This poem is about ageing as much as cricket, of course, and that is why I like it. Well played, Steve!
Comment is about The Oval, 1965 (blog)
Original item by Stephen Gospage
I had though of deleting this Haiku on the grounds that it might be thought to be gratuitously offensive.
And then I thought again.
What is offensive, and really truly awful, is the theft of homes and land, the murder, rape, ethnic-cleansing and genocide being carried out with the help of British citizens (Mercenaries?) all enabled by the British government and a bought and paid for so-called "News" media.
And anyway - if it's good enough for Larkin, it's good enough for me!
Comment is about Haiku for 2025 [No. 14 Up Yours Starmer!] (blog)
Original item by Uilleam Ó Ceallaigh
Thank you for your likes:
Nigel Astell
Red Brick Keshner
hugh
Stephen Gospage
Holden Moncrieff
Yanma Hidayah
Giant snowdrops! They were beautiful and lasted for ages. I've resisted the urge to tidy their leaves up by cutting them down, because that's how they replenish their energy.
💐
Comment is about Haiku for 2025 [No.17 'Snow Joke!] (blog)
Original item by Uilleam Ó Ceallaigh
Thanks, John and Graham Wonderful memories.
John - yes, it was South Africa. I remember Colin Bland, a brilliant fielder. Also the great Graeme Pollock, although he didn't bat the day I was there.
Graham - I was lucky enough to see Fred Trueman bowl a few times, and also saw Colin Milburn, a great talent whose career was cut short by a tragic accident.
Comment is about The Oval, 1965 (blog)
Original item by Stephen Gospage
I never saw my cricket hero 'Fiery Fred' Trueman in the flesh but did see the mighty duo of Wes Hall and Charlie Griffiths at Northampton, including the look on Wes's face when Colin Milburn hit him for six of the Hotel.
As we age I'm finding solace in these old memories as sport played such a part in my youth
Comment is about The Oval, 1965 (blog)
Original item by Stephen Gospage
I suspect we are contemporaries, Stephen. I googled that to see it would have bee South Africa. The marvelous Colin Bland.
Comment is about The Oval, 1965 (blog)
Original item by Stephen Gospage
Thank you, yes, based on the the 60's cult series The Prisoner, a superb creation. I have visited Portmeirion many years ago, were the The Prisoner was filmed, a fascinating place and must go again soon!
Comment is about 'The Village' (blog)
Original item by Mike Bartram
Indeed, Stephen. It’s not like synchronised swimming and other “judged” sports, where the prettiest wins. It depends on you knocking the ball in the net.
I headed South and got as far as Barnsley.
Comment is about I HAD A DREAM (blog)
Original item by John Coopey
Hi Landi,
"Koyaanisqatsi" is a great work of art, brilliant musical score.
It's a good place to find inspiration and surrender to a hypnotic trance.
I suspect if readers checked it out they might get some insight into your "Flashlight"
Of course the souless would say it was nonsence...but who cares about those empty vessels anyway.
David RL Moore
Comment is about flashlight (blog)
Original item by Landi Cruz
I love this one, Larisa. Freedom, particularly in today's world, is so precious.
Comment is about Should I Сry Or Be Glad? (blog)
Original item by Larisa Rzhepishevska
Thank you, Uilleam. Indeed it does.
I first went to a match at the Oval in 1965, and it later occured to me that many of the spectators on that day would have seen the likes of Bradman, Hobbs, Larwood etc. This overlap of memories, and indeed of time itself in a way, has always fascinated me.
And my thanks to everyone who liked this poem.
Comment is about The Oval, 1965 (blog)
Original item by Stephen Gospage
Very dystopian and effective, Mike.
Comment is about 'The Village' (blog)
Original item by Mike Bartram
It's the result that counts, John. Did you head South for the parade?
