Lesley Curwen
@elcurwen.bsky.social
📤 1697
📥 1063
📝 157
Poet, broadcaster, journalist, ex-BBC presenter, sailor, sea-swimmer.
pinned post!
My latest book is Permanence, written with Stephen Paul Wren, a surreal dive into the world of microplastics.
@betarish.bsky.social
said: 'a series of striking reflections on plastic, how it has shifted from wonder substance to menace.' Published by Atomic Bohemian. DM me for a signed copy.
6 days ago
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For
#fragmentsfriday
and
@blackboughpoetry.bsky.social
@matthewmcsmith.bsky.social
:
6 days ago
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My latest book is Permanence, written with Stephen Paul Wren, a surreal dive into the world of microplastics.
@betarish.bsky.social
said: 'a series of striking reflections on plastic, how it has shifted from wonder substance to menace.' Published by Atomic Bohemian. DM me for a signed copy.
6 days ago
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reposted by
Lesley Curwen
Louise Longson
12 days ago
February is flying by! Time for another Last Saturday cornucopia of poetry! With guests Alan Humm,
@corinnaboard.bsky.social
@samszanto.bsky.social
@missyerem.bsky.social
@carmellapoetry.bsky.social
and
@moiragauthor.bsky.social
(tbc) Online and free! 7.00pm on Saturday 28 Feb.
tinyurl.com/y5mhz2bz
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Last Saturday Poetry - February 2026
Join us online for Last Saturday Poetry - February 2026, where words come alive and good vibes flow freely!
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/last-saturday-poetry-february-2026-tickets-1983156576706
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reposted by
Lesley Curwen
Dr Jo Kershaw
17 days ago
Gordon Brown is not a man without faults (and goodness knows the media made it their job to make sure we knew all about them), but he IS a living rebuke to the corrosive idea that all politicians are the same and all corrupt.
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reposted by
Lesley Curwen
Black Bough Poetry
18 days ago
‘this is poetry as bright and fleeting as embers’ 🔥 Our Black Bough book of the month is Louise Longson’s ‘The How in the World’ - Hedgehog poetry. Reviewed by
@victoriaspires.bsky.social
@louisepoetical.bsky.social
@hedgehogpress.co.uk
www.blackboughpoetry.com/book-reviews...
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reposted by
Lesley Curwen
Rhona Greene
27 days ago
⚡️⚡️⚡️ Just arrived!PERMANENCE A poetry collaboration on plastics and microplastics from chemist Stephen Paul Wren & historical plastics collector Lesley Curwen
@elcurwen.bsky.social
published by @ Atomic Bohemian⚡️ 👏👏👏
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Lesley Curwen
elia ayoub
about 1 month ago
The UK version of “Project 2025” by the Reform party includes a British ICE, a concentration camp for 24,000 people, mass surveillance and withdrawing from refugee, anti-torture and anti-trafficking conventions. It’s on their website. That’s how comfortable fascists are in the UK today.
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Lesley Curwen
Rishi Dastidar
about 1 month ago
What would be really useful is if the good folks at
@kingscollegelondon.bsky.social
War Studies dept put on a series of rapid public lectures towards the end of this term, under the heading 'What the f--- is going on?' They'd sell out.
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Lesley Curwen
Ink Sweat & Tears
about 1 month ago
Light is abundant in Lesley Curwen's 'Valentia Light', offering both protection from and disguising the dangers of an anticipated storm.
@elcurwen.bsky.social
Watch it here:
inksweatandtears.co.uk/lesley-curwe...
#FilmPoem
#InkSweatAndTears
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Lesley Curwen
Emma Harding
2 months ago
When I Met Jane Austen: each day this week 11.45 & 13.45 @BBCRadio4 250 years after the birth of
#JaneAusten
, ten writers & thinkers discuss her work, wit & influence - incl
@realbaddiel.bsky.social
&
@valmcdermid.bsky.social
in conversation with Paula Byrne
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
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BBC Radio 4 - Artworks, When I Met Jane Austen, David Baddiel on the invention of the modern novel
Writers and thinkers tell Dr Paula Byrne when they met Jane Austen. First, David Baddiel.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m002nk2k
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Lesley Curwen
Rebecca Goss
2 months ago
Beginning life here with three new poems in Ambient Receiver
www.ambientreceiver.org/rebecca-goss
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. Ambient Receiver | Journal of Creative Ecologies
https://www.ambientreceiver.org/rebecca-goss
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Lesley Curwen
Black Bough Poetry
3 months ago
Our hardback Christmas and Winter anthology adorning the Christmas tree. Packed with festive, poetic gems!
www.blackboughpoetry.com/news
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Copies of Permanence have arrived! Thanks to co-author Stephen Paul Wren, publisher Atomic Bohemian, and to
@betarish.bsky.social
and Greta Stoddart for their kind words. Come to our online launch on Thursday!
www.eventbrite.com/e/state-of-t...
