It's the last weekend before @poetrydayuk.bsky.social. Looking forward to reading and hearing #poems at Hitchin Library next Thursday. #poetry #libraries

RIP Tony Harrison. What came to mind when I heard the news was Gail Earnshaw telling me what a wonderful letter she had from him when her husband died. They weren't close friends and nobody would know about Harrison's kind gesture, except Gail, making it the sort of gesture I respect most. Pic: BBC

#vss365 #scrutiny #poem If every life were subject to a full, forensic scrutiny, we'd all be judged as hypocrites and turn to moral mutiny, resulting in a sorry world, where everyone was Putiny.

Inspired by an excellent In Our Time (from the archives) on the sonnet - www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/..., I wrote a sonnet about a sonnet. I hope it amuses. #poetry #sonnet #poem

Our current bestsellers 📚⁣ lrb.me/6jh

Thanks to Composer of the Week on BBC Radio 3 for introducing me to the beguiling #poetry of Langston Hughes, in an episode on The Harlem Renaissance, presented by Donald Macleod, with contributions from Wynton Marsalis. #booksky www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...

#vss365 #flinch #poem I know of an absolute grinch who folk would be happy to lynch; though counsellors bid to manage his id, from meanness he never will flinch.

Have stepped into this delightfully bizarre and arcane interpretation of London. Brilliant, inventive prose from Mr. Moore, sprayed onto pages by @bloomsburybooksuk.bsky.social. First of a series. #booksky #novels #London

An exciting proof from Icon Books of a Feb 2026 title. The book describes the exploits of Kent's 'New Messiah', John Nicholls Tom (aka Sir William Courtenay) whose agitation of the masses led to the last battle fought on English soil, in 1838. One for @gregjenner.bsky.social perhaps?

Profile 33 in my series on authors appearing #RoystonBookFair on 27 Sept 2025 - writer for stage, page and screen and the gay community, Stuart Wakefield. Just one writer left to go! #Royston #Hertfordshire #BookSky #writingcommunity www.roystonbookfair.co.uk/2025/stuart-...

Severus on the march again! Lovely Stabiae, broody Vesuvius in background!

Sneak peek at my illustrious guests on tomorrow’s episode of BBC You’re Dead To Me, where we’re discussing a little known, but up-and-coming writer called Jane Austen

Profile 32 in my series on authors appearing #RoystonBookFair on 27 Sept 2025 - photographer and non-fiction writer, Stephen Calbraith. Only 2 more authors left to go... #Royston #Hertfordshire #BookSky #writingcommunity www.roystonbookfair.co.uk/2025/stephen...

#vss365 #bearable #poem Sisyphus Job Satisfaction Interview 'I have to say, the way things stand, it's really very bearable; the work is clearly outlined and the pension is transferable.'

Delighted that a book from a publisher for whom I work (Icon Books) is on the @britishacademy.bsky.social book prize shortlist. The Baton and the Cross, by Lucy Ash, describes the collaboration between Putin's regime and the Russian Orthodox Church. bit.ly/4glo8Jo

Profile 30 in my series on authors appearing #RoystonBookFair on 27 Sept 2025. Another collection of writers - the long running Royston Writers Circle. #Royston #Hertfordshire #BookSky #writingcommunity www.roystonbookfair.co.uk/2025/royston...

The @britishacademy.bsky.social Book Prize 2025 shortlist has been announced! Find out more about the shortlisted books on our website: www.londonreviewbookshop.co.uk/booklists/br...

Profile 29 in my series on authors appearing #RoystonBookFair on 27 Sept 2025. Children's author and now adult historical fiction writer, Rosemary Hayes. #Royston #Hertfordshire #BookSky #writingcommunity www.roystonbookfair.co.uk/2025/rosemar...

How are #poets getting on with this year's @poetrydayuk.bsky.social theme of 'play'?

We are PROUD to be supporting Harlow Pride this year! Harlow stanza poets we need your poems! Will be making a list of whoever would like to volunteer to read on the 18th of October at our next stanza meeting! #HarlowPride #HarlowCircleofPoetry #HarlowPoetry #EssexPoetry #PridePoetry

Biased, of course, but everyone should visit and get a reader's ticket. 📚

Our contribution to the joyful national phenomenon that is @poetrydayuk.bsky.social #poetry #poems

Profile 28 in my series on authors appearing #RoystonBookFair on 27 Sept 2025. Not so much one writer, as a whole workshop of them, the Letchworth-based poetry collective that is Poetry ID @poetryid.bsky.social #Royston #Hertfordshire #BookSky www.roystonbookfair.co.uk/2025/poetry-id

On air now!

