Hi Alison, this was well worth waiting for!

Such lovely words and feelings portrayed, I felt myself drifitng on that boat! Jeff X

Comment is about Words (blog)

Original item by Alison Mary Dunn

Hi Anthony,
thanks for commenting on my haiku.

As to your poem, silent critic. I can relate to cyber bullying, not from personal experience but because of someone on another site i'm involved with completely unconnected to poetry.
She constantly tells everyone at every opportunity about her cyber enemies, writing reams of text. I'm aware this kind of thing happens and not only in cyberspace.

Janet :-) x

Comment is about Anthony Emmerson (poet profile)

Original item by Anthony Emmerson

Hi Deborah, fantastic - love this -

Sugar glass
cracks and breaks,
painless,
inconsequential,
unreal
the illusions I cling to,
when you’re not there.

Sounds like your world will smash any minute, great poem, Jeff X

Comment is about Fragile (blog)

Original item by Deborah Jordan Bailey

HI Paul, Is this THE list ?

Comment is about More Stats (blog)

I feel your pain man!
A very passionate and angry poem!

Comment is about Losing Control (blog)

Original item by Joshua Van-Cook

Hi Jeff,

Good to see I caught your eye whilst you were catching up. Glad you enjoyed it.

Comment is about Jeffarama! (poet profile)

Original item by Jeffarama!

Hello Bill, first time I've seen your blog. So, you're retired. So am I; I got tired of working, then I got tired again, and again and again!
keep it coming Bill, I like your Weapon on the wall. I've had a read of Percy's pony, or is that War and Peace? I think I'll have to take it a bit at a time, I've got the attention span of a butterfly! see you Bill Kelly.

Comment is about Bill Brierley (poet profile)

Original item by Bill Brierley

Comment is about Bill Brierley (poet profile)

Original item by Bill Brierley

There I was, gone, plastered. oooo it's all coming back to haunt me now.

Comment is about Nat Clare outside the "Phoenix Nights Club" Farnworth Festival July 2007 (photo)

Hi Anthony...told your face would stay like that!


Serious note... Silent Critic...Superb, stark like a crack of a whip!
Well Done.
Gus

Comment is about Silent Critic (blog)

Original item by Anthony Emmerson

Hi Winston,
thanks for your Haiku reply.
It was really luverly! :-)
Janet.x

Comment is about Winston Plowes (poet profile)

Original item by Winston Plowes

Thanks, Clarissa and Janet. I thought seriously about using the actual symbols (actually, not 'seriously', this isn't a serious poem) and it would read the same when I performed it. But I thought it makes it slightly more cryptic this way when read on the page. Also, the poem is a sort of protest against glib emotional symbolism - I have never typed one in my life, and I'm not about to start now. :-)

Comment is about Emoticontext (blog)

Original item by Simon Rennie

Winston,
you'll be pleased to hear that Sweden has moved up to 11th place in 2009s stats

Comment is about More Stats (blog)

Oh dear, i must remember to watch my p's and queues.
:-)

Comment is about More Stats (blog)

Hi Daniel, methinks you worked hard on this one and it was time well spent in my humble opinion. The experience of love in all its glory.

Love Janet.x

Comment is about The A-Z of love (blog)

Original item by Daniel Hooks

Come on Sweeden...

Comment is about More Stats (blog)

excellent

Comment is about More Stats (blog)

To reply to Nabila, I think breaking down of stereotypes has to happen in stages - and one of the most important stages is to show up the nonsense and absurdity of the bigoted position for what it is. For me, this poem does the job just right. It's not the end of the process, but the beginning - and perhaps it's down to other poets to pursue the serious work of re-education, once this poem has made its point.

Comment is about Asylum Seeking Daleks (article)

Why not just include a smiley instead.
Or a browny frowny.
:-) :-(

Nice poem Simon,
Janet.x

Comment is about Emoticontext (blog)

Original item by Simon Rennie

Short and snappy with a world of things unsaid.
Love the colour in this one.
A very good poem i would say.
Love Janet.x

Comment is about Silent Critic (blog)

Original item by Anthony Emmerson

Very good, for instance, in getting a quick 1-0 over a fellow football fan who starts mouthing off about 'asylum seekers' in the pub. Sent packing in front of his mates. Yes, occasionally it can get a bit hairy, and I've had to use my fists as well as my tongue once or twice (in 29 years, not too bad) but lots of poets gave their lives fighting fascism, so the odd scrap isn't that bad. Cayn White of this site knows what I mean - HE nearly got beaten up doing this poem. Incidentally, if you find these words shocking, 'macho', or whatever, please think...hard.

If you want to see the live performance of this and a couple of others have a look at myspace.com/attilastockbroker and go to the Cherry Red video on the right of the page.

Comment is about Asylum Seeking Daleks (article)

Hi Mike, this is such a nice poem, sad at times, but so real and heart felt.

Comment is about Stranger (blog)

Original item by Noetic-fret!

Hi Phil, this sure is a nice poem, I love the use of the word orbs and the chocolate moon, very nice!

Comment is about Mermaids Fingers (blog)

Original item by Phil Golding

Hi Daniel, This is the greatest poem! I bet she will love it!

Comment is about The A-Z of love (blog)

Original item by Daniel Hooks

Hi Andy, The pain of seperation, runs deep for many, and its difficult to get through at times.Your poem is very nice.

Comment is about The pain of separation (blog)

Original item by Andy Williamson

Hi Anthony, Good poem!

