Thanks, Stephen. Just my way of releasing some stress from this horrendous situation. The original version was way too contentious for sharing on any forum.
Comment is about That Man (blog)
Original item by Clare
A very fine, well-judged poem, Holden.
Comment is about Faded (blog)
Original item by Holden Moncrieff
Each memory holding so close
both sharing years gone past
on that bus to heaven.
Comment is about Borrowed (blog)
Original item by Ruth O'Reilly
Hi Keith,
My mind saw this as a movie, I could hear the soft crunch of the frost, and I squinted when I saw the sun.
I love this poem, and it was very pleasing to read. Imagery is my favorite of all things, because it allows you view the picture/movie that a literary artist has painted for you.
Thanks Keith!
Jason
Comment is about The Winter's Sun (blog)
Original item by keith jeffries
Thank you John. Wonderful traits indeed! 😁
And thank you Ruth for liking my limited insight.
And M.C. 6 aunts & 4 Sisters! It's wonder you survived 🥵😉 Thanks for your comment
And for the likes Stephen & Holden you know they're always appreciated 🌈
Comment is about Fantastic Women! (blog)
Original item by Stephen W Atkinson
Thank you for these words, Howard. I didn't know about David's piano skills. He was certainly a remarkable chap, in so many ways. Our sincere condolences to you and all his family.
Comment is about ‘He really believed in Write Out Loud’: David Andrew, former Gig Guide editor, dies aged 82 (article)
Original item by Greg Freeman
Thanks Ruth for your lovely comments. Will be happy to take part!
Thanks MC for a very witty response 😂 which is working along the same lines haha
Comment is about Let Sleeping Poets Lie (blog)
Original item by John Botterill
Thanks Keith!
I just looked back on this, and I read the stanza you mentioned. I immediately felt the let side of my face tingle. I'm not saying this to brag, but to convey the emotion I felt just thinking of those three lines.
As always, I appreciate your feedback!
Thanks
Jason
Comment is about The Rain (blog)
Original item by Jason Phillips
Hi M.C Thanks for directing me to this. I would love to broadcast it on radio. I think that all these current world events really amplifies it's significance again in our lives
Comment is about THE MENIN GATE (blog)
Original item by M.C. Newberry
Howard Morrison
Wed 9th Mar 2022 17:22
David (known to many as Joe) was my brother-in-law, having married my sister Gail on my 19th birthday. We were close for some 54 years.
A remarkable, kind and extremely clever man. A gifted poet, a concert standard pianist, fluent French speaker and an exhilarating conversationalist and philosopher.
He cared brilliantly for my sister during her struggle with Alzheimers and was unfailingly generous to all.
We shall all miss him deeply; a lot of talent and human kindness to miss.
Howard
Comment is about ‘He really believed in Write Out Loud’: David Andrew, former Gig Guide editor, dies aged 82 (article)
Original item by Greg Freeman
So much of what you say has merit, MC. And the over-riding consideration in all of this is national self-determination. And there is little doubt that Ukraine wants to stay Ukraine.
But I take issue on a number of points.
Firstly the world has not moved on. Politics remains what it always was and always will, be a dynamic between the conflicting interests of states. As we will inevitably find out as China’s geo-political ambitions increase.
Secondly, I think it is naive to consider the enlargement of NATO eastwards as benign. Perception is paramount. What we see and what Russia sees are entirely different. Certainly, JFK didn’t see Russia’s military influence in Cuba as benign.
If there is one thing we should learn from this sad and dangerous episode it is the importance of defence generally and specifically the exposing of the myth that conventional defence rather than concentrating on “new order” terrorism is redundant ie Russia has not gone away.
And thanks for the Like, Stephen A.
Comment is about NOTHING'S GONNA CHANGE OUR WORLD (blog)
Original item by John Coopey
An interesting comparison with the Cuban missile crisis and
certainly a subject for debate. That was a real Cold War event
when tensions were high after the communist expansion into
Europe after WW2. Paranoia was the order of the day back
when the USSR (as was) showed no sign of giving up its hold
in Berlin, deep in Western Europe. Castro was unpredictable
and his regime hardly less so - and political instability so close
to the USA then was viewed as dangerous indeed., hence the
response by JFK to the secret movement of missiles from
Russia to Cuba. Today's world has moved on considerably
(or so it had been thought!) with the Russian Federation and
its political ideology considered much more flexible and
receptive to freedom of thought, freedom and market forces.
