IB M

2025-06-01
True, that type of cooling storm is really nice after a blistering hot day. It's an impressive show, too. Your words made me feel the relief as if I'd had that hot day myself. Reading you is always a pleasure, thanks. PS: lots of rain in Québec these past couple weeks, a bit annoying, I want to go out and ride!

2025-05-19
I can't say I've ever experienced an environment like that, but reading your words here made me imagine myself there and how it would affect me. I would definitely be highly uncomfortable and no doubt appalled that my surroundings were going about as if all of this is completely normal and respectable.

Not to say that there aren't racism issues over in Québec, but that kind of mindset is pretty much a minority. In the US, it's so ingrained into your history... it's to this day struggling to be eradicated. I find it very sad is all I can say about that, really.

Well-written, as always, thanks.

2025-05-10
I'm of the same opinion... that the origins of life are special doesn't mean that there is any purpose or meaning to it or some divine design to it.

By all appearances, we're a lifeform that requires meaning in order to thrive or else we feel insignificant in these mysterious origins of life. So I think this idea of meaning or purpose is just something some tell themselves to feel better.

Life has no basic meaning or purpose, in my view... that part is up to the individual to build for themselves, if they need it.

Got my thoughts going this morning... as always, so well-written, thanks.

2025-04-26
There's a peaceful air to the words here... it's sad, but the conclusion is the truth. I didn't know Pope Francis had died before reading your poem. As you know, I'm not exactly religious... but of the 3 popes I saw around in my life time, Pope Francis struck me as a person who really did his best to act in the spirit of how Jesus would, he stood out. He was evidently a kind and compassionate person, and I heard how he reached out to people. He seemed to me to better represent what a pope should be, anyway. Sad news to hear he's gone... Beautiful poetry, as always, merci.

2025-04-09
Gives the impression the moment was somewhat overwhelming, going through a wide array of intensities and significance. Seems to me like what the last moments of life must be like for most circumstances. Well, this is where your words sent my thoughts, anyway... I found it very interesting, thank you.

2025-04-08
Oh that sounds pretty charged up :) You get the clear sense that something is very strong between the two it's about. I'm convinced :) Enjoyed this very much, thanks.

2025-04-08
Oh I love when you write about moments with Sam! All those stories of the cowboy life are so wonderful, they take my mind to an unfamiliar world, and the way you write about it, I'm in awe and completely taken to hear more. Lovely, thank you :)

2025-04-08
I like to think that we can make a difference, but I'm not sure sometimes, you know... Here's to hoping :)

2025-03-28
It is never a pleasant thing to be thrown into matters that have absolutely nothing to do with you as if they were your fault. As you say, trolls describes them well those people who do that. Always enjoy your musings, cher Alan... merci :)

2025-03-22
Oh, that's so horrible :( I've had Labyrinthitis a couple times in my life and it is exactly as you describe... everything spinning, for me was at any movement of the head. It's worse than being too drunk, it's dizzying, makes it impossible to make your eyes focus 'cause your view is spinning like you're in one of those rollercoasters that spin around, it's so nauseating, debalancing and debilitating in every possible way :( Your writing perfectly takes us with you. I hope you can get some relief soon *hugs* xx

2025-03-15
I really like the way you laid out the coming to be, nicely done. When truth becomes capted, it's a dawning very much like you described. What causes one to conclude it's the truth, though... depends on your definition of truth, as we were saying previously :) Thanks.

2025-03-02
hehehe... I know :) I understood this to be from a character's perspective... not yours, of course.

2025-03-02
The last three lines call to mind a strong sense of misery, but the whole gives weight to deep darkness and hopelessness. It makes one hope the person is ok. Very impactful impression this leaves, I like the images you give for my mind to ponder on the moment you're presenting. Thanks.

2025-03-02
Ouf, if I'm understanding the premise correctly, guy cheats, girl gets mad, and so guy gives this very dismissive excuse suggesting there's no control over that sort of behavior because that's how we're made. Pretty sure he won't be gaining any points with that one! lol Obviously not a point of view I share, but you brought me into this perspective for a moment and got my thoughts going, always enjoy that. Thanks.

2025-02-28
Nice style, I appreciate your story-telling. It's rich and takes the reader right into the moment very effortlessly. It's so easy to visualize everything you present with your words. Thoroughly enjoyed, thanks.

