First visit to see the Threads exhibition at Beverley Minster yesterday. Lots of material (pun possibly intended!) for the poetry workshop on 17th March. More info at beverleyminster.org.uk/threads-even...

A poem from Whatever You Do, Just Don't, posted by the lovely people from Ver Poets...!

Pinch me! The dream of having a poem in @mslexia.bsky.social has come true. Thanks so much to Linda France for selecting my Sherwood Forest poem ‘Sciryuda’ for her Poetry Challenge on forests, oceans and biodiversity. I’m beyond delighted.

Here’s a short poem called ‘Morrissey’s Fridge’.

Really looking forward to leading this poetry workshop in the beautiful Beverley Minster. Taking as it's inspiration the spectacular Threads textiles exhibition. More info at www.beverleyminster.org and workshop tickets at www.trybooking.com/uk/events/la...

Looking forward to the conference -it always delivers some unexpected delights - and to doing my short talk, 'Confessions of a Festival Poet'!

www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1727992314... There is a great programme of speakers and topics at this year's conference 19-20 March in Hull. Open to all, please register for a place and come along.

New!  Ten Poems about Daffodils, just in time for spring.   Poems by Jason Allen-Paisant, Moya Cannon, Gillian Clarke, Isobel Dixon, UA Fanthorpe, Phoebe Hesketh, Clinton Scollard, David Scott, Dorothy Wordsworth and William Wordsworth.   Cover illustration by Jane Burn.

Delighted to be part of this wonderful book from the lovely people at Broken Sleep @brokensleepbooks.bsky.social A love letter to the greatest double act in cinema, Laurel and Hardy. Big thanks to the editors Simon Barraclough and Aaron Kent. www.brokensleepbooks.com/product-page...

The events just got better as the @stage4beverley.bsky.social festival came to a close. Ben Beattie blew up a storm, the workshop poets gave their all, Beverley Town Handbell Ringers eased us into Sunday, and Gary Stewart's Graceland provided a pumped up finale. I need a lie down!

Looking forward to the fun! And some new poems from last week's writing workshop 📝

Great to hear John Cambridge talking about his friendship with David Bowie tonight @stage4beverley.bsky.social Lots of stories and laughter 👍

Withernsea poet Dean Wilson will be joining us at the PLS conference next month. Who knows what wonderful stories he will tell us? www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-3h...

Thank you all at Philip Larkin Society.

Friend of the PLS Jeremy Wikeley is starting a new poetry press. jwikeley.substack.com/p/why-im-sta...

Our ‘How I write’ online events are an opportunity to hear writers discuss their work, career and creative practices. They are free and open to all.

Stage4Beverley begins today! We’re kicking things off with our sold-out poetry workshop with Chris Sewart. Then there’s music, poetry and more coming to Beverley over the next week - head to our website for details and snap up those final tickets while you can. stage4beverley.com/line-up/

Here's my final commissioned poem for the @stage4beverley.bsky.social Festival. First event this Sunday. Thanks to @dislaney.bsky.social and her lovely book, 'Reward for Winter', for inspiration for this poem. And to the @plsoc.bsky.social for their support as Stage 4 Beverley Festival Poet.

The lovely people at The New York Brass Band have featured this poem on their Instagram/website www.newyorkbrassband.co.uk Check out their show at www.stage4beverley.com They will definitely be blowing up a Storm!

That is lovely, and immediately brought to mind my mum's cardigan sleeves which always had a hanky (or two) tucked up them!

Looking forward to doing this, The Nick Rooke Band always deliver great music...

After our weekend shows are over, why not keep the festival going with our Late Night Club? We've got a fantastic line-up on Friday 13th February, with music from @maddiemorris.bsky.social and the Nick Rooke Band, plus poetry from @chriswriting.bsky.social. stage4beverley.com/whats-on/fri...

Here's the second of the three poems commissioned for the upcoming Stage 4 Beverley Festival. See www.stage4beverley.com for more... A big thanks to the Philip Larkin Society for their support as Festival Poet. @stage4beverley.bsky.social @plsoc.bsky.social

The Society are delighted to be involved with a celebration of Maurice Rutherford, Hull poet, on May 9th of this year at Hull Truck. He wrote a whole collection of poems called The Flip side to Philip Larkin including 'Rome Is So Sad' about the Pope. Watch this space for details.

