Thanks for reading & tapping the Like, John ?

Comment is about Mr Rhubarb (blog)

Original item by Stephen W Atkinson

LOL John! Nothing like being stalked by "mans best friend" while enjoying a bite.

Cheers!

Comment is about Feeding Time (blog)

Original item by Mike McPeek

Hi, Stephen! Thanks for your welcoming comment on my profile ? I’ve really enjoyed reading through yours! In particular, your segment “About each poem”- learning about where an artist finds their inspiration is one of my very favorite things! Your concepts are thought provoking and nostalgic. Looking forward to reading more of your pieces!

Kristian ?

Comment is about Stephen W Atkinson (poet profile)

Original item by Stephen W Atkinson

I'm all I have for me
A friend, lover and my kindred self
A monster like devil attacks
Built a fort he can't break
But from windows he slyly approach
Won't kill him for anything
He will die his own death
Or when from outside he will be attacked
As for now I have comfort in me
Don't need anybody
I have an angel mother in me
I have an innocent self being protected by forces heavenly
So demons can try and make me weep
But they can't attain any victory in destroying me
So the story begins.

Comment is about They Come to Me When Things Are Still (blog)

Original item by Kristian Deidre Brown

Thank you Stephen once again for taking time to comment.
There are a lot of reassurances built into this poem (how I comprehend it when I wrote it and when I read it) but I am glad to know that reassurance carries across to the reader too.

Thanks also to everyone who has clicked 'Like' for this poem. ?

Comment is about The Strength Least Expected (blog)

Original item by Aviva Rifka Bhandari

You're right about the music of trains, Philipos. They also have their own mesmeric scent. If I could bottle that mix of smoke, oil and steam I could be a millionaire.
And thanks for the Likes, Julie, Stephen and Aviva and Dean.

Comment is about THE MOORLAND TRAIN (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

I'm still waiting my vaccinations
and the protection that they accord
(Though I'm delighted to hear you've had your turn)
But I can't think of Spanish vacations
Spanish Omelette is all I can afford
(But I'm happy you're better off, live as you earn ?)

Comment is about First Jab (blog)

Original item by Trevor Alexander

I certainly concur about equality before the law and its administration,
which, of course, includes who does what and gets paid what.
Same pay for the same work (*). But the word has been adopted as
a means of manipulation.. I see it skewed "to suit" in life..
(*) When pro.female tennis players demand pay on a par with the
male participants in the sport, then playing the same number of games to the same level of intensity would be a start. But then that probably sees me fall foul of those other skewed words: sexism and
racism. Hey-ho. Blanket commodity - it is not. You're right there.

Comment is about A WORD IN YOUR EAR (blog)

Original item by M.C. Newberry

Trains make their own kind of music John.

When I was on a long visit to South Africa some years ago I had one of my poems published in an enthusiast's magazine.

However, I did enjoy your Johnny Cash rendition especially.

P

Comment is about THE MOORLAND TRAIN (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

Well done, Trev. But stay careful - it's not over yet.

Comment is about First Jab (blog)

Original item by Trevor Alexander

Too right, Mike. I never fully understood the phrase "undivided attention" until I saw my daughter's dog watching me eat.

Comment is about Feeding Time (blog)

Original item by Mike McPeek

Rest easy, y'all. It was just the pocket.

Comment is about The mysterious case of the hole in the trousers (blog)

Original item by Stephen Gospage

MC - Do you not believe there should equality before the law or equality at the ballot box or equality in pay for jobs of equal worth? Equality is not a blanket commodity that applies over all things. In some aspects of life there is equality; in some it is an aspiration; in others (as your cite Einstein) it is plainly ridiculous.

Comment is about A WORD IN YOUR EAR (blog)

Original item by M.C. Newberry

And thanks for the additional likes Julie, Aviva, & Holden, appreciated as always ???

Comment is about Mr Rhubarb (blog)

Original item by Stephen W Atkinson

Thanks for the likes Aviva, Stephen A, Stephen G and Paul. Hopefully Christoph didn’t affect anyone too badly.

Comment is about Storm Christoph (blog)

Original item by julie callaghan

This is softly soothing even though it feels like it fluctuates between sadness and serenity and never really settles on either. Hopefully the sun will shine again, and drifting will be more enjoyable some day whilst you're on the way to wherever you go.

Comment is about Drifting (blog)

Original item by Rick Varden

This feels like a real performance piece. It has got so much scope in the cadence and placement of rhyme to work so well at a live read (just my opinion, what do I know, I can only say what I think though)

Comment is about TRUST IN ME MY DEAR (blog)

Original item by Sarah Louise mcnee

Nought is a strange number
Even financially, rarely true.
And times are tough
more so without slumber
But even tougher is you.

Good luck and I hope things improve.

Comment is about Honestly (blog)

Original item by Alonelymouse

What Keith said.

Good one Trevor,

Comment is about First Jab (blog)

Original item by Trevor Alexander

What on earth are you doing?
thinking of a poem?
or
getting a sun tan?

and...what about those old shoes?
what size do you wear?
maybe I can send you some new ones.

Comment is about old shoes (poet profile)

Original item by old shoes

The second stanza in particular has some lovely and evocative imagery and phrasing.

Also, I'm going to have to look much closer behind the doors, seems as if I've not been paying enough attention.

Comment is about Behind the door (blog)

Original item by Stephen Gospage

Some excellent lines - especially those closing this piece.

Comment is about 'Democracy can never be defeated': Amanda Gorman is youngest poet to perform at inauguration (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Stephen G, rhubarb, rhubarb, rhubarb...?

