Thank you Jennifer, Moongirl, Don, Victoria, Jona, Philipos and Mika for the likes.
Comment is about High Tide, Low Life (blog)
Original item by Tom
Yes Ray, there is a tug of war going on within. Writing for myself vs writing to get accolades from others. I guess we all have this tug of war this to some extent....
Comment is about DAMNED POETRY (blog)
Original item by ray pool
So true, Greg. I do do that from time to time - but it takes mental stamina to go through such a vast archive and still be inspired. Mind you with your background I can imagine an approach not much different from the Greathead Shield or its equivalent. Keep 'em coming!
Ray
Comment is about DAMNED POETRY (blog)
Original item by ray pool
If you're not writing new poems, Ray, you can always go over old ones and edit and tweak, if you feel in the mood to do so. Sometimes you can really freshen them up!
Comment is about DAMNED POETRY (blog)
Original item by ray pool
Thanks all for taking this on board. Writing poems can so easily be a source of conflict as well as therapy. maybe they are interchangeable.
When I joined Wol I was.on it like a rash, living out the dream and then I woke up to a harsh reality. Now I'm patient and more self critical. That's my only yardstick.
Jennifer, thanks for being always supportive. Your encouragement is the air that I breathe.
Vautaw, find what suits you and be true to yourself. It's not compulsory! It's a tricky time to be inspired, most of us quite desperate.
Graham, I wonder if you have a strict regime
Of writing. That could work with a novel or a factual subject so they say, but poetry.would hard to rely on in terms of the.muse!
Thanks Don for adding your thoughts. I would only say that sounds rather insular, which is not the you that I recognise. If you are so self sufficient, I presume comments wouldn't count very much. Maybe an internal tug o war is going on. Whatever works mate. Were all different.
Thanks again fellow Wollers.
Ray.
Comment is about DAMNED POETRY (blog)
Original item by ray pool
I basically write to please myself. It feels good. If others like it, fine. If not, still fine.....
Comment is about DAMNED POETRY (blog)
Original item by ray pool
Thankyou Hannah for understanding my trauma. Skip bounding through the CBD at midnight, picked up on CCTV and getting the attention of the police.
I can understand a lack of knowing what to comment or like if one doesn't have their own pet kangaroo.
You obviously have one and can understand what I went through. Do you take him for rides around the street when you get home? Skip goes mental if he misses his daily ride.
I wouldn't swap him for a dog any day Hannah. He doesn't bark and annoy the neighbours
Skip says Hi but WOL techs won't let him put his pic here.......
?
Comment is about Should Have Tied Skip Up Last Night. Just Plain Forgot (blog)
Original item by Don Matthews
One thing I’ve learned is that writing (any kind, and I do it for a living) cannot be forced. If it is it is usually disappointing. It will never be your best stuff.
Comment is about DAMNED POETRY (blog)
Original item by ray pool
Tue 21st Apr 2020 07:01
Thank you Jennifer, I’m glad you enjoyed this and much appreciate you saying so. Thank you Damon and Do.RoThy for the likes. Hope you are all well and keeping safe.
All the best des
Comment is about The Bittern (blog)
Original item by DESMOND CHILDS
Many thanks for the “Likes” Phillipos, Moon girl and Jona Queen.
Comment is about THE BATTLE OF MEDWAY (blog)
Original item by John Coopey
My sentiments exactly lately! I want to give it up, my muse is self-isolating somewhere, but somehow I keep showing up expecting the words to flow. I suppose there’s nothing us ole poets can do except write on! ?
Comment is about DAMNED POETRY (blog)
Original item by ray pool
Heartbreak makes the best poetry. ?
Comment is about Without saying anything (blog)
Original item by Noris Roberts
Appreciate you both for taking the time to read my words...ONE::
Comment is about Soaring (blog)
Original item by Abruvanamedsly
Thanks for the welcome poemagraphic! Really digging this site and the work of poets here.
Comment is about Abruvanamedsly (poet profile)
Original item by Abruvanamedsly
I have also come to realise the 'pleasure' of having a bit of noise around me.....
Comment is about Noise isn't always intrusive (blog)
Original item by Abdul Ahmad
Mon 20th Apr 2020 23:03
Tuscany, huh?
Is it overwhelmed by Chinese Virus?
so many people died in Italy.
Are you safe & sound?
Comment is about Jennifer Malden (poet profile)
Original item by Jennifer Malden
Hi Greg,
Glad you like the poems. No, I didn't know about this newspaper. Thanks for the info, I'll check it out. Cheers!
Comment is about john short (poet profile)
Original item by john short
Too kind, Po. I don't put much on these days or comment due to retaining dwindles reserves of energy, but glad you liked it.
That's nice Jennifer. Like a jack in the box i'll pop up now and again, even though the springs are a little slack.
Thanks too to Lorraine for looking in !
Ray
Comment is about DAMNED POETRY (blog)
Original item by ray pool
First episode was on poems by Stevie Smith - "It's not a bloke" - and William Carlos Williams. Frank said he was first infused with a love of poetry as a student at Birmingham Polytechnic.
https://planetradio.co.uk/podcasts/frank-skinner-poetry-podcast/listen/2028768/
Comment is about Comedian and football fan Frank Skinner to launch poetry podcast (article)
Original item by Greg Freeman
Those silent goodbyes... ?
Comment is about Without saying anything (blog)
Original item by Noris Roberts
I appreciate your kind words, Po and Don. Thank you also to Po, Tom, and Hallielle for liking this poem.
Comment is about Screaming Amongst The Silence (blog)
Original item by kimberly
That generation of players was known for no-nonsense
tackling. I have to admit that the sight of two of its most prominent
exponents having a bout of fisticuffs on the pitch was a case of two
"likes" falling out! As a boy, I recall watching Bath City when Tony Book (later to manage Man. City I believe) played in the City's
defence and his scything sliding tackle was something to behold
and stays with me even now, many decades later.
Comment is about Farewell Norman Hunter (blog)
Original item by simon lucan
I agree with Philipos. And it's also the title of a favourite "standard"
given zest and zing by Frank Sinatra. ?
Comment is about PAPER DOLL (blog)
Original item by cindylee loucks
This seems even more relevant at this time of the coronavirus!
Comment is about 'Let's stand by the window and look out at the light on the field' (article)
Original item by Greg Freeman
Love this. Heart-breaking observation.
Comment is about The virus is sweeping through care homes at an alarming rate (blog)
Original item by hugh
Hello there - apropos your comment about my own regarding UK
intelligence & diplomatic services. I and members of my immediate
family are in the higher vulnerability category and it seems totally
legitimate to be curious about how a government served by the
two most experienced and well informed services in history should,
even now, still be playing catch-up in its dealings with this disease.
Add to that the long historical connection between this country and
the alleged source of infection and it looks like the Sunday Times
article now causing waves and a fierce rebuttal from, No 10 has
similar questions.
Comment is about Starfish (poet profile)
Original item by Starfish
Philipos
Mon 20th Apr 2020 17:18
Missed this one, unfortunately! Enoyed it very much - extremely evocative of the Fenlands or similar places.
Jennifer
Comment is about The Bittern (blog)
Original item by DESMOND CHILDS
Nice one! Can just imagine him drawing/ writing? something at the mouth of the cave. Perhaps a magic symbol to keep evil spirits out?
Jennifer
Comment is about Caveman Poetry (blog)
Original item by d.knape
Nice one this! Like the dialogue in one of the 'Yes, Minister' series.' We don't need to do anything, we might/may have to do something, we could have done something but we didn't, (or thereabouts!).
Should seems to have been eliminated these days!
Jennifer
Comment is about THREE WORDS (blog)
Original item by M.C. Newberry
Hi Trevor! Unfortunately so apt.
