Glad you liked this, Graham - and well done with the chard and the ordure! If anyone's interested, our former reviews editor Frances Spurrier wrote about d*******s and other 'banned' poetry words a few years ago https://www.writeoutloud.net/public/blogentry.php?blogentryid=45206

Comment is about The spears of spring (blog)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Yes, Julie.
I'm surprised that they still 'person'-ufacture it! ?

Comment is about 'Man-Sized' Issues ! (blog)

Original item by John Andrew Nield

Yes, like tattoos and earrings
and long hair in pony tails.
The young get old yet cling to
their former ways.
the problem is the tattoos sag
the hair thins
and wrinkles replace what was.

Comment is about M.C. Newberry (poet profile)

Original item by M.C. Newberry

I don't know what it is about you
that makes me like you so much.
It could be the fact that
you always think my poems are brilliant!
?

Comment is about Stephen Gospage (poet profile)

Original item by Stephen Gospage

I hear Radox has cancelled its FOR MEN range too
Such Person-ly wording on their shower gel will never do

Comment is about 'Man-Sized' Issues ! (blog)

Original item by John Andrew Nield

Thank you ?

Comment is about “Old Heads on Young Shoulders”!  (blog)

Original item by John Andrew Nield

I absolutely love the second and third verses of this piece Greg!
Agreed about getting out there in the garden, it beats just walking around on a footpath somewhere for exercise.
Ironically, as you were uncovering 'green shoots' of spring optimism, I was pulling the very last of the rainbow chard and then covering the raised beds with bags of horse manure! Couldn't feel my fingers after!

Comment is about The spears of spring (blog)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Thanks for the comments, Peter and Stephen, and for the Likes, Julie, Stephen, and JD. Our current lockdown prognosis seems if anything even gloomier than a year ago. The weather may be filthy but I still try to get out in the garden, looking for signs of optimism!

Comment is about The spears of spring (blog)

Original item by Greg Freeman

I love that MC - and it quite aptly sums up my process when writing this poem ?

Comment is about Windermere Calls Me Back (blog)

Original item by Dean Fraser

No Mark.. This was prompted by Andrex changing the name of their 'Man-size' tissues to 'Extra-Large', following the usual hoo-haa from folk who must have taken offence to the name of a tissue! This of course was 'manna' for someone who wanted to have a bit of fun with such nonsense! ?

Comment is about 'Man-Sized' Issues ! (blog)

Original item by John Andrew Nield

A literary picture postcard - like some faded sepia scene suddenly
discovered inside a dusty tin of family memories.

Comment is about Windermere Calls Me Back (blog)

Original item by Dean Fraser

Moving. I still remember the words my late mother spoke to me on
one occasion not long before she passed. She said almost matter
of factly -:
"You'll miss me when i'm gone"
Much later i was able to include her words in a brief poem of remembrance - and now, nearly thirty years on, they still ring true..

Comment is about To Rach (blog)

Original item by Emma-Jane Stradling

Intriguing and slightly scary. A reminder that the demon can lie
within each of us, waiting for the dark times and the dark hours to
pay us a visit.

Comment is about My demon (blog)

Original item by VHH

Age-wise, I am probably considered to be in this category but make
no claim to it. Indeed, living in solitary contentment, it is other often
far younger people who seem to be in a state of permanent infancy,
with bags of bluster, clamorous claims to "rights" won by others,
and lacking the balance of redemptive self-discipline. Get out of my life and out of my way, kiddo! ?

Comment is about 3RD CHILDHOOD---a poem by O.L. Buzzerd (blog)

Original item by d.knape

Is this by any chance instigated by the nonsense from the US political
chamber whose session ended not with Amen - but Awomen...
something almost beyond ridicule for its illiiterate man-ipulation of
language and its meaning in context.

Comment is about 'Man-Sized' Issues ! (blog)

Original item by John Andrew Nield

Thanks, Brian. I loved the journey, writing it. So glad you enjoyed the reading experience.

Comment is about A ‘Snitch’, in Time !  (blog)

Original item by John Andrew Nield

Really like this, and Joyce was no mean poet. On a Beach at Fontana is one of my favourites. Tony

Comment is about Stephen Dedalus (blog)

Original item by Holden Moncrieff

Wonderful poem, Ray. Fame is certainly no meritocracy. One of my musical heroes is John Martyn, a tumbleweed moment for many people, I suspect. Rounded off with a winning couplet. Envious. Tony.

Comment is about DARK ARTS (blog)

Original item by ray pool

I hate long poems...but I love this one!

Comment is about A ‘Snitch’, in Time !  (blog)

Original item by John Andrew Nield

Thanks for stopping by Aviva! No worries, that happens to me sometimes too. Our muse seems to show up when it wants to, often when we’re busy doing something besides writing!

Comment is about Shine On (blog)

Original item by Vautaw

I understand this poem. My mother helped many and passed young. She would feed the children from other houses who had nothing only mothers who kicked them out on the street. I was so angry when she. was diagnosed and passed. I lost myself for a time. Watch the film Bucket List with Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson. Your mother will be smiling down on you and the hospice does such a good job. Xx blessings

Comment is about Notes on Forgiveness: May, 2019 (blog)

Original item by Mike McPeek

Thank you Stephen G for the comment and like.

Comment is about Covidcoaster (blog)

Original item by julie callaghan

Good one.

I never forget those who are a whizz-kid at tickling the ivories
or make themselves very, very good on the Spanish guitar.
They get to know music intimately because they love it but never think of going on stage.
I don't forget them because they are the majority of musicians.