Putin has decided to act as if the old USSR still existed and
clearly identifies with "might is right" while busily stoking up
the fires which he himself has started, using non-existent
threats from "The West". He clearly equates NATO with what
he fears in its members - the freedoms that he seeks to
restrict and control in modern Russia. Paranoia is now re-employed in a world that has evolved far beyond the iron
cage represented by the old USSR and its political demagogues, backed by a ruthless secret police, as often as
not used to kill opponents and rivals for the power they so
desperately craved. Our knowledge of the dreadful gulags and the millions who suffered and died there remain as evidence of that vile reality. Putin has never offered any explanation of
WHY the West would pose a threat or wish harm on Russia
and its people in THIS modern world. That silence speaks for itself.
Comment is about NOTHING'S GONNA CHANGE OUR WORLD (blog)
Original item by John Coopey
My sort of pithy mental stimulation! 👍
Comment is about THE INNER LIMITS (blog)
Original item by Joe Marcello
Hi Ruth - noting your comment on John Botterill's poem, I'm
not sure poets are always the best readers of their own work and
in the past I used a Bristol studio and its two resident recording
artists to record various poems of mine in musical settings for a self-published enterprise on CD. You can find some examples (e.g. The Menin Gate and English Hills) in the audio list on my WOL page and if you'd like a sample copy of the CD, just let me know where i can send it.
MC
Comment is about Ruth O'Reilly (poet profile)
Original item by Ruth O'Reilly
Entertaining and erudite in equal measure.
"The other man;s grass has a high street value
Well worth fighting for..."
A stab in the dark?! 😏
Comment is about Let Sleeping Poets Lie (blog)
Original item by John Botterill
I had a mother, 6 aunts and 4 sisters. That was quite enough
for me. But I certainly admire the many abilities of the female
sex, not least to convince modern men that they are "victims" when they are so influential in male lives from birth to death -
and, ironically create the mentality that drives male ambition and determination via their own oft-expressed expectations.
Comment is about Fantastic Women! (blog)
Original item by Stephen W Atkinson
Lovely analogy, Ruth, sad but true. All time is lent!
Comment is about Borrowed (blog)
Original item by Ruth O'Reilly
Great poem john. I am putting together a poetry day radio show for March 20th so if You John or any other sleeping poets would like to record some audio of their poems. Leave me a message and I will be in touch with you☺
Comment is about Let Sleeping Poets Lie (blog)
Original item by John Botterill
I really enjoyed this male perspective international women's day poem Stephen!
Comment is about Fantastic Women! (blog)
Original item by Stephen W Atkinson
Thanks for these warm comments about our dear comrade. I plan to read two of David's poems tonight at Write Out Loud Woking on Zoom, along with my own 'Backroom Boys' about the two of us. Then I thought: why not read a poem of David's at the open-mic every month, so that his poetry is not only not forgotten, but perhaps more widely appreciated? And I will.
Comment is about ‘He really believed in Write Out Loud’: David Andrew, former Gig Guide editor, dies aged 82 (article)
Original item by Greg Freeman
Many thanks, Holden. Your appreciation means a lot to me. The proverbs all seemed to mingle together in my head haha. 😂
Thanks, too, to Ursula and Stephen A for the likes.😀
Comment is about Let Sleeping Poets Lie (blog)
Original item by John Botterill
Bloodshed and killings, life lost its meaning
When will we stop praying for it all to end ?
Comment is about Our home (blog)
Original item by Sunshine
Wed 9th Mar 2022 00:09
A wonderful poem, John, genuinely captivating, and all the proverbs are so cleverly integrated! 😎
Comment is about Let Sleeping Poets Lie (blog)
Original item by John Botterill
Let us hope not, Stephen.
I have heard it argued that the West has encouraged Russia into this by its eastwards expansion of NATO. Consider how America reacted when Russia placed its missiles on their doorstep in 1962. Small wonder Russia's not happy.
Comment is about NOTHING'S GONNA CHANGE OUR WORLD (blog)
Original item by John Coopey
Excellent and heart felt tribute Greg. David was one of those characters who was a one-off. One you couldn't replace. Probably ten years since I last met him and very likely at Marsden Jazz Festival.
