On 13 September, English PEN launched ‘Poems for Pussy Riot‘ in support of three members of the Russian punk band – Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, Maria Alyokhina and Yekaterina Samutsevich – who are currently serving a two year prison sentence.
In the weeks leading up to their appeal hearing on 1 October, we are posting daily tributes to the band, in the form of some extraordinary poems and images. An ebook collection of the poems, ‘Catechism: Poems for Pussy Riot’, edited by Mark Burnhope, Sarah Crewe and Sophie Mayer, will be published on 1 October to coincide with the appeal hearing. Several contributors to the project will also be reading their work as part of a peaceful protest outside the Russian Embassy in London, 11- 1pm – one of many protests due to take place across the globe.
The next contribution comes from Canadian poet Karen Press.
Strange
Strangers ate my cunt,
asking a thousand questions as to its use,
the material of which it was made.
I screamed.
How eagerly, how intently their heads bent down,
eyes fixed upon the strange lips.
I had in my possession
a word.
A hideous image: one man, lewd hands,
his face covered with feathers, his serpentine form.
My word.
A rough demand.
I told them it was a weapon,
a fierce death.
Passed from one to the other.
God—God—
and again.
Poems for Pussy Riot posts
Poems for Pussy Riot – an introduction to the project
Soutien-Gorge: Ira Lightman
Vagina: Sophie Mayer
Song: Ali Smith
Abridged and Complete Biography of Olympe de Gouge: Claire Trévien
Women of the Year: Betty Doyle
Weapons of Minor Destruction: Sandra Alland
Our Glorious Leader Putin: Jack Underwood
Cat Power: Amy Key
Avoid using the word “pussy”: Charlotte Geater
Poem with Four Vaginal Walls: Mark Burnhope
Sheela na gig (deconstructed): Sarah Crewe
Dance of the Seven Veils: Alison Croggon
Skylined: Gareth Evans
Vox Populi (A poem for voices): Steve Heighton
The Eye of the Needle: Aoife Mannix
Ne (No): Wayne Burrows
Vaginaland: Jen Campbell
We Jew women: Translated by Marek Kazmierski
Thirst: John Siddique
Elegy in Red: Chris Emslie
Theatre: Fathieh Saudi
Three Sisters: Tim Dooley
Some Protest Stones: Sarah Hesketh
Please welcome to the stage: Alex MacDonald
Because The Poets Know: Tony Walsh
Pussy Riot Rap: Ana Pulteney
Fine Line: Red of the Vaginellas
The Blackbird: Adam Horowitz
The Queendom of Revolution: Sally McAlister
Russian Songs: Sascha Aurora Akhtar