Nicely weaved JD 👏

Comment is about If Will Shakespeare were a Therapist. (blog)

Original item by JD Russell

Thank you for the likes on this.

Graham, thanks for the comment.

Although I like Blake, Wills, Wordsworth and many of the other flowery poets my favourites are really those who use simple language to the greatest effect, among them I might include Betjeman and Larkin, JC Clarke and others.

Thanks again.

David RL Moore

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7gbFMWZWlo&list=RDEMQCADQblBKEr0wmEpraINDA&index=5

Comment is about Discarded (blog)

Original item by David RL Moore

Sounds like a special person! good to see the short lines.

Comment is about You Shine On Me (blog)

Original item by Alexandra K. Parapadakis

Thanks all for the thoughtful comments - always make me think 😃

& I agree Graham - really, there are no rules for poetry or any art (it's all a construct). But I guess everybody wants to feel understood by their audience or loved ones, and for me, the feeling and the message are often more important than the packaging... but ofc getting that feeling across can often rely on the packaging so 😅

Comment is about This is not a draft (blog)

Original item by Alexandra K. Parapadakis

Marvellous! It was my daughter’s 30th birthday that year, my wife’s 60th and our 40th wedding anniversary. So I saved a fortune on them. Wrote poetry instead - much cheaper.

Comment is about Write Out Loud looks back … at the early days of lockdown. How did poets cope? (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

My kind of brevity David.
Screaming graffiti is a great idea

Comment is about Discarded (blog)

Original item by David RL Moore

I am sure of the poets and writers who have picked up a weapon in defence of some seemingly righteous or humane cause (matter of debate) most of them would reflect upon such a serious undertaking with sadness.

That fact alone does not diminish their actions or their subsequent works, in many cases it enhances their worth, certainly their knowledge of the fulitity of war.

The majority of writers and poets are fortunate enough to never be called to arms and witness the slaughter, they are the lucky majority who are able to judge the actions of others from comfortable distance.

To kill is an abomination to life itself...but to live with dignity is the right of all and should be defended by those fortunate enough to exist unmolested by warmongers.

David RL Moore

Soldier and Masquerading Poet

Comment is about sword or pen? (blog)

Original item by Red Brick Keshner

Thanks for sharing this music video Uilleam to deepen the plea for peace and freedom in your poem. Really powerful.

Comment is about Bread and Roses (blog)

Original item by Uilleam Ó Ceallaigh

Thankyou for your further thoughts, Helene and Uilleam.
I can help with this, Flyntland. It’s not a bloke; it’s a bird.

Comment is about SELF-IDENTIFY (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

Thanks for all your likes
Hugh
Holden
Red Brick Keshner
Stephen G
Naomi
Helene
Aisha Suleman
Stephen A
Uilleam
Auracle
and
Larisa.


Light as a feather
so frail so wonderful
carefully holding a fully formed
bright red human baby boy
I have never forgotten that moment.

Comment is about You Never Left My Heart (blog)

Original item by Nigel Astell

Thank you Stephen, and to those who sent recent likes.

David RL Moore

Comment is about Easter, the resurrection of man (blog)

Original item by David RL Moore

Thanks for the like, Stephen A.
I've had it up to here with the hypocritical gaslighting establishment.

Comment is about Bread and Roses (blog)

Original item by Uilleam Ó Ceallaigh

It is not just humans that are confused over gender identity - a pheasant has been coming to my door for the last 2/3 years -
it's colouration is mostly male but not completely male.

'It' does not call or strut and keeps a low profile. The hens ignore it, and the males push it away from food but never attack.

At present it is shedding some of it's male feathers and brown female feathers are replacing them.

It has never wandered off as other pheasants do but stays close to the safety of my garden all the year round.

In the past I have also owned a fully identifiable hen that crowed, strutted and looked after the flock.

We are all part of nature.

Comment is about SELF-IDENTIFY (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

Until science (the systematic discipline that builds and organises knowledge in the form of testable hypotheses and predictions about the universe) tells me anything different, I’ll stick to that, or, to the “facts”, as they’re commonly known.

Comment is about SELF-IDENTIFY (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

Thanks, Hugh. This poem sums up a real problem. There's really no excuse for shoplifting and stealing. In the end, as you say, the honest people have to pay more. That's not to deny that social issues may drive (some) people towards this behaviour, but fundamentally it is wrong.

Comment is about This shoplifting plague needs strong medicine (blog)

Original item by hugh

An interesting view Helene. sometimes doing nothing is better than doing too much. Poetry is one. Do we edit/change/tamper with/re-write or should let the raw version stand alone?

Difficult,

G

Comment is about One Minute at a Time (blog)

Original item by Hélène

It's interesting, she calls herself a "transwoman" rather than a woman, & one time made a brief comment that she wasn't going to try to "pass" as a woman. My extended family doesn't talk much about all the thorny issues associated w/ womens sports, female bathrooms, hormone use for minors, etc etc. Lots of room for debate there, that's for sure.

