A great metaphor is struck here Tom. So many ideas that carry the imagery into the human predicament, and a highly accomplished use of language to convey that. Good to read your work. It does feel like the voice of experience !
Ray
Comment is about Ship In A Bottle (blog)
Original item by Tom
Technically difficult in such a tight form, MC. You capture the spirit of a Christmas hymn wonderfully. Where's the audio, though?
Comment is about WHEN CHRISTMAS COMES AROUND - a seasonal hymn (blog)
Original item by M.C. Newberry
Thanks for your further thoughts, MC and Stephen.
And thanks for the Like, John.
Comment is about THE FIA (blog)
Original item by John Coopey
Very fine response to a sad situation, Julie. Although case numbers are currently dropping in Belgium, Omicron is around and it seems only a matter of time before they start going up again.
Comment is about Christmas Past, Present and Future (blog)
Original item by julie callaghan
I like this, John, and the analogy is very much to the point. I seem to remember a cup tie many years ago where a team was leading four or five nil when the game was abandoned due to bad weather. When it was replayed, they lost. Funny old sport, motor racing, especially all these guys in baseball caps who seem to be playing space invaders during racing, not to mention all that wasted Champagne.
Comment is about THE FIA (blog)
Original item by John Coopey
Thank you, John. The 'brief history' idea had not occured to me, so many thanks for this comment. Perhaps I will change the title! It seems so right.
And thank you to Branwell, Stephen, Brenda, Holden and John for liking this poem.
Comment is about Public Gaze (blog)
Original item by Stephen Gospage
Thanks Keith. Habit is a trap and it's so easy to get stuck. Recognising the tricks you use to justify these behaviours to yourself is a good place to begin in breaking out of them. A new year's resolution, of sorts. Thanks for reading.
And thanks to Jordyn, John, Keith, Holden, Stephen, Stephen and John for reading and liking. Much appreciated.
Comment is about Ship In A Bottle (blog)
Original item by Tom
A fitting comment on the situation and a reminder that, truly,
rules are for the obedience of fools and the guidance of wise
men! By the way, citing football as an example, I've a healthy suspicion about the efficacy of foreign officials when recalling Maradona's "handy" allowed goal and Frank Lampard's disallowed goal in another international event - in both cases obvious to the rest of us watching.
Comment is about THE FIA (blog)
Original item by John Coopey
Fri 17th Dec 2021 14:28
I was one of
those riders!
wink.
Comment is about John Coopey (poet profile)
Original item by John Coopey
Fri 17th Dec 2021 14:02
not exactly the Sage I was talking about
haha
Comment is about Purple Sage (blog)
Original item by d.knape
Fri 17th Dec 2021 14:01
My face a waste
a bit unnerving,
it's all I got
though undeserving!
😃
Comment is about M.C. Newberry (poet profile)
Original item by M.C. Newberry
Hugh,
A stark reminder of the reality of what we are living through.
Thank you for this well and sensitively written poem.
Keith
Comment is about Life at the morgue (blog)
Original item by hugh
Julie,
Your poem, very well put together, captures what many people feel about the present situation. We must not allow ourselves to become depressed or anxious about this pandemic. Enjoy each day as it comes. Follow the guidelines as best as one can and keep going with a smile on your face as that will be a source of joy to others. Thank you for this
Keith
Comment is about Christmas Past, Present and Future (blog)
Original item by julie callaghan
Thanks, Leon.
And for the Likes, Stephen and Holden.
Comment is about THE FIA (blog)
Original item by John Coopey
You get it, John! Thank you for the note.
Comment is about Brewing (blog)
Original item by Candice Reineke
<Deleted User> (30611)
Thu 16th Dec 2021 21:56
I couldn't help remembering the "Riders of the Purple Sage" cowboy books by Zane Grey, DK. Funny how we can all find something different in the same piece of work.
