead (article)

Great stuff, you had me fooled though when I saw you dressed to kill, good read Jeff X

Comment is about recipricol interview with a tranny (blog)

Great stuff Rod, see you soon, Jeff

Comment is about La Carrière des Fusillés (blog)

Original item by Rod Whitworth

Brilliant Dan, up and at 'em love it, Jeff

Comment is about Revolutionary road (blog)

Original item by Daniel Hooks

Hi Belinda, just catching up, hope all well with you in the far east!

Like the others really enjoyed this idea and poem, Jeff X

Comment is about Monday morning blues (blog)

Original item by Belinda

Hi Dan

I don't believe it, I hadn't seen this when I just wrote my last comment as I'm catching up with stuff!!

You've re-written it though as I thought it would be best, not really rhyming but listing the qualities of poetry writing!!

Nice one, psychic Jeffarama!

Comment is about This poet bleeds ink (blog)

Original item by Daniel Hooks

Hi Daniel

Interesting concept and like the like as Janet did. Think you should develop it but decide whether or not it should rhyme or be a list of statements about what poetry does, look forward to final version! cheers Jeff

Comment is about I am a poet I bleed ink (draft) (blog)

Original item by Daniel Hooks

Hi Seamus, very sad but great tribute - loved the lines -

Inside she struggles
Stresses and worries
Insecurity, plagues her like locusts
Eating confidence, consuming spirit

see ya soon, Jeff

Comment is about Not Like the Rest (blog)

Original item by Seamus Kelly

Great stuff pleased to see I'm tenth!!

I'm a bit behind and just read all December! I'm still catching up as I've just read this!

I may be challenging for a place in Europe next time you do this!! Cheers Jeff

Comment is about Top Twenty Users (blog)

Hi Pete, I'm glad I backtracked or I would have missed your marvellous piece of work. Proud yes, but brave too and your humility is just one of your best assets.

Your enthusiasm and encouragement that you give me to write from the heart is never forgotten, thanks and see you soon mate, Jeff

Comment is about Plastic Sheet (neatly folded for Dee) (blog)

Hi Carol, just catching up, very poignant, has a lot of feeling in just a few lines, great stuff, Jeff X

Comment is about Death will come (blog)

Original item by Carol Falaki

Hi Len, just catching up! I've been to the Gambia and this took me gap, very nice!

Did you see my poem in Nov about Lisbon, diff country, similar sentiments, best wishes Jeff

Comment is about In My Mind (blog)

Original item by Lenford White

Brilliant LDM, wish I had written it! Jeff X

Comment is about The gracing grip of day (blog)

Jeff was always really supportive and I admired the work he had done with youngsters as well as his poetry. We'll all miss him. My sincere sympathies to Darren and his family.

Comment is about Jeff Whitehead (article)

If you have nothing to say, I honestly don't think there is any point in writing at all. The whole point of writing is to communicate.

Comment is about Asylum Seeking Daleks (article)

Interesting poem, I like the style, very nice :)

Comment is about Memory Dim (blog)

Original item by Mike S.

I like coffee and cheesecake, I might try the two together :) Nice poetry, I especially like 'Control' very well written.

Comment is about Matt Charnock (poet profile)

Original item by Matt Charnock

We can remember him only that he has gone.
Or we can cherish his memory and let it live on.
Jeff Whitehead will be sadly missed.
Deepest Sympathy to the family and friends he loved.

Comment is about Jeff Whitehead (article)

Rodney these monsters come from no where in the sea off Western Australia. Thnak for your comment

Comment is about Paradise (blog)

Original item by Valerie Cook

Hello! Thank you for the comment on my poem, I really like your poetry, will be commenting shortly !
x

Comment is about Valerie Cook (poet profile)

Original item by Valerie Cook

It is true that you don't tell people what to think in the unintelligible drivel that you call poetry Steven, but you are more than happy to lecture everyone about the type of politics they should have and how stupid and unread they are in your contributions to internet discussion.

Comment is about Asylum Seeking Daleks (article)

Thanks Rodney. You think I should ? Hang on a minute, I've just got used to sending email !
I wouldn't have a clue how to go about it -but will investigate -another string to my bow. Bill Kelly.