Comment is about SELF-IDENTIFY (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

Correction-she was killed the day after her documentary wa accepted at the Cannes Film Festival.
Every free journalist, every word, every foot of film, every photo is a threat to the oppression of death-dealing tyrants.

........................."Put Your Soul on Your Hand and Walk".........................

Comment is about Haiku for 2025 [No.11] (blog)

Original item by Uilleam Ó Ceallaigh

Thank you Ray.
I still remember the smell of animal glue in our school wood-working classes.
And I love using the old Rabone brass and boxwood folding rule I picked up years ago at an antiques fair...it still bears the now indistinct name of some tech-school student. The old cabinet makers screwdivers are a favourite of mine-made for the job!

Comment is about OLD SCHOOL NEW SCHOOL (blog)

Original item by ray pool

Thanks for your likes:
Red Brick Keshner
Stephen Gospage
Holden Moncrieff
Flyntland

The horrors of this war on humanity war know no boundaries; the recent video featuring Trump and Netanyahu might be thought by any sane-minded person to be some kind of sick joke.
However, it is actually a statement of intent to commit ethnic cleansing; those politicians and their evil, twisted backers in the UK, (a so-called Christian country) who support those policies should be thoroughly ashamed of themselves and need to be held accountable in the Hague.

Comment is about Land and Freedom [ Gaza's Not For Sale! ] (blog)

Original item by Uilleam Ó Ceallaigh

Thanks Hugh, but ours is a society whose economy is based on greed.
The introduction of "impulse buying" was nothing but a cunning money-maker which I think began around my childhood.
Instead of asking someone behind a counter, "ave you got fork 'andles?" we can now take them straight off the shelf.
As a result, we have mums walking around supermarkets with babies in prams feeding them food they haven't yet paid for!
I've no sympathy for the whingeing so-called "victims", who are ripping customers off by massive amounts with their pricing tactics.
As for the Sun, trust them to take the side of the exploiter!

Comment is about This shoplifting plague needs strong medicine (blog)

Original item by hugh

Oh how I love a chicken butty
it's oh so tasty, with moist stuffing!

Comment is about Matador (blog)

Original item by Lee Campbell

Thanks for your likes
Stephen Gospage
Aisha Suleman

Comment is about Haiku for 2025 [No.11] (blog)

Original item by Uilleam Ó Ceallaigh

Thank you so much, Stephen, your kind comment is very encouraging! 😊

Comment is about Triumph. (blog)

Original item by Holden Moncrieff

Glad to hear it makes your nephew feel better, Helene. My thoughts are this. He has every right to say he’s a woman. Just as I have every right to say he’s not.
And thanks for the Like, Aisha.

Comment is about SELF-IDENTIFY (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

Clever poem John, but allow me to throw in my 2 cents from family experience. My sweet, quiet, shy nephew was depressed & suicidal in his early 20s. He came out as trans, slowly transitioned to a transwoman (medical & therapeutic assistance), and is now my sweet (still somewhat shy) niece. Our family has been open-minded and kind with this experience; it has been an educational process for all of us. My niece seems so comfortable in her skin now. We humans are an interesting species-- kindness is the guiding light. (No offense taken to your poem John; written in the spirit of fun I think.)

Comment is about SELF-IDENTIFY (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

What a fabulous image, Steve: someone pretending to be a policeman inspecting the genitalia of someone pretending to be a woman. Marvellous stuff.

Comment is about SELF-IDENTIFY (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

An extraordinarily well-observed poem, Ray. The same phenomenon everywhere, I think.

Comment is about OLD SCHOOL NEW SCHOOL (blog)

Original item by ray pool

The Haiku form makes a powerful statement here, Holden.

Comment is about Triumph. (blog)

Original item by Holden Moncrieff

The subtle structure and rhyming builds up to an immense impact in the final line, David.

Comment is about Easter, the resurrection of man (blog)

Original item by David RL Moore

You're welcome Holden Moncrieff. Coming straight from Kevin (although he is protecting himself and his loves now). Those
vengeful suicidals. So much of a problem. How should we name them?

Vengesidals? (written: Vengesuidal)

Comment is about Triumph. (blog)

Original item by Holden Moncrieff

Jakey’s got a new job
Care of that Supreme Court mob
What’s inside your boxers or briefs?
Jakey’s joined the toilet police

Jakey’s simply upholding the act
He needs to see your biological fact
He’s got his eye on your tomboy niece
Jakey’s joined the toilet police

An orderly queue, if you please
At the checkpoint for the Ladies
In his jackboots and company fleece
Jakey’s joined the toilet police

Comment is about SELF-IDENTIFY (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

A haunting lament that puts into words the dread that I believe we all feel.
Words like like "hope" and "peace" are frequently used to asway our fears, but long term, the insane warmongers who seek personal unlimited power without restraint, will drag us all into their chaos.

