To read the latest issue, click 'Issues by year' in the menu above

I’m so humble
please admire
the extent to which
I don’t aspire

to your lifestyle
your success,
how I say no
when you say yes.

I walk around
with a body cam
to film respect
for who I am

from those my goal
is to impress
by wanting more
of less and less.

To seek your grudging
imprimatur
while you swig wine
I’ll sip tap water.

Breakfast? Mine’s
cold humble pie . . .
You savour your
full English fry,

smearing thick butter
on your toast –
but deep inside
who smiles the most? 

No pleasure beats
renunciation
and turning down
daily temptation

while crass consumer
society
has you enslaved
but leaves me free –

so if you write
me off as smug,
are you sure you’re not
the bigger mug?

Two (yellow) Wesh poppies