To be honest I liked it both ways.?

J. x

Comment is about Quintessential (blog)

Original item by Mae Foreman

Talk about dystopian! Brilliant and numb Mae.
Loved it.

J. x

Comment is about Bleak Era (blog)

Original item by Mae Foreman

Thanks Steve! It does look and sound better this way! ?
Mae

Comment is about Quintessential (blog)

Original item by Mae Foreman

Thanks Jennifer. I have found it can be very disconcerting to relive a visit which was so intense, to find a sort of blandness that misses the mark. In your particular case this can be consoling in a way, especially if you meet original inhabitants who can provide a sense of continuity. This often happens I think in more humble areas that have not been pepped up by developments. Some of the saddest places I have visited have been the old South Wales coalfield towns like Tredegar which have never recovered from the loss of industry and are soulless places.

Ray

Comment is about FORGOTTEN DREAMS (blog)

Original item by ray pool

Jeff
Such a chilling poem about a truly tragic event - i hope the last line holds true.

Dorothy

Comment is about Divided City, Divided Land? (blog)

Original item by Jeffarama!

Nice one Ged

Comment is about Behind the Thoughts (blog)

Original item by Ged Thompson

Thanks John too for the like. Jennifer

Comment is about Old age (blog)

Original item by Jennifer Malden

Thank you. You've really helped. I do read all your wise words two or three times and try to learn. What I've always told myself about that that Keats said is that he was very young. Very young. What did he know of blank page nerves, poor boy.

Comment is about Blank notebook pages and first-line nerves (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

I love to see them sprinkled generously over a lawn--along with clover, they are one of the most welcome sights of spring.

Rachel

Comment is about A Rose By Any Other Name (blog)

Original item by Ian Whiteley

It has been said that politics (e.g. government?) is "the art of the possible". The tragedy is that so many choosing that occupation
then appear to proceed to make it impossible!!

Comment is about I address to the garverment of my country (blog)

Original item by Larisa Rzhepishevska

I'm reminded of Alan Jay Lerner's wry lines given to Henry Higgins
about the correct use of English in his music masterpiece "My Fair Lady":
"They even are places where English completely disappears
In America they haven't used it for years." ?

Comment is about On Perusing a Dictionary of Modern English Usage as It Pertains to Suffering (blog)

Original item by Randy Horton

Good theme. I recognise the evidence of its content down the years.

Comment is about Broke-Down Poem (blog)

Original item by d.knape

Jennifer - certainly, the fates can seem unkind when the seemingly
healthy are struck down without obvious cause or warning. But
why add to the risks with our own wayward decisions when a little
care and consideration can reduce the former and lessen the
likelihood of early departure from this life?

Comment is about WITHIN LIES THE SIN (blog)

Original item by M.C. Newberry

Thanks, Jennifer. If I may say so myself I like that line, too. ?

Comment is about Colour - Black (blog)

Original item by Jon Stainsby

I also laughed a lot at some of the lines that 'materialised' in 'Nature's Banquet' Laura - and definitely not one I would have written without the prompt. Glad it made you smile ?

Comment is about Laura Taylor (poet profile)

Original item by Laura Taylor

Ian
All would be (and are) welcome in my garden - as would be the bees - moths and hoverflies.
i love the bright golden yellow next to the white and gold daisies and the taller cowslips. Mine is an untidy garden, birds love it.
Dorothy

Comment is about A Rose By Any Other Name (blog)

Original item by Ian Whiteley

Congratulations! Agree about saying so much with very simple words. Well deserved POTW.

Jennifer

Comment is about The Write Out Loud Poem of the Week is 'Poetry Understands' by Vautaw (article)

Original item by Stuart Buck

Small and perfect - in essence an absence- one of your best I would say.

jennifer

Comment is about Colour - Black (blog)

Original item by Jon Stainsby

Liked this one. Agree with the last two lines, to a certain extent at least we can improve or worsen our health by how we use our bodies - smoking - drinking too much - using drugs - eating junk food - not exercising - letting ourselves become over weight - etc. -sometimes, though, you know people who did look after themselves, and got some really nasty disease all the same.

Jennifer

Comment is about WITHIN LIES THE SIN (blog)

Original item by M.C. Newberry

Great writing as usual, sad but beautiful. I think we definitely enhance treasured memories of long ago times when we were perhaps happier or at least carefree. Sometimes it is better not to go back, as it can be disappointing not to say heartbreaking. I went back to a village on the Aberdeenshire coast a few years ago, where I had lived as a child of 7 (many many years ago!), expecting to be disappointed, but apart from the school being now a Social Centre, and the shop and bakery having disappeared, nothing had changed.

Jennifer

Comment is about FORGOTTEN DREAMS (blog)

Original item by ray pool

Nice one! One does feel a little guilty every December. I wrote Tom Turkey's Lament last Xmas,, a similar plot to avoid extermination, but i think Tiny Tina was even more cunning! Enjoyed this one.

Jennifer

Comment is about A turkey in sheep's clothing (blog)

Original item by Wayne McLellan

Liked this! Here in Italy it's called Dente di Lion, but also 'Bedwetter' 'cos it has diuretic properties. They also use some of the tender new leaves in salads. They are also very pretty en masse with daisies. Good work, Jennifer

Comment is about A Rose By Any Other Name (blog)

Original item by Ian Whiteley

Thanks for commenting, Brian. Straight out of ""Joke Box Jury" ha-ha.
We seem too ready to poison our bodies with stuff we consume.
Those lines were a mild exhortation for people to take more care
and avoid its harmful effects.