Comment is about Silent Critic (blog)

Original item by Anthony Emmerson

HI Simon, I like this poem!

Comment is about Emoticontext (blog)

Original item by Simon Rennie

Thanks Andy. It's usually a no-no to write really obvious rhymes but for this poem it was absolutely necessary.

Comment is about Emoticontext (blog)

Original item by Simon Rennie

This is class !!

I love the way you write the punctuation marks in full. It really highlights today's SMS culture.

Comment is about Emoticontext (blog)

Original item by Simon Rennie

Hi Pete, nice one, good idea.

Thanx so much for your comments, was made up, well appreciated, see you soon, Jeff

Comment is about A Devil of a Lover (blog)

Hi Tony, all the best mate!

I'm still catching up with stuff, and I have to admit I like this diversion from your usual stuff, great!

Like this -
A prickly pair of pugnacious partners
poking and stabbing each other now and then

- could be difficult after a few beers! Ha, see you soon Jeff

Comment is about Desire (blog)

Hi Jeff,
nice to see you back.
With a great poem too. Very topical all year round this one.
Janet.x

Comment is about Appointment with fear! (blog)

Original item by Jeffarama!

Nice poem Daniel.
particularly like the lines of going round in circles trying to find an identity, trying to be the man i cannot be. he lives somewhere deep inside of me.
Great lines.
Janet.x

Comment is about omega sunset (blog)

Original item by Daniel Hooks

Hello Morag, I love your poem; it speaks to me about positivity, strength and creativity. I think there is too much negativity in so- called academic circles surrounding the relationship between men and women. 'All the universe is mine' is a beautiful line and a beautiful thought.

Comment is about Woman (article)

I agree with Sophies comments.
and
I reiterate what I said as 'de Mar'
awesome example of performance poetry
puts the fun back
its what's needed, fun makes you live longer.
its only half until you hear Attila bang it out, smashing.

Comment is about Asylum Seeking Daleks (article)

Hi Attila,
I like your stuff - it's passionate and purposeful but at the same time humorous. I can see my own work in yours, so I'm interested in what you make of mine. Take a look!

Anthony.

Comment is about Attila the Stockbroker (poet profile)

Original item by Attila the Stockbroker

Thanks very much for taking the time to listen to & comment on SNAFU, it's very much appreciated. No, I haven't done any open-mic nights, only just finding my feet with things - poetry being one! Maybe some time in the future.
Thanks again,
Cx

Comment is about Rodney Wood (poet profile)

Original item by Rodney Wood

Thanks Chris. Yes it is short, but I didn't plan to add anything.

I do keep going back to things though. You never know.

Comment is about Winters (blog)

Original item by Malpoet

Rather like this but it feels a little bit short - unfinished, perhaps.
Cx

Comment is about Winters (blog)

Original item by Malpoet

Surprising how quickly I was taken back to my days of wearing short trousers in this simple poem that was perfectly controlled.

Comment is about Scabby Knees! (blog)

well despite the first comment, the intention within this piece was a positive one...I actually believe that with Obama the world does have a chance...however the last part was not a reflection upon him but on the difficulty of controlling such power and being able to maintain that control without the whole system enveloping his moral stance
Sian

Comment is about Black in White (blog)

Original item by sian howell

Two policies Obama has already overturned, the trials of Guantanamo. The ruling allowing car manufacturers to emit emissions without adhering to state policy. Facist, BJ? Perhaps the media are not courting the race issue with Obama, to see if his policies can stand the two political houses in his government. If anybody is courting the race issue surrounding his victory, it is yourselves. Myself, I am more interested in how America seems to have matured. The proof or real democracy is in his presidency, not in his colour. He is there for his politics and nothing more. He courts a young idea that is long overdue, dynamic and vibrant, only the test of time will see if he can pull america through, also, he is open to criticism and will listen to foreign agencies. (unlike his predecessors). He has already u-turned on protectionism, declining the offer of a global trade war. Fascist? BJ? Give the guy a chance, you may warm to him.
Mike

Comment is about Black in White (blog)

Original item by sian howell

Ohh liked this, It's interesting how people in the media have sort of tip toed around the race issue. There is this feeling that their man can do no wrong. I am currently decanting from my in-car Dictaphone a 1 pager describing how the world will deal with the soon to become apparent fact that Obama is either incompetent or worse a fascist megalomaniac. Yours is much more subtle and will engender much more thought that my sledgehammer approach. Fond Regards - JB

Comment is about Black in White (blog)

Original item by sian howell

Good to see you on the site, Gaia and I love the poems you have chosen to share. So many crisp images and evocative phrases.

Comment is about Gaia Holmes (poet profile)

Original item by Gaia Holmes

Bit of a change in style for you, I think compared to some of your other stuff I've read but it is nice!

Comment is about Snow Marilyn (blog)

Original item by Steve O'Connor

it is very clever, tone but you know i'ould said that anyhow after Poetica!

my fav bit is still...

'all dead, fled, sped, brown bread

fed to the black swans

on the black lake

in the black hole of language'

Comment is about Phases of phrases (blog)

I hate dentists! I really do! If I wrote a poem - it would be a straight horror story!

Comment is about Appointment with fear! (blog)

Original item by Jeffarama!

Just adding to what has been said re performance v published literature - Audience will not have words in fromt of them. They may be talking, may well be pissed. To get through this you will need some explicit punchy material which quickly grabs the attention and then drives home its message. Horses for courses.
Winston

Comment is about Asylum Seeking Daleks (article)