thanks for your insightful comments on 'drunk' John. The music was an attempt at a carousel (spinning) and a music box playing a lullaby (sleep) so you were pretty much spot on.

Also loving 'I have a bream' - reminded me of what i used to shout when i got home from school - "Mam, Im here"

Comment is about John Coopey (poet profile)

Original item by John Coopey

good one Ray

try Quince tarts on the 17th day - yummy :-)

Comment is about Ordering Food (blog)

Hahaaa Ray - nice one :D Puts my symmetry obsession to shame ;D Liked the rhythm to this, and the idea behind it.

Comment is about Ordering Food (blog)

Made me smile too. When does the CD collection come out John?

Comment is about I Had A Bream (Fishermen's Tales) (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

Powerful poem, Mark, and spot on in what it is saying. To the extent that people "doubt those wearing blue" a society is in trouble. A civilised society depends on trust that the police will fulfil their very special role properly. That in turn depends on accountability over failures, and credible responses to them. Recent history has demonstrated that it can sometimes take many many voices to make this happen. All the more reason to keep raising your voice. Done the right way, it strengthens those within the police force who are trying to change it in positive ways and they need all the help they can get.

Comment is about One Of Us - A Stephen Lawrence Tribute (blog)

Original item by Mark Mr T Thompson

Hi- re ''How do women escape?'' the blood spilt was a reference to the violence already suffered by the woman. If I could have gone back in time I would have drew a question mark- to act as an interrogative- in the blood. Then I may have been up for an Arts Council grant. Tommy

Comment is about Cynthia Buell Thomas (poet profile)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

Isobel I can absolutely see those parallels to the campaign for justice for the victims of Hillsborough.

I can see why as a mother the Duffy piece would resonate. It is extremely powerful.

For me, Stephen is a peer, less than six months my junior, his life would have been parallel to mine and my friends, all of whom grew up around the corner from him, any of whom could have been in that place at that time. That was the 'one of us'

Comment is about One Of Us - A Stephen Lawrence Tribute (blog)

Original item by Mark Mr T Thompson

Although born out of racial disharmony, in the end, for me, the Stephen Lawrence case became much more than that. It was about gross failures in our justice system and an illustration of just what a mother's love can achieve.

I see great parallels between Stephen Lawrence's mother and Ann Williams, who would not rest until the truth about Hillsborough was acknowledged. Both were strong, dignified women - human beings you could look up to.

I hope I'm not prolonging any discord by chiming in here. Clearly, there are some people who will just never be on the same wavelength as yourself so it's wasted breath trying.

I don't know if you've ever read the Carole Ann Duffy poem on the subject Mark - but it was a very moving one. I'm the mother of a soon to be 20 year old, so perhaps it resonates with me more for that.

Comment is about One Of Us - A Stephen Lawrence Tribute (blog)

Original item by Mark Mr T Thompson

Your first post is ridiculous in its ignorance,as evidenced by the factual inaccuracy, provocatively emotive language and offensive parallels which you choose to draw. The idea that the number of blows involved is how we compare crimes is so childish it as to make you look like a the bigoted troll you really are. You have consistently ignored the criminal and possibly fatal actions of the officers involved. These are what sets this murder in a different category.

Hypocrisy "The poet has the opportunity to remark on what goes unremarked - and can perform a valuable function in addressing perceived wrongs for those who OTHERWISE would be ignored, forgotten or abandoned" from the man who wrote a poem about the biggest media funeral in over a decade!

Do the victims of institutionalised racism have your sympathy and respect? What about those that have to fight to get the justice that they need? Those that know that it is because of racism they have lost a family member AND been denied justice.

Please do feel free to avoid coming down my one-way street, unless you have something intelligent to say!(all though if you did, I would assume your account had been hacked)

Comment is about One Of Us - A Stephen Lawrence Tribute (blog)

Original item by Mark Mr T Thompson

Funny! It's always a pleasure to read your poetry. It made me smile.

Shirley

Comment is about I Had A Bream (Fishermen's Tales) (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

Hello MC,
Glad you liked "Michael Seen Flora". A true story as my mother told it. She had no doubts.

Comment is about M.C. Newberry (poet profile)

Original item by M.C. Newberry

hello Cynthia,
Thanks for your thoughts on "Michael Seen Flora".
Of course, it isn't really a poem at all. It's a piece of prose I wrote and chopped up into little lines.

Comment is about Cynthia Buell Thomas (poet profile)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

Many thanks for your thoughts on "Michael Seen Flora". Your recollection of the howling dog reminded me of a seance me and some mates did when we were teenagers when our dog who had slept in his basket through most of it suddenly leapt up and ran out howling into the kitchen at the very moment that the Christams Fairy fell off the tree behind us. Scary, or what?

Comment is about Isobel (poet profile)

Original item by Isobel

So sad that they all grow up and flee the nest and now she will make her own,and a meat eater she as become no more quorn.

Comment is about Invite To Tea (blog)

Yeah, I've been without Ruth ever since I took up poetry. Ruth was beauty, beauty was Ruth...

Comment is about Vive la difference: Tennyson's heirs and Thatcher's children (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

"Ignorance"..."hypocrisy"?
You stay in your one-way street if you want to.
Family of all murder victims have their own desperately painful reasons for remembrance and regret and the need for justice.
THEY have my respect and sympathy.
End of story.

Comment is about One Of Us - A Stephen Lawrence Tribute (blog)

Original item by Mark Mr T Thompson

Although I am fortunate not to have to identify with the aspect of death in this context, it does manage to evoke some distant memory of elderly relations and their homes...like entering a mysterious museum full of silence and times past, with coloured baubles and little ornaments that spoke of other lives lived and other experiences long since the stuff of memory. Children have their own pass into that world - as if nature is preparing them for what lies ahead. I can certainly recall feeling and understanding beyond my actual years when I look back now.

Comment is about The Candy Train (blog)

Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas

'and-somewhere another night died'

!!!!!!!!!!!

great poem.x

Comment is about Drunk (Spinning Wheel Blues) (blog)

Original item by Ian Whiteley

very nice Larisa!x

Comment is about Water & Fire (blog)

Original item by Larisa Rzhepishevska

great poem Harry.x

Comment is about Posthumous (blog)

Original item by Harry O`N eill

Congratulations Frances!

Comment is about Write Out Loud's reviews editor wins poetry award (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

There is a lot in this, Michael, a lot to consider, and it's well worth reading. But it is long, and in some places repetitive, which may be on purpose for effect. If you could harness your strong ideas and powerful words a bit more, the poem would be very impactive. It's a difficult subject that needs an audience.

Comment is about The Worst We All Feared (blog)

Original item by Noetic-fret!

Cheers folks!

Haha Isobel - ooo I very much doubt it ;D

Must read that book actually Darren...

Comment is about Write Out Loud regulars in collection supporting fire-hit bookshop (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Why the photo anyway, I did wonder? Murder implied? If so, not really fair.

Comment is about How do women escape? (blog)

Original item by Tommy Carroll

I'm glad you enjoyed it, I'll probably take your advice and put it back on tomorrow.

Comment is about Crab Fisherman (blog)

Original item by connor.may.cm@gmail.com

Harry, check 'Hopelessly' - just a typo.

Comment is about Posthumous (blog)

Original item by Harry O`N eill

Really good, plain and effective, a great marriage of fine diction and intrinsic poetical skills.

Consider reposting tomorrow, because this blog will disappear overnight as May takes over. It will be in the April slot. but I'm not sure how many readers go back. And this should be upfront for a few days.

Comment is about Crab Fisherman (blog)

Original item by connor.may.cm@gmail.com

Fantastic.

Comment is about Write Out Loud's reviews editor wins poetry award (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Thanks Greg.

Comment is about Write Out Loud's reviews editor wins poetry award (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Well done indeed, Frances!

Comment is about Write Out Loud's reviews editor wins poetry award (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Thx Harry - your words are appreciated I'll pass them on to Nat and Glenys too.

It will be great to see you and Yvonne and hear your poetry.

The room we have; last Friday The Christians played there - it's a top notch place for us all.

