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

Wednesday, 02 October 2019 10:27

National Poetry Day: Fingered

Written by Nadia Drews

in Poetry

Fingered By Nadia Drews He put two fingers upNicotine-tippedA little prickSnickeringBalls barely droppedHawking up snot to spit cockinessChock-full of spunkTickling mid-airTeasing the pleasure from his waiting matesTaking the piss, fake masturbatingGrinning a tongue-flicking grinEar to earStretched clear to the sideLike knicker elastic, leg lifted leering wide-eyedHis mates hissing ‘You lie’He…

Wednesday, 02 October 2019 09:03

National Poetry Day: Raptures and Captures

Written by Fran Lock

in Poetry

Fran Lock introduces Raptures and Captures, her latest book of poetry, which follows on from Muses and Bruises and Ruses and Fuses. ‘Keep your mind in Hell and despair not.’ It’s a stern injunction. It is also a radical one. Saint Silouan, we’re told, struggled against demons. Specifically, he struggled…

Sunday, 29 September 2019 20:52

National Poetry Day: Futures in Finance

Written by Steve Griffiths

in Poetry

Futures in Finance by Steve Griffiths Shapes occur in this gamewith no guiding hand to form them -new behaviours and patternsthat morph and self-replicate.Something’s knitting on its own:simple action into unpredictablecomplexity, breeding an impetusmore powerful than anythingyou could intend. The ripple has its endbeyond imagined competence;where unrestrainedthe market’s every variablemultiplies…

K2_PUBLISHED_ON Friday, 27 September 2019 12:49

National Poetry Day: In Union

in Poetry

Written by Sally Flint

In Union by Sally Flint i.m. Bob CrowBorn in reach of the London Minthe watched men make money –got to know the value of working daysas families were transported from slumsand shared bathrooms to fieldsand forests which seemed the other side of the world. Coming home was the only way.His…

K2_PUBLISHED_ON Thursday, 26 September 2019 20:55

National Poetry Day: Glomar

in Poetry

Written by Fran Lock

Glomar by Fran Lock i the city comes in waves. poor worker bee, it’s clinical now, an ideal doom, the sleepy grief of airports. tried to stay in motion. walk around, not-shopping. coffee. millimetric sips. is slow embalming, boils the tongue, both fidgety and numb. carousels and carousels and paperbacks.…

K2_PUBLISHED_ON Tuesday, 24 September 2019 07:43

National Poetry Day: Hammer Blow and Heartbeat

in Poetry

Written by Fred Voss

Hammer Blow and Heartbeat by Fred Voss I remembered how clean the church was when I was 10 the altar where the minister poured the blood of Christ into shiny silver chalice the calm manicured fingernails of the congregation in their spotless Sunday clothes kneeling to God above now I…

K2_PUBLISHED_ON Friday, 20 September 2019 08:21

Climate Strike: The Big House

in Poetry

Written by Sally Flint

The Big House by Sally Flint (for PH and ZM) This is the house we want to live in,with multiple windows and shutters.A veranda to absorb sunsets,gardens that tumble to a golden beach. This is the house we want to share,with bright stucco walls;a doorbell that repeats Clare de la…

Thursday, 19 September 2019 15:05

Review: One of These Dead Places, by Jane Burn

Written by Michael Jarvie

in Poetry

Michael Jarvie reviews One of These Dead Places by Jane Burn Jane Burn has forged her characteristic poetical voice in what can only be described as the most difficult of circumstances. In fact, it is all voice, an expressive working-class woman’s voice, at times roused to anger by the injustices…

Wednesday, 18 September 2019 16:01

National Poetry Day: The Truth about the Arms Trade

Written by Owen Gallagher

in Poetry

The Arms Trade by Owen Gallagher Hearing of a request for an instrument of death they swoop onto our estate.They have no website or business card to sell rifles and guns from the bootof a car alongside pit bulls guaranteed to eat and excrete your enemies. Knuckle-dusters and machetes are…

Tuesday, 17 September 2019 09:24

National Poetry Day: Deliberately Offensive Truthful Song

Written by Kevin Higgins

in Poetry

Deliberately Offensive Truthful Song by Kevin Higgins A street performer shall not act, say, do or sing anything likely to cause alarm, distress or offence to any member of the public, business owner, the Council, or any member of An Garda Síochána. - Galway City Council bylaw as of 2-1-2020…

Thursday, 05 September 2019 08:29

In a Failing State

Written by Josiah Mortimer

in Poetry

In a Failing State By Josiah Mortimer In failed statesLeaders berateThe representativesAs meddling traitors, crazed.And tin-pot despots declare: 'Only a strong handCan lead us to the promised land' In failed statesThe press packs houndServants as saboteursPrint reams of touch paperReady-made to tear and sparkAnd rogues rouse crowds –Small at first…