A-boards have been a rich source of entertainment over the years. My favourite concerned plane-crash survivors reduced to cannibalism: a nurse who cared for the injured and a shifty-looking pilot advertised his confession with the headline 'I ATE THE SNOW ANGEL' . . .

Younger poets are sometimes surprised when they see my keyboard.

Michael Taylor (British, born 1952) -- 'Self Portrait with Grave Goods', 2011, Oil on canvas, 117 x 81 cm Private Collection. via Marcus Lima

'The old world is dying, and the new world struggles to be born: now is the time of hamsters.' (possibly misremembered) -- Antonio Gramsci Image via @papercrisis

I love the irony in this poem by Matthew Rice from ‘Plastic’. It almost feels like a 21st century equivalent of Blake’s ‘The Chimney Sweeper’ The collection ‘Plastic’ is set during a single twelve-hour factory shift #Poetry #Poemoftheday #internationalworkersday #mayday #workersunite

As a writer, receiving feedback graciously is a vital skill Cartoon by Reza Farazmand

Poets, it would be great if you could submit poems for the June issue of the Morning Star to the email address: [email protected] We're keen to read your work! 🌿

Helpful and shrewd reviews from @ravoon.bsky.social www.thetimes.com/culture/book...

Listen again: LoFi Sean-Nós Beats To Relax & Study To / 04th May 2026 6th - #HipHop 68th - #Folk 85th - #Ambient Playing tracks by Kneecap, Craven Faults, Ian Duhig, Kitty Gallagher, An Galar Dub and more. @sireacht.bsky.social | www.mixcloud.com/camp_fr/lofi...

My father had a tattoo of a heart surmounting a scroll which read 'Mother'. He told me it was the only one you could get in Ireland till the Sixties. Thanks to Christopher Reid for the photo that prompted this memory.

At least nobody understood what the existentialist emotional support dogs were actually saying

BBC headline wants it both ways

As Hegel wrote, 'The owl of Minerva flies only at dusk, and then mainly to attack bus drivers'

So, Prometheus returns from stealing fire from the gods on Olympus and the first thing he says is "Now I'm off to Suffolk!" www.bbc.co.uk/news/resourc...

Just noticed I sent an email to a literary festival attributing a quotation to 'Willian Blake'. You know, Willian Blake: the greatest footballing poet artist of the whole Romantic era.

Poems refusing to "just walk up the damn stairs!" Photo: Willi Dorner

"I hear you're a racist now, Father!" Photo by Genevieve Maher on Inis Meáin.

They think the duck can't read. But he can. And ducks hold grudges.

Global coffee chains have cost Brits their third arms over the generations which gave the Empire its military advantage in hand to hand to hand fighting, musket and cannon reloading speeds and unmatched fencing technique. This used to be a country. A proper country. With proper tea.

Anne is a wonderful photographer, and also an exceptionally gifted writer. Do look out for her debut novel 'The Unheard' which I chose as my book of the year in 2024. review31.co.uk/essay/view/1...

5th Floor Justice, Hulme, Manchester, 1993, from Anne Worthington’s Hulme series, photographed on John Nash Crescent in the final years before the estate’s demolition.

Somebody thought a recent post of mine was unsympathetic to goths, so, to be clear:

I'm sure there were more goths around in Leeds in 1982 but you get the general idea

Tl;dr = everyone should read the brilliant and terrifying poetry of Sylvia Plath.

"Well I thought your poetry reading went splendidly and I hope you find your accommodation as pleasant. It can be a bit chilly here towards sundown but we'll put the heating on for you then so that shouldn't be much of a problem. Feel free to join in our singalong and have a very happy Beltane!"

'May-Day in London', William Blake after Samuel Collings (active 1784-1795). Folding frontispiece to the v.1, May 1, 1784 issue of Wit’s Magazine (London, 1784). Etching. via The Blake Society. Kept at Yale Center for British Art

My non-fiction prose book,'Village' has a digital edition,readable on Kindle, phone or computer. This can be downloaded FREE on Sunday 3 May. You can read many stories of the extraordinary Mrs Rudkin, whom I knew, & of Lincs singers! SEARCH FOR ALISON BRACKENBURY VILLAGE AMAZON

This beautiful object just arrived. I am truly glad to have a poem celebrating one of the most interesting and original poets in England. Sean O'Brien and David Wheatley have done a wonderful job as editors. I learned a great deal from Peter Didsbury and he has much to offer younger poets as well.

RIP Ted. He was the Montmorency of 'Gone Fishing' but gloomier, as if he knew what was coming. I'm going to retire my t-shirt of him in his memory.

Pavilion launch tonight and there are three tickets left! Join us! www.ticketsource.com/school-of-th... @livunienglish.bsky.social @livunipress.bsky.social

Jennifer Lee Tsai launches her debut collection. Not to be missed. www.toppingbooks.co.uk/events/st-an...

As Reece Dinsdale has pointed out, you never see Tom Waits and Diego Simeone in the same room at the same time

On my very-enjoyable visit to Poets & Players last Saturday I read some bird poems including this one about the joy of hearing aids for listening to them.

At the beginning of this it gives its location as Leeds in 2034, fo some reason, but the choreography is fantastic

Fun fact: 'Special Brew was first brewed to commemorate Churchill's 1950 visit to Copenhagen, incorporating "cognac flavours among its tasting notes" in deference to the wartime prime minister's fondness for brandy' www.bbc.co.uk/news/blogs-m...

'To go with the Waitrose prose, Tom Leonard's 'Jist ti Let Yi No' ahv drank thi speshlz that wurrin thi frij n thit yiwurr probbli hodn back furthi pahrti awright they wur great thaht stroang thaht cawld

I have this book and what John says is true

How your email finds me Franz Xaver Messerschmidt, The Vexed Man, 1771-83

Taking in the frozen cattle at night was one of the most exhausting tasks on a traditional farm.

I like using the Merlin app to identify birdsong when walking in Gledhow Valley woods, which are ancient woodland, as this reading clearly shows.

Nato to build 'iron ring of ballrooms' around Europe for defence -- Reuters

The menu at Caffi Spam in Colwyn Bay for the unveiling of the Terry Jones statue via Duille design

"Delighted you've just remembered another one of your poems, Socrates. Here, refresh yourself with a big goblet of your favourite wine before you begin!"

This is just to say unworn baby shoes for sale. It was delicious. from 'The Cannibal William Carlos Williams Faux Hemingway Short Story Haikus' #InternationalHaikuDay

When you're visiting a friend and your friend's dog overhears you say you're a poet

"Screw you Nerval and your poxy little lobster!"

Worth hearing @ravoon.bsky.social read the poems. Found myself recently standing somewhere saying the world Craquelure because that’s how these things work… youtu.be/zI0F4DbAvXs?...

A short piece on the strange pleasures to be found in the poetry of J.H. Prynne

Very sad to hear this. English poetry when I became more involved in it was dominated by Prynne and Hill -- I was thinking only today about what etymology meant to both of them after seeing a picture of Prynne's dictionary full of notes. Glad such good work as this marks the passing of a major poet.