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JAN WOOLF applauds the necessarily subversive character of the Palestinian poster in Britain
Growing Up Is For Adults
by Gordon Scapens
MARTIN GRAHAM welcomes a comprehensive history of the national debt, while regretting that it is neither up to date, nor has a class-based analysis
SYLVIA HIKINS is bowled over by a wonderful show that both entertains and educates
JOHN HAWKINS welcomes the straight-talking condemnation of genocide by a queer Jewish environmental journalist
TOMASZ PIERSCIONEK relishes a detailed history of the battles, manoeuvres and tactics that defeated fascism
MARIA DUARTE recommends an exposure of the state violence used against pro-Palestine protests in the US
CHRIS SEARLE urges you to hear the US saxophonist Joe McPhee on livestream tonight
Before I knew about war
we were fearless soldiers
advancing across childhood.
Before I knew about death
I knew how to fall
from Saturday morning films.
Before I knew about fear
I was such a hero
that always won the day.
Before I knew about guilt
life was never real
in stretched imagination.
I learnt real horror later
in the bloody cost of war
remembered now with poppies,
and yearly commemoration.
We fail to learn a lesson
again and again and again
because of who we are
and the lies we live by.
The real truth knows us.
Gordon Scapens was born in Liverpool in 1934. Now lives in Preston. He won first prize in the Brian Nesbit Poetry Award. His latest collection is History Doesn’t Die (Caparison, 2024).
Poetry submissions to thursdaypoems@gmail.com
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