Comment is about Purple Sage (blog)
Original item by d.knape
And it all works, Moonlight. I sleep with the curtains and windows wide open, even on the coldest nights. It zonks me out.
Comment is about Good night (blog)
Original item by Sunshine
Hi Ruth,
Clyde here, that wrote "the tattered old man on Christmas Eve" to see if you got my message to let you know that I would be pleased to have you use the audio for your radio show.
If you have guest on your show, I would love to be a guest.
Merry Chrismas over there in England from Portland Maine,USA
Comment is about Ruth O'Reilly (poet profile)
Original item by Ruth O'Reilly
Ruth, so glad you like the piece and the audio. Of course, I would be pleased for you to use it on your radio show. if you ever have a guest, I would love to be one.
Comment is about the tattered old man on Christmas Eve (blog)
Original item by Clyde McCulley
Thank you John, Stephen, Rudyard and Holden.
“Poets treat their experiences shamelessly: they exploit them”
― Friedrich Nietzsche, Beyond Good and Evil
Comment is about Sonnet (blog)
Original item by John E Marks
It must be the time of year but this poem instantly drew my attention to the urgent need for some sage and onion stuffing for the turkey.
Thanks dk
Keith
Comment is about Purple Sage (blog)
Original item by d.knape
Tom,
If this is written in the first person singular then I too have been there. The poem, well written, also paints an inner landscape which the reader cannot see but most certainly can speculate on.
A honest recognition is a first step. Using poetry as the genre adds a cathartic touch to it. I am with you mate.
Thank you indeed for this.
Keith
Comment is about Ship In A Bottle (blog)
Original item by Tom
Good to know it "connects". My intention when the words came
to mind. 🎄 (Clyde - you are a couple of years ahead me!).
Comment is about THOUGHTS AT CHRISTMAS - an annual re-post (blog)
Original item by M.C. Newberry
Hmm. I recall it said that by the time you reach a certain age you
will have acquired the face you deserve.
Comment is about Bad Road (blog)
Original item by d.knape
From a personal perspective as a career sharp-end officer here
in London, I can offer the possibility of the absence of any
evidence found or likely to be found at scenes like this...a
despicable crime that deserves condign punishment that this
"offender orientated" society seems all too ready to disregard.
Case loads certainly come into the equation, with the not long
ago cutbacks and downturns in recruiting surely a factor now.
Every crime of this sort requires the attending officers/the CID
and support follow-up plus all the ensuing investigation -
overloaded with "paperwork" (as it was called in my day) every
step of the way. Add the significantly increased population and its pro rata crime rate and you have today's recipe for
failing results. Society "as is" pushes a litre of expectation into a pint pot of reality every step of the way these days and
shouldn't be surprised when the leakage and loss of
hoped-for results occurs.
Personally,I like to think (as would have undoubtedly been
the case back in the day) that the officers in this particular
case will make it something of a "personal mission" to
trace the scum involved. and bring them their just deserts!
Comment is about A despicable crime on a lady in her 80's, robbed in her own home in Accrington yesterday (blog)
Original item by hugh
I have experience this sort of evening many times. Great to have it described so atmospherically. Thank you.
John Botterill
Comment is about Brewing (blog)
Original item by Candice Reineke
Love this piece Clyde, and your beautifully crafted audio to accompany it. Could I have your permission to include it on my Christmas radio show please? If so i'll download your file ❤
If any other budding Christmas poets have interesting audio, please get in touch with me asap 🙏
Comment is about the tattered old man on Christmas Eve (blog)
Original item by Clyde McCulley
Highly evocative. Thank you, Brenda.
John Botterill
Comment is about The Woods in Midwinter (blog)
Original item by Brenda Wells
Hugh,
An almost identical incident occurred with my next door neighbour about a year ago. Sadly apart from allocating the event with a crime number little if anything was done to bring the evil doers to justice. Even more recently friends who were away from home had their home broken into and their four wheel drive vehicle stolen. Another crime number allocated with no prospect of any action being taken. Fortunately I have two large dogs who have full range of the house. The police must be overworked or not interested.
