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, 03 October 2024 12:17

How can we mourn?

Written by Janet Sillett

in Poetry

How can we mourn? by Janet Sillett how can we mourn a citywho are not its victims?we do not hear the dronesor smell decay we do not feel the shaking of foundations our eulogy a distortion stretched threadbaregaslighting humanity “Don’t scroll past” but I do now, often, nearly twelve months…

Wednesday, 02 October 2024 13:40

'Cobwebs, stinky food and trick mirrors': Review of Caleb Femi's 'The Wickedest'

Written by Nick Moss

in Poetry

This is a brief review of a relatively brief text, although the brevity of the text does not reflect its significance or relevance. Caleb Femi has already enjoyed considerable recognition as a poet, for his debut collection, Poor (which won the Forward Prize for Best First Collection in 2021.) Prior…

Wednesday, 02 October 2024 08:19

Which is the Dream?

Written by Anne Irwin

in Poetry

Which is the Dream? by Ann Irwin Last night I dreamedI walked the crunchy grass at Duacheenspeckled purple and yellowragged robin vetch and trefoilsthe scent of rising tide and primrose the air cool, fresh, the sun pale the only sound, the lap of sea, squawk of diving gullthe cry of…

K2_PUBLISHED_ON Tuesday, 01 October 2024 15:47

All of You Raising a Glass: Review of 'May Day' by Jackie Kay

in Poetry

Written by Jim Aitken

May Day is Jackie Kay’s latest poetry collection. It is addressed to her parents, Helen and John Kay, who adopted her as a baby. They had both been members of the Communist Party, with John a full time official with the CPGB in his role as Industrial Organiser of the…

CPGB CND

K2_PUBLISHED_ON Saturday, 28 September 2024 07:50

Talking with Mr Strummer about the nature of the world

in Poetry

Written by Steve Pottinger

Talking with Mr Strummer about the nature of the world by Steve Pottinger “They’d send a limousine anyway…” - The Clash You were right, Joe.More right than either of us couldever have imagined. It’d make your blood run cold to see how they welcomehis private jet into their airspace,send a…

K2_PUBLISHED_ON Thursday, 26 September 2024 12:07

A Post-Election Triptych

in Poetry

Written by Alan Morrison

Fourteen Years Fourteen years have torn the nation’s soul,Ripped it apart & warped it with hate,History will recount the Tory toll. Austerity, Brexit, Windrush, Grenfell,Atos, Partygate, Do Not Resuscitate—Fourteen years have torn the nation’s soul. Social murder of 300,000 soulsDefenestrated from the welfare state—History will recount the Tory toll: Duncan-Smith,…

Tory Austerity Grenfell Windrush Brexit Atos Do Not Resuscitate Partygate social murder welfare state Duncan Smith Maria Miller Therese Coffey Mel Stride Foodbanks homeless spikes poor doors Osborne Brutannia Fit for work Make work pay Stop the Boats Hate marches sicknote culture Spanish Plume Butcher's Apron Union Jack St George Cross Agincourt Tommy Robinson Nigel Farage EDL Gammon Greggs rose garden Labour In Name Only (LINO) No Pasaran

K2_PUBLISHED_ON Wednesday, 25 September 2024 08:01

A Beginner’s Guide to 4-D Chess

in Poetry

Written by Steve Pottinger

A Beginner’s Guide to 4-D Chess by Steve Pottinger, with image above by Martin Rowson Play the man, and not the ball.Sneer about 2019, the impotenceof protest. Say nothing of slaughter. Talk tough on benefits in your free suit, glasses, shoes.Mention veterans. Stop boats. Glastonbury tickets trump digital tax.You have…

Keir Starmer Labour Party conference

Monday, 23 September 2024 10:02

Bread and Roses Poetry Award 2024 - the winners!

Written by Culture Matters

in Poetry

The five winners of the seventh Bread and Roses Poetry Award are: Linda Burnett, Amy Fox, Bernadette Gallagher, John F. Keane, and Nicholas McGaughey. £100 will wing its wandering way to their worthy workers' wallets, and we'll publish an anthology online, soon. We'll also produce a printed version, by the…

Monday, 16 September 2024 10:03

To Be Done

Written by Alexander Kindness

in Poetry

There are many reports about children being recruiting into armed forces in a few different places, eg here and here. Image above: Child Soldier in the Ivory Coast, Gilbert G. Groud, 2007 To Be Done a monologue begging from the poor with a broken bowl and a lost name the…

Monday, 09 September 2024 11:30

The Harlot & The Rake

Written by Culture Matters

in Poetry

Fran Lock introduces The Harlot & The Rake by Peter Raynard, a new pamphlet from Culture Matters which is free to download below, with donation if possible. The front and back cover images are by Martin Rowson William Hogarth (1697–1764) was an English painter, printmaker, and social satirist, best known…

Saturday, 07 September 2024 13:41

Two poems for students, by Jenny Mitchell

Written by Jenny Mitchell

in Poetry

Image above by Chad MCail Abecedarian for Higher Education A news account some years ago said several Bereaved parents formed a group,Commissioned a report into studentDeaths. Why so many suicides Entering the final year? Was it fear ofFailed exams, or as written in the note a Girl scrawled just before…