Sissar a suckhole ~
Comment is about Lemn Sissay and Grace Nichols receive royal awards (article)
Original item by Greg Freeman
Sissar a suckhole ~
Comment is about Lemn Sissay and Grace Nichols receive royal awards (article)
Original item by Greg Freeman
sissay = traitor
Comment is about Lemn Sissay and Grace Nichols receive royal awards (article)
Original item by Greg Freeman
<Deleted User> (32907)
Thu 24th Mar 2022 23:44
Well written, Clare. Every single person on this planet is responsible for their own actions, good or bad. However, there are none so blind as those who refuse to see. I don't waste energy on folk who will always blame someone else, regardless of how many people they may hurt or offend.
The truth will catch up with them sometime. Karma is a powerful thing,
Blessings!
Comment is about I Am To Blame (blog)
Original item by Clare
Armatige's first stanza is all about his being a poet.
Comment is about 'False news is news with the pity edited out': Simon Armitage's poem about the war in Ukraine (article)
Original item by Greg Freeman
Indeed K, unless otherwise stated all images are of my own volition.
Comment is about keith jeffries (poet profile)
Original item by keith jeffries
Thanks Keith for your comments on 'Wheeled luggage.
Comment is about keith jeffries (poet profile)
Original item by keith jeffries
cheers Brenda your like that contains "context"😌
Comment is about Brenda Wells (poet profile)
Original item by Brenda Wells
Must have missed this, Tom. Book me in the next time you go to one of these poetry events! 😄. Superb as always
Comment is about One Last Affair (blog)
Original item by Tom
A nicely constructed, beautifully
written piece. 🌷
Comment is about Gus (blog)
Original item by Kelly Chang
😄 Nice one Mike...if a bit too familiar 😪
Comment is about When You're 63! (blog)
Original item by Mike Bartram
<Deleted User> (32907)
Thu 24th Mar 2022 19:34
Oh...That's just beautiful, Brenda. Love it. 💗Blessings!
Comment is about The Ferryman (blog)
Original item by Brenda Wells
Motivational and Inspirational...wonderful thoughts :)
Comment is about Be what you are (blog)
Original item by Ghazala lari
I'm grateful for the level-headed responses seen here.
There are historical references; a couple mentioned previously,
plus of course, a certain Imelda Marcos and Marie "Let them
eat cake" Antoinette. It has been held as a truth that women
provide a restraining civilising influence on men and this was in
mind when I began considering the theme of my poem. in the
context of this Russian president's behaviour.
Comment is about PUTIN'S WOMEN (blog)
Original item by M.C. Newberry
Ah thank you Nicola! Your comment brightened my morning. And thanks Jordyn for the extra like too 😀
Comment is about One Last Affair (blog)
Original item by Tom
A masterly summary of where we are, Julie, and all those things that happened in between. But I fear that we're not quite at the end yet ... seems to me it's rife out there right now https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/mar/23/nhs-under-pressure-from-new-covid-wave-across-england-says-chris-whitty
Comment is about The Tale Of Covid 19 (repost) (blog)
Original item by julie callaghan
Good though they are, I think neither is quite as effective without the other, Greg. Although, having said that, we made it to the CL Final a couple of years ago without Kane.
Comment is about FROM SON TO KANE, FROM KANE TO SON (blog)
Original item by John Coopey
Great start to yourWOL adventure
Comment is about Karori morning (draft) (blog)
Original item by Kelly Chang
Thanks for your very detailed response to the concerns raised, Jed. You have obviously thought long and hard about all this. I apologise if my own response was intemperate. It's just that when you realise we have another fascist, genocidal dictator on the loose in Europe, it's hard to keep passions in check. Russia's war hero status is well and truly over. For the Great Patriotic War of 1941-45, read Putin's Great Genocidal War of 2022 ...
Comment is about I'd rather it be a hundred times worse than have Russia win than have Russia win (blog)
Original item by Jed
As usual, Ghazala, you express a wonderfully positive philosophy! 😊
Comment is about Be what you are (blog)
Original item by Ghazala lari
Cats are special creatures, to those that love them, Kelly. This is a beautifully composed poem of mourning. You never lose control. Lovely last few lines.
Comment is about Gus (blog)
Original item by Kelly Chang
Extra strong mints. What luxury. We had to make do with a polo mint and at Christmas a jelly baby and maybe a lump of coal.
Comment is about VOYAGE TO THE BOTTOM OF THE SEA (blog)
Original item by John Coopey
Irreplaceable when injured, eh, JC?
Comment is about FROM SON TO KANE, FROM KANE TO SON (blog)
Original item by John Coopey
Thanks, MC. I tried to capture a sense of “reversibilty” in the relationship.
And thanks for the Like, Holden.
Comment is about FROM SON TO KANE, FROM KANE TO SON (blog)
Original item by John Coopey
Yes Nigel. I'm glad you got that.....I'm happy, really happy😊
Comment is about Midnight poetry (blog)
Original item by Sunshine
Thanks for your kind words, Russell 🙏🏽
Comment is about Memorial Park (blog)
Original item by Candice Reineke
Thu 24th Mar 2022 00:29
you get me wrong I'm saying what I'm saying precisely not the baggage you may assume to associate with it. I appreciate that there are some circumstances where you can't help but take sides (good vs evil)but I cant help but look with what clarity I can at the last mechanism that led to war and I am baffled that the war was not averted by a concessionary agreement as it would have been by far the lesser of two evils but to pretend it would have been the same as kneeling to Hitler is obscuring thought with a two dimensional caricature. Although how the Ukraines are now fighting righteously for their homeland is obviously comparable.
I don’t have meticulous understanding of international politics so I would appreciate it if someone would delineate how Ukraine being controlled by Russia would be worse for the people in Ukraine than it would be with full blown warfare, as I don’t see or read much of this particular exact question being addressed in the papers or on TV. Please don’t base the answer or esoteric freedom, I mean in real manifest terms.
It’s easier to ask “what would be so bad for Russia and the average Russian if they didn’t invade?” If both countries suffered the woes of both these now hypothetical situations the harrowing would be barely noticeable compared to what is happening now. So what is the point in looking back to would have been possibilities? Because it is in variations of these scenarios that peace will eventually be found or wider possibly nuclear war will ensue.
It’s the difference between tolerance even when extreme hate and anger is involved) and something worse. In Columbia when a peace deal was possible to end the war between FARC and the government the agreement being starting positions, the forgiving of brutal murder on both sides, many affluent citizens in the city who were mostly personably removed from first hand experience of this conflict voted not to have peace as they could not forgive these crimes. Whereas most of the rural folk who experienced this conflict voted to end the pursuit of justice in order to have peace.
In the west we seem to assume that democracy is the greatest of things to bow down before in a secular society, but though democracy is needed, took thousands of years to achieve and hundreds more years to get half right it is not always the one thing to held above all others: in a town that is 20% Jews and 60% Nazis is democracy right to implement? It would have been better if Ukraine were raging for its right to join NATO for more independence deserving it and not yet getting it than this predicted barbaric invasion. What would be so bad for the average Ukrainian in real manifest terms if Russia had political oversight for a while? Please tell me.
As stated it is easier to ask what would have been so bad for Russia if they had let Ukraine be. What they now face, what will that be? Surely if they could go back they would have preferred to find a way to avoid the invasion and save face. Wars and mistakes happen because we forget to remind ourselves what the apex of the argument is and also what that is for. What is the reality of the invasion and what is the ideal that the invasion is supposed to be for? We must address the philosophy of intent to stop the evil that it engendered to ensue. To always paint the enemy as a 2d caricature only reducible to basest qualities doesn’t help when we need to recognise reality. To recognise it to improve it. The apex of their argument is the necessity to maintain and imbue a political cultural societal balance in this world to counter ways of doing things in the west. To have a balanced better world. Not to laugh wickedly thinking ha ha ha more power more glutinous control. We must look of the apex of the intention behind the disaster. Or follow what seems like the only plan: to keep fighting and see what happens.
