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

Wednesday, 23 September 2020 16:45

'Poetry is a rival government': the poetry of William Carlos Wiliams

Written by Ciaran O Rourke

in Poetry

Ciarán O'Rourke writes about the thoroughly politicised, internationalist and anti-fascist poetry of William Carlos Williams “Mourn O Ye Angels of the Left Wing!”, Allen Ginsberg exclaimed in 1963, following the death of William Carlos Williams: “that the poet / of the streets is a skeleton under the pavement now”. The…

Monday, 21 September 2020 06:53

Homage to Henry Kissinger

Written by Kevin Higgins

in Poetry

Homage to Henry Kissinger by Kevin Higgins When Henry Kissinger again fails to die: Another tree in the Central Highlands loses all its leaves A girl sits on a visiting diplomat’s lap Someone organises a Nelson Rockefeller lookalike party Which Henry Kissinger attends An election result somewhere is declared null…

Sunday, 20 September 2020 07:21

Working-class poetics and heeding the 'cry of the poor'

Written by Fran Lock

in Poetry

Fran Lock writes about our potential to develop and publish a new kind of poetics, where solidarity and community can be fostered in moments of lyrical, dialectical tenderness. Above image by Imtiaz Dharker, from Witches, Warriors and Workers We are living through a strange and difficult time for poetry; for…

K2_PUBLISHED_ON Tuesday, 15 September 2020 12:17

The Burden of Ownership

in Poetry

Written by Jenny Mitchell

The Burden of Ownership by Jenny Mitchell He measures cost in body parts. A head paysfor a month of food; two eyes a week of drink.Christmas adds a throat. Carved out with carethe neck still holds a yoke if the chin is firmweight evenly proportioned. Four breasts pay for his…

K2_PUBLISHED_ON Tuesday, 15 September 2020 12:17

Run on the food bank

in Poetry

Written by Mick O Sullivan

Run on the food bank by Mick O'Sullivan Unwanted crumbs are swept here, for today’s bumper giveaway. Proud feathers ruffle 'midst flap and kerfuffle.Heads turn sharp, nervously taut,unblinking eyes flash then stare.Any grub is grabbed eagerly, greedily;constantly they struggle to live - or die. Edgily restive, unwilling to linger,dumbly clutching…

K2_PUBLISHED_ON Tuesday, 15 September 2020 08:36

The Rule of Law

in Poetry

Written by Martin Rowson

The Rule of Law words and image by Martin Rowson "Boris" has fucked The Rule of Law!And what's in there not to adore?Now we can batter down his doorAnd piss upon his parquet floor,Steal everything he's got, and more,Then sock the fucker on the jawAnd he can't even call The…

K2_PUBLISHED_ON Monday, 14 September 2020 09:19

Moonshot Haiku and Impressions of a Curate's Egg

in Poetry

Written by Laura Taylor

Moonshot haiku by Laura Taylor Moonshot ambition; bukkake for the nation. Pass the flannel, please. Impressions of a Curate's Egg by Laura Taylor It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. It didn't miss a trick of the Spring bells and yellows, marigold's bloom. Sitting in…

Monday, 14 September 2020 08:02

She Died Alone

Written by Mike Jenkins

in Poetry

She Died Alone by Mike Jenkins She died there in hospital,no husband, Sissy, daughter Ingridno church kin around herand at her funeral of regulation 10her own Lusamba saw the coffinand could not imagine her within. She was a mother to everyonewho was blown into Victoria stationlost for food or direction,took…

Belly Mujinga Black Lives Matter

Sunday, 06 September 2020 12:47

The People Died

Written by Karl Parkinson

in Poetry

Karl Parkinson presents The People Died, published in his recent collection Sacred Symphony (Culture Matters) The poem has been made into a video by poet and videographer Dave Lordan, and performed by myself. It's a danse macabre, an avant-garde videopoem for the 21st century that looks back on the poetic…

Arts Council Covid19 Puerto Rican Obituary

Friday, 28 August 2020 11:15

the pilgrims' way

Written by Fran Lock

in Poetry

the pilgrims' way by Fran Lock, with image by Steev Burgess here in the heat, in my membrane of grief and spleen,i have watched you, in the seizure of your ceremonies,angerlund. maudit and sly, and when will you be fullenough of siege and ante? shuffle to tuppenny aggroin carpet slippers…

Wednesday, 26 August 2020 14:45

Rue Britannia, Land of Hopeless Tories

Written by Martin Rowson

in Poetry

Rue Britannia, Land of Hopeless Tories by Martin Rowson, with image above by Tom Janssen I Rue, Britannia!Britannia, rue that knavesHave for cent-u-ariesKept us slaves! Rue, Britannia,You’ll always kid yourselfThat Pat-riot-ismWill trump wealth! II Land of hopeless Tories, Mother of the sleaze,Whose history is gory and riddled with disease,Wilder yet…

Boris Johnson