BARBARA BOSWELL remembers South African poet, storyteller, publisher, editor and activist Diana Ferrus (1953-2026)
Latest editorial
Aftertaste
By ROSS WILSON
HELEN VASSALLO recommends a gripping Argentinian crime story about gender violence and the weaponisation of religion
New releases from Steve Swallow, Neil Young & The Chrome Hearts, and Ady Johnson
When the ravages of Alzheimer’s leave an elderly woman marooned in painful memories of October 1950, her grandchild comes up with a creative strategy.
New releases from Simone White, Brass Funkeys, and Souad Massi
SUE TURNER is compelled by a history that shows how far a country can turn in on itself to collude with abuses of power
RON JACOBS is persuaded by the parallel drawn between Charles Manson and Donald Trump
Covid comes up every so often
though much is a blank or a blur
or something sour in a cup
that when you swallow you wear
the aftertaste in a grimace.
Drop a detail on the floor
and like a match tossed to straw
dark corners are lit on what we saw:
how sick the patients were!
Would there be enough ventilators?
Were we safe? Anxious yelling
don’t come near me as you ran
for a shower, clothes stuffed
into a dissolvable bag you ram
into the machine on a high wash.
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ANDY CROFT welcomes the publication of an anthology of recent poems published by the Morning Star, and hopes it becomes an annual event
RUTH AYLETT reviews two collections of outright political poetry
The Labour Party proposal to scrap benefits for those unable to work will be debated in Parliament next Tuesday, and threatens the most vulnerable in our society. ALAN MORRISON presents some responses in poetry
By Alexis Lykiard