Comment is about Rodney Wood (poet profile)

Original item by Rodney Wood

There are plenty of these emperors around Bill. I would include Eliot, Pound and a lot of media pundits among them. More of us ought to be tweaking their dangly bits in my opinion.
Steve
"I don't know. I think The Waste Land is a mess of a poem - some of it great, some of it just about okay, some of it fucking unreadable - but I wouldn't dismiss it entirely."
I don't dismiss it entirely. I like the sound of some of it and it has a value for that. I don't think it has a value as comment on modern life of the 1920's or anything else that is claimed for it.

"In my opinion, it's one of those works where it's more important what it does rather than what it means. It's deliberately provocative. It's looking for a response. I think its subsequent merits as a poem, because of that, are down to what the reader brings to it."
I agree that Eliot liked to provoke, but it is mostly about him showing off. I think that the response he was looking for mostly was 'isn't that Mr Eliot a terrribly clever man'. What does it do? I don't know what you mean by the poem having merit by what the reader brings to it.

"I also couldn't give a monkeys whether any poet (especially a canonical poet) was a nice/nasty person - unless their poetry advocates/incites hatred, bigotry, violence or a tolerance for the "comedy" of Jim Davidson. But then that's not the sort of poetry I'd want to read in the first place."
A great artist doesn't have to be a nice person. We can certainly appreciate the art and ignore the human failings or even be unaware of them. In the case of Eliot, his writing is run through with his hatred of women, Jews and anybody who he considered to be inferior (which was most people). Sadly, modern transcribers have edited most of this out in an effort to preserve what they want of his work. I don't agree with sanitising people and things in this way.

"As for Mervin Bagg and his chin-stroking chums... Well, the former pissed away most of his credibility years ago. It's important to have experts who can document and act as custodians to art and literature, but that doesn't necessarily make their opinions right."
No they are not necessarily right. I didn't agree with anybody on Bragg's programme, but then I don't agree with many people about anything. Maybe Eliot would have liked me! Despite my drunken lifestyle and proletarian origins I am an accredited Chinny Winny as will be confirmed by the most beautiful of WoL members.

Comment is about The Waste Land - T S Eliot (blog)

Original item by Malpoet

This was almost very good. But I couldn't reconcile the waves pummeling the shore and them gently lapping at your breast. Overall it could be tighter.

Comment is about Paradise (blog)

Original item by Valerie Cook

Hello, I read your poem...and listened, "all things pass as does time" I think its brilliant! The comparisons are really well put throughout the poem, I shall be reading more. Nice work :)

Comment is about Tomás Ó Cárthaigh (poet profile)

Original item by Tomás Ó Cárthaigh

My deepest sympathies to Darren and the rest of Jeff's family.

The poetry community's thoughts are with you at this sad time.

A top bloke and poet, Jeff will be sorely missed.

Comment is about Jeff Whitehead (article)

hi, loved your poem, so powerful. x

Comment is about Estelle Zaire (poet profile)

Original item by Estelle Zaire

Hi Mal

I don't know. I think The Waste Land is a mess of a poem - some of it great, some of it just about okay, some of it fucking unreadable - but I wouldn't dismiss it entirely.

In my opinion, it's one of those works where it's more important what it does rather than what it means. It's deliberately provocative. It's looking for a response. I think its subsequent merits as a poem, because of that, are down to what the reader brings to it.

I also couldn't give a monkeys whether any poet (especially a canonical poet) was a nice/nasty person - unless their poetry advocates/incites hatred, bigotry, violence or a tolerance for the "comedy" of Jim Davidson. But then that's not the sort of poetry I'd want to read in the first place.

As for Mervin Bagg and his chin-stroking chums... Well, the former pissed away most of his credibility years ago. It's important to have experts who can document and act as custodians to art and literature, but that doesn't necessarily make their opinions right.

Good bit of polemic by the way, Mal. You should write more of this stuff.

Steve

Comment is about The Waste Land - T S Eliot (blog)

Original item by Malpoet

I do not know The Wasteland, but I heard the radio prog.
Three terms which come to mind having heard some of the participants are;
'emperors-new clothesism',
'obscurantism', and
'bullshit-syndrome'. Bill Kelly.

Comment is about The Waste Land - T S Eliot (blog)

Original item by Malpoet

I'm sure it is written with passion - so are some of the best sermons (Martin Luther King was pretty good at 'em.)

It's still basically about telling people what to think, though. The Poet as Preacher. Which is fine, if you've got something to say, say it loud and say it proud.

Me, I just listen in to the voices and write down what they say. I wish I had your certainties.

Comment is about Asylum Seeking Daleks (article)

Hi Winston

thanks again for reading and commenting on my work : )

i think this works as a page poem and not reallly a performance piece?

