Thu 6th Oct 2022 17:25
Excellent and entertaining, John! đ
Comment is about YOUR CHEATIN' CARP (blog)
Original item by John Coopey
Another cracker JC. No need to fish for compliments with this
Hank Williams "spin-off". You've got me hook, line and sinker!đ
Comment is about YOUR CHEATIN' CARP (blog)
Original item by John Coopey
I mentioned this poem in my recent review of David's collection 'The Metal Exchange' https://www.writeoutloud.net/public/blogentry.php?blogentryid=124889
Comment is about Cogs (blog)
Original item by David Cooke
Thanks for the comment on this one John! I missed it back in 2020 and just spotted it now đ
Comment is about There Will Be Birds In The Morning (blog)
Original item by Tom
"Will weep at our demise
And curse our leaders' lies"
Most of us do our little bit but we are helpless when it comes to influencing politicians- Why Oh Why! do they only pretend to be
responding?
Comment is about Sympathetic Stars (blog)
Original item by Stephen Gospage
This is a brilliant poem Tom and deserves a wide audience. My favourite line: "just empty eyes and vague replies."
Comment is about The Faintest Farewell (blog)
Original item by Tom
My friend used to say that booze was an anaesthetic, I was never really convinced. âThat's the problem with drinking, I thought, as I poured myself a drink. If something bad happens you drink in an attempt to forget; if something good happens you drink in order to celebrate; and if nothing happens you drink to make something happen.â Charles Bukowski
Comment is about Ship In A Bottle (blog)
Original item by Tom
Half-created half-perceived journeyings Tom.
Comment is about The Wonder (blog)
Original item by Tom
This is a beautiful, whistful poem, it paints a scene that I too would love to be apart of, but it has left me feeling so sad. My family was once like that - a long time ago -and now it isn't - that bond did not last into adulthood..
Comment is about Young Family In The Sunshine (blog)
Original item by Tom
'close the circuit' - we all strive to do that!
Comment is about One Last Affair (blog)
Original item by Tom
Too much to handle - too many firings in the brain - nothing stays the same.
Comment is about Greenland (blog)
Original item by Tom
Tom, funnily, or not, the first thing I thought was things are not always as they seem Reminded me of Charles Causley's bewitching poem 'Eden Rock':
They are waiting for me somewhere beyond Eden Rock:
My father, twenty-five, in the same suit
Of Genuine Irish Tweed, his terrier Jack
Still two years old and trembling at his feet.
My mother, twenty-three, in a sprigged dress
Drawn at the waist, ribbon in her straw hat,
Has spread the stiff white cloth over the grass.
Her hair, the colour of wheat, takes on the light.
She pours tea from a Thermos, the milk straight
From an old H.P. sauce-bottle, a screw
Of paper for a cork; slowly sets out
The same three plates, the tin cups painted blue.
The sky whitens as if lit by three suns.
My mother shades her eyes and looks my way
Over the drifted stream. My father spins
A stone along the water. Leisurely,
They beckon to me from the other bank.
I hear them call, âSee where the stream-path is!
Crossing is not as hard as you might think.â
I had not thought that it would be like this.
Comment is about Young Family In The Sunshine (blog)
Original item by Tom
John, this is beautiful. Thanks for sharing.
Comment is about De Profundis (blog)
Original item by John E Marks
Congratulations Coralynn!
Comment is about My book is published!! (blog)
Original item by Coralynn Roller
The news story.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ga3Rj9oaMWA
Comment is about YOUR CHEATIN' CARP (blog)
Original item by John Coopey
"Putting greater strain on our struggling N.H.S. !!"
The people responsible for this state of affairs are already of course, attempting to blame the NHS's struggling on covid, and on people irresponsible enough to get old and sick.
Fact is the NHS was already quote "on its knees" when the Johnson came to power in 2019 - 2000 uk doctors wrote to him before the election and told him so.
