Thank you Rolph for your kind words! I'm so glad the poem resonated with you. It means a lot to know that the imagery and emotions I tried to convey were able to evoke such a deep connection.

Comment is about HOMECOMING (blog)

Original item by Naomi

I am most grateful for your kind comments, Rolph. As you say, the sculpture emphasises the indominitable nature of the human spirit. It also demonstrates the impact of emotion in art: someone who doesn't know the background or even understand its title is still deeply affected by it. I know, because that was my situation many years ago.

And my sincere thanks to everyone who liked the poem.

Comment is about Le Grisou (blog)

Original item by Stephen Gospage

Thank you Rolph

Your first impression was indeed the right one - having seen a thought-provoking documentary some years ago, about the more primitive way of Aboriginal life I feel that they appear to have an extra sense.
They could find their way to places that they had never been to and find water that they did not know was there and people who were not where they were supposed to be.
I am convinced that somewhere along the line, we have lost a 'something', but I don't know what it is.
We are determined to race forward, but we should stop for a while and think back.
Some animals still retain an ability that we do not understand,
Following the stars or following scent has been given as an explanation but that does not wash and does not cover their intuitive knowledge.
Instinct? Maybe, whatever it is we must once have had it and now lost it.

Oh! I am rabbiting on, sorry, who am I to try to understand?

Comment is about HERITAGE LONG LOST second time round for this one (blog)

Original item by Flyntland

Lee,
Your "Creeper" left a deep impression on me. The way you convey that unsettling, creeping realisation—how something undefined can completely shift the way we see the world—is both haunting and profound. I admire how you juxtapose the mundane routines of daily life with this intangible weight, creating such a vivid contrast. It’s a striking reflection on how easily the extraordinary hides within the ordinary. Beautifully done.

Regards,
Rolph

Comment is about Creeper (blog)

Original item by Lee Campbell

Yanma,
The verses of your poem The Father’s Serenade beautifully portray a father’s song as a vessel for healing and connection. The imagery of calming oceans, soothing birds, and silencing cries conveys the universal power of his voice, transforming pain into peace.

The way his song ripples through the world, bringing solace and harmony, is deeply moving—a testament to the quiet strength of love and understanding. Thank you for sharing such a serene and uplifting piece!
Regards,
Rolph

Comment is about The Father’s Serenade (blog)

Original item by Yanma Hidayah

Hello Flyntland,

Wonderful lines!
I interpreted your poem based on Aboriginal song lines and was going to post it here until I read your personal story about it.
I refrained immediately, hahaha...

Great work anyway!
Cheerio,
Rolph

Comment is about HERITAGE LONG LOST second time round for this one (blog)

Original item by Flyntland

My plate is smaller than my husband's - he eats landscape - I eat portrait. Big sigh of defeat.😓

Comment is about Overweight Mate (blog)

Original item by Trevor Alexander

Love to hear that, Thank you @Flyntland

Comment is about The Father’s Serenade (blog)

Original item by Yanma Hidayah

I love this, a simplicity captured beautifully. Thanks, Naomi

Comment is about HOMECOMING (blog)

Original item by Naomi

I love the calm serenity and rhythm of this poem, it reads like a soothing lullaby.

Thank you

Comment is about The Father’s Serenade (blog)

Original item by Yanma Hidayah

A Collection of Others

a letter
finds friendship with others
a word
finds awareness with others
a sentence
finds confidence with others
a poet
finds solidarity with others
yourself found
inside a Collage poem.

Comment is about January 2025 Collage Poem: Best Not to Know (blog)

Original item by Stockport WoL

Stephen,
Your marvellous verses in Le Grisou — with its evocative title — beautifully captures the emotional gravity of grief and the inevitability of human suffering. The title, meaning "the coal gas," could symbolise the suffocating presence of loss, much like an invisible, lingering force that slowly takes hold. It reflects the poem's tone, where breath is heavy, and the warmth of life seems distant. The vivid imagery of "washed-up men" and the grief-stricken women creates a stark contrast between violence and sorrow. As the poem progresses, the shift from anger to "defiant pride" feels like a quiet rebellion against despair. Your portrayal of mourning and the intrusion into this sacred space, coupled with the unsettling nature of Le Grisou, emphasises the quiet yet powerful endurance of the human spirit amidst tragedy. Great work!
Best regards,
Rolph

Comment is about Le Grisou (blog)

Original item by Stephen Gospage

Hello Manish,
Wow, wow, wow!
Your verses are haunting in their portrayal of guilt and misunderstanding. The tension you create, starting with the heated argument and building to the image of blood seeping through the door, captures the intensity of the emotional storm. The stark contrast between the physical blood and the calm reassurance of the "make-up" in the end is chilling—it’s almost as if you’re showing how easily we can misinterpret situations, particularly when emotions run high. The final line hits hard, revealing both vulnerability and the sometimes strange ways we reconcile conflict. It’s a powerful exploration of the pang of dread that comes with miscommunication and the weight of unintended consequences. Great!

Regards,
Rolph

Comment is about Pang of Dread (blog)

Original item by Manish

Hello John,
What a great poem! Your poem strikes a deep chord with me, especially the way you juxtapose the fleeting nature of human desires with the destruction of something as ancient and revered as the Buddhas of Bamiyan. It’s a powerful commentary on how humans, in their relentless craving for impermanence, end up creating their own suffering. The reference to duḥkha brings an intense layer of meaning, grounding your poem in a profound Buddhist reflection on life’s unsatisfactoriness. The irony of the destruction done "in the name of God" is a sharp critique of how ideology often blinds us to deeper truths. It’s a poignant reminder of the futility of clinging to things that can’t offer true peace. Your words resonate strongly with that universal conflict between inner peace and external chaos.
Regards,
Rolph

Comment is about Duhkha* (blog)

Original item by John E Marks

Naomi,
I love your poem because it beautifully captures the feeling of returning to a place that holds deep personal meaning. The way you describe the quiet moments—the rain ceasing, dusk creeping in, and the orange glow of the west—makes it feel like a gentle transition, a peaceful return to something that grounds you. The imagery of gathering the flock and heading down the hill with a light heart creates a sense of fulfillment, as if the journey itself is just as important as the destination. It’s a lovely reminder of the comfort and solace that home offers. I really felt that warmth in your words.
Fantastic piece!

Comment is about HOMECOMING (blog)

Original item by Naomi

Hi Trevor,
Like your mate has a penchant for putting on weight, I have a penchant for limericks.
Your limerick made me smile! I love the playful tone and the lighthearted way you address this sensitive subject. The way you manage to combine humour with a little bit of honest advice is refreshing. It’s a clever way to talk about something we all can relate to—finding the balance in life. I’m sure your mate would appreciate the humour in it, too! Keep writing, your wit definitely shines through in this one.

Comment is about Overweight Mate (blog)

Original item by Trevor Alexander

Hi RBK,
Your poem "there once was a boy" is a poignant exploration of the inevitable loss of innocence and the transition from childhood to adulthood. You beautifully capture the fleeting nature of youth, and how the carefree joy of a child gives way to the weight of reality and grief as time passes. The image of the boy by the river, tracing ripples in the water, symbolizes the purity and wonder of childhood—moments that seem endless but are soon swept away by the tide of life's demands and challenges.

The way you describe the boy’s dreams—fortresses in the sand, crumbling beneath the waves—reflects the fragility of youth’s hopes and the inevitable erosion of those dreams as one grows older. What resonates deeply is the contrast between the boy's world of boundless possibility and the man's quiet mourning of those lost dreams. This tension between memory and reality, between who he was and who he has become, is felt strongly throughout the poem.

Your depiction of grief as "morning mist" and the weight of loss as pressing against the chest is visceral and real. Yet, amid the sorrow, there is an underlying strength, a quiet resilience that speaks to the growth and wisdom gained through those difficult transitions. The idea that the man still cherishes the fragments of his past—while carrying the scars of battles fought—is powerful. The final lines, where you remind us that the heart can still "remember how to dream," bring a sense of hope, a reminder that though boyhood may fade, the capacity for dreams and hope remains.

This poem feels like a tribute to the parts of ourselves that are lost over time but never entirely forgotten. It’s a reminder that, even in our grief, there’s a quiet strength to be found in holding on to the dreams that shaped us.

Great job!

Comment is about there once was a boy (blog)

Original item by Red Brick Keshner

Lee, your poem "Doublethink" is a profound meditation on memory, the traces left behind, and the complex relationships we have with the past. You bring to life the idea that traces—whether physical objects, snapshots, or sounds—are not just remnants of what has been, but powerful forces that shape how we experience the present. The way you speak of rummaging through these remnants, these "embodied debris," feels like a form of re-engagement with both personal and collective histories. You invite us to consider how memory is not static, but alive, constantly reshaping itself in our minds, intertwined with nostalgia, loss, and the longing to return to—or escape from—what once was.

Your references to mixtapes, postcards, and personal drawings are not just nostalgic, but deeply layered with emotion, offering windows into the self you were and the self you’ve become. The concept of "doublethink" beautifully captures the tension of revisiting these traces: they are sweet and painful, comforting and uncomfortable, as they force us to confront who we were and who we are now. I love the way you describe these traces as "invitations"—inviting us to be present in those moments again, but also challenging us to make sense of them in the now.

You’ve captured the essence of how we live between these two worlds: the one we’ve left behind and the one we’re still navigating. It’s a moving exploration of memory, identity, and the layers of time we carry with us. The archive, as you put it, becomes something alive, a place where past and present are in constant dialogue. Your poem gives those traces weight and power, asking us whether we’re ready to accept their invitation and engage with them once more. I hope I am correct in my interpretation and analysis. If not, please forgive my mental ‘encroachment’.

Great work!
Regards,
Rolph

Comment is about Doublethink (blog)

Original item by Lee Campbell

Hello Stephen,
Thank you so much once again. I appreciate your kind words about the poem. You’re absolutely right—Trump remains a criminal and is still subject to civil liability, yet the response in November 2024 showed a troubling disregard for these facts. It’s something I wanted to highlight, and I’m glad you picked up on that aspect. The indifference many seem to have towards his past actions is deeply concerning, and it’s something we can’t ignore. Thanks again for your thoughtful reflection.

Comment is about Impunity in Power! (blog)

Original item by Rolph David

Hello Flyntland,
Thank you for your thoughtful comment. I'm glad you especially found the line "A nation bruised, betrayed, and mourned" impactful. It’s exactly what I hoped to convey—the deep sadness of a nation losing its way. Your interpretation resonates with me: a nation gradually falling under the control of a narcissistic bully and his chosen followers. The world is indeed in turmoil, and optimism alone won't change that. Your insights really capture the gravity of this moment, and I appreciate you sharing them.

Comment is about Impunity in Power! (blog)

Original item by Rolph David

That is a strong term which also means impoverished with the nuance of destitution. Potent stuff here.

Comment is about Duhkha* (blog)

Original item by John E Marks

Thanks for reading and your comment Auracle.

No problems with a little frivolity Auracle, thanks again.

David RL Moore

Comment is about At 5 o'clock a million things (blog)

Original item by David RL Moore

my grateful thanks to RBK. Hugh Stephen G and Holden.

I have described this piece as being inspired by aboriginal 'Song Lines' and it was.
But it is reinforced by my experience of keeping animals (are we so different?)
As a small child I was taken by bus to a well-known beauty spot about a 3/4 of an hour bus drive away from our home. The dog came with us but as was her way, she ran off while we were there. We had to come home without her - intending to go back the next day. During the night she made her way home - crossing countless roads and never having walked the rout before, we found her, exhausted, waiting by the back door.

An even more impressive journey was made by a collie, sold by a farmer in the south of England to a farmer in Scotland. Two weeks later the collie made its way back to its original owner in the south.

Another example was a German Shepherd of mine who, my daughter tells me, always knew when I would be home no matter where I had been and expected or not.

Who can doubt that somewhere along the line that "Something is missing"

Comment is about HERITAGE LONG LOST second time round for this one (blog)

Original item by Flyntland

I particularly like

"A nation bruised, betrayed, and mourned"

Eloquent - to the point - but above all immensely sad.

For me, your poem describes a freedom-loving nation that is seduced into becoming the total opposite.
By the time they have realized it, they will be governed by a narcissistic bully who has handpicked henchmen in his own image.
I think the world is going through a major upheaval, Optimistic platitudes will not help, right-mindedness is being challenged by an array of people who all have their own agendas.

Comment is about Impunity in Power! (blog)

Original item by Rolph David

Hey, some of us live for frivolousness! 😀

Comment is about At 5 o'clock a million things (blog)

Original item by David RL Moore

Le Grisou, which depicts the aftemath of a gas explosion in mining disaster, is a sculpture by Constantin Meunier in the Fine Arts museum in Brussels. Meunier, who was the foremost artist of the Belgian industrial revolution, created this piece after visiting the scene of such a disaster in the late 19th century. The sculpture is in the main entrance hall of the museum and its humanity never fails to make a deep impression on me.

Comment is about Le Grisou (blog)

Original item by Stephen Gospage

Elegantly written, Rolph. He is still a criminal (and subject to civil liability for rape) but the majority seemed not to care in November 2024. Deeply troubling, as you imply.

Comment is about Impunity in Power! (blog)

Original item by Rolph David

You convey so much in these eighteen lines, Hugh, in such a readable, compassionate way.

Comment is about “The wounds on his head, thank God they were detected !” (blog)

Original item by hugh

In blue is Tom Wiffin or Popowicz.

Background right is Jason Borril. Grey hoody is John Camp.

All are from 30 SIGREGT.

Comment is about Margaret May the 2nd (blog)

Original item by ZTK Space

A fascinating take on tragic events, Elle. Okay but never the same sums up the outcome: life goes on, but not its precious past.
Thank you.

Comment is about ash & blood (blog)

Original item by Elle Shaine

Cheers Uilleam and Hugh, thank you for your continued support.What an interesting message to receive. Llongyfarchiadau Hugh, yn enwedig am y parch a'r parch yr ydych yn ysgrifennu ato o Cenerch, John

Comment is about TALIESIN  — an old Welsh witch  (blog)

Original item by John E Marks

https://ruthoreilly.substack.com/p/the-masks-we-wear

I'm just experimenting with Substack so if your are part of that community give me a follow and I'll subscribe to your page. Thanks 😊

Comment is about InCollage_20250110_205735187.png (photo)

Original item by Ruth O'Reilly

Thanks Helene,

I'm pleased I gave you a reason to revisit a great song.

Yes, it's nice to get a little chat and some reminiscing going...also to prod our collective conscience.

I always appreciate peoples thoughts and comments.

David

Comment is about Are We The Only Living One's to Have Thought (blog)

Original item by David RL Moore

Thankyou Helene for your reading and generous comment, very much appreciated.

David

Comment is about At 5 o'clock a million things (blog)

Original item by David RL Moore

Love the unique structure. Marla

Comment is about Lines (blog)

Original item by Elle Shaine

Love the comparison. Marla

Comment is about Dead Rat (blog)

Original item by Elle Shaine

Da iawn,my great uncle was a Welsh poet. I have one of the chairs he won at an eisteddfod proudly sat in my house.He was known as Cenerch.The chair has Cadair Papur Pawb written on it,which he won in 1902.😜

Comment is about TALIESIN  — an old Welsh witch  (blog)

Original item by John E Marks

I am an optimist by nature. I always tell myself that tomorrow will be better. However, the Armenian radio in Odessa said that it was already better. But I always tell myself these three cherished words: Laura, I love you, and then I do a face mask. Lol, A good poem, excellent. You have to love yourself.

Comment is about All the Angels and Saints (blog)

Original item by Hélène

Have you ever seen a falling star
being so far?
Did you hear about a bridge
built by love, kisses, and hugs
that managed to reach
the most remote islands Fidji?

If you saw a falling star
you must know, there it was me
making a hundred wishes.
We would build a love bridge
so that to connect our hearts
which can’t live apart.

God will smile flying above
counting our kisses.
Thus, it’ll help to build the bridges.
I wish these minutes to last,
And time didn’t fly so fast.
And we could show our trust.

We dream and years fly above
They are kind and see our love.
I believe in our happiness.
Together we are a team of fearless.
The wind of love is blowing,
The flame of love is showing.

Thousand years will pass quickly
and we’ll be among the other planets.
The other lovers will watch us silently
and have quite other tenets.
We fly in the sky and years fly above
Taking into consideration our love.



©Larisa Rzhepishevska

Comment is about Have You Ever Seen A Falling Star? (blog)

Original item by Larisa Rzhepishevska

A powerful poem, David. Thanks for writing about the deep sorrow so many of us feel when looking at the state of life on this planet. I keep hoping the divide will lessen and kindness will flourish; perhaps poetry and other means of connection between people can move the needle just a wee bit in that direction. Appreciated reading everyone's comments, and after reading this poem I listened to Simon & Garfunkel "Only Living Boy in NY" for a walk down memory lane. I'm 70 years old, still a babe in the woods, eh Flyntland? https://youtu.be/5biEjyXNa2o?feature=shared

Comment is about Are We The Only Living One's to Have Thought (blog)

Original item by David RL Moore

A sparkling poem that drops the reader right into the scene. Love the imagery of the laughing dog and owner. Write on, David!

Comment is about At 5 o'clock a million things (blog)

Original item by David RL Moore

haha, brave or stupid and possibly the latter.

Thanks Graham, and to RBK for the like.

David

Comment is about At 5 o'clock a million things (blog)

Original item by David RL Moore

I'm wearing shorts and a beanie. Brave??

Comment is about At 5 o'clock a million things (blog)

Original item by David RL Moore

Thanks to Uilleam and Flyntland for comments and to those who have added recent likes, very much appreciated.

Flyntland, I doubt even in my 80's I will regard myself as a grown up, at least I hope not.

All the best,

David

Comment is about Are We The Only Living One's to Have Thought (blog)

Original item by David RL Moore

Hey Flyntland, thanks for your much appreciated comments on ‘Admonitions…’ it has brought some validation to the work and thought put into. 🌷

Comment is about Flyntland (poet profile)

Original item by Flyntland

your humor is based in truth. I like that.

Comment is about Fran Isherwood (poet profile)

Original item by Fran Isherwood

A lot of truth here. Marla

Comment is about fellow travellers (blog)

Original item by Freda Davis

I like what you said in your profile. Look forward to reading your poetry. Marla

Comment is about Iwona Seliga (poet profile)

Original item by Iwona Seliga

Thanks for your thoughts’ Uilleam and Trevor. It’s very clear what he is selling, Uilleam - himself.

Comment is about ST. MARTIN (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

We never know if what we are seeing is authentic or just a show for tourists who have flown 10,000 miles to be slightly embarrassed at the intrusion.

Comment is about Beneath A Southern Sky (blog)

Original item by Trevor Alexander