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

Saturday, 28 March 2020 10:54

Everyone's Hearts Were Clapping

Written by Owen Gallagher

in Poetry

onavirusEveryone’s Hearts Were Clapping by Owen Gallagher Everyone stood outside their front door.As the clock struck eight they began to clap slowly as if someone was coming on stage but as more in the street joined in, they clapped louder and louder as if they were freeingsomething within, perhaps a…

Coronavirus NHS

Thursday, 26 March 2020 13:46

A Fearless Gaze of Hope: Quines, by Gerda Stevenson

Written by Jim Aitken

in Poetry

Jim Aitken reviews a book of radical women’s voices: Quines, by Gerda Stevenson. Accompanying illustrations of textiles are by artists from EDGE: Textile Artists Scotland. The second edition of Gerda Stevenson’s ‘Quines’ came out with some fanfare as it was launched to coincide with International Women’s Day. The launch at…

Edge Textile Artists

Wednesday, 25 March 2020 08:31

In The White Man’s Clinic

Written by Kevin Higgins

in Poetry

On the day the Irish government announced they are (for the duration of the crisis) incorporating all private hospitals into the public health system, Kevin Higgins offers this poem in memoriam of Ireland's two tier health system which will hopefully never come back. It was inspired by a private hospital,…

Coronavirus

K2_PUBLISHED_ON Tuesday, 24 March 2020 10:23

Coronavirus: Retrospect 2040

in Poetry

Written by Chris Norris

Coronavirus: retrospect 2040 by Christopher Norris It’s twenty years ago and moreCoronavirus hit.It hit the sick, it hit the poor,And shares went quickly through the floor,But we said ‘wait a bit, why notStay calm and wait a bit?’. For we saw how it just might go,This re-run of old scenesThat…

Covid19

K2_PUBLISHED_ON Monday, 16 March 2020 16:16

We Don't Expect Napoleon To Fill Our Glass With Courvoisier Cognac Any Time Soon

in Poetry

Written by Fred Voss

We Don't Expect Napoleon To Fill Our Glass With Courvoisier Cognac Any Time Soon by Fred Voss We make parts for a company that wants to send a manto Marsbut all we need to do is leave the hard concrete floor of our machine shopand step inside our company offices…

K2_PUBLISHED_ON Monday, 16 March 2020 15:16

Resurging

in Poetry

Written by David Betteridge

David Betteridge presents a major new long poem, a meditation on last December's setback to the socialist Left. Illustrations are by his longtime friend and collaborator, Bob Starrett, official artist at the Upper Clyde Shipyard Work-In in 1972. RESURGING In memory of Albert Marsden, Scunthorpe steelworker, trade union official, community…

K2_PUBLISHED_ON Sunday, 08 March 2020 09:44

Capital and Christ's message: For Ernesto Cardenal

in Poetry

Written by Chris Norris

Chris Norris presents a poem in honour of Ernesto Cardenal (1925 – 2020) Ernesto Cardenal, who died on March 1st this year, was a Nicaraguan poet, Marxist, Catholic priest and lifelong left activist who fought a protracted campaign against the more conservative wing of Catholic religious and social doctrine. When…

Ernesto Cardenal

Thursday, 05 March 2020 10:57

Politics and Poetry

Written by Chris Norris

in Poetry

Politics and Poetry: two views by Chris Norris They ask me: why the antique style?Why have them rhyme and scan?Why fiddle while Rome burns, or whileOur lives go down the pan? It’s rough-house stuff, the stuff we need,Red-hot with scorn and rage,Not stuff for owlish types to readOff some age-yellowed…

Wednesday, 04 March 2020 13:02

Poet, priest, politician and revolutionary: RIP Ernesto Cardenal

Written by Tim Hollins

in Poetry

Tim Hollins pays homage to Ernesto Cardenal (1925 - 2020), Nicaraguan poet, priest, politician, and revolutionary Perhaps only in Nicaragua would those 4 terms sit easily to describe one extraordinary figure from the Sandinista Revolution – Ernesto Cardenal, who has died aged 95. Best known as Minister for Culture (1979…

Monday, 02 March 2020 15:18

The Shipping Forecast

Written by Kevin Higgins

in Poetry

The Shipping Forecast by Kevin Higgins Back when the three giant liners,Britannia, Eurasia, and Sweet Land of Libertyweren’t all simultaneously taking on tonnes of water,you didn’t have to thinkabout what makes them float. After loading your gut at the buffetwith more prawns and chocolate cheesecakethan it could be trusted to…

super Tuesday

Monday, 02 March 2020 12:58

Brexit Music

Written by P. W. Bridgman

in Poetry

Brexit Music (After Louis MacNeice) by P. W. Bridgman It’s no go the cavernous yawns, its no go sermons in Chinglish.All we want is a Sunday jaunt to a bar where the barmaids aren’t Polish.Young Vicar Ng’s lost half the flock; his wife’s gone over to Rome.After 17 hours of…