Thanks John, Keith Holden and Flyntland for your welcome likes.

Hi Stephen, I do like to get in to a scene and this is one such! The mind wanders but the speedo checks up as you spotted. I often wonder about the necessity of travel, and for many it is a pain in the proverbial. I had to cover great distances doing gigs, many at night to return. It's in the nature of man to wander of course.

Thank you Graham for coming along for the virtual ride, all conjured up from long memories of gigs. Motorways in particular encourage that mindlessness, the endless uniformity.

Thank you Uilleam. Interestingly, if you try to focus on fast near objects it makes you realize the truth of speed rather than the long view. I love the idea of photographing it where possible! We could do with more walking for the benefit of mind and body.

Hi Jennifer, i'm glad you picked on that, as it seems to embody the long reach of travel. Cheers!

Ray

Comment is about TRAVEL (blog)

Original item by ray pool

Talking of things footbally.

I've just been sent a joke on my phone.
Picture of Father Cristmas and his sledge and a football lying in a heap on the ground.

"There I was flying along minding my own business, when I got hit by this effin' football".😟
Oh dear!

Comment is about RESPECT THE REFEREE (A VILLANELLE) (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

Very cleverly written, and humorous, John! 😂

Comment is about The Christmas Card (blog)

Original item by John Botterill

Thank you Uilleam, & I think you may be right. When I was growing up I called every neighbour Aunty! And we all helped each other. Changing times.
And, Thank you John! Nice to see you're back as well with some of your mind bending & brilliant poetry! I think I was on the up for about a day, now I'm back down lol. But thank you for buying my book, it's very much appreciated. I keep changing the format & grammer slightly, maybe one day i'll get it right 😅 Thanks again 🌈

Comment is about Woodchip (blog)

Original item by Stephen W Atkinson

Story telling is a great art and those gifted with it can mesmerise an audience into total absorption. This poem flowed well with a sense of anticipation .
Thank you for this
Keith

Comment is about The Story Teller (blog)

Original item by Brenda Wells

A poem with deep felt emotion running throughout line after line. One of those poems that can easily cause a few tears to be shed.
Thank you for this
Keith

Comment is about Whisper my Name (blog)

Original item by Clare

I love this. My Grandfather was a travelling storyteller and your story sums his life up perfectly!😁

Comment is about The Story Teller (blog)

Original item by Brenda Wells

Good strategy!

Comment is about My 12 Days of Christmas (blog)

Original item by Rick Varden

Thanks Uilleam and Jennifer. Much appreciated. I think I've picked the right week to put out this poem on Writeoutloud. 😂

Comment is about The Christmas Card (blog)

Original item by John Botterill

Loved the first lines in particular, Ray. Remember watching the long, slow fields ......... many times.

Comment is about TRAVEL (blog)

Original item by ray pool

How very true Keith. Wisdom is now out of fashion, and advice is perceived as interference. Agree with MC about money, as he says a lot of good can also be done with it. Depends how it was earned too. Great writing.

Comment is about Wisdom (blog)

Original item by keith jeffries

Unfortunately have sent off one, at least, this year with the same thought! If she isn't the postie will get a tip this year if you put any notes in it.

Comment is about The Christmas Card (blog)

Original item by John Botterill

Definitely frightening and grim, but also very beautiful. Like Uilleam, loved the first two lines, which express the end of autumn, beginning of winter so well.

Comment is about What's Past Is Prologue (blog)

Original item by Adam Whitworth

Always wonder how they manage to keep warm as well as fed.
Nice poem, as always.

Comment is about FOR THE BIRDS (blog)

Original item by M.C. Newberry

Nice one this! Used to teach the original to my primary school English classes, as singing it kept them busy for ages.

Jennifer

Comment is about My 12 Days of Christmas (blog)

Original item by Rick Varden

It was indeed the Fairweather French, MC.
It is amusing that we gloat over our victories at Agincourt and Crecy without realising that we lost The Hundred Years War. That is why they are in France and Britain is not.
And they have, of course, won 2 football World Cups (and are about to win a third) whilst England has won one.

Comment is about RESPECT THE REFEREE (A VILLANELLE) (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

Thank you so much, Brenda. I hope that you and your group will enjoy the book. I think your approach of taking the poems slowly is quite right. Odd though it may sound, I tried to avoid making the content too unpleasant, preferring to present the tragedy of war in a more ironic or indirect manner. However, the collection is inevitably not a light read, though I hope that there is an element of optimism, and even humour, in some of the poems.

Once again, thank you for your support.

Comment is about Ukraine poetry book published (blog)

Original item by Stephen Gospage

You have pitched this perfectly, Martin. Nothing sounds forced or false. A fine poem indeed.

