GS certainly has a point about "English" being an attitude...a state of
mind. As for "mongrel race" - a phrase that seems to have gained a certain cachet nowadays - again certainly, but to a degree that
was severely limited over the past thousand years by the barriers
against any travel of meaningful distance and royal actions that
moved against immigration of any size (Queen Elizabeth 1st was
notable in that respect) plus the resident population's understandable
suspicion of foreign influence in dangerous days that saw other
nations look upon these islands with covetous eyes and wars
were all too often a state of affairs across their world.
Fair's fair - as we English say.
Comment is about England in My Head (blog)
Original item by Steve Higgins
Your poem shows that the pen does a pretty good job, Mike.
Comment is about Sword or Pen (blog)
Original item by Mike Bartram
Some wonderful (not to say alarming!) images, Ray.
Comment is about CHRISTMAS TREE (blog)
Original item by ray pool
A really powerful piece of verse. Good one.
Comment is about Pharisaic (blog)
Original item by Holden Moncrieff
An enjoyable reminder that the imagination can go where the feet can no longer travel.
Comment is about Wild Places (blog)
Original item by Trevor Alexander
So good to hear from you, Philippa. This is a beautiful and moving poem.
Comment is about RESTING PLACE (blog)
Original item by Philippa Atkin
Thank you for the wonderful comments Tom, Philipos & Ferris (hope it hit you in a good way!) And thanks for the likes & continued support, Keith, Julie, J.D. & Holden ?
Comment is about Beyond (blog)
Original item by Stephen W Atkinson
There's nothing more emotive to many than when the discussion turns to what is regarded by the term/label English.
Whether we like it or not, we are a mongrel race, added to, diluted, melanged with many different races over the centuries. I too regard myself as English but only in the above terms. My children I regard as English but they had a Polish grandfather!
I think English resides in a way of thinking. A way of acting (good or bad). From the upper-class twits to the beer-swilling football louts, that's us English.
The only issue I really have with Steve's piece is his claim that even the birdsong is English. An interesting observation as many of our garden birds are migratory. Come on England!!!
Comment is about England in My Head (blog)
Original item by Steve Higgins
This is an excellent and inspiring description of the fight for morality and self-control with conscious conscience and determination.
Comment is about At the front (blog)
Original item by Ghazala lari
Although you weren't able to share a last goodbye or tell each other final messages of support, you are still doing all he could have wanted from you, remembering him well.
Comment is about Hope (blog)
Original item by Brian Hodgkinson Jr.
A well thought verse. Contemplation and analysis of human emotion, mind and feelings is a complex task. Well portrayed the flexible self. ?
Comment is about The Hardest Tears (blog)
Original item by Aviva Rifka Bhandari
Thank you Nigel for your poetic response ?
You are right once again, where one road ends another road begins, and so on and on.. and maybe not all roads lead to WOL but I'm happy to meet all the travellers for those that did.
Thanks also to everyone who has clicked 'Like' for this poem ?
Comment is about End Of The Road (blog)
Original item by Aviva Rifka Bhandari
When there's nothing
more to say
I see it travelling once again
on a road
in a poem
I am reading today.
Comment is about End Of The Road (blog)
Original item by Aviva Rifka Bhandari
Mon 3rd May 2021 22:11
Philipos
Mon 3rd May 2021 20:54
The all seeing eye of the camera which never lies. Enjoyed. P
Comment is about Pharisaic (blog)
Original item by Holden Moncrieff
Philipos
Mon 3rd May 2021 20:52
Recalling Churchill's mastery of words - spoken and written - I recall the comment attributed to an American observer that he "marshalled the English language and sent it to war". I am not being entirely
frivolous in remembering another vein altogether - that in Germany
written pornography was banned whilst the pictorial sort was not.
An interesting connection that surely shows how words can be
feared for any type of reason when it comes to controlling the
minds of others.
Comment is about Sword or Pen (blog)
Original item by Mike Bartram
Philipos and JM - thanks for the comments. As age moves in, I
find I have no problem whatever keeping up the relationship! ?
Thanks also to those who took the trouble to "like" this piece of whimsy.
Comment is about BEDDED BLISS (blog)
Original item by M.C. Newberry
The words carry their own weight and meaning - and resonate
accordingly with those who chime in tune. You could substitute
other identities and the message would also resonate accordingly
with those others who chime in tune. It's rare to find anything that
mentions either "England" or "English" nowadays so that in itself
is to be noted and read with interest. As for northerners having a
primary claim to the identify you specify, I would argue that the likes of Alfred the Great and Hereward the Wake, followed by ill-
fated King Harold and the subsequent Norman incursions from
France, combined with the surviving Anglo-Saxon population to
create the "English" identity that emerged over the ensuing one thousand years - and were more "southerners" than northerners.
I know the latter like to claim most of what's good but there are
plenty down here in the south who can point elsewhere in that
regard. ?
Comment is about England in My Head (blog)
Original item by Steve Higgins
Philipos
Mon 3rd May 2021 16:17
Timeless thoughts - so pertinent for today's world. P ?
Comment is about Beyond (blog)
Original item by Stephen W Atkinson
Currently operating on ZOOM. 1st, 3rd, 5th Saturdays as usual.
For details and to be added to our mailing list contact Jim at talking_zebras.co.uk Invites sent out 2 or 3 days before each meeting.
Doors Open 2:00pm for a 2:15 start. Continues until 5(ish). Folk can join or leave at anytime as long as they do it discreetly ?
You are welcome to listen or to contribute. Poetry or prose, your own or other peoples (check permission please) on any subject other than Religion and Politics.
Spots are 4-5 minutes and we go round those present as many times as possible on the day.
Comment is about Talking Zebras (group profile)
Original item by Talking Zebras
Thank you Tony, Stephen, Holden, Keith, Aviva and Ghazala for the likes and for taking the time to read.
Thanks for the very kind comment Kieth, I really wanted it to be ambiguous and dealing in the grey area of relationships and how we navigate our path through these lives our ours.
Comment is about The Distant Lifeboat (blog)
Original item by Tom
I do defend illiterate writers, but this is an excellent poem.
Comment is about Writing for non-readers (blog)
Original item by Robert C Gaulke
Leon,
I personally think that northerners are the true English but then I’m biased ? Thanks for looking in
Steve
Comment is about England in My Head (blog)
Original item by Steve Higgins
Aviva, thanks for looking in. I deliberately used England and English a lot to create a sort of rhythm and that makes the poem trot along nicely but I think you’re saying that there isn’t much substance to this poem and looking back you’ve certainly got a point. I’m not sure I had a point in the first place but you’re right, it needs reworking.
Comment is about England in My Head (blog)
Original item by Steve Higgins
Thank you J.D. Bardo, Jason Bayliss, and Jennifer Malden for taking the time to comment on this poem. ?
J.D. I've already been around for a couple of decades since I wrote this, I'm definitely teddy-bear-soft and slipper-cosy by now. Let's stay around a long time more too!
Jason I like that 'yesterday's kiss on the face of today' although I'm not sure if sometimes it is more of a kick somewhere else that yesterday tried to give me.. as for my future self... should I kiss or kick?
Jennifer I agree with you all those things you mention are far better the more time they have to them
Thanks also to everyone who clicked 'Like' for this poem ?
Comment is about Dream On (blog)
Original item by Aviva Rifka Bhandari
It is quite clear from this poem that you have great word-craft, there's control and flexibility in the metre as well as natural and flowing word choices... but it feels to me (and others may well disagree with me on this) that as much as you've used the words English and England many many times you haven't really said anything important about what that actually means to you or should mean to anyone.. and I feel as if you could have (because you have the word-craft). Obviously it is quite apparent that you think all these aspects imbue some sort of character or disposition or something important... but we don't find out what that actually is. Apart from all these details about 'where you came from' what else about 'what you therefore are' could you have said?
Comment is about England in My Head (blog)
Original item by Steve Higgins
<Deleted User> (30611)
Sun 2nd May 2021 20:55
Mmm. It's an odd thing isn't it? People can live in the North West or the South East, be rich or poor, well educated or not, yet still feel quintessentially English.
Comment is about England in My Head (blog)
Original item by Steve Higgins
Sun 2nd May 2021 19:45
Liked this Ray! Might be an idea to get some form of 'employment' with so many women out of a job cos of Covid. Was she strangled with a lisle stocking, or beaten to death with the shoes?
Jennifer
Comment is about SENSIBLE SHOES (blog)
Original item by ray pool
Perhaps they were given a 'privy ledged' position?
Jennifer
Comment is about Sad Saturday sewer story (blog)
Original item by hugh
This crack sounds decidedly familiar!!!!! Nice.
Jennifer
Comment is about How I solved my wife's desire for an expensive dress (blog)
Original item by hugh
Nice One. Some things are more appreciated with time, think of wine, antiques, trees, an old saddle is infinitely more comfortable than a new one! An old friend too is usually worth more than a new, just because of the time passed. Like Jason's comment too.
Jennifer
Comment is about Dream On (blog)
Original item by Aviva Rifka Bhandari
Unfortunately too true. The hope they had and the hard work they did to achieve it are now scorned. We want it all and we want it now.
Jennifer
Comment is about GENERATIONAL (blog)
Original item by M.C. Newberry
Separation is dramatic, and divorce unimaginable!!! Nice one.
Jennifer
Comment is about BEDDED BLISS (blog)
Original item by M.C. Newberry
Philipos
Sun 2nd May 2021 16:41
Thanks Greg and Brian. A very interesting discussion. Let's continue to enjoy reading him, without minimising the other issues.
Best wishes Steve
Comment is about Mister Larkin (blog)
Original item by Stephen Gospage
All the holes, tears, lines, scars and wrinkles are just signs that we've truly lived, just yesterdays kiss on the face of today. ❤❤
J. x
Comment is about Dream On (blog)
Original item by Aviva Rifka Bhandari
Sun 2nd May 2021 14:05
thanks M.C. for your comment on that poem.
we will not mention it by name
in order not to scare anyone.
what exactly does MC stand for?
besides master of ceremonies?
?
Comment is about M.C. Newberry (poet profile)
Original item by M.C. Newberry
Some people may see that this is an updated version of a poem, which I have written before, and which has some alterations.
Comment is about Pubs (blog)
Original item by Stuart Vanner
Thanks for the like Aviva
Comment is about Old, New And Incomplete (blog)
Original item by julie callaghan
Thanks for the likes. Nigel, Stephen A, Stephen G and Tom.
Comment is about The Covid-19 Memorial Wall (blog)
Original item by julie callaghan
Stephen Gospage
Tue 4th May 2021 16:15
A fine poem, enjoyable despite its sadness.
Comment is about Hope (blog)
Original item by Brian Hodgkinson Jr.