Good news! They haven’t come for us yet—& our poets continue to bravely rhyme it how it is (or soon might be) *Click link in thread for all 8 #PoemsOfTheWeek #liberty #freedom #statueofliberty #immigration #immigrants @michaelgerber.bsky.social @paullander.bsky.social @aestallings.bsky.social

Proud girls, you gorgons, gorgeous in your gowns, rising back unrepentant out of your loam house, tiptoe fripperies, overlook my misreading. ‘Autumn Cyclamen’, a poem by @aestallings.bsky.social: www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...

I can’t help but think of that cruel fairy tale about the proud girl who trod on a loaf to spare her new shoes crossing a puddle of mud. Down she sank, down, past the Marsh Witch’s brewery, to hell’s portals ‘Autumn Cyclamen’, a poem by @aestallings.bsky.social: www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...

The Roos Carr figures are dating to the Late Bronze Age or Early Iron Age. They were inadvertently unearthed by laborers during ditch maintenance at Roos Carr in 1836. Approximately two meters beneath the surface, the workers discovered a collection of well-preserved...🧵1/3 📷 me #archaeology 🏺

under earth I know you’re a heavy dark mass, circular tuber, a flat severed breast like a loaf of bread, toughened and covered in dirt, bouquet overhead. ‘Autumn Cyclamen’, a poem by @aestallings.bsky.social: www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...

"Hoopoe" is too a word, #SpellingBee! Hoopoe is the thing with feathers! FFS.

Ha!

New poem from A.E.Stallings. More than a nature poem when you read it – don’t be misled by the snippet in LRB’s post. #poetry

New pome out, with thanks to @lrb.co.uk :

And don't comply in advance. He doesn't have the legal power to do this:

Wow. Here in the doom-scrolling department, we're getting a bit backed up. But anyway, today teaching at Melissa, and then back-to-school-night at the school (ugghh). Coffee!

Don’t be the proud girl brought low – that’s the lesson. Come, teach me another: the root, round anchor of buoyant exuberance. from ‘Autumn Cyclamen’, a new poem by @aestallings.bsky.social: www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...

... Andy Beckett on Tony Benn Clare Bucknell on Rachel Ruysch’s paintings Elizabeth Goldring on the restoration of the Frick Collection and a poem by @aestallings.bsky.social. Read online now at www.lrb.co.uk

Trying to get back into the swing of things (and not scroll through the copious doom). Admin, translation, prose tinkering. Coffee!

A Zoom podcast interview thing, and two in-person meetings. Not sure much else will get done. Trying to limit crushingly depressing doom scrolling. At least there is a cool breeze. Coffee!

Daniel Szasz (and others) playing Dinicu's "Ciocârlia" (which influencer' Enescu's first romanian rhapsody) tonight. Skylarks and strings.

First visit to "Sisi's" palace, the Achilleion, on Corfu this trip. Building itself closed for massive restoration, so couldn't see the famous frescoes of Achilles & Hector, but did see the swooning Achilles & HUGE bronze Achilles (see person for scale) in the stunning gardens. (1/2)

First visit to "Sisi's" palace, the Achilleion, on Corfu this trip. Building itself closed for massive restoration, so couldn't see the famous frescoes of Achilles & Hector, but did see the swooning Achilles & HUGE bronze Achilles (see person for scale) in the stunning gardens. (1/2)

First poetry reading where I have read over a brass band. Possibly not the last? Audience endearingly focussed, however.

I would like a set of these, please:

Saturday #morningread 🦇

In Corfu for the Corfu Literary Festival, watching a fat orange slice of the moon rise up over the dark hills of Albania across the water.

This is absurd and awful. A green card holder is a citizen in all but name only. What are we doing, people?

OK, tricky proof in. (No doubt letters-to-the-editor will find all the things I've missed.) Onward to Zoom workshop preparation.

Shaken awake by earthquake in the wee hours (no damage though). Big zoom meeting/workshop today, so a lot of preparation. Coffee!

