In 'weeks after being stabbed', Jacob McKibbin explores themes of violence, pride, connection and the price of masculine bravado. Read it here: inksweatandtears.co.uk/jacob-mckibb... or via the link in bio to our homepage. #InkSweatandTears #Poetry #Submission

Janet Hatherly's poem, 'The night before their wedding, Dad tells Mum two things', explores relationships, trust, revelations and discovery. Read it here: inksweatandtears.co.uk/hatherly-2/ #InkSweatandTears #PoetryCommunity #Submission

In 'Child's Innocence in Gaza', Syed Anas S looks at the Gazan landscape through the eyes of a child on the ground. Read it here: inksweatandtears.co.uk/syed-anas-s/ #InkSweatandTears #PoetryCommunity #Submission

'Evocative, descriptive, challenging and uplifting' Congratulations to John Bartlett whose poem 'sclerenchyma' is the IS&T Pick of the Month for August 2025. To revisit the poem & see more voters' comments go to inksweatandtears.co.uk/august-2025-... #InkSweatandTears #Poetry #PickoftheMonth

In Dharmavadana's 'Tinkerbell on Queensway', the speaker provides us with an update on a familiar childhood presence. Read it here: inksweatandtears.co.uk/dharmavadana/ #InkSweatandTears #PoetryCommunity #Submission

Marking the beginning of Autumn, Tim Dwyer's 'Shedding' depicts one of the more noticeable markers of the return of the season. @Timtjdwyer Read it here: inksweatandtears.co.uk/tim-dwyer-ma.... #InkSweatandTears #Poetry #Submission #AutumnEquinox

Gopal Lahiri's Speaker in 'Triplet' moves from light into darkness, and also seemingly towards a more sombre end of a relationship. Read it here: inksweatandtears.co.uk/gopal-lahiri... #InkSweatandTears #PoetryCommunity #Submission

Adam Kelly's 'Drumbledrane', is an image rich and sincere ode to some unsung heroes of the natural world. Read it here: inksweatandtears.co.uk/adam-kelly/ #InkSweatandTears #PoetryCommunity #Submission

In Sandra Noel's 'The Sea Happens to Me Today', we are taken to the sea for balance and to 'reassemble', and come away with more. Read it here: inksweatandtears.co.uk/sandra-noel-2/ #InkSweatandTears #PoetryCommunity #Submission

We are extending our Pick of the Month vote for another 24 hours, until 6pm tomorrow, Friday 19 September. We share a selection of your comments with the shortlisted poets, so do please vote if you haven't already!

Warm and witty, this has 'Byte'. See the rest of Helen Percival's filmpoem up on the site now. inksweatandtears.co.uk/helen-perciv... #InkSweatandTears #Submissions #Filmpoem

In Grace Lynn's 'My Little LeBron', the speaker explores relationships, disability, and the innocence of childhood, with a sprinkling of basketball. Read it here: inksweatandtears.co.uk/grace-lynn/ #InkSweatandTears #PoetryCommunity #Submission

For a limited time only we are open for submissions for our weeklong feature on the @poetrydayuk.bsky.social theme of Play. For this, we will accept pre-published work & you can submit even if you've submitted recently. Go to inksweatandtears.co.uk/submissions/. #InkSweatandTears #NationalPoetryDay

In Miriam Swales' 'Dinosaur Footprints', the speaker reflects on memory and how positive remembrances can be used to help a person to get through challenging times. Read it here: inksweatandtears.co.uk/miriam-swales/ #InkSweatandTears #Poetry #Submission

Chris Hardy's 'Waking Up', follows a speaker and their partner as they travel together and share experiences, before waking up and throwing those experiences into doubt. Read it here: inksweatandtears.co.uk/chris-hardy/ #InkSweatandTears #PoetryCommunity #Submission

