Have It

by John Cooper Clarke

John Cooper Clarke may have an honorary doctorate and a poem on the English Literature GCSE syllabus, but don’t let that fool the ‘Poet Laureate of Punk’ is still a bona fide iconoclast. In Have It, a collection of scathing new poems, the Bard of Salford puts his pen to work across a host of painfully funny critiques of modern life.


Praise for John Cooper

'Nothing short of dazzling' – Alex Turner, musician and frontman of the Arctic Monkeys

‘A rhymer to be reckoned with . . . with a panache contemporary poets should aspire to and respect’ – The Sunday Times

‘John Cooper Clarke uses words like Chuck Berry uses guitar riffs melody and anger, humour and disdain in equal measure. He’s the real deal, really funny and really caustic, the velvet voice of discontent’ – Kate Moss

‘John Cooper Clarke is one of Britain’s outstanding poets. His anarchic punk poetry has thrilled people for decades . . . long may his slender frame and spiky top produce words and deeds that keep us on our toes and alive to the wonders of the world’ – Sir Paul McCartney

Genres: Poetry

64 pages, Hardcover

Published October 1, 2026

About the author

John Cooper Clarke (born 25 January 1949) is an English performance poet who first became famous during the punk rock era of the late 1970s when he became known as a "punk poet". He released several albums in the late 1970s and early 1980s, and continues to perform regularly.

Reviews

[Dan Clarke · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not JCC's strongest collection but some good stuff throughout. Enjoyed it.

[Clive Lillie · Rating 3.5 out of 5]

Quick read
Great fun
I can hear his voice….

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fabulous to come across this new collection, and impossible, for me, to read them without hearing his voice reciting. A treat.

[🌶 peppersocks 🧦 · Rating 4.75 out of 5]

Reflections and lessons learned/the content of this book made me feel…

…happy and nostalgic, including about things I’ve never even experienced in life!

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some good ones in here but not my favourite book by JCC. Big price for a small book too!

[James Davenport · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

JCC can do no wrong. Possibly not the most dynamic selection of his work but he has set the bar pretty high beforehand. Always a pleasure and never a chore to sit and read anything by the bard.