3 months ago
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reposted by
Lesley Curwen
Paul Connolly
3 months ago
A starter pack of Journalists on BlueSky featuring
@zamirarahim.bsky.social
@elcurwen.bsky.social
@rosannamcglone.bsky.social
and many more. Please follow and repost if you can
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www.instagram.com/p/DRRi5fIDTG...
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Atomic Bohemian on Instagram: "✨️PRE-ORDER NOW✨️ Permanence by Lesley Curwen and Stephen Paul Wren is available for pre-order! Link in bio, or head to www.atomicbohemian.com 🥄💙 #poetry #poetrycommuni...
atomicbohemian on November 19, 2025: "✨️PRE-ORDER NOW✨️ Permanence by Lesley Curwen and Stephen Paul Wren is available for pre-order! Link in bio, or head to www.atomicbohemian.com 🥄💙 #poetry #poetry...
https://www.instagram.com/p/DRRi5fIDTGs/?igsh=M2MzcjBuMTJyd291
3 months ago
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Lesley Curwen
Louise Longson
3 months ago
Thrilled to be hosting the imminent take-off of
@elcurwen.bsky.social
& Stephen Paul Wren's collaboration, plus a few poems from my new one and very special guests
@jirobb.bsky.social
@paulwritespoems.bsky.social
and
@annasaund.bsky.social
29 Nov at 7.00pm
eventbrite.co.uk/e/last-satur...
Join us!
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Last Saturday Poetry: Get ready for take-off!
Celebrating the imminent launch of two new poetry collections
https://eventbrite.co.uk/e/last-saturday-poetry-ready-steady-launch-tickets-1970218288939?aff=oddtdtcreator
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reposted by
Lesley Curwen
Alice Stainer
4 months ago
This was such a lovely surprise!Thank you to
@catherineredford.bsky.social
&
@tarawheeler.bsky.social
for this vote of confidence 🤩
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reposted by
Lesley Curwen
𝕄𝕒𝕣𝕜 𝔸𝕟𝕥𝕠𝕟𝕪 𝕆𝕨𝕖𝕟
4 months ago
Wow! This feels like it was an AGE ago ... when in fact, it's been less than a year since this appeared. My thanks, still, to
@matthewmcsmith.bsky.social
,
@blackboughpoetry.bsky.social
, and my former BBC journalist interviewer
@elcurwen.bsky.social
. 🙏🏼
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Lesley Curwen
Paul Lewis
4 months ago
Never buy leasehold (if you can avoid it) part 94
bit.ly/4qG8soL
“escalating charges, poor service quality, opaque fees and a lack of communication” MB these are failings, not alleged failings.
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Forced out of retirement by a £25k bill: MPs probe freeholder over service charges
Residents launch fightback against Britain’s biggest freeholder’s fees
https://bit.ly/4qG8soL
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Lesley Curwen
Dr Rachel Broady
4 months ago
It's not a grassroots working class movement. "Wherever we looked for prominent flaggers and leaders of this movement, we found people smugglers and sex doll salesmen, people with dubious criminal pasts and people willing to put in a good word for Adolf Hitler."
manchestermill.co.uk/the-men-who-...
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The men who raised the flags
Nigel Farage says this summer’s movement was led by ‘ordinary people’ expressing their patriotism. That’s not what we found
https://manchestermill.co.uk/the-men-who-raised-the-flags/
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Lesley Curwen
Rhona Greene
4 months ago
⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️ So excited for tomorrow’s Dublin launch
@eatthestorms.com
Issue V when we will celebrate with some of our wonderful contributors whose stunning work makes this issue so special. It’s been amazing to be subeditor to our phenomenal EIC Damien B Donnelly. Time to Shine Stormers!⭐️🍾 🥂 ⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️
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Sounds like @bbcradio 4 has been speeded up on the Sunday programme debate on the Church of England! Surely no one speaks that fast? OMG!!
4 months ago
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Thanks to Damien
@eatthestorms.com
and
@rhonagreene.bsky.social
for making me a Stormer for Issue V.
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5 months ago
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Lesley Curwen
Anne Applebaum
5 months ago
President Macron: “We were very naive to leave our public space to social media networks controlled by US or Chinese companies that don’t share our interests and not interested in survival of our democracies.”
www.youtube.com/watch?v=MggN...
