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
Fascinating narrative, Stephen. Eerie and moody. Loved it! John Botterill
Comment is about The Sixpence II (blog)
Original item by Stephen W Atkinson
Ne bother, Ursula, glad th' thowt it was aalreet
Or,
one is very pleased you liked it ?
Comment is about One's Crap & PisStory (blog)
Original item by Stephen W Atkinson
Thanks for the comments Keith, Stephen & Greg! And, yes, nothing like a good old ghostly steam train...
And thanks for the like Saul.
Comment is about The Sixpence II (blog)
Original item by Stephen W Atkinson
Fun John, and damn true for us old coggers!
Comment is about 20 YEARS FROM NOW (blog)
Original item by John Coopey
Nice rythmic one, John. I can almost hear the joint jumping. There are probably worse reasons for hanging around to listen to poetry. It certainly beats wall-to-wall Jeremy Kyle (or Vine).
Comment is about 20 YEARS FROM NOW (blog)
Original item by John Coopey
Those were the days, my friend!
Thanks for your comment.
Comment is about summer of '42 (deja vu almost) (blog)
Original item by Clyde McCulley
Mike,
There is a lot to digest from this poem but I am attracted to it as a number of poems which I have recently read, including my own, show the incipient signs of a much needed change in our society. There is a good deal of anger about which readily finds willing hands to exploit. Something is afoot and my hope is that we can move forward, bring about change and do so in a fraternal spirit of cooperation.
Thank you for what is a very important poem
Keith
Comment is about when the masks come off (blog)
Original item by mike booth
I too rather like the idea that the Monster Raving Loony Party has had the ground under its feet stolen by the likes of Boris.
Comment is about Monstrous! (blog)
Original item by Greg Freeman
Well written, Trevor.
I fully endorse the sentiment although I do so hypocritically having benefitted (and continue to benefit) from my time with the coal industry.
Comment is about Signs (blog)
Original item by Trevor Alexander
Thanks, dk. You are very kind. We may have to agree to disagree about climate change though.
Comment is about d.knape (poet profile)
Original item by d.knape
It's my pleasure, Keith. I always enjoy them.
Comment is about keith jeffries (poet profile)
Original item by keith jeffries
A well written poem which speaks of the signs.
Thank you for this
Keith
Comment is about Signs (blog)
Original item by Trevor Alexander
Stephen,
A few brief words to thank you for commenting on my poems. It helps to motivate and encourage me also.
Keith
Comment is about Stephen Gospage (poet profile)
Original item by Stephen Gospage
<Deleted User> (32907)
Sun 5th Dec 2021 17:22
That made one laugh so much! Soo good, Stephen. Bravo!
Comment is about One's Crap & PisStory (blog)
Original item by Stephen W Atkinson
Hi John, thanks for seeing the different expressions of light ✨
Comment is about Light (blog)
Original item by Candice Reineke
Me too! And parts three, four....I love the intensity of it all.
Comment is about Wild Woman (1.) (blog)
Original item by Jordyn Elizabeth
Oh yes, Clyde. This captures it! Those days, whenever they were.
Comment is about summer of '42 (deja vu almost) (blog)
Original item by Clyde McCulley
There's a lot in this, Rasa. It brings home the reality of being close to and dealing with fires, as well as all the tragedies which result. Thanks for this.
Comment is about Fire (blog)
Original item by Rasa Kabaila
A sad poem, Keith, but good and stimulating. 'A melancholy of need' really hits a nerve.
Comment is about An Illusion (blog)
Original item by keith jeffries
Liberty is fundamental to human happiness but should not be confused with selfishness or irresponsibility. This poem makes a good point.
Comment is about A tryst with self (blog)
Original item by Mahira
A fine climate poem, Trevor. We need more of them. Well done!
Comment is about Signs (blog)
Original item by Trevor Alexander
A poem of mystery and chills. I really enjoyed it!
Comment is about The Sixpence II (blog)
Original item by Stephen W Atkinson
Thank you all for the comments.
Have you ever finished writing a poem and find you are not sure exactly what it is about? I had that feeling before posting this one and I am glad to say that your comments have clarified the meaning for me!
I think that initially it was intended to refer to the pre- and post- pandemic worlds, with the notion of war as a methaphor. As you point out, Keith, there is a serious risk that society will become more controlled and conformist. But looking at it again, a dominant theme seems to me to be nostalgia, in the sense of fondness for a time or a way of life that we do not remember very well (if at all) but which we imagine to be better than the one we are living through now. In that sense, we often wallow in fantasies and fear the 'ever-present threat of truth', as you point out, John.
Stephen, I hope the piece is provocative. May be it is a bit like Cavaliers being turned into Roundheads, but with the twist that, for some, the Roundheads may not be all bad.
Thanks very much for the likes, Jordyn, Holden and Ursula.
Comment is about Post-War (blog)
Original item by Stephen Gospage
A ghostly poem, if I'm not mistaken. All the best ghost stories include steam engines! Enjoyed this, Stephen.
