Works In Progress—Activist Poetry

Philippe de Saint Maurice on why a new kind of poetry is needed:

Often these days the poet rages at the dire state of the world’s global politics, too rarely confronted by poetry. Much poetry today is concerned mostly with the peripheral, or self-consciously “authentic identities”.

A new kind of poetry, focussed directly on the actual—physical, political—is needed: ongoing works in progress, always moving, always creating positive impacts. Activist poetry.

Freddie Omm’s work in progress describes it, and his attempts to catch or create it.

Omm’s activist poetry elsewhere often deals with big issues (refugees, war, Ukraine, social justice) but it’s just as powerful when focussing on the detail of everyday life, as it does in this poem.

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Photos by Oomkens