Here's a roundup of some of the stuff that I have enjoyed over the past month.

Sir Walter Raleigh knew all about the dreadful sound of #Trump over 400 years ago. He even wrote #poetry about it. #history

I'm sharing some stuff that I have been reading again. Two chapbooks from friends of mine, one Autobiographical piece with tales of mental health difficulties and poetic chapter headings, and one soon to be released piece from a well established poet.

I've just sent three nominations to this. It looks like a fine idea - so why not?

I’m delighted that the brilliant @thewombwellrainbow.bsky.social has published three ‘Not Advent’ #poems of mine in The Starbeck Orion. Alongside them is a recording of them all, which, since they were written in the pandemic, I’m calling ‘Christmas Triptych, 2020’ #poetrycommunity #poetsonbluesky

⚠️ Public Service Announcement⚠️ Hug a Poet Today! Our Dashboard Awards are OPEN til Jan 31! 3 awards = 3 winners ANYONE CAN NOMINATE & IT'S FREE! buff.ly/9QxTVhG #writingcommunity #writerscommunity #poetry #poetrycommunity #writers #authors #authorscommunity

Happy New Year to one and all. I'm in the fortunate position of being able to celebrate by pointing out that I (along with several other fine poets) have a piece in Issue 12 of the Fig Tree - out today! Here's hoping that all of my #poetry friends will have similar & greater successes this year.

Christmas? New Year? I don't know whether I'm coming or going - heres some New Year #poetry from last year's #sixtyodd

“No matter how wonderful a thought, do not reveal it in a poem. Instead, let readers be prompted into having the wonderful thought on their own through reading your poem.” -- Lee Seong-bok

Who actually are these people?

With the New Year fast approaching make time for a little #poetry from Tennyson. Queen Victoria’s favourite poet. A colossal figure of the nineteenth century with plenty to say to us in the twenty first.

As we approach New Years Eve, #sixtyodd poets would like to offer you some new year #poetry in Out With The Old - In With The New. And as an added bonus for Mary Pickford fans, there is a New Year photograph of her for you to cut out and keep. (although you will have to print it first)

Today I’m remembering a ghost of #Christmas past. Here’s hoping that however your day goes, it brings you some fabulous memories. Enjoy a few days full of rich food, family, good friends and #poetry (not necessarily all of them, and not necessarily in that order.)

I’m remembering a ghost of Christmases past. Here’s hoping that however your day goes today, it brings you some fabulous memories.

Merry Christmas to one and all - And thanks for the pomes Jack Caradoc @dreich.bsky.social

What do you make of this? Did I waste too much time on it? I was kinda excited for a few minutes there...

I've been doing #sixtyodd for a few years now. Here is the #Christmas #poetry compilation from 2023.

Classic #poetry of the season... #Christmas day in the #Workhouse. Of course you know of it, but do you know it? It's a fab victorian melodrama.

Cheer up! This time next week it'll all be over! In the meantime try and get into the mood with some #Christmas #sixtyodd #poetry. Merry Christmas darlin' - Wherever you are...

#PoemsAbout #Money

Once upon a time, I had a chapbook published and genuinely believed that it was only a matter of time before I would become a household name in the world of #poetry. These days I'm barely a household name in my own house.

Richard C Bower. An amazing, much accomplished poet, who knows what little girls and boys are made of... Stardust!

Can you remember those old public information films warning children about the danger of playing in old abandoned fridges? Back in the 1830s the aim of public information #poetry was to discourage grown women from hiding in oaken chests with spring lock mechanisms.

Some Fabulous #poetry this morning, from our good friend @pj-donnelly.bsky.social who becomes the last poet to be admitted to the fellowship of the #SixtyOdd in 2025.

#PoemsAbout #YouShouldntHave

#SubmissionCall for #poetry (& #Art) about Christmas Villainy for the Sixty Odd Poets Christmas Special on December the 21st. Much more information in the Alt Text of this charming picture of a naughty child getting a couple of thick ears from Krampus. sixtyoddpoets.substack.com/p/submissions

It is now six years ago when I remember first hearing about Covid 19 on the radio, not realising that it was about to change everything...