Jennifer
Comment is about Angels In soiled Scrubs (blog)
Original item by Trevor Alexander
I've been enjoying your Europe poems, John. Have you had anything published by the New European newspaper? They have a weekly poetry column.
Comment is about john short (poet profile)
Original item by john short
Philipos
Mon 20th Apr 2020 12:32
Hi MC thanks for the kind comment on Meditation - appreciated. P ?
Comment is about M.C. Newberry (poet profile)
Original item by M.C. Newberry
Very good Mika... As always
Comment is about Screaming Amongst The Silence (blog)
Original item by kimberly
Bello senor Greg
(sorry don't know how to put accent over the n in sir)
Abdul
Comment is about Expats (blog)
Original item by Greg Freeman
Abruvanamedsly
"with each push, I get closer to touching the sky" is a gorgeous line and reflects life's ambitions.
Enjoyed this work enormously.
Looking forward to reading more poems from you.
Abdul
Comment is about Soaring (blog)
Original item by Abruvanamedsly
<Deleted User> (18980)
Mon 20th Apr 2020 08:47
One of my favourite Dickens characters is Mr Micawber. A supreme optimist always expecting better times. But the other side of him is that he consistently lived beyond his means when he didn't need to , putting his family in jeopardly and having to rely on the generosity of others to get them out of trouble.
Comment is about A loving heart is truest wisdom (blog)
Original item by John E Marks
John, thanks for stumbling upon Expats - and thanks for the accents tip. I thought I'd checked all the Spanish spellings with my daughter, but I agree, there's no accent there on Google. No feria dancing at the moment for obvious reasons - and she now has two very young children - but I believe her two-year-old daughter already has her first feria dress. I posted this as one of a handful of poems during Britain's last week of membership of the EU at the end of January, before other matters became the focus of our thoughts. Here's to more dancing when all this is over. PS Flamenco guitar? I'm very impressed.
Comment is about Expats (blog)
Original item by Greg Freeman
I really enjoyed this poem, and the echoes of the moment it captured.
Thank you.
Comment is about fingers through my hair (blog)
Original item by cam
As with Hannah, excellent poetry. On a sad situation......
Comment is about Austerity (blog)
Original item by John E Marks
Brian, nothing in your experience or mine, similar as they may be justifies your attack on the millions of British people who struggle with poverty and debt every day.
I did NOT attack you, I attacked your horrible statement :
"But from what I see the 'deprived' seem happy to smoke, vape, drink, gamble, and drive in their SUV's to the tattoo parlour or food bank."
What a nasty stereotype. Read it again. Doesn't this vicious stereotype deserve attacking? Aren't you ashamed? You should be.
Comment is about Austerity (blog)
Original item by John E Marks
<Deleted User> (18980)
Sun 19th Apr 2020 22:58
John - I will further add that I was one of six children. My dad was a welder in a factory. He could not afford to booze or gamble, so he didn't. He did not buy anything he could not afford. He made lifestyle choices in order to feed and clothe us and pay the rent. I don't see too many of his ilk in the areas in question.
Comment is about Austerity (blog)
Original item by John E Marks
<Deleted User> (18980)
Sun 19th Apr 2020 22:51
John - you have your opinion as stated in your piece; I have mine. I did not mount a personal attack on you yet you seem to think it is okay to do so to me.
And don't forget I did say "from what I see" because I do actually see the described behaviour on a daily basis. I have also lived amongst this 'deprived' class and decided to work my out of it. So I do speak from personal experience, not from what I see in the media.
Comment is about Austerity (blog)
Original item by John E Marks
M.C. Newberry
Tue 21st Apr 2020 14:02
Although not especially religious in the sense of any man-made variety, I always experience a sense of inner calm and hope for
something beyond this "mortal coil" which we each endure as "me"
when I visit old churches that seem to whisper their message of
consoling continuity down the ages within their lovingly created confines.
Comment is about spirit and sanity (blog)
Original item by Emma-Jane Stradling