In the90s the American sanctions on Iraq killed half a million children. Madeleine Albright was asked live on TV if these sanctions were worth it, she replied it was a tough decision but yes it was worth it. What was gained? Nothing, not a thing. Sadam did not suffer from those sanctions, his strangle hold on the people was worse and he kept his luxuries. What is the point of these sanctions on Russia? What is the difference between what the sanctions intend and what they actually do? There it is the big Question none of us like to answer because we have the wind of righteousness in our sails.The difference between what an action intends and what it does. To hurt Putin to show he is wrong and to starve people in Bangladesh. To put sanctions on Sadam because he is evil and to kill half a million Iraqi children. To counter American hegemony western new world order and to invade an independent nation causing mayhem and death.
Only by genuinely trying to understand the best of your enemy’s intentions can any prospect of peace be found. If you understand your enemy’s most valid posture better than they do then you have probably already won half the battle. If in your mind you obfuscate it or refuse to consider what it really is then the lessons to learn may be hard. And it was oh so easy too. The peace deal that was available back then compared to what is feasible in the future.
In the future what with the rise of China and all it would have been good for the globe if Russia had been closer to the best it can be. It meant to do a lot of good things in the future, but now this is what its become.
There is a question that I haven’t seen or heard asked before that I believe is of importance. I tried asking this question to the foreign office in a series of correspondences but they always avoided answering the question specifically as it seems answering it would elucidate a deep failure in British Foreign policy. Around ten years ago on the BBC program Hard Talk General Robert Moody announced that the war in Syria would end with Assad as the victor. The interviewer acted surprised and said what with Saddam and Gaddafi being toppled most people expected the same to happen with Assad in Syria, how would the British take this? General Moody responded saying that anyone in position already knew this to be so and the public would have to gradually get used to it. So my naturally occurring question was “Why support the opposition prolonging the war If you know they will lose, when we should aid ending the war guarantying protection for those that rose up against Assad?”
The foreign Office responded by telling me things like “Assad cannot be trusted” and that “Assad is a tyrant”. I had already taken these arguments into account and they made no difference to my point of question. Syria wouldn’t be Nazi Germany and nowhere as bad as Afghanistan under Isis. It certainly would have been much better in peace for the last ten years even under Assad than at war. Maybe if there had been ten years of peace some of the expectations of humanitarian progress that the west expects would have been achieved.
So what is the real answer to my question long and short “why perpetuate a war for over a decade when you know who the victor will be? Ultimately what would this answer elucidate?
So back to Ukraine. It seems that we are so confident that we are on side and right and that the cause is right that our actions may inadvertently engender more chaos. I watched on the BBC in one breath the reporter said "The UK has supplied weapons to the Ukraine, this will of course force the Russians to use heavier weapons and artillery themselves". I'm asking if this is right. As for sides there is ending the war to achieve peace and good living or the other side being all that apposes that..
As for writing bad poetry I have no defence but at least its brief.
Comment is about I'd rather it be a hundred times worse than have Russia win than have Russia win (blog)
Original item by Jed
living your dream
your soul dances
to daylight dawn.
Comment is about Midnight poetry (blog)
Original item by Sunshine
A heart of gold
for all to see
living free
moonlight poetry.
Comment is about 47. Poem (blog)
Original item by Sunshine
Moonlight, I think you are missing the point of my words. I am glad your relatives are still alive. I am not for one moment suggesting that all women will die at the hands of men - there would be none of us left! The fact is it is happening throughout the world everyday, and there are still some (a great many who seem to think that women are responsible for the choices that men make. Thankyou for your comment. I am very happily married to a wonderful man, and I wish the same for you - should that be what you choose.
Graham Sherwood, Je suis d'accord avec toi. Merci pour votre commentaire. I agree! Thankyou for your comments.
Comment is about I Am To Blame (blog)
Original item by Clare
Yes, carry on
Cos life still goes on
Sentimental write🌷
Comment is about Since you’ve been gone (blog)
Original item by Rick Varden
An incredibly strong piece Clare. One cannot dispute the dreadful statistics. Some men’s idea of love is difficult to comprehend indeed. Well done!
