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, 20 October 2021 09:31

The Merthyr Rising

Written by Malcolm Llywelyn

in Poetry

The Rising in Merthyr Tydfil in June 1831, led by ironstone miners and puddlers under a flag bathed in calves' blood, was a notable event in the history of the town. It was a rebellion against the repressive and exploitative policies of the ironmasters in which 24 men, women and…

Harri Webb Lewis Lewis Dic Penderyn

Wednesday, 20 October 2021 09:18

Beautiful as a picket line under a rising sun

Written by Fred Voss

in Poetry

Beautiful as a picket line under a rising sun by Fred Voss “Beautiful!”my Lead Man would exclaim as he held an aircraft part I’d cut out of aluminum up into the light of the 10,000-Watt bulbs shining down from the 70-foot-high machine shop ceilingand it WAS beautifulin those days of…

Wednesday, 20 October 2021 09:00

Brendan Kennelly

Written by Jenny Farrell

in Poetry

The Irish poet Brendan Kennelly died on 17 October, aged eighty-five. At an event for his eightieth birthday, Kennelly had said, he wanted to be remembered by his poems. His poem “Oliver to his Brother” is one that stays with me. The name Oliver still suggests Oliver Cromwell in Ireland,…

K2_PUBLISHED_ON Tuesday, 05 October 2021 12:39

Rising: A callout for an anthology of Welsh radical poetry

in Poetry

Written by Mike Jenkins

Mike Jenkins issues a callout for a new Culture Matters anthology. Image above: Rising, by Gustavius Payne On St. David’s Day, March 1st 2022, Culture Matters plans to launch a new anthology of radical Welsh poetry. It will be edited by Mike Jenkins, founder member of the Red Poets collective…

K2_PUBLISHED_ON Tuesday, 05 October 2021 10:03

William Blake at the Bridge Hotel: Ten Newcastle Poets

in Poetry

Written by Paul Summers

This new poetry anthology, sponsored and supported by Unison Newcastle City branch and Newcastle Trades Union Council, is edited and introduced by Paul Summers and illustrated with photographs by Dan Douglas. Newcastle, like most cities, has never been short of poetic representations. From the popular gin-house Victorian bards and songsmiths…

K2_PUBLISHED_ON Tuesday, 05 October 2021 09:34

Culture Matters Presents: Readings of new poetry from Smokestack and Culture Matters

in Poetry

Written by Fran Lock

Culture Matters is delighted to invite you to the second date in our monthly series of online readings. It will take place on Sunday, October the 10th at 7:00 PM. The event is hosted by Fran Lock and features two Culture Matters poets alongside two guest poets from a fellow…

K2_PUBLISHED_ON Monday, 04 October 2021 12:26

How to fast in Ramadan

in Poetry

Written by Catherine Harkness

How to fast in Ramadan by Catherine Harkness Relocate one Iraqi familyfrom London ona Friday afternoon. Ensure all services are closed,and no friends or family live nearby. Add a Serco flat above a laundrette, with a broken bicycle on the balcony,and dog poo on the stairs. Remember that asylum seekersget…

Thursday, 30 September 2021 08:23

Capitalism is working

Written by Mike Jenkins

in Poetry

Capitalism is working by Mike Jenkins We’re running out of petrolOn the road to oblivion. Food or heat the choiceFor many who are struggling. The sea and the riversHave become our enemies. Thatcher hacked identitiesMany years ago. Talk about North KoreaAs TV fawns over monarchy. We’re paying for vanity railwayAs…

Monday, 27 September 2021 08:27

Government declaration: A chancellor’s manifesto of honesty

Written by Sven Kretzschmar

in Poetry

Government declaration: A chancellor’s manifesto of honesty by Sven Kretzschmar Mr. Speaker, Sir! Members of Parliament –I said we can do it and I mean it: let’s wait and see. Our goodgovernment approach is we intend to promise to try our best to sit things out again, the way conservatives…

Angela Merkel

Friday, 24 September 2021 09:00

Britannia's Fair

Written by David Betteridge

in Poetry

Britannia's Fair by David Betteridge Thou art none of mine, Brother Lazarus,That lies begging at my gate...Dives and Lazarus (Traditional) Hey ho! Come to our fair!We’ll sell you bonds, we’ll sell you bombs, we’ll sell you everything.What harm we dowe do not care.Hey ho! Up Britannia! Who would true squalor…

Monday, 20 September 2021 15:33

Trip Advisor

Written by Martin Rowson

in Poetry

Trip Advisor by Martin Rowson When you breakfast with the cunts who put the cunt in Countryhouse HotelYou have to wonder if a single one of them would then go tellThe children who have served them with their honeyed quinoa what they’re worthAnd how meagre are the scraps the meek…