Hello Dave
Thanks for your thoughts on Sleep Easy. There's a row of 13 graves in St Mary's Cemetery in Hucknall where I'm from. They're the graves of Polish Airmen who inspired the poem. (So far as I know there is no Tadeus Makulski or Zigmunt Kovacs among them).

Comment is about Dave Bradley (poet profile)

Original item by Dave Bradley

Ta for your comments on the knitting poem. I'd rather not qualify my intents but if people are asking/wondering it seems churlish.

Comment is about Cynthia Buell Thomas (poet profile)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

Hi there. Thanks for your message of support re WOL. And yes, I did tag my poem with 'hedonism' didn't I? I guess I was thinking of it as a kind of fun abandonment; a lapse in rigidity, both formal and sexual. It's not a life philosophy of mine, by the way. The poem is purely hypothetical.

Comment is about Cynthia Buell Thomas (poet profile)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

Hi Cynthia, thanks for comment on my poem 'Clearance Lines.'
These days i would rather allow the readers to come to their own conclusions when reading my stuff and love reading their own interpretations of it for comparison to my own but..seeing as you asked for a little more...

It's actually based on the visions in a meditation and quite personal to me in the sense of past, present and future.
I think the dead mouse is me :-)
The rest is de-clutter of stuff/baggage :-)
Isaiah in this particular case is a loose reference to becoming a seer or seeing the future.(my future)
I decided not to embellish on anything else i saw ahead of me. Let's just say the future looks bright :-)

I'm thoroughly enjoying this phase of short poems for however long it lasts and really appreciate your input.x

Comment is about Cynthia Buell Thomas (poet profile)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

It's the physical writing of Lawrence that I appreciate so much, his language and style. He could talk lengthily about phoniness because he was a prime example himself, analysis gone nuts; he must have known this even as he wrote, in a kind of supreme self-irony. But he had insights of the human condition and of cultural changes. I often wondered if he were really homosexual. Frieda sure kept him on his 'manly' toes. I suppose good writers must be complex; otherwise how do they relate to such a cross-section of life? Feminism is a many-faceted idea, in my opinion too often reduced for soapbox purposes to vacuous simplicity. It's good to talk to you. I loved meeting you at Hebden Bridge.

Comment is about Freda Davis (poet profile)

Original item by Freda Davis

Hi Steven, Having an interesting discussion on whether 'origin information' should be given (maybe as a footnote) and if this adds to the poem or not . See my latest blog entry. (stalemate Hold) It would be interesting to have your input. Win x

Comment is about Steven Waling (poet profile)

Original item by Steven Waling

Hi Cynthia, thanks for comments on the bravely of experimental poetry. Some lengthy comments left on the blog itself. Win x

Comment is about Cynthia Buell Thomas (poet profile)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

Hi Win. Glad you caught sight of a kingfisher - on the Rochdale canal? It makes your day, doesn't it? I'm envious as I haven't seen one on my local canal for over a year now, although I suppose I don't go walking there as much as I used to do. On the subject of war memorials, they are so moving. You mention Burma - we went to the Allied cemetery at Kanchanaburi by the river Kwae - my dad survived 1942-45 as a POW of the Japanese - and it was the ages of the names on the stones that got me. Greg

Comment is about Winston Plowes (poet profile)

Original item by Winston Plowes

Hi John. Have just received my copy of Along the Iron Veins in the post and wanted to say how much I enjoyed your poem 7 O'clock Brit therein. Not sure I've seen that one here. I applaud the sentiment of it and particularly the lines: "as Lidl trades where walk the ghosts / of Hucknall Central Station." Very poignant words for those of us who still hanker after the pre-Beeching era!

Comment is about John Coopey (poet profile)

Original item by John Coopey

Re: Dave's poem
Isobel-love your comment-you really know how to kick a man when he's down... Go Girl !!!

Comment is about Isobel (poet profile)

Original item by Isobel

Hi Cyn - (legion) thanks for the comments - it's a fly on a fly-paper, so the "ignominious way to go" is "mine" (ie the fly) xx

Comment is about Cynthia Buell Thomas (poet profile)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

querulous questions? Points and queries? Polenta and quorn? Na Na I don't know.

Comment is about Cynthia Buell Thomas (poet profile)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

I was also very into Lawrence until I started reading feminist criticisms of him and realised that his was a strongly patriarchal view. Not his fault perhaps, product of his time, and also I realise he was trying to present class oppression, but actually got seduced into the Bloomsbury view of class. All the same his prose had a huge effect on me.

Comment is about Cynthia Buell Thomas (poet profile)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

Speaking of 'P's' and 'Q's', I always assumed 'politeness', but could never be sure of 'Q'. I think I even did a dictionary search once. Any suggestions?

