Hi - ("Mischa")-thanks for the comments, but I don't quite know what to say about that !!
would you not mind if your daughter (say) was selling sex to feed her drugs habit ? or am I getting narrow-minded in my old age ??
all the best. B

Comment is about Cate (poet profile)

Original item by Cate

Hi Win. Glad you liked Tomboy. Thanks, Greg

Comment is about Winston Plowes (poet profile)

Original item by Winston Plowes

Félicitations Anthony !
'lifelines' est un très beau poème... Isobel a bien choisi : )

Comment is about Anthony Emmerson (poet profile)

Original item by Anthony Emmerson

Hi Laura

Thanks for coming back and explaining your take on the knotty question of allusions. There's no right answer is there. One thing that is troubling though is that some people fill their work with allusions because they are well read and love what they read - which I think is true of you. Others do it to show off. How to tell the difference?

Comment is about Laura Taylor (poet profile)

Original item by Laura Taylor

Thanks Laura - hey, that sounds like fun. Glug glug glug toilet glug glug toilet glug toilet glug toilet toilet glug toilet stagger home. We should do it!

Comment is about Laura Taylor (poet profile)

Original item by Laura Taylor

Thanks Cate for your comments. Yeah, I used yesterday to rework that poem significantly and that's the key I think - just spending more time on the arrangement. Time - something we rarely allow ourselves to just think and slow down a bit!

Comment is about Cate (poet profile)

Original item by Cate

Hi Cynthia, Sean here, believe you wanted to get in touch. Haven't had an email. Try phoming the number on the website if you have a problem. Cheers, Sean.

Comment is about Cynthia Buell Thomas (poet profile)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

Hi Cynthia. Haven't received an email. Cybergremlins at work I think. I'll email the adress in your profile

Comment is about Sean Kavanagh (poet profile)

Original item by Sean Kavanagh

Sean, I sent you an email about coming to the Hebden Bridge weekend. Will you please let me know if you received it? My laptop has gone bonkers since I sent it. I used the link in the article. Cynthia

Comment is about Sean Kavanagh (poet profile)

Original item by Sean Kavanagh

Thanks as always for your comments on Tomboy, Cynthia. I really like the mood of Martini on the Rocks. I thought the lake must be in North America, but then remembered the fish and chips, and thought, maybe Lake District?

Comment is about Cynthia Buell Thomas (poet profile)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

Hi Isobel. So glad you enjoyed Tomboy. I think you're pretty much spot-on on the way you read it. It came out of a chance encounter with a childhood friend on the train few years ago. She recognised me first, then launched into this "guns and roses" recollection which took me aback. She also supplied the "rifle under the bed" line which was so good I felt I had to try and build a poem around it. I do see her as strong, not weak. She was shy and quiet and became a single mother in her teens, but was confident and settled and moving up north - and a grandma!- when I saw her on the train.

Comment is about Isobel (poet profile)

Original item by Isobel

No, Ann, Tomboy is not about the missus! I think she's strong - and, yes, there is quite a lot of truth in it.

Comment is about Ann Foxglove (poet profile)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

Hi Larisa - am having technical troubles tonight so I hope you get this message! Thanx for your comment. In case I can't comment on your poem underneath the poem, this is just to let you know that I read it and liked it!! x

Comment is about Larisa Rzhepishevska (poet profile)

Original item by Larisa Rzhepishevska

the image is called "dragon egg" :-)

Comment is about Andy N (poet profile)

Original item by Andy N

Good evening Bernadette-hope all is ok with you-hope to see you soon-best regards-Stef-xx

Comment is about bernadette herbertson (poet profile)

Original item by bernadette herbertson

Thanks for your kind comment on my latest blog piece. x

Comment is about Ann Foxglove (poet profile)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

Isobel, Many thanks for your comments. I really appreciate your constructive criticism - it's what I joined for! I do like to try to go for a formal structure from time to time for the challenge but I absolutley agree with you. It's not always right for the feel of the words. This is quite an old poem - I am working on a couple of formal pieces at the moment. Looking forward to seeing you soon. x

Comment is about Isobel (poet profile)

Original item by Isobel

Cynthia, Many thanks for taking the time to read my latest blog poem. Of course it pleases me that you find it of worth but in a sense it pleases me even more that you have taken the time to make constructive criticisms. This is exactly why I joined the site. As you say, it's up to me but the point is to have the views of others working with words. I think I do have a habit of over-wordiness at times, hence I set myself to write haiku poems for the discipline! Once again, thank you.

