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Graham Parker

Tue 20th Apr 2021 21:08

I note you do not deny what the "others" say of you, but merely affirm your claim to some identity or other.

I'm currently reading The 20th Century in Poets. It's a telling tale of how, in those 100 years poets have sat either side of the Imperialist fence, some rallying behind the flag, soveriegn and the glory of death for one's country while others question hitherto unquestioned certainties, set in stone beliefs that have gone on to be eroded by truth to sand.

Comment is about RACIST? (blog)

Original item by M.C. Newberry

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John Coopey

Tue 20th Apr 2021 21:06

Hear, Hear from a Spurs fan. We should be kicked out of the league, the cups; players prevented from playing for international teams; a transfer embargo put on players to and from the 12 clubs. Then see if there are millions of Chinese viewers willing to pay to watch Messi, Ronaldo and Kane when they are 50 years old because they can't recruit new blood.

Comment is about The Stain of Greed (blog)

Original item by Mike Bartram

Philipos

Tue 20th Apr 2021 20:43


What an original and compelling read.

Enjoyed very much.

P ?

Comment is about Forbidden fruit (blog)

Original item by Sanja Atanasovska

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Ferris Ty Taylor

Tue 20th Apr 2021 20:11

Here here yrp

Comment is about RACIST? (blog)

Original item by M.C. Newberry

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Your Royal Poetess

Tue 20th Apr 2021 20:09

Quite an interesting title...

Nevertheless, there are no “roots” in this country, England has no identity, it was built by “immigrants” and slavery. In addition to the systematic racism and zero accountability for the things they have done. I see nothing to have pride in.

Comment is about RACIST? (blog)

Original item by M.C. Newberry

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M.C. Newberry

Tue 20th Apr 2021 19:48

To amend a previous entry - this should have referred to Alice
Duer Miller (my error) whose famous poem "The White Cliffs" sold 700,000
copies and is said to have contributed towards America's
entry into WW2. It ends with these words by its American author-
"I have seen much to hate here
Much to forgive,
But in a world where England is finished and dead
I do not wish to live".
JC - My own thoughts are centred on the last thousand years
when what became understood throughout the world developed
and perpetuated - even finding a role in those comics where the words "For you, Englander, ze var is over!" were uttered from
enemy mouths, no matter which sort of Brit. was on the receiving .
end.
A monumental thousand years that created an extraordinary alchemy of fortuitous adventuring, artistic creativity and
competitive actions in war that achieved global eminence that
resonates even now, in and beyond this green and pleasant land.

Comment is about RACIST? (blog)

Original item by M.C. Newberry

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kJ Walker

Tue 20th Apr 2021 19:30

Keith.
It's such a shame that you had to feel that way. Everyone should be allowed to be exactly who they are.
Fortunately things are better now, though prejudices do still exist.
Best wishes... I hope you are well.

Cheers Kevin

Comment is about A Mask (blog)

Original item by keith jeffries

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John Coopey

Tue 20th Apr 2021 17:56

It does surprise me that old gits like me are allowed to lug a ton of metal behind another ton of metal at 60mph without the need for any training or testing. In practice, though, my 20’ caravan is more manageable than my 3’ by 4’ trailer.

Comment is about LEADER OF THE PACK (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

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Ferris Ty Taylor

Tue 20th Apr 2021 17:55

Omg! Thats amazing thank you for that anecdote. Always love to meet a fellow appreciator. I've been comically obsessed with GP from an early age. I've seen him 3 times. Every year I find new reasons to love his stuff.
The best track on the parkerilla imo is heat in harlem. Sensational. Whats yours?

Comment is about Spring Fruit (blog)

Original item by Graham Parker and his musings

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Graham Parker

Tue 20th Apr 2021 17:40

Thanks Ferris, I have been listening to the Parkerilla since my teens, and saw him live a few years back. Bodnar once accused me of being an imposter!

Hi Aviva, thanks for taking the time to respond and for all of your comments. You rightly identified my metaphor and it is one I tried to make cyclical. Damage done to our historic trees can still sit deep in the roots. with the pains being borne by the trees fruits, who in turn may pass it on from their own seeds.

The image I found after the writing, which was inspired by events that are still unfurling in my family.

