Friends, fam and poetry pals lend me your ears. Happy #nationalpoetryday on the theme of #play ❤️ Hope you enjoy 'Let Us Play' - my cheeky, playful, rule-breaking nonet, inspired by this week's prompt on Top Tweet Tuesday over on X For more on the nonet... www.masterclass.com/articles/how...

Absolutely, just the start!!! "This Wilderness & Other Concerns" has been out for just over 3 weeks - lots of copies are out in the world. I've had some lovely feedback & done the first of many gigs IRL and read a few snippets online. If you want to get a copy or book me for an event, just DM me😎

Well, that went well. I totally enjoyed performing the whole of "This Wilderness" to an audience tonight - all 23 minutes of it - the rhythm & flow, the drift & shift through the scenes and scenarios felt amazing - got some great feedback from the audience and sold a few copies of the book. 🤗

I'm excited to be getting out and about with my prize-winning debut collection. Details of more gigs to follow. But it all kicks off tonight at half-seven in my hometown, at The Albionn in Stone Street. If you're local, do come along tonight, if you can. It would be lovely to see you! 😍

I'm excited to be getting out and about with my prize-winning debut collection. Details of more gigs to follow. But it all kicks off tonight at half-seven in my hometown, at The Albionn in Stone Street. If you're local, do come along tonight, if you can. It would be lovely to see you! 😍

Bought it? Loved it? Say so. Tag us. Share your favourite line. Let’s show the world why poetry still matters. @martinkennedyyates.bsky.social #ThisWilderness www.amazon.co.uk/Wil...

As winner of the Broken Spine Chapbook Competition in 2024, my debut poetry book, "This Wilderness & Other Concerns" is out now. It's in 3 sections & fuses various forms and styles. It's both direct & lyrical, gritty & compassionate, specific & universal. Want to know more? bsky.app/profile/mart...

Weekend #poetry post from @martinkennedyyates.bsky.social and @thebrokenspine.co.uk Delicious and delightful. Can’t wait to tuck in!

Today’s post arrived at the speed of light⚡️ ‘This Wilderness & Other Concerns’ @martinkennedyyates.bsky.social published @thebrokenspine.co.uk💫

Those books and bookmarks are getting out and about. You got yours yet? Drop me a DM for a signed copy with handcrafted bookmark. To whet your appetite and get a flavour of the book try this short article on @thebrokenspine.co.uk's website: thebrokenspine.co.uk/2025/08/17/r...

Every order counts. You’re helping a poet’s voice cut through the noise. You’ve made this real. @martinkennedyyates.bsky.social #ThisWilderness www.amazon.co.uk/Wil...

My debut poetry book's been out for a week. Lots have gone out into the world - thank you everyone. You can still order a signed copy with lovely handmade bookmark - just drop me a DM. Rick Sanders says it's "a compelling collection" that will draw you in from the start, so treat yourself today 😎

This snippet is from the #tseliot -inspired poem in my new #poetry book which is set in #Birmingham You can order a signed copy, with free handcrafted bookmark with a bonus poem, from me - just drop me a DM to ask more😊 And here's an article about it... thebrokenspine.co.uk/2025/08/17/r...

My author copies have arrived & are looking amazing: the superbly-designed bookjacket with its classy matte finish; the generously-sized, natural white, pages that allow the poems to breathe; the whole look & layout are just perfect. Thank you, Alan Parry & @thebrokenspine.co.uk for a great job! 😎

I'm so excited to say "This Wilderness & Other Concerns" is released today. You can buy it from The Broken Spine website, or order a signed copy with original handcrafted bookmark with bonus poem direct from me - just drop me a DM. 😎 @thebrokenspine.co.uk #poetry #poetrylovers #poetrycommunity

If you like poems that are quite raw at times, yet intricately crafted, you might like mine! I'm chuffed that JD's endorsement below highlights the artistry of my work. My debut chapbook is out with @thebrokenspine.co.uk tomorrow. You can order a signed copy with original bookmark - just DM me. 😎

"This Wilderness" features various aspects of modern day Birmingham and weaves them into its own mythopoesis. Brum's rather grim river, The Rea, pronounced Rae, features on the bookjacket and in the quote below. See recent posts for more info about my book. DM me to ask more and/or pre-order.

"This Wilderness" is a five-part sequence inspired by Eliot's "The Wasteland" - 1920s London becomes 2020s Birmingham. Post-war/influenza becomes post-pandemic/Brexit. The lines below were prompted by the exposure & removal of Victorian & Edwardian graves for the arrival of HS2 lines in the city.

It's just 6 days till my debut poetry pamphlet is out with The Broken Spine. Check out the punchy, pithy article below to find out more... "a fierce, lyrical commentary on the state of Britain today." Then DM me to pre-order your signed copy, with exclusive bookmark 😎

The River Rae runs black through history. #ThisWildernessAndOtherConcerns speaks its drowned truths. Out Sept 5. Follow @martinkennedyyates.bsky.social. #ComingSoon

Just 10 days till my debut poetry pamphlet is out! If you want to pre-order a signed copy, with exclusive bookmark, just DM me or reply to this post. It's £10 +postage. As the brilliant Dr Rob Francis suggests, it's a vital, visceral and varied collection of voices, places and stories. 😎

Wow! Another humbling endorsement from a poet & person I respect & admire - see previous posts. Rick is a great poet, artist, maker & a great lover/supporter of poets. He hosts Brum Radio's poetry show, the Verve Open Mic night & lots more besides... do check him out on Insta- @willis_designs_shop 🥰

It's a privilege to have this endorsement from the inimitable JD, who is something of a legend in the literary world of the West Midlands - he'll cringe at me saying that because he's also a very modest chap. It means a lot that he enjoyed my manuscript and appreciated the craft of my poems. 😊

Greg Leadbetter is a great poet & prof of poetry. He has been a massive influence on my work. I'm so proud & grateful to have his endorsement & praise for my debut collection... "This Wilderness & Other Concerns" 💚 DM me to pre-order. Greg has a new collection of his own - check him out on Insta.

