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Comment is about Nicky Burrows (poet profile)

Original item by Nicky Burrows

Cynthia, I'm afraid that I have to confess to having been a little mischievous with my comments about the 3am poem. I was trying to test your reaction to some less than positive feedback following your comments in the discussions section.
The whole problem with so many different styles of poetry is that it is certainly almost impossible to balance what is good and what is obviously poor. With the more modern stuff, I think it's more like the emperor's new clothes, like modern art, if you don't get it, it's your problem.
So well done for being honourable, and a big slap for me for being disingenuous.

Comment is about Cynthia Buell Thomas (poet profile)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

Hi Dave
Amen to your thoughts.
Thanks for the comment though, and apologies again for the Haiku (if indeed that is what it was)
Steve M.

Comment is about Dave Bradley (poet profile)

Original item by Dave Bradley

Hi Cate
Thanks for the comment. I'm presuming chilling is ok?
This came to me after looking into a room used by Age Concern, where all the easy-clean chairs were set out around the wall. One other visitor couldn't bring themselves to go in to the room because of the memories it brought back, visiting her parents.
It just made me think
Steve M. :-))))

Comment is about Cate (poet profile)

Original item by Cate

Oh , I forgot, congrats on getting on to your Masters.

Comment is about Lydia (poet profile)

Original item by Lydia

Good bouncy poems ,good subject matter and it looks like you have the hat trick= reading what Dominic Berry has written. Hope to share a stage with you sometime.
Hip Hip Toodle Pip
Spencer

Comment is about Lydia (poet profile)

Original item by Lydia

hiya Isobel, cheers for all your lovely comments on my poems, it's appreciated...i write to record my memories on feelings and it's good to dispense such feelings too/ theraputic?...plus i'm studying textiles, so writing has always been an interest of mine and another creative outlet. the WOLOP award sounds like a nice idea definintely xx

Comment is about Isobel (poet profile)

Original item by Isobel

Hi Isobel, thanks for your comment on haiku's and other poems of mine too.
Your straight-forward and honest approach is both refreshing and joyful, and that goes for your comments on others work too.

Janet.x

Comment is about Isobel (poet profile)

Original item by Isobel

Hi Nicky, sorry i forgot to thankyou for your comment on the later edition of Kinsella and your encouragement.

Janet.x

Comment is about Nicky Burrows (poet profile)

Original item by Nicky Burrows

Hi Anthony, hope you're well and don't want to place you under any pressure but wanted to say you are missed.

Janet.x

Comment is about Anthony Emmerson (poet profile)

Original item by Anthony Emmerson

Hi Cynthia,
thankyou so much for your recent comments, they mean a lot to me. I never realized when i first began to write how difficult and how important it would become to me to get it right wherever possible. I still have a long way to travel but am slowly but surely learning as i go along. Incidentally i agree with some of what you say in the discussion thread you set up but mediocre is something i think we all are, will be or have been guilty of. The secret is to recognize it and learn from it. :-)

Janet.x

Comment is about Cynthia Buell Thomas (poet profile)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

Hi Cynthia

thanks once again for reading an making comment -

steve x

Comment is about Cynthia Buell Thomas (poet profile)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

Hi Dave,

thanks for reading and making comment on my poem '3am'

steve x

Comment is about Dave Bradley (poet profile)

Original item by Dave Bradley

HI Marianne thank you for reading and making considered comment on my poem 'moving away'

steve x

Comment is about Marianne Daniels (poet profile)

Original item by Marianne Daniels

Hi - me again..... I'm only just getting round to answering all my messages and emails after a hectic month, which has included both a house move and a hospital stay - so sorry for the delays.
Afterlife.... I'm afraid my belief is that there isn't one, when you're dead - you're dead, and the only way to live on is by passing a copy of your DNA on. You don't get your rewards or punishments in any afterlife - only in this one; and those are not always commensurate with your actions or deeds.
And I count myself fortunate that I can live in a society that allows me to say that, and where someone with the completely opposite p-o-v can state their beliefs too.
Leonard Cohen - I love! I believe I've just missed him (again!) in concert over here, but I think the man is a genius. Do you know 'The Future'? - I love the bleakness of the lyrics, though there are too many of his that I love for me to say it's my favourite - just one of many. Who else do you like?
Cx