Comment is about Spring Fruit (blog)

Original item by Graham Parker and his musings

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John Coopey

Tue 20th Apr 2021 16:38

I disagree, Greg. There is little more facile than judging the actions of yesteryear by those of today. If you need more proof of this ask yourself if events of today (egBojo’s handling of COVID) should be judged today or in a thousand years.
MC, you did not say what the date was for us to establish “English” heritage.

Comment is about RACIST? (blog)

Original item by M.C. Newberry

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keith jeffries

Tue 20th Apr 2021 16:12

No Passports either.
Thanks for this

Keith

Comment is about Free As A Bird (blog)

Original item by d.knape

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Ferris Ty Taylor

Tue 20th Apr 2021 16:03

Graham Parker is my all time favourite singer and I met Brinsley Schwarz and he gave me guitar advice.
Also, nice poem!

Comment is about Spring Fruit (blog)

Original item by Graham Parker and his musings

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M.C. Newberry

Tue 20th Apr 2021 15:33

For the record - I was a post-war child of the forties through to the "Festival of Britain" early fifties when England had a far greater sense
of herself and what she stood for in the story of the world. From
Chaucer on, through countless episodes in various milieus, she has
stood for something worth taking pride in and if today's revisionists
are content to put that aside, then that is their right. I do not share
their contemporary flexible view.
The poet Alice Meynell wrote about a less perfect England - but included her thoughts that she would not want to live in a world
in which England did not exist. I remember and I'm grateful when
Yeats' words from his poem The Second Coming are all too
recognisable nowadays.

Comment is about RACIST? (blog)

Original item by M.C. Newberry

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M.C. Newberry

Tue 20th Apr 2021 15:11

They made do with what they had - and, by heaven didn't they do a
wonderful job in the time - and the times - they knew?

Comment is about John Keats 31 October 1795 – 23 February 1821 (blog)

Original item by John E Marks

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M.C. Newberry

Tue 20th Apr 2021 15:07

A pleasing evocation of how the revival of nature occurs - with (to
adapt words from a famous song) "Those April showers that
come our way, they bring the flowers that bloom in May".

Comment is about April - When the Earth Wakens (blog)

Original item by Brenda Wells

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M.C. Newberry

Tue 20th Apr 2021 14:57

An attractive flight of fancy that resonates in the spirit. Haven't we all
thought of how it must be to launch ourselves unfettered into the
air and soar free from the shackles imposed by design and gravity -
in sudden silence except for the rush of the wind in our ears?

Comment is about Free As A Bird (blog)

Original item by d.knape

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M.C. Newberry

Tue 20th Apr 2021 14:50

JC - perhaps the number of serious-to-fatal road accidents involving lorries might be reduced. That alone would be a good thing. I've
lost count of the number of motor accident reports that involve
heavy goods vehicles on UK roads when they DO reach the press.
Their drivers - unlike those they "meet" - usually escape any sort
of life-threatening injury; and I've driven enough miles on the roads
to witness the sort of driving indulged in during busy daytime hours,
some of it cold-sweat stuff - like a bully barging his way impatiently
through smaller folk. At least caravan drivers usually maintain a
nearside lane discipline that keeps traffic moving along free from
immediate risk to others when they do venture on to the highways
- usually, it seems, for holiday purposes. Toot...toot !

Comment is about LEADER OF THE PACK (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

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julie callaghan

Tue 20th Apr 2021 11:52

Thank you for this. I am guilty of doing mostly nothing recently.

Comment is about Do We Do Nothing? (blog)

Original item by Stephen W Atkinson

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keith jeffries

Tue 20th Apr 2021 10:30

Stephen,
This is a fine example of poetry written with a strong flavour of dissent. A forthright piece of writing. I enjoyed this
Thank you
Keith

Comment is about Do We Do Nothing? (blog)

Original item by Stephen W Atkinson

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Aviva Rifka Bhandari

Tue 20th Apr 2021 10:07

Although it serves just as well as a horticultural or nature poem it seems to me to be metaphoric and about nurturing and protection of children. It feels both idealistic and melancholic since the implication of this ideal of a special protective time is that afterwards harm and the rest of the cycle will come.

I think the first two lines (as much as the second line may be very poetic) don't belong in this poem at all. It creates a jarring break when you reach the fourth line which says 'First the leaves...'. Of course if you do remove the first two lines you might need to change the accompanying photo. It might be that the winter scene inspired you to think of the full poem but still, the poem works better without the winter scene, in my opinion.

