Comments received on poems by Paul Bell
The bare tree
Doggerel Dave said:
Sometimes I do wonder if a departure from reality may not be an altogether bad thing...
Your write held me to the end, Paul.
September 7th, 2026 18:08
Doggerel Dave said:
Sometimes I do wonder if a departure from reality may not be an altogether bad thing...
Your write held me to the end, Paul.
September 7th, 2026 18:08
The bare tree
Tristan Robert Lange said:
What a powerful poem, Paul. The crow and the bare tree gradually open a door into buried fear and memory, and by the end that same place of danger has become somewhere of acceptance and rest. Dark, moving, and beautifully done, my friend. 🌹🖤🙏🕯️🐦⬛
September 7th, 2026 14:21
Tristan Robert Lange said:
What a powerful poem, Paul. The crow and the bare tree gradually open a door into buried fear and memory, and by the end that same place of danger has become somewhere of acceptance and rest. Dark, moving, and beautifully done, my friend. 🌹🖤🙏🕯️🐦⬛
September 7th, 2026 14:21
The bare tree
sorenbarrett said:
This seems to be me yelling at my children when they did stupid things that would put them at jeopardy. A great metaphor and personification in this write Paul. A fun story as well for what we see as common sense for others may not be. Many birds do not seem to mind getting wet and as for a lightning rod leaves would not protect. When I go out in lightning I and tap my head and say put it right there a challenge to nature. Have had some close calls but no hits yet.
September 7th, 2026 08:07
sorenbarrett said:
This seems to be me yelling at my children when they did stupid things that would put them at jeopardy. A great metaphor and personification in this write Paul. A fun story as well for what we see as common sense for others may not be. Many birds do not seem to mind getting wet and as for a lightning rod leaves would not protect. When I go out in lightning I and tap my head and say put it right there a challenge to nature. Have had some close calls but no hits yet.
September 7th, 2026 08:07
The bare tree
arqios said:
Mr Crow like a shaman of memory, or psychopomp of remembrance! 🙏🏻🕊️
September 7th, 2026 07:47
arqios said:
Mr Crow like a shaman of memory, or psychopomp of remembrance! 🙏🏻🕊️
September 7th, 2026 07:47
The bare tree
Dog days said:
Interesting poem combined with effective rhymes.
September 7th, 2026 07:25
Dog days said:
Interesting poem combined with effective rhymes.
September 7th, 2026 07:25
Carver
Thomas W Case said:
There’s a gleeful absurdity running through this, with Carver’s complete inability to recognize that prison, courtrooms, cranes, and MI6 all operate according to rules that apparently don’t apply to him. The repetition and escalating dialogue are the strongest weapons here—especially the 54-inch TV, “Cranes R Us,” the disappearing crane driver, and Carver casually returning from the prison kitchen with sandwiches—which gives the whole thing a wonderfully British, Monty Python–meets–sitcom kind of madness.
September 6th, 2026 07:48
Thomas W Case said:
There’s a gleeful absurdity running through this, with Carver’s complete inability to recognize that prison, courtrooms, cranes, and MI6 all operate according to rules that apparently don’t apply to him. The repetition and escalating dialogue are the strongest weapons here—especially the 54-inch TV, “Cranes R Us,” the disappearing crane driver, and Carver casually returning from the prison kitchen with sandwiches—which gives the whole thing a wonderfully British, Monty Python–meets–sitcom kind of madness.
September 6th, 2026 07:48
Carver
Tristan Robert Lange said:
Paul, this is absolutely bonkers in the best way. Carver has that perfect mix of arrogance, charm, and total chaos...every room he enters immediately becomes less stable. Hilarious stuff, my friend. 🌹🖤🙏🕯️🐦⬛
August 31st, 2026 08:37
Tristan Robert Lange said:
Paul, this is absolutely bonkers in the best way. Carver has that perfect mix of arrogance, charm, and total chaos...every room he enters immediately becomes less stable. Hilarious stuff, my friend. 🌹🖤🙏🕯️🐦⬛
August 31st, 2026 08:37
Carver
sorenbarrett said:
A humorous write (well maybe not) in that it bears more truth than fiction. Preferential treatment of prisoners has been around for a very long time. Based on status, political alignment or just plain likeability by the warden and guards. I have visited many on both ends or the stick. Nicely done my friend
August 31st, 2026 06:54
sorenbarrett said:
A humorous write (well maybe not) in that it bears more truth than fiction. Preferential treatment of prisoners has been around for a very long time. Based on status, political alignment or just plain likeability by the warden and guards. I have visited many on both ends or the stick. Nicely done my friend
August 31st, 2026 06:54
Full Bloom
Tristan Robert Lange said:
Paul, this is wonderfully twisted. The cheerful domestic calm sitting beside something absolutely horrific makes the whole thing even darker…and somehow funnier. Brilliantly macabre, my friend. 🌹🖤🙏🕯️🐦⬛
August 30th, 2026 21:49
Tristan Robert Lange said:
Paul, this is wonderfully twisted. The cheerful domestic calm sitting beside something absolutely horrific makes the whole thing even darker…and somehow funnier. Brilliantly macabre, my friend. 🌹🖤🙏🕯️🐦⬛
August 30th, 2026 21:49
Full Bloom
Kevin Hulme said:
Yes I like this . The dark Humour is Wonderful.
Could see Hitchcock filming this.
A fave.
August 30th, 2026 08:48
Kevin Hulme said:
Yes I like this . The dark Humour is Wonderful.
Could see Hitchcock filming this.
A fave.
August 30th, 2026 08:48
Full Bloom
Thomas W Case said:
There’s a damn deliciously macabre comedy here, with the bright summer setting making her utterly matter-of-fact murder even more absurd. “You’ll be wanting your steak well done / A bit like yourself” is the standout—cold, ridiculous, and perfectly suited to the dark punchline underneath it all.
August 30th, 2026 06:50
Thomas W Case said:
There’s a damn deliciously macabre comedy here, with the bright summer setting making her utterly matter-of-fact murder even more absurd. “You’ll be wanting your steak well done / A bit like yourself” is the standout—cold, ridiculous, and perfectly suited to the dark punchline underneath it all.
August 30th, 2026 06:50
Full Bloom
sorenbarrett said:
It is the absurdity of the situation and conversation that makes this great. Insanity when something snaps and everything is out of proportion and meaning. The big picture ignored for the sake of details. Then again it must be a metaphor as Criptic proposes, but then is not all of life but a metaphor, a satire, ironic a play of fools? A fun read that with afterthought has much deeper and darker meaning. I have seen a few cases similar and they seldom end well the answer a pill. A fave my friend
August 30th, 2026 06:25
sorenbarrett said:
It is the absurdity of the situation and conversation that makes this great. Insanity when something snaps and everything is out of proportion and meaning. The big picture ignored for the sake of details. Then again it must be a metaphor as Criptic proposes, but then is not all of life but a metaphor, a satire, ironic a play of fools? A fun read that with afterthought has much deeper and darker meaning. I have seen a few cases similar and they seldom end well the answer a pill. A fave my friend
August 30th, 2026 06:25
Full Bloom
arqios said:
This could be read as a metaphor for relationships that rot and spoil from the inside while the outside may still look idyllic. Perhaps even stretching to “full bloom” being a satirical inversion of this internal ruination. 🙏🏻🕊️
August 30th, 2026 05:20
arqios said:
This could be read as a metaphor for relationships that rot and spoil from the inside while the outside may still look idyllic. Perhaps even stretching to “full bloom” being a satirical inversion of this internal ruination. 🙏🏻🕊️
August 30th, 2026 05:20
Two For One
Thomas W Case said:
The first is a neat little joke about how quickly we judge people by appearances, and the clipboard makes the setup nicely ordinary. The Superman punchline is classic bawdy absurdity—the invisible man getting caught in the middle is what gives it the final kick.