Best

Chris

Comment is about ThePoetry Spoke is back Fantastic NEW Venue - (blog)

Original item by Chris Co

Chris,
I never had a doubt...congratulations to you, Glenys, and Natalie for the work you all put in.

See you there.

Comment is about ThePoetry Spoke is back Fantastic NEW Venue - (blog)

Original item by Chris Co

An also within all this political debate there is a really tight clever little poem that gets its point across. Well done Steve

Comment is about £10 million for this? (blog)

Original item by steve pottinger

They weren't by any chance trying to sell Margaret Thatcher annuals at the time, were they ;?

I've read that Ray Bradbury book and can't for the life of me remember a thing about it - it must have been good.

Glad to hear that a free press is just that. Congratulations all, on raising it from the ashes.

Comment is about Write Out Loud regulars in collection supporting fire-hit bookshop (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Does poetry make us ruthless? Mmm. Now there's one well worth mulling over.

Comment is about Vive la difference: Tennyson's heirs and Thatcher's children (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Alex the foto is of my blood on the bedroom floor- after an epileptic fit.

Comment is about How do women escape? (blog)

Original item by Tommy Carroll

Félicitations Laura pour ton inclusion dans l'anthologie !

Interesting and informative article - good job!
Thank you for sharing :-)

Comment is about Write Out Loud regulars in collection supporting fire-hit bookshop (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Good luck everyone
with the theme
of a good
old political rant
Tories too right
Labour hard left
stuck in middle
miss a turn
till you make
up your mind
on second thoughts
you May not!

Comment is about Stockport WoL (group profile)

Original item by Stockport WoL

Letting Go

Notes of sin
stuffed in handbag
open the window
let them go
wind of change
will blow hard
scattering far away
from the bed
of emotional scars.

Comment is about The last night remembered and spent (blog)

Original item by Katy Megan

I'm reminded of Ray Bradbury's book 'Fahrenheit 451', especially as the book contains 45 poems!

Nice one Laura!

Comment is about Write Out Loud regulars in collection supporting fire-hit bookshop (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Hey Richard, Cheers for your comments on TWO a.M.-nice one mate!

Comment is about Richard Alfred (poet profile)

Original item by Richard Alfred

Bookshop burning sends a shiver down my spine. Too reminiscent of what we thought was a bygone era. Great article Laura. I hope we can help through this.

Comment is about Write Out Loud regulars in collection supporting fire-hit bookshop (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Just a quick note, Mays Night will be the usual fourth Sunday but due to a prior booking Junes will be the 30th.

Review is about Write Out Loud - Middleton on 28 Apr 2013 (event)

I occasionally get the impression that performance poets would like to have been rock stars, but never learned to play the guitar. Just occasionally.

Comment is about The Word on the Street: Paul Muldoon, Faber (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Short and savage, every character a victim, even the eye witness. The title is excellent - that electric fencing between wishes, needs and action.

Comment is about How do women escape? (blog)

Original item by Tommy Carroll

Saleema, I am only trying - to catch the spirit of your verse, its sincerity. I know poetic traditions differ, especially in cross languages. I am trying,in so far as I understand English poetry, to make your ideas catch the imagination of the average English reader. English styles vary hugely. One major difference, I think, between Western and Eastern poetry, is the use of repetition. One tradition uses it hugely and the other very little. It's a major hurdle in cross-translating. Neither one is wrong or right - that would be sheer idiocy.

Comment is about link

Fantastic Harry. Really like the simplicity of this and the way it tells such a complex story full of emotion in so few words. Classic!
Ian

Comment is about Posthumous (blog)

Original item by Harry O`N eill

Poets are often also good musicians so the two seem to go hand in hand although, sadly, not in my case.

Comment is about The Word on the Street: Paul Muldoon, Faber (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman

Love this! Great audio! Take care, Tony.

Comment is about Drunk (Spinning Wheel Blues) (blog)

Original item by Ian Whiteley

Thanks Greg! I'm just really glad to be able to help out in some way. Massive credit to Alex for all her hard work and the idea in the first place.

Comment is about Write Out Loud regulars in collection supporting fire-hit bookshop (article)

Original item by Greg Freeman