The Free Verse Prize 2026 is now open for entries! The Prize runs alongside the Free Verse Poetry Book & Magazine Fair, run each year by The Poetry Society. The judge this year is Nina Mingya Powles, with a closing date of 6th March. To enter and for more details go to the link in bio

Right, so I’ve got three in-person readings coming up and it would be ace to see the good people of Bluesky at them. The details are as follows... 1/4

This poem is the first of three commissioned for the Stage 4 Beverley Festival. See www.stage4beverley.co.uk for others in the lead up to the festival. Big thanks to the Philip Larkin Society for their fantastic support as Festival Poet. @plsoc.bsky.social @stage4beverley.bsky.social

Here’s a short poem about the power of poetry to change the world.

Looking forward to talking about all things poetry and the forthcoming Stage 4 Beverley Festival on the Beverley FM Morning Mix show at 10.15 today beverleyfm.com

At East Riding Theatre working on poems for the Stage 4 Beverley Festival @stage4beverley.bsky.social An ERT cappuccino is keeping the cold at bay. See what's coming up at the festival and get tickets at stage4beverley.com

This poem is dedicated to anyone heading back into work and having to endure dull conversation about what they got up to during the Christmas holidays.

Great poem by Brian Bilston... haven't we all been there 🤔

Passed Mr Larkin on the way to Middle Child's Wizard of Oz panto in Hull tonight. I resisted the urge to drape him in tinsel! The panto was fantastic and full of energy, great entertainment @middlechildhull.bsky.social

Looking for a last minute Christmas gift for the Larkin fan in your life? Why not book them a place at the PLS Conference in March 26? Got to be better than novelty socks! www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1727992314...

Jeremy Wikeley's exploration of The Less Deceived engelsbergideas.com/notebook/phi...

substack.com/home/post/p-... Tony Fletcher (author of cracking biographies of Keith Moon & The Smiths) rates Juan Martín's Stage 4 Beverley 2025 appearance @stage4beverley.bsky.social as number 3 in his top ten concerts of the year. Tickets for the 2026 festival available www.stage4beverley.com

www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m... This programme was originally broadcast in 1982. It's on BBC 4 tonight followed by the 'Betjeman and Larkin: Down Cemetery Road' documentary. A mini pre-Christmas Larkin fest. Get yourself a goldfish bowl sized G&T, and enjoy... @plsoc.bsky.social

Grumpy Christmas Larkin youtu.be/zTWO3Hv6fnc?...

Reading 'The Concert' by Edna St Vincent Millay I get that it has a sense of kinship with Larkin's 'Broadcast'. @plsoc.bsky.social

Reading material is important on an extended trip... @plsoc.bsky.social But can tip the scales if you're not careful!

Libraries are transformative. In fact, Farnham Library saved me. Kept me afloat when I was being bullied at South Farnham Middle School in the 1980s. This poem from Whatever You Do, Just Don't is my homage to it...

Nagasaki's Art Museum Christmas tree has a sparkling addition. Lots of post festive treats are available at the Stage 4 Beverley Festival in February @stage4beverley.bsky.social Tickets make a great Christmas present 🎁

Annual reminder to water your Christmas tree poems …

Glad to have been a guest Tiny in All That Air in 2025...

Our guest this Saturday at the Brynmor Jones Library is essayist, poet and short story writer Jeremy Wikeley. He will be talking about The Less Deceived and sharing a glass of mulled wine with us. Do have a look at his fantastic blog A Poetry Notebook. jwikeley.substack.com/about

The death of Philip Larkin 40 years ago today devastated his friends, colleagues and loved ones. The Philip Larkin Society, founded ten years later, continues to provide a forum for the discussion and celebration of his work and has members from all around the world.

As I travel through Japan I've been accompanied by some poems from this collection, translated and introduced by former @plsoc.bsky.social President Anthony Thwaite. A highly recommended read.

A few pics from our #NationalPoetryDay open mic in the Poetry Cafe. Wondering when our next open mic is? Wonder no more! It's on 11 December, headlined by the legendary John Hegley. Bring your wintery poems to share, or simply come along and watch. Book at poetrysociety.org.uk/event/the-po...

Your annual reminder that we have a bank of festive poetry learning resources, free to download on our resources site Poetryclass! Teachers, students, parents & poetry learners everywhere, check them out at bit.ly/FestivePoetryResources We'll be adding a special new poem & resource soon... 👀 🎄 ⛄