Griffonner

2026-04-26
Without a doubt that third to last stanza is a gem... that is not to decry the whole, it is just that that one struck me the most. Blessings, Allen

2026-04-25
Wow! The second poem I have read today on PoetBay that has blown me away with it's poignancy and truth. For me, this poem expresses a heartfelt observation of mine on the cynical realm in which my present reality is abiding. It portrays the awfulness that the Money Mafia have created, and seemingly continue to do so. Deserves accolade in my opinion. So well done. Blessings, Allen

2026-04-25
Wow! This was so moving for me to read. Your words cut through time and give a real sense of the day. (It brought back the memory of my 'Aunt Dot' proudly standing on an ANZAC day in New Zealand in her nineties. (=Another photo to come in my photograph series I'm sure.) Blessings, Allen

2026-04-24
What a delightful poem, describing waking and starting in a new day with all the rituals that are involved. We all have them. Your cat sounds more mellow than mine: Who has grown to learn that constant crying accelerates the arrival of her desires! But that was a digression - I finished reading your poem and felt both sides of the happiness coin. One for the wholeness and completeness of your description, and the other for a sense that your story is more one of acceptance. We are in tandem with gratitude, mine for your poetry.
Blessings, Allen

2026-04-24
Such kind thoughts expressed here, and some lovely metaphors too.
Blessings, Allen

2026-04-24
My apology is because I was signed into my editorial function when I commented. Blessings, Allen

2026-04-24
My apology below is because I was signed in to my editorial function when I commented.

It is not a nice thing to be sidelined, as your poem expresses very well.
Blessings, Allen

2026-04-24
My apology below is because I was signed in to my editorial function when I commented.

I think that this devil-may-care attitude your fine poems expresses, comes from ageing, don't you. When I was younger, I would have been extremely reticent to write something that I knew might upset... say, relatives, or acquaintances. Not nasty things, you understand, but things that you know a relative or acquaintance might find unpalatable. The thing is, we all have the right to our way of seeing things, and expressing them, but should have the 'brakes'/filters on so as not to be offensive, don't you think? Blessings, Allen

2026-04-24
Sounds like your protagonist is finding themselves. The saying that you must love yourself before loving others is another way of putting it? Yes? Blessings, Allen

2026-04-24
I apologised because I commented whilst signed in to my editorial function! I thought your last stanza was epic! Blessings, Allen

2026-04-22
I thought we had a few species, but your list is just staggering! When they are in the canopy, I think there is something quite magical to walk through the trees and hear their joyous calls kind of echoing around. I just adore it. Blessings, Allen

2026-04-22
This beautifully descriptive meditation has a somewhat reflective nature. Just a moment in time, but the detail! Brilliant!
Blessings, Allen

2026-04-14
The aroma of paper, not so much the ink, is burned into my senses. It is another 'then' though, isn't it. Maybe it is the relentless unavoidable progression to telepathy? We write poetry on PB with our rows of silent glowing letters, but they move me deeply sometimes, and I feel I can hear the poet's words. What I can't hear are the scratches of the nib though. :) Blessings, Allen

2026-04-13
May your canals flow freely, devoid of icebergs, for at least another fifty years, Melinda. Your harbor will never be empty. Blessings, Allen

2026-04-13
Art in the making (and the writing). Blessings, Allen

2026-04-13
I loved this. It typifies my belief that a creator, knowing everything, can manifest as anything... and IS everything anyway! But you make this easily envisaged. Very powerful when you think about it. If only societal influences were negated. Blessings, Allen

2026-04-13
Such a pleasing experience you describe and we get to sense in our reading. More! Blessings, Allen

2026-04-12
Gosh! You too? Blessings, Allen

2026-04-12
An beautiful and entirely loving emission of words to reflect the love you give and wish for 'Dear Vesi'. Quite warming to the heart to see and feel this in these turbulent times. Blessings, Allen

2026-04-12
Side by side, indeed. Companions in this reality, dependents too.
I loved the way you used those fractional shifts. They exist everywhere and in everything, even in relationships, in the latter we adapt and bend. In the plant kingdom the bending in the wind of change strengthens the core. I think it is reflected, Blessings, Allen

2026-04-11
An absolute delight! If you'll excuse the allegory this is far from being a mere hedge, it is a veritable forest. Personally I love coaxing it out sideways or covering it in camouflage. Blessings, Allen

2026-04-11
Very well put together, Sameen, and very descriptive too. Brilliant stuff. It reminded me very much of a moment I experienced many moons ago. A great share. Blessings, Allen

2026-04-10
Nice that you are so pleasurably effected by this Season. I concur that it is nice - at least in my mind. The problem? The weather that it used to bring is no longer the same, or as reliable. But that's Mankind's fault..... as usual! Blessings, Allen

2026-04-10
The thought crossed my mind two, Ken. But I dismissed it because, surely, even this nutcase would be able to visualise the consequence of such action! Blessings, Allen

2026-04-09
I think many of us 'oldies' can empathise with your minor inconvenience, Melinda. An enjoyable read. I too have the luxury of a heating pad to sooth those frequently aching 'old bones' - or perhaps more accurately 'old muscles'. Let's hope a good night's sleep with the pad going will bring a painless morning. Blessings, Allen

2026-04-09
Alan, you have it absolutely, my friend. Blessings, Allen

2026-04-09
You've cleverly transposed the 'system' into a poem, Melinda. I have always remembered listening to a member of the UK 'hierarchy' answering the question something like, "Can ordinary people get to a point of earning that kind of money?" His answer was to grin and say, "They don't realise we've cut the rungs off the ladder." Get it? Funnily enough, another interpretation of your metaphorical game board. I hope that one day (I'd love it to be in my lifetime) when the populace discover how to change the system entirely. I am an advocator of 'basic income' - that would be a peaceful start to such a transition. That's why the system hasn't got the guts to implement it full scale. Blessings, Allen

2026-04-09
Loved the rhyming - and of course the sentiment. Blessings, Allen

2026-04-07
A powerful poem, Melinda. Seems to me that Mankind never learns this. In all that is good, in all that is true, no one can justify killing innocent people. If one of those people killed they'd be had up for murder. When a state or country kills, it suddenly becomes an inevitable consequence. The whole thing is ludicrous and built on a foundation of lies. Blessings, Allen

2026-04-07
Reading about failed/lost love is never exactly pleasant, but from a poet's point of view you can appreciate the wordsmanship that went into creating this very commendable poem, and at the same time empathise with the protagonist's sense of loss, which as he says, will never go away. Blessings, Allen

2026-04-07
Enjoyed this one. :) They've got to learn their lessons haven't they. Better by listening to what they're told learn like that than the hard way! Where have I heard that before? :D Blessings, Allen

2026-04-06
As a result of your poem the history and purpose of distant Dix Park has been added to my synapses. Naturally I question the equation of those deaths with the resultant pleasure grounds it is supposed to provide. There are so many instances of institutions purportedly providing care and attention where it all went completely wrong, not many of them occupy enough space to be bulldozed into parks. Thank you for sharing this fine poem and showing how the human spirit can awaken into sunshine. Blessings, Allen

2026-04-06
A fine allegorical poem, I think. "let your body / go heavy, limp, / breathe…" as in contemplative meditation. Blessings, Allen

2026-04-06
That would be such a terrible thing. I hope that Mankind never descends that far, or rather, people are not repressed to that extent. We see in such propositions a glimpse of something we must turn our hearts and minds away from, and do our own small part in preventing: Hence we write words that we hope will in some way inspire readers; bring good things into their lives, or simply at as catalysts to transformative thought. Blessings, Allen

2026-04-06
It would be nice to think that the 'fabled' and desired peace of Easter would descend into your life and relieve you so that you perceive all the pains and dis-ease that you experience become dissolved, resolved, and dissipated. I certainly wish that for you; ask for it for you in the blessings I send with this comment on your brave poem. Allen

2026-04-04
Every one tells that little bit more of this love's story. How open, exposing, and self analysing is that phrase, "Maybe we can talk in dreams / Where I don’t lie and you’re free." Beautifully written I think. Blessings, Allen

2026-04-04
I like this very much, Alan. I believe we should all express our gratitude for all our experiences. Each experience adds to what we are at that moment... even those that turn out to be less enjoyable. In my opinion your poem expresses a very lovely style of thinking. Blessings, Allen

2026-04-04
A relationship that is unbalanced in respect of 'love' is almost inevitably doomed. Love in the physicality of life can take many forms, and I personally believe that some people do not really know what love is, or indeed how to give love, and maybe never even think about what love their partner needs to receive. That is when they settle down into the relationship and think it will continue without being nurtured. I think you have put the protagonist's case really well. Blessings, Allen

2026-04-04
Yes, I think you are correct in postulating that there are many kinds of love. However, I think there is real TRUE love, and that is unconditional love - where there is absolutely no conception of it being reciprocated. A mother's love must come close to that ideal, I feel. Then of course there is the conceived unconditional love of the creator to be considered. Blessings, Allen

2026-04-04
I could visualise every part of this poem - almost put myself in place of the protagonist. Well written IMHO. Blessings, Allen

2026-04-02
It made me ask, what kind of heat? I'm not good at reading between the lines on other people's relationship it seems. Blessings, Allen

2026-04-02
A nice meditation, Melinda. Enjoyable to read. Blessings, Allen

2026-03-28
In my interpretation of your poem there is a marked similarity to one of my life's facets. I perfectly understand especially the penultimate stanza, which I could have written!
The protagonist should not accept the knife. In my opinion it should be avoided at all costs although I understand it is only metaphorical, and it's unavoidable cutting comes with the passing of time. Bravo!
Blessings, Allen

2026-03-25
This is the reason why there needs to be change, and not only change to the way these things work out, but also people's mindsets: It shouldn't be accepted. Blessings, Allen

2026-03-25
So, so emotive, this writing. Blessings, Allen

2026-03-25
I really like this poem. It is really honest and heartfelt, that's obvious. When the inspiration/muse inspires you to, go for it without delay, your accompanying image and your explanation feels to me as though your painting is also poetic. Blessings, Allen

2026-03-25
I think your poem is mysterious, Jim. I imagine the mystery to be that a tangerine would have brought more warmth into the scene, since I suspect they are out of season? Or are they widely available in your locality? Or I may be out of season in my reasoning. That's more likely , I feel . :D
Blessings, Allen

2026-03-25
I have read your poem several times and think that ultimately you are calling for the change that most of us have come to desire: Honesty and transparency and a rejection of valueless material aspirations. At least, I hope we do. Blessings, Allen

2026-03-24
A good question. In fact more than that: It is a question that should be being asked through the biggest and loudest megaphone that ever existed!
It seems that there is no justice if you have more money than is deserved, and even if you have status of some actually undeserved kind. To call it a disgrace is an understatement. It has to change. Blessings, Allen

2026-03-24
Long may it be so, Ken. Blessings, Allen