Tickets are flying out for this event... #promptcombo #poemsabout crews, hope to see some of you there! 🤗

Can’t wait for this on Friday! A lovely way to start the year - would love to see you there x

#PromptCombo is back! With the effervescent Fidel hosting this week's theme, #Nightfall.

Coming up this Friday! Don't miss this gorgeous feast of talent & creativity. Free tickets via Eventbrite: oncemorewithfeeling.eventbrite.co.uk @moette.bsky.social @benedictan.bsky.social @racheljeffcoat.bsky.social @jenferoze.bsky.social

Celebrating the 100th #ekphrastic poem on After... 'I am a knife. I cut meat. I am in a painting. I cut space. The form was dreamt before the fact. Mirror image, mirror act. Grooved in your life-line I lie in your hand; I am a sign in your mind ... ' afterpoetry.com/poem/jan-03...

Sharing this little-read (by me) poem from my @salopress.bsky.social pamphlet Soi-même, in honour of last night's #SuperWolfMoon.

Happy new year.

‘The fog settles with us’ ‘Time turns Physician’ Victoria Spires @victoriaspires.bsky.social in our Christmas- Winter anthology. www.blackboughpoetry.com/news

Hello from deepest Lincolnshire. Happy #smallpoemsunday. Two spoils. One by me, one by Cavafy (spoils of my Christmas book haul).

Hare in the Snow, Ferdinand von Rayski, 1875.

Thank you to everyone who has cheered me on in some way this year – whether interacting with my work on here, buying/reviewing my book, giving me feedback and ideas, taking part in #promptcombo ... And thank you for your own generosity in sharing your wonderful poetry. I'm excited for 2026 ✨✳️

☃️🔔Our Christmas Newsletter 🎅❄️ www.blackboughpoetry.com/so/0bPj8aU4v?languageTag=en

A loyalty reward only for writers who have bought this year's Black Bough Christmas- Winter anthology. An exclusive submission window for next year's anthology on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. As ever, please read guidance closely! blackboughpoetry.com/events

Loved reading @jenferoze.bsky.social 's Auerbach-inspired ekphrastic poem straight after mine. Excellent poem, Jen, and excellent curation @markantonyowen.com 😎

#PromptCombo is taking a little festive break – back on 5th Jan with Fidel at the helm 🎄 I've thoroughly enjoyed my turns at hosting this year, you've all been marvellous 🎁 Wishing you a peaceful couple of weeks, with plenty of rest and recharging ready for another year of poetry in 2026 ⭐

@hool415.bsky.social for you! 😁 Thank you @blackboughpoetry.bsky.social @matthewmcsmith.bsky.social for this lovely opportunity. I had a brilliant night & everyone who read was on top, top form. Although I imagine we all needed a lie down afterwards!

Who's joining me, not-so-mystery guest @victoriaspires.bsky.social, host @matthewmcsmith.bsky.social and a ... er ... host of other talented types at tonight's @blackboughpoetry.bsky.social open mic? I'm bringing a Christmas vibe – albeit a typically dark one. See you there? bit.ly/BlackBoughPo...

I can't promise to be too mysterious, but I'd love to see some of you tomorrow at the @blackboughpoetry.bsky.social open mic. Still tickets available to read if you fancy it ☺️ #poetrycommunity #poetsofbluesky

Very lucky to have had poems selected for two gorgeous anthologies, both out just in time for Christmas. One poem in @blackcatpress.bsky.social's nature anthology 'The Water Knows I Love You' and two in @blackboughpoetry.bsky.social's annual Christmas/winter anthology. Fantastic writers in each! 👌🏼✨

Looking forward to spending time with wave 24 this week 😍

Morning #PromptCombo 👋Hopefully the only #Dilemmas/Decisions you'll have this week are things like whether to have that third mince pie (yes, you should). Whatever they are, send them to agony uncle @hool415.bsky.social by 5pm Friday.

#smallpoemsunday 🤍

Some things, some other things

The ever-lovely Ronnie @rfsmith.bsky.social is your #promptcombo host this week, with the theme of #memorial. Drop him a poem if you want to get involved ❤️

This week in The Book Bag, Make Up My Mind by Leia Butler brings all the colour in this hybrid visual poetry collection. A marvel of a book with wit, humour and an exploration of self and society. Also news, opps, the playlist, plus Mrs S picks a bonus favourite piece. Take 5 minutes out...

So looking forward to this reading early next year! Please sign up at this link. It’s free! #poetry #blueskypoets

Morning #PromptCombo -ers. When it grows up, #ThisPoem wants to be a poem by @racheljeffcoat.bsky.social, @jenferoze.bsky.social, Katrina Moinet, @benedictan.bsky.social or @moette.bsky.social. It's not fussy 😉 Please help spread the word & sign up to hear these stellar readers. Link below ⬇️

So happy to have this poem up on After... Poetry, for a few reasons: More than any other art I've seen in recent years, Auerbach's charcoal heads have stayed with me. I'm pretty sure it was either the first or second ekphrastic poem I wrote (really should do more). I've waited a year for this!

#PromptCombo So far, #ThisPoem has been whimsical self-effacing grandiose dressed in latex a river a magician a fan of Procul Harum archer than Frankie Howard swathed in velvet metaphor a competent nineteenth century mariner a master of many forms suffused with meaning resoundingly empty...

#ThisPoem is broadcasting live from Milton Keynes, and will try not to swear.

#ThisPoem is graffiti (but the arty kind)

Good morning, #PromptCombo. #ThisPoem believes silver shoes are for every day of the week.

Good morning, #PromptCombo -ers. Today, #ThisPoem is a sleeping girl, bent over her half-finished needlework. (Vermeer)

Optional depth, the moon in a whisky glass & more with @suefinch.bsky.social @pi-and-anne.bsky.social @dharmabam.bsky.social @victoriaspires.bsky.social @dylan20.bsky.social @aempoet.bsky.social @webbish6.bsky.social @grimalkingerry.bsky.social 2/3 www.vianegativa.us/2025/12/poet...

Wow #PromptCombo is really kicking off today already! I'm keeping track with the poems shared & responses, but won't get to respond properly myself until later & responses will be staggered. But keep 'em coming in the meantime! 🤩

Thank you @thewombwellrainbow.bsky.social for last week's prompt! This week I'm hosting #PromptCombo & the prompt is #ThisPoem. You can interpret that however you wish, but I dare you to try something a little different 😇 All welcome to join, replies until Friday.

I won this gorgeous print from @galiamelon.bsky.social in her giveaway 😍 Title poem from her brilliant collection out with Dunlin Press

Super grateful to the @madridlitmag.bsky.social for choosing a poem of mine for their stunning new issue, which is out now ❤️

Our Christmas & Winter anthology will be available this weekend! Featuring work by @fiddes.bsky.social @jahshabby.bsky.social @vikkicwrites.bsky.social @victoriaspires.bsky.social @paulwritespoems.bsky.social @helenlaycock.bsky.social @annachorlton.bsky.social @alayanabeth.bsky.social and more!

I wrote a thing about sexy poems. bit.ly/4pFH8Wo

Great starter pack here from Paul, thanks Paul for including the #PromptCombo crew in here! 🙏🏼

This week in the poetry blogs w/ @shawnalemay.bsky.social @robmclennan.bsky.social @wendypratt.bsky.social @hanvanderhart.bsky.social @richardjnewman.bsky.social @pearlpoet.bsky.social @billymills.bsky.social @kent-nj.bsky.social @salenagodden.bsky.social 1/3 www.vianegativa.us/2025/11/poet...

I'm a bit late to the party, but the host for #promptcombo this week is @thewombwellrainbow.bsky.social with this intriguing prompt #OnRoofs... all welcome to contribute as ever ☺️

New issue goes live tomorrow!

Two more for #worldphilosophyday ☺️

Apparently, it's #worldphilosophyday, so here are two poems in a (very) occasional series I cooked up with @johnadlam.bsky.social 😁 With deep apologies and great affection to the two philosophers in question. Open to commissions for other philosophical works 🙃

Brilliance from @gclifford1.bsky.social

Latest review is up on my Substack, These Expectant Rooms. Today featuring Circulaire by @poetbex.bsky.social open.substack.com/pub/victoria... Thanks for reading! x

Morning #promptcombo #poemsabout crews, save the date for another night of quality poetry I'm hosting in Jan. Readers to be revealed soon, but they are all incredible talents who you won't want to miss. Would love to see some of you there ☺️