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

Thursday, 20 July 2017 21:34

one block of council flats left

Written by Martin Hayes

in Poetry

one block of council flats left by Martin Hayes just one block of council flats remains in this area where we work our magic in allocating out jobs to couriersso that multinationals and £500-an-hour law firms and hedge-fund managers who look after billions of pounds can remain healthy and strong…

Sunday, 09 July 2017 14:42

The Miner

Written by Glenn Bradford

in Poetry

The Miner by Glenn Bradford Still dreams of the pit, does old Derek.Gripping the duvet in great calloused handsas if ready to swing at the coalface of the night. Stripped to the waist. A vivid reprise.Terry, Taylor and The Bull, headlamps in hand,anticipating the familiar clatter of a closing cage…

Durham Miners' Gala

Sunday, 09 July 2017 06:00

Seeing Red

Written by Jon Tait

in Poetry

Seeing Red by Jon Tait If it wasn’t hung from the ceiling in a museum,we’d paint Jeremy Corbyn’s faceon the red Lodge banneralongside Keir Hardie and Nye Bevan. We’re still going Forward with Socialismand the colours never fade;still red as the Manchester United shirtthat Bobby Charlton wore, red as the…

Durham Miners' Gala jeremy corbyn

K2_PUBLISHED_ON Tuesday, 04 July 2017 15:30

Bread and Roses Poetry Award 2017

in Poetry

Written by Mike Quille

The Bread and Roses Poetry Award, sponsored by Unite in partnership with Culture Matters, was instituted this year. The idea is to stimulate the writing of poetry about working class lives and communities, by people who otherwise might not write or enter competitions. We're very pleased that it has been…

Unite Fred Voss

K2_PUBLISHED_ON Sunday, 25 June 2017 21:18

A worker reads and asks questions

in Poetry

Written by Jenny Farrell

The recent election results showed a stunning level of support for Jeremy Corbyn and the Labour Party’s anti-austerity policies. Working people are clearly starting to ask more questions about who exactly produces the wealth in class-divided societies, including our own. Jenny Farrell’s father made this brilliant translation of one of…

K2_PUBLISHED_ON Friday, 23 June 2017 11:41

Grenfell Engulfed

in Poetry

Written by Alan Morrison

Grenfell Engulfed In memory of those who lost their lives in the Grenfell Tower fire by Alan Morrison In spite of recent refurbishments – fireproofed? –Grenfell Tower was engulfed in flames the full lengthOf its eyesore height ringed by brown-brick mansion blocks(Much better Thirties relics of curvaceous art deco);Now Grenfell…

Grenfell Tower Kensington and Chelsea Council

K2_PUBLISHED_ON Friday, 16 June 2017 13:51

On the Up

in Poetry

Written by Paul Dovey

On The Up by Paul Dovey He was on the up,He knew what to say, voted the right way,And he kept the report buried,In the time capsule under his desk,The hermetically sealed preservation of the old order. The area was on the up,Shopping centres and investors,The supersonic property boom,Legacy tenants…

Grenfell Tower

Thursday, 08 June 2017 13:56

Staring Back

Written by Manash Firaq Bhattacharjee

in Poetry

Staring Back by Manash Firaq Bhattarcharjee The eye you see is notan eye because you see it;it is an eye because it sees you.~ Antonio Machado, ‘Proverbs and Songs’ You stare at her body. You don’t seeHer eyes seeing you. Her body is a blind mannequinOf desire. When she moves,…

Tuesday, 06 June 2017 15:13

The Greatest Gift of Boris J: A New Dunciad

Written by Chris Norris

in Poetry

The Greatest Gift of Boris J:a New Dunciad by Christopher Norris The greatest gift of Boris JWas having lots of things to sayThat sounded smart but very soonRevealed him as a prize buffoon.His father quickly saw the boyWas most unlikely to enjoyPreferment of the kind that cameOf native wit, since…

Boris Johnson Boris Johnson's Dad

Saturday, 03 June 2017 18:45

An Irish Politician Speaks

Written by Kathryn Keane

in Poetry

An Irish Politician Speaks by Kathryn Keane Of course what you're doingis phenomenal, I've no doubt aboutthat, and I'll stay safely behind youevery step of the way.And of course it's a fine cause,something we should all besupporting, and all it needsis someone just like youto lead the way and someone…

Saturday, 03 June 2017 08:29

Mud

Written by Susan Millar DuMars

in Poetry

Mud by Susan Millar DuMars You did right to stay put. We admire you. You, with your gun and your country. Your children squat in the mud they were made from. We want to help you. Those who ran, are still running, they’re not noble. Not solid. They flit and…