Gordon Simms

St. André-sur-Sèvre, France

Gordon's poetry has appeared in many anthologies and magazines. He has won a number of poetry competitions including the Biscuit Prize in 2011, resulting in a full collection

"Uphill to the Sea" being published the following year. He has also won playwriting prizes and recently has had success with short fiction. With his wife Jocelyn he organised the St Clémentin bilingual Litfests (2012 -16) and together they run the Segora International Writing Competitions (founded in 2007)..

Poem completed 2nd May 2020

Not Done Today 

Today I signed the death warrant of the world.

I didn’t sigh with the wind in the forest

I didn’t hum the tune of the bees                                                                                                                                         I refused to pour away the bleach

that cost me over a quid at Asda

I did have a drink from a melting glacier

throwing my plastic cup in the sea

but ignored the struggling refugees

and didn’t stay to clean up the beach

I neither spoke on behalf of abused

children nor agreed to foster paupers

I didn’t defend the wrongly accused

nor campaign against fake news

or denounce any liars and rogue reporters

So what did I do if I’m honest

In the fight to save the planet?

I strutted

about my three-bedroomed house in Thanet

and tut-tutted.