Absolute pleasure to have met you and your wife yesterday. Red or blue we are scousers together.

Dear Ric
Really good meeting you at Gloucester Cathedral today. Lots of shared experiences discussed, including thoughts about a great selection of Gloucestershire poets and musicians.
In the poem above I initially read the word in the last line of the above poem as ‘simulate’ rather than ‘stimulate’, which would have spoiled the meaning somewhat. Sorry.
A great collection of profound war verses, and great lighter items.
I love your poetic style, which represents the great poetry that I never quite got round to writing. Hope there’s still time for me.
All best wishes to you and your wife.
Dave Kent
Forest of Dean

ALP: Does the neighbor’s cat ever chat with Penelope Henelope?

A truly great poem ,thank you . We will never forget the 97.
Love Purple Town too.

We meet u in Liverpool today! You were so kind and I wanted to thank you for that and this site. I look forward to reading your work sir.

Thank you for to day.( 23/02/03) reading your work now and looking forward to next page the next line .

Mr. Johnson, I work with Paul, who referred me to your site. Today is 11-November and I have read your thoughtful & concise poems regarding the Great War. Over 100 years have passed, but yet, it remains heartbreaking that millions of young men answered the call of feeble kings, politicians and generals. A somber folly.

We are the couple you met on the walk today. This is our favourite poem – you are a fantastic writer!

YNWA

I was a young 19 year old boy in April 1989. I have often wondered how different things could have been if I was in the lower Leppings Lane, rather than the seats in the upper tier. I’ve thankfully managed to push the horrific memories to the very back of my mind, however they do occasionally reappear. They reappeared in Paris and it’s a miracle that day in April 1989 was not repeated. These poems deserve a broader audience, helping to provide both solace and entertainment to those affected. God bless you, the 97 and anyone affected by the tragic events at Hillsborough or more recently in Paris.

Was lovely to meet you today, this is a gem and I will be sharing! Take care, from Shelly 🙂

A lifetime’s work on display. A wonderful array of light hearted pieces alongside hard hitting and thought provoking material. Well worth spending the time to immerse yourself in this treasure trove of a website

Another amazing production from Ric. One is constantly dumbfounded at the prodigious output from this Liverpool writer.
Norfolkrob

They fought on with tenacity when others would have let sleeping dogs lie ! Great poem !

From our privileged and comfortable position, it’s hard to envisage the horror and savagery of it all, but this poem encapsulates it so well.

Very powerful, and from an angle I hadn’t thought of before.

Really like this one, Ric. The tree with thoughts and one that will still be here in a hundred years, hopefully!

Very emotive poem Ric. Like this one!

Many Alberts still going I should imagine.. And many from more recent conflicts.

A fan of the Limericks. Kind regards, Kieran.

Very enjoyable read thank you!

A wonderful, sad group of poems, expressing the suffering of the men who were there. You expressed the tragedy of it all so well Ric.

Absolutely beautifully written poem. Very emotional the whole way through. Thank you for recommending this to me today
Justice for the 96 ❤️

A truth so well told, so beautifully written. Never forgotten the 96

Superbly put…… we will never forget…… Red n blue will always stick together…. Liverpool United together ….. the emotions of that day will never go away jf96lfc4everynwa

Hey Ric
Matt from the Cathedral here! Thought I’d check your work out whilst I was on my break and really enjoyed it! So much so that the first thing I did after work was go back on your site to read some more on the bus. Excellent work, especially the world war stuff!

Very good Ric, its like a good day at Cuppa lol

Really enjoyed your poems Mr Johnson! I would even go as far as to say they made me even more cheery! Take care, Emma.

After our chance meeting last week at Stirk House you have popped into my mind a number of times wanting to sit and look over your website and work. Today had to be the day. 27 years ago 96 lives were lost. You are truly talented Ric, you took me to many different places today reading your work. Fantastic x

Hillsborough and Modern War moving and thought provoking

Very touching for all concerned, clever words to describe such a terrible event.

Fantastic poetry I love the middle when it goes from lament of the living to cold bedroom , it’s very powerful wording at the right times , e.g the shuddering shock of death’s precipice …. Great just great ! Check out our contribution to this terrible tragedy. https://www.facebook.com/thejjohns/videos/1461301820832379/

Ric what a wonderful dedication is this poem to myself and all my family.. so genuine! all the Loria’s Family at the Hotel Golden of Rome is so proud of your friendship and the great way you expressed it with this poem.. we loved it.

After having met you personally Ric, I have to admit that your poems are even more impressive and vivid, like a real story going live in front of us (such an interesting website Ric), a place to come and read peacefully all the wonders of your soul. Giuseppe from Hotel Golden in Rome.

A truly beautiful sonnet about Myself and Peter’s soon to be daughter! So blessed to have this written for us…thank you!! Lucy.

How lovely is this!! I should think Emily will be thrilled……

An extremely moving piece of work from start to finish. Encompassing every emotion from the initial lighthearted humour, excitement and anticipation, to fear, pain, anger, emptiness and bitterness. As somebody who has been trained to work within a casualty bureau, Cold Hearth; Cold Bedroom is particularly emotional for me. The sense of dread that must have been felt by so many families during those first few hours. When sketchy reports of the disaster have been released and individuals remain unaccounted for – and then the painful realisation that your worst fears have been confirmed. Powerfully and beautifully written.

Let those poor victims, their families and their long hard fight for justice never be forgotten.

Wonderful poetry. What a remarkable poem (Lament of the Years). Helen (From the Poetry Class, March 2015).

A great poem!!!

Brought back so many memories lol loved this

A chance meeting in St Andrews introduced by Richard III! I found the audio performance of the Hillsborough poems very moving. Some very familiar images in your Liverpool collection.

Very Moving and a reminder to us all forever. very well written.

Hi Ric, I really enjoyed reading your work! Hope you are well.
Julia (from the hotel in New York)

As promised , I have read with interest, well written with depth.

As an ex-pat. Liverpudlian, your poems are even more meaningful! Congratulations on treating us to such a variety of themes, which
Reflect your own personal and general feelings, of past and present
Events!

May your words continue to be enjoyed by an expanding audience! Shaun.

A chance meeting in Waitrose and here I am indulging my love of words! Thanks for bringing a smile to my face and introducing me to your poetry.
Caroline

Hi Ric, I really enjoyed reading about Harold Slocombe and his friends……..some amazing stories!

Well Ric, I read as promised and loved them. Thanks, Alison. Coast Cafe.

Well done! We know how much energy and devotion you put into this. We are all very proud of you and are sure it will be read many times in the coming months. Paul and Alex.

Hi Ric, Enjoyed reading this new chapter in your meteoric rise to world acclaim , it is very professional and a perfect medium to exhibit the undoubted skill of a new and exciting talent and should be a big success. Regards Andy

Just read lament of the years. Very well written and touching.
Feel like I need to read all the poems over again to take it all in.

I really enjoyed reading your poetry online and the website looks great!
Look forward to reading some more.

love this one, very swingy and visual. Lighthearted.