The points are well made, Hélène, but we need the hope and idealism of your poem.
Comment is about Prayer for Openness (blog)
Original item by Hélène
Thank you for the lovely comments Stephen & Keith. And yes, I loved a bit of dandelion & burdock too, Keith! What would you get for 10p now? Maybe a malteser lol.
And thanks for the likes Nigel, Russel, & Helene 🌈
Comment is about Love in a paper bag (blog)
Original item by Stephen W Atkinson
A poem which certainly stimulates the imagination. You were able to take me there in an instant.
Thank you for this
Keith
Comment is about Morning Music (blog)
Original item by Tom Harding
Thank you for you comments, Stephen and Kevin, and for the Like, Peter and Stephen A.
Comment is about SLAVA UKRAINI : HEROYAM SLAVA (blog)
Original item by John Coopey
Yup, you are right, sadly. Thank goodness for structures (government, laws, etc.) that keep us safe from each other. Sigh.
Comment is about Prayer for Openness (blog)
Original item by Hélène
Nice idea. But since when has humanity per se been so inclined?
The advice about hoping for peace but being ready for war can
be applied to attitudes among human beings even in day to day
existence. Thankfully, the majority of the time sees law and
proper regard prevail but the outlaw power-grubbing mentality
is always there, lurking from generation to generation, seeking
the chance to impose, prevail and profit. Being aware is a huge
advantage in the preservation of the orderly well-being that is
the bedrock of any functioning society.
Comment is about Prayer for Openness (blog)
Original item by Hélène
I can't do better than what Ray said, Peter. A wonderful poem.
Comment is about CHANGING TRACKS (blog)
Original item by Peter Taylor
Dear Ray, what a wonderful message to start the day with, thank you. We share the same view as to what poetry can achieve – your last line calls to mind, of course, the beauty of Let it Be but that is only the start of it; be inspired and inspire others to find kingdoms for our words, there will always be an answer. And, Ray, were I to find that your comment above was for some reason the last, it will all have been worthwhile. Peter
Comment is about CHANGING TRACKS (blog)
Original item by Peter Taylor
Peter, I must say I have been humbled by this work and how it reveals such personal and nuanced thoughts and beliefs, a brave journey with so much truth and honesty, which has frankly left me with admiration for your resilience and resolve. A very moving resume and a lesson for anyone with such problems as I know you face. Congratulations is the wrong word I know, but it springs to mind nevertheless. Poetry thankfully is one way we can reach out with hope of some salvation and I would never deny that there might well be an answer to it all to make it all worth while.
Fond thoughts, Ray
Comment is about CHANGING TRACKS (blog)
Original item by Peter Taylor
No government in the world handled the pandemic especially well and things could have been a lot worse. Corbyn would have been pressing on with his plans to put all the Patagonians through college while the country fell apart around his ears.
Comment is about 'It's me, she said. It was the physio': Michael Rosen recounts his Covid ordeal, step by step, in new collection (article)
Original item by Greg Freeman
Inspiring, Hélène. If only soldiers on different sides in wars could meet up and realise what they have in common.
Comment is about A Walk Around the Block (blog)
Original item by Hélène
Terrific poem, Stephen. I seem to remember that liquorice could give you a good run for your money (to borrow an old woke, sorry joke).
Comment is about Love in a paper bag (blog)
Original item by Stephen W Atkinson
Still packs a punch, John. This form is one of the most difficult to write, and you have used it brilliantly. Great poem at the right time.
Comment is about SLAVA UKRAINI : HEROYAM SLAVA (blog)
Original item by John Coopey
A piece of furniture, wasn't that what people called these, David? Like the old TVs with wooden doors.
Very effective poem - brings back memories.
Comment is about Stereogram (blog)
Original item by David Cooke
Looking forward to this one. It is for a very worthy cause.
Well done, John!
Comment is about John Botterill remembers Malton's A64 in new volume of poetry (article)
Original item by Greg Freeman
Thank you very much, Hélène. Reconciliation and forgiveness will be difficult once this war is over, to say the least. But victory is pointless unless accompanied by a lasting peace.
And thanks to Nigel, Aisha, Hugh, John and Holden for the likes.
Comment is about Victory (blog)
Original item by Stephen Gospage
Your words really resonate, I feel a sense of melancholic stillness from your work….bravo!
Comment is about Relax (blog)
Original item by Hélène
I love this, the duality of life is interesting indeed.
Comment is about The Whole Enchilada (blog)
Original item by Hélène
Stephen,
Thanks for this trip down memory lane. There was a tuck shop close to my school where all these goodies were available. I spent nearly all my meagre pocket money there. My real treat was a big bottle of Dandelion and Burdock.
Thank you for this
Keith
Comment is about Love in a paper bag (blog)
Original item by Stephen W Atkinson
Dylan! Where do I start? 1964, aged 13. He has signposted my life ever since. Seen him three times and still an enigma!
Dylan and Cohen. The bards of my generation.
Thank you David.
Comment is about Stereogram (blog)
Original item by David Cooke
Lovely story, Stephen. 😁 Times haven't changed have they? Thanks so much for your comment and encouragement. I will be more evident on Writeoutloud now the book has been born. Hope people think that's a good thing haha😂
Thanks for the like, Nigel
Comment is about The A64 Blues (blog)
Original item by John Botterill
You’re quite right, Helene. All that’s needed is a little contextual understanding.
But also, who’s to say what is written today won’t be offensive in 20 years time? If “fat” is off the plate today who’s to say “tall” won’t be then? And if “black” today why not “red” tomorrow. Perhaps all adjectives will be banned. And no-one today can say they won’t.
