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, 24 January 2020 10:57

Peephole

Written by Owen Gallagher

in Poetry

Peephole by Owen Gallagher, with image by Jon Addison When a Conservative candidate callsRuth wears a blue rosette. When a Labour candidate knocksshe reaches for red. If there’s a rapid rap she freezesat the thought of her grandparents rising as smoke from a chimney.

Holocaust Memorial Day

Thursday, 23 January 2020 19:40

Prime Ministerial Couplets

Written by Edward Mackinnon

in Poetry

Prime Ministerial Couplets by Edward Mackinnon Not favouring CurryJohn had his way with her, but wouldn’t promote herShe was salmonella poison to the loyal Tory voter Suppliers of corpses His Edinburgh schooling must have taught Blairhe needed a Bush just as Burke needed Hare Economic BraveheartNo return to boom and…

John Major Tony Blair Gordon Brown David Cameron Theresa May Boris Johnson

Monday, 20 January 2020 19:34

Knight of the Gutter

Written by Alan Morrison

in Poetry

Knight of the Gutter (aka Iain Duncan Smith's Got a Knighthood) by Alan Morrison The media smeared Jeremy Corbyn for good,Ensured a catastrophic election result,A thumping majority for Boris's cult,And Iain Duncan Smith's got a knighthood. The real change we needed exchanged for gnarled woodOf Parliament's ingrained gig-hegemony,Members be branded…

K2_PUBLISHED_ON Friday, 17 January 2020 09:46

An Eton Mess

in Poetry

Written by Chris Norris

An Eton Mess by Christopher Norris, with cartoon by Martin Gollan We’re in an Eton mess, my friends,We’re in an Eton mess.Those posh-boy crooks have cocked their snooksAnd cooked the books when no one looks:That’s how it goes I guess, my friends,That’s how it goes I guess. We’re back up…

Boris Johnson

K2_PUBLISHED_ON Sunday, 12 January 2020 18:40

Saints Not Servants

in Poetry

Written by Craig Campbell

Saints Not Servants by Craig Campbell On a distant radioDigital – as modern emperorsThought of Chinese silkThe faint whispers of a Boro chantRap outThrough the corridors of Holme HouseA prison built on Stockton wastelandWith righteous handsWhere else would the ToriesCrack whipsThrough the smogAnd stale chipsDesignate the square root of the…

K2_PUBLISHED_ON Friday, 03 January 2020 09:41

What They Don’t Know Is

in Poetry

Written by Kevin Higgins

What They Don’t Know Is by Kevin Higgins That this cannot be avoided by everyone wearing protective glasses.That the contents of their half-full cups are about to evaporate.That the University will remain closed until further notice.That Kim Kardashian’s arse has been abolished.That the idea of tomorrow is suddenly quaint as…

Trump Iran

K2_PUBLISHED_ON Thursday, 02 January 2020 18:54

Fixers: post-election thoughts

in Poetry

Written by Chris Norris

Fixers: post-election thoughts by Christopher Norris, with image by Martin Gollan Now the year was twenty-twentyAnd the times were looking bad,For although the rich had plentyThey clung tight to what they had. There were rich folk in big houses,There were poor folk on the street,And the rich said 'stuff your…

Monday, 30 December 2019 22:36

After the Latest Defeat

Written by David Betteridge

in Poetry

After the Latest Defeatby David Betteridge The defenders are not demoralised,nor do they abandon their positions,even among the ruins,nor do they lose faith in their own strengthor their own future. - Antonio Gramsci I Can wells,that a long drought made bitter,self-restore? Can sparks,scattered from a beaten fire,be raked in, and…

Sunday, 29 December 2019 09:18

The Tory Cake

Written by Robert Phoenix

in Poetry

The Tory Cake by Robert Phoenix For the Tory cake add 8 pounds of the finest flour for the landed gentryAnd 2 pounds of sugar for the corporate rich bastards For the exploited working-class cakeadd 4 pounds of wood shavings and some floor dust and a tiny thimble full of…

Tuesday, 24 December 2019 09:52

Tiocfaidh Do Lá

Written by Kevin Higgins

in Poetry

Tiocfaidh Do Lá by Kevin Higgins Dear great-uncle-in-law in Larne, who secretly thinks people should cease picking on the poor Duke of York. You punched the air so vigorously the night Doris Johnson won his victory and properorder was temporarily restored that your wife was about to speed-dial the cardiologist…

Wednesday, 18 December 2019 14:19

Backlash

Written by Kevin Higgins

in Poetry

Backlash by Nameafter Nina Simone by Kevin Higgins, with image by Martin Gollan The moment you grow too surehe sends the world into reverse;one by one, begins taking back your Christmas presents and keepstaking until you have lessthan you had December the first,the year you were born. He stuffs you…