Thanks for the kind likes.

Comment is about Gentle Ripples (blog)

Original item by julie callaghan

Thanks for the comment MC and for the kind likes for another grumpy write😁🌈

Comment is about Get Your Foxy Off (blog)

Original item by julie callaghan

Being a father eh? The most important job you’ll ever have and the one there’s no training course for!

Comment is about The Journeyman Joiner (blog)

Original item by John Botterill

Thanks for your wonderful personal response, Keith. We seem to have parallel lives! It's funny how much more I understand and value my father as I look back, realising that being a father is never easy and that he accomplished the job so well.
Cheers Keith.
John 😀

Comment is about The Journeyman Joiner (blog)

Original item by John Botterill

Thank you so much, Leon, I truly appreciate it! 😊

Comment is about Squanderers... (blog)

Original item by Holden Moncrieff

Hey John! Thanks for reading and dropping off your most welcome comments. Yes, it is a near and present future. The glimpses are truly becoming more common place as the years roll onward. 🌷

Comment is about what i'm not saying (blog)

Original item by Red Brick Keshner

The most unusual love poem but one which has interesting content. The final line is staggeringly beautiful.
Thank you for this
Keith

Comment is about Finding the Deep (blog)

Original item by Dawn

My father's name was Frank and a veteran of the Second World War. He too was a handyman, never a moment to be wasted and time put to good use in creating no end of household objects. Sadly I did not inherit his skills.
Thank you for this
Keith

Comment is about The Journeyman Joiner (blog)

Original item by John Botterill

I have not yet read Stephen's latest book but fully intend to in the not too distant future. I have read many of the poems he has submitted to Write Out Loud and from these can recommend this book as it is assuredly the work of a celebrated poet.
Keith Jeffries

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

Original item by Greg Freeman

Thanks for your excellent response, Leon. He was in the Senior Service (navy) and smoked them too haha. 99% boredom 1% absolute terror (the war, not the fags).

He didn't pass on any of his practical skills at all. I think he thought academia suited me and paid better.
Either that or he considered me to be a motor moron 😉😂

Comment is about The Journeyman Joiner (blog)

Original item by John Botterill

John I would like to know if your brave soldiering skilful dad has passed those skills onto you? if so then I think that you and I would agree that they most certainly should passed on again

if not I think (jesting) that it wood' be going against the grain 😆

LS

Comment is about The Journeyman Joiner (blog)

Original item by John Botterill

I have just glimpsed the future, Frederick! Great poem. 💪

Comment is about what i'm not saying (blog)

Original item by Red Brick Keshner

Thanks for the likes Helene and Leon 😀

Comment is about The Chisel (blog)

Original item by John Botterill

Sorry Helene a charming poem by the way!

Comment is about No Doubt (blog)

Original item by Hélène

My wife of 51 years and I often have the conversation about whether it is better to live, love, have a family or to have remained single, independent, no baggage etc!.

It should be obvious what we concluded, but there will eventually be unbearable loss for one of us!!

Comment is about No Doubt (blog)

Original item by Hélène

Denial or delusion, MC?
It isn’t asking the question which demonstrates the racism; it’s the refusal to accept the answer.

Comment is about SO WHERE DO YOU COME FROM? (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

Blessings on you Stephen for publishing & writing this book. War is insane; maybe on the other side of this physical life on earth (heaven or some other interesting dimension?) we will understand why creatures on this planet never stop fighting & killing each other. In the meanwhile, we will keep saying "no more war!" Thank you for this.

Comment is about Ukraine poetry book published (blog)

Original item by Stephen Gospage

I'm sure the American side of my family would have no problem
following the thrust of the enquiry into origins and reply
accordingly. It seems there is more to this incident than is being
reported in the MSM, Her late Majesty The Queen retained
Lady Hussey's services for six decades - a noteworthy indication
that the Head of the Commonwealth had no qualms about
"racism" from that direction.