Comment is about They Will Not See (blog)

Original item by Trevor Alexander

Thanks Flyntland and to all those who sent likes.

I think it important to recognise that although there are many passages of text in religious scripture that endorse harm, it is the actions of mankind that manifest the text.

There is choice.

We should not forget that religious texts were written by men in order to control and direct the masses.

As for so called "evil" I suspect its potential exists within us all...

David RL Moore

PS, The issue I have with the word evil, is that it implies a force outside of the human which somehow possesses them.

It suggests absolution/excuse for individual actions by proposing such an external entity.

Comment is about Easter, the resurrection of man (blog)

Original item by David RL Moore

Thanks both @David (R L Moore)🌷 and @John (Coopey)🌷 a poet’s impasse from either direction.🕊🙏🏻

Comment is about sword or pen? (blog)

Original item by Red Brick Keshner

Thank you, Auracle, for your apt and beautiful reference! 🌷😊

Comment is about Triumph. (blog)

Original item by Holden Moncrieff

Brings back memories for me too

Comment is about A LAMENT FOR CHILDHOOD (blog)

Original item by Flyntland

Like Tupac Shakur once wrote:

'Long live the rose that grew from concrete
when no one else even cared!'

Comment is about Triumph. (blog)

Original item by Holden Moncrieff

Brave

Comment is about The Post Trauma Session (blog)

Original item by Shirley Birch

Having faith is a wonderful thing. It's what you have faith in that matters. Certainly not religion

Comment is about FAITH WITHOUT HOPE - OR CHARITY this is a second posting (blog)

Original item by Flyntland

Thank you, Graham, John F B, and John, for your lovely comments, they mean a lot! 😊💖

Comment is about Triumph. (blog)

Original item by Holden Moncrieff

I left my Faith School at fifteen - naive and uneducated -and breathed a huge sigh of relief the day I left.

Never again would i be made to go to Confession. I no longer had to give a reason as to why I missed Mass, I did not have to observe 'Holy Days of Obligation' but best of all I did not have to believe the unbelievable just because we were told to.
As quite a young child I felt that the rituals and responses were a disguised way of asserting control - escape was sweet.

Evil is buried in many religions,

'With God On My Side" (any God will do) invasions can be justified at any level from an individual child to vast continents.

Comment is about Easter, the resurrection of man (blog)

Original item by David RL Moore

Ray, a wonderful piece! I still use my father's wooden handled chisels and screwdrivers (flat headed only of course).
I defy anyone not to connect with their ancestors when holding a tool they have used to create/mend/repair something with.
I can also hear his voice sometimes.

Ironically chimney sweeps are still going strong!!

Comment is about OLD SCHOOL NEW SCHOOL (blog)

Original item by ray pool

Thank you Marla, I was 90% sure that was what Uilleam was hinting out, thanks for the link

Comment is about The Songbird. (blog)

Original item by JD Russell

I can’t see Putin pulling back his forces in favour of writing a few stanzas instead.

Comment is about sword or pen? (blog)

Original item by Red Brick Keshner

The power of life.

Comment is about Triumph. (blog)

Original item by Holden Moncrieff

Thankyou for the likes and for your comment Graham.

I was indoctrinated into an evangelical form of Christianity from a very early age Graham. Sunday school became a form of torture for me. I simply could not understand some of the fundamental building blocks of the belief system.

As for what makes men evil or otherwise, I have never managed to fathom that...other than there is little doubt of the gulf between the two states.

Evil, with it's religious connotations is a contentious word...I think few people give that much thought, that said it describes the affiliation well.

I'm not sure if you recall, years ago I posted a poem and used a photograph of a murdered child on a beach in Gaza to impact upon the reader. I remember you didn't much like what I had done (a position I respect)

That image (together with my personal experience in Gaza) is the well I drew from whilst writing this piece.

Thanks again.

David RL Moore

Comment is about Easter, the resurrection of man (blog)

Original item by David RL Moore

Quite right, Telboy. And thanks for the Likes, Trevor, Nigel, Larisa and Holden.

Comment is about SELF-IDENTIFY (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

Hello Shirley,

I always considered "invalid" a cruel and thoughtless word. It is difficult now to understand why it was ever used so glibly.

It is a good thing the word has become almost obsolete, although I'm sure some people still use it.

Words are hugely important to people on an individual level and to us all as collective communities. It is unfortunate that our species seems to be regressing when considering the careful and diplomatic use of language.

A circumstance which can lead often to much distress and conflict.

David RL Moore

Comment is about The Post Trauma Session (blog)

Original item by Shirley Birch

This poem seems spare, like it could be fleshed out and made more flamboyant and pretty, but resists a floweriness - to its credit I would say. 😎

Comment is about Triumph. (blog)

Original item by Holden Moncrieff