Griffonner

2025-03-29
Highlighting a major problem in the world today. What would you call it? Procrastination? No... but that gets near to it. Anyway, an enjoyable read even if the final three lines make you think, 'Yes, this is the problem!" Blessings, Allen

2025-03-29
A really interesting piece, dealing with the imponderable. I think it is cleverly constructed, full of pathos, and descriptive enough to make me 'see' the scenes you paint. Deserves accolade IMHO.
Blessings, Allen

2025-03-27
Alan, I greatly respect you, but I have to say that one of the problems with the UK today is that no-one seems to stick with it: They want the results they want, and NOW - regardless of the reasons why that might not be possible or in the country's best interests. Just my pennyworth after reading your poem. Blessings, Allen.

2025-03-27
And some Bertrams masquerade under a different name. Epstein comes to mind. This poem reminds me of some of my demised friend CoolHermit's poems. Another bar, another cocktail, a better time.
Blessings, Allen

2025-03-27
@Ann Wood: I understood that. My critique was not aimed at you, it was a critique of the poem. Only my point of view. You should be congratulated for your linguistic skills. Blessings, Allen

PS: I looked at Mariq's work on Otkrovenia. she is a good writer IMHO. :o)

2025-03-26
I found the poem to be 'enjoyable' to read, but whilst I understood (even as a man) what was being expressed so eloquently, I could not help feel that it was very gender specific. (As a man I would, wouldn't I!) Having said that, I also recognise that in general men have done nothing to give cause for nullification of many of the emotional responses described. Blessings, Allen

2025-03-26
You can tell that this is such deeply thought out poetry, Sona. It's conversational tone proves to be effective in describing your connection with an other/loved one, and isn't it wonderful to fellow poet lovers that the way you extol is via writing poetry! Blessings, Allen

2025-03-26
Universally true, of course. There is a problem for many people, and it is that they are so struggling to make ends meet, working, sometimes two or three jobs, the luxury of meditation - of any length - is always out of reach. I witnessed this first-hand and was sadenned by it way back in 1996 in South Wales. So it isn't a new problem, but has become increasingly common since. Deserves accolade.
Blessings, Allen

2025-03-26
All of them are concerning. Perhaps the last of your list is the keystone to your dis-ease. If it isn't, it certainly won't be in any way easing disquiet in this unfortunate reality. Blessings, Allen

2025-03-25
Your poem highlights the importance of mindfulness and appreciation of small, positive experiences in life. Having gratitude in your mind during those small fragments of time is hugely beneficial I've found. Lots of interesting metaphors too.
Blessings, Allen

2025-03-25
As a fellow sufferer I can wholeheartedly sympathise, Alan. I've sent you the came of a medicine that might help you. Eply maneuvers (mentioned by Jamsbo Rockda) helped a bit, but didn't stop the vertigo, but the medicine did. Keep your chin up, my friend.
Blessings, Allen.

2025-03-25
You are in my thoughts, my friend.
Blessings, Allen

2025-03-23
Please don't be. There's always more life 'in the old dog' and you're a spring chicken by comparison! Blessings, Allen

2025-03-23
I'm with Lawrence on this one, Dougie. Fabulously descriptive. There's so much to say about this, but "the fan syruping the limpid air" and "the night velvet with moths" stand out in my mind. Blessings, Allen

2025-03-19
I hope you are stocked up on essentials.... and alcohol of course.
Blessings, Allen

2025-03-18
....her innocent son. Bastards! Blessings, Allen

2025-03-18
:o)
Had she been of Indian origin the smell might well have been burned papadam. It lingers just the same.
Blessings, Allen

2025-03-18
An excellent poem, Alan. I think the premise of your exploration is as old as... well, at least religion, but probably for ALL time: Fundamentally what is the purpose of life? That in itself is such a mystic thing as to be indefinable with any certainty, but for sure, if you put our egos to one side for a moment, giving people something pleasurable to smile about can only be a good and worthwhile thing however small a thing that seems. Blessings, Allen

2025-03-14
Learning, today, that Larz has left this mortal coil, this poem is perhaps even more special in the way that it speaks of divinity without a particular 'religion' (except in the author's comment) . And it does it beautifully in my opinion. Blessings to you, wherever you are, Allen

2025-03-14
I have great respect for the bravery and strength of character to have made that disclosure. Your poem also shows how you have grown as a result of these experiences IMHO. Blessings. Allen

2025-03-13
Brilliantly insightful. But there is a flip side, especially when we were young, we didn't know the half of it. Blessings, Allen

2025-03-12
A big smile this end my friend. May the samba never end.
Blessings, Allen

2025-03-08
Getting there in the end is something to be proud of, especially because the struggle came as a result of reversed fortunes. Plus, somewhere along the way you learned to write poetry. :o)
Blessings, Allen

2025-03-08
An interesting meditation on the dangers of substance abuse - perhaps reflected as if in a mirror, I'm not sure. Grabs the reader's attention though, and I just love the sixth stanza which is just magical writing in my opinion. Worthy of accolade. Blessings, Allen

2025-03-08
An interesting poem. It is funny how people do this. I can't say I ever have, though I admit there are a couple of people I have tried to find from my past, without success. Apart from one of these, who was best man at my wedding, I wouldn't have contacted them I don't think. Only you are likely to know why this person has reappeared in your life, I hope it is a good reason. Blessings, Allen