Comment is about SO WHERE DO YOU COME FROM? (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

I do truly believe poetry is therapy Keith. Keep on writing your emotions, difficult as they are. Your words go out as a plea to the universe & hopefully strength & hope will return. One day at a time, one foot in front of the other. Prayers, prayers, prayers.

Comment is about A letter to god (blog)

Original item by Keith Byrne

Ha...I'll bet you don't gamble. Neither do I. I place my knowledge
and small "punting pot" against the expertise of the bookie.
It's called playing for pleasure. And like the old age I currently
inhabit,, it ain't for sissies (or gullible fools). .

Comment is about Get Your Foxy Off (blog)

Original item by julie callaghan

Thanks for your thoughts, gentlemen.
Botswana, Eswatini, and Malawi in new money, Greg. I recall there was a Basutoland also (Lesotho). I remember them having brilliantly colourful stamps of wild animals,
Personally,, Graham, I think the monarchy will emerge stronger for this. And, although I describe myself as a reluctant monarchist, I have hopes for a king with a modern, relevant conscience.

Comment is about SO WHERE DO YOU COME FROM? (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

I may have re-posted this before! But worth remembering the time a wrong World Cup decision about whether the ball had crossed the line DID favour the Germans. Included in my 2021 collection Marples Must Go!, as it happens

Comment is about Watching England with Carol Ann Duffy (blog)

Original item by Greg Freeman

A spellbinding poem, Jason. It captures a beautiful moment.

Comment is about Sunrise (blog)

Original item by Jason Phillips

forgive the one-off rhythm nicking Jo-so inspirationally tempting

LS

Comment is about Alone With My Glass (blog)

Original item by Jo Callisto

no way Galahad! with you all the way Brenda

LS

Comment is about Late Knight Shopping (blog)

Original item by Brenda Wells

Ditto Rose comment

LS

Comment is about Squanderers... (blog)

Original item by Holden Moncrieff

Uilleam, I LOVE that story about you and your dad... sending off for parts to make a radio.. that's SO cool... vs the throw-away-culture we have today... 💕

Comment is about Alone With My Glass (blog)

Original item by Jo Callisto

Many years ago, when I had a proper job in management in a very large national company, every so often, when you thought everyone was singing from the same hymn sheet, someone would do something that was so off message that you thought they were sabotaging the business.
Of course they were just poorly informed, and even though good and loyal workers, had to be got rid of. Did it mean the whole business held those same views? No!
Sadly, and I'm certainly no monarchist, the comments of this old lady has played into the hands of those that will seek to make a statement out of it. Even more sadly, I believe their actions will inflame even more racism as a result.

JC I must admit when I saw your title I thought it was another Peter Sarstedt rip-off. Disappointed!

Comment is about SO WHERE DO YOU COME FROM? (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

You are spot on, as ever, Stephen. A bit of Digging went into the thought processes as you correctly surmised! 😎👍

Comment is about The Chisel (blog)

Original item by John Botterill

A touch of Seamus Heaney here, John. A lovely poem of fond memory.

Comment is about The Chisel (blog)

Original item by John Botterill

Love it, John, all those old colonial names that will mean nothing to younger folk. Shows how out of touch the royal family is, failing to put its dotty old racist retainers out to pasture.

Comment is about SO WHERE DO YOU COME FROM? (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

Nice one, John. Captures the out-of-date brick thickness of such royal hangers-on perfectly. (Oh dear, my Daily Express has just self-destructed).

Comment is about SO WHERE DO YOU COME FROM? (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

' Bar maid pulls it very well ' ?? and there's you an altar lad too!

ohh!, you are awful 😉


awww bless 😇




Rose 💋

Comment is about 1st Sunday in Advent (V1) (blog)

I am so pleased to have inspired new poetry and revisit action of finished poems, Graham and Rose. 'The Chisel' came out of nowhere, really, but given your fabulous responses I'm glad it did.
Is working with wood, a bit like working with words? Just a thought...
Thanks so much both of you 😎

Comment is about The Chisel (blog)

Original item by John Botterill

Thank you so much, Rose, for your extremely kind comment! 😊

Comment is about Squanderers... (blog)

Original item by Holden Moncrieff

Thank you Uilleam, Clare, Stephen, Holden and Brenda.