Comment is about WITHIN LIES THE SIN (blog)

Original item by M.C. Newberry

I like you spirit.

Dorothy

Comment is about I address to the garverment of my country (blog)

Original item by Larisa Rzhepishevska

This is so funny - I keep reading it over and over - it gets funnier with each reading,

Dorothy

P,.S. I am just going to read it again one more time.

Comment is about Nature's Banquet (blog)

Original item by Ian Whiteley

"then leads us gently by menace or malice
to some mock byzantine crumbling palace" - holding my breath.

" or his perchant for art and cooking well" - breathing again in relief'

Dorothy

Comment is about ON VINCENT PRICE (blog)

Original item by ray pool

Inspired by a local Spanish market that I think is worse than it sounds!

Comment is about Flea Market (blog)

Original item by Trevor Alexander

I do enjoy a good giggle - thank you for it.
Dorothy

Comment is about A turkey in sheep's clothing (blog)

Original item by Wayne McLellan

Just wanted to say that I have read almost all of your articles John, and find them interesting, entertaining, knowledgeable, and informative. I took a couple of the handy hints and tips about competitions and have applied them.

I noticed that you don't really get any comments, so wanted to say that your words aren't just dissolving into the ether. People are reading them.

Cheers ?

Comment is about Blank notebook pages and first-line nerves (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

thanks martin. will i see you at Sale in June (might be there next month as well as i know the people guesting)

Comment is about think back/pink black (blog)

Original item by Stuart Buck

Nina Simone.. cool ?

Comment is about Station to Station (blog)

Original item by Phils Words

Thanks Steve

Comment is about Station to Station (blog)

Original item by Phils Words

Cheers!

Comment is about The Middle's Dropped Out (blog)

Original item by Robert C Gaulke

Ripping barn yarn!

Thanks brian?

Comment is about A turkey in sheep's clothing (blog)

Original item by Wayne McLellan

Ripping yarn!

Comment is about A turkey in sheep's clothing (blog)

Original item by Wayne McLellan

Thank you Frances! Actually that last line was the quintessential of the piece. I had that phrase in my mind and I wove the poem around it!
Thank you for getting my message?
Mae

Comment is about Starchild (blog)

Original item by Mae Foreman

This is dark Ana, but deeply expressive. I hope you're speaking figuratively though, rather than an, "End," this would seem like a good beginning. I hope you will share more with us.

J. x

Comment is about Ending (blog)

Original item by Ana Dobrev

Thanks very much to everyone who liked this.

Comment is about Colour - Black (blog)

Original item by Jon Stainsby

Thank you, Ray.

Comment is about Colour - Black (blog)

Original item by Jon Stainsby

Like it Mark. It's gorra great rhythm and oi'll give it five.

What are the two lines at the end...are they significant?

Comment is about WITHIN LIES THE SIN (blog)

Original item by M.C. Newberry

Poetry understands
the mirror,
unanswered calls,
stumbles, falls.

Tour de force: the more animated the verse, the greater the impact.

Well-penned!

J

Comment is about The Write Out Loud Poem of the Week is 'Poetry Understands' by Vautaw (article)

Original item by Stuart Buck

Beautiful, Mae. Every word, but especially:

"...may my love be your iron-wrought, silver-gilded impenetrable shield!"

Comment is about Starchild (blog)

Original item by Mae Foreman

Pop the cork ! Pop the cork !

Comment is about And the Mouse Said... (blog)

Original item by Lisa C Bassignani

Hi Ian, thanks for your permission to share - it's up on my blog now.
https://francesmacaulayforde.wordpress.com/2019/04/23/monday-morning-9am/
?

Comment is about Monday Morning - 9AM (blog)

Original item by Ian Whiteley

Thank you Heart and Carbon Quill! I'm glad you both like it!?
Mae

Comment is about Bleak Era (blog)

Original item by Mae Foreman

Thank you Heart! Your support is priceless?
Mae

Comment is about In a Dream (blog)

Original item by Mae Foreman

Thank you dear Heart! ?
Mae

Comment is about Starchild (blog)

Original item by Mae Foreman

Highly effective Jon. I like that you havn't strayed into good and evil, the usual suspects, but stayed into defined limits.

Ray

Comment is about Colour - Black (blog)

Original item by Jon Stainsby

If this refers to stand up comedy then probably about the same as the walk to the scaffold. If it refers to poetry - I can only speak from experience. First time aged 70 for me, hiding behind an impression of Alan Bennett which helped, and I think that covers your line about disguise! There's a lot to discuss and you have covered it so well in such a short poem. You might come off thinking "there's nothing like a good audience, and this is nothing like a good audience." I am a pianist and have worked for decades with comics and singers- but it's so different when your out front!

Nice one Trevor.

Comment is about POETRY NIGHT (blog)

Original item by trevor homer

A drip feed of wisdom and understanding of how poetry can encompass so much of life Vautaw. Common ground for us all who attempt this crazy art and recognize simple truths when we see them. Congratulations for a top slot!

Ray

Comment is about The Write Out Loud Poem of the Week is 'Poetry Understands' by Vautaw (article)

Original item by Stuart Buck