August 25th, 2026 07:00
Thomas W Case said:
The first is a neat little joke about how quickly we judge people by appearances, and the clipboard makes the setup nicely ordinary. The Superman punchline is classic bawdy absurdity—the invisible man getting caught in the middle is what gives it the final kick.
August 25th, 2026 07:00
Two For One
Tristan Robert Lange said:
What a hilarious double feature, Paul! The first punctures the authority of appearances, while the second turns heroic confidence into one spectacularly awkward mistake. That final reveal still gets me every damn time! 🤣🌹🖤🙏🐦⬛
August 24th, 2026 08:17
Tristan Robert Lange said:
What a hilarious double feature, Paul! The first punctures the authority of appearances, while the second turns heroic confidence into one spectacularly awkward mistake. That final reveal still gets me every damn time! 🤣🌹🖤🙏🐦⬛
August 24th, 2026 08:17
Two For One
Doggerel Dave said:
You have a way of telling them Paul, and that one is very near the top.🤣
\'Hope I can sleep tonight - the image is just too much.
August 24th, 2026 08:06
Doggerel Dave said:
You have a way of telling them Paul, and that one is very near the top.🤣
\'Hope I can sleep tonight - the image is just too much.
August 24th, 2026 08:06
Two For One
sorenbarrett said:
Paul you made me laugh and that alone gets a fave. A most fun read my friend
August 24th, 2026 06:33
sorenbarrett said:
Paul you made me laugh and that alone gets a fave. A most fun read my friend
August 24th, 2026 06:33
The Priest
Tristan Robert Lange said:
Paul, this is wickedly funny. The narrator’s shameless rationalizing builds perfectly toward a form of pastoral care I definitely missed in seminary...yet somehow it feels entirely appropriate. Fantastic write, my friend. 🌹🖤🙏🕯️🐦⬛
August 23rd, 2026 12:56
Tristan Robert Lange said:
Paul, this is wickedly funny. The narrator’s shameless rationalizing builds perfectly toward a form of pastoral care I definitely missed in seminary...yet somehow it feels entirely appropriate. Fantastic write, my friend. 🌹🖤🙏🕯️🐦⬛
August 23rd, 2026 12:56
The Priest
orchidee said:
Doh! There was a priest who said \'I\'m a man of peace, and if you don\'t agree with me, I will punch you on the nose!\'
August 23rd, 2026 07:53
orchidee said:
Doh! There was a priest who said \'I\'m a man of peace, and if you don\'t agree with me, I will punch you on the nose!\'
August 23rd, 2026 07:53
The Priest
Thomas W Case said:
There’s a damn darkly comic twist here, with the priest becoming an unexpected mirror for the speaker’s guilt and excuses. The final punch—literally and figuratively—works beautifully because “absolution” arrives not through forgiveness, but through a priest who seems to have judged the confession perfectly.
August 23rd, 2026 07:24
Thomas W Case said:
There’s a damn darkly comic twist here, with the priest becoming an unexpected mirror for the speaker’s guilt and excuses. The final punch—literally and figuratively—works beautifully because “absolution” arrives not through forgiveness, but through a priest who seems to have judged the confession perfectly.
August 23rd, 2026 07:24
The Priest
Doggerel Dave said:
Priest a bit of a spoilsport, methinks.
It\'s the eleventh commandment wot counts.
August 23rd, 2026 06:17
Doggerel Dave said:
Priest a bit of a spoilsport, methinks.
It\'s the eleventh commandment wot counts.
August 23rd, 2026 06:17
The Priest
sorenbarrett said:
Although humor, dark humor it is truth in the form of a joke. Sardonic one might say a tap of the priest and you are on your way. For one\'s sins one must pay, in advance discounted today.
August 23rd, 2026 06:09
sorenbarrett said:
Although humor, dark humor it is truth in the form of a joke. Sardonic one might say a tap of the priest and you are on your way. For one\'s sins one must pay, in advance discounted today.