Poetry has been to me its own exceeding great reward; it has given me the habit of wishing to discover the good and beautiful in all that meets and surrounds me.

Samuel Taylor Coleridge

Comment is about A disturbance (blog)

Original item by John E Marks

“No (wo)man was ever yet a great poet, without at the same time being a profound philosopher.”
― Samuel Coleridge

Comment is about Poetry or Philosophy? (blog)

Original item by John E Marks

John, you have inspired me to write a piece similar. I hope you don't mind me pinching the essence of your idea. As you know, poems will out!

Comment is about The Chisel (blog)

Original item by John Botterill

Love the sentiment, Uilleam! I was alter boy once, too, don't remember that song though! 😂

Comment is about 1st Sunday in Advent (V1) (blog)

Re Dads/ wood/ tools etc you have prompted me to dig up two old poems of mine along the same lines

one I did for my Father-' Dads d-i-y sanctuary ' in which he repaired a lot of given up hope with things-reusing old wood

and amazingly made two fairly huge rocking horses for the Grandkids made out of scaffolding planks-photos of which to follow asap

and the other poem-' offcuts ' which also has to do with the subject of waste that Keith mentioned in my earlier poem

The offcuts were always placed outside the local timber merchants for anyone to take and use hopefully for making something out of and not just as firewood

so if I find these two old poetry efforts I shall dedicate them both to you for the inadvertent prompting 👍



Rose 💋

Comment is about The Chisel (blog)

Original item by John Botterill

Thanks Hélène! 😃 Yes, I can imagine he's seen some things, to be sure... Nature is rather brutal at times. I wasn't sure about the ending and had originally written a more ambiguous one but this is based on a day I experienced during the summer and those were the thoughts I was left with - so I kept this ending.

Thanks Stephen, much appreciated as always.

Thanks Uilleam, your persian cat sounds like a trooper! 😃

Thank you also to Emer, Kimberly, Dawn, Holden and K Lynn for reading and 'liking',

Comment is about Day of Death (blog)

Original item by Tom

Holy water? Followers will hop to it and fall to their knees
under its heady influence. Christmas cheer! 😃

Comment is about 1st Sunday in Advent (V1) (blog)

I love the fact that so many poets have responded positively to this piece. I was going to include a piece about how pathetic I was at woodwork, ( unlike Uilleam!) but, I thought, no, this poem is about my dad. Must admit to being a bit teary as I wrote it! 😂
Thanks so much Uilleam, Graham, Holden, Stephen and Rose for the likes and comments. 😃👍

Comment is about The Chisel (blog)

Original item by John Botterill

Neat and non-mythically sweet Joe








Rose 💋

Comment is about Relatively Speaking (blog)

Original item by Joe Marcello

Literary magic for sure Holden







Rose 💋

Comment is about Squanderers... (blog)

Original item by Holden Moncrieff

I'm the curator of an art gallery-no really!
Works of art donated by a 3 yr old, have had pride of place in our living room, ever since she could dab her fingers in a pot of paint.
💓

Comment is about Pictures in Frames (blog)

Original item by Mike McPeek

My missus' cat was a three-legged Persian, having been run over on the nearby railway track- despite that, it still managed to bring us offerings of sparrows etc.

Comment is about Day of Death (blog)

Original item by Tom

Ah yes, the border in the Irish sea.
I wonder which set of Onanists dreamt that one up?😕

Comment is about A father for us all (blog)

Original item by Kevin Vose

"I’ll stay detained with the whole human race ."

Excellent choice-I'm off to the pub!

Comment is about A franchise on my soul (blog)

Original item by JD Russell

I definitely won't be going to the Manchester Christmas Market this year-my idea of hell.

Stay in the pub-much safer!

Comment is about Late Knight Shopping (blog)

Original item by Brenda Wells