#caturday #catsofbluesky #cats Our very dignified calico, Bramble.

Profile 27 in my series on authors appearing #RoystonBookFair on 27 Sept 2025. Pippa Harvey, psychological mystery writer and writer in residence at the Letchworth Settlement #Royston #Hertfordshire #BookSky www.roystonbookfair.co.uk/2025/pippa-h...

#vss365 #chance We met by chance; a wild roulette; I thought she'd be My Juliet. A gamble I Could not resist - I could have stuck, I chose to twist. I played my hand; the odds were nice, (or so I thought) she said - 'No dice'.

Amongst my favourite #song #lyrics - from Godley and Creme's I Pity Inanimate Objects. Physics isn't fair; Is a tree as a rocking-horse An ambition fulfilled? And is the sawdust jealous?

#vss365 #article #blueskyrelay #song #emoetry #sabotage #poetry #writingcommunity

Today, we’re highlighting one of the quietly playful poems featured in our official National Poetry Day resources: ‘maggie and milly and molly and may’ by E.E. Cummings. Find ‘maggie and milly and molly and may’ on our website here: 👉https://buff.ly/ngrMdjL

#vss365 #article #poem It seems the quantum particle is quite an indefinite article; to choose a state it's strangely loth, so, wave and solid, it is both.

#vss365 #article The Definite Article Grows Uncertain Our tickle Arty cull Artic haul Ah, tick all Artie, call!

Profile 26 in my series on authors appearing #RoystonBookFair 27 Sept 2025 is a bit special. It's Phil Oddy, @philoddy.com SF/ fantasy novelist and organiser of the book fair itself. #Royston #Hertfordshire #BookSky #writers www.roystonbookfair.co.uk/2025/phil-oddy

#autumn #poem #poetry

Joanna, Joanna, my words are effusive, My heart tied in knots in a manner contusive, But pray, I beseech you, just what is the use if The love of my life is aloof and elusive? #vss365 #elude #poem

The latest @rattlepoetry.bsky.social magazine has arrived. Classy cover. The TBR pile deepens like a coastal shelf.

#vss365 #elude #limerick #poem A haughty young poet eschewed The notion of being construed. Though critical herds Pored over his words, Their meaning would hide and elude.

Invested in wishes that won't come true? you have to face up to the facts; The Board Of Emotional Revenue will charge you a Yearnings Tax. #vss365 #yearn #poem

The first #PoetryTheme prompt is #AMPHIBIAN Nature's amphibians move across habitats. Metaphorical ones might shift in class or identity Take your time. Post a poem by the end of 30 September. Tag @thepaulconnolly.bsky.social Use #PoetryTheme & #AMPHIBIAN hashtags & please say if you want DM comment

#VSS365 #prompt #YEARN The VSS365 word for Aug 31, '25 is YEARN - to deeply, emotionally desire something lost or unattainable. "Hobbits in Mordor yearn for the Shire." With that, I yield the floor to C. S. Voll (@stephlepht.bsky.social) who will post prompts beginning 1 Sept. at 6am GMT

Profile 22 in my series on authors appearing #RoystonBookFair 27 Sept 2025. Naomi Grizzlier - Children's author and creator of the Dora Mary books #Royston #Hertfordshire #BookSky #writers www.roystonbookfair.co.uk/2025/naomi-g...

#vss365 #constellations #poem

A little #limerick type burst of #poetry to celebrate the birthday of #Frankenstein.

Profile 20 in my series on authors appearing #RoystonBookFair 27 Sept 2025. Children's author and anti-bullying advocate, M.G. Vaciago #Royston #Hertfordshire #BookSky www.roystonbookfair.co.uk/2025/m-g-vac...

#vss365 #pungent #poem #limerick My uncle's long stints in the sun meant He wasn't especially a fun gent; His odour would taint The soul of a saint; No unguent could make him less pungent.

Having worked in an indie bookshop for a year now, I can say with absolute certainty that they are an essential hub of community life. Please support your local indie bookstore whenever you can.

Profile 18 in my series on authors appearing #RoystonBookFair 27 Sept 2025. Katy Fraser and her look at neurodivergent life. #Royston #writers #Hertfordshire #BookSky www.roystonbookfair.co.uk/2025/katy-fr...

#vss365 #jovial Nowadays it generally means quite jolly, or elated rather than someone who gets their siblings regurgitated.

#season #poem

#VSS365 #prompt #REEK The VSS365 prompt word for Aug 22, '25 is REEK - to give off a strong, unpleasant smell. "The trash bin reeked of fish." Metaphorically, "You reek of fear, human." (revised to correct double hashtag)