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

Friday, 13 December 2019 19:39

Enough

Written by Steve Pottinger

in Poetry

Enough by Steve Pottinger And so, it comes.That winter morning when you wakeand find that you have had enough. You will give it up, you tell yourself,retreat to the hills, the coast,a cottage, a boat, a hutsome place out on the edge of it all.Anywhere but here. Anything but this.…

Friday, 13 December 2019 18:42

Begin again

Written by Chris Nash

in Poetry

Begin Again(For Jack Merrit) by Chris Nash Breathe in the bitter despair,Now breathe out the freer airAnd join, deep out - deep in This morning, crisp and clear... Yes, it’s true, ice and undeniableThose golden leaves of reasonHave been shaken to earth again,Once again they’ve made us foolsTo believe their…

Wednesday, 11 December 2019 14:24

The Election: Tampering

Written by Chris Norris

in Poetry

Tampering by Christopher Norris Out of the quarrel with others we make rhetoric; out of the quarrel with ourselves we make poetry. - W.B. Yeats Poetry might be defined as the clear expression of mixed feelings. - W.H. Auden For poetry makes nothing happen: it survivesIn the valley of its…

K2_PUBLISHED_ON Monday, 09 December 2019 22:04

The election: Violence Decides

in Poetry

Written by Peter Raynard

Violence Decides by Peter Raynard Poverty is the worst form of violence. - Gandhi Violence reads the autocue with a lobotomised looka curled lip creased amongst a thicket of words.Violence has a black belt in tunnel vision, whereon various occasions, birthdays, christenings, weddingshe is violence-in-waiting silently, observing the directiondifferent dialectics…

K2_PUBLISHED_ON Tuesday, 03 December 2019 19:34

The election: Free for All

in Poetry

Written by Sally Flint

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…

K2_PUBLISHED_ON Monday, 02 December 2019 09:39

The election: Govesy's Dream

in Poetry

Written by Chris Nash

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…

K2_PUBLISHED_ON Thursday, 28 November 2019 19:27

The election: the intern

in Poetry

Written by Martin Hayes

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…

Wednesday, 27 November 2019 22:34

The election: England in 2019

Written by Alan Morrison

in Poetry

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,…

Friday, 22 November 2019 23:05

The election: A Slip of the Tongue

Written by Jim Mainland

in Poetry

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 11:02

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