Sweet sustenance and symbol: Rosemary Remembrance Cake is #RecipeOfTheDay www.nigella.com/recipes/rose...

Tonight at 7.15 on Radio 3. Writer’s block, dry spell, fallow period, worrisome silence, that terrifying, lonely time when you *cannot* write a poem. I speak to Liz Berry, Oliver Carmichael, Hannah Copley, Marie Howe, Vanessa Kisuule and Jack Underwood! www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...

Tomorrow I'm going to an all-day ABBA disco (= 5 hours of dancing for old[er] people 😄) at a gay club in Oxford with my disco-bunny and ABBA-superfan friend, Susy. The question all week has been What. To. Wear?

“without a surrounding quiet, language grows thin, judgment hardens into argument, and intimacy withers. The word that has not been sheltered by calm arrives brittle, even when it means well. It shatters at first use.” comment.org/silence-the-...

Martha Rich, a commercial and fine artist based in Philadelphia #WomensArt

Our crowdfunder for Up//Roar poems of Queer Resistance is live! This anthology of #LGBTQ+ #poems will be edited by Cherry Potts and Jeremy Dixon (Hazard Press). Help get our tiger roaring! submissions (UK/RoI only) still open til 1st nov www.crowdfunder.co.uk/uproar-poems-of-queer-resistance

“Riot Women” is off-the-scale brilliant. Are we at peak Sally Wainwright yet? The song “Seeing Red” in Episode 4 is on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Music. Stream and share away girls! youtu.be/NjqmEiqnJZs

Door #inside the basement, City Lights Books, SF, 2018 #blueskyartshow

Superb piece by @jamesbloodworth.bsky.social in this month's @bylinetimes.bsky.social mag: "Britain's Media Has Let Nigel Farage Reshape Political Journalism - Why?" This article alone was worth my annual sub to one of the very few news outlets still doing proper journalism

For the Church of England and its continued difficulty valuing and celebrating the relationships of LGBTQ+ folk. youtu.be/3X9oH9TIo3Y?...

Over 25 years ago I wrote a poem titled 'So Here We Are' after spending a week with the Iona Community. Our week was led by the late, great Kathy Galloway. We were a group of LGBTQ Christians and being with a whole bunch of folk like me was powerful, joyous and formative.

I've signed this open letter. #CofEpeeps, lay or ordained, if you want the church to become more fully affirming of LGBTQ+ folks, please read this letter from Inclusive Church and consider signing it. www.inclusive-church.org/llf-open-let...

Here's a welcome offer - save money on more books 📚 Type AUTUMN5 at the checkout where asked to 'redeem your code' and get £5 off #poetry books when you spend £20+ Plus, we've extended our FREE UK postage offer: ninearchespress.com/shop Now really is the season to stock up on books 🍂

Ahead of the Slung Low/ @lrb.co.uk special readings of the late Tony Harrison's long poem v. in Holbeck Cemetery on Sunday 12 October, John Newsham discusses the poem in the Morning Star. morningstaronline.co.uk/article/vers... V. A Homecoming: 12pm, 2.30pm & 5pm. slunglow.org/v-a-homecoming/

On National Poetry Day, we’re celebrating our poetry publishing – past and present – with a new campaign. Poetry Underlined places lines by some of our most beloved heritage poets in conversation with lines from exciting voices in contemporary poetry on billboard sites around the UK and Ireland.

We are immensely saddened by news of the death of Tony Harrison, aged 88, who had been unwell for some years. A tribute has been published on our website. www.bloodaxebooks.com/news?article...

Sybil Andrews, The Gale (1930) Linocut, Art Deco style print from the Modernist Printmaker #ReframingWomenPrintmakers

I lived in Nottingham for a few years in the 1990s. Yesterday I went back for the first time in decades. Enjoyed calling in @fiveleavesbooks.bsky.social, Nottingham’s indie radical bookshop. Many moons ago it was Mushroom Bookshop. Here’s to @rossbradshaw.bsky.social for keeping such places going.

Final night of “The Last Stand of Mary Whitehouse” by @carolinebirduk.bsky.social . I doubt there’s any tickets left but it’s a fantastic play. Maxine Peake and Samuel Barnett are superb. Let’s hope there will be another run.

Faith Humphrey Hill, US artist and knitter who combines knitting, embroidery and paint to create portraits #WomensArt

#Fox by Helen Ahpornsiri, who creates intricate collage artworks created with real pressed flowers and leaves. #WomensArt #Autumn #Fall

RIP Tony Harrison. When I arrived at the UofWolv I taught a course called “Literary Representations of the Family” focussed on later C20 lit. Tony Harrison’s poetry featured and introduced me to his work. ‘Book Ends’ I and II are sonnets and a half. Consummate use of form.