Comment is about The Sixpence II (blog)
Original item by Stephen W Atkinson
What's all this about impartiality, MC? There's no Write Out Loud rule about that. And you've always been up for a bit of political knockabout, as I recall. The term 'loony left' was common parlance in the 1980s, you may remember, although a lot of the polices they espoused then became accepted and mainstream a decade later. The years move on, and now we have the loony right. You're not seriously suggesting that all those mentioned above AREN'T lunatics, are you?! To widen the discussion further, we at Write Out Loud were once happy to report on your success in an anthology about cycling with a poem titled 'Lycra-clad loony'. Although we did avoid the word 'loony' in the headline, admittedly https://www.writeoutloud.net/public/blogentry.php?blogentryid=40274
Comment is about Monstrous! (blog)
Original item by Greg Freeman
Thank you M C Newberry for stopping by and sharing your thoughts for my work "Lifeline of pets and us". Yes, it is sad our pets departs from the world early. Might be because they love us lot more than how much we love them and they can't bear if we depart before them and hence they have short life span. Moreover for many people pets are not family but a piece of entertainment whom they can abandon like furniture as per their convenience. And that is why almighty calls the pure soul early so they don't have to bear earthly pain.
Comment is about Lifeline of pets and us (blog)
Original item by Ankita Srivastava
Thanks for stopping by and sharing your thoughts for my work "Lifeline of pets and us". Yes, it is sad our pets departs from the world early. Might be because they love us lot more than how much we love them and they can't bear if we depart before them and hence they have short life span. Moreover for many people pets are not family but a piece of entertainment whom they can abandon like furniture as per their convenience. And that is why almighty calls the pure soul early so they don't have to bear earthly pain.
Comment is about M.C. Newberry (poet profile)
Original item by M.C. Newberry
A story in a poem which enables the reader to be present. I wonder how many of the present generation could understand the thrill and excitement of steam engines.
Thank you for this. A good poem tinged with some nostalgia.
Keith
Comment is about The Sixpence II (blog)
Original item by Stephen W Atkinson
Let me see if I've got this right about impartiality e.g. keeping
the balance.
It's OK to have a pop in one political direction but anything that
goes the other way is liable to be moderated...correct? Just asking - on past experience (I can give you the example)...and for future reference. KJ's closing lines in his comment are right on the money.
Comment is about Monstrous! (blog)
Original item by Greg Freeman
A delightfully different "slant" on the Christmas message.
Comment is about Letter To St. Nick (blog)
Original item by Mike McPeek
Ah...those youthful daydreaming days of hope and "what if".
They never quite go away, do they?
Comment is about summer of '42 (deja vu almost) (blog)
Original item by Clyde McCulley
After London, it sounds like the place to be!! ?
Comment is about Christmas Fair 2021 (blog)
Original item by julie callaghan
Nicely put. It certainly seems cruel that the creatures that offer
the most clearly expressed non-human companionship should
be taken from us in this way. But on a positive note, these
premature departures also allow others of their species a
chance to take their place and join us in life's journey to our
mutual benefit..
Comment is about Lifeline of pets and us (blog)
Original item by Ankita Srivastava
Do beer goggles work in the mirror? ?
Comment is about Proof In The Pudding (blog)
Original item by d.knape
Much truth here.
But the thought I'm not the only one deceived
Somehow makes me feel relieved! ?
Comment is about Proof In The Pudding (blog)
Original item by d.knape
These lines are applicable to us all in our journey through life and
certainly worth presenting here to remind us of the way a healthy
conscience can regulate our universal existence for the better.
Comment is about A tryst with self (blog)
Original item by Mahira
A superb provocative piece, Stephen!
Comment is about Post-War (blog)
Original item by Stephen Gospage
Hugh! This poem is so clever and sweet. It really made me smile. Thank you ?. Keep writing.
Warm wishes,
Rasa
Comment is about Zulu the zebra (blog)
Original item by hugh
nice cover
Comment is about Local Bards Get Festive With A Mersey Christmas (blog)
Original item by Barry Woods
Sat 4th Dec 2021 15:41
Thank you so much for the kind comment, John, I truly appreciate it! ?
Comment is about New Stars (blog)
Original item by Holden Moncrieff
One has to read deeply into this poem as it contains a message which is slowly beginning to emerge. To me it speaks of a more controlled and conformist society. There is danger ahead.
Thank you for this
Keith
Comment is about Post-War (blog)
Original item by Stephen Gospage
I really enjoyed this trip down memory lane, M. C.. The reality might have been less enjoyable, though ?
Thanks
John Botterill
Comment is about POLICING LONDON - BACK IN THE DAY (blog)
Original item by M.C. Newberry
I am looking forward to part two ?? I love the mystery of it all!
John Botterill
Comment is about Wild Woman (1.) (blog)
Original item by Jordyn Elizabeth
Vivid and highly pertinent, Holden. I enjoyed your clever use of imagery.
Thank you.
John Botterill
Comment is about New Stars (blog)
Original item by Holden Moncrieff
This has a bleak Orwellian feeling, Stephen.
I liked the lines
The rationing of love, smile control,
The ever-present threat of truth.
You hit a nerve there!
Thanks
John Botterill
Comment is about Post-War (blog)
Original item by Stephen Gospage
Sat 4th Dec 2021 03:02
do not be afraid
shake a hand anyway!
Comment is about Stephen Gospage (poet profile)
Original item by Stephen Gospage
keith jeffries
Mon 6th Dec 2021 00:06
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