Comment is about Cynthia Buell Thomas (poet profile)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

Thanks for your comment on my Praying poem James - you were right in your take on it. I have left a further comment on it to explain things. x

Comment is about James Lancaster (poet profile)

Original item by James Lancaster

I much enjoyed Metro lament. it did evoke feelings of nostalgia rather than nervousness but place names can be very potent. Americans seem to incorporate place names into poems and especially songs more than the english. I am fond of Flanders and Swann's Slow train
Regards
Alvin

Comment is about Freda Davis (poet profile)

Original item by Freda Davis

Thanks for your comments Dave, glad the bullet piece made you laugh, and I do actually agree with you on the ‘what is poetry’ question. It was my first piece up on here though and I was a little hesitant over what reaction it may get, this being a ‘poetry’ site, hence the disclaimer!

Regarding the issue over allusions, part of me would love to explain further all of the inspirations, associations and references. But there’s a bigger part of me that knows how satisfying, delightful and soothing it can be to spot allusions in other people’s lyrical and literary works. Those moments when you almost squeal with recognition, or get an empathetic bit of grit in your eye, you know? This part also likes to avoid authorial intent, and prefers to let the reader make up their own interpretations, cos I know, again, what joy there is in doing that :)

Having said that, I have regularly devoured whole auto/biographical slices of my favourite writers and singers, in an effort to gain more understanding!

I don’t think I’ll ever really make up my mind, so I’ll just incline to the not-telling for now :)

Comment is about Dave Bradley (poet profile)

Original item by Dave Bradley

Hi - thanks for the comments Lynn. all the best. B

Comment is about Lynn Dye (poet profile)

Original item by Lynn Dye

Hi Winston

Glad you've joined in with 'Bullet' - in such an interesting way too! Thanks for the suggestion. Whoever does it next may well take it up, but I'm actually quite optimistic about people voting - we'll see come Friday and the weekend.

Comment is about Winston Plowes (poet profile)

Original item by Winston Plowes

Hi Lynn - thanks for your appreciation of 'Riff Raff', glad you like it. :) Best wishes, Dave

Comment is about Lynn Dye (poet profile)

Original item by Lynn Dye

Hi Lynn. thanks for the comments on the bullet thing. Just looked your contribution up. A great passionate tale. Win

Comment is about Lynn Dye (poet profile)

Original item by Lynn Dye

Hi Dave thanks for the bullet comments. In fact I started another some weeks ago which had some very strong similarities to your first stanza! Win x

Comment is about Dave Carr (poet profile)

Original item by Dave Carr

Thanks, great site you've got here.

Comment is about Michael Scott (poet profile)

Original item by Michael Scott

welcome onboard michael.. nice start..

Comment is about Michael Scott (poet profile)

Original item by Michael Scott

Wow - I like your stuff! Welcome to WOL. Swindon eh?

Comment is about Michael Scott (poet profile)

Original item by Michael Scott

Hi Michael, Welcome to WOL. Winston

Comment is about Michael Scott (poet profile)

Original item by Michael Scott

Hi Anna, Welcome aboard. Hope you like the site. Winston

Comment is about Anna McCrory (poet profile)

Original item by Anna McCrory

Oh dear! Back to the drawing board! I do see what you mean. Will have another go! x

Comment is about Greg Freeman (poet profile)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Back to Nineveh, Ann: you're removed the second "ghosts", but in doing so lost that sense of ghostly sheets in the rooms, which was good. Words like shrouded or spirited occur to me, instead of "deserted" rooms ... do you know what I mean?

