Thanks for the likes Shifa, Cathy, Chris, Stephen and Tom. The inspiration for this poem, Tom, was partly personal memory but also a remembered reading of Andrew Marvell's marvellous and, ironically (!), postumously published Cavalier poem of seduction 'To his coy mistress' from which I stole my final image. I agree with you, Sandy Denny's rendition of this beautifully sad song is truly moving.
But at my back I always hear
Time’s wingèd chariot hurrying near;
And yonder all before us lie
Deserts of vast eternity.
Thy beauty shall no more be found;
Nor, in thy marble vault, shall sound
My echoing song; then worms shall try
That long-preserved virginity,
And your quaint honour turn to dust,
And into ashes all my lust;
The grave’s a fine and private place,
But none, I think, do there embrace. 1681
Comment is about Memory (blog)
Original item by John E Marks
Thanks for stopping by Philipos and Paul. I'm glad to see you enjoy poetry and music as much as I do! ? I had a hard time deciding which songs to feature. Maybe I will do more sometime to highlight some of my favorites, there are so many! I love how music silences all the other voices and just lets my mind flow to a peaceful place.
Comment is about Flow (blog)
Original item by Vautaw
<Deleted User> (18980)
Wed 21st Oct 2020 22:08
David you could work these positives into it which for me made life bearable
Able to see family members incl grandkids
Golf courses open
Tennis courts open
Bowls greens open
Pubs open
Comment is about Covid-ity (blog)
Original item by David Addington
JC - it must have been a mental connection between the guitar
work you employ and some latent recall of the mention by GF of his part in that particular track. Keep on keeping on!!
Comment is about WriteOutLoud Women Blues (blog)
Original item by John Coopey
Philipos
Wed 21st Oct 2020 21:30
Thank you for that - very much enjoyed some of that music. P. ?
Comment is about Flow (blog)
Original item by Vautaw
Really good opening stanza, Ray. Tony
Comment is about JOIN THE FEAST (blog)
Original item by ray pool
<Deleted User> (24283)
Wed 21st Oct 2020 18:05
???all eyes and ears to this piece?
Comment is about Eyes Open Wide (blog)
Original item by Dean Fraser
<Deleted User> (24283)
Wed 21st Oct 2020 18:04
Glad that you can use Write Out Loud as an outlet to let us know about this, Emeka. But as Keith says, take care.
Comment is about Bloodshed in Nigeria (blog)
Original item by Emeka Collins
Brilliant Trevor! Was going to pick out the same line as Greg, but so many belters here. Great work.
Comment is about LIVING WITH THE CURTAINS DRAWN (blog)
Original item by trevor homer
The genuine article as poems go Trevor. Bracing and engaging, the title really such a telling line. We all recognize subtleties and the not so subtle implications.
Ray
Comment is about LIVING WITH THE CURTAINS DRAWN (blog)
Original item by trevor homer
I could keep on reading this poem over and over again. Another splendid poem Trevor.
Thanks
Keith
Comment is about LIVING WITH THE CURTAINS DRAWN (blog)
Original item by trevor homer
One of the best Covid poems I have read, Trevor. What a strong image, the curtains drawn. And " who cares where the time goes?" A beloved song title, trashed by the pandemic.
Comment is about LIVING WITH THE CURTAINS DRAWN (blog)
Original item by trevor homer
each line had me wanting to read more. great!!
Comment is about LIVING WITH THE CURTAINS DRAWN (blog)
Original item by trevor homer
Brian - I agree about the "downers" that are met on the site. The
human spirit is meant for optimism.
JC - unlike your good self, i enjoy autumn - for a variety of reasons,
but mainly because it represents the pause between the departure
of the old and arrival of the new - as if nature is taking a deep
breath before getting back to work, even here in the heart of a great city.
Thanks to all those taking the trouble to like this little hymn to hope!..
Comment is about BE GRATEFUL FOR THE DARK DAYS (blog)
Original item by M.C. Newberry
You are correct in identifying my distain for Socialism. I actually cannot understand people who are quick to blame and complain. What about personal responsibility? I for one do not want a government taking control of my options, and prescribing their fix.
I have only read this one news article and am ignorant about Rosen's better examples.
This article, however, doesn't show him well.
Comment is about Happy to be alive, grateful to the NHS: recovering Michael Rosen talks about Covid (article)
Original item by Greg Freeman
Great poem John. I love this song and it has been on my playlist since March. Feels incredibly apt for the strange time dilations of this lonely year.
Comment is about Memory (blog)
Original item by John E Marks
Wow, thanks Keith and Stephen, really appreciate you stopping by and reading. This was one of those rare poems (for me) which was written in about 10 minutes flat on a whim, but I was quite pleased with what came out.
I'd love to read about how/when others caught the writing bug... ?
Comment is about The Essay (blog)
Original item by Tom
A poem which speaks the truth. I love the clarity which this poem expresses.
Thank you for this
Keith
Comment is about The skin we are in. (blog)
Original item by J.D. Bardo
A powerful poem well expressed and apt to present day circumstances.
Thank you for this
Keith
Comment is about Our Nation's Rock Bottom (blog)
Original item by Chris Bunton
Interesting starting point, David. I would like to have seen this flavoured with some of the more optimistic, and communal good feelings that were going around in the early months, before a certain event that changed things. I agree that now the outlook, in many of the ways that you sketch out, is grimmer. But all is not lost.
Comment is about Covid-ity (blog)
Original item by David Addington
Sir, welcome to Write Out Loud, despite your intemperate remarks about Michael Rosen, who many of us over here in little old England regard as something of a 'national treasure'. particularly because of his poetry written for children. I suspect you don't have such institutions as 'national treasures' in the US. Or maybe you do, and that is how you view your president. We also treasure our National Health Service, too. You say you are new to poetry, so no reason why you should have heard of a very well-known English poet. I also wonder if the description of Michael Rosen as a 'staunch socialist' in the article has made you erupt in such a bizarre and ill-informed way. I know some people in America are likely to start reaching for their guns at the mention of such a word. PS I am 68.
Comment is about Happy to be alive, grateful to the NHS: recovering Michael Rosen talks about Covid (article)
Original item by Greg Freeman
Thank you both so much, and Paul, yes of course you can mate. I'm glad you liked it and I'd love to hear it, but yeah, absolutely, record away. ??❤
Comment is about Gire & Gimble (blog)
Original item by Jason Bayliss
Wed 21st Oct 2020 03:56
a stream of thoughts
and the stream
is delightful
cool and refreshing-
hope I am not
in over my head.
?
Comment is about Stephen Gospage (poet profile)
Original item by Stephen Gospage
Wed 21st Oct 2020 03:53
thanks for visiting,
next time help yourself to a beer
in the fridge.
?
Comment is about Stephen W Atkinson (poet profile)
Original item by Stephen W Atkinson
I am 74 years old and you are a fool. You admit being happy to be alive, but you find fault with people less perceptive. Perhaps you should have followed your own advice and passed away. Then what?
Can't you use your talent to help others?
Quit complaining.
Write something interesting.
Appreciate life.
Comment is about Happy to be alive, grateful to the NHS: recovering Michael Rosen talks about Covid (article)
Original item by Greg Freeman
Seen on Twitter tonight: "Andy Burnham's warnings of the devastation these restrictions will inflict on Manchester are based on deep knowledge. Alongside Vincent Kompany, he donated 15 per cent of his mayoral salary to tackling homelessness in the city. Any suggestion of opportunism is pathetic."
He doesn't sound that greedy to me.
Comment is about It’s Bleak up North, now (blog)
Original item by David R Mellor
This is poetry at its finest hour, make no mistake. Be watchful as in such an environment poets are in jeopardy.
Keith
Comment is about Bloodshed in Nigeria (blog)
Original item by Emeka Collins
Brian, I googled it ?
And nice to have you back Paul!
Your encouraging words & poetic wisdom have been sorely missed! Equilibrium is restored.