Comment is about Freda Davis (poet profile)

Original item by Freda Davis

I return to Lawrence like a homing pigeon, if not whole works then lengthy excerpts of novels, and his poetry. In the summer I reviewed Woman in Love and Sons and Lovers. Two nights ago I decided to reread Lady Chatterley's Lover in full. I first read that when I was seventeen. Every time I read anything of his, more brilliance filters through. Goodness knows what influence he has had on my own thinking and writing. I really enjoyed your explanation of river/sea tide.

Comment is about Freda Davis (poet profile)

Original item by Freda Davis

Thabks v. much for taking the time to comment and it's good to be welcomed with a D (for dickhead I suppose).

Comment is about Laura Taylor (poet profile)

Original item by Laura Taylor

Hi Win - thanks for the nice comments (the rose)
all the best. B

Comment is about Winston Plowes (poet profile)

Original item by Winston Plowes

Hi Again, in fact my last 2 poems are found poems of sorts. It it seems I have been infected! Win x

Comment is about Steven Waling (poet profile)

Original item by Steven Waling

Hi again john, Glad you came across my blog and liked it. There is a similarity in the way we have cited names from a memorial. Great minds think alike maybe? :-)

Comment is about John Coopey (poet profile)

Original item by John Coopey

Hi John, Thanks for the info. I am working at the local polish clubs xmas party soon! P.S. forgot to say, loved the title. P.P.S. probably cycling past the george and dragon again next wed on my regular 200k ride although at the moment very slowly!! keep posting .Win X

Comment is about John Coopey (poet profile)

Original item by John Coopey

'Evening Lynn-blimey you have been spreading your kindness about!-many many many thanks indeed-Porthcawl was really nice-we managed to grab one really nice day,and got blown away by the rest-lol!love to you and yours as always-Stef-xx

Comment is about Lynn Dye (poet profile)

Original item by Lynn Dye

Win
Thanks for your thoughts on Sleep Easy.
I get a bit miffy when I hear people talking about sending all the Poles back and I'm tempted to wonder "Does that include all the ones buried here?"
The idea for the poem comes from 13 Polish war graves in St Mary's Cemetery in Hucknall, where I'm from.
The photo is a bit of a stretch though. Apparently it is on Wood Lane in Hucknall and commemorates a plane crashed in the town piloted by one of the many Polish airmen stationed at the Rolls Royce aerodrome there.

Comment is about Winston Plowes (poet profile)

Original item by Winston Plowes

Greg
Thanks for your kind thoughts on Sleep Easy. I've always thought that the entire Polish nation must have felt shafted by Yalta, although with Russian tanks sprawled across half of Europe I don't suppose Churchill and Roosevelt had much bargaining power.

Comment is about Greg Freeman (poet profile)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Hey Greg, saw the citrine and sapphire yesterday morning in a really brief birst of sunshine between downpours! magic. really excited by it. Win ;-)

Comment is about Greg Freeman (poet profile)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Hi Ann, Thankyou for leaving a comment on TO THE MEMORY OF THE MEN. Much appreciated. I have replied in detail on the blog itself. Win x

Comment is about Ann Foxglove (poet profile)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

Hi Steven, Thankyou for leaving a comment on TO THE MEMORY OF THE MEN. Much appreciated. I have replied in detail on the blog itself. Win x

Comment is about Steven Waling (poet profile)

Original item by Steven Waling

Hi Andy, Thankyou for leaving a comment on TO THE MEMORY OF THE MEN. Much appreciated. I have replied in detail on the blog itself. Win x

Comment is about Andy N (poet profile)

Original item by Andy N

Hi Isobel, Thankyou for leaving a comment on TO THE MEMORY OF THE MEN. Much appreciated. I have replied in detail on the blog itself. Win x

Comment is about Isobel (poet profile)

Original item by Isobel

Hi Greg, Thankyou for leaving a comment on TO THE MEMORY OF THE MEN. Much appreciated. I have replied in detail on the blog itself. Win x

Comment is about Greg Freeman (poet profile)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Hi Angela
Welcome to our site, hope you find somthing of interest here.
Winston

Comment is about Angela Topping (poet profile)

Original item by Angela Topping

Hi Michael, Thankyou for putting your profile on here, Welcome to WOl, Winston

Comment is about Michael Holloway (poet profile)

Original item by Michael Holloway

HaHa - like a red rag to a bull, this subject :)
I've had a fair old spectrum girlfriend-wise; one thought I was an unspeakable pervert, some went along but were non-committal & two (in particular) were literally "game for anything". ahh - happy days !