Comment is about Dave Bradley (poet profile)

Original item by Dave Bradley

Hi there,
Thanks for reading, and commenting on, 'Scrabble Online' - glad you enjoyed it. I'd be happy to join you in a game of Lexulous, though I've never heard of it and don't know how to play, is it on Facebook? Having recently lost 2 of my favourite Scrabble partners (you know who you are, you wimps! call yourselves obsessives, humph!) if you want to find me on f/b (I'm there under my other name - Christine Neale - just follow the trail of poets) - I'll be happy to play Scrabble with you too.
Cx

Comment is about Dave Bradley (poet profile)

Original item by Dave Bradley

Hi Cynthia,
Thank-you for reading, and commenting on, 'Important' - I'm pleased you liked it, and I value your opinion. Sorry it has taken me so long to reply - been a bit of a hectic time recently to say the least!
Hope you're well,
Cx

Comment is about Cynthia Buell Thomas (poet profile)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

Hi John,
Thanks for reading, and commenting on, 'Important', glad you liked it. Sorry it has taken me a while to reply to you - to paraphrase Lennon - my life has been happening whilst I was making other plans!
Hope you're well,
Cx

Comment is about John Darwin (poet profile)

Original item by John Darwin

I'm not a fan of your new profile picture Gus. It reminds me of the morphing Voldemort from Harry Potter - you are far prettier than that!

Comment is about Gus Jonsson (poet profile)

Original item by Gus Jonsson

Hi Dave
I'm very much with you on the Haiku front, but I wondered:-
'Warm applause rings out.
Many highwire walker wait
patiently in line'

Would this be a high queue haiku?

Comment is about Dave Bradley (poet profile)

Original item by Dave Bradley

Hi Dave, thank you for your comment on my poem. 'Lilley', is very dear to me as is 'Glass Eyes'. Both written in the last few weeks on the birthday of my son, who would have been 11 this year and going to high school.

Funny, being an English teacher, I tend to push the point that poetry is subjective to the reader. Although, poetry, simply by it's mere existence is subjective to the writer.

thank you again for your warm and heartfelt comments. Take care, and keep on writing. For me, writing helps me process thoughts and emotions that maybe I don't want to burden others with. ( I have written some fun stuff though ).

Peace be with you too.

Comment is about Dave Dunn (poet profile)

Original item by Dave Dunn

Hi, Darren. Thank you for your comments, nice from a fellow boltonion. Your 'Baggage' is very thought provoking (my favourite type of writing) Made me think about how my husband must have felt, and appreciate just how much he has done and cares for our eldest son, even after the next three babies came along. It's very honest and open and draws empathy from the reader, especially in this age of the extended family.

Take care, look forward to reading more.

Comment is about Darren Whitehead (poet profile)

Original item by Darren Whitehead

Hi Winston,with reference to my comment on your haiku, it was meant to be a little contradictory and refers to your recent working holiday because i don't know what the weather was like where you were.Thanks for your kind words as to the structure and of course it is meant to be a light-hearted response.Janet.x

oooh, i just noticed we can now edit comments. Yippee!

It saves me commenting again with my thanks for your comment on my other haiku.xx

Comment is about Winston Plowes (poet profile)

Original item by Winston Plowes

Thanks John, I will go and have a look, thinking about it I remember reading a piece called?? "a radio with guts" which was impressive.
Bernie

Comment is about John Darwin (poet profile)

Original item by John Darwin

Hi there Cynthia

Thanks for your commentson Haiku drinks. Just a bit of fun really, I am not that cleaver actually.lol

Win x

Comment is about Cynthia Buell Thomas (poet profile)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

Thanx 4 that Win...I always wanted to be in the 'Club'

Gus

Comment is about Winston Plowes (poet profile)

Original item by Winston Plowes

Hi Cynthia

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

steve x

Comment is about Cynthia Buell Thomas (poet profile)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

HI Andy -

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

steve

Comment is about Andy N (poet profile)

Original item by Andy N

I have enjoyed reading your word smithery.
Look forward to more.Thanks for taking the time to read my work and comment . It is always good to know that people enjoy it.
Spencer

Comment is about Dave Bradley (poet profile)

Original item by Dave Bradley

...But you know how much I adore you!
Tu sais que j'adore les gens fous ; )

Comment is about Gus Jonsson (poet profile)

Original item by Gus Jonsson

Oh you are a foul man, but I love you!

