Strongly felt and fluently angry Keith. We all should be angry. Muslim majority States in the middle East have conducted a 120 year genocide against Christians and other religious minorities. We ignore these First Christians at our eternal peril. Over a million (1,000,000) Assyrian Christians have fled persecution, genocide and forced conversions. The UK , to our shame, has given sanctuary to fewer than 4000 Assyrian Christians.

Comment is about The never-ending Good Friday (blog)

Original item by John E Marks

The opening lines are captivating ?

Comment is about Starshine (V.2) (blog)

Original item by Caleb Gorey

Sometimes I learn from my mistakes
just not this time-
I wrote the poem anyway.
?

Comment is about kJ Walker (poet profile)

Original item by kJ Walker

John,
A powerful poem indeed. The West is living in a post Christian era or would it be more accurate to say that Christianity has been abandoned. We are guilty along with the US and others of sanctioning the murder of Middle Eastern Christians as we ignored the plight of the Armenians in the early years of the last century. We glibly talk of freedom and democracy and with audacity, of Christian values, yet we permit the wholesale slaughter of our brothers and sisters in Christ at whatever is today's price on the market. I am sickened by all this flagrant duplicity. This poem is raw to the nerve and so it should be. I salute every word you have written here.
Thank you for this. I hope everyone will read and meditate on this poem. The voice, if not the cry of the innocent, who lie in the dust of their churches in Kurdistan and other places will forever haunt us..
Keith

Comment is about The never-ending Good Friday (blog)

Original item by John E Marks

I've messaged you back, Kevin to say I'm happy to stand in. I shall set rigorous standards of quality, of course, which means you'll be on your arse all night!
Thankyou, Julie. I'm sure you read them every bit as well as you write them.
And thanks for the Like, Branwell

Comment is about 20 YEARS FROM NOW (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

I understand, Keith. The future seems particularly worrying, as so many of the old certainties seem to have gone. There is a sense of taking a leap into the dark. Also some governments (and intolerant lobby groups) seem to be tightening the screw and cracking down on any dissent. I don't include most anti-Covid measures in this, as I think they are necessary and proportionate, but human rights are under attack in many parts of the world. Thanks for this.

Comment is about Post-War (blog)

Original item by Stephen Gospage

And thank you to Graham, Stephen, Aisha, Rudyard, Brenda and Nathcy for the likes.

Comment is about Paris (blog)

Original item by Stephen Gospage

Made me laugh. I don’t read mine out. I use an app to read them aloud. At least then my husband is only ignoring the app, not me. ?

Comment is about 20 YEARS FROM NOW (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

Thank you for the likes Holden and Stephen A. Also for the generous and kind comment. ?

Comment is about Christmas At Blenheim (blog)

Original item by julie callaghan

I love this. Fabulously spooky ghost story. I can picture the scenes as I read it over and over. Thank you.

Comment is about The Sixpence II (blog)

Original item by Stephen W Atkinson

Thanks for reading & commenting John! Appreciated.
And for the likes, Aisha, John & Holden ?

Comment is about The Sixpence II (blog)

Original item by Stephen W Atkinson

This should be included in their tourist brochure! Send it in ?
Lovely stuff

Comment is about Christmas At Blenheim (blog)

Original item by julie callaghan

A fine poem, with a true message M.C. & definitely Merry Christmas for me! ?

Comment is about BEATING HEART (blog)

Original item by M.C. Newberry

Thank you so much for all the comments: Holden, Greg, John B, John C, Keith and KJ. I wrote this a few years ago (most of what I post is current stuff) and after reading it recently I had a similar thought to you, K.J. But I have always been fond of it.
No connection to Alaska, I don't think, Keith, but many years ago I did know someone in Paris who was a house painter and was in the process of painting an appartment entirely in red. So I guess the poem flowed from there in my subconscious for what it's worth. As for the rest, I'm pleased that many of you found it intriguing and the microscope seems to have touched a nerve! No artificial additives, I'm afraid, John!

Comment is about Paris (blog)

Original item by Stephen Gospage

We learn from our mistakes.
But that doesn't mean that we stop making them.

Comment is about Mistakes (blog)

Original item by d.knape

Fantastic imagery.
I'm not sure what is going off, but it made for a very interesting read.

Comment is about Paris (blog)

Original item by Stephen Gospage

I've messaged you on this site.re well spoken.
Basically I've been asked to host it again, and I'm trying to bodyswerve the honours onto you.
If you aren't up for it I'm only too willing to do it myself, but I think that the good people of Doncaster deserve better.

Comment is about 20 YEARS FROM NOW (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

I applaud the sentiment (and the poem) MC.
I saw a photo of a road sign in America which read,
“Happy Whatever Doesn’t Offend You”

Comment is about BEATING HEART (blog)

Original item by M.C. Newberry

Couldn’t find anything on Well Spoken page, Kevin. Send bitcoin instead.
I am looking forward to having the excuse to be irascible, Graham.
And thanks for the Like, Brenda.

Comment is about 20 YEARS FROM NOW (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

All hail the Care Home Comic Poet JC!
I hope it's a few years off yet

Comment is about 20 YEARS FROM NOW (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

Cosmo the fairly accurate knife thrower. Absolutely brilliant. I heard it for the first time last month.

Can't agree with you on JCC though .
I've followed him since I was at school, and have always been a fan.

Comment is about THE BLEEDIN' OBVIOUS (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

Thank you very much, Mahira! ?

Comment is about New Stars (blog)

Original item by Holden Moncrieff

Very good.
Hope to hear this in person this week.
Ps. I have sent you message re well spoken.
Cheers Kevin

Comment is about 20 YEARS FROM NOW (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

Climate change (and us?) is a masterpiece. It's a true reflection of what we've made this world and what we have become. The Earth ought to be a beautiful place, one full of life and peace. But the humans' wars against nature have played a good big role in exhausting the beauty and resources of this planet.

Comment is about Stephen Gospage (poet profile)

Original item by Stephen Gospage

Thank you Mr. Gospage and Mr. Newberry for your encouraging comments. And thank you for reading my posts too?

Comment is about A tryst with self (blog)

Original item by Mahira

Thank you John, Keith, Stephen Aisha and Holden for reading this one and for the likes ? I really appreciate it.

And thank you Keith. I wanted to try and capture that moment of realisation; the thing you treasure means nothing to the other person (or they refused to express that it means anything to them). Thanks for reading and commenting. Hopefully the next piece I finish will be a bit more upbeat. ?

Comment is about The Faintest Farewell (blog)

Original item by Tom

Great but too close to the truth dk
John Botterill ?

Comment is about Proof In The Pudding (blog)

Original item by d.knape

Wow. I like the whole concept of this poem. The personification of the sun, reminiscent of Donne (Busy, old fool unruly sun)
Loved it, Dk
John Botterill

Comment is about The Sun Is A Thief (blog)

Original item by d.knape

Thanks MC, I wasn’t there either for the first time in a very long time. Thanks also for the kind likes.

Comment is about Christmas Fair 2021 (blog)

Original item by julie callaghan

There is a Spanish singer of Mexican origin by the name of Alaska who lives in Madrid and very popular in the Spanish speaking world. Apparently the interior of her apartment is painted in red. I wonder if there is any connection.
Thanks for this
Keith

Comment is about Paris (blog)

Original item by Stephen Gospage

Thanks for the likes

Comment is about Today’s Show (blog)

Original item by julie callaghan

Stephen,
This poem has been on my mind since I last commented on it. There are other current poems on this site which touch upon some of what is in your poem, perhaps even my latest poem. A sense of the impending unknown, if that makes any sense. Poetry can be a barometer and there seems to be something which we are alluding to but not quite naming. It is as if the world is hurtling forward to an unknown destination and along the way we are losing ourselves in the process.
Keith

Comment is about Post-War (blog)

Original item by Stephen Gospage

Have you been on the magic mushrooms again, Stephen?

Comment is about Paris (blog)

Original item by Stephen Gospage

Thankyou, Holden and John.
I think we poet-y type people sometimes underestimate our value. We could offer a useful service on the NHS for insomniacs.

Comment is about 20 YEARS FROM NOW (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

Hilarious John. Reminds me of reading poetry to my family who start talking to each other half way through.
A vision of our future! Loved the poem if not the vision.
John Botterill

Comment is about 20 YEARS FROM NOW (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

Fascinating. The poem, like the protagonist, needs to be studied under a microscope! Thanks Stephen.
John Botterill

Comment is about Paris (blog)

Original item by Stephen Gospage

I love the poem, Keith, but particularly the final line. So true of all memories. Thanks.
John Botterill

Comment is about An Illusion (blog)

Original item by keith jeffries

This is amazing. I loved reading it.?

Comment is about CHRISTMAS SNOW - a re-post for those away from home at a precious family time. (blog)

Original item by M.C. Newberry

I loved this one!

Comment is about New Stars (blog)

Original item by Holden Moncrieff

Thank you Mr. Moncrieff! Your likes inspire me. Thank you tonnes for reading my poems...?

Comment is about Holden Moncrieff (poet profile)

Original item by Holden Moncrieff

Yes, intriguing is the word. Two others are dystopian and Kafkaesque. One to stop you in your tracks, Stephen.

Comment is about Paris (blog)

Original item by Stephen Gospage

Thank you Stephen. Hopefully I touched on the concept of 'hope' too. We all need hope. Wishing you a lovely day.

Kind regards,
Rasa

Comment is about Fire (blog)

Original item by Rasa Kabaila

i agree with me.
haha

Comment is about Stephen Gospage (poet profile)

Original item by Stephen Gospage

Beer Goggles??
Where do you drink your beer?
?

Comment is about Trevor Alexander (poet profile)

Original item by Trevor Alexander

Very clever and entertaining, John! ?

Comment is about 20 YEARS FROM NOW (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

Brilliant Stephen. Gave one a great laugh! It would make a good comedy sketch. ?

Comment is about One's Crap & PisStory (blog)

Original item by Stephen W Atkinson

This is genuinely intriguing, Stephen, and the imagery very unique! I really liked the lines :
"His habits, like insects, were studied
Under a microscope
Through the bottom of a jar." ?

Comment is about Paris (blog)

Original item by Stephen Gospage

Thanks for the comments, Pete, Stephen A, Stephen G and Clyde. You can bet some bugger with nothing better to do will be offended!
And thanks for the Like, Aisha.

Comment is about 20 YEARS FROM NOW (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

An interesting appraisal of life under lockdown and the sense of liberation when we are once again re united with normality. However, lockdowns have brought about a new pattern of life, certain aspects of which seem to have remained.
I enjoyed this poem and thank you.
Keith

Comment is about Another Cheery Lockdown Poem... (blog)

Original item by mike booth

I liked the contrast between the jaunty vibe and complex emotions, Aisha. ?John Botterill

Comment is about Take It Easy (blog)

Original item by Aisha Suleman