• Contact
  • About
  • ISSN 3049-9755
  • Authors and editors
NEWSLETTER SIGN UP
North West Bylines
Advertisement
  • Home
  • News
    • Crime and Justice
    • Education
    • Equality
    • Health
    • Migration
    • War
    • World
  • Environment
    • Nature and Wildlife
    • Pollution
  • Politics
    • Brexit
    • Economy
  • Lifestyle
    • Art, Craft and Photography
    • Cartoon
    • Books
    • Culture, Language and Religion
    • Dance
    • Food and Drink
    • History
    • Human Interest
    • Music
    • Sport
    • TV, Film and Theatre
  • Business
    • Local Business
    • Technology
    • Trade
    • Transport
  • Region
    • Cheshire
    • Cumbria
    • Greater Manchester
    • Lancashire
    • Liverpool and Merseyside
    • Local Councils and Elections
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • Crime and Justice
    • Education
    • Equality
    • Health
    • Migration
    • War
    • World
  • Environment
    • Nature and Wildlife
    • Pollution
  • Politics
    • Brexit
    • Economy
  • Lifestyle
    • Art, Craft and Photography
    • Cartoon
    • Books
    • Culture, Language and Religion
    • Dance
    • Food and Drink
    • History
    • Human Interest
    • Music
    • Sport
    • TV, Film and Theatre
  • Business
    • Local Business
    • Technology
    • Trade
    • Transport
  • Region
    • Cheshire
    • Cumbria
    • Greater Manchester
    • Lancashire
    • Liverpool and Merseyside
    • Local Councils and Elections
No Result
View All Result
North West Bylines
Home Politics Opinion

The Anvil

A little poem, about a big subject. Don't start a witch hunt

Polina Sparks by Polina Sparks
17-10-2026 13:01
in Opinion
Reading Time: 1 min read
A A
large metal anvil

Public Domain

Share on Bluesky
If you've been near an anvil,
You'll know the sound of a hammer.
Broken bones and bullet holes
Begin with checking for blemishes.
All witch hunts begin
With perfect people.

    I love Bylines!  I’ll buy you a coffee!

Bylines Network & No One Above

Where is justice? Survivors voices in parliament

NOA and Bylines Network are collaborating to make sure those voices are heard by the decision-makers who can remove the roadblocks to justice and address systemic failures of accountability.

Your support will allow us to put Gazettes in the hands of all MPs and make the campaign visible around parliament.

DONATE TO OUR CROWDFUNDING
Tags: poetry
Previous Post

The US midterm Senate elections – part 2

Next Post

Manchester Arena attack: survivors are helped by pioneering rehab

Polina Sparks

Polina Sparks

Polina Sparks is an industry editor and analyst. As a qualified translator and educator, she has also worked for many years with UK based and international charities. Living with Long Covid, Polina is an employment support advocate at UK registered patient charity Long Covid Support.

Related Posts

Xylb'tox, a three-eyed pink Martian with multiple sucker-covered limbs is holding a variety of prized items. Next to him, a spikey white martian felinoid Grrz'lx is eating a bowl of Rice 'n' Pease. The items in Xylb'tox's possession incude a crooked-shaped trophy inscribed 'FAFO No Balls Cup', a tin of Hindsight Pease Pudding, a warty-looking plate inscribed 'All-Martian Rock Cake-Off Consolation Prize' containing a set of wing-up dentures, a pack of second hand vintage medals with a tag 'Job Lot, 50% off' and a CPD Certificate of Attendance bearing a tick and a gold star. Around his neck is a gold coloured first-place medal with label still attached with text 'Pack of 10, do not sell separately'.
Opinion

Earth’s Follies – Week 86: prizes, posts and pretence

by Xylb-tok the Martian
23 October 2026
round picture of water, snowy moubtains, green fields and boats and a farmer on a field, and a ring around it that says 'the seal of the state of Alaska'
Opinion

The US midterm Senate election – part 3 – Alaska

by Dominic Jackson
23 October 2026
Dark blue background and a yellow circlie in the middle, with the wording United States Senate around a crest that has a banner saying E Pluribus Unum
Opinion

The US midterm Senate elections – part 2

by Dominic Jackson
17 October 2026
AI slop machine in a dunce cap, churning out green slop,with a No Balls egg-cup shaped prize next to it, sitting on top of a map market Trump Ocean and Ocean of America, with a continent labelled 'Trumpland' in between, with a sunset in the background
Opinion

Earth’s Follies – Week 85: the No Ball Prize and orange tomfoolery

by Xylb-tok the Martian
16 October 2026
Map of the United States with states in different colours depending on the election status
Opinion

The US midterm Senate elections – a preview and analysis – part 1

by Dominic Jackson
12 October 2026 - Updated on 17 October 2026
Next Post
One oerson assisting another as they carry weights in their hands

Manchester Arena attack: survivors are helped by pioneering rehab

SUPPORT OUR CROWDFUNDER

BROWSE BY TAGS

A day in my shoes AI by-election Charity Christmas coal mine Conservatives Coronation Cost of living Democracy Energy Eurovision EU support farming Festival Finance Gaza Homeless housing HS2 Labour Levelling up Liberal Democrats Long Read mayoral election minneapolis NI Protocol obesity poetry Poverty press release Press Releases recycle Reform Reviews riots Russia Satire SEND Sewage trans Ukraine water women xylb'tok
North West Bylines

We are a not-for-profit citizen journalism publication. Our aim is to publish well-written, fact-based articles and opinion pieces on subjects that are of interest to people in the North West and beyond.

North West Bylines is a trading brand of Bylines Networks Limited which is separate to, but allied with, Byline Times.

Learn more about us

No Result
View All Result
  • About
  • Authors and editors
  • Complaints
  • Contact
  • Donate
  • Letters
  • Privacy
  • Network Map
  • Network RSS Feeds
  • Submission Guidelines
  • Download the Bylines Network App

© 2022-2026 North West Bylines. Powerful Citizen Journalism. ISSN 3049-9755

No Result
View All Result
  • News
    • Crime and Justice
    • Education
    • Equality
    • Health
    • Migration
    • War
    • World
  • Politics
    • Brexit
    • Economy
    • Opinion
  • Environment
    • Nature and Wildlife
    • Pollution
  • Lifestyle
    • Art, Craft and Photography
    • Books
    • Culture, Language and Religion
    • Dance
    • Food and Drink
    • History
    • Music
    • Sport
    • TV, Film and Theatre
  • Business
    • Local Business
    • Technology
    • Trade
    • Transport
  • Region
    • Cheshire
    • Cumbria
    • Greater Manchester
    • Lancashire
    • Liverpool and Merseyside
    • Local Councils and Elections
  • Cartoon
  • Authors and editors

Newsletter sign up

CROWDFUNDER

© 2022-2026 North West Bylines. Powerful Citizen Journalism. ISSN 3049-9755