I'm not a great reader but do read a book whilst on holiday. Someone gave me a book almost a year ago which I will take when I go away in a fortnight. It is Slough House, and after reading your piece John I amlooking forward to meeting Jackson Lamb.

Comment is about THE LEGEND - JACKSON LAMB (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

I confess to never having heard of him, John.
Sounds like a good number of the British establishment belong in Slough House!

Comment is about THE LEGEND - JACKSON LAMB (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

Hi John,

Great books, great show and a great tribute poem.

David RL Moore

Comment is about THE LEGEND - JACKSON LAMB (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

Rolph, I truly loved every line you wrote, but the one that struck me the most was, "But night unveiled what day disguised." The way you conveyed that message felt so delicate yet powerful! I really admire it.
As for the final lines, "For what endures, through age and pain, / Is love that's honest, raw, and plain."—I do believe in that, truly. But in this day and age, I must admit, I still have my doubts. Even so… I hope I get to find one.

And @Uilleam, your comment felt like a short poem in itself—the satirical tone is wonderfully clever. It instantly reminded me of one of my earlier poems. I think it has the potential to become a really interesting piece if developed further.

Comment is about Some Assembly Required (blog)

Original item by Rolph David

Thank you Uilleam for your reading and comments.

David RL Moore

Comment is about Shifting Sand (blog)

Original item by David RL Moore

I preferred the highly-commended pieces but the winning poems all offered something.

Comment is about Di Slaney wins Write Out Loud’s ‘Echoes’ competition with ‘Dolly Parton’s wig’ - in memory of a ‘dear friend and inspiration’ (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

"Enter my heart, there you finally will be safe".

Thank you, Hiba Abu Nada.

Comment is about Poets add voices to writers’ call for immediate Gaza ceasefire (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

My thoughts go with all affected.💗

Comment is about 'Bertie (The Liver Bird) Saw It All (blog)

Original item by Mike Bartram

Mona Lisa's not going to be very happy with you, Rolph; turns out she's ditched polyfilla and spent an absolute fortune on something called sfumato; and now she's getting her lips siliconed!😐

Comment is about Some Assembly Required (blog)

Original item by Rolph David

Thank for your likes and comments:
Stephen Gospage
Holden Moncrieff
Rolph David

I remember with great affection the Liverpool accent of a work colleague from my youth, which was and remains, music to my ears.
Liverpudlians, like many other working-class populations, have borne the brunt of many injustices and deprivations; from that, is born a sparkling wit which cuts through all the bull and lies they’ve had to endure over the years.

Comment is about I Love ye Scowsers! (blog)

Original item by Uilleam Ó Ceallaigh

Sounds most familiar!😏

Comment is about Beer (blog)

Original item by ErasmusBlack

Thanks, Landi.
I consider myself fortunate in living close to such a healing place...I shouldn't take it so much for granted.

Comment is about on the waterfront (blog)

Original item by Landi Cruz

Your line:
"Its realm is soul, not scripture, nor your throne."
really sums things up, Rolph.

As for:
"Your temples rot while love builds something more—"

Those who constantly wail "Oh woe is us, this used to be a Christian country" in order to justify their own bigotry, appear to never ask themselves WHY their "temples" are rotting.

Comment is about Let Them Choke On Our Amen (blog)

Original item by Rolph David

Superbly written, David. The rhythm of the last verse gives it great power.

Comment is about Shifting Sand (blog)

Original item by David RL Moore

So much will never be explained, Ray. In a world where we expect to 'understand' everything, this is difficult to accept. I think that your poem illustrates this imperfect state of events.

Comment is about TAKING STEPS (blog)

Original item by ray pool

Thank you Rolph for your thoughtful words! Very apt about the shift! How protagonist’s panic is triggered by the crowd, that panic is eased by the same. And yes, those phobias are parts of me, in some points of my life.🙂

Comment is about THE CROWD (blog)

Original item by Manogna Bhamdipati

Your phrase "Shifting Sand" exposes both the arrogance and stupidity of those who impose arbitrary boundaries on populations they claim to have conquered or "civilised".
Mother nature recognises no such boundaries: the recently collapsed Swiss glacier, and the ever-shifting land around the San Andreas fault are just two examples of that.

Comment is about Shifting Sand (blog)

Original item by David RL Moore

Thanks to everyone who liked and commented on this poem. I felt as though I was wandering into other people's territory but it seems to have come out all right. I am pleased that it brought a smile to your face, Rolph. John - that's right, you can never have too much. Uilleam - that may not be a bad thing, but where do they go?

Comment is about Fred Bunting (blog)

Original item by Stephen Gospage

This gets it just right, Uilleam. A nicely judged verse of support.