Comment is about I Am To Blame (blog)
Original item by Clare
Scary, but I'll still take a chance😉
Not all men are the same. Not all women are dead. My mom is 75 and alive. My sis is 44 and isn't dead. So women do stand a chance i guess😄
Comment is about I Am To Blame (blog)
Original item by Clare
My present situation is calm, peaceful, blissfully happy.
Comment is about 46. Poem (blog)
Original item by Sunshine
Quite an inspiring spiritual story.
Thank you Nigel. 💕
Comment is about A prayer (blog)
Original item by Sunshine
Thanks for the like Stephen. Hope you are feeling much better very soon Greg.
Comment is about Two Years On (blog)
Original item by julie callaghan
I hope you're right, Julie, that 'Covid concerns are fading, those pandemic years in the past.' Anecdotally, it seems that more people are getting it than ever, now that they don't regularly report the figures. Including me and the missus! Take care out there.
Comment is about Two Years On (blog)
Original item by julie callaghan
Extra strong mints... LUXURY.
We used to dream of huddling round an extra strong mint.
Comment is about VOYAGE TO THE BOTTOM OF THE SEA (blog)
Original item by John Coopey
Good to see a lively debate as most work on this site doesn't raise the hackles.
I note that the 'cancel culture' raised its head. You can't ban something just because you don't like it.
Comment is about PUTIN'S WOMEN (blog)
Original item by M.C. Newberry
Sadly as with many pieces of work that are contentious, the 'argument' eventually revolves around the commentary and not the work itself.
For most Mr and Mrs Average (me being firmly in that category for the last 51 years)both the male and the female of the species do tend to discuss virtually everything before decisions are made.
Even more sadly, despots, tyrants, megalomaniacs, dictators do not seem to share a similar relationship, ergo discussing any potential 'influence' that their partners might have (and I include both sexes in this as there have ben many prominent female leaders)is somewhat futile and at best hypothetical.
Let's hope whoever eventually manages to 'influence' Putin (male or female) does so quickly for these valiant people of Ukraine!
Comment is about PUTIN'S WOMEN (blog)
Original item by M.C. Newberry
I have had a good life, thank you. The wish is reciprocated.
Comment is about PUTIN'S WOMEN (blog)
Original item by M.C. Newberry
<Deleted User> (32907)
Wed 23rd Mar 2022 16:16
I am so disgusted with this I cannot reply anymore. Have a good life!
Comment is about PUTIN'S WOMEN (blog)
Original item by M.C. Newberry
Does an impartial enquiring mind never think about what
passes between men and women in such situations? One comment mentions Eva Braun. Is there really no curiosity in
what she might have done or said when with the Fuhrer in
the privacy of their personal lives? I find that hard to believe.
Remove the emotive sexist responses and apply a clear bias-
free mind to a very human question of how power can be a
addressed in purely human terms between people who are
intimately related and influence each other in the closest
ways. It is not a matter of "blame" - as seems to be assumed
so readily in the sense of "outrage" seen here. It is posing a question about human interaction in extremis with the eyes
of the world upon those concerned.
Go back a little in history and check a
certain Eva Peron in Argentina. The
world was fascinated by her.
Comment is about PUTIN'S WOMEN (blog)
Original item by M.C. Newberry
Deserving of being printed in a Spurs football programme.
Clever in its consistency of the to-ing and fro-ing of the lines
finishing the verses....suggestive of the passing of the ball itself.
Comment is about FROM SON TO KANE, FROM KANE TO SON (blog)
Original item by John Coopey
<Deleted User> (32907)
Wed 23rd Mar 2022 13:05
'Putin's Women'? Really? Grow up, MC
Comment is about PUTIN'S WOMEN (blog)
Original item by M.C. Newberry
Got that picture firmly in my head, great descriptions, especially 'An older woman bends to fix her sock' seen that so many times😀
Comment is about Memorial Park (blog)
Original item by Candice Reineke
Stephen Gospage
Fri 25th Mar 2022 07:30
Lovely poem, Stephen.
Comment is about Deliverance (blog)
Original item by Stephen W Atkinson