Comment is about Ann Foxglove (poet profile)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

Good morning lovely Lady-no, I,m not from Scotland-but I sincerely wish I was! I just had a short holiday there-will speak to you soon-thank you-Stef-xx

Comment is about Larisa Rzhepishevska (poet profile)

Original item by Larisa Rzhepishevska

usufruct - well, that's one of the great things about poetry I think, that the same words can often be given various interpretations. Insomnia - I have a rule for myself where I try not to log-on after 11.30 or else the cogs are still whirring. xx

Comment is about Isobel (poet profile)

Original item by Isobel

usufruct - we could talk about this forever, but I think we're mainly in agreement. a great word & concept & very well written by Cyn. XX
PS - fancy a threesome with you, me & Augusta ? the subject is paedophilia - is it all it's cracked up to be ?

Comment is about Isobel (poet profile)

Original item by Isobel

Usufruct (Cynthia) -
Isobel - this is one of my favourite topics & IMHO you've nailed it here -
'This is all you've got, make the most of it' - because if you read it literally, that is exactly what he says - that life is a tenure, a loan - it's not forever. I don't see any contradiction though. An interesting subject. B

Comment is about Isobel (poet profile)

Original item by Isobel

Good evening Larisa-thanks for your concern-I,ve had a few days in Scotland-I shall be catching up on your poems very soon-thank you again for regards-lots of love-Stef-xx

Comment is about Larisa Rzhepishevska (poet profile)

Original item by Larisa Rzhepishevska

Andy, Thanks for your encouraging comments. Very much enjoyed reading a number of your poems tonight! Let the words roll!

Comment is about Andy N (poet profile)

Original item by Andy N

Ann
Thanks for your kind comments - glad you enjoyed my poems. I particularly liked your poems, The Bat & Walking Home on a Summer Evening. The imagery is very strong & absolutley delightful - like summer all over again on this very grey day!

Comment is about Ann Foxglove (poet profile)

Original item by Ann Foxglove

Hi Elaine and welcome to WOL. I enjoyed your poems, I especially like The Old World.

Comment is about Elaine (poet profile)

Original item by Elaine

Thanks for your comment on my latest. I can't believe I didn't recognise you from the Tudor - I am a bit myopic though - especially after a few gins! I'll definitely be there at the next one - punch me if I don't say hello. xx

Comment is about Elaine (poet profile)

Original item by Elaine

Thanks for your comment greg - it wasn't an obvious one - I've stuck an explanation on it as I like to be understood. I appreciate your comments on my choice of language. x

Comment is about Greg Freeman (poet profile)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Thanks GReg (Nineveh). I have removed the second appearance of the ghosts. Didn't replace with another word - think it's OK without? And . . . couldn't think of another word!! ;-)

Comment is about Greg Freeman (poet profile)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Hello Andy

Thank for your comments re the poem and the painting.

You are very kind

Augusta xx

Comment is about Andy N (poet profile)

Original item by Andy N

Hi Thom. Thanks for posting re 'Bullet'. You've still got till end of play Thursday, if you can knock one out that quick.

Comment is about Tom (poet profile)

Original item by Tom

Good afternoon Isobel

Yes It seems poor Banksy is afraid of your lashing sting, I know you to be a ‘pussy’ cat. The eroticism within the poem was present and developed within the ‘Episode’ and ‘episodes thereafter that took place; the fact that the victim is aroused is as you quite correctly point out is due to sexual immaturity and the awakening confusion within a girl approaching puberty. The outcome however is that sexual contact during these early years act as a catalyst and shape the future patterns of sexual awareness and behaviour within in the victim.

Augusta xx

Comment is about Isobel (poet profile)

Original item by Isobel

Hi Andy, thanks for commenting on 'Dreams Of Great Men' - much appreciated, Dave

Comment is about Andy N (poet profile)

Original item by Andy N

Hi Winston. Thanks for the welcome. To be honest, I'm finding the site a little difficult to negotiate.

Comment is about Linda Cosgriff (poet profile)

Original item by Linda Cosgriff

Good morning Lynn-thank you for comments on'Unto us'-Scotland break was just what the doctor ordered! Southerness,to be precise-hope you and yours are well-thanks again-Stef-xx

Comment is about Lynn Dye (poet profile)

Original item by Lynn Dye