A new poem draft, accessible to all subscribers (free and paid): www.patreon.com/posts/on-bre...

Länger werdende Schatten.

Aber schwer zu zeichnen sind sie auch. Super Übungsfeld.

The third poem I read for iamb, 'Tobi's Tales', was first published in my wee pamphlet, 'kinscapes'. It doesn't say so, but really this piece is dedicated to our rescue dog Tobi, whose arrival in our household changed everything. I had always wanted to live with a dog, and he's taught me so so much.

Ein so großartiges Interview, das gern noch länger hätte sein können. Es hat mich gefreut, vom Friedenspreis für Karl Schlögel zu hören, den ich sowohl als Universitätslehrer wie Autor in deutlicher Erinnerung habe. Absolute Hörempfehlung.

Autor*innen gesucht! Vergütung: 200€ Deadline Exposé: 2.10.25 Wir suchen v.a. queere, migrantische & BPoC-Themen Exposé mit min. 3 Objekten aus unserem Portal & Rückfragen an kommunikation(a)deutsche-digitale-bibliothek.de Infos und Konditionen: www.deutsche-digitale-bibliothek.de/content/blog...

Ein so großartiges Interview, das gern noch länger hätte sein können. Es hat mich gefreut, vom Friedenspreis für Karl Schlögel zu hören, den ich sowohl als Universitätslehrer wie Autor in deutlicher Erinnerung habe. Absolute Hörempfehlung.

Paying £10 to enter a poetry competition that you're rather unlikely to win feels just like playing the lottery.

Verlosung! Am 30. September findet die Buchpremiere zu "Unter weitem Himmel" im Pfefferberg Theater in Berlin statt. Moderieren wird @johannesfranzen.bsky.social. Ich habe zwei Tickets für die Veranstaltung zu verlosen. Um sich zu beteiligen, reicht ein Repost.

The third poem I read for iamb, 'Tobi's Tales', was first published in my wee pamphlet, 'kinscapes'. It doesn't say so, but really this piece is dedicated to our rescue dog Tobi, whose arrival in our household changed everything. I had always wanted to live with a dog, and he's taught me so so much.

Ein guter Freund und ich schreiben uns seit 26 Jahren Briefe, mal regelmäßiger mal unregelmäßiger, und schenken uns zweimal im Jahr Bücher, die wir besonders gut finden. Er zieht gerade um und schickte heute ein Foto von 4 Kisten mit Briefen und Büchern und schrieb: Guck mal, Du kommst auch mit.

Autumn leaves are just unmatchable in their beauty.

Autumn leaves are just unmatchable in their beauty.

Wholeheartedly agree, both are wonderful and way more than a poetry class. I learn and grow so much - and connect with fantastic creative souls 💙

Paying £10 to enter a poetry competition that you're rather unlikely to win feels just like playing the lottery.

18/9/25 - nocturn

Mit der Zeit wird man immer dickfelliger, dachte ich, doch man wird in Wahrheit nur immer dünnhäutiger und dünnhäutiger und dünnhäutiger.

I wrote a rather long post on FB about taking part in poetry writing classes, or rather a lack of money and time to do so regularly, and I recommended two courses I've found so far that help with all these issues in their own ways. Featuring @marjorielotfi.bsky.social and @helenboden.bsky.social.

I wrote 'Breathe through my roots', the first poem I read for @iambapoet.com, shortly before giving birth to our daughter. We had just moved house and I was surrounded by boxes, some of which remain unpacked to this day – unlike the thoughts, memories, and historical facts this poem unpacks.

I'm still so chuffed about this one.

es macht so einen spaß, aber danach gehts einem nicht gut, leider.

Mal ein durchaus informativer Podcast – die Kombination aus Geschichte und Wirtschaft gefällt mir sehr gut. Werde mehr davon anhören. Und am Ende wird noch ein ARD-Podcast empfohlen, der einen persönlichen Blick auf die unterschiedlichen Staaten der USA wirft. www.deutschlandfunk.de/innovationsk...

Aber wirklich nur einmal im Jahr. Höchstens.

Erster Weltkrieg - "Aus den Stellungskriegen in den Vogesen" Das Wandertheater der Armeeabteilung A: Edgar Blank, Bauchredner Hier etwas Hintergrund zu der ganzen Truppe.

When you get an email about a poetry submission, and the beginning looks as if it's yet another rejection, and then you read on regardless, and it turns out to be an acceptance – from a publication that is just wonderful, particularly if you're based in Scotland. Yay!

Einmal im Jahr an Erdnussflips satt essen.

Bracing myself for the month of October. Pink-washing turns real pain into profit, masking corporate greed as awareness. Breast cancer is not a marketing opportunity and it isn’t something to be sexualized.

Für mich ist das kein Foto, sorry.

Ich kann leider nicht teilnehmen, aber vielleicht mag jemand, der das hier sieht?

The kind of news that has me in tears for all the right reasons. I'm so pleased for all the people and families affected who might be able to benefit from this therapy one day. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

I wrote 'Breathe through my roots', the first poem I read for @iambapoet.com, shortly before giving birth to our daughter. We had just moved house and I was surrounded by boxes, some of which remain unpacked to this day – unlike the thoughts, memories, and historical facts this poem unpacks.

Liebs, wenn ich versuche, meine Lesebrille auf meine Fernbrille zu setzen.

Had to spend some time in a waiting room today.

Why did it take me so long to come across 'Schitt's Creek'? Admittedly, I skipped the first two seasons because my main interest was initially Patrick & David's storyline. However, it doesn't take long for all the other characters to grow on you, & I may well go back to the beginning at some point.

'The world is wondrous, frightful sometimes: feet, disembodied, stick out under hedges, canines off-lead bounce towards us fast, humans are nervous, or calm, open-hearted.' iambapoet.com/wave/23-mari...

Hotel is appalling. We are all in the attic.

Goodness, I could listen to Claire Orchard read her poems all day. I love it when poetry lets you glimpse a tiny but very tangible fragment of other people's lives.

Under the sea. #doodles

If you see a forty-something woman out and about with a baby or toddler in a pushchair, don't automatically assume she's a grandma taking their grandchild for a walk. If you do, you may end up in an angry poem. You have been warned.

I've still got a few of these. Fancy a bit of good poetry – if I may heap a little bit of praise on my own head?

Exchange with a friend whom I had offered to give one of our birch trees. "Where did you get the trees?" "They came to us." "What? Did they knock on your door and say: 'Here we are?'" "They didn't ask. They seeded themselves."

The Royal Society for Blind Children has issued an urgent appeal to children’s authors, writers and publishers to donate stories to its new bedtime stories app, following its launch last week 👇 #BookSky

Klare Worte von Sandra Navidi (falls noch irgendjemandem nicht klar sein sollte, was gerade in den USA passiert). www.deutschlandfunk.de/juristin-san...

If you see a forty-something woman out and about with a baby or toddler in a pushchair, don't automatically assume she's a grandma taking their grandchild for a walk. If you do, you may end up in an angry poem. You have been warned.

Under the sea. #doodles

'the one less traveled by'

Poetry journals that charge a submission fee and don't pay writers are a no-go. Discuss.

not a bunch, but flowers

not a bunch, but flowers

Im leutevollen Café hörte ich mir Meinungen an und wäre darüber beinahe weggenickt. Dann erzählte einer, was er gestern erlebt hatte, dass er seinen Mittagsschlaf braucht und gern Sonnenuntergänge fotografiert - gleich waren wir innig miteinander.