A poem which reflects the time in which we live.
Keith
Comment is about A despicable crime on a lady in her 80's, robbed in her own home in Accrington yesterday (blog)
Original item by hugh
Thank you, John for the like & comment & yes, I know what you mean. But I couldn't resist giving the rabbit a bit of an encore 😂
Comment is about The Last Noel (blog)
Original item by Stephen W Atkinson
Thu 16th Dec 2021 03:20
is that the inside of your washing machine?
use less soap!
😃
Comment is about Stephen W Atkinson (poet profile)
Original item by Stephen W Atkinson
Nice work, Branwell.
Comment is about Not So Stupid, After All (blog)
Original item by branwell kent
Wonderful story telling, Stephen. Unlike the others, though, I'd have preferred it left hanging without the last two verses, leaving the reader to realise she'd passed away.
Comment is about The Last Noel (blog)
Original item by Stephen W Atkinson
A brief history of love. Very clever and highly crafted. Thank you, Stephen.
John Botterill
Comment is about Public Gaze (blog)
Original item by Stephen Gospage
I'm a bit more ambivalent about it than that, Kevin. I'd look up Toulson Court but we're always in our caravan.
And thanks for the Like, Holden.
Comment is about SCARBADOS (blog)
Original item by John Coopey
Thank you so much for the lovely comments Stephen, John & Brenda!
And it's a great Christmas album, Brenda. Well worth listening to, to get you in the spirit! 🎅
Comment is about The Last Noel (blog)
Original item by Stephen W Atkinson
Beautiful stuff Brenda 🌈
Comment is about The Woods in Midwinter (blog)
Original item by Brenda Wells
Damn, that's how she always knows! 😂 And that cloud thing is the inside of my head on most days DK 🤯 😁
Comment is about d.knape (poet profile)
Original item by d.knape
Wed 15th Dec 2021 18:55
your wife does not have eyes behind her back?
a very rare condition.
(you never did say what that thing is on your web address.)
Comment is about Stephen W Atkinson (poet profile)
Original item by Stephen W Atkinson
This is such a lovely poem, which takes the reader on a journey into a wonderful world of images and wonder.
Sad but with the promise of hope to come.
Thank you, (enjoyed listening to Annie Lennox too)
Comment is about The Last Noel (blog)
Original item by Stephen W Atkinson
Fabulous ending to a poem with many intriguing features. Happy/ sad and written with immense skill. Thank you. Loved it!
John Botterill
Comment is about The Last Noel (blog)
Original item by Stephen W Atkinson
Amazingly brave poetry. Best wishes JD.
John Botterill
Comment is about THE DIAGNOSIS (blog)
Original item by J.D. Bardo
A beautiful, tear-jerking but optimistic Christmas tale, Stephen. Thanks for this!
Comment is about The Last Noel (blog)
Original item by Stephen W Atkinson
Absolutely love Scarborough (Savile & Jaconelli asides)
My sister has a B&B there, voted best in the world on TripAdvisor. (Just thought I'd get a plug in for Toulson Court.)
Comment is about SCARBADOS (blog)
Original item by John Coopey
An excellent Christmas tale spreading kindness.Well done !!
Comment is about the tattered old man on Christmas Eve (blog)
Original item by Clyde McCulley
Thanks to all of you! Merry Christmas.
Comment is about the tattered old man on Christmas Eve (blog)
Original item by Clyde McCulley
raypool
Fri 17th Dec 2021 17:53
Thanks Mark. Yes indeed the food aspect is a highly contentious one, offering the alternative of buy by and sell by. The best option is to say by bye and in the bin, but at what cost?!
I recall that Clement Freud had on his gravestone: best before (and then the date) !
Thanks John, Stephen and Holden for the additional likes. Aythangyow.
Ray
Comment is about SELL BY DATE (blog)
Original item by ray pool