And thanks for the comment mate.
Comment is about Cooking Pot! (blog)
Original item by Stephen W Atkinson
I hate autumn.
If the best that can be said of it is that better days will come, then we should all bang our heads against the wall because it will be nice when we stop.
(Nice poem, by the way).
Comment is about BE GRATEFUL FOR THE DARK DAYS (blog)
Original item by M.C. Newberry
<Deleted User> (18980)
Tue 20th Oct 2020 21:44
They'll get what they're entitled to
that's emanently fair
But they won't get the sum demanded
by the greedy jumped up Mayor
Comment is about It’s Bleak up North, now (blog)
Original item by David R Mellor
<Deleted User> (18980)
Tue 20th Oct 2020 21:30
Good to see bated spelt correctly.
Comment is about Cooking Pot! (blog)
Original item by Stephen W Atkinson
<Deleted User> (18980)
Tue 20th Oct 2020 21:28
A bit like the seasons...we can be knee deep in snow, or being lashed by rain, but we always have the better weather to look forward to. That is the basis of optimism, something others on this site would do well to consider instead of constantly haranguing us with their dark messages.
Comment is about BE GRATEFUL FOR THE DARK DAYS (blog)
Original item by M.C. Newberry
Some of my best thoughts are out there somewhere. If found please post on this site. ?
Comment is about Stray Thoughts (blog)
Original item by d.knape
Thanks for the Like & appreciative comment Keith! And the Likes Brian & Stephen
Comment is about Cooking Pot! (blog)
Original item by Stephen W Atkinson
I’ve had that effect on women all my life, Greg.
Not I, MC. It is, in fact, young Greg below who appeared as a backing singer for Chuck Berry on “My Ding-a-Ling”.
And thanks for the Like, Stephen Gospage.
Comment is about WriteOutLoud Women Blues (blog)
Original item by John Coopey
Thanks Keith, glad you liked it, and yes it's all about pushing on and pushing through, but with as much honesty and honour as we can.
J. x
Comment is about The Bitter Pill (blog)
Original item by Jason Bayliss
In past years, the BBC might have banned this. (In fact, with the new regime they probably will now!).
But it's really good and the last verse is brilliant.
Comment is about Best Supporting Actress (blog)
Original item by simon lucan
Yes, even my Middlesex CCC cap was made in China.
Comment is about Made in China (blog)
Original item by hugh
Intriguing - with a certain truth along the way.
I think, therefore I am (Descartes)
But sometimes I wonder if I am what I think - or something|!
Comment is about Stray Thoughts (blog)
Original item by d.knape
Yes. Have written quite a few poems about Fleetwood which are also going to go into my next collection about nostalgia as the music goes hand in hand with it. I spent most of my childhood playing out by the sea or in record shops. My first collection (recently released and now despo trying to raise attention to it) was arranged in a wash cycle of themes, as this felt like the right way to go about it. I guess the nostalgia collection will have to have sections too. Not sure how to go about it as of yet. Need to raise my profile as poet and musician in this tech-dominated world. I tried instagram but made the wring account - I need a creator account I think. I am also indecisive in which blog to create - wix or wordpress as I am struggling with both for what I need them to do.
Comment is about There’s a place where I can go and tell my secrets to… (Brian Wilson) (blog)
Original item by David Addington
Good theme...so to speak. Some time ago, I posted my lyric -
"Take Me Back To Rock And Roll" - and manged to include a
selection of my favourite tracks from back in the day.
Comment is about There’s a place where I can go and tell my secrets to… (Brian Wilson) (blog)
Original item by David Addington
To get by in politics requires two faces - pious and pie-filled.
And in politics, actions are often lewder than words! ?
Pun my soul l!
Comment is about The Deal (blog)
Original item by Mike Bartram
keith jeffries
Thu 22nd Oct 2020 00:39
Such beautiful words. I felt as if I was in a waterfall being refreshed and cleansed.
Thank you
Keith
Comment is about Flow (blog)
Original item by Vautaw