Comment is about Gus Jonsson (poet profile)

Original item by Gus Jonsson

Well... Rosso wouldn't ya just like 2 know!
.No bleedin' idea??..

Gusxx

Comment is about Rosalind (poet profile)

Original item by Rosalind

Thank 4 that Andy... ya know I'm wierd!!

Gus

Comment is about Andy N (poet profile)

Original item by Andy N

Whatya mean Izo?... a sorta period piece?

Gusx

Comment is about Isobel (poet profile)

Original item by Isobel

Hi John and thanks mate, I have heard of the guy and read a piece in the Independent recently but have never read his writing, may google him later.
Thanks Mate.
Bernie

Comment is about John Darwin (poet profile)

Original item by John Darwin

Love "Lilley", love "Stuff" and I love "Glass Eyes". Your writing is intriguing, heartfelt and moving.

Comment is about Nicky Burrows (poet profile)

Original item by Nicky Burrows

What a lovely comment! I once made the mistake of reading Sylvia Plath at a most unhappy time in my life. How I kept my head out of the gas oven, I'll never know - perhaps the streak of me that is pure Marge...

Comment is about stephen smith (poet profile)

Original item by stephen smith

Thanks for your comments Gus. Yes, I guess if one can believe in the virgin birth, one can also believe it possible for a busy mother to write half decent poetry - I'll have to try harder - now where have I heard that line before???
Where have you been hiding - hope to see you at the Tudor on Thursday or I shall be forced to make the journey to some nasty part of Manchester again.

Comment is about Gus Jonsson (poet profile)

Original item by Gus Jonsson

Hi John,
thanks for your explanation of 'Hog.'
My ignorance of poets and where they come from is apparent. I do however enjoy reading the greats such as Dylan Thomas and many others.

I really found your comment interesting as to how you write and can relate to what you say. I too enjoy picking up the pen intuitively and sometimes almost with some urgency of the need to write something down. I also agree that it will be flawed because the ego comes in to play regardless of the natural flow.
Do you find that it is often when you attempt set out to write poetry deliberately that it appears weaker? Lacking in true inspiration from within?

Thanks again,
Janet.x

Comment is about John Darwin (poet profile)

Original item by John Darwin

Hello John, with regard to your explanation of Hog, can I just say that when I comment on a piece of work, I never expect/recommend that the writer change it afterwards. I certainly wouldn't. However I appreciated the explanation and find that I agree with your comments about origin. I often feel that I have a sense of place with places more exotic than that of my own place of birth, but we get what we get don't we, a bit like families, you can't change them. thanks again.

Comment is about John Darwin (poet profile)

Original item by John Darwin

Hi Isobel
Now there's a thought!!!
If I wrote an arse poem, I could probably use the same photo.
x Steve x

Comment is about Isobel (poet profile)

Original item by Isobel

Hi Cynthia
I just found myself puckering up watching the TV last night, and wondered how many other people did it, and how many will own up to it.
x Steve x

Comment is about Cynthia Buell Thomas (poet profile)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

Thank you all for the comments on 'Hog'. I thought I would explain a little about it, I hope this is of interest to you! Firstly, as for almost all that I write this was completed swiftly, in no more than 10 minutes or so. The only revision made was swapping two of the lines in the second stanza. I like to write like this it feels natural, I am not a ponderer over a sheet of paper I believe in intuitive and impulsive writing. I think this is where the best work comes from. This means of course that it is usually flawed, as this poem undoubtedly is! The idea for the poem was simply that Dylan Thomas had stolen more than his share from the 'genius gene pool' - I should explain that I am of Wesh parentage although I was not born there - leaving none for anyone else, and me in particular! The first verse is just a superficial portrait of Thomas, his appearance, his drinking and smoking (stubs here is a reference to his fingers, not a cigarette stub) - and the delivery of his poetry when he read it. If you listen to recordings his delivery is very theatrical and sounds very much of the time that it was done; dated to modern ears.

