If you want – need – an argument as to why Reform and this incarnation of the Tory party are just horrible, look no further than this: they want shot of Poems on the Underground: www.express.co.uk/news/politic...

Thank you to @cafewriters.bsky.social for an excellent evening of poetry and warmth. Particularly fine guest readings from Dillon Jaxx and Ashley Hickson-Lovence. I'm replete with words and images (and love for buses!). 👏👏👏

I have found this whole episode incredibly distressing and isolating, so I'm grateful to see Rory Waterman's analysis shine a light on both the poetry and the poison. Whatever your views, we need a more courteous and humane public discourse, from and for all parties. Please.

My comment, for @pnreview.bsky.social, on the Len Pennie & Sarah Doyle affair - or Canongagegate, as I like to think of it. Honourable mentions: @naush.bsky.social, @thetimes.com. Feel free to share, to attack me with your little jelly pitchforks, or to ignore. www.pnreview.co.uk/archive/rema...

John Keats was born on this day in 1795. I was deeply moved on viewing his original handwritten manuscript of 'Ode to a Nightingale' at Keats House in 2018. Thank you to 'After... Poetry' for publishing my poem in response: www.afterpoetry.com/poem/nov-08-...

Painted and glazed. I have reached peak pumpkin! 🧡

My Halloween crafternoon displacement activity got a bit out of hand.

I'm not a fan of the clocks going back, but carving out some Halloween craft time is a nice compensation! These were relaxing and fun to make, but it will be an impatient wait for them to dry so I can paint them. 🧡👻🎃🤍

@menstrualpoetic.bsky.social Hi Laura! 😊 Lovely to see you here. I hope all is well with you. x

⚠️ The 2025 National Poetry Competition closes in ONE WEEK! The deadline for entries is 11:59pm (GMT UK time) on 31 October 2025. ⚠️ More information at npc.poetrysociety.org.uk/ Good luck!

I know I've had a decent day's writing when I am completely dehydrated and have added several new words to my PC's dictionary! 💦

Big thanks to @emmalee1.bsky.social for this wonderful review of Darling Blue..just a week till publication now and Droitwich launch a month today!!! 🎉🎉🎉 (More info here: sarah-james.co.uk/?page_id=17191)

For #WorldMenopauseDay: my poem 'Sea Gooseberries', which was highly commended in the 2022 Ginkgo Prize and is included in my V. Press pamphlet '(m)othersongs'. The poem merges ecological fragility with body crisis, and was inspired by witnessing a mass beaching in Norfolk.

Two stunning poems celebrating women in STEM. ✨

Can you make our Skychat this week? We’re talking about women writers and mindset. Can you join us? @arleneandrews.bsky.social @sunisamara11.bsky.social @poetsarahdoyle.bsky.social @louiseduckling.bsky.social @jolloyds.bsky.social @heathertweed.bsky.social @nicolawriting.bsky.social

I was delighted to endorse Sue Burge's brilliant new Yaffle Press collection, and am honoured to be guest-reading at her Zoom launch of 'watch it slowly fade'. Please join us on Sunday 14th September at 7pm! 📚💻🎤 All welcome, just contact Sue via the link in the poster. 💚🐝💛

Life has been quite tough lately, and I'm often sad or stressed at the moment. However, I managed to find some small pockets of peace over the long weekend, and made these little pumpkins from air dry clay! I find crafting very soothing. What uplifting activities help you to ease your stress? x

In May I had the lovely honour of winning 1st prize in the inaugural Kathryn Bevis Memorial Poetry Prize. I'll be reading my poem at the Zoom launch of @thealchemyspoon.bsky.social on Friday 29th August and I'd love to see any poet chums there if you're free. xx www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-launch...

Want to read more about Rossetti and other Pre-Raphs?  Become a member today at www.pre-raphaelitesociety.org/memberships

Cloaked in cascading bronze chiffon, the Summer Issue of the PRS Review/PRSUS Newsletter is out now! Crammed with essays that’ll whisk you away to 13thC Florence and marvels closer to home, astonishing art, poetry, architecture, book & exhibition reviews, opinion pieces and more! 💎

Thrilled to receive the summer edition of preraphaelitesoc.bsky.social PRS Review, and to see my new poem given such wonderful treatment. Being Poet-in-Residence to the PRS is an extraordinary honour. I'm sharing an obscured image here... no spoilers! 🧡🍂💛

If your Tuesday is lacking a gorgeous otter poem… 🦦🤎

A privilege and a career highlight to have (twice) been published by V. Press. Working with Sarah Leavesley was incredibly rewarding, and I'm still grateful for her generosity of spirit and her perceptive editorial support. Ten years is an amazing achievement. Hurrah for V. Press! 🍾🙌🎉

10 Years of Publications – celebrating 2021!!! vpresspoetry.blogspot.com @poetsarahdoyle.bsky.social @ajwoodhouse.bsky.social l‬ & others!

