Cheers M.C.
Your assessment of my work is really great. Totally hits on what I was hoping to do. Thank you for putting such time and thought into your feedback.

Embarrassingly though, while I've obviously taken an element of artistic licence, there is far more reality in this than imagination :|

Thanks so much for reading :)

Comment is about 'We're off to Never Never Land' by Matthew James is Poem of the Week (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

A real flight of fancy and the imagination - with the
intriguing possibility of something from real life meshed
in, all set to a speech rhythm that adds to the appeal.
Not my usual sort of material but somehow very
refreshing in its vivid evocation of the wayward experiences that youth can meet without always seeking
or understanding them.

Comment is about 'We're off to Never Never Land' by Matthew James is Poem of the Week (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Thanks so much Suki!
Well hopefully I'll be able to get it videoed soon as I'm performing it on Saturday night at PaperCut in Wigans Old Courts and next Wednesday at unity Works in Wakefield. Feel free to come along and watch it

Comment is about 'We're off to Never Never Land' by Matthew James is Poem of the Week (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Hi there,
Congratulations on winning POTW. I would love to hear this poem read by you. Is there any chance, when you have the time, to record this poem and upload it here?
This is a performance poem that is worth reading, but I bet would be amazing to listen to also. No pressure!

Cheers, and look forward to reading more of your stuff..

Comment is about 'We're off to Never Never Land' by Matthew James is Poem of the Week (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Thank you both :)

I live in Yorkshire now Steve and have 3 Yorkshirian kids so I've had to learn to tolerate their strange, foreign ways :D

Comment is about 'We're off to Never Never Land' by Matthew James is Poem of the Week (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Well done Matthew. I couldn't put it down.
Dom.

Comment is about 'We're off to Never Never Land' by Matthew James is Poem of the Week (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

I just wanted to say how much I liked the poem. I don't know if you've read Ian MacMillan, but he too can use the dialect well (though he's from Yorkshire, poor lad...)

Comment is about 'We're off to Never Never Land' by Matthew James is Poem of the Week (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Stu, that post has spread honey all over my pot, not just the rim. And actually, I feel so loved up by you all now that it's as though I've been rubbed all over with honey, including my rim... Oooer!

Love to all of you x

Comment is about 'We're off to Never Never Land' by Matthew James is Poem of the Week (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

this is very evocative for me - its a bit spike island, a bit 'this is england' and a bit 'caught by the fuzz' by supergrass. it also reminds me a lot of me and my friend godfrey, who would routinely over-egg a can of fosters in order to impress each other. i agree with the previous comments about the dialect, to write with such strong diction (is that the right word?) but keep it readable is clever. you have also captured well the sort of adolescent safety glasses one see's through at that age. in fact, there is danger in the poem, but its all pushed to the background and replaced by excitement and wonder.

also, to spread honey on the rim of a broken plantpot (my analogy and i'm keeping it) i probably wouldnt have read it if it wasnt a) POTW and b) so heavily commented on. so there's a silver lining (or a honeyed rim if you see fit)

good job.

Comment is about 'We're off to Never Never Land' by Matthew James is Poem of the Week (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Good for you :) When I first started posting on here, I was offered some sound advice and critiques, some of which I agreed with and used to better effect in later poems, and some of which I didn't agree with and didn't use. But I feel thankful that it was offered and it did, without doubt, improve my poetry. Kind, specific and helpful - bang on!

Comment is about 'We're off to Never Never Land' by Matthew James is Poem of the Week (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Thanks Laura, this is the sort of supportive and encouraging comment that I have come to expect on here. It's really nice to know that I can write in dialect (and that some can also "hear" it) and that, as Graham said earlier, my rambling style is coming across as intended.
I also really want to say that any kind of constructive criticism that gives me areas for improvement is appreciated too. I'm not touchy about it if I've missed something and someone explains what and why they think I need to improve. It's all helpful. It's just about being kind, specific and helpful :)

Comment is about 'We're off to Never Never Land' by Matthew James is Poem of the Week (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

I would like to add my congratulations, Matthew. It's difficult to write in dialect, so well done you for not only trying, but actually pulling it off. I too started writing poetry on here for the first time in my life about 5 or so years ago, and have found WOL to be absolutely invaluable in honing my writing skills. I am also pretty aghast at some of the responses here by fellow poets. This site has always been full of the most supportive people, and this kind of pissing on other poets' parades is repulsive. It takes real courage to post your poetry, especially at first, so please don't let this put you off.

In a world where women and children are raped and ruined on a daily basis, and man's inhumanity to man continues to spread death and disease, this focussing on such insignificance is breath-taking.

Comment is about 'We're off to Never Never Land' by Matthew James is Poem of the Week (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Thank you Greg and ElPintor. Your comments remind me of the wonderfully supportive place that I have always found the poetry community to be. There is nothing and no opinion that could stop me writing. I do it for me and I love it. But your ear and your kindness make it all the more valuable xx

Comment is about 'We're off to Never Never Land' by Matthew James is Poem of the Week (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

I would just like to say, as an American, I found this bit absolutely hysterical..I mean..maybe those with this particular accent (or something similar) wouldn't but I can sort of "hear" every bit of it..and, even more, it's an expression of the reality of youth in exploration..I enjoyed it very much.

Thanks, Matthew,

and besides, we should all accept that our work can never be judged upon absolutely objective grounds..this is why we write poetry, no?