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French President Macron Speaks at German Unity Day Ceremony | WION LIVE
YouTube video by WION
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MggNSjfF6XI
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Lesley Curwen
Literature Works
5 months ago
We’re pleased to share a new piece of writing by the Quay Words Summer 2025 writer-in-residence Kirsteen McNish. Here's ‘There are tides everywhere.’
quaywords.org.uk/there-are-ti...
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Quay Words at Exeter Custom House | ‘There are tides, everywhere.’ by Kirsteen McNish
Kirsteen McNish was the Quay Words writer-in-residence for Summer 2025. During her ‘Tides’ residency at Exeter Custom House, she set out to explore the tides’ influence on our psyche, excavate…
https://quaywords.org.uk/there-are-tides-everywhere-by-kirsteen-mcnish/
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Lesley Curwen
Cat Neilan
6 months ago
My colleague
@thejohnsimpson.bsky.social
has done a terrific deep dive into the financial links between US tech billionaires and Tommy Robinson Well worth a read
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
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US cash turned Tommy Robinson into the poster boy of UK f...
Outside the Old Bailey in 2018, a reinvented Tommy Robinson flashed his perfect new teeth to 2,000 diehard supporters at a “free Tommy” rally on a stage ...
https://observer.co.uk/news/national/article/us-cash-turned-tommy-robinson-into-the-poster-boy-of-uk-far-right
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Thank you
@catherineredford.bsky.social
for reading my pamphlet 'Rescue Lines', a poetic meditation on finding and losing a sister. 🙏
@hedgehogpress.co.uk
Signed copies still available by DM.
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6 months ago
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reposted by
Lesley Curwen
Thanks to
@zoebrigley.bsky.social
for interviewing me about my poem 'A night on the river Yealm' for
@modronmagazine.bsky.social
.
modronmagazine.com/2025/04/06/t...
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The More Than Human Perspective in Environmental Poetry: A Poem and Interview with Lesley Curwen
In this interview, Lesley Curwen discusses her writing process, particularly in relation to nature and ocean pollution. Her poem “Night on the Yealm” captures a quiet moment on a sailin…
https://modronmagazine.com/2025/04/06/the-more-than-human-perspective-in-environmental-poetry-a-poem-and-interview-with-lesley-curwen/
11 months ago
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Thank you
@matthewmcsmith.bsky.social
@blackboughpoetry.bsky.social
for reading my book 'Sticky with Miles' about damage done by global trade for
@sealeychallenge.bsky.social
. DM me for a signed copy.
@dreich.bsky.social
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6 months ago
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For
##PoemsAbout
#chandeliers
, a poem that riffs on that image. For
@alanparrywriter.co.uk
@thebrokenspine.co.uk
and the
##poetsofbluesky
community.
6 months ago
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reposted by
Lesley Curwen
Annick Yerem
7 months ago
Tomorrow!
www.tickettailor.com/events/sdhep...
Come and join us, it will be an evening filled with poetry and love.
#PoetrySky
#Fundraiser
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I recommend this novel by Briony Collins. Read my blog here:
www.lesleycurwenpoet.com/ambergris-a-...
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‘Ambergris’, a novel by Briony Collins – Lesley Curwen
http://www.lesleycurwenpoet.com/ambergris-a-novel-by-briony-collins
7 months ago
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Lesley Curwen
Black Bough Poetry
7 months ago
📣 Our
#SilverBranch
series feature poet for August 2025 ☀️ 📣 Sue Finch
@suefinch.bsky.social
🖊️ 💎 ‘I will howl for its dark future’ 🦇 Full feature:
blackboughpoetry.com/sue-finch-augu…
#poetry
r
#writingcommunity
ty
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reposted by
Lesley Curwen
Chris Campbell
7 months ago
A great BBC Upload shout out for the launch of my new poetry collection ‘Why I Wear My Past to Work’ at The Bridge Inn, Bristol (28th Sept). With mention of Bob Walton, Helen Sheppard,
@tomsastry.bsky.social
& the rest of the top line up. You can hear a poem too:
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
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Lesley Curwen
Emma Harding
7 months ago
Fiction from Japan, a
#memoir
of adolescence & essays on New York life in today’s A Good Read 3pm @BBCRadio4 The barrister & writer
@robrinder.bsky.social
& author
@junodawson.bsky.social
talk
#books
with
@harriettsg.bsky.social
Producer Sally Heaven
#fiction
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
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BBC Radio 4 - A Good Read, Rob Rinder and Juno Dawson
The barrister and the writer discuss books they feel passionate about.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m002gqgg
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Lesley Curwen
Carmella de Keyser
7 months ago
Have really enjoyed being part of Jack Caradoc's THE CANDYMAN'S TRUMPET
@dreich.bsky.social
🎺 An eclectic, thought-provoking, culturally relevant magazine.🖤 Here's my poem- GETTING PIERCED! A reflection on the 90's & my memories of Camden Lock.
