Larkin 25 - England 2009 By Robert Swan

In a country stable, But unstable, Crumbling, but locked down. Inside. Those that make-up the beast, Benefit from its apparent confinement. Well-groomed and watching all. As those that serve the beast, Take shelter below the jagged Shadow of its controlled protection. Paid well TO preserve TO maintain TO continue TO ignore. Those selected to satisfy, Carefully positioned. Addictive Materialism Provides its perimeter Needs THAT fake contentment THAT mimic satisfaction THAT cancel stubborn-compassion. And ALL under the beast, Hoping never to reflect In the depth of its clinical eye. ALL collected ALL numbered and pinned ALL ready for silent internal examination. The beast become butcher Eating us all and demanding more, Eating us all and demanding more.

Copyright © Robert Swan 2011

Poetry - Toad on a Grecian Urn By Ashley Fisher

Why should I let the toad Larkin squat on my verse? Like a cut-price Lourdes, there is his image for sale, on a fridge magnet or a disposable cigarette lighter or perhaps some beer mats or postcards or his unmistakable amphibian visage. Read more...

Poetry Michaelmas Term By Pamela Scobie

Some bugger's been sick outside the front gate, Prawn Tikka Masala's my guess, (Well, it's pimply and pink) and I'm already late And it's stuck to my shoe, so, yes - The students are back. Queues of clueless cloned blondes Clog up all the cashpoints, their hobbled young Johns In perilous trousers, more saggy and creased Than the bums of starved African tots. Three abreast, Read more...

Poetry - A Modern Christmas Carol By Terry Ireland

No Christmas at our house this year Cos Santa's in the jug. He got careless with his shopping And they videoed his mug. He explained it was just an impulse And he was in a state of shock He really had no idea of the time. Early morning, really, four o'clock! Read more...

Poetry Juicier Than a Piece of Fruit By Adriana Fanigliulo

Juicer than a piece of fruit, the plum-b-er comes to the flat With copper pipes and cutters, And thermostatic valves He makes hot water run, Changing the direction of buildings' circulatory systems Read more...

Poetry - Gospel Truths By Terry Ireland

I find no problem really in the belief in a supreme god, it's only the forms of its worship that seem so rather odd. Some preach love and understanding and an adherence to its will, but if others worship differently there's such a readiness to kill. Read more...

Poetry Larkin25 - Plastic Bits (with Video) By Catherine Scott

I was walking down the street just the other day When I met this woman who had something to say She said, 'Look at me girl don't I look fantastic I got high heeled shoes and they're made outta plastic' I got a plastic bag and a plastic purse I got my husband this plastic nurse I got my son this plastic tank Read more...

Poetry Larkin25 - Growing Older Gracefully By Catherine Scott

As I grow older and I start to shrink And my hearing and eye sight goes on the blink Do you think there's any possibility? That I might grow older gracefully? Will my skin go all thin and papery? Will I need a stick 'cos I walk shakily? Will hairs start growing out of my ears? But to be quite honest - that's the least Read more...

Poetry - Larkin25 - Dave The Evacuee By David Bannister

You'll have to go, my parents said, Now eat your supper and go to bed. The war had started, that awful day, Tomorrow we'd be sent away. My two sisters seemed unaware, Of the trauma we'd about to bear. Sent to school the next day, And packed on buses, were on our way. Read more...

Poetry - Larkin 25 - A Phone Call to Philip Larkin By Liz Healey

Hello, is that Philip? I just want to say That I LOVED your toads, and they've gone a long way To give us Hull folk a great deal of fun, My friend's made a book of them all, with her son. The kids danced and climbed on them, hugged them to death With grans, mums and dads all out of breath Doing the trail, and enjoying the sun; But Philip, just listen, I couldn't get one. Read more...

Poetry - Larkin 25 - Me Selfish? No! By Brian Cotton

Married? You want to get married? Are you having a laugh? Sorry for sounding snappy, But why spoil what we have? No, that's never going to happen, I ain't moving in, It's against my religion, I aint living in sin. Read more...

Poetry - Larkin 25 - The Demon Driver of Holderness By David Thompson

With monobosom, crocheted hat, When once behind the wheel she's sat, This luminary of the ladies circle, Around the country roads will hurtle, At breakneck speed from place to place, To With and back at blistering pace, O'er the hill and down the dell, White knuckle ride, bat out of hell, Read more...

Poetry Larkin 25 - Without You By John Fewings

Without you - Sweet and sour would just taste bitter, Every street be filled with litter. I'd exercise but not get fitter, Need laughing gas to raise a titter - Without you. Granny Smiths would be less juicy, There'd be no gander for the goosey, Read more...

Poetry - Larkin 25 - Distraction By Robert Swan
	I was looking at your legs, Those curves that sway down To your toes. I was enjoying your lips, Then your eyes; Then your nose. I was lost on a pathway I would love to retrace, Across the pristine paradise Read more...

Poetry - Larkin25 - Pointless Journey By Mark Walmsley
	As I sit here, In this half way, Cafe Staring blankly through The rain soaked window Pushing unwanted food Around my plate, all chipped and dirty My half eaten breakfast, Read more...

Poetry - Larkin 25 - The University of Hull Students Union By Julie Corbett

With the right shoes and standing away from the Dance floor; you can feel a sticky ooze in the carpet of John McCarthy's Bar. Not strong enough to hold you fast, it tells of Happy Hours and those Real Ale fests where Read more...

Poetry - Larkin25 - To Skipper Pete By Terry Ireland

Today I walked the Humber Bank Across the old locks On in the grey drizzle Through the old town docks; Normally a solitary walk but Today I happened to meet An ex trawler skipper from Our old deep sea fishing fleet. He told me the fleet still existed Read more...

Poetry - Larkin 25 - This Be The Verse By Bronwyn Ellis
	They fuck you up The politicians They may not mean to But they do They fill you up with endless lies False promises made just for you But they were fucked up in their turn When Eaton moulded the young MPs A stiff upper lip as a stiff lower member Read more...

Poetry Larkin 25 - Rock and Soul By Kerry-Joe Pulford

And he stared at me forever, Like he wanted to lick me, Like I was rock with 'Soul' writ through me, And if he just had money, house, car and a ring He could be one of us, and talk about things I could sense his anguish, well this bit - The 'Take him to the pub and make him fit' shit. But I couldn't turn away, Read more...

Poetry - War Broke Out When I Was Young By George William Beswick

The War broke out when I was young, And I'd never been away, And then the 'call up' papers came, To join in the affray. And on a January morn, 'Mid lots of frost and snow, I left my dear beloved home, To be a soldier I must go Read more...

Poetry - Remembrance Day By Terry Ireland

I sat there in silence as the 11th hour chimed just a little tribute BBC timed then for those few who bothered the world set off again not a fitting tribute for those lost women and men Read more...

Poetry - Blitzed Not Broken By David Bannister

What is this talk about a war? They can't be right, they can't be sure. But they were right I soon learnt, The bombed our city, how it all burnt. The city was ours, the name was Hull, A man called Hitler had started his cull. It never took him very long, September the fourth he came along. Read more...

Poetry - For Those Who Died By Ted Harben

If pale at the concrete centre of town There stood on Remembrance Day, A soldier in blood-stained battle-dress With a tin, and a poppy tray, Could you hurry by with head held high With never a glance his way At his wounded side, his hands, his feet Read more...