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

Tuesday, 21 March 2023 10:31

Bernard’s Good Record

Written by John Freeman

in Poetry

Bernard’s Good Record by John Freeman A fairly good record, says the manager. It’s a very good record, Bernard says. Off for two weeks after Christmas this year and last year, a pattern, or coincidence? Coincidence, says Bernard just as firmly, I broke my ankle last year, falling over a…

Thursday, 16 March 2023 15:20

The Bread and Roses Poetry Award 2023

Written by Culture Matters

in Poetry

We are very pleased to announce that thanks to support from Newcastle Trades Union Council, the seventh Bread and Roses Poetry Award is now open until the end of September for entries. Our mission is to promote cultural democracy in all the arts and other cultural activities. We have been…

Wednesday, 15 March 2023 08:15

Sinking Sunella

Written by David Erdos

in Poetry

Sinking Sunella by David Erdos Like a reverse shepherd she stands Dispelling flocks into darkness For there is no light from Sunella As she seeks to wreak the same spell As unpriti Patel, whose monstrous heart Made air ugly and so Braverman casts Dense reflection across the shallow But sin-streaked…

refugees Sunella Braverman

K2_PUBLISHED_ON Saturday, 04 March 2023 09:17

Five Ways Of Thinking About Society and Politics

in Poetry

Written by David Betteridge

FIVE WAYS OF THINKING ABOUT SOCIETY & POLITICS by David Betteridge, with drawing above by Bob Starrett Three of the five ways of thinking expressed beloware overly deterministic, and therefore dangerous; the other two ways are better... He is a reckless driver and a wrong-headedphilosopher. I would sooner ride in…

K2_PUBLISHED_ON Saturday, 18 February 2023 10:16

let’s have more poets like Xu Lizhi

in Poetry

Written by Martin Hayes

let’s have more poets like Xu Lizhi by Martin Hayes Xu Lizhi was a poet and worker at the Foxconn factory in Shenzhen. He commited suicide in 2014 by jumping off the roof of his dormitory building let’s have more poets like Xu Lizhilet’s have more of their iron exposedlike…

K2_PUBLISHED_ON Saturday, 11 February 2023 08:25

Punches Full of Peace and Phones Full of Tomorrows: Two poems by Fred Voss

in Poetry

Written by Fred Voss

Punches Full of Peace by Fred Voss Fist-knockshave replaced handshakesin this machine shopinstead of squeezing palms we hold out fistsand bump knuckles in the airbetween usI guess it is a way to say we are ready to fightbut won’tour knucklesthat could break teeth wanting onlyto squeeze wrencheshold granddaughtersrubacross the drawers…

K2_PUBLISHED_ON Tuesday, 07 February 2023 08:53

New Broom

in Poetry

Written by Paul Francis

New Broom by Paul Francis Who could they get to sort the Windrush mess?Ex-cop inspector Wendy Williamsopened the can of worms, filed a report.Two hundred and seventy pages fullof thirty measures to be carried out.It would take time and work to put this right. How could this outfit ditch hostility?The…

Windrush Suella Braverman

Wednesday, 01 February 2023 15:39

Capital

Written by Gabriel Rosenstock

in Poetry

níl súil ina cheanndhá pholl dhú' ag stánadh orainnníl aon anam ann géaga leata mar bhultúr chun barróg a bhreith orainn look, he has no eyesjust two black holes in his headand he has no soul his arms spread like vulture wings to hold us in his embrace ---------------- Wiener…

Wednesday, 25 January 2023 09:27

We Are Here To Stay: Poems by Tawfiq Zayyad

Written by Nick Moss

in Poetry

At the start of 2023, the state of Israel installed a new government. This new ultranationalist religious cabinet included Itamar Ben-Gvir, a lawyer who had already established himself as a committed defender of far-right Jewish settlers. Ben-Gvir, of the Religious Zionism faction, is a follower of the racist terrorist Meir…

Sunday, 22 January 2023 09:04

If....

Written by Martin Rowson

in Poetry

If by Martin Rowson If you can keep your head when all about youAre telling you its contents don't inspire;If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,Based on evidence that you're a liar;If you could say, when you stood for election.That you'd do this or that, however crass,While…

His Majesty's Most Loyal Leader of the Opposition

Sunday, 15 January 2023 09:47

I Always Thought I'd Live

Written by Culture Matters

in Poetry

We're very sad to hear of the death of Kevin Higgins, one of our most regular contributors since Culture Matters began. Our deepest sympathies go to his widow, Susan. Below is his last poem, with thanks to the Galway Advertiser for permission to publish the poem and the image above.…