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, 06 July 2018 13:37

Paul Summers, the Durham Miners' Gala, and arise!

Written by Mike Quille

in Poetry

Mike Quille interviews Paul Summers, including extracts from a major new poem which is published by Culture Matters. It will be launched at the People, Pits and Politics festival in Durham on Friday 13th July, the day before the Miners’ Gala, and is available for purchase here. Paul Summers is deeply rooted…

Durham Miners' Gala socialism workingclass culture arise!

Thursday, 05 July 2018 17:04

The Match

Written by Helen Burke

in Poetry

The Match by Helen Burke Because ok lets face itLife is a match.You know it and I know it,And where you sit depends how it goes,And – you never get to pick your own team,And so much depends on the colours of your scarf.(None of this is by choice –…

Monday, 25 June 2018 12:49

Capitalism Aggressive, At Its Best

Written by David Susswein

in Poetry

Capitalism Aggressive, At Its Best by David Susswein the sales are at the pitmine the sales are in the minds of the working class told to work for dignity the sales are in the cleaner scrubbing floors her betters have dirtied the sales are in the minds of…

K2_PUBLISHED_ON Sunday, 24 June 2018 21:43

The Waterfall and the Song and the Hammer in the Hand

in Poetry

Written by Fred Voss

The Waterfall and the Song and the Hammer in the Hand by Fred Voss Too many of the white machinists in this shop like Trumpthey are good menwith a tool steel square or a finely calibrated micrometer grippedin their handsor a newly-born granddaughter heldagainst their heartbeatsbut they have been fooled…

US immigration policy Donald Trump

K2_PUBLISHED_ON Friday, 22 June 2018 22:29

Bertolt Brecht Offers Advice to Waverers about Attending the Great Anti-Trump Demonstration (London, July 13th, 2018)

in Poetry

Written by Chris Norris

Bertolt Brecht Offers Advice to Waverers about Attending the Great Anti-Trump Demonstration (London, July 13th, 2018) by Chris Norris You say: ‘it’s not my business, my concern,Nothing to do with me. My voteWent to the good guys, those who’d turnThe horror-show around’ – I quoteYour own words back at you…

Donald Trump US immigration policy antiTrump demonstration

K2_PUBLISHED_ON Wednesday, 20 June 2018 20:27

The Truth Behind the Wire

in Poetry

Written by Kevin Higgins

The Truth Behind the Wire by Kevin Higgins Kindly disregard the attention seeking cries of the few.They are child actors being given scripts by liberals. Most of the young people there are delighted withwhat we’re doing. There is no policy of separation from parents. It’s just if you’re going to…

K2_PUBLISHED_ON Monday, 18 June 2018 21:46

Don’t believe a single word your English lecturer tells you about poetry

in Poetry

Written by Peter Knaggs

Here's another response from Peter Knaggs, in three parts, to Martin Hayes's recent poetry book, The Things Our Hands Once Stood For. Don’t believe a single word your English lecturer tells you about poetry (i) by Peter Knaggs They will tell you about Spencer and Chaucerand the renaissanceand the romantics,…

Monday, 18 June 2018 20:35

at wembley dogs

Written by Martin Hayes

in Poetry

at Wembley dogs by Martin Hayes at Wembley dogs we used to buy brown Hofmeister bottles of beer and jump all over the seats that people once sat in to watch England win the World Cup we used to eat hot dogs longer than our cocks and run up and…

Thursday, 14 June 2018 22:08

Poetry of the working class at the Torriano Meeting House, 22nd July

Written by Mike Quille

in Poetry

On Sunday July 22nd, live at 7.30pm at the Torriano Meeting House, Kentish Town, five great London-based poets, all published or about to be published by Culture Matters, will read their poetry. They are Fran Lock........ Peter Raynard........ Martin Hayes........ Alan Dunnett........ and Nadia Drews. You'll hear some rather special poets…

Thursday, 14 June 2018 08:22

Grenfell Day

Written by Rip Bulkeley

in Poetry

It's a year since Grenfell Tower in west London was destroyed by a fire that killed 72 people. Grenfell Day by Rip Bulkeley Like any and every other daythis one was filled with happiness,with loss and crime and ice-cream vans,with lovers' confessions and catastrophes,with hopeless refugees, with foolishness and failures,with…

King Lear and the Fool in the Storm by William Dyce

Wednesday, 13 June 2018 16:32

Tragedy: a caution from Brecht

Written by Chris Norris

in Poetry

Tragedy: a caution from Brecht by Chris Norris Our representations of human social life are designed for river-dwellers, fruit farmers, builders of vehicles and up-turners of society, whom we invite into our theatres and beg not to forget their cheerful occupations while we hand the world over to their minds…