Monday, July 15, 2019

Truth Contempt


The surge is fading
Please keep speaking up
without fear or favour

Demonstrate outside
speaking truth to power
Please keep speaking up

In the fallout from
the fight to succeed
please keep speaking up

-- Rupert M Loydell

Brexit Party surge is fading, new poll shows
Tommy Robinson fans set to target prison after former EDL leader jailed for contempt of court
Hunt exhorts UK envoys to 'speak truth to power' in coded rebuke to Johnson

Weird Declining Dusk


heart and soul plant investment boost car industry
industry-wide increase efficiency declining bad concern
electric vehicles low-emission target scrapped by budget

extraordinary economic success and dynamism
important to speak adapted national culture bought
apparent arrogance weird friends constituents neighbours

adhere patriotic themes stay true to our cause
unfolded occasional rain planned capped by aerobatics team
fireworks beginning at dusk summoning the tanks not a prop

-- Clark Allison

Jaguar Land Rover signal faith in electric revolution with £1bn factory
Boris Johnson: Too Many Areas In The UK Where English Is Not First Language
Trump hails ‘greatest political journey’ during Independence Day speech

Friday, June 14, 2019

Warning Protocol: Riots!


The creator is naked
when visiting the civilised;
aged in power, aged in will.

Another protest is drawn;
a wave, a wave, a wave,
then they all wave back.

The royal is a plant!
It is all unacceptable;
another wave and we break.

-- Rebecca Eddy

Chernobyl selfies lead to warning from show's writer
Prince Andrew breaks protocol, wades into Brexit row
Hong Kong extradition protests: Lam criticises 'organised riots'

All Sensible Democratic


more compelling attacks in the region
tanker carrying petrochemicals changed tack
oil embargo influence over all regional dossiers

a democratic way would not look like this
self-destructive act surpass diplomatic humiliation of Suez
descends into chaos acrimony offensive in every corner

proroguing the option of suspending parliament
a sensible grown-up debate can be cacophonous
my commitment will of the people get this Brexit thing done

-- Clark Allison

Gulf of Oman tanker attacks: What could be Iran's motive?
British people denied a voice in choosing prime minister
Conservative leadership field slims to six

Tuesday, May 28, 2019

Proof Algorithms Nonentities


gallery of rogues nonentities façade of elaborate civility
dully ineffective seriously clever
zealots of deregulation and free market

ferocity of debate a proof ideological stakes high
petition to disqualify entire season
the idea of narrative closure intolerable

video achieved from a single photo
convincing deepfake has huge misuse potential
algorithms trained on public 7000 images database

-- Clark Allison

Who should be the next Tory leader? Our panel responds
Game of Thrones Tapped Into Fears
Mona Lisa 'brought to life' with deepfake AI

Monday, May 13, 2019

Swallow Monopolistic Idea


accept significant supporting step month of little progress
come to terms with idea subject cross-party unless
show progress pull out with pressure resumed

would not swallow any bitter fruit
beef lamb fruit juice cooking oil tea coffee
impose bilateral tariffs denied consumers would pay

line-drawing not make a lot of sense
allegedly sets the stage adding a mandatory fee
monopolistic 30 percent commission

-- Clark Allison

Brexit: Cross-party deal must include new referendum
China hits back in trade war with US
Supreme Court says Apple will have to face App Store monopoly lawsuit

Thursday, April 11, 2019

Harvesting Exit Horizon


please do not waste this time
option of leaving wanted to move exit date
could mean leadership contest

gates of hell at the end of space time
towards the event horizon when enough mass collapses
gravity field pulls light inside

data harvesting publishing processing information
resource extraction on massive scale the new oil
exponentially expand digital extraction opportunities

-- Clark Allison

Brexit: UK and EU agree delay to 31 October
Big Tech must pay for access to America’s ‘digital oil’
Black hole seen for first time in image showing matter being sucked into timeless oblivion

Friday, March 29, 2019

Towards Restructuring Limits


due the day
I fear we are reaching the limits of this process
rejected withdrawal agreement

rebranding part of a movement
towards becoming a new political party
furious about potential confusion caused

fend off moves to take control
restructuring and refinancing imminent
fall into hands make offer for rights issue

-- Clark Allison

Brexit: MPs reject May's EU withdrawal agreement
Change.org furious at Independent Group MPs
Debenhams completes £200m refinancing

Friday, February 08, 2019

Brexit Off Piste


So. How open does the EU seem
to a game of show-and-tell
in weather forecast terms?