Comment is about Mr Rhubarb (blog)

Original item by Stephen W Atkinson

Thanks New shoes! I wish I could play guitar...er, & sing! I wrote it with a local punk band in mind, but they split up shortly afterwards ?

Julie, thank you also! DNA, like it ?

And thank you Mr Po! Nice to have you back after your winter wanderings. Hope you enjoyed them! And yes, I got rather enhanced over that line...?

Comment is about Mr Rhubarb (blog)

Original item by Stephen W Atkinson

Wasn't it, Stephen? A wonderful end to a very good day

Comment is about 'Democracy can never be defeated': Amanda Gorman is youngest poet to perform at inauguration (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Yes, this is great. The end reminds me of an attempt to address a meeting on the last afternoon of the Oval Test match in 2005.

Comment is about POETRY GIG (blog)

Original item by ray pool

Great fun.

Comment is about There's something fishy going on (blog)

Original item by hugh

A very thoughtful poem. The notion of a silent majority of strengths is reassuring.

Comment is about The Strength Least Expected (blog)

Original item by Aviva Rifka Bhandari

Or HE isn't?

Comment is about Mr Rhubarb (blog)

Original item by Stephen W Atkinson

Maybe Rhubarb is just a state of mind. All right, it isn't.....

Comment is about Mr Rhubarb (blog)

Original item by Stephen W Atkinson

Good moment, nice verse.

Comment is about First Jab (blog)

Original item by Trevor Alexander

Yes Ray, I think farcical sums it up. Perhaps it owes a little to the likes of Spike Milligan. Or to a minister who mobilises the Met police to race around London looking for his son's socks. This was one of those instances when the idea seemed amusing and I tried to fill in all the absurd (over-!) activity associated with the event.

Aviva - yes, reading it again there could be a metaphor for a number of things. I'll take the hole in the ozone layer if I get a like from David Attenborough.

Thanks to both of you for the comments and to Stephen, Holden and Brian for the likes.

Comment is about The mysterious case of the hole in the trousers (blog)

Original item by Stephen Gospage

This was a truly inspiring performance.

Comment is about 'Democracy can never be defeated': Amanda Gorman is youngest poet to perform at inauguration (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Trevor,

Congratulations. I am waiting my turn but like you I shall be heading for the sunshine.

Keith

Comment is about First Jab (blog)

Original item by Trevor Alexander

I think now of a row of houses, each occupant with an ear to the wall, this is a smile from ear to ear that I've not considered before..?

Comment is about field recordings (blog)

Original item by J.E. Oleary

Thank you Brian, I am happy that the thoughts wrapped in the poem landed still in a state worth thinking about. I'm glad you enjoyed reading it and thanks for taking time to comment.

Thank you Paul, you are right this is a dramatised and realised version of many common truisms. Thank you for taking the time to comment and thankyou for your positive wishes, I hope I won't need to seek much but I feel like I have a get out of jail free card now. May you find all you seek also.

Comment is about The Strength Least Expected (blog)

Original item by Aviva Rifka Bhandari

If it's one or two fish just occasionally seen
The scale of the problem won't be too extreme
But if there are constantly fish in profusion
The optician might have to trawl for a solution.

Comment is about There's something fishy going on (blog)

Original item by hugh

Congratulations

Comment is about First Jab (blog)

Original item by Trevor Alexander

I think I would rather them grow up for the simple fact I wouldn't have to wipe their butt anymore.

Comment is about BABIES (blog)

Original item by d.knape

No tears, only cheers.
A degree in not answering questions is their DNA (do not answer)

Comment is about Mr Rhubarb (blog)

Original item by Stephen W Atkinson

That was great! I enjoyed that. you should sing it with some guitar!

Comment is about Mr Rhubarb (blog)

Original item by Stephen W Atkinson

Thoughtful evoking thought. Thank you.

Comment is about The Strength Least Expected (blog)

Original item by Aviva Rifka Bhandari

That ending... I’ve been there.

Comment is about POETRY GIG (blog)

Original item by ray pool

Hello Aisha, yes the storms, plenty of motivation in them to write about. Enjoyed.

I hope you and yours keep well.

P

Comment is about The Storm (blog)

Original item by Aisha Suleman

Thank you Trevor and Tom for your comments.
Thank you to everyone who has clicked 'Like' for this poem too.

This was written three years ago as a New Year's Resolution poem but only because I had something to resolve about how I was feeling about things. And it turned out to seem prescient almost as things had been under great upheaval but became so much more so and in so many extra and unexpected ways throughout the year that followed but I found the poem a great help.

And now, it seems very suited to the year we've just had and the one that we are embarking upon too. It is the nature of sand (and life) to shift, and the nature of humans to try to stand upright and find a sense of balance, after all.

Comment is about Resolution (blog)

Original item by Aviva Rifka Bhandari

Ray - stick with WOL. We can ignore you without you knowing.

Only joking...you're one of the leading lights.

Comment is about POETRY GIG (blog)

Original item by ray pool

Where was this, Ray? Or are your lips sealed?! I think I know, but I may be wrong ...

Comment is about POETRY GIG (blog)

Original item by ray pool

Hi, and thanks a lot for liking and commenting favourably on one of my Blogs.

I hope that the time you spend on WOL will be of benefit to us all.

Blessings.

P

Comment is about old shoes (poet profile)

Original item by old shoes

Ha

Comment is about BABIES (blog)

Original item by d.knape

Really enjoyed this Aviva. We've got to take some time to appreciate the fortune of the moment when we can.

Comment is about Resolution (blog)

Original item by Aviva Rifka Bhandari