Which poem is your IS&T August 2025 Pick of the Month? Choose from @benbanyard.bsky.social, John Bartlett, Cindy Botha, Liz Byrne, Jeff Gallagher or Esha Volvoikar, and vote at inksweatandtears.co.uk/august-2025-... #InkSweatandTears #PoetryCommunity #PickoftheMonth

In 'What Was Lost', Angela France uses the seemingly mundane to carry us with her speaker on a journey through memory and the senses. Read it here: inksweatandtears.co.uk/angela-franc... #InkSweatandTears #PoetryCommunity #Submission

In 'Awaiting Update', Adam Horovitz's speaker narrates a surreal rail experience. Exploring loss, relationships and nature, the poem doesn't take long to get moving. @adamhorovitz.bsky.social Read it here: inksweatandtears.co.uk/adam-horovit... #InkSweatandTears #PoetryCommunity #Submission

In Sue Spiers' 'Compline', the speaker explores the beauty, spiritual nature and rituals of nature itself. @spiropoetry.bsky.social Read it here: inksweatandtears.co.uk/sue-spiers-5/ #InkSweatandTears #PoetryCommunity #Submission

In Alison Jones's 'Redwood', the speaker provides a unique vantage point in examining the trees and their lives. Read it here: inksweatandtears.co.uk/alison-jones... #InkSweatandTears #PoetryCommunity #Submission

In 'An Eight Year Old's May Altar', John Coburn's speaker goes on a journey through childhood faith, devotion and fracture. @johncoburn.bsky.social Read it here: inksweatandtears.co.uk/john-coburn/ #InkSweatandTears #PoetryCommunity #Submission

In Paul Goodman's 'Stanage', things reveal themselves more clearly as they progress, but the tension mounts until the end. Read it here: inksweatandtears.co.uk/paul-goodman/ #InkSweatandTears #Flash #Submission

In Joe Wright's poem, 'Sir Godfric gets canonised', Sir Godfric himself shares his thoughts on canonization, and the modern world. Read it here: inksweatandtears.co.uk/joe-wright/ #InkSweatandTears #PoetryCommunity #Submission

In 'The Purpose', Clara-Læïla Laudette's speaker reveals a number of surprises and in so doing, takes us through a range of emotions. Read it here: inksweatandtears.co.uk/clara-laeila/ #InkSweatandTears #PoetryCommunity #Submission

In Jan Swann's poem, 'Ladybird, Ladybird', Swann's speaker addresses not just the Ladybird but also the desire to wish one's problems away. Read it here: inksweatandtears.co.uk/jan-swann/ #InkSweatandTears #PoetryCommunity #Submission

In Gwen Sayers' 'Her Funeral', we are taken with the speaker and allowed to experience grief, loss, and the natural world with them in real time. Read it here: inksweatandtears.co.uk/40483-2/ #InkSweatandTears #PoetryCommunity #Submission

Winner of the @hedgehogpress.co.uk first pamphlet competition 2023, 'Close-Up' is a 'carefully structured' collection that is built on 'built on close observation of the world, of nature and human experience, and how we relate to and respond to it.' inksweatandtears.co.uk/chris-hardy-... #Reviews

In 'Sonnet', Dave Wynne-Jones' speaker maps out a journey of heartbreak and a possible response. Read it here: inksweatandtears.co.uk/dave-wynne-j... #InkSweatandTears #Poetry #Submission

In 'Bringing Pilates to Attention', Simon Maddrell / @simonmaddrell.bsky.social highlights the development of Pilates while exploring the idea of correction and repair. Read it here: inksweatandtears.co.uk/simon-maddre... #InkSweatandTears #PoetryCommunity #Submission

In 'Save Me', Tom Kelly charts the intersection of faith, belief, coming of age and suffering. Read it here: inksweatandtears.co.uk/tom-kelly-5/ #InkSweatandTears #PoetryCommunity #Submission

In 'Slow Worm', Nick McGaughey's speaker takes a moment to contemplate the beauty of nature's 'intrusions' on his daily life. Read it here: inksweatandtears.co.uk/nick-mcgaugh... #InkSweatTears #PoetryCommunity #Submission

Poetry today from the 2025/2025 UEA Creative Writing Poetry MA Scholars – Grace Phillips and On Zi Rui. Breaking down break-ups at inksweatandtears.co.uk/grace-philli... @uniofeastanglia.bsky.social #InkSweatandTears #PoetryCommunity #Submssions

Hear Paul Chuks read his winning poem 'Reimagination of Gravity' on the site now. Do check it out. It's brilliant! inksweatandtears.co.uk/july-2025-pi...

