Starmer?
Bob on!
Comment is about Haiku for 2025 [No. 14 Up Yours Starmer!] (blog)
Original item by Uilleam Ó Ceallaigh
Awful. Truly awful.
Comment is about Haiku for 2025 [No. 14 Up Yours Starmer!] (blog)
Original item by Uilleam Ó Ceallaigh
Wed 7th May 2025 22:49
A beautiful meditation on resilience and hope, Rolph! 🌷
Comment is about Uncharted Light (blog)
Original item by Rolph David
Bitter! That takes me back, Uilleam. I've not drunk that in decades.
Funny how smells etc delight or disgust different people - although i rarely smoke anymore i still love the smell. And I was talking to another autistic person recently, and we both oddly agreed that both petrol and tar smelled nice.
Sounds can be appealing or appalling too - bouncing balls set my teeth on edge, whereas things like boots on gravel, or close-mic'd voices are what i fall 'chewy' sounds: i can almost taste them, and can lose myself in them.
Comment is about Fragment From An Oddly Remembered Dream #10: At The Barricades (blog)
Original item by Martin Peacock
I wonder if I can Cash in on it.
Comment is about The cowboy and the royal (blog)
Original item by Kevin Vose
As with most things having a strong source of second opinion is usually more productive than tyranny.
Having watched Trump with Mark Carney, his idiocy and verbal diarrhoea shone out. I've never wished my time away but I wish he would disappear sometime soon.
Comment is about Old Men (blog)
Original item by Stephen Gospage
A great poem, Clare. Generous and intimate. A poem about being human.
Comment is about Real. (blog)
Original item by Clare
Oh, and cobblers to being "nuanced", Stephen.
The so-called "Dame" who, hiding behind "Parliamentary Privilege" vilely accused Jeremy Corbyn of being - I quote - a "fucking anti-semite" in Parliament wasn't in the least bothered about "nuance" or the truth.
Murder is Murder!
Comment is about Propaganda (blog)
Original item by Uilleam Ó Ceallaigh
Thanks, Stephen.
...and we're told by grovelling establishment figures we should respect them!
Comment is about Old Men (blog)
Original item by Stephen Gospage
I have to say, my rising with the sun and the birdsong frequently results in my doing the most useful reading, studying or writing, accomplishing what might have taken some days, in a couple of hours.
Comment is about Live Wide Awake (blog)
Original item by Aisha Suleman
I was out walking, on a rough waterworks track, on the top of the moors, almost benighted, when two women driving a hefty four-wheeled drive vehicle loaded with massive amplifiers and speakers asked me directions.
They were on their way to a gig in a village about five miles away, and admitted to being completely lost, having relied on sat-nav.
I pointed to a road about three miles away and about three hundred feet below us, in the hazy distance. "You need to be down there" I said.
The ability to navigate reading an OS map is being lost as people without common sense or experience fall for the latest gimmicks.
Comment is about Sat Navigation (blog)
Original item by Rick Varden
A boy name Sue sued the Sioux!
Comment is about The cowboy and the royal (blog)
Original item by Kevin Vose
Thanks, Rolph.
To hope we must dare,
all they have's despair.
Comment is about Uncharted Light (blog)
Original item by Rolph David
Well-observed RBK.
we say we walk freely,
but the road has already been carved.
Comment is about they thread between us (blog)
Original item by Red Brick Keshner
Thanks, Martin for that sighing sussuration, very poetic!
I have to say, I just can't stand the smell of weed, makes me want to throw up-that and bitter that's off.
Comment is about Fragment From An Oddly Remembered Dream #10: At The Barricades (blog)
Original item by Martin Peacock
Thanks Y’all for your comments and likes.
Nigel Astell
hugh
Stephen Gospage
Aisha Suleman
Holden Moncrieff
Auracle
Yanma Hidayah
Kenny West
I know my humble scribblings aren’t up to the standards of a potential Poet Laureate, a Shakespeare or a Wordsworth, for that, I offer grovelling apologies.
