A cautionary tale, Stephen. Hundreds of years worth of horror!
Comment is about All Fall Down... (blog)
Original item by Stephen W Atkinson
😅 I am not in the best place today.
Comment is about My land (blog)
Original item by Emmeranne Peters
Bit harsh Emmeranne 🤣 and I would think R Kelly's sheets now smell like shitttttttt 😁
Comment is about My land (blog)
Original item by Emmeranne Peters
Thank you, Stephen! 🙏🏽
Comment is about Brave But Not Brainy (blog)
Original item by Candice Reineke
Thank you Stephen. The memory of this event is sooo fresh in my mind still. And I've still got a scar on my leg, where some of the metal scraped it. Of course, my brother thought it was hilarious. Good job I wasn't killed really!! 😊
Comment is about Pink Ghost-Shoes (blog)
Original item by Jo Callisto
Dyslexia can be a cruel affliction JC 😊
Comment is about LAVATORY WALLS (blog)
Original item by John Coopey
Ha ha, Stephen. I remember one of our teachers ranting about the dreadful standard of spelling in the school when he found “Wakner” carved into a desk.
And thanks for the Likes, Stephen A, Holden, Kevin, Steve and John.
Comment is about LAVATORY WALLS (blog)
Original item by John Coopey
Thank you so much dear Holden. Your support through thick and thin helps me along the troubled path of poetry. We need to keep the ones who heard us when we didn't say a word.
Honour to those who in the life they lead
define and guard a Thermopylae.
Never betraying what is right,
consistent and just in all they do
but showing pity also, and compassion;
generous when they are rich, and when they are poor,
still generous in small ways,
still helping as much as they can;
always speaking the truth,
yet without hating those who lie.
And even more honour is due to them
when they foresee (as many do foresee)
that in the end Ephialtis will make his appearance,
that the Medes will break through after all.
C.P. Cavafy
Comment is about A Sonnet for May (blog)
Original item by John E Marks
At the age of 10, I was hauled up before the headmaster for scribbling on the walls of the school corridor. It was pointed out that I had misspelled a word. The shame was too much and I gave up graffiti for life. Perhaps that's why I don't use facebook.
Interesting poem, John.
Comment is about LAVATORY WALLS (blog)
Original item by John Coopey
Thanks to Pete for liking this one.
Comment is about Make-Believe (blog)
Original item by Stephen Gospage
Thanks to Nigel and Rudyard for the likes.
Comment is about Atmosphere (blog)
Original item by Stephen Gospage
My thanks to John,MC and Pete for commenting on this.
Thanks for your nice couplet, MC. Yes, fashions come and go, but I don't think that there is much doubt why these statues are being put up in Ukraine now. I suppose fashion is in the eye of the beholder.
Pete - when I used to play centre-half at school, some people though there already was one!
John - 'Freedom' appears at the end and I think it fits in all right.
And thanks to Bramwell, Holden, Rudyard, Kevin, K Lynn, Steve and Stephen for liking.
Comment is about Lenin (blog)
Original item by Stephen Gospage
That's a beautiful thought Mahira, and if only people would stop procreating it might happen.
Comment is about Wilderness: a thought on urbanisation (blog)
Original item by Mahira
Fred Tromp
Tue 10th May 2022 05:04
I have seen this poem attributed to Canadian journalist, photographer, historian and novelist, Frederick William Wallace, December 11, 1886 – July 15, 1958 (Wikipedia has an entry on him). I have been trying for some time to confirm that and, more particularly, the exact original wording of it by Wallace, as there are a number of (slight) variations of the poem around. One of my searches landed me on this forum. If any of you could point me to some "poetry" search tools I would be most grateful!
By way of background, I first sighted one version of this poem in April 2002 on the gravestone of a Falkland Islands mariner, Cecil Bertrand, February 20, 1909 - December 9, 1985, in Stanley cemetery. The square rigged ship I was crewing on at that time had just weathered a Force 10 gale on its way from rounding Cape Horn (west to east) on a voyage from Australia/New Zealand to Europe with a crew of 56. The ship is a true (wooden) replica of Her Majesty's Bark (HMB) Endeavour on which Captain James Cook had made voyages of discovery to the Pacific and Australia in the 1770s, and is now owned and operated by the Australian National Maritime Museum in Sydney, Australia.
Comment is about D'YE MIND, OLD PAL? (blog)
Original item by M.C. Newberry
Thank you K.J and Kevin. 🌷
Thank you Nigel for adding a few more lines ...... its always a pleasure to read your comments💕
Comment is about Blessed!! (blog)
Original item by Sunshine
Tue 10th May 2022 00:25
A wonderful poem, John; I really loved the line "That borderless 'whatness' of every animate thing"! 🌷
Comment is about A Sonnet for May (blog)
Original item by John E Marks
Tue 10th May 2022 00:16
Thank you so much for your kind comment, John, it always means a lot! 😎
Comment is about Quixotic (blog)
Original item by Holden Moncrieff
You never know, Graham. Will take a while to find my feet. They already have a monthly poetry group in Morpeth. First we have to find a house!
Comment is about Moments (blog)
Original item by Greg Freeman
Wonderful writing, Holden. I think many of us live in this type of world. I know I do. Reality can be painful... Great poem! 😎
Comment is about Quixotic (blog)
Original item by Holden Moncrieff
Yes, Kevin: Aulos tenor recorder; I like to introduce the tune to my Chants, etc., with it then, sometimes, double the melody with keyboards.