2025-02-22
This makes me reflect on how some people take their beliefs as truth instead of basing their basis of truth on scientific facts... and how that's become a serious source of contention creating hostile arguments on things which shouldn't be debates. This is a more frequent occurrence nowadays since the pandemic and all the other crazy stuff happening at the same time... for my part, I'm finding it all a bit disillusioning. But I guess it depends on one's definition of truth, 'cause evidently truth is very subjective. Anyway, just where my thoughts went with your words... thanks for sharing yours.

2025-02-22
I enjoyed this, each stanza gave me much to visualize and get a sense of the moment described. I got anxiety and apprehension by some of the words chosen, but you get the sense something unknown is coming or perhaps looming over this character. There's a strong mood in how it's described. Anyway, just my impressions, of course... :) Thanks for sharing...

2025-02-22
The cadence of your words in this has a gentle effect. You have a beautiful style, thanks.

2024-09-28
A fog of sadness and regrets it seems like for this character... the way it's written kind of made me want to reach out to them and hug them. Well-written, and your lines create an ambiance that captures the reader to imagine feeling that way. Very convincing, merci :)

2024-09-25
That is such wonderful news! I'm so happy for you :) Congratulations on the job! Also, I very much enjoy your writing, so thank you for sharing it... and I'm glad to hear that the site was able to be there for you when you most needed it. There are many kind hearts here, yes :)

2024-09-19
By the way, I'll be the first to say that this feature is very basic and not optimum. We put it out during a time we were focusing on the repairs we had to resolve to make the site work again after we were switched to a new server and the specs were dramatically changed... which made our code not work anymore. People were asking to correct their spelling in their comments, so we put it out quickly.

This is not a finished function. Really sorry for how difficult it's been for us to carry on our plans for PoetBay. We are inundated with life things interrupting our time and it's been like this for the last 3 years now. We're not happy about it and we very much look forward to when time is free for us to finish what we started.

Obviously, this feature will be reworked as soon as we can concentrate our time on the programming again.

2024-09-19
Now there's a picture for my mind! lol Thanks for the laughs :)

2024-09-09
Oh that is poignantly sad! Makes one want to ask the author if they're ok? I hope so... Beautifully written, thanks.

2024-09-08
The way you've written this gives the strong impression of you feeling uplifted by the successful procedure on the right eye, and the hopeful anticipation for the left eye also leaves me uplifted for you :) It's so nice when the medical world has a viable solution to a problem. So happy for you! Sending all best wishes your way and anticipating right along with you for when your sight is improved all around :)

2024-09-07
hehehe... from exasperation, I take it? Very amusing this little scene... thanks :)

2024-09-01
ah-ha, there it is! Always nice when our tools work :)

2024-08-31
Agreed, when I went to visit you in your home town, I fell in love with the place. It is a beautiful setting... and it was my first time seeing the ocean, too... really loved my time there :) Although the small winding streets of your town need some getting used to! Remember Baz and I took us a while kind of going around in circles to find your street lol Good memories :)

2024-08-30
I love it when you describe this world... there's something so endearing and charming about the way you word things... and the James Dean reference for a description of this cow's stance is very amusing and frappant as an image... thoroughly enjoyed this, thanks :)

2024-08-01
It's a ridiculous notion to me to actually have feelings of hate for a person's skin color... just incomprehensible. As always, really loved your story-telling way of presenting your ideas... I completely agree... and hehehe... yeah, I can very well picture you saying something like that and I have a huge smile on my face. Merci :)

2024-07-31
hehehe... that title :D And oh, I don't know, genius? :) Brilliant writing, merci!

2024-07-29
The beauty of Verlaine's writings is the French he employs to express himself, so a translation completely annuls the beauty, in my view... and this translation in particular is very poor, too. But if you don't know French, it wouldn't be obvious, of course... so not a criticism, just saying.

Here's the original and a second translated version which is a tad bit better, but still not quite as beautiful as the French version...

Original

Les sanglots longs
Des violons
De l’automne
Blessent mon coeur
D’une langueur
Monotone.

Tout suffocant
Et blême, quand
Sonne l’heure,
Je me souviens
Des jours anciens
Et je pleure;

Et je m’en vais
Au vent mauvais
Qui m’emporte
Deçà, delà,
Pareil à la
Feuille morte.

Autumn Song

translated by Arthur Symons

When a sighing begins
In the violins
Of the autumn-song,
My heart is drowned
In the slow sound
Languorous and long

Pale as with pain,
Breath fails me when
The hours toll deep.
My thoughts recover
The days that are over,
And I weep.

And I go
Where the winds know,
Broken and brief,
To and fro,
As the winds blow
A dead leaf.