I love the meter and the tone. The piece moves along quite nicely.
But I must expose myself, I have no idea what this piece is about really. I don't see the connection with anything.

What is the purpose of the locking mechanisms and guns? Are we reading about a failed hunting expedition? That is what I am getting from the guns mention and the cubs in the howling wind. But,

Breaching back all too separately - that is the way I feel at this point. It's all too disconnected to make sense to me.

Please help me understand this poem. It's killing me that I don't get it.

Comment is about Before dawn (blog)

Original item by Brent Cameron

lovely, like a snapshot of something new and exciting

Comment is about Winter from a Window (blog)

Original item by Chris Armstrong

as if written by cooper-clarke himself

Comment is about DISLOCATION (blog)

Original item by ray pool

this is great!

Comment is about Goddess (blog)

Original item by Gabrielle Renee'

Interesting that I put an appreciative comment about these
lines, yet it has since disappeared. Or perhaps I should report that is hasn't been "registered". Cash me in!

Comment is about 'Feed me, feed me with the only love we know' (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Alem, this is a beautifully written poem which speaks of love´s addiction and how easily we are caught in its web. Thank you. Keith

Comment is about Like a moth to a flame (blog)

Original item by Alem Hailu G/Kristos

Thanks so much, Nicola! The atmosphere at the last WOL sounds slightly heady, or rather appealing, or perhaps not so at all! God bless our male WOL friends!
You are such a love...thanks again..............Dorinda x

Comment is about Stockport WoL (group profile)

Original item by Stockport WoL

Great Ray, a beautiful poetic story, told with fine expression and mystery. Thank you.
Fred

Comment is about A MINER'S RETURN HOME (blog)

Original item by ray pool

Many thanks all. It was influenced by the TV series in the 70s, and yes the end reference was to the ‘Dad’s Army’ song. Cheers!

Comment is about Families at War (blog)

Original item by Rick Varden

No video as far as I know, Julian, but this clip should serve as a reminder of Jimmy Nail's great, moving song. (see link below).
An appearance by Mark Knopfler at the Sage as well would have been the icing on the cake! Two of Knopfler's songs are also in the anthology - 'Down to the Waterline' and 'Tunnel of Love', the latter with its references to the Spanish City and Cullercoats and Whitley Bay. And, naturally, 'Fog on the Tyne' by Lindisfarne's Alan Hull is in the book, too. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3_519h95XFs

Comment is about Land of Three Rivers anthology launch, Gateshead, 2017 (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

brilliant - with a dreaded lurgy thrown in for good measure. Brave of you to vocalise Mohammed but perhaps wise not to accompany this piece with his image. I'm glad though that Mohammed journeyed you from darkness to light.

what was so important to buy that you had to seek it out in such a hellish place? Try Amazon next time, a different sort of god, with next day deliverance.

take care. Col.

Comment is about DISLOCATION (blog)

Original item by ray pool

Thank you so much for the appreciation ?
Means a lot.
Best regards
Sidra

Comment is about Am I the worst one You have yet made?! (blog)

Original item by Sidra Shahid

Everyone loves you as you are

Comment is about letters III (07/19/2017) (blog)

Original item by Zach Dafoe

Hi Ray,

A kind of 21st Century Waiting for Godot - in a golf buggy!

Get well soon too!

Suki

Comment is about DISLOCATION (blog)

Original item by ray pool

Ray - Is it an age thing, or just that town centre multi-storey, wannabee American mall type shopping 'experiences' are so difficult to escape from? I like this piece and the fact that you are brave enough to record your dulcet tones, unlike me!
Rob

Comment is about DISLOCATION (blog)

Original item by ray pool

Each to his own, indeed, Ray.
But me?
I write in metre.

Comment is about METRE (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

I'm not being funny John but rhyme is perfect for the kind of humorous poetry you write - what is important is to find the right framework on which to hang ideas - whether free verse of rhyming. Why damn one against the other?
Vive la difference I say and to hell with segregation!

Ray

Comment is about METRE (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

A very nicely turned poem that gets really to the point with no flim - flam Fred. Ironically, Vera really epitomizes the old patriotism that is easily stirred in the threatened. During the Falklands crisis it rose again; but what you really nail is the gritty futility of the situation people faced.

A great read. Ray

Comment is about Families at War (blog)

Original item by Rick Varden

I love your faith in Portia, Nigel ? I also liked hearing your poems on Monday, Frozen was a really good observation on how we freeze at times of stress, but re-live the horrors later. Great stuff.

Comment is about Nicola Hulme (poet profile)

Original item by Nicola Hulme

Many thanks Hannah and Emer for you kind encouragement.

Fred

Comment is about Families at War (blog)

Original item by Rick Varden

Brilliant.


Hannah

Comment is about Families at War (blog)

Original item by Rick Varden

Beautiful imagery.

Hannah

Comment is about Winter from a Window (blog)

Original item by Chris Armstrong

The big questions.
Very moving.

Hannah

Comment is about Am I the worst one You have yet made?! (blog)

Original item by Sidra Shahid

Thank you, Alex, it's part of a cinquain and senryu challenge I set myself for November.

Also, more importantly, an attempt answer why I read and write poetry.

Comment is about To Poets, Thanks For Everything, Julie Newman, Sorry, James (blog)

Original item by James Dust Jacket

Thanks Ryan, appreciated.

HI Suki. I always miss my band curry as it clashes with poetry readings. I know how you feel though - traditionally cheesy aren't they.

Thanks Col. I'm going to make that "Christmas time" as I think that'll be neater. I'm not fond of dah de dah de dah metre as a rule so i'll leave it meandering a bit. Appreciate your thoughts ! As for C........s yes it was early but I've been brainwashed by the retailers and advertisers I suppose.

