I can remember eating the little blue salt bag when I was small.
Wagon wheels were definitely bigger back then.

Comment is about Crisps (blog)

Original item by Stephen Gospage

Four poems which each work equally well, on their own.
But when they are together they become something even more.
👍

Comment is about 4 Memories at the edge of Darkness (blog)

Original item by Andy N

A very thought provoking piece.
I too mourn the passing of the nation that we once were, and dread what we are becoming, but not for the same reasons that this piece seems to suggest.
The way that our language changes is simply the way that languages develope. If they didn't change we'd still be speaking old Saxon, or the language imposed on us by our Norman conquerers.
"A beacon of liberty and refuge now consumed by its own generosity" this line to me suggests that we do too much to help others, and are now suffering as a consequence. In my opinion, the we are not nearly generous enough, and could do a lot better.
This poem also links Christianity to civilization, fairness and justice. I'm an atheist, so find it hard to see that link.

As I say, I too mourn the passing of the nation. But what I mourn is a society where decency and honesty were valued, and politicians were held to account.

Comment is about An Elegy for England (blog)

Original item by keith jeffries

Oh for those halcyon days, MC, when shopping centre security staff told ne’er-do-wells to put their hoodies down.

Comment is about ALICE'S RESTAURANT (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

Except now the sheep in Canada
are attacking the wolves. haha
Trudeau, in the meantime goes into hiding...
afraid of his own people.
I love it!

Comment is about keith jeffries (poet profile)

Original item by keith jeffries

Thanks for your comments John and Stephen. Much appreciated.

Comment is about The Humble Tree (blog)

Original item by Steve Higgins

Thank you Stephen. Wishing you a blessed day! 😃

Best wishes,
Rasa

Comment is about Beautiful Things (blog)

Original item by Rasa Kabaila

Yes, Stephen. I’ve noticed that everything seems to shrink as I’ve got older.

Comment is about Crisps (blog)

Original item by Stephen Gospage

Breathe in...breathe out;
No mask - what a wheeze!
Pity there's this germ about
To give you much more than a sneeze!!
P.S. If The Lone Ranger were to be made today, they'd be asking "Who was that masked man" and the answer would come back "It's The Sane Stranger"!!

Comment is about ALICE'S RESTAURANT (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

Thanks Nigel - i rarely reset my mind with poetry lol.

Thanks also to Stephen Atkinson, Aisha Suleman and Holden Moncrieff for the love.

Comment is about 4 Endings (blog)

Original item by Andy N

Quite right, Stephen. As an act of defiance it reminds me of Ali G giving a V-sign to a police car beneath his own car’s window ie where it can’t be seen.

Comment is about ALICE'S RESTAURANT (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

Spot on, Stephen. I am living proof that what you write is true!
I still think Wagon Wheels were bigger back then.
Fine poem. Powerful and succinct! 😀

Comment is about Crisps (blog)

Original item by Stephen Gospage

Thanks Ursula. I don't know anything about football either, as my fantasy league position will testify! :)

Thanks, too, Stephen. II hope people will realise that my 'dissing' of Sir Stanley was a joke!
John Mac could certainly weild a racquet. I wouldn't put myself in that league haha 😀

Comment is about Gizza Game (blog)

Original item by John Botterill

Lovely, Ghazala. Thanks for sharing.🌷

Comment is about Perseverance (blog)

Original item by Ghazala lari

That's so good, Hazel. 🎈

Comment is about What is life? What is death? (blog)

Original item by Hazel ettridge

I don't know anything about football, but nice poem, John. 👍

Comment is about Gizza Game (blog)

Original item by John Botterill

Thank you, John and Steve. I am humbled by your lovely comments.

Comment is about Sunday Afternoon (blog)

Original item by Stephen Gospage

A great poem with a great message, Steve

Comment is about The Humble Tree (blog)

Original item by Steve Higgins

Another brilliant one, John. I remember John MacEnroe, then in his late forties, being asked if he wanted to play for the US Davis Cup team. He replied "Well, I could lose as well as the guys playing now". It's never too late. It's still amazing to think that Stanley Matthews played into his fifties...

Comment is about Gizza Game (blog)

Original item by John Botterill

Nice one, John. Wearing a mask has always seemed the tiniest restriction of freedom to me. Such a shame that not doing so has become a badge of defiance and general idiocy. I shall keep mine on.

Comment is about ALICE'S RESTAURANT (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

Beautiful poem, Steve. Poetry for our age. Bravo! 😊

Comment is about The Humble Tree (blog)

Original item by Steve Higgins

Thanks both for your comments,
Trains have a world and life of their own, not always for the best

Comment is about eNd of THe lINE (blog)

Original item by Edbreathe

excellent stuff . .