The problem with many university strategies is that they’re completely divorced from reality. Launched with fanfare, press releases and high quality videos, the people of the university mostly roll their eyes because there is no acknowledgement of the problems that need to be solved. 1/

Winchester Poetry Festival is approaching. online events are so important for accessibility, but they’re also costly to run & we haven’t sold many online tickets yet. Just wanted to shout that our headline events are live-streamed and BSL interpreted! 1/3 www.winchesterpoetryfestival.org/what-s-on

Christianity that is full of welcome, healing and celebration. Found in the fields and on the dancefloor and in the mosh pit. Our 2025 festival photos are now live — more than 6,000 images (with a few still being added) – dig in here: buff.ly/XsFDRK4

A story about the hijacking of religion by white nationalists, who use its shared cultural heritage to ‘other’ people who don’t look like them. The pictures here though – our pictures – tell a different story. A truer one, we would say. Of a faith that is joy-filled, inclusive and justice-seeking.

Every picture tells a story. For example, you might have seen pictures from last weekend’s march in London. They tell a story about – amongst other things – the far-right’s recent co-opting of a version of Christianity.

Here's a parody adaptation of the classic song "Walking in Memphis" by the soulful Marc Cohn, in which we address Donald Trump's arrival in the UK for his exciting historic second state visit. It's called "Put Up Some Fences" 🎹🎶 youtu.be/1Iag4yaozis?...

I bloody love Carol Ann Duffy. Simon Armitage where are you? www.theguardian.com/books/2025/s...

In this month of beginning or returning to study, have you discovered our #poetry writing handbooks? Packed with essays, tips, examples and motivations, any title in our handbook series will help reinvigorate your writing this, or (any other) month. ninearchespress.com/shop#!/Writi...

Submissions are now open for the Eric Gregory Awards, for a collection by poets under the age of 30. The Eric Gregory Awards were founded in 1960 by the late Dr Eric Gregory for the encouragement of young poets. 🧵

Head to our online shop for your late summer #poetry reading choices and get FREE UK postage across the lot! Any books missing from your shelves? ninearchespress.com/shop

I'm excited to say I'm taking part in the Totally Thames Festival 2025, presenting "William Morris's Thames: Inspiration and Resource" for the William Morris Society UK. The talk will take place online on Wednesday, September 24th, 6-7pm London time. thamesfestivaltrust.org/whats-on/wil...

"Pat, why do you carry that ridiculous 600mm lens on long hikes?" Buddy, I can see mountains reflected in the eyes of a trailside pika.

Here’s what a few of you lovely lot had to say about Greenbelt 2025. What did you think? Let us know in the comments, or fill out our post-festival survey. buff.ly/wwTr5lh

Kathy Galloway, former leader of the Iona Community, has died aged 73 after a recent cancer diagnosis, complicated by sepsis. The Iona community said they mourn the loss of a truly prophetic voice of faith for justice, peace and transformation of unjust structures.

No!! I’m very sad about this indeed. Many years ago (late 90s) I attended a week on Iona run by Kathy Galloway in conjunction with the Lesbian & Gay Christian Movement (as was). It was a hugely influential week for many reasons. Kathy was also one of the first people to encourage me as a poet.

Plan a Poetry Retreat Day at the @poetrypharmacy.bsky.social Shropshire, with Roz Goddard and Jane Commane guiding you through creative workshops and sharing poems. Be inspired. Book your place for Sunday 2nd November here: poetrypharmacy.co.uk/pages/events...

This is good on the extraordinary alienation that has now grown up in academia. The gap between the values of lecturers and the universities that employ them are now a huge unbridgeable chasm. One stands for education, the other institutional self-interest. blog.matthewbarnard.phd/a-world-with...

My letter in today’s Times:

Hearing Adjoa Andoh (in conversation with @chinemcdonald.bsky.social ) at @greenbeltfestival.bsky.social on Saturday was one of my absolute highlights of a great weekend. Highly recommend you listen when talks are available. What an amazing woman.

'The 3 Graces' on the River Adur' stained glass and driftwood sculptures by UK artist Louise V Durham #WomensArt

Cat by Japanese embroidery artist Hiroko Kubota #womensart #InternationalCatDay ! 🐈

#ChappellRoan drops the video to #TheSubway. I absolutely love her. Several New York movies referenced here. The Empire State Building covered in green hair at the end is one of them ("King Kong").

all Sapphics should get a paid day off when Chappell Roan releases new music

Gherkin 9-5 What a way to earn a living

This ⬇️

Kings Heath becomes Queens Heath on 6th July. #gay #lgbtq #lgbt #lgbtq🌈 #gaylife #gaybirmingham #birmingham #gaypride #gaypride2025 #pride #pride2025 #kingsheath #queensheathpride

Sorry you missed it? If you’d like to join us for our Awards and Summer Party in 2026, become a member today. Whether you’re looking to strengthen your career, meet other authors, or add your voice to the creative community, you can find out more on our website societyofauthors.org/join/

A privilege to be part of Nicola Slee’s day of conversation, dialogue and poetry yesterday @queens.ac.uk