Comment is about I HAD A DREAM (blog)
Original item by John Coopey
Thank you, Rolph. I think your poem perfectly conveys Trump's total lack of shame. I like 'delusion's tank' and 'freak parade' (we know who the freaks are!) as illustrations of his mendacity. It was also noticeable that while he interrupted Ramaphosa, he sat in apparent awe when the white golfers in the SA delegation spoke.
I agree with your concluding verses: world leaders should not go on indulging this moron and volunteering for his bear pit. Isolation may be the one thing he fears.....
Comment is about Nothing Embarrasses This Man (blog)
Original item by Rolph David
Tribalism, Uilleam. Nothing wrong with that.
And thanks for the Likes, Rolph, Larisa and Red Brick.
Comment is about I HAD A DREAM (blog)
Original item by John Coopey
Thanks for your reading and comments Uilleam.
Many an atrocity wrapped in and hidden behind the shroud of belief in scripture.
Many an atrocity hidden behind and conducted under the veiled guise of gods word...
David RL Moore
Comment is about Moses meets Mo (blog)
Original item by David RL Moore
Thank you for your likes:
hugh
Stephen Gospage
Aisha Suleman
Yanma Hidayah
Oh, how the establishment hate being embarassed by public figures…notably those who, realising their own good fortune, stand up for social justice:
Marcus Rashford “should have spent more time perfecting his game and less time playing politics.”…said a Tory MP. Vile bigot!
Comment is about Haiku for 2025 [No.16. What Genocide?] (blog)
Original item by Uilleam Ó Ceallaigh
Rule number one in the manual: When in doubt, brew up!
Rule number two: have another!
Comment is about The Magic Cure (blog)
Original item by Rick Varden
"How the most impossible situations, became the foundations for greatness"
How true!
Comment is about Fear & Contemplation (blog)
Original item by Sia T
Thank you Stephen.
The quaint complaint: "It just isn't cricket"! says much about us.😊
Comment is about The Oval, 1965 (blog)
Original item by Stephen Gospage
Thanks for the likes:
Nigel Astell
Red Brick Keshner
Larisa Rzhepishevska
Sia T
Rolph David
AirlogRigsMaria (Arry)
It will be written in the annals of history, and to our eternal shame, that Britain, a nation which in years past, considered itself the bringer of “civilisation and culture” to peoples we once looked down on as “savages”, should be complicit in such barbarity.
Comment is about Maternity to Eternity (blog)
Original item by Uilleam Ó Ceallaigh
The hopes and fears of all the years,
the woes of being a footy fan!😉
Comment is about I HAD A DREAM (blog)
Original item by John Coopey
Thanks Mike.
Memories of "The Prisoner" and Portmeirion - a lovely place.
Comment is about 'The Village' (blog)
Original item by Mike Bartram
Thank you folks! ❤
Red Brick Keshner
Uilleam Ó Ceallaigh
Aisha Suleman
Holden Moncrieff
Hélène
Auracle
hugh
Comment is about A Poem For All Ages (so I can belong) (blog)
Original item by AirlogRigsMaria (Arry)
Spring! Spring! Spring!
The bells ring, ring, ring!
I am in the park under the tree.
I am free, free, free!
The crows are sitting in the tree,
They are also free, free, free.
Nothing clever comes into my head,
Only foolish things instead.
More than that!
Those critters that are on the tree
They have more freedom than me.
They litter, they throw on my head.
Should I cry or be glad?
©Larisa Rzhepishevska
Comment is about Should I Сry Or Be Glad? (blog)
Original item by Larisa Rzhepishevska
Thanks you for the bouquet of lovely flowers Red, Hugh, Stephen. Aisha, Holden and David. Very much appreciated. I will now look you all up and read your words too. 😊
Comment is about Counting Sleep (blog)
Original item by Frances Macaulay Forde
Thanks @Rolph David 🌷... it seems only a few get the alignment. But we can't please absolutely every one🌷🕊️🙏🏻
Comment is about constants of change (blog)
Original item by Red Brick Keshner
...who fell in love @Uilleam Ó Ceallaigh 🌷🕊️🙏🏻
Comment is about constants of change (blog)
Original item by Red Brick Keshner
Hi Reggie,
Thanks for checking in and for the comments.