I say, do judge a book by its cover! I'm so pleased with the jacket for my debut collection. It captures the setting and atmosphere of 'This Wilderness' perfectly. My original photo of the very unpretty River Rea in Digbeth, Birmingham, is transformed into the mythic setting of my work - perfect!!!

My debut book of poems is due for release in less than 3 weeks! Massive thanks to @emmapurshouse.bsky.social‬ for her endorsement & support. Keep following for comments from other fine poets, plus little snippets & tasters over the next couple of weeks #poetrycommunity #ThisWilderness&OtherConcerns

And here's "Summer Dogs" part 2 #PromptCombo #Summer #Dudley #BlackCountry @victoriaspires.bsky.social @dragonslayerma.bsky.social @thewombwellrainbow.bsky.social @hool415.bsky.social @naturegirl.bsky.social

Hi, Vic, thanks for hosting this week's #PromptCombo This #Summer has had me recalling the hot dry summer of 76 when I was 12 on a council estate in #Dudley in the #BlackCountry and I came over all stream-of-consciousness - it's in 2 parts for clarity on the screen 😎 @victoriaspires.bsky.social

I agree with this guy, completely. The challenge, for me, is to take the everyday, the colloquial, and the mundane... and from that say something meaningful, poignant or profound. If it goes wrong it's just dull and drab, but when it works it's like finding a diamond in the dirt. 💎💩

Hey Ronnie @rfsmith.bsky.social‬ Are you still there waiting at the #PromptCombo kiosk? Here's summat a little #Seaside for you, also #mensmentalhealth 💙 @dragonslayerma.bsky.social , @thewombwellrainbow.bsky.social , @victoriaspires.bsky.social , @hool415.bsky.social , @naturegirl.bsky.social

Wrote a poem this morning on the theme of #silence - I got thinking about how our silent contemplation of nature and art is restful, but also humbling/sobering. Here it is... the form is inspired by Barbara Hepworth's sculpture & there's a 'Hamlet' quote thrown in for free! Enjoy 😎 #poetrycommunity

Well, @victoriaspires.bsky.social - it's taken me all week but here's my response to you #PromptCombo challenge #Hidden - a visual poem (of course) inspired by the things I found this week hidden in the earth - see previous post - read out loud to the steady rhythm of digging on a hot day 😎

Hello #poetrycommunity #poetrylovers This week on #PromptCombo the challenge from @victoriaspires.bsky.social was the theme #Hidden - so as I was doing a lot of digging out there in the heat I collected a few hidden bits and bobs in the hope that they would inspire a poem & this is what I found...

Interesting interview with #poet @martinkennedyyates.bsky.social thewingedmoon.substack.com/p/water-bene...

Yesterday was a very hot day of garden remodelling, and I found this little trove of bits and bobs... which will hopefully be the raw material for a poem (or two). 😎 #PoetryCombo #Hidden @victoriaspires.bsky.social

Hello, poets and artists. If you create work that's inspired by nature, consider submitting to this beautifully curated magazine. Here's a link to just a few examples from the previous edition, 'Hinterland', including my visual poem, 'Fabric' - www.wingedmoon.com/hinterland/i...

If you write nature poetry and make nature-inspired art the consider submitting to this lovely journal - the editors love things that are meditative and experimental. Why not submit to this edition on the theme of 'Biophilia' 💚

Come on #poetrycommunity - get signed up for a great night of poetry in a mutually supportive atmosphere. See you there 🤩

Lucky 13th! Submit your poems to #SelectedPoetry. Free, unthemed, and a chance to be part of our contributor directory with backlinks. @katiejenkinspoet.bsky.social @vespertine4.bsky.social shorturl.at/W8jbo#SelectedPoetry.#SubmissionWindow

Hello poetry-loving chums. How would you like to come my online reading that's coming up soon? I would love to have some friendly faces along. Details below. Please do let me know if you're coming. ❤️ Sign up here: offaspress.co.uk/events/ #poetrycommunity #WritingCommunity

I wholeheartedly recommend this festival. ❤️ Anna, Zoe and the team work so hard all year round to put on an amazing in-person festival every year... and an incredible set of online readings, lounges, open-mics and workshops all year round. Go on, treat yourself 😊

The #RoaringTwenties: a time of economic prosperity (only for some) & changing societal norms. A #FreeSpiritedEra rife w/racism & classism. @alanparry83.bsky.social & I look forward to your #poems about this complex time (then & now). @brokenspinearts.bsky.social #PoetsOfBlueSky bit.ly/4gt8ppX

BRAND NEW at VERVE is this pamphlet focussed event which brings four stellar pamphleteers from some of our favourite indie poetry presses together! @serenbooks.bsky.social @theemmapress.bsky.social @vervepoetrypress.bsky.social @fourteenpoems.bsky.social

I am pleased and proud that my poem "Fabric" found a home in this lovely "HINTERLAND" edition of The Winged Moon. It's a visual poem, so this aesthetically beautiful literary journal is an ideal place for it. 😊

Hi folks. I'm excited to be here. I'll let these Midland lads express my feelings about being in this lovely place right now. Sit back and listen up... it's well worth 3 minutes 43 seconds of anybody's time: www.youtube.com/watch?v=G8ds...