Comment is about Spring Fruit (blog)

Original item by Graham Parker and his musings

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John Coopey

Tue 20th Apr 2021 09:57

I mean “our selling” - the lesser spotted, three-toed gerund strikes again.
I am trying out “Bill Brown’s body lies a-turning in his grave” but at the moment it’s all a bit forced.

Comment is about LEADER OF THE PACK (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

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John Coopey

Tue 20th Apr 2021 09:40

Always happy to stretch the envelope, Greg. What’s your take us selling our souls to Mammon?

Comment is about LEADER OF THE PACK (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

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John Coopey

Tue 20th Apr 2021 09:34

I’d not heard that cover of “Boots of Spanish Leather”, John. Lovely accompaniment.

Comment is about John Keats 31 October 1795 – 23 February 1821 (blog)

Original item by John E Marks

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Greg Freeman

Tue 20th Apr 2021 09:26

This was once one of my favourite pop songs, John. Until minutes ago, in fact.

Comment is about LEADER OF THE PACK (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

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Abdul Ahmad

Tue 20th Apr 2021 08:53

Thank you kJ, Ferris, Aviva and Philipos for your kind remarks and the likes. I've wintered well and am ready to bathe in sun's warmth.

Comment is about Natures restorative powers (blog)

Original item by Abdul Ahmad

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kJ Walker

Tue 20th Apr 2021 07:22

Thank you Abdul. That was like a breath of fresh air.

Comment is about Natures restorative powers (blog)

Original item by Abdul Ahmad

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Aviva Rifka Bhandari

Tue 20th Apr 2021 05:38

Thank you for your comment Nigel ?
It is so optimistic and romantic, it makes me look forward happily to that new party and new dream and whenever it might begin.

Comment is about Half Remembered Illusion (blog)

Original item by Aviva Rifka Bhandari

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Ferris Ty Taylor

Tue 20th Apr 2021 00:36

Lack of zest/palimpsest ?

Comment is about John Keats 31 October 1795 – 23 February 1821 (blog)

Original item by John E Marks

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Ferris Ty Taylor

Tue 20th Apr 2021 00:33

Thank you for posting,
this is delightful stuff mate.
I liked it a lot.

Comment is about #NaPoWriMo 2021 - #Haiku of Life (2000 and 2001) (blog)

Original item by Andy N

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Nigel Astell

Tue 20th Apr 2021 00:31

2000
In the day
classified as unknown
at last now fully recognizable.

2001
When effort becomes relentless
time scale invalid
the near impossible you accomplished.

Comment is about #NaPoWriMo 2021 - #Haiku of Life (2000 and 2001) (blog)

Original item by Andy N

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Ferris Ty Taylor

Tue 20th Apr 2021 00:29

I needed to read this, thank you Abdul!

Comment is about Natures restorative powers (blog)

Original item by Abdul Ahmad

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Ferris Ty Taylor

Tue 20th Apr 2021 00:28

Nice, Flanders Field vibes

Comment is about In The Fields of Evermore (blog)

Original item by Crimaldi

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Ferris Ty Taylor

Tue 20th Apr 2021 00:25

Hey, thank you for the likes, I love the raw emotion behind your work and the distinctiveness of your voice. I think you have a strong grasp of a lot of the things that I find difficult in poetry and I'm envious/ really happy to come across your stuff

Comment is about Your Royal Poetess (poet profile)

Original item by Your Royal Poetess

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Ferris Ty Taylor

Tue 20th Apr 2021 00:14

racism
/ˈreɪsɪz(ə)m/
noun
prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism by an individual, community, or institution against a person or people on the basis of their membership of a particular racial or ethnic group, typically one that is a minority or marginalized.

"a programme to combat racism"

the belief that different races possess distinct characteristics, abilities, or qualities, especially so as to distinguish them as inferior or superior to one another.
"theories of racism"

Comment is about RACIST? (blog)

Original item by M.C. Newberry

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Nigel Astell

Mon 19th Apr 2021 23:54

A spoken word
a new friendship
heart burns love
the party begins
so has dreaming.

Comment is about Half Remembered Illusion (blog)

Original item by Aviva Rifka Bhandari

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John Coopey

Mon 19th Apr 2021 23:32

Would they pollute less when it’s dark, MC?
Thanks for the Likes, Holden and Aviva.