Comment is about ‘He really believed in Write Out Loud’: David Andrew, former Gig Guide editor, dies aged 82 (article)
Original item by Greg Freeman
Thanks, Stephen. A super comment as ever. I will follow up on the Breugal lead. My wife is a retired Art teacher!
I am glad I didn't try to include all 120 in my poem haha 😀
I think most professions have a sell by date and I'd definitely reached mine but I value your compliment!
Comment is about Let Sleeping Poets Lie (blog)
Original item by John Botterill
A tour de force, John. I'm sure you taught them a lot of useful things. Interesting, I saw a painting by Breugel today called 'Proverbs', which apparently contains illustrations of 120 different proverbs.
Comment is about Let Sleeping Poets Lie (blog)
Original item by John Botterill
Thanks for the comments, MC and Steve, although I feel I'm running out of things I can usefully say about all this, if I haven't already. Thanks for the Likes, Stephen and Graham, but I'm not sure Like is the right word here.
Comment is about From Reykjavik to Kyiv (blog)
Original item by Greg Freeman
Ominous indeed, John. Oh, yes.
Comment is about NOTHING'S GONNA CHANGE OUR WORLD (blog)
Original item by John Coopey
Greg - As a young idealist, I believed in the total abolition of nuclear weapons. Strangely, fifty years later, I still do. It is the only real hope for humanity, even if it will be mighty hard work.
Comment is about From Reykjavik to Kyiv (blog)
Original item by Greg Freeman
Beautiful. Both the poem and the picture, Julie. 😀
Comment is about Double Take (blog)
Original item by julie callaghan
I agree with every word, Stephen. My wife has all the same wonderful traits.
Happy International Women's Day 👍
Comment is about Fantastic Women! (blog)
Original item by Stephen W Atkinson
Just reading this tonight and it has come as a shock. I met David only once at Julian's home in Marsden some years back now and found him a decent sort of bloke. A calm voice and a steady hand. My very best wishes and of course condolences to his family.
Comment is about ‘He really believed in Write Out Loud’: David Andrew, former Gig Guide editor, dies aged 82 (article)
Original item by Greg Freeman
I was so sorry to hear about David's passing. Although I didn't really know much about him he made a unique impression on me at poetry events and was vitally interested and helpful at the Write out Loud nights I shared with him. My experiences as a train spotter at West Drayton in the 60s were met with great approval by him.
He seemed very full of life on zoom readings and infused them with his quirky and original presence.
Comment is about ‘He really believed in Write Out Loud’: David Andrew, former Gig Guide editor, dies aged 82 (article)
Original item by Greg Freeman
We won’t avoid events, MC, but let’s hope they aren’t as cataclysmic as those of 1914.
Comment is about NOTHING'S GONNA CHANGE OUR WORLD (blog)
Original item by John Coopey
Putin is trying to dominate Ukraine as the bully seeks to rule the playground in a school. This sort always have their followers -
stooges seeking favours and some hand-me-down power..
Comment is about Cowards (blog)
Original item by Sunshine
Reagan: Tear down that wall, Mr Gorbachev.
Putin: Build up that wall,.comrades..
Comment is about From Reykjavik to Kyiv (blog)
Original item by Greg Freeman
Or, as Harold "Supermac") Macmillan retorted:
"Events, dear boy, events." 😐
Comment is about NOTHING'S GONNA CHANGE OUR WORLD (blog)
Original item by John Coopey
Thank you Nigel and Greg. I'm glad that there are people who agree with me on this.
Comment is about Cowards (blog)
Original item by Sunshine
Another great poem, Julie. Can I post it later today, as a news item, to mark International Women's Day?
Comment is about Two Weeks Ago (blog)
Original item by julie callaghan
Thankyou Greg and John. “Jai guru deva”.
And thanks for the Likes, Clare, Ghazala and Holden.
Comment is about NOTHING'S GONNA CHANGE OUR WORLD (blog)
Original item by John Coopey
Brilliant poem, John. I hope that it's not too accurately prophetic, but it could well be...
Comment is about NOTHING'S GONNA CHANGE OUR WORLD (blog)
Original item by John Coopey
Dew covered tracks
foxy sporty type
raced right past.
Comment is about Unusual Customer (blog)
Original item by Andy N
raypool
Thu 10th Mar 2022 10:37
Thank you Aisha and Holden for liking this.
True enough Stephen, glad you liked it.
Ray
Comment is about THOUGHT BUBBLE (blog)
Original item by ray pool