August 23rd, 2026 06:09
The Train Journey
Tristan Robert Lange said:
Paul, this plays like a tightly edited thriller. The recurring countdown steadily closes the trap while seemingly mundane details become increasingly ominous. Then darkness arrives at precisely the moment everyone’s intentions appear ready to surface...superb suspense, my friend. 🌹🖤🙏🕯️🐦⬛
August 18th, 2026 21:42
Tristan Robert Lange said:
Paul, this plays like a tightly edited thriller. The recurring countdown steadily closes the trap while seemingly mundane details become increasingly ominous. Then darkness arrives at precisely the moment everyone’s intentions appear ready to surface...superb suspense, my friend. 🌹🖤🙏🕯️🐦⬛
August 18th, 2026 21:42
The Train Journey
sorenbarrett said:
Here poetry merges with story. The repetitions enhance the tension building with every line. The introduction of other characters broadens the perspective and increases the complexity as opposed to narrowing it. The reader searches for answers as to why the nervousness. There is something about the tunnel the continued announcement like the tick of a clock the leaving of the car and diminished nervousness (but why) is the location or the closeness to the tunnel. The moving to the left (is it fear of the sides being hit on the tunnel) and closing of the eyes (not wanting to see what is coming). The whole write is the process of anxiety at approaching danger. Well written my friend.
August 18th, 2026 07:42
sorenbarrett said:
Here poetry merges with story. The repetitions enhance the tension building with every line. The introduction of other characters broadens the perspective and increases the complexity as opposed to narrowing it. The reader searches for answers as to why the nervousness. There is something about the tunnel the continued announcement like the tick of a clock the leaving of the car and diminished nervousness (but why) is the location or the closeness to the tunnel. The moving to the left (is it fear of the sides being hit on the tunnel) and closing of the eyes (not wanting to see what is coming). The whole write is the process of anxiety at approaching danger. Well written my friend.
August 18th, 2026 07:42
The Train Journey
Thomas W Case said:
There’s a damn effective slow-burn tension here, with the mileage countdown making the tunnel feel like an approaching deadline. The final movement—“folding it toward him,” her cold eyes, then darkness—is beautifully ambiguous and leaves the reader wondering who was really watching whom.
August 18th, 2026 07:05
Thomas W Case said:
There’s a damn effective slow-burn tension here, with the mileage countdown making the tunnel feel like an approaching deadline. The final movement—“folding it toward him,” her cold eyes, then darkness—is beautifully ambiguous and leaves the reader wondering who was really watching whom.
August 18th, 2026 07:05
The Train Journey
Syd said:
I\'d like to know what happens in the tunnel Paul.
Do the assassin\'s get their mark?
- Syd 🍄
August 18th, 2026 06:31
Syd said:
I\'d like to know what happens in the tunnel Paul.
Do the assassin\'s get their mark?
- Syd 🍄
August 18th, 2026 06:31
Inspiration
Tristan Robert Lange said:
Paul, this is one heck of a stream-of-consciousness journey. Everyday life fractures into social satire, existential confusion, and glorious absurdity, proving that inspiration may be hiding in whatever the world throws away. Excellent piece, my friend. 🌹🖤🙏🕯️🐦⬛
August 17th, 2026 19:00
Tristan Robert Lange said:
Paul, this is one heck of a stream-of-consciousness journey. Everyday life fractures into social satire, existential confusion, and glorious absurdity, proving that inspiration may be hiding in whatever the world throws away. Excellent piece, my friend. 🌹🖤🙏🕯️🐦⬛
August 17th, 2026 19:00
Inspiration
sorenbarrett said:
Paul I am sure that this one holds many meanings but the first one I took was of the triviality of what we put priority on in life. The little things that bleed us only to later be discarded. Very nicely done my friend a fave
August 17th, 2026 07:54
sorenbarrett said:
Paul I am sure that this one holds many meanings but the first one I took was of the triviality of what we put priority on in life. The little things that bleed us only to later be discarded. Very nicely done my friend a fave
August 17th, 2026 07:54
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