#Camden
#PoemsAboutPiercings
#90s
#CamdenTown
#Poems
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Lesley Curwen
Paul Connolly
7 months ago
Bridport Prize starter pack
@bridportprize.bsky.social
with winners & shortlisted writers including
@kitdewaal.com
@dreenawriting.co.uk
@marcellenewbold.bsky.social
@esloudon.bsky.social
Please follow & repost the pack & tell me if you want to be included
#booksky
#poetrycommunity
#writingcommunity
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This
@bbcradio.bsky.social
#SundayFeature on artist and writer Edward Gorey is brilliant - give it a listen.
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
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Sunday Feature - Make Everybody as Uneasy as Possible: Edward Gorey at 100 - BBC Sounds
Chris Riddell celebrates the centenary of the American artist and writer Edward Gorey.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m002br1c?partner=uk.co.bbc&origin=share-mobile
7 months ago
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Lesley Curwen
Emma Harding
7 months ago
Zadie Smith & Colm Tóibín join
@harriettsg.bsky.social
for today’s A Good Read 3pm @BBCRadio4 A devoted father in Colombia, a modern-day picaresque through London, and a languid summer romance. Produced by Eliza Lomas
#books
#fiction
#memoir
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
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BBC Radio 4 - A Good Read, Zadie Smith and Colm Tóibín
Two authors join Harriett Gilbert to share favourite books.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m002gfzl
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Lesley Curwen
Suzanna Fitzpatrick
7 months ago
Bit late - school holidays! - but was thrilled to be able to read a sonnet from 'Crippled' at the
@foundationswift.bsky.social
reading today. Fantastic readers and great discussion afterwards, ably chaired by
@degna.bsky.social
and
@elcurwen.bsky.social
www.redsquirrelpress.com/product-page...
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Thank you to
@blackboughpoetry.bsky.social
for re sharing my
#SilverBranch
poems.
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7 months ago
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Lesley Curwen
Rother Writes
7 months ago
Hello
@thebrokenspine.co.uk
and host
@alanparrywriter.co.uk
for another week of thematic writing, with
#PoemsAbout
#Glamour
. I tried to channel my inner Marc Bolan, but the Paris fashion houses won.
#PoetsOnBluesky
#PoetryCommunity
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Lesley Curwen
Atrium
7 months ago
Thank you for reading and sharing today's poem - Body-swap by
@elcurwen.bsky.social
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'Swags as soft as were-fur'. Love this line.
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7 months ago
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For
#PoemsAbout
#glamour
, a small poem about dangerous colours.
@alanparrywriter.co.uk
@thebrokenspine.co.uk
7 months ago
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reposted by
Lesley Curwen
A Thousand Shades of Green
8 months ago
George Sandifer Smith, Perry Gasteiger,
@rfredekenter.bsky.social
@petitecreature1.bsky.social
@barney-ashton.bsky.social
@eatthestorms.com
@brionycollins.bsky.social
Jen Feroze,
@markantonyowen.com
@poetbex.bsky.social
Romina Ramos
@jamesmcconachie1.bsky.social
@elcurwen.bsky.social
Robert Edge
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Lesley Curwen
The Broken Spine (SUBS OPEN)
8 months ago
⚡ In 48 hours, the
#PIL
system opens to the world If you care about: ✔️ Poetry ✔️ Indie presses ✔️ Breaking paywalls Be ready. June 30 = launch day
#PromoteIndieLit
#PoetsOfBlueSky
#BookRelease
#BlogTour
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Lesley Curwen
Louise Longson
8 months ago
If you have an hour or so to spare tomorrow, come and join me and some wonderful poets 7pm, online Zoom and free - a great and inspiring way to spend some of the Last Saturday of the month!
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/last-satur...
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Last Saturday: An Evening of Poetry Readings
Join poets Sue Finch, Julia Webb, Lucy Heuschen, Karen P Gonzalez, Anna Chorlton, Sarah Wallis and Sue Watling for an evening of words.
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/last-saturday-an-evening-of-poetry-readings-tickets-1409227690959
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