Poem of the month
Blake Morrison
Stop
As of today, the peace process will be intensified
through war. These are safe bombs, and any fatalities
will be minors. The targets are strictly military
or civilian. Anomalies may occur, but none
out of the ordinary. This release has been prepared by
official Stop
First reports indicate a major break through
hospital roofs. The bombs were strictly targeted at
random personnel. Any errors are a mere blip
on the radar screen. Until our aim is achieved we will continue
missing. In modern war, mistakes are never made
official Stop
We can confirm that many personnel now enjoy peace,
underground. Several terrorists have been
created overnight. Our smart bombs are subject only to
intelligence errors. Certain one-off tragic events
will regrettably recur. We anticipate a stepping up
of funerals Stop
In another time-zone, the bombs fall unsafely.
There are reports of urgent talk under the rubble.
Numberless children lie accounted for in morgues.
Regrettably, we are unable to offer regrets today.
This poem has been subject to certain restrictions.
Stop.
© Blake Morrison. Used by
permission.
Blake Morrison appears with John Walsh and Poetry Review editor, Fiona Sampson, in Poetry Review Speaks Out: Where now for political culture? on 23 October.
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On 23 October, Fiona Sampson will be joined by Blake Morrison and John Walsh at the Bishopsgate Institute for Poetry Review speaks out: "Where now for Political Culture?", an event considering the political currents in contemporary poetry. Listen to Fiona give a general introduction to the event.
In the final instalment of our Under The Influence series, Yang Lian will talk about how Ezra Pound's poetry gripped a whole generation of Chinese poets. Listen to him in conversation about Pound's effect on his poetry.
Poetry Unplugged is London's premier open mic night. We asked the host of the event, Niall O'Sullivan to interview the performers and the original host, John Citizen. You can listen to the readings and interviews here.
"If I could touch one percent of the hearts that the Liverpool poets have touched, then I'd be doing alright" , says Lemn Sissay. Hear him talk about the influence that Adrian Henri, Roger McGough and Brian Patten have had on his life as a writer.
On 22 May, as part of the 'Under the Influence' series 2008, Robert Minhinnick looked at the influence that Derek Walcott's Sea Grapes had on him as a young writer. Hear Minhinnick in conversation, prior to the event.
Listen to Sinéad Morrissey read her winning poem 'Through the Square Window', as well as other highlights of the National Poetry Competition 2007 prizegiving, which took place on 27 March 2008, at the October Gallery.
Poetry in the news
19 Sept
Exam board AQA has asked schools to withdraw copies of its anthology which contain Carol Ann Duffy’s poem, 'Education for Leisure'. The AQA said their decision followed complaints from teachers about the poem’s reference to knives. Many teachers have expressed concern at the decision. Carol Ann Duffy has written a new poem, 'Mrs Schofield’s GCSE', in response.
19 Sept
The autumn issue of Poetry Review: Where now for Political Culture? is out now.
17 Sept
21-year-old poet Caroline Bird, a former winner of the Poetry Society's Young Poets Award, is on the shortlist for the Dylan Thomas Prize. She is the only poet on the shortlist for the £60,000 prize which is awarded to a writer under the age of 30.
9
Sept
The Sunday Telegraph has launched a competition for Poetry for Performance. Nine winners in three different age-group categories will have their poems performed by professional actors at the Rose Theatre in Kingston, as well as being published in the newspaper. The closing date is 5 October 2008.
12 Aug
The poet Mahmoud Darwish died on 9 August at the age of 67. He published over 20 collections and his honours include the Lenin Peace Prize, a Lannan Award, a French Knighthood for Arts & letters and the Prinz Claus Award. An obituary appears in the Guardian.
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