The war machine’s greed

George Monbiot was speaking over Al's shoulder, of the vandals who are wrecking the earth, and spoke of the energy industries, water and other extractive activities. But I didn't hear him name the "war machine", the defense and security industry, the military-industrial complex or the fin-tech infosys sustaining it all. When the masses are happy … Continue reading The war machine’s greed

Ethics and poetry: just a trash bag

I have been re-watching The Good Place and recapitulating reading I did a year or two ago. Warning: suicidality, violence, PTSD Doing bad things and having bad outcomes: selling a cure you know does not work to someone who doesn't need it; phishing attacks on pensions and payments through cold calling, website spoofing, and scam … Continue reading Ethics and poetry: just a trash bag

Contact?

A student of the theatre contacted me. I have "papers" and old photos of, by and about Mrs Oscar Beringer (born Amy - or Aimee - Daniell) and her daughters Esme and Vera Beringer. I understand that they may have been played down in the History of Theatre. Because they were women? Were they the … Continue reading Contact?

What I need to do?

Tell myself into the story that needs to be told. About the truth of kindness in all things. But, wait. Is there also a truth of uncaring? There seem to be people who care more and care less. There are times that I care more or less. And things in all these things about which … Continue reading What I need to do?

Good at anything

It is really hard to be really good at anything... thinking of athletics and poetry. The step from fun-run to club runner is huge. And, from club to national team is almost inconceivable. In any sport. Art is different. The rules are unwritten. The class boundaries, permeable. Tastes change. The courage it takes to set … Continue reading Good at anything

Foldy Things

I have been making "Foldy Things": small pamphlets, one A6 (two-fold from A4) and one A7 on light card. The current versions of these are in print and on soundcloud, and posted here with links, below. I have realised I need a QR code... Looking for another story Bringing the timber home. A poem is … Continue reading Foldy Things

Doing it at all

When so many, or at least some, do so much, so well, or well enough why do I bother? There is the doing it as well as the best. But, is there also the Bo Jo bother of not quite working hard enough? Literal and allegorical: did too much instant karma get me? Wanting to … Continue reading Doing it at all

Making models

Phil asked me, as some have done before, what do I want to do with my poetry. Besides bring in a new age of peace and prosperity with compassion for all life, of course. And, yes, I do want that, but I do two things. I make models of the world as it is, and … Continue reading Making models

Recording in a studio

Yesterday I booked two hours at our community recording studio, Soundworks, at Blackbird Leys Community Centre. I recorded nine poems. Hear them on SoundCloud https://soundcloud.com/thelastpoet. https://soundcloud.com/thelastpoet. I am getting used to SoundCloud and what it can and cannot do. In the studio, for two hours I got about 18 minutes of poetry recorded, listened and … Continue reading Recording in a studio

Diaspora 101

I am a naive user of federated social media. Loved the Adobe Air Tweetdeck when Twitter's api was still open. But that is an old story. I just opened an account on the big Diaspora pod, diasp.org. I loved the idea of Diaspora Now it has to have a phone app. And Fedilab works well … Continue reading Diaspora 101