Respect to all,
elPintor

Comment is about 'We're off to Never Never Land' by Matthew James is Poem of the Week (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

I am very sorry you have been subjected to all this, Matthew. No one ever asks to be chosen as Poem of the Week - and at this rate, most people may well look at it as a poisoned chalice in future. I commend you for the grace and good sense of your replies, and for sticking up for yourself.

Comment is about 'We're off to Never Never Land' by Matthew James is Poem of the Week (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Thank you Alexandra

Comment is about 'We're off to Never Never Land' by Matthew James is Poem of the Week (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Matthew - I didn't say that your comments were inappropriate, only that it would be inappropriate for me to critique your piece in the circumstances.
Rob

Comment is about 'We're off to Never Never Land' by Matthew James is Poem of the Week (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

I would just like to say a big congratulations. You should be very proud of yourself and I think it is wonderful that your poem was chosen. Let's turn around the direction of this comment thread!

Comment is about 'We're off to Never Never Land' by Matthew James is Poem of the Week (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

MY comments are inappropriate? No.

Comment is about 'We're off to Never Never Land' by Matthew James is Poem of the Week (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Matthew - First of all let me apologise for not congratulating you on POTW. It was ungracious of me to launch into questioning the judging without that acknowledgement I will also repeat that it was not my intention to offend you in any way, as your piece has as much right to be considered for this accolade as any other.
My questions, as you have probably realised from other comments are part of a back story regarding transparency and you have been caught up in the requests for explanation and understanding. Again, my apologies.
Had I wanted to critique this piece when you first delivered it I would have. So to ask me to now supply the same would appear inappropriate and I have to decline.
Keep scribbling and good luck.
Rob

Comment is about 'We're off to Never Never Land' by Matthew James is Poem of the Week (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

When the argument you want to make becomes more important than the people it affects or their feelings, you've lost the point of your argument and you become the problem instead.

Comment is about 'We're off to Never Never Land' by Matthew James is Poem of the Week (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Seriously! What the chuff are you lot on about? Would anyone like to comment on my poem in a constructive way rather than arguing? I'd rather not be poet of the week than get involved in this rubbish. Talking about internal mechanisms? I've been writing since March. I'm not a known poet. I don't know poetry people. I don't have a clue who works at WOL. How am I in any way part of that?? I'm asked to "take stock of the words sent to me". Which ones? The ones that say "I'll ask the question that must be on everyone's lips, how was this poem of the week"? Or the ones that say "it's not earned a whole heap of favourable reviews"?

Please can I ask for your constructive feedback Lynn?

Comment is about 'We're off to Never Never Land' by Matthew James is Poem of the Week (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Hi Robert,

I'm interested in how you consider that comment not to be offensive to me? And actually to anyone who writes poetry. Would it not be fair to say that poetry is a form of self expression? And as such we connect best with whatever language and themes come out naturally? I agree, I don't get massive amounts of views and comments for my work but that's ok with me. These things take time. When I've been here a while I guess the comments will flow. I'm not here for a competition. I'm here because I love it and because I want to learn. The greater the exposure, the more I learn. Why should it matter whether work is chosen by one person or by committee? I'd rather it were chosen by one person anyway, because then the connection is real rather than cold, academic structures and balancing out of the varying judgements of different views on "what makes good poetry". To me, the Art community and the poetry community is best served by people who cherish each other's efforts and the diversity of what is created. I'm not a great poet. I don't claim to be. But I write genuinely and for genuine reasons. I think that by worrying about who judges this thing you're completely missing the point of why it exists. That reason being that it gives people a voice rather than reserving that voice for those within a culturally elite clique.

May I request your critique on my work Robert? That seems a more valuable use of the comments section for my work when I state on my profile the request for feedback. Positive or negative please, as long as it's said in a kind way unlike your previous message.

Yours with good intent, kindness and clumsy, awkward words that I enjoy writing,
Matt

Comment is about 'We're off to Never Never Land' by Matthew James is Poem of the Week (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

In order to prevent this article becoming yet another "who, why, where" slanging match, please refer to a newly created Discussion thread that I will be opening in a couple of minutes. Robert, I would respectfully ask you to transfer your comments there please.

Comment is about 'We're off to Never Never Land' by Matthew James is Poem of the Week (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Poem of the Week - I am not one to pull my punches, so I'll ask the question that must be on many people's lips:
How did this piece get chosen? It was only commented on by 3 people (not including the author) all week, and has not raised a whole heap of favourable reviews since the announcement. It begs a return to Lynn Hamilton's question as to who is judging. No offence is meant by me as far as Matthew is concerned and I wish to make it clear that I do not want any of my own pieces considered for this esteemed honour until I know who is behind it.
Rob

Comment is about 'We're off to Never Never Land' by Matthew James is Poem of the Week (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

We've all been there haven't we, although perhaps we choose to forget about it.

I just love the rambling on of the words, a breathless sort of rhythm.

Reminds me of the young bloke on the Harry Enfield series "weren't the Romans fantastic" etc.

There's been some commentary about using dialect in poetry quite recently too! I think this piece shows it well.

Great to see a relatively new poet in the spotlight too.

Comment is about 'We're off to Never Never Land' by Matthew James is Poem of the Week (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Thanks Colin!

Comment is about 'We're off to Never Never Land' by Matthew James is Poem of the Week (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

well done Matthew!

Comment is about 'We're off to Never Never Land' by Matthew James is Poem of the Week (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman