Blog - Literature

100 Meters; Poem to a Tour Guide
March 3, 2021 - by Richard DownesGoodness. The world gets smaller everyday. We bumped into this tour guide the day after the tour. Turned out he lived over the road from us.Poem to a Tour GuideWe were ponderous, we were sopping, but in our own way boppingTo his mellifluous tones and granite stones Amongst the more ...

100 Meters; To The Driver
February 28, 2021 - by Richard DownesHere’s a reflection on a real life story as it happened. They say bus drivers have the most stressful jobs due to their need to interact with the public. I saw it happen on this day. New driver on a new route, given only one chance to learn his route, ...

Kay Channon in Conversation with Kizzy Wade. Activist, Analyst and Artist of Words.
February 23, 2021 - by Kay Channonhttps://soundcloud.com/kay-channon/interview-with-kizzy-22112020-dao Please forgive any changes in audio quality. I cannot afford professional recording equipment or a home studio. Using headphones will improve the clarity of the interview. Kizzy’s poems are provided in text format as they were performed during the interview within this blog, in case you wish to revisit any. ...

Thrive Aid – A New Video
February 19, 2021 - by Richard DownesYou may have already seen the haigas (haiku with images) we presented as a contribution to Thrive Aid - an international event in support of disabled artists during the pandemic.I offered a film to the organisers in Philadelphia but didn't have the skills to pull it off myself so just ...

votelove sending all some urgent comms
February 18, 2021 - by gobscureaka messaging. meanwhile 'senior labour sauces' urge lord sir kier to 'show some ankle'. what do they even think this means? are they with countylines gove? heres some satire to add to the valentines day mascara / massacre / sheltering in place

100 Meters; Haiku Email
February 18, 2021 - by Richard DownesMore and more I end emails with a silly line or two superceding the old one two of yours sincerely , faithfully or with love. Today I sent an email to the DAO editor, Colin Hambrook regarding a tour I wanna go on with fellow poets. Can’t remember how I ...

Black Widow 8
February 11, 2021 - by Richard DownesAye!! New to Black Widow or failing to follow her thread. Why not go back to chapter 1.Soundfile added due to the editor's prurient interest. Let me know how it sounds Chapter 8I never saw Julia coming with her line of questioning. I never knew she would cause fireworks to ...

love for all curated by gobscure
February 11, 2021 - by gobscureDear all, We would like to share a token of our love, curated by gobscure, and brought to life by their diverse crew. recipes for love is a collection of artworks, recipes and letters for you, and those you love. Find them online here: https://thenewbridgeproject.com/events/recipes-for-love/ Some of you may ...

Anti depressants, Tesco Delivery Man wearing matching In-security vests
February 9, 2021 - by Liz BentleyI S O L A T I O N In - Security Vest On Living At The Invisible Omniscient Neighbourhood Watch My shoulder aches I am sat at a computer for too long The weight of the world rests on them Better than an MS attack That would be numb Too much Comfortably numb Not for me The British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy journal comes out bi-monthly. Every now and again I am excited by ...

From Frank’s Naked Song
February 3, 2021 - by Richard DownesI remember Frank Bangay. First poet I ever employed. Mid 90's, Brent Advocacy Concerns, a one off club night called The Pyramid after our logo. I remember Frank Bangay. DAO blogger writing on rock n roll maybe even on Kevin Coyne who did House on the Hill or was that ...