I'm not sure that I ended on an optmistic note though.
All the best,
David
Comment is about Moses meets Mo (blog)
Original item by David RL Moore
Thanks Stephen
You sound like my kind of next-door
neighbour Uilleam 💕
Comment is about The Heat is On (blog)
Original item by Nigel Astell
I've seen this story, Rolph.
But there's nothing unsurprising about the way those lies were covered in the UK.
The poison - spreading, race-baiting Toryrag was up to its usual standard, mendacity oozing from every line.
Comment is about Nothing Embarrasses This Man (blog)
Original item by Rolph David
Fri 23rd May 2025 16:02
What a line: Friendship is a theorem unbroken - forever true.
Regards,
Rolph
Comment is about constants of change (blog)
Original item by Red Brick Keshner
Speaking of shrouds, David:
What kind of sick mentality is it, which in the guise of sending (only a trickle to date) trucks of aid to two million 2,000,000 starving people has just sent two trucks full of burial shrouds? I kid you not.
The scum in the UK government who continue to give their support to those doing these things, should be shown up for what they are:
sick, depraved perverts.
Comment is about Moses meets Mo (blog)
Original item by David RL Moore
I hope you didn't think my commment dismissive of your poem, Branwell.
I see some pitiful sights around town. most recently, a frail-looking woman who looked as though she had been given a beating.
The sad truth is that mental health, and any other social services which once alleviated such suffering have been deliberately decimated in the name of political ideology.
Comment is about Introductory Matter (blog)
Original item by branwell kent
I admired the optimism in your last comment David...so I gave you a like!
Comment is about Moses meets Mo (blog)
Original item by David RL Moore
Sarah pritchard
Fri 23rd May 2025 08:57
Fantastic read, fabulous winning poem & wonderous selections! Poetry at its best! 💛💗♥️💜💚💙
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
Thus spake the mathematician?😏
Comment is about constants of change (blog)
Original item by Red Brick Keshner
Thank you Naomi.
We must not lose hope for the sake of our children.
I was walking the other day, in what was a former industrial wasteland suffering two-hundred years of pollution and neglect.
Wildlife and flora now thrive in what has been transformed into a pleasant canalside parkland, mainly by volunteers teaming up with businesses. They have planted fruit trees at regular intervals, under which are solid benches on which we can rest. A most pleasant surprise!
💗🌷💐
Comment is about BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY (blog)
Original item by Naomi
Thanks for the likes so far...
David
Comment is about Moses meets Mo (blog)
Original item by David RL Moore
Fri 23rd May 2025 05:49
Dear Hugh
This poetry is amazing and seems especially insightful to me because it talks about the problems I struggle with a lot, anxiety and anger.
Your comment on my latest work 'Home' brought me to your account and I see that you too acknowledge the importance of emotional stability. Thank you for sharing your views with this beautiful piece of work and for your encouraging comment on mine.
Comment is about Emotional health (blog)
Original item by hugh
This has a familiar feeling without being overwrought--excellent )
Comment is about Sven's soul funk (blog)
Original item by Red Brick Keshner
Thanks kindly @Aisha Suleman 🌷very much appreciated 🙏🏻🕊️
Comment is about hair in the wind (blog)
Original item by Wimpole Street Devils
Rolph David
Sun 25th May 2025 11:49
To Yanma and Auracle—
Thank you both deeply for your thoughtful words.
Yanma, your reflections on the imagery and sensory depth meant a great deal to me.
Auracle, your poetic reply was an unexpected and moving gift—"noetic nodes to blind" will stay with me.
Regards,
Rolph
And to those who liked Farewell to the Presence—John Coopey, hugh, Holden Moncrieff, Hélène, Manish, Auracle, and Yanma—thank you for your support. Your appreciation gives the silence in the poem a gentle echo.
With gratitude,
Rolph
Comment is about Farewell to the Presence (blog)
Original item by Rolph David