Sitting down with a table full of
alternatives to the backstop
almost a week on from chaos,

one of the group may have
triggered the avalanche before
parliament narrowly voting in favour

-- Rupert M Loydell

Brexit: EU digs heels in over deal
Candid Kate! Duchess shares a family photo
British man among four killed during avalanche

Evolving Cultural Pull


forged cinema new wave publicist infection treatment
kitchen sink angry young man evolving screen
mixture of defiance and selfishness key extremely

secret slash taxes tariffs pull economy to tank
challenging divisive issue series flies told source
percolate through trading wearing pretty thin

many rights extending prayer division fracturing attended
love gaining women vote greatest strides
re-energise heading off a desperate cultural resistance

-- Clark Allison

Albert Finney, cinema's original 'angry young man', dies aged 82
Theresa May to hold talks as Labour issues ultimatum
Trump: One of America's greatest accomplishments is ‘abolition of civil rights’




Thursday, February 07, 2019

Storm from Hell


This deepening area of pressure
Threatening, heavy, and powerful
Crashing as the last low hits

A “special place in hell”
A plan to carry it out
Sounds more like heaven to me

Social media helped kill her
Took graphic images of self-harm
And removed her from her life

-- Jennifer Grounds

Storm Erik to BATTER Britain with 70mph winds
Tusk: 'Special place in Hell' for Brexit promoters
Instagram vows to remove self-harm images from site

A Promising Leader


She set out her five demands
She held a plan to carry it out
Robust but constructive

Impasse.
A meeting for renegotiation
In a special place in hell

War.
It comes
PM warned not to end the World

-- Sam Tempest

France recalls ambassador to Italy as row deepens
Jeremy Corbyn's Brexit plan 'promising', Donald Tusk
Brexit deal may not be put to MPs until late March

Stand Amid Conviction


Most of the applause this week
Hit the headlines earlier after the crisis
Evidence perceived Roy’s death

Familiar friend wanted to kill
State of foreign threats published
Text sent throughout an interview

Two months later she was called
Rape, abortion, cuts border the rambling
Instructed only to the fault of her Independent

-- Justin C. Legions

Court upholds manslaughter conviction for Massachusetts woman
Democratic women in white stand out against Trump
Whoopi Goldberg defends Liam Neeson amid race row

The Garage Politician


A world-class mime,
even though he called it ‘desperate’
Spoke out in praise

Without speaking a word
In the ongoing battle
With rapid-fire robotic flow.

Performed in a cluttered garage
In a manner so sarcastic
Claimed he’d broken a world record.

-- Joseph Lotter

Pelosi turns clapping into a viral art form
"I'm the greatest Fortnite streamer": PewDiePie
‘I thought it was me’ – Eminem praises impression

Wednesday, February 06, 2019

Humans: no kindness


Student missing
Groping men
Species pushed toward extinction

Claims of toxins and sexual touching
Trapping, poaching and slaughter
Humans significant threats

Complaint: woman, men and nature threatened
Security informed, no kindness or support
Killing, loss, extinction, no decline

-- Rivie Penfold

Parents of Libby Squire ‘overwhelmed’ by support
Tory MP accused of groping men in Commons bar
Killing of large species is pushing them towards extinction

Tuesday, February 05, 2019

Another Woman Gone


A woman is injured again,
The death of another flame,
Broken, attacked and detained.

A desperate scream gets lost,
A story of yesterday still untold,
Attacked, alone, and gone.

A body found cold and battered,
Its miserable condition wreaked havoc,
A warning, a storm, an example.

-- Bonnie Bolt

Paris woman detained as 10 die in apartment fire
Neighbour tells of woman's ‘urgent and panicked’ scream
UK weather forecast: Heavy rain and 60mph gales

Water With Words


the flow of rivers is musical,
dancing a dramatic story of change,
singing songs with no words.

a lengthy novel written by the water.
the mind viewing the story,
even if we are expecting different.

it is a well-known landmark,
a stage for the musical.
we died for it to live.

