Poetry

It goes on one at a time,
it starts when you care to act,
it starts when you do it again after they said no,
it starts when you say we and know who you mean,
and each day you mean one more.

Marge Piercy

Monday, 04 July 2022 11:25

Crossing Troubled Waters: A review of Jim Aitken’s 'Declarations of Love'

Written by David Betteridge

in Poetry

What I like about Jim Aitken’s poems is the way they can surprise us by travelling at speed from A to B, and sometimes a lot further. The starting point may be a person, a place, an image, an event, or an idea, typically taken from a real-life here-and-now, while…

Sunday, 03 July 2022 16:04

The Clowns, The Crooks, The Cranks, The Chancers, The Careerists, The Charlatans and the Refugee

Written by Martin Rowson

in Poetry

The Clowns, The Crooks, The Cranks, The Chancers, The Careerists, The Charlatans and the Refugee by Martin Rowson (who also drew the image above) Once the clowns, the class clowns all the other kids now shrank back from in Earth-swallowing embarrassment, playpenned my country and trashed it for a laugh…

Sunday, 03 July 2022 11:33

Two Kinds of God

Written by Fred Voss

in Poetry

Two Kinds of God by Fred Voss, with image by Martin Gollan 5 people in robeshave done the work of Godno lightning boltsno earthquakesno Moses parting the Red Seano Jesus rising from the gravejust 5 votesby people who brush their teethand wipe their assand have opinions5 people in robeswho have…

Roe vs Wade

K2_PUBLISHED_ON Thursday, 30 June 2022 15:00

Apocryphal Idols

in Poetry

Written by Cheryl Vail

Apocryphal Idols by Cheryl Vail, with image above by Martin Gollan Liberty’s a goddess yet how can she embody her name when she isn’t permitted to be as she is when her own choices are sand through a sieve held in someone else’s hands she isn’t an automaton that prefix…

Roe vs Wade

K2_PUBLISHED_ON Wednesday, 29 June 2022 16:32

ranting righties rap

in Poetry

Written by Tom Hubbard

ranting righties rap by tom hubbard god save Americaa mer i CA save god forty fifth prezlet us now loudly hollerland of the gun and dollarprivate wealth public squalor* our bible sez we’re gonna git away with it ladies and gennlemenlet us bomb yemenwe’ll fake pious painover ukrainesend darkskins to…

K2_PUBLISHED_ON Monday, 27 June 2022 09:54

Declarations of Love

in Poetry

Written by Culture Matters

This collection of beautifully illustrated love poems ranges from protesting the inequities and cruelties of our fragmenting world to delight in the variety and beauty of creation, and from a fierce compassion for the 'cry of the poor' to tender recollections of family and friends. These poems evince a radical…

K2_PUBLISHED_ON Monday, 27 June 2022 08:33

To the Lukewarm

in Poetry

Written by Chris Norris

To the Lukewarm 'So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth'.- Revelation 3:16 by Christopher Norris, with image by Martin Gollan Let hate, like love, burn steady, fierce and clean.No time for cooling passions – keep your flameTurned up, spot…

Boris Johnson

Sunday, 26 June 2022 08:53

Shelley's poetry: an integral part of the culture of the labour movement

Written by Jenny Farrell

in Poetry

Shelley was born shortly after the French Revolution, heir to a substantial estate and also to a seat in Parliament, on 4 August 1792 in Sussex, England. As a son of the upper classes, he attended Eton College and was subsequently enrolled at Oxford University. Britain was in political turmoil…

Sunday, 26 June 2022 07:48

The spectacle of refugees

Written by Gabriel Rosenstock

in Poetry

The Spectacle of Refugees is a bilingual tanka (5-7-5-7-7 syllables) by Gabriel Rosenstock in response to artwork (above) by Banksy, Refugee Boat (2015) ón talamh slán seobreathnaímid ar na teifightáimid sábháilte féach! chomh tirim le coirt crainn cuilithín nó dhó comhbhá from terra firmawe watch the refugee boatswe're safe in…

Thursday, 16 June 2022 09:30

Have a Joycesome Bloomsday!

Written by David Betteridge

in Poetry

Bloomsday 2022 by David Betteridge, with image by William Murphy Dear language-king,you crafted sovereign treasuresthat we glutton readers crave.Dire digger in the rib of too-too-solid, sullied flesh,thanks for the blessings and the blissyour mintings gave.Unflaggingly, your Yes-wellsspring. Wharnow are alle your brainbairns, say?Not gone to Kingdoom come, thank Gud!think Gutenberg!…

Wednesday, 15 June 2022 19:55

Anti-war, anti-capitalist and anti-colonial: 'Ecstatic', by Kevin Higgins

Written by Polina Cosgrave

in Poetry

Kevin Higgins’ sixth poetry collection under the sardonic title “Ecstatic” starts with a dedication to the recently married Julian and Stella Assange, and this initial gesture is a perfect set-up for the poetic world we are about to enter. Prepare to be disillusioned, experience embarrassment for your government, mourn the…