Thought I had a Zoom meeting midday, but perhaps it is in afternoon? (Time zones! Ugghh.) Reading, proofing, pome tinkering, translation, laundry. Coffee.

Athens summer cinema--lovely evening at Theseion watching the Materialists, a well-acted movie with a sharp script (a bit Jane Austeny with its frankness about love and finances), plus nearly full moon, kittens, and the aroma of νυχτολούλουδο (night-blooming jasmine).

Is there any republican left who does not understand that Trump supports Putin & not the West? 1. He praises Putin all the time & now even his servant Lukashenko. 2. Trump has imposed no sanctions on Russia or tariffs, but big tariffs on the EU & Ukraine. /1

Jfc

OK, today trying to shake off the doldrums. Proofs and answering fact checkers. Coffee!

Excellent ancient #Fish:

Well, if we're going to adhere to our 1984 timeline, shouldn't it be the Ministry of Peace?

(I always feel as though I haven't been getting any writing done, and then a flock of proofs comes home to roost.)

OK, going to try to keep up my translation momentum today. Coffee!

OK, daughter off to first day of school, and though low on sleep, plan to make tracks, especially on translation and admin. Coffee!

My latest Echolocation: english.web.ox.ac.uk/echolocation...

Stymied on assorted fronts (including technological, the worst!)--a sign, perhaps, that the AntiMuses are abroad. Sigh. Coffee.

I seem somehow not to be making progress on anything, and am just fussing with housework, chipping away at minor admin tasks, and occasionally failing to translate a line. Ah well. Coffee!

Καλό Μήνα!

When this time is over (& it will be) & somebody asks me to describe its nature & spirit, I shall play this clip. It embodies the whole cruelty, nastiness, sneer, indifference, cockiness, glee, inhumanity, & evil. It proves they knew what they did was illegal, but they did it happily, voluntarily.

Russia is not making much progress in Donetsk, where Ukraine has reprioritised defence in light of Putin’s demand that the unoccupied part of the territory be handed over. Ukraine is answering with a barrage on Russia’s refineries. open.substack.com/pub/johntpsa...

HAPPENING NOW: Judge Sparkle Sooknanan holds an emergency hearing as the Trump admin is reportedly trying—imminently—to deport hundreds of Guatemalan children without required process or access to representation. www.courtlistener.com/docket/71240...

Some well-deserved love for Light contributing editor #GailWhite! #lightversemasters @aestallings.bsky.social @paullander.bsky.social @juliekanepoet.bsky.social @allisonpoet.bsky.social @colemanglenn.bsky.social @michaelgerber.bsky.social tinyurl.com/36vduk6d

Have been writing a fair amount of silly/slight pomes of late, but figure better than nothing--a psychic throat clearing? Today: housework, translation, admin. Coffee!

An update for those following the kerfuffle over a Danish zoo's quest for carnivore feed... *Click link in thread for all 12 #PoemsOfTheWeek #lionfeeding #pony #ponies #pets #zoos #denmark @paullander.bsky.social @michaelgerber.bsky.social @juliekanepoet.bsky.social @aestallings.bsky.social

Lovely poem from Jesse Nathan's first book, "Eggtooth." It achieves real lift-off, which is very hard on so short a runway. @unboundedition.bsky.social @aestallings.bsky.social @bdralyuk.bsky.social

A sleeved tunic, made from linen, from Egypt, Roman Period, 4th century AD. The garment, designed for a child, likely around five years old, has survived remarkably well due to the arid climate. The tunic's design allowed for adjustments as the child grew. 🧵 1/2 🏺 #archaeology 📷 me

I found the necklace! Phew. Thanks to those who reassured me it was not really lost. Maybe a sign that today will be better. Coffee!

HOT MIC: Georgia Senate candidate and U.S. Rep. Mike Collins (R) tells a constituent that President Donald Trump is in the Epstein files and calls to release them.