Comment is about Thoughts of a pensioner plunged into poverty as she struggles to eat and heat (blog)
Original item by hugh
<Deleted User> (34003)
Thu 6th Oct 2022 13:02
I'm keen to see how long this thread can be sustained.
How is it such apparently innocuous articles such as the Balaclava can be associated with so many negative thoughts, for example.
1. Criminality
2. Sinister state agencies
3. Terrorism
4. The humiliation and discomfort of school children.
I suppose some objects are more plyable to the wicked ways and intentions of men. Although I am reliably informed you can kill someone with a phone directory...if anyone recalls what such a thing is.
Next please...
Comment is about THE BALACLAVA (blog)
Original item by ray pool
You are so right, Uilleam. You need a conscience in order to feel embarrassment or guilt.
And thanks for the Like, Julie.
Comment is about U-TURN (blog)
Original item by John Coopey
Bravo Tom Pickard et al!
The purpose of stopping bursaries and scholarships for teacher trainees in art and humanities subjects is frankly, to shut us up, through, as George Orwell put it, the "Prevention of Literature".
That will be achieved by destroying the windows through which we view society, hopefully changing it for the better.
Sneering attacks on the humanities by the likes of Dominic Cummings, and attacks on BBC 2, the Arts council, the OU and such as the South Bank Show by Rupert Murdoch and "client journalists", are responsible for such as London's Roehampton Uni and the Universities of Sunderland and Hallam ditching history and language courses.
Enough is enough!
Comment is about Veteran radical poet Tom Pickard reads at Newcastle protest rally (article)
Original item by Greg Freeman
"Frost on the inside"
Born in 48, I remember that on the bedroom windows - it was our double glazing - and outside toilets - marked by two little squares in our back ginnel đon the old ordnance survey maps!
Comment is about Then (blog)
Original item by Edbreathe
Good for you Uilleam ! I think the wool ones were itchy but i'm sure you'll check for that. I wondered if your name is pronounced William - i'm interested in gaelic names . Thanks.
Comment is about THE BALACLAVA (blog)
Original item by ray pool
I've bought a bloody big balaclava, the type motocyclists wear, and I'm going to wear it this winter.
Comment is about THE BALACLAVA (blog)
Original item by ray pool
The government's "moneytree" policy is:
money grows on trees but only for the rich and powerful.
"Them uz 'ave will 'ave" as they say round these parts.
Comment is about Growing Pies (blog)
Original item by Steve White
I think there is still such a thing as the slow food movement?
I've sacked fast food - those kebabs I used to scoff at drunk o'clock in the morning, yeugh!
I've taken to baking, Christmas cakes, sausage rolls, and I'm going to have a go at making baguettes - I love those french ones. GARLIC BREAD!đ
Comment is about Hey Jude, why do you eat snails ? (blog)
Original item by hugh
You use the word spiritual a lot. I like that.
It's often confused with religion. For some, the accumulation of money for its own sake is a religion,
Comment is about Key to knowledge (blog)
Original item by N.B
Very well put.
I think this youtube video by Steve Cutts tells some harsh truths.
Don't know if this url will work?
https://youtu.be/WfGMYdalClU
Comment is about Sympathetic Stars (blog)
Original item by Stephen Gospage
They say money doesn't grow on trees - but it does for the Russian oligarchs friends in the House of Lords!
Comment is about Pie Off (blog)
Original item by julie callaghan
Question
are snails really meat pies
in disguise
there is a similarity you know
meaty insides
with crusty tops
and snails can grow
and although rather slow
some are big enough for sharing.
I love the profound last line of your poem.
Comment is about Hey Jude, why do you eat snails ? (blog)
Original item by hugh
Good to see that poets are protesting against injustice.
Comment is about Veteran radical poet Tom Pickard reads at Newcastle protest rally (article)
Original item by Greg Freeman
Cheers Martin, it's much appreciated.
Comment is about I have that tape still (blog)
Original item by Tommy Carroll
You've fixed the economy crisis Hugh, let's save money on fast food and forage snails!
Comment is about Hey Jude, why do you eat snails ? (blog)
Original item by hugh
Thank you Frederick, Ruth Tom and Steve for liking this one.
Comment is about Generations (blog)
Original item by Stephen Gospage
Good one, Steve. It looks like pies and lies are the order of the day in No 10.
Comment is about Growing Pies (blog)
Original item by Steve White
Thank you to all who took the time to like/comment on this piece. I ramble through the lanes of time and I find that ageing is a bittersweet process. Live well, dear friends.
Comment is about Seasons Come and Seasons go (blog)
Original item by Clare
The simplicity and authenticity of this heartfelt poem is touching
Comment is about I ⤠Allah (blog)
Original item by Ghazala lari
Thanks Frederick for coming through here.
I should explain that the knitting pattern was amongst some old memorabilia I saved as I am a coward when it comes to destroying family past items however modest.
Greg, a salient point, a reversal of roles . I supposed you could say I was a soft target. Thanks too for the analogy !
Wow, split loyalties Flyntland. Quite a skill for a man i'd say but why not indeed?
Hi Stephen. We had no car and had to brave the elements at all times. The young can of course be scornful , I was mournful..
Thanks Massoud, your first paragraph is spot on . Headgear always seems to foster controversy (as in the Burkha and the Sikh examples and especially in the religious context. Does the issue raise deeper matters? of course especially of perception as to the roles you mention. As far as a soap box is concerned you know my views are for revelation rather than condemnation. Very best to you!
Ray
Comment is about THE BALACLAVA (blog)
Original item by ray pool
Cheers Martin, very generous comments re "I have that tape still".
đ
Comment is about Martin Elder (poet profile)
Original item by Martin Elder
That Anti-Growth Coalition seems to be growing by the minute...
Comment is about Growing Pies (blog)
Original item by Steve White
Don't agonise, organise! Join the Anti-Growth Coalition, as defined by Liz Truss. We even welcome north Londoners ...
Comment is about Growing Pies (blog)
Original item by Steve White
Steve, don't believe everything that you are told.
Comment is about Growing Pies (blog)
Original item by Steve White
Thankyou, Stephen. If this were a football match we would be chanting âYa donât know what ya doinââ. Like many, I suspect, whilst I welcome the volte face (or should I say âfarceâ?) I also really enjoy the embarrassment.
And thanks for the Like, Frederick and Steve.
Comment is about U-TURN (blog)
Original item by John Coopey
<Deleted User> (34003)
Wed 5th Oct 2022 09:17
A great piece of writing Ray.
Bullies will latch on to any opportunity to deflect from their own weakness. What is sad in the telling is that your Mother who presumably created this item of ridicule did it out of love and care for her much loved Son...maybe that is the act which so filled the bullies with hate...of course oblivious to their own short comings.
On other matters alluded to here, balaclavas have become fashionable in many elite fighting force. I note that unfortunately this has spread to so called specialist Police Units in the UK..of course they claim it is for security reasons and even HS&E reasons in some instances. To my mind if a Police Officer needs to hide his face whilst in uniform on operations this presents a problem...Our Police are not enforcers they are upholders of the law. Anything which fringes the paramilitary requires review. UC ops is completely different and much more regulated in this age.
We are far from being a Police State but I do not like and never have liked the drift toward paramilitary Police units.
I'll get off my soap box...hopefully having created topic for discussion.
More Importantly...good poem. Thought provoking.
Comment is about THE BALACLAVA (blog)
Original item by ray pool
Good job you didn't listen to them, Ray. The kids around here waiting for school buses seem to take delight in freezing in sub-zero winter temperatures. Keep warm. My wife still wears a balaclava in cold snaps. Fine poem as usual.
Comment is about THE BALACLAVA (blog)
Original item by ray pool
You sum it up well, John. This is government as sick comedy show.
Comment is about U-TURN (blog)
Original item by John Coopey
Flyntland
Thu 6th Oct 2022 17:30
Stephen Thank you for reading and for your kind comment,
Comment is about STORM COCK (blog)
Original item by Flyntland