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on Ukraine
something straight out of The Brothers Grimminnocence of children betrayedin their thousandsabducted, shipped, farmed outblond hair, blue eyes their appealto childless Russian couplesconscripted to Moscow’s Young Armytaught to deny their birthplaceif they were ever old enough to know from where they sprang~n.b. Check it out, the War Crimes are not just the levelling of villages, →
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on August
Copper foils collect on the outfieldStubborn tufts of grass repay enthusiastic fielders with grazesThe cricketers’ whites are stained by streaks of blood, turf and dustOnce welcome cooling breezes of July have revertedTo deliver East Anglia’s usual desiccating chillPlayers debate whether to wear two shirts, or a sweaterAt home the shower temperature has been turned up →
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on Ukraine
that closeeye-to-eyehard not to smileas hand greets handimpossible to knowhow things will golet’s be frankthe two might find common groundto tradeor they might agreeto disagreewhile Kyiv at centre stagewaits in the wings~ CLP 15/08/2025 →
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on truth
your word against minehis word against yoursgetting the last word inversusthe final words of the condemnedwhat you believeis not necessarily trueeven if it frames your worldinvented from ancient scriptsthat cannot be sustainedby a pack of lies~n.b. Shooting the messenger does not stop the word getting out. CLP 13/08/2025 →
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on great men
it is laughable to believeto consider it even possiblethat one man can run the showwrite and re-write historyit takes at least thirteenas Jesus knewJudas had a part to playPonticus Pilate tooDon’t just point your trigger finger at oneIt takes a village to raise a childA nation to raise a tyrant~ CLP 11/08/2025 →
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on Ukraine
all the neighbours knowsomething’s not rightwe suspect there’s a meetingthey’ll be talking about ushow we’re being mistreatedbut it won’t change anythingwe’ll still be getting those beatingswithout regard to our feelingslocked in our roomthat muffles our screamingbarricaded in our roomkicking and screamingalone in our roomtrying to fight off the demon~n.b. USA and Russia to meet in →
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Ghosts (ii)
Sometimes they come at nightNot always singly, but in pairsAt ease, with smilesTalking about mundane thingsWithout axes to grindHere’s the first, then his motherCircling like sharksAt ease, with their smiles~ CLP 04/08/2025 →
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on Ukraine
sculpt, paint, write, sing, danceart distinguishes peoplewar extinguishes~n.b. Now, more than ever, artists are needed to keep the soul alive.There was an exhibition of art from Ukraine at the Royal Academy of Art in 2024.Contemporary art from Ukraine can be bought from Art for Ukraine, a charity connecting buyers directly to artists working in Ukraine. →
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on writing
I cannot write from afarOf genocideI cannot write from homeOf starvationI cannot write from hereOf murdered children and mothersIt is happening, I hear of itNothing more can I addTo what the TV showsAll I plead is for peaceFor humanity to apply humanityto end the inhumanityNo flag, no borderCan justify this~ CLP 29/06/2025 →
Journey of Words 