Comment is about Wise guys (blog)

Original item by Martin Elder

I came across Stephen's book on Amazon recently and purchased a copy.

It really is an excellent collection, absolutely packed with poetry that works on many levels.

I'm thoroughly enjoying the variety of the poems and the sharing of stories.

I very much hope that it's widely read.

Congratulations Stephen

Comment is about Poet whose work was read out by MP publishes collection (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Thank you, John Yes, I think that war can change people, and sometimes, if they are lucky, for the better (often for the worse, of course!) . When my dad went into the army in 1939 he was a factory labourer; he came out as a civil servant. However, it is a mistake to join a war expecting it to improve your lot, because disappointment is just round the corner.

And thanks to New Shoes, Uilleam, Bethany, Flyntland and Hélène.

Comment is about Funfair (blog)

Original item by Stephen Gospage

Thank you for doing this Stephen.
I've bought a copy and am slowly reading my way through, they're poems to be sampled slowly, given the gravity of the subject.
I will mention the book at my poetry group this week and wish you every success with the venture.

Comment is about Ukraine poetry book published (blog)

Original item by Stephen Gospage

Beautiful, deeply moving poem. Thanks Adam.

Comment is about What's Past Is Prologue (blog)

Original item by Adam Whitworth

Awesome poem!!

Comment is about Wise guys (blog)

Original item by Martin Elder

I am at one with Bethany here.
Our bird seed arives in large sacks - no 'mixed seed' for them but premium sunflower hearts, best suet balls and some wheat for the pheasants. I agree with 'all the year round' and i agree with 'expensive' however I did get a little annoyed in summer when, at variouse times, I found a pigeon on the back of my sofa, a magpie walking up and down the hall and a male pheasant crouching behind the dyson in atempt to escape a beating from another male. Never a dull moment.

Comment is about FOR THE BIRDS (blog)

Original item by M.C. Newberry

Thank you so much for your feedback & likes! I was trying to capture the magic of that little moment w/ the lady (about 89 years old I think, named Victoria) & I'm so pleased a bit of the magic came out in the poem. Vicky stayed alive for her husband, he just wouldn't let her die; she was a warrior surviving all those weeks in the hospital with no visitors allowed.

Comment is about Songs of Joy & Wonder (blog)

Original item by Hélène

Bethany - many thanks for the quick comment. I live in the heart
of London and my poem was inspired by the view out on to my
local street earlier today. There is a pub next door and a cafe
opposite - both of which can supply scraps for our avian neighbours.

Comment is about FOR THE BIRDS (blog)

Original item by M.C. Newberry

Believe me M.C.I never ever no matter what the weather may be like let our three bird feeders go empty. Yes it is a little expensive in order to keep them filled but what a show they put on for you as a beautiful reward. This morning watching them through a gap in the blinds was so funny! the big Crows and Starlings were getting stuck in and who is down below picking up all their crumbs but Mr wise Robin letting the big guys do all the hard work-cheeky little feller!

Comment is about FOR THE BIRDS (blog)

Original item by M.C. Newberry

I absolutely agree wholeheartedly with Uilleam. What a lovely experience for you Helene and how beautifully you have poetically translated it. Thank you and may God Bless that lady.

Comment is about Songs of Joy & Wonder (blog)

Original item by Hélène

What a guy indeed Martin. The rock upon which so many of us today should build our lives on I say. Thank you.

Comment is about Wise guys (blog)

Original item by Martin Elder

Thank you all so much for the likes and very kind comments. 😊

Comment is about Aftermath (blog)

Original item by Clare

Took you long enough to comment on four lines! 😉
The words "long term" seem anathema to minds these days,
Ask why "trade" with EU countries requires a political entity
that produces edicts on our everyday lives here in this
historically known world-wide trading nation. Power is the
name of the game played across the Channel - and has been
for many years under the deceit of "trade". Politics is about
Power and its bedfellow Ego. Look there for causes and
culprits. And also ask how and why we can allocate a hundred
billion pounds GBP (and rising) on a superfluous rail ;link - and
where that money might be better spent.when our economy
has been "locked down" to its grievous cost. So easy then
to blame Brexit for the immediate effects of political mis-management..

Comment is about GOODBYE TO THE CONSERVATIVE PARTY (blog)

Original item by M.C. Newberry

Perfidious Albion? Did that emerge from France - perhaps when
Napoleon was trying to win his match with most of the rest of Europe?
Opinions anyone?
Besides, we all know that we should "Play up, play up - and play
the game". - from the days when "That's not FAIR" resonated
in British lives. 😇.

