Leonard Cohen
Leonard was often described as a Ladies Man and many of his poems are about romance (and sex). But they are also religious, self-analytical, meditative and this rhyme makes that point.
Category: Opinion pieces
Powder, Snow, Dust, Blow, Pearl, White
Addiction. Cocaine. Which is the parasite - the user or the pusher?
Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan is the great survivor – the real deal in an age of passing music stars. Often incomprehensible, often mumbling, often surreal, he has carved his own legend.
Great Again? (Trump…)
‘Make America Great Again’ – a meaningless Trump soundbite. Create a fairer society with decent jobs to heal a divided nation. But relax: it isn't posh poetry. By John Pritchard. Info: Make America Great Again’ is a meaningless Trump soundbite. The way to heal a divided nation is to create decent jobs for everyone (of whatever race or creed).
Fickle Finger Of Fate
The fickle finger of fate – but has science overtaken fate?
I am a refugee
I am a Refugee – life and death from Syria. But relax: it isn't posh poetry. By John Pritchard.
Five cents tax on a thousand bucks
Apple’s outrageous tax-dodging using Irish loopholes. How the super-cool company ain’t so cool.. But relax: it isn't posh poetry. By John Pritchard.
Farage, Gove & Johnson
Farage, Gove & Johnson – the three politicians at the heart of the BREXIT campaign. And what lies were told! But relax: it isn't posh poetry. By John Pritchard.
Black Lives Matter (Slavery and Brutality)
A tribute to the Black Lives Matter campaign. A protest song for the 21st century (not the ‘60s).
Sapper Smith is Resting Now
The story of a (fictitious) British soldier killed in Afghanistan – a total of 453 were killed during the 13 years of official conflict (2001-2014. It highlights the sacrifices made, the fighting skills of the Afghans, and the inability of foreigners to conquer Afghanistan. Hopefully this is done in a way that does not disrespect any of the participants. The words are set against a blues soundtrack.
Repeal 8 (It’s a Sin for Sinners to Get Off For Free)
Repeal 8 - It’s a Sin for Sinners to Get Off For Free– a rhyme with sound and music about illegal backstreet abortion in Eire (the 8th Amendment, and Protection of Life During Pregnancy Act 2013, only allow abortion when it is needed to save the life of the woman). But relax: it isn't posh poetry. By John Pritchard. Info: An unpleasant tale based on an unpleasant law. In Eire, the 8th Amendment, and the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Act 2013, only allow abortion when it is needed to save the life of the woman. ‘Social’ abortion is not possible - instead it is trip to a backstreet abortionist or a trip abroad. This rhyme is graphic and shocking because the reality of backstreet abortion is shocking – and the whole point of this story is to protest at the consequence of the Eire law. More information from the Repeal8 campaign. Please note that there are two versions of the audio. The ‘Standard version’ is PG-level and just unpleasant. The ‘Warning: Explicit version’ is very unpleasant.
We all love social media – it has transformed our lives. But, as always there are some weirdoes who misuse it and who seem to have lost the plot ('sad losers, nutters and trolls, venomous posters, simply lost souls'). Why aren’t the the likes of Facebook doing more to control these people (they have got the money; they have got the resources) and maybe they should be made more accountable?
Poetry People
Why is modern poetry so difficult, heavy, inaccessible, academic and elitist? Why do poetry people diss rhyme – which most ordinary people prefer?
The Empire
The News of the World systematically tapped phones for many years. It was not just the phones of celebs, royalty, and the famous – it included the phone of a murdered schoolgirl. And it was accompanied by lies, deceit, and corporate misbehavior that threatened to engulf Rupert Murdoch and his empire. To the surprise of many, he and his senior staff apparently knew nothing about these illegal goings-on, and didn’t ask where these exclusive stories were coming from. But a Parliamentary select committee report concluded that Murdoch "exhibited willful blindness to what was going on in his companies and publications," and stated that he was "not a fit person to exercise the stewardship of a major international company".
The Somme
The Somme is a metaphor for the horrors of war – it’s pointless mass destruction and death. That remains as true for us today as it has been throughout history. And it is usually the foot-soldiers who suffer the most – whether they be Roman slaves fighting for the Romans in the Somme area against the Gauls, or the Tommies/Jerries fighting in World War One. The Somme battle was from 1 July to 18 November 1916. More than one million men were wounded or killed, making it one of the bloodiest battles in human history. On the first day, the British had 57,470 casualties.
Upland Sheep Farmer
A farmer’s life is a hard one – especially if you are keeping sheep on a mountainside. But, at the same time, what is good for the struggling farmer can be bad for the environment and the rest of us (the non-farmers). So this rhyme is in two parts: firstly, the struggle of the upland sheep farmer, and secondly the plight of those affected by flooding caused by the removal of the upland trees and vegetation, and the widening of drainage channels. So on the one hand we can ‘pity’ the upland farmer, and on the other hand we can ‘curse’ the upland farmer.