Thank you K for your comments both!

Comment is about Kealan Coady (poet profile)

Original item by Kealan Coady

Thank you Tommy for your really thoughtful and thoughtprovoking comment on 'Single Malt Tears'. You hit the nail on the head, some of us cannot find the balance and succumb to whatever 'oblivion' is available, others of us fight to find the balance that makes things bearable.

nicky x

Comment is about Tommy Carroll (poet profile)

Original item by Tommy Carroll

Thanx for your comment on my poem, mucho appreciated.

Comment is about Nicky Burrows (poet profile)

Original item by Nicky Burrows

Hi Nicky,
Thank-you for reading and commenting on 'Growing Up' and 'One Touch of Nature' - glad you liked them.
I'm not sure I can offer any advice about going up tempo - I write in a very haphazard way, and the more I try and force things - the less I seem to be able to set down on paper. Just keep writing, is the only thing I'd advise anyone.
Cx

Comment is about Nicky Burrows (poet profile)

Original item by Nicky Burrows

Neil
Perhaps a bodice-ripper next.
I just had the feeling this a.m. that there can only be so many ways that we can describe a love lost. So!
Poets must suffer!!
Thanks for the ;-)

Comment is about Neil West (poet profile)

Original item by Neil West

Hi Cynthia, thank you for taking the time to read my poem. I thought your comment was a very interesting one that made me go back and read it again quite carefully, I hadn't thought about there being different tones to the voice but I see what you mean. I was also pleased to be introduced to your work, especially The Sage, very haunting. I enjoyed the language too (I'm sometimes accused of using 'old fashioned' language).

Comment is about Cynthia Buell Thomas (poet profile)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

Thank you for sharing 'Lies' with me Neil. A very true and thoughtprovoking poem. Funny how we try automatically to protect our young ones with lies in one form or another, when what we should be doing is preparing them for their solo entrance into the world. The difficulty is finding the balance.

Nicky x

Comment is about Neil West (poet profile)

Original item by Neil West

Hi Kealan, good to meet you, thought your poem Fires of Burning Midnight worked well with the musical accompaniment, like the poem too, hope to see you again soon, and making your debut on the stage! cheers Jeff

Comment is about Kealan Coady (poet profile)

Original item by Kealan Coady

Haha. Take it your house is the same as mine then!!! Chaotic, except between the hours of 9pm and early hours of the morning?! Nice to hear from you Neil.

Nicky x

ps. what do you think of my arty-farty pic?lol:-)

Comment is about Neil West (poet profile)

Original item by Neil West

Hi Nicky, sorry I have been quiet lately but I've been busy with work after idling the summer away, I only get a small window of opportunity to stealth surf WOL at the mo!

Thank you for your thoughtful comments. I would like to share one of my favourite poems that I first read as a teenager and I think it was the first poem that made me stop and think. It is by Yevtushenko. I suppose, consciously or otherwise, it has influenced my own ideas to some extent.

Lies

Lying to the young is wrong.
Proving to them that lies are true is wrong.
Telling them
that God’s in his heaven
and all’s well with the world
is wrong.
They know what you mean.
They are people too.
Tell them the difficulties
can’t be counted,
and let them see
not only
what will be
but see
with clarity
these present times.
Say obstacles exist they must encounter,
sorrow comes,
hardship happens.
The hell with it.
Who never knew
the price of happiness
will not be happy.
Forgive no error
you recognize,
it will repeat itself,
a hundredfold
and afterward
our pupils
will not forgive in us
what we forgave.

Comment is about Nicky Burrows (poet profile)

Original item by Nicky Burrows

Thanks for your comment on my little poem that's over 40 years old.

You must gird your loins and read your stuff at the next open mic. There's one at the Howcroft on Sunday!

Comment is about Kealan Coady (poet profile)

Original item by Kealan Coady

haha! LOVED a summary of T. Hughes' poetry! great stuff! And thanks for your comment, really made me laugh! xx

Comment is about Tommy Carroll (poet profile)

Original item by Tommy Carroll

Thank you for your comment Cynthia.
I find it such an irony that Bamburgh Castle was 'restored' using money gained from arms sales, and that there is a war memorial below the castle.

I think it is a measure of how low we have sunk as a society, when a major British arms dealer is running schools all over Britain under the cover of being a 'registered charity'.

So much for the chances of our children living in peace !

Comment is about Cynthia Buell Thomas (poet profile)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

Hi Tommy

Thanks 4 listening...me cummin at u...

Gus

Comment is about Tommy Carroll (poet profile)

Original item by Tommy Carroll

Windows is great, I have a few in a similar vein or would that be pane.
Anyway it's sharp and funny. I like it.