Comment is about RESPECT THE REFEREE (A VILLANELLE) (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

Having spent thirty years dealing with the widest range of
society, its strengths and weaknesses, I came to understand
the importance of keeping an open mind about the variety of
attitudes put forward while trying to sort out which version of
the offered reality was actuality. People love to have their
opinions, convictions and prejudices validated by belief and praise, don't they?
My approach to sexism (and other familiar "isms" of today) is
certainly as valid as your own. If that makes me "ill-informed",
should I assume I'm in good company?
Compliments of the Season.

Comment is about From PhD thesis on everyday sexism to award-winning poetry collection: Kim Moore wins £10,000 Forward prize (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Pussy Riot and the England Women's Football Team,
what a combination to be reckoned with!

Comment is about Путин научит тебя любить Родину (Official Video) Something Even More Beautiful for You (blog)

Hi Stephen, was away from the site for about a year - is good to find you still here upon returning. I enjoyed your elegy for the Queen - and have just bought a copy of your book - so hopefully that will arrive soon - but I just wanted to say it's really good to see you on the rise. John 😎

Comment is about Woodchip (blog)

Original item by Stephen W Atkinson

Cheers Leon.
Not sure if me getting into Heavy Metal's a good idea at 70 odd, but I'll try anything ONCE, like mushrooms!😈
Best wishes.

Pussy Riot seem to be an appropriate choice... given the state of Europe. If they're good enough for Simon Schama they're good enough for me!

Comment is about Something Beautiful for You (blog)

Over recent years I've come to the conclusion that there is a distinct difference between "religion" and "spirituality" and that the two have been erroneously conflated.

For me, the word "religion" means quite simply: "that which binds us together"...be that football, the stock markets, drugs, our book club, or WOL😊!

I'd argue that "blind faith" in any religion and "barbaric ignorance", are one and the same thing, which can, but not necessarily, lead to "Murder and marauding" in the name of whoever or whatever our "GOD / religion" may be.

Whereas true spirituality, be we aetheist, whatever, is a deep connection with all around us, opening the eyes of our hearts and minds...

Speaking of religion...my brain hurts now, so I'm off to the Monday club at the pub.

Best wishes.

Comment is about Redemption song (blog)

Original item by John E Marks

Ahem U-me no likey haughty taughty tonsil ticklings me like songs such as ' Vicious traditions' by the Veils or ' Thunderstruck
by AC/DC something to blow the grim cobwebs of the past year away-dothest thou getteth the idea? but ta loads anyway 👍

LS

Comment is about Something Beautiful for You (blog)

Blogging this offering Mr E. can be considered as your God deed of the day 👍

LS

Comment is about Wise guys (blog)

Original item by Martin Elder

I suspect that in many cases, what accentuates the anguish of both carers and patients these days, is the physical distance between our families / communities.

There's a saying that "it takes a village to raise a child";
I think that's also true with regard to our senior citizens.
💓

Comment is about Woodchip (blog)

Original item by Stephen W Atkinson

Thanks for this John. Some very profound truths here.
I saw your post, meant to comment but it "disappeared".
I'll get back to it when I've properly composed my thoughts.

Comment is about Redemption song (blog)

Original item by John E Marks

Amazing. That story can always be applied to any age, anywhere.
A Prophet never welcome in his own country, because he's a threat to the elites, speaking truth to power.

Comment is about Wise guys (blog)

Original item by Martin Elder

Self-doubt can be a powerful enemy, as I know to my cost.
I wish you courage!

Comment is about MAYBE (blog)

Original item by Rick Varden

The solo singing, the words, the choir, the orchestra, are sublime. We need more beauty like this in the world.

Comment is about Something Beautiful for You (blog)

What a beautiful story,
What a beautiful song
of joy and wonder,
and of hope.💓

Comment is about Songs of Joy & Wonder (blog)

Original item by Hélène

Thank you all for your warm thoughts and likes to this poem. I appreciate each and every one of you that has taken your time to give to myself as well to have given to others.

Warm wishes to you and yours during these cold months, and
Peace to All

Willow

Comment is about The Harshness of Winter (blog)

Original item by New Shoes

A truly beautiful poem, Clare; it powerfully conveys the pain of loss, yet ends with hope!🌷

Comment is about Aftermath (blog)

Original item by Clare

The book of proverbs it is then Keith. I could certainly use some wisdom! 😀
Thanks for this 👍

Comment is about Wisdom (blog)

Original item by keith jeffries

A very neat analogy both familiar and terrifying. We sometimes welcome change, as your protagonist does, and then regret the consequences. Terrific poem. Great! 💪

Comment is about Funfair (blog)

Original item by Stephen Gospage

Thanks Stephen G and Stephen A . Yes we're just considering the same, ironically, considering my poem. How do you check, diplomatically? 😂 Thanks for the like John C

Comment is about The Christmas Card (blog)

Original item by John Botterill