The term “Rant” is all too frequently used as a put down, to belittle the opinions and work of the author. Definition of a rant? well, my poem isn’t “uncontrolled” and doesn’t say “confused or silly” things. Yes, I’m writing in a “shouty” and “angry way” - and my poem isn’t a debate about whether the BBC is “right or left wing”.
It’s about what are now undisputable facts – the suppression of which requires the harrassment, murder and imprisonment of journalists, poets and peaceful protestors.
It’s about the decades long, systematic genocide and ethnic cleansing of innocent civilians, literally on an industrial scale, known in some circles as “Mowing the Lawn”.
All that, with the help of UK armed forces, (the USA, using Irish airspace), the complicity of UK political leaders and a corrupt propaganda machine paid for by UK citizens’ “tax- pounds”. If that doesn’t warrant anger, then what does?
Fortunately, I do have access to adequate suppllies of loo roll and so don’t have to rely on likes of the Daily Heil or the Torygraph - not very kind to my nether regions – and for some years now, I’ve been unable to rely on Auntie.
Remember Auschwitz? Amnesia’s easier.
Comment is about Propaganda (blog)
Original item by Uilleam Ó Ceallaigh
As am I, Graham. Thank you so much for being so supportive of my work. It’s a wonderful thing to be acknowledged by your contemporaries. I appreciate you very much. 🙏🏻
Comment is about Real. (blog)
Original item by Clare
As you maybe aware from my poetry I am a big advocate for short lines.
This is very effective Claire.
Comment is about Real. (blog)
Original item by Clare
Oi! Did you steal my line!😂😂😂
I loved your poem. 🤗
Comment is about Butterflies Alight (blog)
Original item by John E Marks
Thank you to all of you who've read, liked or commented upon this ''ere pome-a-penny-each. Perhaps the birds have known/Since the beginning of time. P'raps.
Comment is about Butterflies Alight (blog)
Original item by John E Marks
Higher Clare, please. Father Ted explaining perspective to Father Dougal McGuire.
The higher we soar the smaller we appear to those who cannot fly.
Friedrich Nietzsche
Comment is about 10,000 Hours. (blog)
Original item by Clare
Your words deeply resonate with the sentiment I aimed to convey in the poem and your understanding Rolph is beautifully articulated.
Thank you
Comment is about SOUL OF MY SOUL (blog)
Original item by Naomi
Thanks for all your likes
Uilleam
Red Brick Keshner
Hugh
Ruth
Holden
Stephen G
and
Aisha.
Comment is about To Please or Not to Please (blog)
Original item by Nigel Astell
Thank you very much for reading, and the lovely comments.
Comment is about The 'Perfect Son' (blog)
Original item by Mike Bartram
Very perceptive and disturbing, Rolph. The idea of peace being 'locked behind a plastic smile' is rendolent of much that is going on at the moment.
Comment is about Vine* And Punishment (blog)
Original item by Rolph David
This is really beautiful, Aisha.
Comment is about To My Wonderful Son On Your Birthday (blog)
Original item by Aisha Suleman
I’m happy that the BBC is considered right-wing by the Left and left-wing by the Rught.
Comment is about Propaganda (blog)
Original item by Uilleam Ó Ceallaigh
I enjoyed this poetic rant, Uilleam, although my instinct is to be more nuanced. Out of fashion at the moment, but what can you do?
Comment is about Propaganda (blog)
Original item by Uilleam Ó Ceallaigh
Thanks Rolph.
Then let's not be silent:
those of us who can, get out there and give 'em "what for", as they say in these parts!😡👍
Comment is about Vine* And Punishment (blog)
Original item by Rolph David
One of the reasons that I was in favour of keeping the TV licence, was that I thought it would ensure the accountability of the powers that be.
Couldn't have been more wrong: a whole Corporation bought and paid for.
We, the public are paying for evil-doing.
Comment is about Propaganda (blog)
Original item by Uilleam Ó Ceallaigh
I love the sweep and ambition of this, Clare.