Hey everyone, one of my favourite poetry mags has joined Bluesky, so please give Finished Creatures a follow! 💙📖🩵 bsky.app/profile/fini...htt

News: issue nine of Finished Creatures opens for submissions tomorrow - for the month of August. The theme is Trespass: verb and noun; sin and action; rights and wrongs. Please see the website for more information. xx

Yesss! Another email from a poet who undertook my five-week email course, with feedback option, and has placed one of those poems with a great publication. I'm so happy for her, and it's a lovely feeling of pride for me. ☺️

30 years since the first date with the love of my life! We celebrated with a lovely trudge around the west side (ie. the fancy bit) of Highgate Cemetery and lunch afterwards at Lauderdale House café. 🪦🩶

Delighted to share the cover of The Infernal Garden by Gregory Leadbetter, with art by Leonora Carrington (The Juggler, 1954). Pre-order yours now with limited UK free post. Out mid-August. Discover art, science and magic in #poetry of incantatory power. ninearchespress.com/publications...

Birthday card portrait by my gorgeous little step-granddaughter, Alice, 8. Flowers and weather, she has me to a T! 🌻🌤️🥰

Thanks to clever folks on a Facebook plant ID group, I now know that this fabulous tentacle-like stuff is called Weld. It looks like an octopus doing a headstand! Seen at the north Norfolk coast, alongside mallow, thistles and poppies. #WildFlowerHour

Finally managed my first sea swim of the year, and it was perfection. 💚🤍🩵

Fab-looking (and free!) online session for teachers and poetry educators. 💚🍃

Some gorgeous Pre-Raph blues to brighten these greeeey skies... 💙🤍🩵

Join us in just over 24 hours for a creative hour (or so) of poetry! Your Saturday night just got more imaginative! www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/last-satur...

I'm delighted to be among this bunch of poetry lovelies reading online next Saturday evening. Free to attend and all welcome. Please join us! x

Come and listen to @poetsarahdoyle.bsky.social @internetofwordsat.substack.com @jumpingjulespoetry.bsky.social @corinnaboard.bsky.social @ninaparmenter.bsky.social @markantonyowen.com @bethbpoet.bsky.social Martin Kennedy Yates & Maggie Mackay www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/last-satur... Free on Zoom!

I'm giddy and overjoyed to have won 1st prize in the Kathryn Bevis Memorial Prize. It was a privilege to be included on a shortlist packed with incredible writers, and I hope I get to read all of those poems at some point. Sincere thanks to the judges, I'm feeling very grateful.

And our fantastic winners 🎉🎉😎

A beautiful honour to be shortlisted in the Kathryn Bevis Memorial Prize, commemorating one of our finest poets, who was taken far too early. I'm in superb company here – congratulations to everyone, good luck, and here's to us all. x

It's #WorldBeeDay ! Have a poem. Julia Webb's 'Bee Mornings' was commended in our 2012 Stanza Poetry Competition on the theme of 'Stripes', judged by John Siddique. Favourite bee poems? Bzzzzzzzzz

Canal life... sleepy fox, and the first crumble-bush blossom of the year.

Start your Sunday with this magical contemplation of stone and time by the marvellous @corinnaboard.bsky.social.

For those in need of some lunar lusciousness, do read @poetsarahdoyle.bsky.social’s rather gorgeous moon poem! 🌕 🖤

Delighted to have been shortlisted in the Dark Poets Club competition, out of over 2000 submissions! 'Observance' was first published by Black Bough Poetry, because oh, I do love me a M🌕🌕N poem. Many thanks to the judges for this lovely boost. 😊 www.darkpoets.club/post/observa...

Lovely to receive my copy of Ten Poets Travel to the Dark Side of the Moon ☺️ It means a lot to me to share this poem about my experience of PCOS and changes in my body and trying to see them as neutral and not negative. I hope you enjoy it ❤️

Tomorrow evening (Sunday 11th) I'm involved with two wonderful Zoom readings, and I'd love it if folks wanted to support either: 1. Launch of the new issue of 'The Alchemy Spoon': www.eventbrite.com/e/1336127375... 2. Launch of 'Language of the Land', a Norfolk nature-inspired anthology.

POETS: Saturday 31 May, I am joined by @poetsarahdoyle.bsky.social @internetofwordsat.substack.com @jumpingjulespoetry.bsky.social @corinnaboard.bsky.social Maggie Mackay, @ninaparmenter.bsky.social @markantonyowen.com Martin Kennedy Yates @bethbpoet.bsky.social www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/last-satur...

In light of yesterday's guilty verdict for the two men who felled the magnificent old tree at Sycamore Gap, I'm re-sharing my poem, 'Sycamore's Prayer', published by the wonderful @atriumpoetry.bsky.social. 🌳💔🪾

For those of us blessed with the seasonal return of swifts, I've found this gorgeous poem by Matt Howard, published at Bad Lilies: search.app/SrhdTptnvfcY...