Comment is about Sunday Afternoon (blog)

Original item by Stephen Gospage

Wonderful stuff, Stephen.

Comment is about Sunday Afternoon (blog)

Original item by Stephen Gospage

I am ill-equipped to comment on fashion elegance, Mike. But I really enjoyed this. “Relic/Tom Selleck” was a pearler.

Comment is about Psychedelic Chic (blog)

Original item by mike booth

Flings all flung, MC? I bet not!

Comment is about EVENTIDE (blog)

Original item by M.C. Newberry

I’m a sucker for train poems, Ed.

Comment is about eNd of THe lINE (blog)

Original item by Edbreathe

Thanks, Kevin. I take the view that just because the government say you don’t need to, it doesn’t make it a bad idea.

Comment is about ALICE'S RESTAURANT (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

I still wear mine when shopping.
I don't use public transport, but if I did I would certainly wear a mask.

Now that the restrictions have been lifted, I accept that people are less likely to bother.

What really did anger me, was the number of people (mainly the thirty-somethings) who deemed themselves exceptions when the restrictions were in place.

Comment is about ALICE'S RESTAURANT (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

It perplexes me, Graham, why people wear masks under their nose. I want to ask them if they wear their underpants with their prick dangling over the top.
And thanks for the Like, John.

Comment is about ALICE'S RESTAURANT (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

Thanks, Stephen. for the lovely comment. It's good to know that the upcoming generation has such verve!
(I have overstated his swagger though!) 😀

Thanks too, Ursula and Holden for the likes.

Comment is about The Changing of the Guard (blog)

Original item by John Botterill

Remember seeing the film, first time around.

Both Anna and me got Covid (the first variant) whilst in a restaurant. There were eight of us, meeting up for the first time in two years, all passed a test before meeting. Six of the eight got Covid!

Similarly, we both recently went to a concert (Teddy Thompson) at a small venue, where one had to wear masks. So we did. It was amazing how many exemptions and others making a pint last all evening so they could keep their masks down under their chins.

As you say, it says a lot. We won't be giving the masks up any time soon.

Comment is about ALICE'S RESTAURANT (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

You are quite right, Leon. But it nevertheless remains a very visible indicator of the care a person takes of themselves and others.

Comment is about ALICE'S RESTAURANT (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

I love the humour and the conclusion, John. Sad, in a way, but true and inevitable. The cycle of nature, as you say.

Comment is about The Changing of the Guard (blog)

Original item by John Botterill

You are right, Rasa. Life is beautiful and most people are good.

Comment is about Beautiful Things (blog)

Original item by Rasa Kabaila

I suppose the question is...at what point should we stop wearing masks? Is it now as per the government guidelines, or sometime later as per retailers' polite requests? Or do we wear them forever on the off chance that a smidgeon of something might enter our respiratory system?

Comment is about ALICE'S RESTAURANT (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

There's a lot in this poem, Pete. It starts off with an air of nostalgia and the end (suggested by the title) is chilling. A good read, well described.

Comment is about eNd of THe lINE (blog)

Original item by Edbreathe

Beautiful use of words to create wonderful images of the progression of a day. Thank you, Brenda!

Comment is about Painting the Day in Rhyme (blog)

Original item by Brenda Wells

Thank you so much for the kind words, John, I'm glad you enjoyed it! 😊

Comment is about What If... (blog)

Original item by Holden Moncrieff

Thanks Greg for the supportive comment and John C for the like!😊

Comment is about The Changing of the Guard (blog)

Original item by John Botterill

Wonderful collage of imagery, Brenda.

Comment is about Painting the Day in Rhyme (blog)

Original item by Brenda Wells

Quite right, John. The way it must be.

Comment is about The Changing of the Guard (blog)

Original item by John Botterill

I am a republican, Julie, but I must recognise that at this time the Queen is providing a focal point for the country. She delivered a good message during the early days of the pandemic.

Comment is about Platinum Jubilee (blog)

Original item by julie callaghan

I enjoyed both the sentiment and the word play, Holden!
Inspiring! 😀

Comment is about What If... (blog)

Original item by Holden Moncrieff

A beautiful poem full of hope, Ghazala. Thank you!
John

Comment is about Perseverance (blog)

Original item by Ghazala lari

Thanks for the like, Clare 😊

Comment is about The Changing of the Guard (blog)

Original item by John Botterill

Thank you for commenting & liking my audible sigh of ill political winds 😤

Comment is about A Stale Wind (blog)

Original item by Stephen W Atkinson

Thanks Julie for the like 😊

Comment is about The Changing of the Guard (blog)

Original item by John Botterill

The new look is pretty but I cant find the gig guide now

Comment is about A new look for Write Out Loud - and an updated Gig Guide for in-person AND online events (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Great News

Comment is about Clanchy finds new publisher for book revised after 'racism' row (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman