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, 16 June 2022 09:30

Have a Joycesome Bloomsday!

Written by David Betteridge

in Poetry

Bloomsday 2022 by David Betteridge, with image by William Murphy Dear language-king,you crafted sovereign treasuresthat we glutton readers crave.Dire digger in the rib of too-too-solid, sullied flesh,thanks for the blessings and the blissyour mintings gave.Unflaggingly, your Yes-wellsspring. Wharnow are alle your brainbairns, say?Not gone to Kingdoom come, thank Gud!think Gutenberg!…

Wednesday, 15 June 2022 19:55

Anti-war, anti-capitalist and anti-colonial: 'Ecstatic', by Kevin Higgins

Written by Polina Cosgrave

in Poetry

Kevin Higgins’ sixth poetry collection under the sardonic title “Ecstatic” starts with a dedication to the recently married Julian and Stella Assange, and this initial gesture is a perfect set-up for the poetic world we are about to enter. Prepare to be disillusioned, experience embarrassment for your government, mourn the…

Friday, 10 June 2022 10:28

queeny land / ’er indoors

Written by Fran Lock

in Poetry

queeny land / ’er indoors by Fran Lock i coined us a country. ’er indoors is a branked scold crowned at the kirk, hands in the hingedpillory of power, confession’sfork between breast and neck.’er indoors is milking a shrew’sfiddle into music. smiles as ’erwrithes, is kitsching the gildedfreight of flame,…

queenhood

K2_PUBLISHED_ON Wednesday, 08 June 2022 21:20

Levelling Up

in Poetry

Written by Jenny Mitchell

Levelling Up by Jenny Mitchell, with image by Martin Gollan They will not show this on the evening news – our mother kneeling down at Number Ten – a place of work and routine bacchanals – to scrub red wine stains from the office carpet.As vomit hits the wall above…

K2_PUBLISHED_ON Wednesday, 08 June 2022 11:11

The Holding Pen

in Poetry

Written by Rita Ann Higgins

The Holding Pen by Rita Ann Higgins When did we becomeso filled with anxiety and fearat the prospect of a holiday in the sunor a visit to friends abroad? It’s your fault if you’re earlyit’s your fault if you’re lateit’s your fault if you’re old Its written on your boarding…

Heathrow Gatwick Dublin Austerity

K2_PUBLISHED_ON Monday, 06 June 2022 09:19

Thrills and difficulties: Being a Marxist poet in 21st Century Ireland

in Poetry

Written by Kevin Higgins

for Susan Millar DuMars More than a quarter of a century ago a man-child called Kevin retired from politics as he turned twenty-seven. He had joined the then somewhat notorious Trotskyist group, the Militant Tendency, at the age of fifteen. After twelve years of activism, which began as a member…

K2_PUBLISHED_ON Sunday, 05 June 2022 22:18

Jubilee Bunting

in Poetry

Written by Alan Morrison

Jubilee Bunting by Alan Morrison No more hoarding tissues, toilet paper, wipes,Now the nation's bingeing on jubilee bunting,Festoons of little triangles, red, blue, white,Or streams of miniature Union Jacks hatchingOut on every street, like riotous blooms,Or giant Jacks hanging as banners haranguingFrom every angle, draped butcher's aprons Bruised and bloodied…

Postjubilee blues

Friday, 03 June 2022 20:31

Britishness

Written by Jim Aitken

in Poetry

Britishness, or A Riposte To The Platinum Jubilee by Jim Aitken B – Backwardness, best exemplified by BrexitR – Royalty, the pinnacle of a class-ridden societyI – Imperialism, intentionally not spoken aboutT – Tory! Tory! Tory!I – Intellectually immobile, incurably conservativeS – Sycophancy, servility, senilityH – Habitually aghast at anything…

Friday, 03 June 2022 10:49

It All Depends

Written by Kevin Higgins

in Poetry

It All Depends by Kevin Higgins It depends what the meaning of ‘is’ is,which depends what the meaning of ‘isn’t’ is,which depends what you mean by ‘my hand’,which depends what I mean by not ‘around her waist’. It depends on the meaning of ‘know’,which depends on the meaning of ‘don’t’,which…

Platinum Jubilee

Tuesday, 31 May 2022 07:54

Do The Jubelly!

Written by Mike Jenkins

in Poetry

Do The Jubelly! by Mike Jenkins Curtsy firstStoop lowLoll your tongueDoff your capCrawl a whileKeep bentNever stand straightNose really closeTo your partner’s bumSniff sniffLick lickKeep your tongue movingAll the time -Do the corgiRoll over and yapBare your bellyWobble it like jelly -Do the shot deerFall over backwardsHold your heart -Bow…

Lovely jubbly not

Monday, 30 May 2022 14:48

The Bread and Roses Poetry Award 2022

Written by Culture Matters

in Poetry

Culture Matters is pleased to announce that the sixth Bread and Roses Poetry Award is now open for entries. As you know, our mission is to promote cultural democracy in all the arts and other cultural activities. We have been running the Bread and Roses Poetry Awards to create opportunities…