Thanks for the likes David and Desmond.

Ray

Comment is about STITCHED UP (blog)

Original item by ray pool

Boy, am I jealous! it sounds to have been a fantastic night. There is nothing evokes Tyneside quite like the Keel Row. No video, I suppose?

Comment is about Land of Three Rivers anthology launch, Gateshead, 2017 (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Thanks, guys. I shall soon be having installed a smart meter.

Comment is about METRE (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

I didn't have a Haiku structure in mind when I wrote it, but I see what you mean. Perhaps there was something left over in my mind from the Three Haiku I published here a few days ago.

Comment is about Winter from a Window (blog)

Original item by Chris Armstrong

Dying? If so, it's...
More like the dying of the darkest night.
That heralds the wakening dawning's light.

Comment is about METRE (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

Nice...Is it a type of haiku?

Comment is about Winter from a Window (blog)

Original item by Chris Armstrong

Poetic minds did not freeze
instead they came to life
on this cold November night.

Comment is about November 2017 Collage Poem: Frozen (blog)

Original item by Stockport WoL

Good to see you Nic on Monday - - - great night

Flyer

Flying out of the clouds
bolts of blazing fire
- - - or could it be
burning hot new copies
being sent from printers
for more book signings!

Comment is about Nicola Hulme (poet profile)

Original item by Nicola Hulme

I read them both ways Chris - top marks for taking the time to think it through. I shall take a read of your phone friendly poem later. Col.

Comment is about Parallel Echoes of Love (blog)

Original item by Chris Armstrong

Thanks man, much appreciated. And I'm always called the voice of reason. Which is weird because my life can be unreasonable at the best of times.

Comment is about Protest At An American Petrol Station (blog)

Original item by Kealan Coady

I turned up to this event on the 13th and sadly no one was present. Could you please confirm whether or not it will be on next month.

Review is about PoeTRY Workshop on 11 Dec 2017 (event)

Col - I suspect at least part of the problem is that the writing/editing page does not support tabs! The next one should be perfect for your phone!
Thanks for the comments.
I'm curious - did you realise that it could be read column by column as two 'stanza' or as a single 'stanza' with long lines with odd gaps in the middle?

Comment is about Parallel Echoes of Love (blog)

Original item by Chris Armstrong

Hi Dorinda,

I hope you feel better soon.

You and all other female WOLs were missed, it was a testosterone filled room!

Next month's theme is "waves". We discussed many types of waves, not limited to nautical but energy waves, spiritual waves, the characteristics of waves etc.

Hope to see you at the December meeting. Keep warm ?

Comment is about Stockport WoL (group profile)

Original item by Stockport WoL

thanks for the response Eric. I like the idea of starting with something big and working down to the tiny and then making the tiny appear bigger than the big. Sounds like a good writing exercise. Cheers, Col.

Comment is about Waddell Creek Beach, California, USA (blog)

Original item by Eric G. Hoff

A great idea Chris and well executed but I'm afraid it doesn't transfer well to the small screen of a smartphone where the lines get a bit jumbled. It's ok though as I'm reading it on my laptop but I did check my phone out of curiosity. Thanks for posting. I always enjoy poems that play around with formats and ideas. It shows the writer is willing to push their own boundaries. Cheers, Col.

Comment is about Parallel Echoes of Love (blog)

Original item by Chris Armstrong

as I was reading this my son walked by singing 'don't worry about a thing' by Bob Marley which seemed an appropriate coincidence.

Comment is about Much (blog)

Original item by Adam Whitworth

I'm sorry for your loss. Beautiful work. Thank you

Comment is about Ancestral (blog)

Original item by Chris Armstrong

Hi Colin, Thanks for reading and commenting. San Diego to Orcas Island? That must have been a really wonderful trip. I hope you got lots of pictures - that is such a beautiful coast all the way up.

The elephant seals are truly a magnificent blessing there at Ano Nuevo.

The reasoning for the big "C" in ocean? I just thought it to be a play on attitude. The Pacific being a beast, it thinks highly of itself, but, in reality it is like the rest of us - a small part of this great big world. That's why I play with the structure of the poem as well. It starts out big and slowly succumbs to the energy around it to where even a dainty sandpiper is bigger than the waves lapping at the shore.

Thank you again, Colin, for your kind words. I do hope you get to visit the West Coast again.

Peace

Eric

Comment is about Waddell Creek Beach, California, USA (blog)

Original item by Eric G. Hoff

Ray thanks for the comments, I've always appreciated your feedback on my poems, will let you know about the book availability next month when hopefully I know more.

Comment is about ray pool (poet profile)

Original item by ray pool

Sad and funny at the same time that poets ALWAYS have to be the voice of reason. Great poem.

Comment is about Protest At An American Petrol Station (blog)

Original item by Kealan Coady

Thank you all for the kind comments. I'll let you know when and where available, should be available online in due course.

Comment is about Night Work - Launch (blog)

Original item by Tom Harding

Thanks, MC. We seem to be a dying breed.

Comment is about METRE (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

Totally agree. Well said, that man!
Making a point?
Don't like to disjoint
Lines that beg to be neater?
It's hardly a crime
To prefer to rhyme -
And sweeter when tuned to the Metre!

Comment is about METRE (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

Thanks Fred, much appreciated

All the best des

Comment is about The old man and his Grammaphone (blog)

Original item by DESMOND CHILDS

Loving this Des right up my street, thanks so much.

Fred

Comment is about The old man and his Grammaphone (blog)

Original item by DESMOND CHILDS

Thanks for your comments!

Comment is about Dear Donald Trump (blog)

Original item by Linda Cosgriff