Comment is about Winston Plowes (poet profile)

Original item by Winston Plowes

Well, Steven, in the 3 years and about 300 gigs since I wrote it a lot of people have cheered and applauded, some have sat there in stony silence, a few have shouted abuse and two have threatened me with physical violence.
It's not a sermon, it's what I feel, it's called PASSION!!

Go back to your garret. It's nice and comfortable, I'm sure, and no-one's going to have a go at you except on the internet, mainly anonymously. And that doesn't count.
Do you play chess?

Cheers,
A

Comment is about Asylum Seeking Daleks (article)

Hi Winston,
Thanks for listening to 'Confetti' & leaving a comment. Sent you an email about Hebden Bridge - did you get it?
Cx

Comment is about Winston Plowes (poet profile)

Original item by Winston Plowes

I love the images , the idea of lying in the shallows - all so gentle ..then the overwhelming power of the waves and the sense of giving yourself up to the ebb and flow ...just wonderful. sian x

Comment is about Paradise (blog)

Original item by Valerie Cook

Hmm Hi Chris
I like the content and many of the words you have chosen, I also like the rhythm and story and end. Cant help stuggling with the rhyming which was so strong that it drew me away from concentrating on the meaning of the words. Winston

Comment is about Hyde and seek (blog)

Original item by Christopher Dawson

Hi Pete having worked in the Community Mental Health field quite a while ago I can really identify with the very stark character images in your piece. Particularly the depiction of thought processes that the character has was very accurate. Working in the community meant that I only ever saw clients on a voluntary basis but many of them had been through horrendous experiences during their 'stay' in hospital and the word "compliance" a term that Mike refers to is certainly a term that I was well aware of and was loaded with undertones of control and management. Quite frightening that people with mental health needs can become so lost in a system apparently designed to help them. sian x

Comment is about Dreams of Leaving (got to get out) (blog)

Hi Steve

Thank for reading and your coments re- Decree Nisi, most appreciated.

Winston

Comment is about Steve O'Connor (poet profile)

Original item by Steve O'Connor

Photographs by Seamus Kelly www.shaysart.co.uk
If anyone wants a full size copy of their image Seamus will be happy to email it to them if they contact him on mail@shaysart.co.uk

Comment is about Dave Makin turns up unexpectedly at the Old Boar's Head, Middleton February 2009 (photo)

Very good example of the Poem As Sermon. Has it converted anyone yet?

Comment is about Asylum Seeking Daleks (article)

This poem is about a certain dark force ive been battling within my 'family' home.

Comment is about Exposing the real foe (blog)

Hi Winston

Cheers for your comment on my Snow Marilyn poem - as for 'a' or 'as' - I'm not sure yet.

Love Decree Nisi. Great poem. Odd question, but is it a song? It looks and reads as quite lyrical - and I haven't seen you perform so I don't know.

Just read through the comments - it's not an odd question, is it?

"The metallic taste of sin
Embroidered with rust red thread"

are great lines - very rich and powerful. It's an image that delivers on many levels.

I also like how the poem builds in momentum from the fourth stanza. There's an intensity to it and your use of repetition only adds to it making it that more engaging.

Good stuff.

Steve

Comment is about Winston Plowes (poet profile)

Original item by Winston Plowes

Very moving Mike,I feel the sadness and see the tears.

Comment is about Sprinkle (blog)

Original item by Noetic-fret!

Hi Sian

Many thanks for your comment on my Snow Marilyn poem.

Like Graham & Darren I enjoyed the sense of (rather unsettling) ambiguity you present in this poem. Tricky to do given that it's in the first person - it doesn't delineate explicitly - instead we have to fathom the scene out ourselves.

It's an intelligent and heartfelt poem. Good stuff.

Steve

Comment is about Empty (blog)

Original item by sian howell

Good work Mike.I agree with Pete your the man.

Comment is about Noel Hill (blog)

Original item by Noetic-fret!

I enjoyed this poem Phil,thanks

Comment is about Noah’s Arc (blog)

Original item by Phil Golding

Clever work Rod. I love reading your poem out loud its a unique linguistic exercise.

Comment is about Cooking the book (blog)

Original item by Rod Whitworth

Wish it was happening in PERTH, Western Australia - I would sooooooooo enjoy listening to Jimmy - the writer of CRACKER!

Comment is about Scriptwriting masterclasses with Jimmy McGovern and David Nobbs (article)