2025-03-06
I can remember one night when the moon loomed so large in the sky that I was amazed by its clarity of its desolate landscape. You cannot but wonder about the possibility of previous civilisations on celestial bodies like that; especially as this one seems hell bent on destroying itself! What will it be like when mankind has blown himself sky high, looking up at the earth from the surface of the moon?
Forgive my verbosity, but your intriguing poem has inspired such thoughts. Thank you. Blessings, Allen

2025-03-06
I've read your strong poem a couple of times and have come to the decision that your are describing and criticising how people can detach themselves from the horrific realities of death and violence, treating them as mere data points in some sort of game; whilst the powers that be are reduced to virtual commodity traders. It is a powerful critique of what is going on in our world, and I would say worthy of accolade.
Blessings, Allen

2025-03-06
Your interesting poem does not seem to contain a specific context, it appears to be a personal reflection from the protagonist (you?), who grapples with existential questions regarding faith, self-worth, and emotional struggles. My overall feeling, having read it twice, is that you do in fact believe in something that you are unable to label. Hence you ask "But what is God?" (I'm assuming an emphasis is on the word 'is'.) I feel that mystery will ever remain whilst we are in this physical body, as it seems to me each and every one of us has a different and slightly unique answer to that question. I myself currently thinking that the answer to your question is 'an energy'.
Blessings, Allen

2025-03-05
I commend you for your stated determination. I'm sure there are a huge number of people who feel the way you do.
There are millions of good people in the world who feel powerless in the face of the chaos that is being created by evil people today. You may have had military training at some stage of your life, so you feel able to effectively use that gun you ask for. A huge number of unprepared people would simply be canon fodder and would likely be dead before they had even aimed a gun - their sacrifice posing no deterrent and certainly not giving the perpetrator of a war even a moments pause. Such is the mindlessness of the power obsessed war monger, who is usually the instigator of such evil.
Please excuse my lengthy comment, Alan. This is a piece that deserves considered appraisal, and I commend you for it.
Blessings, Allen

2025-03-04
Loved it, and the culmination! Blessings, Allen

2025-03-04
This short poem provokes considerable thought about the importance of continuity and legacy, as well, as the author says, the decline in population growth in the world. Reading it, my thoughts were drawn towards what 'marks' we are leaving behind in the spill of wax that is on the 'floor' of modern society. Nice one, Dougie.
Blessings, Allen

2025-03-03
Understandable to me. I once owned a 1939 Fiat 500 that had been rescued from a Malaysian defunct showroom somewhere or other. Talk about ahead of it's time! That was an understatement. I remember driving it, as was, through 9" snow with no problems. I doubt my present steed would manage half that depth even with chains. It's progress... or what we are brainwashed to think is progress. Blessings, Allen

2025-03-02
I feel there's more to this than meets the eye. But I understand why.
Blessings, Allen

2025-03-01
Nice juxtapositions in this. Blessings, Allen

2025-03-01
A poem of great depth highlighting the depth of thought the protagonist gives to parenting, I feel. There are some brilliant metaphors involving the sun and the butterfly. Deserves accolade.
Blessings, Allen

2025-03-01
And the stork not appear ahead of time.
Blessings, Allen

2025-03-01
The birthday of Mars may be something to celebrate, but the demise of the month of purification has been too swift. Only 28 days, but they have passed like the blinking of an eye for me. And on the last day the world was given sight of what to avoid - at all costs.
Blessings, Allen

2025-03-01
A piece that required a great deal of courage to write. And a great deal of courage to persist in the function of independence. Never give it up willingly. Blessings and love, Allen

2025-02-28
Thank you for another fine poem, Lawrence.
Blessings, Allen

2025-02-27
A fine poem that describes the emotional turmoil of religious duty, public persona and private reality. The finale is brilliantly penned in my opinion, and the final line tips the balance into magic! Blessings, Allen

2025-02-26
Mr Moody's comment has said everything that needs to be said, Ken. "Loads of Money!" is actually the call. Blessings, Allen

2025-02-26
So well observed, Sameen. The crux of the matter is that there is, as your last line infers, never enough time. No going back to those heady days of hedonism, only the now where the woes of the World consume us instead of passion. However, I appreciate your lesson. :o)
Blessings, Allen

2025-02-26
I can't help smiling at the integrity of this piece.... and also at the humour of the last line. Very well done IMHO. Blessings, Allen

2025-02-26
A clever manipulation. Personally I'm getting tired already of having AI rammed down my throat from every direction. The thing that humans forget (it seems) is that every new invention, every new discovery, can be used to deprave the originator by people who have at the very least fewer morals than normal. Laud it all you want, World, but it isn't anything pure and good for mankind, Art least without firm and worldwide laws and controls. In my dreams!
Blessings, Allen

2025-02-26
This powerful meditation weaves together the crisis and injustices in the world with personal resignation. I particularly like how the mataphor of staring into a fire reflects the societal fires we all see in the world today. Bravo, Lawrence. Blessings, Allen

2025-02-25
There's an undeniable truth contained herein. Nice one, Dougie. :o)
Blessings, Allen

2025-02-23
It is a very interesting write, this. I don't subscribe to Facebook, so I wouldn't know if this is a parody poem/write or not. It all seems to be factual. Coincidentally there is a place in London where I used to live - as did my grandparents and several aunts, and none of it exists anymore: It is completely gone. People remember my grandfather though. Blessings, Allen

2025-02-23
@Ray Miller: Yes, the Mumbles in South Wales, and the dust is coal dust. Spot on. :) Blessings, Allen

2025-02-21
Imagine that if you will!
Blessings, Allen

2025-02-21
To one moron to another: That's the spirit!
Blessings, Allen