-- Layla Cray

A third of Himalayan ice cap doomed, finds report
Differences between Les Misérables and new BBC TV series
Italy avalanche kills British and French skiers

Being Wrong Succeeded


past the jorts and the eyebrows and the extreme wonk
body clock conflicts
My mere existence seems to antagonize

universe banger: the best kind, and the rarest kind.
“morning” or “evening”
or, at least, so the received wisdom goes.

looked at 341 snippets of
a lovely unthreatening place to go
and therefore have decided not to

-- Eileen Walden

Five benefits of being an early riser
Which one of our reporters succeeded in Veganuary challenge?
Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled is so wrong it's right

Monday, February 04, 2019

Think of war


a man handles cold departure.
on a different morning,
war riots the underground.

a family is detained by armed suspicion.
in this crisis of unnamed war,
people think of scarring behaviour.

a person with terminal plans
issues an emergency evacuation
from the cold decade of civil existence.

-- Jess Henshall

Millennials' pay 'scarred' by the 2008 banking crisis
Heathrow: Armed police rush to reports of 'man with knife'
Queen to be evacuated if Brexit turns ugly – reports

Saturday, February 02, 2019

Brexit Speaks Nuclear


Urgently trying to fight
the need to express
as options fall away.

The want to deliver
the people’s vote
violating the treaty.

Obligations, control, momentum has stalled
the doomed era of setbacks
the new Cold War.

-- Will Kevern

INF nuclear treaty: Russia follows US in suspending pact
Jacob Rees-Mogg speaks DIRECTLY to Express readers
Brexit: fight for 'people's vote' not over yet, say campaigners

Friday, February 01, 2019

Chaos of Fear


Morning of misery.
A string of issues with
a fresh amber warning

running risk of
breaking the day
with a very low tomorrow.

In abandoned conditions,
in fear of attention,
on Thursday was discovered.

-- Mae Gaynor

Snow causes chaos as temperatures hit lowest for seven years
Over 100 drivers stranded and forced to sleep in PUB
Newborn girl abandoned in east London park in freezing weather

Thursday, January 31, 2019

Prepare for pressure


pressure on independence
amid fresh machinations
sustained and serious

carry a knife dipped in violence
relied upon, whilst the government fails
cold temperatures and votes ongoing

warnings issued
a bloody snap
prepare for legislation

-- Samuel Goward

Brexit: Labour MPs and TUC push back against No 10 bid
London gang speaks of violence in the capital
UK weather: Amber snow warning issue

Thursday, January 10, 2019

A Late Phase


the repeating bursts were recorded
small flecks of blue radio
found from the mouth of an ancient whale

a chime's skeleton in lapis lazuli
a telescope's oceans feasting on her light
this mouth questions stones with religious intensity

advances the picture, gold as the small fish
buried in pigment
staining the books with unexplained signal

-- Glenn R. Frantz

Medieval skeleton found with rare, expensive blue ink embedded in teeth, could rewrite women's history
Scientists Discover The Remains of a Whale Inside a Bigger, Ancient Whale
Mysterious 'repeater' fast radio burst detected from faraway galaxy

Wednesday, January 02, 2019

Answer Values Divide


these briefings, day month, can end quickly
press secretary, erupt knowing laughs and groans
sacrosanct was, questions innermost accountability

wider political divide space race environmental degradation
bipartisanship dwindles to see what we never expected
more continuous spectrum political surprises polarised

after struggles and divisions how to disagree well
a spirit of openness what it means to be together
aim for common unity and peace vision values commitment

-- Clark Allison

The demise of the daily White House press briefing
Archbishop Justin Welby calls for 'spirit of openness' in 2019
Charts of the year: from polarised politics to damaging pollution

Monday, December 10, 2018

Dazzling Delay Prospect


Faced with get out choice.
May’s delay will cost credibility.
She’s taken an axe to her hapless government.

firm hollow empty words Trump warned jailtime prospect
illegal hush-money evidence at centre fraud investigation
long road controversial developments potential indictments

Special Counsel impeachable territory global Sino-centric
decline of Pax Americana fantastic dazzling point of view
rights authoritarian powers difficult and dangerous times

-- Clark Allison

The country will pay the price for May’s Brexit vote delay
President warned of impeachment and jail time as probe escalates
China, America and the road to a new world order

Sunday, December 02, 2018

Torched Deal Topple


still could win vote
told of attempt to topple
a real risk

Paris riots to meet groups protest
peaceful giles jaunes turns violent
torched cars set fire to banks

declared a violation regime test-fired missile
US tensions continue to rise growing missile proliferation
call upon to dismay cease tore up curbs deal

-- Clark Allison

Brexit: Gove warns of referendum if MPs don't back PM's deal
Paris riots: PM to meet protest groups after worst unrest in decade
Iran 'test fires multiple warhead capable missile violating UN resolution'

Thursday, November 29, 2018

Reject Ferocious Questions


Vast swathes of Britain could be struck
by widespread strong winds and
the question of another vote.

Theresa May will turn down Nicola Sturgeon,
batter parts of Jeremy Corbyn
and mitigate most of the impacts.

She is set to crash through the UK.
Forecasters warned of nasty conditions
and the Treasury published an analysis

-- Rupert M Loydell

Theresa May vows to reject any independence bid
Prime Minister's Questions: The key bits and the verdict
Storm Diana to bring ferocious 80mph winds

Wednesday, November 07, 2018

Words Alleged Ambitions


reliably churned out hard-line immigration legislation
supportive of words and deeds policy priorities
see their efforts languish to scrutinise administration

picked up by French security services investigation
suspects and alleged plot not yet released
criminal terrorist vague ill-defined stage republic

core module attraction southern coastal city
symbolises country's ambitions first permanently crewed
conduct microgravity research 60-tonne orbiting lab

-- Clark Allison

Mid-term election results: What it all means for Trump
Macron: Six held in 'attack' plot against French president
China unveils new ‘Heavenly Palace’ space station

Tuesday, October 16, 2018

Surreal Yet Political


like mother of all bombs flattens beach town
yet to report fatalities got to hardest-hit areas
smashed into state's west coast carry out thorough search

curious slightly bemused Manhattan woman stopped in Park
inexplicable call mesmerising formula of political chaos
surreal stories subconscious inexplicable parallel universe

from policy or strategic perspective a fool's errand
latches onto something generally speaking every day
surreal meeting levers of the visual filling the airwaves

-- Clark Allison

Hurricane Michael flattens beach town like 'mother of all bombs'
Haruki Murakami: ‘You have to go through the darkness before you get to the light’
Donald Trump's dream presidency is happening now

Monday, September 17, 2018

To Foil Time


broke silence on possibility of a second vote
throw to chaos vote troubling and interesting
whole mistake process seeing through profound betrayal

a striking contrast most powerful foil still taking shape
have almost nothing in common redistricting expected
prioritize races key to winning House and Senate

to avoid breakdown acrimony antagonism of citing fault
legislation governing divorce notify of intent
if separation is mutually agreed time ripe to change

-- Clark Allison

Labour trying to 'frustrate' Brexit process after second referendum call, Tories claim
Barack Obama is back to fire up the base – Democrat and Republican
No-fault divorce rule mooted to end 'blame game' in break-up

Monday, August 20, 2018

Ideologically Persuaded Consequences


final third bailout programme having avoided Grexit
unknown territory crash out damage lenders a close watch
wrong path harmed country high taxes austerity persuaded

exuded extraordinary calm trying to deal with consequences
no stranger to controversy unachievable and thankless tasks
five veto-wielding permanent members conflicting interests

lost out to the mainstream bid to be official Brexit
a sensible thing to do obsessed ideologically
to cause dedicated absolutely giving a meaningful vote

-- Clark Allison

End of Greek bailouts offers little hope to young
Kofi Annan: a kind statesman and a gifted diplomat
Brexit: Tory MPs warn of entryism threat from Leave.EU

Friday, July 20, 2018

Comes Tectonic Sky


From on high by satellite,
continents with textures of glass or snakeskin
(translucent, like actual Gondwanan snakes)

with the usual scratch and impact resistance
of million-year-old amber.
Tracked by ancient streamers,

the movements of Australia and Madagascar,
the further evolution of India,
and the missing paleontologists.

-- Glenn R. Frantz

Glass phones are about to get really, really cool
First fossilized snake embryo rewrites history
Comcast Drops Out of Bidding War for 21st Century Fox