No birthdays nor Christmas,
No telephone calls. It's been that way
Since birth for what it's worth
No next of skin. All Events Concerts & Gig Guide Exhibitions Festivals & Lifestyle Performing Arts Sports & Outdoors Workshops, Conferences & Classes Some clear references to his own childhood in foster care are very telling, such as 'Suitcases and Muddy Parks', including this stanza, referring to his childhood love for and writing of poetry: A documentary about Lemn’s extraordinary life and search for his father, Internal Flight, was recently broadcast on BBC1. He has been commissioned to write poems by various bodies including the World Service, and his work has become public art, particularly in Manchester, where his poems appear on buildings and streets. An interesting collection of poems by someone I like to consider as more of a street poet, and when this collection was first published in 1992 ahead of its time. Some accuse him of using rap as poetry but to me isn't that the point of poetry.

Lemn Sissay is a musician, a stand up comedian, radio and television producer, a playwright, and, lastly and firstly, a poet. I have smoked cigarettes for more years than I care to recall. My parents smoked. My father died of lung cancer at age 51. I tried everything under the sun to quit smoking. You name it. Chantix, hypnosis, large amounts of water, etceteras. Only V2 Cigs electronic cigarette worked.

Sissay and Simic will live cheerfully as neighbours in my collection; their love of whimsical imagery and unexpected conjunctions is something they share. Before we get to know each other
And sing for tomorrow
And unearth yesterday
So that we can prepare our joint grave
You should know that I have no family,
Neither disowned nor distanced - none.

Of Ethiopian decent, Lemn Sissay was brought up by white parents in the North West of England. It is this painfully personal experience of growing up without knowing his parents that marks much of Sissay’s poetry to date. His latest collection, Listener (2008), contains the following poem, ‘Before We Get Into This’:The gang's all gone / and I smolder on / I, who saw them leave / I cry bereaved / one by one / I saw them stall / rebels without applause'. Most of these 44 poems are political and angry, in a way that would certainly be mesmerising for the right audiences. His anger about racism and Britain's imperialist record is still topical today, at the height of Brexit and the exposure of the British govenment's shameful "hostile environment" policy directed allegedly at illegal immigrants, but really at arbitrary, vulnerable humans who are as likely as not to be perfectly legal and economically productive residents, often entitled to citizenship. His description, in 'Gunshot', of the exposure of working class residents in Manchester to gun crime and violence reveals a troubling world that the comfortable residents of better off suburbs simply never have to encounter. In 'I Hate You' he sets aside any concession to polite society. When the rain fallsThey talk of ManchesterBut when the triumphant rain fallsWe think of rainbowsThat's the Mancunian Way' His stage plays are Chaos By Design, Storm, and Something Dark. Examples of his television explorations include a 6-part jazz series for BBC2, and in 2004 he presented the first National Poetry Slam and The New Brit for the BBC. His work has featured in various short films including the British Film Institute sponsored The Elevator, featuring Gary Lewis. Time is valuable. Every person who works should be able to quantify what an hour of their time is worth. I oversee two businesses, Merchant Services Inc and Rebel Without Applause LLC. I write, speak, do sales and marketing, and when I have a chance, I answer incoming calls. Tonight, I had a call come […]

Use italics (lyric) and bold (lyric) to distinguish between different vocalists in the same song part I always thought Covent GardenWas where nuns go for a picnicI always thought a TubeWas a cylindrical piece of plastic Great friendly people, you'll have a blast, great atmosphere, awesome friendly bar staff, grab ya mates and come down for a great night out. While the book was published in 1992 and in 2000, many of the poems unfortunately still apply today. especially the ones about racial crimes which have increased once again in the UK following Brexit.

Lemn Sissay is the author of five poetry collections: Tender Fingers in a Clenched Fist (1988); Rebel Without Applause (1992); Morning Breaks in the Elevator (1999): The Emperor's Watchmaker (2000), and Listener (2008). A controversial figure in recent years, the former Smiths frontman has had to bat away accusations of ‘racism’ and ‘fascism’ from critics. Supporting the far-right, anti-Islam party ‘For Britain’, the singer has attracted criticism from even his most loyal fans, particularly after he became an advocate for Nigel Farage to be Prime Minister. This sounds like an un-produced master demo (if anything like that exists in the world of recorded music). The United Kingdom's international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities.