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

Friday, 12 June 2020 09:36

Bad magic

Written by Martin Rowson

in Poetry

Bad Magic by Martin Rowson All human beings start out female,The human species started black;It takes some pretty fucked-up magic To turn all of that on its back. All human beings are born as socialBeasts who need to help and shareBut fucked-up wizardry has fucked us Convincing us we mustn't…

Thursday, 11 June 2020 10:08

Sounds of the Seventies

Written by Martin Rowson

in Poetry

Sounds of the Seventies by Martin Rowson Stumbling out of LockdownLike a 70s British porn starFalling shackled from the wardrobe,Streaky Y-fronts round your ankles,When her old man comes home early because the abattoir's closed down. Opening up the schoolsLike the janitor in "Please Sir!",Kids' heads caught in the railingsAnd bodging…

Covid19 Utter shambles

Tuesday, 09 June 2020 13:26

Balloons

Written by Martin Rowson

in Poetry

Balloons by Martin Rowson Each night they tied a fresh balloon to A fence post in the field. You could see them from the by-passed old coast road, A bouncing pinprick beyond the nettles Each balloon the same dull colour as The last one, pukish ochre, But each day with…

K2_PUBLISHED_ON Tuesday, 09 June 2020 10:55

Handbook for 2021

in Poetry

Written by Jane Burn

Handbook for 2021 by Jane Burn You will open the dowdy curtains to a view of perfect snowYour morning’s wardrobe is a coffin of wool Blissful sun will bleed the trees of iceDusk is a mild lambYou will fall asleep to the sound of gentle rain Today is all your…

K2_PUBLISHED_ON Tuesday, 09 June 2020 09:34

All the Swings are Gone

in Poetry

Written by Karl Parkinson

Karl Parkinson is a poet and novelist from north inner city Dublin. He is well known for his spoken word performances and videos, like the one at the end of this piece Karl has published a novel, The Blocks (New Binary Press), and two collections of poetry: Litany of the…

K2_PUBLISHED_ON Friday, 05 June 2020 08:54

Today the young people are marching in the streets

in Poetry

Written by Fred Voss

Today the young people are marching in the streets by Fred Voss, with image by Martin Gollan The young are marchingyoung as the Golden Rulethe first human eye turned toward the heavens in wonderyoung as a raindropa hammer blow cracking the BastilleBlakeseeing his first angela knee is on our neckbut…

George Floyd I can't breathe

K2_PUBLISHED_ON Thursday, 04 June 2020 09:54

Guard your stash

in Poetry

Written by Martin Rowson

Guard your Stash by Martin Rowson Guard your stashGuard your stashThough your mouth's a toothless gashLike the slits in all those throats which you have secretly had slashedGuard your stash Guard your stashGuard your stashThough your ponytail's panacheWas, despite a certain brashness, thrown away with last year's trashGuard your stash…

Wednesday, 03 June 2020 20:20

I can't breathe

Written by Joan Jobe Smith Voss

in Poetry

I Can’t Breathe by Joan Jobe Smith Voss I can’t breathe.The smoke from the pyre burning me alivebecause my name is Joan in Rouen chokes me.Othello smothers me with a pillow.Bill Sykes bludgeons me with his walkingstick till I fall to the floor, face down in Dickens dust.Jack the Ripper…

Wednesday, 03 June 2020 15:01

Plague Songs - It Cures What Ails Ya!

Written by Martin Rowson

in Poetry

Plague Songs - It Cures What Ails Ya! by Martin Rowson One should not mock the chronic sick,And nor should we mock DominicWhose road-based therapies recall,Damascus-bound, those of St PaulWho was, you lot should be reminded,On a road trip when unblinded.Dom need make no apology!It’s not just opthalmologyThat sees Road…

Dominic Cummings Covid19

Monday, 01 June 2020 13:55

A review of Almarks

Written by Sheenagh Pugh

in Poetry

Sheenagh Pugh reviews a recent poetry anthology from Culture Matters Off Skyros at midnightThe heads of the little drowned childrenGently knock against the hulls of the yachts. - Stuart Hannay This is an anthology of radical poems from living poets in Shetland, which at once raises the question of “what’s…

Monday, 01 June 2020 07:56

Darkening

Written by Steve Pottinger

in Poetry

Darkening by Steve Pottinger for george under a darkening skywe sit round a log fireout there cities are burningthe planet is burning and i can’t breathe out there people are dyingin hospitals in care homesalone in bedsits with the kneeof a cop pressed into their neck and i can’t breathe…

I can't breathe George Floyd