Comment is about LEADER OF THE PACK (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

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Greg Freeman

Mon 19th Apr 2021 23:24

Just for the record, MC, I take no pride in being English these days. Quite the reverse. PS History is always being rewritten, John. That is what historians do. If you are a historian, you accept that there is not a settled view of what history is. There never will be. New evidence is always being uncovered.

Comment is about RACIST? (blog)

Original item by M.C. Newberry

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M.C. Newberry

Mon 19th Apr 2021 23:07

Personally, I think that towed caravans should be restricted to night time hours - say: 11.30pm - 7am. And you can add most of the
polluting accident-causing HGVs to that arrangement. ?.

Comment is about LEADER OF THE PACK (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

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Aviva Rifka Bhandari

Mon 19th Apr 2021 23:05

Thank you. I hope you stay happy and healthy too.

Comment is about Natures restorative powers (blog)

Original item by Abdul Ahmad

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Aviva Rifka Bhandari

Mon 19th Apr 2021 23:02

Thank you for commenting Ferris ?

I was very much into spaced out (space punctuated) writing then, not just in my poetry. It does look like smoke which I suppose is quite apt for the topic, my subconscious instincts must have been on point that day. Nonetheless I wasn't confident about this poem as a whole even though there are parts of it that I do like the style of, so thank you for the positive feedback.

Thanks also to everyone who clicked 'Like' for this poem ?

Comment is about Half Remembered Illusion (blog)

Original item by Aviva Rifka Bhandari

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M.C. Newberry

Mon 19th Apr 2021 22:58

It appears that there is a mindset that is perfectly willing to rejoice
in others' celebration and promotion of their forebears and origins at the drop of a hat yet remains curiously dismissive about a pride in being "English". On a lighter side, how about checking with the
average Jock,Taffy or Paddy living in England (all of whom I number among my friends over six adult decades) about being identified as "English" - and be prepared to duck. ? ?
P.S. Read my final two lines again.

Comment is about RACIST? (blog)

Original item by M.C. Newberry

Philipos

Mon 19th Apr 2021 21:44


Thank you Abdul, great to see you scratching away with your noble pen again.

I hope you've kept well all this time.

P

Comment is about Natures restorative powers (blog)

Original item by Abdul Ahmad

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keith jeffries

Mon 19th Apr 2021 20:44

Thank you to all who commented and liked. I appreciate your reading and commenting on this poem.

Keith

Comment is about Forced to Like (blog)

Original item by keith jeffries

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keith jeffries

Mon 19th Apr 2021 20:42

Thank you to Ferris, Your Royal Princess, Stephen G., MC., and JD Bardo for your comments. Also thank you to those who gave 'likes' Adam, Aisha, Aviva and Holden. Your words are kind and encouraging.

The poem focused on a period in my life which was a good 40 or 50 years ago when sexuality was not accepted as it is today. Many were sent to prison for this 'crime' and the mask was necessary. I was never evicted but lost a good job because of being gay and on one occasion was stoned by a group of youths who shouted queer.

Thank you again.

Keith

Comment is about A Mask (blog)

Original item by keith jeffries

Brian Blanchard

Mon 19th Apr 2021 20:29

Hi Mark...thank you for remembering...my birthday is today actually. No gumbo, but a big plate of chicken and waffles followed by brownie a la mode!

Comment is about RACIST? (blog)

Original item by M.C. Newberry

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John Coopey

Mon 19th Apr 2021 19:31

It is a perverse enjoyment, Stephen, but I love it! And thanks for the Like, Philipos and Jordyn.

Comment is about LEADER OF THE PACK (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

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Stephen Gospage

Mon 19th Apr 2021 17:45

Sounds like a great drive, John. Oh, the satisfaction of it! I generally slow down a bit if they get too stroppy behind.

Comment is about LEADER OF THE PACK (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

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John Coopey

Mon 19th Apr 2021 16:41

I too believe that rewriting the past to fit contemporary mores is stupid. History is what it was.
But is there an historic threshold before which your ancestry had to live in England? When is it, MC? And what if this ancestry was subsequently polluted by intermarriage with someone who could not pre-date the threshold? Could their descendants be said to be truly English? These were questions which exercised German eugenicists.

Comment is about RACIST? (blog)

Original item by M.C. Newberry

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Angel whisperer indigo child x

Mon 19th Apr 2021 14:27

M.C.NEWBERRY Thankyou very much for that insight xx

Comment is about COUNTING SHEEP (blog)

Original item by Sarah Louise mcnee

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