Comment is about Winston Plowes (poet profile)

Original item by Winston Plowes

John, as near as I can figure, the definition of what is poetry is now very broad, and your work so far posted certainly qualifies. You definitely have 'the feel'.

I do think attention to the entire background of poetic skills is essential, the same points which came up in your GCSE courses: a wide vocabulary for selective diction, the varied methods for acquiring vivid imagery and of sound, the colours of mood, and the overall effect of tone. If you don't know where you're going with a poem - stop. Or, if you digress - stop - and go back and find your direction again. Perhaps you need another poem, or six. Don't waffle. It's not fair to your reader.

If you don't know what I'm talking about, look it up. It's really important if you are really sincere.

Alvin's comment is excellent: it follows through with what I think is your intent: exclusivity.

Comment is about John Aikman (poet profile)

Original item by John Aikman

Thank you for the encouragement!

Comment is about John Coopey (poet profile)

Original item by John Coopey

Hi cynthia, thank you for the comments.
I see what you mean about science and poetry both being about discovery, unfortunately the science side of thing has lost any sense of discovery at the moment due to the dreaded exams causing me to have to keep dredging up and trying to memorise the same old facts!
I really appreciate how you dont just give me a little comment of encouragement, but provide constructive criticism i can work on.
Jessie.

Comment is about Cynthia Buell Thomas (poet profile)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

Hi Gus
good job on the stalker poem. Ihave mininised it further. Perarse to far! interesting exercise. Win x

Comment is about Gus Jonsson (poet profile)

Original item by Gus Jonsson

True a message to the untouchables , but,but, ,,, they won't read it because it doesn't affect them. They don't have a problem it is purely recreational. What a load of pants!.

Comment is about Tommy Carroll (poet profile)

Original item by Tommy Carroll

Thank you , you are very kind.

Comment is about Cate (poet profile)

Original item by Cate

I say, Cynthia you keep me on my toes don't you. My daughter asked for the piece ,it was lightweight I agree. If you want some real meat then I will have to oblige some time in the future.
Your comments are appreciated it keeps me on my toes.

Comment is about Cynthia Buell Thomas (poet profile)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

Hey John , thanks for the comments and yes St Peppers is a classic album which is well locked into the jukebox of historical recordings. A Day In Life !!!!.

Comment is about John Coopey (poet profile)

Original item by John Coopey

Hi Tommy

thanks for taking the time to read and comment on my poem

steve x

Comment is about Tommy Carroll (poet profile)

Original item by Tommy Carroll

Hi Andy

thanks for taking the time to read and make comment on 'occupation'

steve x

Comment is about Andy N (poet profile)

Original item by Andy N

thanks for your comments on rowan tree Winston , sorry i have missed the juggling :)

Comment is about Winston Plowes (poet profile)

Original item by Winston Plowes

Cate
Thanks for the comments on my "70 Metres Dash". It really was true - I did keep comimg last. ("The Charge of the Light Brigade" is true as well - don't ever get electricians in your house to do some work!
Since you commented I took the opportunity to look at your stuff, ("Eer Olive's Pumps"). We seem to have a similarity of style - heavy meter and rhyme, light content.
Post some more.
John Coopey

Comment is about Cate (poet profile)

Original item by Cate

Hi Cynthia
Thanks for taking the time to comment.
I went to SA, as a 19 year old idiot, in 1967. I knew nothing of the world (who did in '67). I'd been as far as the Isle of Man, and never seen London until the plane took off from Heathrow.
Met my wife in SA (half Dutch; half Scot), and the children were born there. It was probably only when they came along that the light started to dawn. Returned at the beginning of '75 somewhat wiser.

Comment is about Cynthia Buell Thomas (poet profile)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

Hi Cate
Thanks for the comment. I was in my 'rebel' years when I went to SA, but knew nothing of the ways of the world. The only things that bothered me were pop music, football and the odd? girlfriend. I know, now, that I knew nothing of apartheid. It was an illuminating period of my life.
A lot of the black South Africans had Biblical names. I think they were more Christian than the rest of the inhabitants.

Comment is about Cate (poet profile)

Original item by Cate

Hi John
Good to meet you at Hebden, and thanks for taking the time to comment.
I try to at least acknowledge the wrongs that I have been complicit in. I wish I had the guts to do more.
I was 19 when I went to SA, which I think is equivalent to a mental age of about 12 in todays children.

Comment is about John Darwin (poet profile)

Original item by John Darwin

Tee hee. Yes - that's one way of suffering big time...

Comment is about Neil West (poet profile)

Original item by Neil West

yes , to your comments about a fishmonger , cold dead things , slabs , all those ideas instantly in your mind

i am fine , taking lunch break at uni :)

Comment is about Gus Jonsson (poet profile)

Original item by Gus Jonsson

Hi Isobel, Thanks for the comments on CAFCASS Survivor. Good observation. Thanks. Win

Comment is about Isobel (poet profile)

Original item by Isobel

Hi Andy, thanks for reading CAFCASS Survivor, glad you liked.

Comment is about Andy N (poet profile)

Original item by Andy N

Thank you for your compliments on 'To write a poem', Win.This is the first poem I've written for a while.Found it exhilarating.
I see you have a quiet live poetry performing!!!!! Hope its going well for you,
Regards
Phil

Comment is about Winston Plowes (poet profile)

Original item by Winston Plowes

thank you as ever my darling... you say the kindest things
love ya to bits
gusxx

Comment is about Valerie Cook (poet profile)

Original item by Valerie Cook

Hi Anthony - I'd also like to congratulate you on being NPOTM. I've been keeping my head down lately or I'd have acknowledged you earlier, I know I've already mentioned Beyond the Equinox but it is simply a terrific piece of writing and I wish I'd written it!

Comment is about Anthony Emmerson (poet profile)

Original item by Anthony Emmerson

Hi Isobel. Sorry I've not been paying attention but I wholeheartedly agree with the choice of Anthony's 'Beyond the Equinox' for notable poem of the month, if I hadn't been burying my head in the sand lately I'd have voted for it too - good choice. By and by, thank you for your comments on An Anti-Love Poem, I'd intended it to come over as positive and affirming but perhaps I need to suffer a little more yet. I know, I'll post an opinion about next month's POTM:)

Comment is about Isobel (poet profile)

Original item by Isobel

HI Cynthia

thanks once again or taking the time to read and make considered comment on the call - the change of title to the list i had already scratched my head about prior to posting - good to know that there are like minds out there in the ether ; )

and i like that you question if this is indeed a tragedy

i am developing an overall context within which this poem sits

thanks again - i appreciate your comment and time

steve x

Comment is about Cynthia Buell Thomas (poet profile)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

Hi Isobel, thanks for commenting on CAFCASS survivor.made a couple of tweeks on the blogs page. Win

Comment is about Isobel (poet profile)

Original item by Isobel

Good Morning Winston
I've added another thought to the funding discussion.
Thoughts?
Steve M.

Comment is about Winston Plowes (poet profile)

Original item by Winston Plowes

Hello Katie
I think I saw you at this Tuesday's Wicked Words in Leeds. Didn't you open? If it was you I thought you were v good. I was the Clog-Lump that did a few couplets about Our Gert and Betty's.
John Coopey

Comment is about Katie Sandham (poet profile)

Original item by Katie Sandham

I truly meant to congratulate you on being recognized on WOLOP. This a separate post just so you won't miss it.

Comment is about Marianne Daniels (poet profile)

Original item by Marianne Daniels

Thanks Spencer.
I really enjoyed Tuesday and nice to meet you.
I've been to a couple of Open Mics before but they were 10% Poems and 90% Discussion - mostly a load of bollocks. So Chapel Allerton was a pleasant revelation.
Keep posting.
John

Comment is about John Coopey (poet profile)

Original item by John Coopey

Tommy,
I expect Jerry would love the poem. I'm one of those people who just don't get him.

Comment is about Tommy Carroll (poet profile)

Original item by Tommy Carroll

Thanks Isobel, gobbledegoookeeoohgooksomemoregoodecrap.
nkidsssdeermmmpackitineeeeeeerrrrrrrrrrrrmdehobbllledegookgookdeermdeeebedtime

You know what I mean.

nicky x

Comment is about Isobel (poet profile)

Original item by Isobel

So when are you going to post your 'Take a Break' poem Chris? Loved it last night at the Tudor and this site could do with a laugh...

Comment is about christine yates (poet profile)

Original item by christine yates

Nice to of met you the other night , I have just about got over my coughing fit. It would have to happen as I am about to read and put me off my stride. I liked your spot it was great.

Comment is about John Coopey (poet profile)

Original item by John Coopey

Thanks for the comments! It is a lovely thing to go mad isn't it?....!

Comment is about John Darwin (poet profile)

Original item by John Darwin

Thanks for the comment Cate, 'double bummer' when your are working till four thirty because the only quiet time in the house is after 10pm......and then the youngest decide to wake up at 4pm, and by the time you have settled them by 6, the next wave errupts, and the rest of those beautiful little blighters come 'a bouncing' on your bed, pinching your pillow, sticking fingers up your nose and in your ears and throwing dodies and bottles with deadly aim, that normally bounce off your head!!:-)

11 cups of coffee later...........school run, and third wind takes over. haha.

nicky x :-)

Comment is about Cate (poet profile)

Original item by Cate