Comment is about David Franks: Walkabouts Verse (poet profile)
Original item by David Franks: Walkabouts Verse
Thanks, Julie. Real heroism which lives on!
Comment is about On The Subject Of Freedom (Not A Poem) (blog)
Original item by julie callaghan
<Deleted User> (32907)
Mon 9th May 2022 17:03
I love the idea of washing out of the old, the pouring of the wine, and the cleansing of tears. The past does indeed need to be washed out sometimes, so we can begin anew. Lovely poem. Blessings!👍💕
Comment is about Pour out more wine (blog)
Original item by Freda Davis
I just love it. Free expression without the worry about nuanced meaning. Freedom, indeed! A star in the making, your Reggie!🎈
Comment is about No rules (blog)
Original item by Clare
Good poem Stephen,
They should put a statue up to you 🤣
Comment is about Lenin (blog)
Original item by Stephen Gospage
A very clever detached observation, Clare.
Comment is about First Date (blog)
Original item by Clare
Neverending breakfast served
peace blessed paradise
drinking honey dew
ice cream tea.
Comment is about Blessed!! (blog)
Original item by Sunshine
Thanks for all your likes
Moonlight
John B
kJ Walker
Stephen A
Stephen G
Holden
Kevin
and
Bethany.
Comment is about Sacrificed to the Gods of War (blog)
Original item by Nigel Astell
Thanks John I fear the same as one ends another waits to start.
Moonlight your poetic vision brings in those young soldiers who join in the sacrifice from those who send them there.
Comment is about Sacrificed to the Gods of War (blog)
Original item by Nigel Astell
I like this, brought back thoughts of many first dates,
Best wishes, Steve
Comment is about First Date (blog)
Original item by Clare
An adroit example of generational human vicissitude and fickle fashion.
Heroes, no doubt, in their time,
Now probably accused of committing crime! 😐
Comment is about Lenin (blog)
Original item by Stephen Gospage
JB - thank you for the kind words. I might not want to confront
a rat but, like pigeons here in town, I harbour a certain "underdog" sort of sympathy for their situation in the cycle of
life.
Comment is about CATS AND RATS (blog)
Original item by M.C. Newberry
I enjoy the symmetry of this poem and the analogies you draw our attention to. Ingenious writing MC. 👍
Comment is about CATS AND RATS (blog)
Original item by M.C. Newberry
Superb poem, Stephen! Sums up our times!
Comment is about Lenin (blog)
Original item by Stephen Gospage
It sounds idyllic, Julie. I love the idea of rhododendrums as trumpets.
Comment is about Whelprigg House (blog)
Original item by julie callaghan
A thoughtful poem, Clare. Any limits on absolute freedom have to be justified (e.g. libel, slander, hate speech). The freedom to offend is not always pleasant, but any restrictions for the sake of certain sensibilities should be resisted.
Thanks once again.
Comment is about What is Freedom? (blog)
Original item by Clare
Well done, Adam. War gives opportunities to lots of people and in many ways it is easier to lead in war than in the complicated quagmire of peace.
Comment is about Psychopath In Decent Clothing (blog)
Original item by Adam Whitworth
It's best to find out these things early, Bramwell. I seem to remember that Parsifal did for one of mine. Great use of couplets.
Comment is about At Last, A Use For Shakespeare (blog)
Original item by branwell kent
No-one can be absolutely free. Even a disrespect or ignorance of the rules/laws etc incumbers one with the ever present worry of getting caught.
Comment is about What is Freedom? (blog)
Original item by Clare
Thanks for the likes Holden, Kevin, Rudyard, & Emmeranne! Much appreciated 🌷🌈
Comment is about I Wonder If... (blog)
Original item by Stephen W Atkinson
Thank you very much for your flattering comments Ursula & Kevin! And yes I suppose Kevin, if history had been different the modern world could have been completely different. Better or worse? We can never know!
And thank you John! Glad it's worthy to join the other excellent freedom poems! 👏
Comment is about Amistad (blog)
Original item by Stephen W Atkinson
In any civilised land, freedom is an agreed state of social limits
overseen by the law. It is accurate to state that it is not a licence
to behave irresponsibly. The advent of social media has seen an
erosion of the basic understanding of the word as anonymity
has aided and abetted irrational and irresponsible behaviour..
Comment is about What is Freedom? (blog)
Original item by Clare
A stunning and apposite poem, Nigel. I like the ominous ending from a poetic point of view, but I worry that your prophesy will be accurate! One war begets the next one...
Comment is about Sacrificed to the Gods of War (blog)
Original item by Nigel Astell
'It was while we were at our fifth King Lear
That I knew for certain the end was near'.
Great line! well done. BK
Comment is about At Last, A Use For Shakespeare (blog)
Original item by branwell kent
Good to see 'The Challenge' going strong! Freedom, now there's a word to conjure with.
Comment is about Freedom (Challenge) (blog)
Original item by julie callaghan
John Marks
Tue 10th May 2022 23:05
Thank you John, Clare, Emmeranne, Stephen and Stephen.
The mind of Man is fram'd even like the breath
And harmony of music. There is a dark
Invisible workmanship that reconciles
Discordant elements, and makes them move
In one society. Ah me! that all
The terrors, all the early miseries
Regrets, vexations, lassitudes, that all
The thoughts and feelings which have been infus'd
Into my mind, should ever have made up
The calm existence that is mine when I
Am worthy of myself! Praise to the end!
Wordsworth, The Prelude Book 1, 1805, 1850
Comment is about A Sonnet for May (blog)
Original item by John E Marks