Comment is about 10,000 Hours. (blog)
Original item by Clare
One of your best, John. Great poem.
Comment is about Butterflies Alight (blog)
Original item by John E Marks
Thanks for the likes:
Hugh and Kenny West.
Comment is about Propaganda (blog)
Original item by Uilleam Ó Ceallaigh
A very powerful poem, Olivia. Thank you.
Comment is about I hope it rains in hell (blog)
Original item by Olivia Remsangpuii
Flying is what one's imagination is for....you're fine!
Comment is about 10,000 Hours. (blog)
Original item by Clare
Thank you both for the response. I have posted this poem before, but it seemed timely yesterday. I was three years old in 1945. Some memories just stay with you.
We lived in Southport, so the bombers circled round from Liverpool docks. On VE day the tradition of lighting the trees up on Lord Street was celebrated. It was as famous as the Blackpool Lights before the war.
Comment is about In the End (blog)
Original item by Freda Davis
Thank you both for the response. I have posted this poem before, but it seemed timely yesterday. I was three years old in 1945. Some memories just stay with you.
We lived in Southport, so the bombers circled round from Liverpool docks. On VE day the tradition of lighting the trees up on Lord Street was celebrated. It was as famous as the Blackpool Lights before the war.
Comment is about In the End (blog)
Original item by Freda Davis
RBK,
I have read this many times. I believe you can never go wrong by speaking the truth from your heart. What you have done here gives added dimension to the strength and impact of this poem.
Marla
Comment is about scaling ivory veils (blog)
Original item by Red Brick Keshner
This is stunning! I haven’t seen your work for a while and this poem reminds me of why I fell in love with your work. So glad to have come across this. Beautiful!🫂
Comment is about Butterflies Alight (blog)
Original item by John E Marks
Thanks Rachel.
You don't ask for permission because you don't need it.
Comment is about "Silent Revolutions" (blog)
Original item by rachel brown
I can't begin to comprehend what your experience must have been like Freda, but you paint a vivid picture.
I particularly like your line:
In case the careless light was spilling out.
Put that light out!😉
Comment is about In the End (blog)
Original item by Freda Davis
RTÉ stands for Raidió Teilifís Éirean, Radio and Television of Ireland.
Auntie and BEEB are affectionate names for the BBC, British Broadcasting Corporation.
The title "Propaganda", and the phrase “ideology of fear” came from an article I was reading about Noam Chomsky’s views on propaganda.
Comment is about Propaganda (blog)
Original item by Uilleam Ó Ceallaigh
Thanks John.
Lovely words and lovely song.
Comment is about Butterflies Alight (blog)
Original item by John E Marks
Hello Mike,
In your words, you reveal such honesty and vulnerability, and it is through sharing these thoughts with the world that you have already proven yourself to be a good son. It is clear that your heart was full of love and care, and that you lived with integrity and kindness—those are the things that truly matter. You need not worry whether your late father is proud of you, because it’s evident that you’ve done more than just chase achievements and medals. You've lived your life in a way that speaks to who you are as a person, and I’m certain your father would consider that more than enough.
Regards,
Rolph
Comment is about The 'Perfect Son' (blog)
Original item by Mike Bartram
Hello Hugh,
Your poem Alcohol hits hard with its stark reality. The way you outline the destructive nature of alcohol, from mental to physical harm, brings attention to an issue that is too often brushed aside. You capture the complexity of how something so embedded in culture can be so dangerous, and the urgency in your words is striking. It’s a wake-up call to reconsider the true cost of what we often see as harmless.
Regards,
Rolph
Comment is about Alcohol (blog)
Original item by hugh
Stephen Gospage
Thu 8th May 2025 07:16
Thank you, Uilleam and Graham. Yes, the wisdom of old men seems in short supply at the moment. The second opinion is a good point, Graham.
And thanks to all who liked this poem.
Comment is about Old Men (blog)
Original item by Stephen Gospage