Comment is about I Love ye Scowsers! (blog)

Original item by Uilleam Ó Ceallaigh

Thank you Marla I am glad that you enjoyed it

Comment is about Don't look back (blog)

Original item by Martin Elder

Thank you for the early like Reggie.

David

Comment is about Shifting Sand (blog)

Original item by David RL Moore

In this world with all it's trouble, it is so nice to see something so absurdly charming.

Thank you.

Comment is about Underwater World (blog)

Original item by Rick Varden

I could be totally off course, but I read into this of a time in the future when Gaza has been cleared of Palestinians and turned into a holiday resort. But I guess it's open to different interpretations. Well done Stephen for the ambiguity.

Comment is about If only Hitler was as nice (blog)

Original item by Stephen W Atkinson

Thank you so much Rolph, appreciated.

Comment is about Underwater World (blog)

Original item by Rick Varden

“Herded into pastures new” is most appropriate, Stephen.

In the Irish Parliament, a couple of years ago, a politician angrily quoted the words of half a dozen or so members of the Israeli government and the IDF, who had described the Palestinians as animals.

As was the case with the Jews and others in the Nazi prison camps, their dehumanisation and demonisation are essential to justifying their extermination.

Your description of oppression masquerading as order is spot on, Rolph. Mosley's ghost is stalking the streets of Britain, whilst the Ambassador for Genocide says "jump" and we ask "how high?"

Comment is about If only Hitler was as nice (blog)

Original item by Stephen W Atkinson

Dear Manogna,
Reading “THE CROWD” felt like stepping inside "your" (?) experience — the anxiety, the fear, the fragile balancing act of daily life with phobias so often invisible to others. Your words beautifully capture the intense vulnerability of those moments when the world feels too close, too loud, and too overwhelming.
What touched me deeply was the shift at the end — the way empathy and kindness from strangers transformed that terrifying panic into something tender and human. It’s a powerful reminder that even in our most isolating moments, connection can come from unexpected places.
Thank you for sharing such an honest and moving glimpse into "your" (?) world. Your courage in giving voice to this experience shines through every line.
With heartfelt respect,
Rolph

Comment is about THE CROWD (blog)

Original item by Manogna Bhamdipati

Hi Stephen,

Loved your poem! The slightly bawdy but never crude tone really hit the perfect note—funny, cheeky, and with just the right touch of British wit. Made me chuckle more than once, hahaha. Thanks for the great read!
Cheers,
Rolph

Comment is about Fred Bunting (blog)

Original item by Stephen Gospage

Hi Rick,
This poem was a total splash of fun—cheeky, surreal, and strangely dreamy. I love how you’ve created this underwater fantasia that’s part nightclub, part myth, and part countercultural refuge.
The nod to Dylan’s “Subterranean Homesick Blues” was a great touch—it gave the whole scene a rebellious, bohemian vibe, like we’re slipping away from the surface world and into something wilder and freer. And the Man from Atlantis reference? Genius. That little pop-culture flash pulled it all together—nostalgia, escapism, and that innocent-sexy sci-fi edge.
The humour and innuendo are spot on, too. You’re clearly having fun, but never at anyone’s expense. There’s a warmth and inclusivity in the way you imagine this world—where “mermaids take you by the hand” and no one’s “in it for the money.” It’s a proper trip.
Thanks for the ride through your underwater dreamscape. I might just grab my wetsuit.
Regards,
Rolph

Comment is about Underwater World (blog)

Original item by Rick Varden

Good morning Uilleam,
This is a beautiful, heartfelt piece—what begins as a quiet elegy quickly becomes a loving tribute to Liverpool and its people. The sense of recent loss is palpable, and whether it’s tied to soccer or something more personal, the emotion runs deep.
I especially loved the blend of personal memory (“walked with dad”) with iconic local landmarks like the Strand and Water Street. It’s intimate and civic all at once. And that closing line—“they’ll never walk alone”—landed perfectly. It echoes not just the club anthem, but something greater: a community’s resilience, humour, and dignity in hard times.
Regards,
Rolph

Comment is about I Love ye Scowsers! (blog)

Original item by Uilleam Ó Ceallaigh

Good morning Stephen,

This poem struck me with its searing irony and unsettling beauty. The opening line jolts the reader awake—not to glorify horror, but to force confrontation with the way cruelty is sometimes reframed, repackaged, or even celebrated in today’s narratives. Your use of sarcasm is razor-sharp, and the imagery—“Joyous in subservience,” “a glorious dictator glows”—beautifully exposes the absurdity and tragedy of such spin.
It’s uncomfortable, and that’s precisely its power. By blending poetic elegance with brutal themes, you’ve held up a mirror to a world where oppression can masquerade as order, and democracy quietly erodes while we sip cocktails.
Thank you for daring to write something so provocative and timely.
Regards,
Rolph

Comment is about If only Hitler was as nice (blog)

Original item by Stephen W Atkinson

Thank you very much. 💓

Comment is about Strings Unseen (blog)

Original item by Rez

You have a captivating style in your story telling. Nicely done.

