ICARUS RISING – VOLUME 1:New Book Release by Don Beukes

© Cover art by Luke Borrill   I am happy to announce that my second collection of poetry has been published by Alien Buddha Press and made a reality by Red Fox. This unique ekphrastic collection is a result of close collaboration with artists from South Africa, America and the UK. Most of the poems were …

Onne Die Vel: Translation into Afrikaaps – Glomag July2020 with GARY FRIER

Photo Credit © Gary Frier Onne Díe Vel Rooi Waarskuwing – My ore nou al doef van julle daaglikse aanval van my kinnelikke erfenis. My nieskierigheid geprik van wie volgende waaheen nou wat lê voo in hierie onsinnige bloedviliesfees wat my selfvitroue aan flentes skeur! Rooi ligte wat flikker – Dit viblint my agteytgaande sig. …

Glomag June2020 Translation in AFRIKAAPS: ‘Bly Stil Vannie Skarrel*Keep Quiet about the Struggle (to Survive)

Photo Credit © Gary Frier Bly Stil Vannie SkarrelDoofstom Deuntjie – Ôs stemme versmoor ôs tonge afgesny, vihoed om yt te praat onne hierie ytsonnerlikke onwelkomme covid-19 karona ytwissende donke wolk wat ôs honger moeë leë lydende harte blootstel. Ôs skrie vi julle mâ wôt vitel ommie geraas te makie. Ôs gooi ôs arms innie …

Live Facebook Reading Flashback

Live Reading Link https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=4136128643123789&id=100001800817803

UNDER THE SKIN*ONDER DIE VEL:Glomag2020 July with GARY FRIER

Photo Credit: Gary Frier Under the Skin*Onder die Vel Red Alert – My ears now deaf to your daily invasion of my childhood legacy My curiosity punctured of who next where next what next in this senseless blood fest shredding my confidence – Red lights flashing blinding my fading vision, I freeze as yet another …

GLOMAG June2020 With GARY FRIER: ‘Bly Stil Vannie Skarrel*Stay Quiet about the Struggle (to Survive)

Photo Credit © Gary Frier Bly Stil Vannie Skarrel*Stay Quiet about the Struggle to Survive Mute Melody – Our voices muted our tongues cut out prevented from speaking out underneath this unprecedented Covid-19 Corona virus unwelcome cleansing cloud exposing our tired hungry empty suffering hearts. We shout at you but told not to We raise …

The Collected Special Ekphrastic Challenge for May 2020. The Final Days. Artworks from Mary Frances, James Knight and Sue Harpham the inspiration for writers: Alex Mazey, Ankh Spice, Samantha Terrell, Dai Fry, Carrie Ann Golden, sonja benskin mesher, Rich Follett, Don Beukes, Yvonne Marjot, and Paul Brookes

Exclusive Special Ekphrastic Poetry Challenge curated by Paul Brookes-Writer Photographer in Collaboration with select artists and writers – The final days!

The Wombwell Rainbow

Acknowledgements

Thankyou to Jane Cornwell for designing the front cover

Day 23

.. there is a dampness..

they called it heavy
the adults
before a storm

pits hang damp
lips prickling

then he said it

he said it

so I hid in the plant house amongst the smell; the frogs
should I add fetid air or will that just be another cliché

look my device added the required accent there

so it was all dripping down reminding of grandma’s kitchen
brown gloss paint & mustard walls running in cabbage juice

she boiled it dreadful
well they did in those days

no al dente then
it was after the war

now where was i
yes hiding

my heart beating my head out
breath catching
oh no is this my asthma or the disease
going round, have you heard of it

if I tell him I have it will he go, leave…

View original post 9,830 more words

The Collected Special Ekphrastic Challenge for May 2020. The Next Two Days. Artworks from Mary Frances, James Knight and Sue Harpham the inspiration for writers: Alex Mazey, Ankh Spice, Samantha Terrell, Dai Fry, Carrie Ann Golden, sonja benskin mesher, Rich Follett, Don Beukes, Yvonne Marjot, and Paul Brookes

Special Ekphrastic Collection curated by Paul Brookes-Writer Photographer The next TWO days in collaboration with select artists and writers – Check out my poems, ‘Twilight Asylum’ and ‘The Residents’

The Wombwell Rainbow

Acknowledgements Thankyou to Jane Cornwell for designing the front cover

May 21st

Twilight Asylum

Frozen Eyes – Daily prodding confused nodding
Yes sir no ma’am, ‘You’re not my mother!’ – Look
into my eyes stop fidgeting widen your eyes stop
complaining look up – ‘Shut up I am fed up shut your
trap you old hag!’ Now calm down look this way no
that way are you even still here? Stop fidgeting!

Midnight Lullaby – Nocturnal healing cries soothe
my sore blood shot eyes as the midnight owl echoes
my existential meandering melody of suppressed
forced emotions blamed for defensive contortions
whilst the mocking laughing of a fox unleashes
my lost hoarse voice to violently protest in this
hell-hole confused constrictive nest my inner mess!
I rock myself to sleep as my broken emotions tend
to seep into my darkest demon alley sleep slipping
into the deep branded a confused…

View original post 2,687 more words

A Fire that Started From Nothing

Roberto F. Santiago

The Brillantina Project are poems for those who glitter and glisten, those with bright wondrous gazes, hearts bursting with love. Somos brillo que brilla: Somos Orlando. Let us unite in solidarity through poetry and use our words to create awareness and change.

Here is my contribution.

View original post

The Collected Special Ekphrastic Challenge for May 2020. The Next Four Days. Artworks from Mary Frances, James Knight and Sue Harpham the inspiration for writers: Alex Mazey, Ankh Spice, Samantha Terrell, Dai Fry, Carrie Ann Golden, sonja benskin mesher, Rich Follett, Don Beukes, Yvonne Marjot, and Paul Brookes.

May 2020 Ekphrastic Poetry Challenge curated by Paul Brookes-Writer Photographer in Collaboration with select artists and writers – READ AND LISTEN TO THE NEXT 4 DAYS!

The Wombwell Rainbow

Acknowledgements

Thankyou to Jane Cornwell for designing the front cover

May 17th

*

Murakami’s cats, the peeling memory, an unhealthy preoccupation
with Studio Ghibli animation, an unhealthy preoccupation with
certain social media accounts, with line breaks that you have to
get over – eventually. Ninety-percent of my life is devoted to
upsetting people with a line break, forming only at the preposition.
It seems, most of the time, this is more upsetting to / some people
than the combined human rights violations of, say, North Korea.

-Alex Mazey

.foam.

foam is ok , like this sea stuff
yet pea foam leaves me wanting for regular
food
without the mouth sensation

unlike mousse which is more like
solid froth
or should I say foam again
and spoil the muse

light is wonderful
lifts the brain and limbs
beyond
sparkles rain the morning
once again we have the repetition
of words

shapes…

View original post 4,826 more words

Interview with Selwyn Milborrow

Here’s a show for you… Interview with poet Don Beukes in France episode of This Much I Know https://open.spotify.com/episode/1G2TcEzcz2aah07dVFbpAa?si=oDrB0EneTueQppJacBkhIA