Comment is about WHAT A BLOODY NONSENSE! (blog)
Original item by John Coopey
God bless our right to criticize speech, to edit speech (even books), to be too sensitive, to be insensitive...to be human, to be free! I am soooo grateful to live in a democracy w/ robust freedom of speech on all sides of the aisle. Enjoyed reading this vigorous discussion. Being somewhat sensitive & a political moderate, I fall somewhere in the middle on this "pc" language thing. (I lean towards encouraging folks to listen to the intent behind words rather than the surface of any particular word, & support classroom discussion of the cultural/political context of books rather than banning.) A bridge-building response to controversy can be humor. This poem made me laugh, John, so I give it a stamp of approval!
Comment is about WHAT A BLOODY NONSENSE! (blog)
Original item by John Coopey
So so sad. Thanks Hugh for honoring the mother & her precious children with this poem.
Comment is about R.I.P. oh mother of two (blog)
Original item by hugh
Tragic in various respects. Not least for those left behind.
It is hoped that some uncertainty about the "how" of her
death can be resolved by expert pathology examination.
Comment is about R.I.P. oh mother of two (blog)
Original item by hugh
Thanks, John, and congratulations on the book. The joys of motoring, eh?
As a boy in Essex, I used to cross the A13 road to London to get to school. The traffic towards London never seemed to move. I grew up thinking that it was a giant car park. Must have been frustrating for everyone, although my Dad went to work in the London docks on a moped, so managed to dodge his way through!
Comment is about The A64 Blues (blog)
Original item by John Botterill
Thankyou, Greg and MC. I thought hard about posting this because it was so easy - shooting fish in a barrel. I rather like controversy and this seemed so one-sided that no-one would stand up for the revisionism.
Comment is about WHAT A BLOODY NONSENSE! (blog)
Original item by John Coopey
There are numpties who are busy making an "oar" of the Englsih language - and, as we all should know: oars and "rollocks" go together!! 😌
Comment is about WHAT A BLOODY NONSENSE! (blog)
Original item by John Coopey
If anyone wants to sign a political petition against Putin's re-location of Ukrainian children to Russia, the group (avaaz) in the link below organizes this (& other such political/humanitarian petitions) on an international basis
https://secure.avaaz.org/campaign/en/ukraine_stolen_children_loc/
Comment is about The Late Show (blog)
Original item by Stephen Gospage
Thankyou, Uilleam and Stephen. All valid points. But moreover they disparage the resilience of kids.
I recollect some years ago schools were substituting “bah bah black sheep” with “bah bah mouton noire” as though changing the language to French removed any ill-perceived offence and completely missing the point that “black” is not racist. It’s colourist.
Comment is about WHAT A BLOODY NONSENSE! (blog)
Original item by John Coopey
Thomas the Tank Engine is now the Anthropomorphised Engine.
The Fat Controller is now the Controller of > than Average Mass.
The Thin Controller-yes there is one- is now the Controller of < than AV Mass.
Comment is about WHAT A BLOODY NONSENSE! (blog)
Original item by John Coopey
Totally agree, John. Even my daughter, at the grand old age of 26, says the world's gone mad!
Comment is about WHAT A BLOODY NONSENSE! (blog)
Original item by John Coopey
It would appear that because of Copywright law, the unbowdlerised Roald Dahl books will not even be available via the Gutenberg Project.
This has truly frightening implications for the whole of the literary world, for our freedom of speech and artistic expression.
And we thought we could put the book-burnings of Bebelplatz (originally Platz am Opernhaus) behind us!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nazi_book_burnings
"Where they burn books, they will ultimately also burn people."
–Heinrich Heine (1823)
Comment is about WHAT A BLOODY NONSENSE! (blog)
Original item by John Coopey
agreed Stephen, let us hope
Comment is about The road to oblivion (blog)
Original item by JD Russell
Quite the glasshouse flower I am, Kevin.
Yes, it didn’t quite work out as he intended.
And thanks for the Likes, Uilleam and Stephen.
Comment is about WHAT A BLOODY NONSENSE! (blog)
Original item by John Coopey
Thank you, KJ. Yes, it's sad to see how all opposition has been crushed in Russia.
Comment is about The Late Show (blog)
Original item by Stephen Gospage
Another thoughtful well written piece. It was sickening to see Putin on the news parading out his "heros". And the people of Russia really do seem to be taken in by his narrative.
Comment is about The Late Show (blog)
Original item by Stephen Gospage
I think I probably do, John. At least in my ideal world.
Comment is about Bishyness & Bums (blog)
Original item by John E Marks
I love the way this flows seamlessly, Hélène. A hopeful, reassuring poem.
Comment is about Trust (blog)
Original item by Hélène
John.
I never realised what a sensitive soul you are. I promise never to call you an "ugly cunt" again.
I remember a certain person at an open mic describing a little black girl, he didn't want to say "black" for fear of offending so used the term "negro" instead.
Comment is about WHAT A BLOODY NONSENSE! (blog)
Original item by John Coopey
A very effective poem, Russell. It's a frightening time at the moment. Let's hope that even Putin will not feel able to take the final step.
Comment is about The road to oblivion (blog)
Original item by JD Russell
'The droplets of his grace' - beautiful, Keith.
Comment is about Larger than Life (blog)
Original item by keith jeffries
You and me both Reggie, but Putin's rhetoric is certainly pointing that way
Comment is about The road to oblivion (blog)
Original item by JD Russell
Chris Bunton
Mon 27th Feb 2023 14:46
So, true!
Comment is about Me (blog)
Original item by Chris Bunton