Brilliant article. I thought that I was the only one who has had these two living rent free in my head for the past fifty years

Christopher Matthews, on Reality, Sleeplessness, and a Letter to his Parents, #poetry as published in #SixtyOdd poets Vol 8 - An Eighth of Sixty

Is the artificial intelligence that we have created laughing at us? Haven't all of our creations been secretly laughing at us for years already? Who will get the last laugh?

Two marvellous #poetry collections, reviewed with sample poems and links on #SixtyOdd poets. Both very different, both romantic yet contemporary. Have a break, have a coffee, have a kit-kat (if there are any in the house), and have a read.

here are some upcoming submission calls to think about during any quiet moments over the next few weeks. More info at - sixtyoddpoets.substack.com/p/submissions

#PoemsAbout #Imps A true story...

Silence. I love it. and sometimes it is very hard to find. Go on. turn the sound off on all your devices, close all the doors and windows, and enjoy some. And whilst it's quiet, you can delve deeper into my thoughts on the topic.

Mexborough last Sunday afternoon. Ted Hughes' old school hall is packed with poets. There's his Iron man on the wall at the back. There's all ten volumes of sixty odd poets and various other collections on the table at the front. It is a hotbed of #poetry. But anywhere it is encouraged it will grow.

Ali Rowland writes warm and thoughtful #poetry, always accessible, and full of wonder. I was privileged to publish her collection Dragged Up -A Northern Childhood, on the #SixtyOdd press a year or so back. It is still available on Amazon, but you can read a sample for free here.

I thought that I would make an attempt for the rudest subtitle prize this week. It is one which would have amused Algernon, who really was a fascinating character. Depraved, but fascinating. He was quite decent at turning out a few lines of #poetry too, when he wasn't too busy with his primates.

Ayesha Hussain becomes the 88th of the #SixtyOdd Poets today. Five quality slices of literature to get your teeth into. Tales of mystery and imagination, of letters and letterboxes, of fear and darkness, and the terrifying crunch, crunch of a plastic carpet protector. #poetry

This one…

I don't write a lot of #love poetry. But when I do, it's proper love, and proper #poetry.

Marvellous. I read it four times on the bounce, like John Peel when he first heard Teenage Kicks.

Since retirement, I have been so busy with poetry that I have hardly had time to write any poetry. #PoemsAbout is a great way to keep your hand in. Even if it's a tiny hand, and it's frozen. #NoFuture

Ohh Crikey - Just take a look at this video! Sister Chain and Brother John are coming to join us and play a few songs on Sunday afternoon's #sixtyodd launch. Some of Eleanor's #poetry is in the book. I am in awe of their music, humour and style, and proud to be featured in the video.

Last night I was proud to accompany Mohammed Moussa to an open mic event in Wath upon Dearne, where he was a guest of honour, reading his heartfelt #poetry of Palestine, his homeland where he founded the Gaza Poets Society. He's currently touring the UK and will be in Newcastle this evening.

Peter White, the only poet ever to travel to a #sixtyodd launch by aeroplane. A magnificent fellow, who writes magnificent #poetry with thought and feeling. sixtyoddpoets.substack.com/p/45-peter-w...

I just read through the #PoemsAbout #dogtag posts from the weekend. some great stuff. I didn't contribute this week. Been busy preparing poetry for the Leeds Song Festival. I've been teamed up with a composer for a performance next April. We were asked to tag it on our social media so heres a tag.

In an attempt to get to grips with the #poetry of #Keats, I ended up trying to imagine what a #PetulaClark song might have looked like in his hands. I ended up writing a very odd and perhaps clumsy article. But it's all the fruit of what intelligence I have and contains no artificial additives.

There may be trouble ahead, but while there's music and moonlight and love and romance, let's face the music and dance. And #poetry, don't forget about #poetry Mr Berlin!

The #moon, has been a source of inspiration since creativity began. I wrote about some impenetrable #BobDylan lyrics, Whitey on the moon, and added my own bit of #poetry for good measure.