Comment is about DARK ARTS (blog)

Original item by ray pool

The poem brings us into your world then into your world view.
The line 'unable to lie alone' is too pessimistic for me.
I'd like 'not wanting to lie alone' instead, which would explain the problem but leave the outcome still in our potential power.

Comment is about Early Morning Blues (blog)

Original item by Blue Raven

You are welcome, Stephen. So glad you enjoyed it.

Comment is about A ‘Snitch’, in Time !  (blog)

Original item by John Andrew Nield

Thanks to everyone for the comments and for hitting the likes. I hope I haven't made people feel too miserable! Aviva, I'm working on the cure, although to be honest I am not sure what it is yet! Let's hope there is a way of reversing 'the process'.

Apart from that, all the comments make me think that I haven't figured out what my own poem really means! So all your thoughts have been much appreciated. Who knows? There may be a spin-off or a new version. Let's see.

Steve

Comment is about Voice (blog)

Original item by Stephen Gospage

Poetry and infant distractions. The perfect situation for the persevering poet.
A gentle poem with humour.
I enjoyed this and thank you
Keith

Comment is about Grandpa`s Baby Sittin` (blog)

Original item by J.D. Bardo

A brilliant, funny poem. Thank you.

Comment is about A ‘Snitch’, in Time !  (blog)

Original item by John Andrew Nield

Thank you, Julie. Yes, the end of the tunnel seems stubbornly distant.

Comment is about Covidcoaster (blog)

Original item by julie callaghan

Yes, now every day gradually pushes back the night. A great, positive read for these troubled times.

Comment is about The spears of spring (blog)

Original item by Greg Freeman

3rd childhood, 3rd lockdown........

Very enjoyable and clever poem.

Comment is about 3RD CHILDHOOD---a poem by O.L. Buzzerd (blog)

Original item by d.knape

I fondly remember a visit to Little Gidding in 2014, before all the Brexit saga began. Although I acquired Belgian nationality in 2020 and am therefore insulated from any impact of Brexit in Belgium, having worked for the EU for over 35 years, I am immensely sad at what has happened.

Comment is about 'What we call the beginning is often the end / And to make an end is to make a beginning' (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

A tear, and a prayer for Scott, (and you mike) Bless you,

Comment is about Notes on Forgiveness: May, 2019 (blog)

Original item by Mike McPeek

Thanks again for the likes and comments, I must refrain from making the comment that I want to Aviva, she may see it, LOL. thank you for your support. thank you Keith for all of your comments, the word capricious really fits me for sure. Thank-you to all reading, please help support WOL, please donate if you can. (just an opinion) JD.

Comment is about I like her (I hope I don`t blow it) (blog)

Original item by J.D. Bardo

So why is it that I can't work out quite what to write as comment on this great poem with such a great theme? I should not be afraid to sing my song, right?

Comment is about Shine On (blog)

Original item by Vautaw

Thank you to those who have clicked 'Like' on this poem.
wishing you all music to live by

Comment is about Music To Live By (blog)

Original item by Aviva Rifka Bhandari

Thank you Jordyn! ?

Comment is about A Cautionary Tale (blog)

Original item by Vautaw

Lovely, warming, be proactive, be positive, Voltairean exhortation to look after the garden. What more can one ask for?
Peter T

Comment is about The spears of spring (blog)

Original item by Greg Freeman

I recognise much of this in myself.

Comment is about Voice (blog)

Original item by Stephen Gospage

I’m afraid we aren’t a very resilient generation, Julie.

Comment is about Covidcoaster (blog)

Original item by julie callaghan

Thank you for the likes JD Stephen and for the comment Keith.
Note this was written before the lockdown announcement.... and before the rollercoaster skidded off the track!

Comment is about Covidcoaster (blog)

Original item by julie callaghan

Beautiful❤

Comment is about A Cautionary Tale (blog)

Original item by Vautaw

Mirrors sometimes show a different someone
to the someone that all others see.

Comment is about My life in mirrors (blog)

Original item by Martin Elder

I really like the first stanza and the first line of the second stanza.
I suppose that is the generalised segment.

After that it gets very specific and contains a lot I don't relate to.
Doesn't mean it doesn't remain a great poem in entirety.
In full, it is your life in mirrors.
In just the generalised segment it is my life in mirrors.

I know I'm not gonna be able to explain this part well but it is kind of amusing that the title 'my life in mirrors' means 'poet's life in mirrors' aka 'your life in mirrors', whereas if the title said 'your life in mirrors' it would be 'the reader's life in mirrors' which would be 'my life in mirrors'

Comment is about My life in mirrors (blog)

Original item by Martin Elder

Of course, psychiatrists can really blow your mind!
I'd never thought of that before, wish I still hadn't thought of it ?

Comment is about I like her (I hope I don`t blow it) (blog)

Original item by J.D. Bardo

Additional thanks for everyone else who has clicked Like.
Much appreciated.

Comment is about A Way Of Living (blog)

Original item by Aviva Rifka Bhandari

I enjoyed this but a better title might have been tales from the couch.
A humorous poem. " Which one is today, that he is trying to be?" My favourite line. The word capricious is very apt.

Thank you for this JD

Keith

Comment is about I like her (I hope I don`t blow it) (blog)

Original item by J.D. Bardo

Julie you speak for the nation in this poem
Thank you
Keith

Comment is about Covidcoaster (blog)

Original item by julie callaghan

A poem filled with wisdom and a road travelled by many. It comes as a salutary warning.

Thank you for this
Keith

Comment is about Voice (blog)

Original item by Stephen Gospage

Is your 'little fella' a euphemism?

Comment is about Pushing Through (blog)

Original item by David R Mellor