Comment is about Don't look back (blog)

Original item by Martin Elder

Thank you, Uilleam!
I feel like the grotesque in her face forces us to linger, to feel discomfort and maybe that’s where meaning begins, too: in what feels not quite “right.”

Uilleam, I’ve been trying to understand imperfection from the perspective of a higher purpose, at least according to what I believe. I’m a Muslim, and in the Qur'an—our holy book—Surah At-Tin (95:4) says, “Indeed, We created humans in the best form.”
So perhaps what appears to be imperfection isn’t a flaw in the design, but an invitation to look deeper. In the end, the unsettling parts of ourselves and our lives might become the very ground where meaning grows—where values are formed.
And maybe that’s how we begin to fill the “inner report” we’ll one day present before God.

Of course, this comes from my faith, and as my mother always reminds me, “everyone holds different beliefs.” I share this not to preach, but in the hope that my perspective might offer something to those who need it—not as a truth to be accepted, but simply as something to consider. And for that, I’m grateful you resonated with it.

Comment is about La Gioconda (blog)

Original item by Yanma Hidayah

Thank you guys, appreciate your comments

Comment is about He Marches Home. (blog)

Original item by JD Russell

Thanks mate, I was at the parade, but not near the incident.

Comment is about 'Bertie (The Liver Bird) Saw It All (blog)

Original item by Mike Bartram

Thank you, Yanma.
From a distance, the sfumato technique may well be effective and deceiving, but up close, I find her browless eyes and her mouth unsettling and bordering on the grotesque.

I think you’re right about imperfection being the beginning of meaning.

Comment is about La Gioconda (blog)

Original item by Yanma Hidayah

Thanks to Graham and Uilleam for the comments and to those who sent flowers.

David RL Moore

28 May Thanks to Stephen for the like

Comment is about Into Silence (blog)

Original item by David RL Moore

Thanks for the like, Stephen.
That's a picture of the world.
The artist's a five-year-old, her grandad's a different kind of artist altogether.😉

Comment is about Haiku for 2025 [No.18. Wibbit!] (blog)

Original item by Uilleam Ó Ceallaigh

Phew, Uillean. I thought for one moment you were rejecting Bridlington on the basis that it was a dump already.
Indeed Skegness would qualify, Stephen.
And thanks for the Like, Redbrick.

Comment is about "DALLAS : MUNICH : GRIMETHORPE" (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

I'm afraid the answer’s no, John; not while there’s a 77 year-old Nakba (genocide and ethnic cleansing) in progress.

Comment is about "DALLAS : MUNICH : GRIMETHORPE" (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

We all share these first-world problems.

Comment is about "Journal entry #3: feel those big feelings so you can get on with your day" (blog)

Original item by Laura Bray

Oh dear, the elephants in the room have escaped!

Comment is about Fred Bunting (blog)

Original item by Stephen Gospage

It’ll have been all that broccoli, Stephen.

Comment is about Fred Bunting (blog)

Original item by Stephen Gospage

A sensitive poem, Mike. Well put. Thank goodness it wasn't worse.

Comment is about 'Bertie (The Liver Bird) Saw It All (blog)

Original item by Mike Bartram

A fascinating poem, JD. Heroes indeed.

Comment is about He Marches Home. (blog)

Original item by JD Russell

Fair point, John. Skegness might do as well.

Comment is about "DALLAS : MUNICH : GRIMETHORPE" (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

Well written and truly disturbing, Rolph. I feel slightly guilty about telling the vocal prompt on our TV remote to change channel. Can't imagine getting to this stage, but it can happen so easily.....

Comment is about Thou Art Not, Yet All To Me (blog)

Original item by Rolph David

Nature; the greatest artist ever.

Comment is about Watching the clouds roll by (blog)

Original item by Maureen

Thank you JD.
I would like to think that all that suffering was not in vain.....

Comment is about He Marches Home. (blog)

Original item by JD Russell

Yes! The quill 🪶 is such a magnificent image; thanks @Uilleam Ó Caellaigh 🌷🕊🙏🏻

Comment is about the marrow of the moment (blog)

Original item by Red Brick Keshner