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

Tuesday, 03 December 2019 19:34

The election: Free for All

Written by Sally Flint

in Poetry

Free for All IM of Doll Warner by Sally Flint Before she turned ten they called her Little Mother. The oldest of eleven siblings, she knew about ailments – how to attach string tight to a doorknob and extract a tooth. She could tempt a TB victim with broth and…

Monday, 02 December 2019 09:39

The election: Govesy's Dream

Written by Chris Nash

in Poetry

Govesy’s Dream -Take control (Aka The Revolution will be Live)dedicated to Gill Scott Heron by Chris Nash, with image by Martin Gollan There’s a Tory on my doorstepAh what you gonna to do?I’m gonna talk that sucker down, I’m gonna talk that sucker roundI’m gonna confront that toryTill he’s red…

Thursday, 28 November 2019 19:27

The election: the intern

Written by Martin Hayes

in Poetry

the intern by Martin Hayes the intern brought in to help the HR departmentorganise the warning letters and counselling session minutes that they leave in big piles on their desks not having the time to tidy them away into the staff’s filesbecause they’re too busy writing up warning letters or…

K2_PUBLISHED_ON Wednesday, 27 November 2019 22:34

The election: England in 2019

in Poetry

Written by Alan Morrison

England in 2019After Shelley By Alan Morrison A nonagenarian white-gloved QueenGrimaces assent to her sixth cousin twice Removed, now prime minister number fifteenOf her longest reign resigned (but noSigns of resigning) and only the secondTo whom she's related: a recently seenTrend entrenching, another silver-spoonedSprout of nepotism in our erminedDemocracy undermined,…

K2_PUBLISHED_ON Tuesday, 26 November 2019 16:14

The election: Promise

in Poetry

Written by Kevin Higgins

Promise by Kevin Higgins For all the comedians who used to be edgy during the 1990s, commenting on the British general election. If you piss on the frailred-petalled flower just now nudging its way back up from presumed extinction,with your cynicism and your sneers; the day of your funeralI’ll pay…

K2_PUBLISHED_ON Monday, 25 November 2019 16:42

The election: Waiting for a Spark

in Poetry

Written by Fred Voss

Waiting for a Spark by Fred Voss Overtimeused to be a boonput on a 6-day 12-hour 3pm to 3am nightshift schedule for a few monthsa man would laugh and bearsleeping through the day and hardly seeinghis wife and childrenlosing touch with friendsand the worldhe would laugh as he stood sleepy-eyed…

K2_PUBLISHED_ON Friday, 22 November 2019 23:05

The election: A Slip of the Tongue

in Poetry

Written by Jim Mainland

A Slip of the Tongue by Jim Mainland Forgive me, but I rarely listen to the flagging-ship Today programme these days. However, a nonagenarianacquaintance of mine who ‘takes’, as you chaps say, the hard-right organs The Telegraph, Spectator and Mail – these days your target demographic, it would seem –…

Today BBC bias

Wednesday, 13 November 2019 10:35

The election: Stockholm Syndrome

Written by Michael Jarvie

in Poetry

Stockholm Syndrome By Michael Jarvie We've been cheated and castratedBy a toff in evening dress.His name's de Pfeffel JohnsonAnd he's serving Eton mess. He's a racist and a scoundrelAnd a homophobic loon.He's a chancer and a cowardWho will dance to Donald's tune. Then there's Nigel with his roublesAnd his Russian…

Saturday, 09 November 2019 11:41

The election: Voices of The Dispossessed

Written by Jim Aitken

in Poetry

Voices of The Dispossessed by Jim Aitken They robbed us of more than our land,they took away our innocenceand our way of looking at the world. They sought to destroy usby undermining our cultureand extinguishing our memory. They wish we had never beenso they can say they always were.And all…

Saturday, 09 November 2019 11:02

The election: Irises along the canal

Written by Mair De-Gare Pitt

in Poetry

Irises along the canal by Mair De-Gare Pitt Fly the flag for the menwho dug and died on these banks.Brandish your torch for their wake. Their country was work.Their time was cheap.It was bought and sold. Fly the flag for sunny days.Nod at your face in the shadowy glass.Bring a…

nationalism Trump le Pen

Wednesday, 06 November 2019 12:28

The election: Vomiticious

Written by Chris Nash

in Poetry

BJ and the One Percent Nation by Chris Nash, with cartoon by Martin Gollan So you voted with Facebook, not for the many, but the few, For ‘the BJ’, his public school, anti-establishment crew,Now thanks to an iPhone crony from Club BullingdonLet’s live-stream the election night, tax-payer celebration,The feast of…