The second stanza (understandably criticised by some of you) is part reference to the location of the Boat House his residence in Laugharne and partly my own memories of summers spent as a boy In Wales. My relationship with Wales is one of love and awkwardness. Stake a claim to Welshness in England is often met by ridicule, do the same in Wales in an English accent and the result can be the same! I like to think that this somehow comes across in the second verse. The alliteration is obvious and probably overused I can see why come may not like it.

In the second stanza I was also trying to use words for their sound purely, I like the para-rhyme of somnambulant and ambient, drunkenness and genius.

Finally I did write 'hog' whilst drinking which may explain the good and the bad in it also.

I hope you liked my explanation.

Best Wishes.

John

Comment is about Anthony Emmerson (poet profile)

Original item by Anthony Emmerson

Thank you all for the comments on 'Hog'. I thought I would explain a little about it, I hope this is of interest to you! Firstly, as for almost all that I write this was completed swiftly, in no more than 10 minutes or so. The only revision made was swapping two of the lines in the second stanza. I like to write like this it feels natural, I am not a ponderer over a sheet of paper I believe in intuitive and impulsive writing. I think this is where the best work comes from. This means of course that it is usually flawed, as this poem undoubtedly is! The idea for the poem was simply that Dylan Thomas had stolen more than his share from the 'genius gene pool' - I should explain that I am of Wesh parentage although I was not born there - leaving none for anyone else, and me in particular! The first verse is just a superficial portrait of Thomas, his appearance, his drinking and smoking (stubs here is a reference to his fingers, not a cigarette stub) - and the delivery of his poetry when he read it. If you listen to recordings his delivery is very theatrical and sounds very much of the time that it was done; dated to modern ears.

The second stanza (understandably criticised by some of you) is part reference to the location of the Boat House his residence in Laugharne and partly my own memories of summers spent as a boy In Wales. My relationship with Wales is one of love and awkwardness. Stake a claim to Welshness in England is often met by ridicule, do the same in Wales in an English accent and the result can be the same! I like to think that this somehow comes across in the second verse. The alliteration is obvious and probably overused I can see why come may not like it.

Finally in the second stanza I was also trying to use words for their sound purely, I like the para-rhyme of somnambulant and ambient, drunkenness and genius.

Finally I did write 'hog' whilst drinking which may explain the good and the bad in it also.

I hope you liked my explanation.

Best Wishes.

John

Comment is about Cynthia Buell Thomas (poet profile)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

Cynthia, if you wish to comment on anything I weite that is up to you, it is up to me to feel offended or not offended by your comments, not you, it is better not to presume.
Bernie

Comment is about Cynthia Buell Thomas (poet profile)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

Hi Cate
Kind of you to comment.
Unfortunately no-one seems to have written what you're supposed to do after the deal's gone down.
Steve M.

Comment is about Cate (poet profile)

Original item by Cate

Well that was a bit less work on the white finger of scrolling. :-)
Sad you say? I'm sad too Isobel, i print mine
before deleting them too.

Thanks for comment on Kinsella, i don't like sad endings either. I commented further in the comment box under the poem.
Janet.x

Comment is about Isobel (poet profile)

Original item by Isobel

Hi Rodney, thanks for the comment on Kinsella.
I kind of agree with you about that line but placed it in brackets to make it less necessary to the poem. I just felt the ''distortion'' of the tune needed to be prominent.
I don't know if you read the first parts but you will find it in the August blogs if you'd like to catch up.

Janet.x

Comment is about Rodney Wood (poet profile)

Original item by Rodney Wood

Hi Anthony,
glad to see you back and hope you had a good rest. Thanks for comment on Kinsella.
You'll find the previous entry in the August blogs or click on my profile and into other blogs then August. A bit of a trek i know.. :-)
As for the inspiration for it, well that's something i think a mind like yours will identify with.

Janet.x

Comment is about Anthony Emmerson (poet profile)

Original item by Anthony Emmerson

Hi, David. When I first started writing poetry, all my poems rhymed, and only later did I drop the rhyme. I posted an old poem, The Raven as an example.

I hope you have a great weekend.

Melissa

Comment is about David Franks: Walkabouts Verse (poet profile)

Original item by David Franks: Walkabouts Verse