Notes:

•The title “The Great Stink” refers to the effects of sewage and refuse being dumped into the River Thames during hot weather in July and August 1858. One might ask: what’s changed in the UK, 168 years on?

•Joseph Bazalgette was a civil engineer whose subsequent work on sewers helped prevent further outbreaks of disease.

• “Pen and ink” is English rhyming slang for “st...

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Humanity fights for survival,

Barbarity our deadly rival:

On the Sixth of September,

Palestinians remember:

To The Many, on Parliament Square, be faithful.

Le Uilleam Ó Ceallaigh,

Déardaoin, an ceathrú lá de mhí Mheán Fómhair,

dhá mhíle agus c...

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This poem is based on a story which appeared over Christmas, and which was taken to be true!

AWOL = absent without leave

The Christmas gammon have gone spitting mad,

they think asylum seekers are going AWOL

for Christmas: yes here in the UK it’s that bad,

with nothing around here but strife and trouble,

that’s why those “foreigners” want to go home!

Gee Beebie News are ha...

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Broken

it is all bleak broken; half-hell-heard House, blight blasted, a

sound spoke maelstrom where we see no substance swirling over heads

and hearts unheard - untending - unending obstacles to speech where

he, bright-tied bright-eyed, oversees the game's communication farce fail

debate: debate dire-drowning in the noise.

Order!

Broken

it is all blame blighted; w...

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I will! I will join Juvenal

at the North world’s end

on the frozen ocean ice

if one more lie is penned

another argument to slice

our country from its friend:

to make us pay the price.

Enough! We see the trend

let that one vote suffice

another will just offend

divide and not entice.

Let the peoples’ will transcend,

better not to ask them twice!

We’re doomed to...

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There’s a charming woodland creature
reputed to be wise
With a knack for spotting problems
with their eager, clever eyes

Keen and daring to be different
Turning heads through all degrees
They love imparting knowledge
showing off their expertise

And in amongst their hunting
firmly grasped by bill and claw
they hold a sense of duty
and so, lay down the law

It’s a noi...

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