Cheese Plant
I go mental for lentils
and crazy for maize
I’m in an eternal
pine kernel phase
Issues and campaigns: Animals and Nature
Appreciation of, and the battle to defend, those we share the planet with
River Reverie, Lewes Railway Lands
Janine will be contributing poems about rivers at this poetic and musical experience, as the evening event of the River Festival. Venue: The Linklater Pavilion Railway Lane Lewes BN72FG
Poeting at Laughton Greenwood
After a day of free activities in our beautiful local woods, Janine will perform at 4pm, followed by Geoff Robb playing his album ‘The Music of the Trees’. FIND US: Park Lane, Laughton, BN8 Please car-share EMAIL: [email protected] FACEBOOK: Laughton … Read more
For Fox Sake, Stop Hunting! (from the archives)
A recently-unearthed article by eighteen-year-old Janine, from Jamming! issue 26 (February 1985), back in the days when fox hunting was still legal. *** Fox-hunting is part of a die-hard British tradition. As the art of sabotage becomes more cunning, the … Read more
Triolet: Just a Dusting
Just a dusting’s not enough There’s barely ample white to fight It’s floating free like frozen fluff Just a dusting’s not enough No handful for a snowball – tough! This winter’s snowfall’s far too light Just a dusting not enough … Read more
Triolet: Batten Down the Hatches
We’re hiding from Storm Bella, me and my lockdown crew The kid, our pets, my fella, we’re hiding from Storm Bella while listening to Paul Weller and watching Doctor Who We’re hiding from Storm Bella, me and my lockdown crew
Triolet: Rewilding
We must rewild this island with lynxes, wolves and bears From lowland up to highland We must rewild this island in waterways and dry land with beaver dams and lairs We must rewild this island with lynxes, wolves and bears
Cats’ Entertainment
For my fellow cat-owning Jam fans. Territorial war and a screaming stand-off A recent kill and a ripped-up bench seat Kittens wailing, scared dog howling The screech for food and sharp claws sinking Cats’ entertainment, cats’ entertainment A smash of … Read more
Blake’s Tiger Revisited
Tiger, tiger, dying out Shrinking forests no redoubt Tell the world to stop and see Its game, its dismal tyranny In what cruel economy Agriculture cuts the tree? Starving our elusive cat Bulldozing its habitat? In what fell society Rising … Read more
Caged Bird, Song Bird
Maya knows why the caged bird sings Its wings are boxed in but its voice is free You see The perch its stage the cage contains restrains, inspires the cries and trills The wrongs and ills write songs that … Read more
Storm Damage
Your train is delayed Because of leaves on the line With trees still attached
Brighton Beer Garden
Suddenly, a splash What made water leap from glass? Well-aimed seagull shit
My Love’s Love
My love loves the River Lea Discovered in recovery Visits uncover mystery On trips with children one, two, three Took looks and books and maps and found His sanctuary, his way around Walking Summer at Rammey Marsh Fetch the ball … Read more
The Daily Mail Guide to Recognising Wildfowl
Swans are ‘majestic’, the monarch owns them Geese on the other hand are ‘loathsome’. Geese migrate and know their rights While swans are English, snooty and white.
Mostly Biting Tories
Dedicated to Martin Atkins, who asked for a poem in response to this news s-tory. A poetry book fell through my door And landed on my mat I sniffed its arse and wagged my tail And showed it to the … Read more
An Injury to One
The dog sniffs and circles carefully selecting the blade of grass on which to urinate The bailiff slithers along the street switching glare from smartphone to door and back until the numbers match Whichever blade the streak of piss strikes its … Read more
Cuckoo?
Bird sings at midnight Climate change, light pollution Or just a daft cock?
First You Let The Cat Out
A satirical piece for cat-loving Leonard Cohen fans; rewritten from First We Take Manhattan … They sentenced her to living with the humans She’s going to try to rule them from within She’s purring now, she’s purring then she’ll doom them … Read more
A Way Through the (Concrete) Woods
Brush off the litter and kick through the papers They rush round and flitter by bricks and skyscrapers Serve canapés, canopies crowd out the sunshine Apartment blocks, apple trees loud dappled grapevine Dark undergrowth, underground misunderstood You touch in and … Read more
Sandbags and Gladrags
These are the banks that need to be propped up These the square miles that could do with some bailing out This is the high street where floating stocks are mopped up Defences that fail when they’re cut and left flailing … Read more