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
Thanks Po and Hannah. I live in Salford Po, though the poem could be set in any British inner city area where poor people live. I, too, was brought up on a council estate. Some people think Salford is just a rough part of a tough city (Manchester) but it's a separate city. Engels, one of the founders of Communism, once ran a mill here (Capitalist!) AND, did you know, VIMTO was first made in Salford and the Dandy & Beano began life here before moving up to Dundee? I'm not really bothered, Po, if people don't like my poem but to slander the people I write about. That's a different matter. ?
Comment is about Austerity (blog)
Original item by John E Marks
Brian, re-read your comment - does the word sanctimonious come to mind? It should. Maybe not everyone who lives in what used to be called 'slums' has your advantages (genetic or environmental). Think on that before you DARE criticize those trapped in poverty and debt.
"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."
Brian. I cannot believe you are capable of making such a crass comment. Your words are a calumny on all the children brought up in poverty, it slanders all the elderly, including thousands of veterans, who struggle from pension day to pension day. Your comment spits upon the day-to-day efforts of all the low paid front line workers who struggle to cope from pay day to pay day. It insults all those going to loan sharks whilst they wait weeks for universal credit, it insults all the single parents and disabled folk who try to make ends meet.
I hope that your conscience will cause you to think again.
Comment is about Austerity (blog)
Original item by John E Marks
Hi Greg
Love the poem. Back in the 90s I used to play Flamenco guitar for a roomfull of English wannabe flamenco dancers. Some important visitors. Good times. Hate to be a pedantic pain but 'Sevillanas' doesn't have an accent over the N (100% sure about that). I'll now read the rest of your poems.
John S
Comment is about Expats (blog)
Original item by Greg Freeman
<Deleted User> (18118)
Sun 19th Apr 2020 20:14
Love this.
Tender, true.
Hannah
Comment is about TELL HER - a lyric on the bright side (blog)
Original item by M.C. Newberry
<Deleted User> (18118)
Sun 19th Apr 2020 20:12
<Deleted User> (18118)
Sun 19th Apr 2020 20:10
<Deleted User> (18980)
Sun 19th Apr 2020 20:06
People talk about 'deprived areas'...but is there such a thing? Sure there are areas of social housing and poor people, but deprived? Not really. An enormous amount of public money is injected into the areas to ensure a safety net for all. And the area is in itself an incentive for the residents to try to find a way out to a better life. Some take it...I did, and I am sure a numbers of readers will admit to being ex-council estate dwellers. 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.
Comment is about Austerity (blog)
Original item by John E Marks
Please don't give it up ever Ray, we would feel a lot poorer without your posts. Liked this one.
Jennifer
Comment is about DAMNED POETRY (blog)
Original item by ray pool
Like the optimism and positive thinking contained in the poem. It is strange that it happened in very early spring when we usually heave a sigh of relief that winter is nearly over at last.
Jennifer
Comment is about The Intrusion (blog)
Original item by keith jeffries
Great writing, agree with Hannah, wondered what was going to happen ...... There are some people like that waitress, but not very many-
Jennifer
Comment is about Service only fit for a mother (blog)
Original item by Abdul Ahmad
Liked this one! Took me back to childhood when we kept tadpoles in the spare room bathroom which no-one used. We left them alone near metamorphosis time and baby frogs got out everywhere.
Jennifer
Comment is about Frogs (blog)
Original item by simon lucan
A quick thanks Jennifer for liking.... x
Comment is about AN OLD NURSERY RHYME (blog)
Original item by ray pool
Thanks Po - glad you liked it - this NaPoWriMo stuff really takes you into different territories ?thanks for commenting
Ian
Comment is about The Dancing Light Of Candles (blog)
Original item by Ian Whiteley
A few words which say a great deal. This is a good poem
Thanks
Keith
Comment is about Time to learn (blog)
Original item by AVISHEK GHOSH
Kevin,
Thank you for your comment. I believe that all of life’s adversities eventually abate leaving us anew and more resolute to continue with life. A neighbour recently said to me that it would blow over. At the time she was heading to the local supermarket wearing her home made mask.
Keith
Comment is about The Intrusion (blog)
Original item by keith jeffries
Phillipa Wilson
Sun 19th Apr 2020 08:53
What a beautiful poem Philippa. May I share it please on my yoga newsletter to students and on my facebook pages please? I just think it would really brighten peoples day. Thanks so much for writing it...love it. xx
Comment is about IN THE TIME OF QUIET (blog)
Original item by Philippa Atkin
I like the optimism at the end of this one Keith.
Solitude is no threat to our life but a blessing
I'm sure we'll come through this stronger for the experience.
Comment is about The Intrusion (blog)
Original item by keith jeffries
Thanks John ?
Comment is about The Mucky Myrtle One, And The Mucky Myrtle Two (blog)
Original item by kJ Walker
Thanks all.
Brian, whenever I perform this one people tell me exactly what you have just said. I think we all know someone just like that.
John, I'm missing the Brewery Tap too. Though I did enjoy your on-line presence. Maybe for next month's recording you'll get dressed.
Thanks Po. Now that I've worked out how to do audio, I may repost more from my back catalogue
Cheers Kevin
Comment is about All His Geese Are Swans (blog)
Original item by kJ Walker
This is fantastic. Each line betters those before it, with the last one being the best.
Comment is about Love Hope. - inspired by a line in Roisin Kelly's poem Easter (blog)
Original item by Rachel Moore
Thanks Mika and Po.
And thank you Keith, I'm so glad it resonated. This time does magnify all those thoughts and memories. I just wish there was a way to check in on some old ghosts and make sure they're doing okay.
Comment is about Harm's Arms (blog)
Original item by Tom
Very good Trevor.....
Comment is about Angels In soiled Scrubs (blog)
Original item by Trevor Alexander
Absolutely and it actually will never be the same again because people have got used to all things virtual. That will be the norm post vaccine.
Comment is about LOCKDOWN! (blog)
Original item by Rick Varden
Abdul, Hannah, Po and Philipos,
Thank you for reading and commenting on this poem . I appreciate your words and inspiration.
Keith
Comment is about The Intrusion (blog)
Original item by keith jeffries
Abdul,
A delightful poem the final stanza of which leaves a smile on the reader’s face.
Thank you for this
Keith
Comment is about Service only fit for a mother (blog)
Original item by Abdul Ahmad
Thanks Philipos. Not about anybody directly to be honest. Just the way that one came out (:
Comment is about After Isolation (blog)
Original item by Andy N
Keith a dilemma indeed.
It is ironic that the plague arrived in spring.
A time of hope as nature reawakens.
Be assured the lurgy will meet its end in time.
Comment is about The Intrusion (blog)
Original item by keith jeffries
<Deleted User> (18118)
Sat 18th Apr 2020 20:57
The contrast between the beauty of Spring and the darkness of the virus is very real here in this poem, with a great deal of hope at the end.
Hannah
Comment is about The Intrusion (blog)
Original item by keith jeffries
Hannah
Thank you for your generous comments.
Abdul
Comment is about Service only fit for a mother (blog)
Original item by Abdul Ahmad
<Deleted User> (18118)
Sat 18th Apr 2020 20:51
Great stuff.
Held my interest right to the end.
Hannah
Comment is about Service only fit for a mother (blog)
Original item by Abdul Ahmad
Thanks Po, nice to hear you enjoyed this one... Cheers for stopping by. ?
Comment is about Slippy lust (blog)
Original item by Emer Ní Chorra
Philipos
Sat 18th Apr 2020 20:14
No truer words were said. A great write indeed. P ?
Comment is about THREE WORDS (blog)
Original item by M.C. Newberry
Philipos
Sat 18th Apr 2020 20:10
Philipos
Sat 18th Apr 2020 20:08
How we miss the freedom when it isn't there eh? ?
Comment is about LOCKDOWN! (blog)
Original item by Rick Varden
Hello po
Welcome back.
Archimedes Hardaker had a Greek father and a Yorkshire mother. Parents compromised hence the name! All poetic licence.
Abdul
Comment is about Eureka (blog)
Original item by Abdul Ahmad
Philipos
Sat 18th Apr 2020 20:03
Wasn't there something about the Ten Plagues of Israel written about somewhere. The recurring blight of human kind I guess - much to our distress of course. Where would be without WOL and getting our thoughts out there into the arena. P ?
Comment is about The Intrusion (blog)
Original item by keith jeffries
Philipos
Sat 18th Apr 2020 19:59
It surely is a desperate and horrific state of affairs and although there is no end in sight, we will get through this.
MC, you make a valid point re the Intelligence and Diplomatic Services, from an angle many won't have thought of.
Comment is about Coronavirus the carehome curse (blog)
Original item by hugh
"Iron obstruction" I could feel my bones rattle as I read it...
A great tribute.
Comment is about A ROUGH DIAMOND (blog)
Original item by David Subacchi
get them down Tom - must be better than the music you can access these days ? thanks for commenting
Comment is about C90 (blog)
Original item by Ian Whiteley
Grace
A touching tale and sound advise not to judge unless you have walked in the shoes of the person fallen on hard times.
Do the good Samaritan act and remember there but for the grace (pardon the pun) of God am I in that door way.
Keep the fight for the homeless burning.
Abdul
Comment is about Corona - The Homeless Man (blog)
Original item by Grace Poller
Some experiences just stick in your mind.
Comment is about The Dentist #2 (blog)
Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas
Thank you everyone for your kind words.
Comment is about Just Breathe (blog)
Original item by Mocosy
Aye_ Thanks for the recognition, Philipos.
Comment is about Eureka (blog)
Original item by Abdul Ahmad
Don Matthews
Mon 20th Apr 2020 01:09
Too true....sadly.
Comment is about Unholy Boss (blog)
Original item by Chris Bunton