Comment is about Laura Taylor (poet profile)

Original item by Laura Taylor

Hi Cynthia,
Just noticed your query about the tide.
The River Lune is tidal up to and beyond the weir, and you can see the swell of the tide meeting the flow of the water and pushing it back, so that the river level rises. When there is a lot of rain in the hills the river is strongly forcing itself down to the sea, and the tide engages in battle with it. Obviously there is a lot more water in the river anyway, and watching that trial of strength between the river and the sea, taking place twice a day, but at times of heavy rain it becomes really spectacular, I was conscious of those elemental forces that Lawrence writes so vividly about. The meeting of the two becomes a seam, where the water boils and churns. The currents must be fierce, but you can see eddies where the surface seems very smooth and calm, and fragile leaves float, then the current snatches them and sweeps them away.
Thank you for asking the question. It has brought the wonder of it back to me. I loved living alongside the Lune. It is such a living, viscous river.

Comment is about Cynthia Buell Thomas (poet profile)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

thanks for the kind words andy. i particularly enjoyed 'kemptown'. very visual and lyrical.

Comment is about Andy N (poet profile)

Original item by Andy N

Ann - hehe - have to say, 'period art' is not really up my street. It's like drawing with snot or bogies or sommat. Bleurgh! Thought it had to go up though - just seemed appropriate, as the first line mentions art :D

Comment is about Ann Foxglove (poet profile)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

Hi - and many thanks for the comments - glad you liked it, I didn't know if anyone (except Laura) would. XX

Comment is about Larisa Rzhepishevska (poet profile)

Original item by Larisa Rzhepishevska

Hi - thanks - and it was Paul Delvaux - well-known dauber of big hairy muffs - so he gets my vote straightaway :)

Comment is about Ann Foxglove (poet profile)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

thank you so much for your comment on my poems Ann!! and I am smitten with your 'Whale Poem'...brilliant work!!

Comment is about Ann Foxglove (poet profile)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

Oi ! that's supposed to be strickly private !
...and there's some very nervous sensibilities to be considered on WOL - yes, you're right - post it & be damned !

Comment is about Ann Foxglove (poet profile)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

Oh that picture - makes me glad I'm so old I never see that stuff no more. Life is great post pmt!! xx (On Your Bike) xx

Comment is about Laura Taylor (poet profile)

Original item by Laura Taylor

GHAZAL

congratulations on your win win . i had read it a while back, but as i am quiet to comment on folks i dont see face to face very often :)i thought it a lovely poem x

Comment is about Winston Plowes (poet profile)

Original item by Winston Plowes

what about rebranding that marge that's made with Omega 3 fish oils...
"I can't believe it's not fanny!!"

Comment is about Laura Taylor (poet profile)

Original item by Laura Taylor

I absolutely cannot believe no one else has commented on Antique Zealot! Ignore them. They know nothing!

Comment is about Freda Davis (poet profile)

Original item by Freda Davis

I see what you mean Cynthia. I guess we all instinctively play to our own strengths - we have to be true to our own feelings or the poetry doesn't come. Just as you don't like to write 'romantically' I couldn't write about the mechanics of sex - or about the philosophical subjects you raise. Once you raise them though, I like to take my own emotional angle on them LOL. This site is great for that. Emotions are what bring poetry to life for me - I am hopelessly sentimental - and probably a romantic at heart, if the truth be known.
It is always fascinating discussing things with you - you would make a great dinner guest - shame I don't do dinner parties!

Comment is about Cynthia Buell Thomas (poet profile)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

What about
"Fanny... because you're worth it"

Comment is about Laura Taylor (poet profile)

Original item by Laura Taylor

Yep - I'm just being dim - like I thought .. durrr

Comment is about Laura Taylor (poet profile)

Original item by Laura Taylor

well you're a 24 carrot poet - aintchya ?

Comment is about Ann Foxglove (poet profile)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

Isobel, I meant the style of writing, the choice of expressions. Your thoughts and words are lovely in Beloved. I find them 'romantic' but always enduring. I couldn't begin to write anything like those last three lines because I don't think that way. I would feel like an idiot, using 'uncertain skies', 'immortalise' or 'eternal in my words of love'. At worst, I might make a jest of them, which in respect for other people, I just won't do.

Comment is about Isobel (poet profile)

Original item by Isobel

Ahhh Iso... not that wrong... I would love to throw you my balls ....as long as you brought them back......sit!

Gus xx

Comment is about Isobel (poet profile)

Original item by Isobel

Hi - I'd already posted one a while ago called "when vampires menstruate". Sorry if I'm being dim, but I dont understand the bit about "Road" - can you maybe enlighten me ?
The Origin of the World - great picture - but I think a more honest title might have been
"don't you just love fannies?" (or similar)

Comment is about Laura Taylor (poet profile)

Original item by Laura Taylor