Dr Greta Sykes – Ides of March 2018

Profile Greta Sykes LE Poetry & Writing April 2018

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Ides of March 2018, poems by Dr Greta Sykes

Poet, writer and artist Greta Sykes has published her work in many anthologies. She is a member of London Voices Poetry Group and also produces art work for them. Her new volume of poetry called ‘The Shipping News and Other Poems’ came out in August 2016. The German translation of her book ‘Under charred skies’ has now been published in Germany under the title ‘Unter verbranntem Himmel’ by Eulenspiegel Verlag. She is the chair of the Socialist History Society and has organised joint poetry events for them at the Poetry Café. She is a trained child psychologist and has taught at the Institute of Education, London University, where she is now an associate researcher. Her Particular focus is now on women’s emancipation and antiquity. Twitter: @g4gaia.      Facebook.com/greta.sykes.      German Wikipedia: Greta Sykes.


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Since 1917

The Russians are coming,
On email,
On Facebook,
On tanks, in TV,
When will they arrive?
The Russians are coming,
In spy novels, fake news,
In Vodka bottles,
On T shirts and underpants,
On twitter, when will they arrive?
The Russians are coming,
Reds under the beds,
Hiding in book shelves,
On tube trains,
In galleries:
Shall we invite them for tea?

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The Ides of March 2018: House of Commons and their leader

Sharp-nosed and crooked-backed she bent over her loveless notes
Baying for punishment: Its him. Its Putin. Its Sadam Hussein, Its our lord.
Once more the House metaphorphosed into a howling rabble,
foaming at the mouth, bile exuding.
They are demanding the crucifixion of our Lord at Calgary.
Des-pi-sed.
Neighing and bellowing for blood,
the poison dripping from their fangs,
sulphurous fumes engulf  the House
they spit out their collective venom
‘Russia did it’.
I hear WMD. I hear Saddam Hussein.
Then 2003 they crucified an entire nation together with their leader.
WMD.
‘Russia did it’. Its Putin. Its our Lord. The sacrificial lamb at Calgary.
Des-pi-sed.
But their sins of lies and mockery, lack of respect for other nations
Will never be forgiven.
Praise the Lord.

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Eulogy to London bus drivers

Like a ship on ocean’s green waves
The London bus sways gently along its route
From harbour, to another harbour,
people getting on and off with travel bags.
At night and during the day,
The captain bus driver kindly smiles,
Inviting us into her boat.
We take our seats on
Upper deck or lower deck.
We watch in comfort
While the sights of  London drift by
Enchantingly and noiselessly.
The captain driver manages the waves,
The roads and other vehicles
With foresight, having learnt
And graduated from the lessons
For London bus drivers, making us feel safe.
We thank him as we exit
At the harbour of our
Destination.

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London bus

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© Greta Sykes

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