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First read this! EDITORIAL Poetry is the lifeblood of rebellion, revolution, and the raising of consciousness (Alice Walker) When we chose our Magma 65 theme, Revolution, we hoped for political poems, personal poems and poems that look revolutionary on the page. We were delighted as, from six continents and especially Africa and South America, you sent us many thought-provoking poems, often coming at ‘revolution’ in ways we didn’t foresee. We found your poems most revolutionary when they expressed the personal – feelings and experiences that changed you or changed the way you look at the world. So, inspired by your poems we present our seven-point manifesto of the Magma 65 ‘Revolution’ issue. The revolution is personal too. Adapting the old feminist slogan we visit visions of civilian terror and meditations on Islam. Gillian Clarke has a revolutionary response to Dylan Thomas, while Kate Compston, our Selected poet, gives us poems on her own personal change. Revolution naturally makes us think of Che Guevara and we’ve explored the influence a lifelong love of poetry had on his raison d’être. There are decades when nothing happens, then there are weeks when decades happen (VI Lenin). Poems that include sudden violence, memories of Rosa Luxemburg and the old Bolshevik himself. Revolutions aren’t made; they grow (Wendell Phillips). Poems that show how revolutions can rise slowly, quietly, even beautifully, from small beginnings. Under the paving slabs, the beach (1968 Paris graffito). Poems responding to the shootings in Paris, recently and at Charlie Hebdo, and poems that show poets counteracting the growing sense of threat in cities with humour and zany hopefulness. The dog beneath the skin (WH Auden & Christopher Isherwood). Poems that investigate the animal instincts within us and the circus of our desires. Revolutions only need good dreamers who remember their dreams (Tennessee Williams). Exploring how our most personal revolutions are our dreams and desires. In dreams begin responsibilities (WB Yeats). Dreams that create new art and even change what we expect of art – poems here include unicorns, statues that smile and Paul Stephenson’s dizzying poems that ‘revolve’ line by line. Magma’s National Conversation series ends with two articles – the first from Will Self on how poetry will continue (or not) and the second where we explore whether we still need memorable poetry. This year’s Magma Competition winning poems and our reviews of new poetry collections from established and debut poets complete the Magma revolutionary mix. Join us in storming the mental barricades! Laurie Smith and Jane R Rogers 5

First read this!

EDITORIAL

Poetry is the lifeblood of rebellion, revolution, and the raising of consciousness (Alice Walker)

When we chose our Magma 65 theme, Revolution, we hoped for political poems, personal poems and poems that look revolutionary on the page. We were delighted as, from six continents and especially Africa and South America, you sent us many thought-provoking poems, often coming at ‘revolution’ in ways we didn’t foresee. We found your poems most revolutionary when they expressed the personal – feelings and experiences that changed you or changed the way you look at the world. So, inspired by your poems we present our seven-point manifesto of the Magma 65 ‘Revolution’ issue.

The revolution is personal too. Adapting the old feminist slogan we visit visions of civilian terror and meditations on Islam. Gillian Clarke has a revolutionary response to Dylan Thomas, while Kate Compston, our Selected poet, gives us poems on her own personal change. Revolution naturally makes us think of Che Guevara and we’ve explored the influence a lifelong love of poetry had on his raison d’être.

There are decades when nothing happens, then there are weeks when decades happen (VI Lenin). Poems that include sudden violence, memories of Rosa Luxemburg and the old Bolshevik himself.

Revolutions aren’t made; they grow (Wendell Phillips). Poems that show how revolutions can rise slowly, quietly, even beautifully, from small beginnings.

Under the paving slabs, the beach (1968 Paris graffito). Poems responding to the shootings in Paris, recently and at Charlie Hebdo, and poems that show poets counteracting the growing sense of threat in cities with humour and zany hopefulness.

The dog beneath the skin (WH Auden & Christopher Isherwood). Poems that investigate the animal instincts within us and the circus of our desires.

Revolutions only need good dreamers who remember their dreams (Tennessee Williams). Exploring how our most personal revolutions are our dreams and desires.

In dreams begin responsibilities (WB Yeats). Dreams that create new art and even change what we expect of art – poems here include unicorns, statues that smile and Paul Stephenson’s dizzying poems that ‘revolve’ line by line.

Magma’s National Conversation series ends with two articles – the first from Will Self on how poetry will continue (or not) and the second where we explore whether we still need memorable poetry. This year’s Magma Competition winning poems and our reviews of new poetry collections from established and debut poets complete the Magma revolutionary mix. Join us in storming the mental barricades!

Laurie Smith and Jane R Rogers

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