To be published by @inksweatandtears.co.uk has been on my wish list for a while. Today's the day: my flash fiction THE DAY WE GOT THE NEWS is online now. Many thanks Elontra, Kate and everyone @ IS&T inksweatandtears.co.uk/cath-holland/

In 'The Day We Got the News', Cath Holland / @caththewriter.bsky.social tracks a couple after receiving important news. Touching on themes of loss, grief, and relationships, this flash piece has some real fire. Read it here: inksweatandtears.co.uk/cath-holland/ #InkSweatandTears #Flash #Submission

In 'In the Mood for Love', Jade Prince explores love, longing and loss, using strong imagery and clever construction which make the poem resonate long after it has finished. Read it here: inksweatandtears.co.uk/jade-prince-2/ #InkSweatandTears #Poetry #Submission

In 'Ripening', Esha Volvoikar orbits around language, heritage and the moon with strong imagery, for delightful effect. Read it here: inksweatandtears.co.uk/esha-volvoikar/ #InkSweatandTears #PoetryCommunity #Submission

In 'Money For Candles', Violeta Zlatareva constructs a poignant vignette that delves into the idea of keeping up appearances and how challenging it can be to keep masks from cracking. Read it here: inksweatandtears.co.uk/violeta-zlat... #InkSweatandTears #PoetryCommunity #Submission

In 'Does Anybody Want Any Money?', Robin Vaughan-Williams pokes fun at the absurdity of money and its usefulness or lack thereof. Read it here: inksweatandtears.co.uk/robin-vaugha... #InkSweatandTears #PoetryCommunity #Submission

In 'Love', Rizwan Akhtar takes the reader behind the scenes of a relationship where there are some things that are better left unsaid. Read it here: inksweatandtears.co.uk/rizwan-akhta... #InkSweatandTears #Poetry #Submission

In 'Ramadan', Jeff Gallagher's speaker elucidates the core principles of the fast while exploring similar practices as well as themes like community and will power. Read it here: inksweatandtears.co.uk/jeff-gallagh... #InkSweatandTears #PoetryCommunity #Submission

In 'Blackbird in the Early Morning', Sue Moules' speaker considers the natural world and both their place in it and relationship to it. Read it here: inksweatandtears.co.uk/sue-moules/ #InkSweatandTears #PoetryCommunity #Submission

In 'Poseidon at the Spill', Andrew Tucker Leavis' speaker describes Poseidon at the site of an oil spill and the impacts it has on the natural world and the deity himself. @andrewtuckerleavis.bsky.social Read it here: inksweatandtears.co.uk/andrew-tucke... #InkSweatandTears #Poetry #Submission

I'm very grateful indeed for @matriches.bsky.social thoughtful and honest review of my book and thank you @inksweatandtears.co.uk for commissioning & publishing it 👍❤️

Tickets on sale now! #BBBF2025 #InkSweatandTears blackbritishbookfestival.com

In 'Wood Anemone', Patricia Minson's speaker creates an atmosphere of reverence and stillness. This seemingly solely pastoral poem, also considers longing and want. Read it here: inksweatandtears.co.uk/patricia-min... #InkSweatandTears #PoetryCommunity #Submissions

Very pleased to see this review is up. Go, read this, then buy Robin’s book. Or just skip this and buy Robin’s book, and read the review after to see if I was right.

My best friend's work available to read in the amazing Ink Sweat & Tears 👇 #poetry #verse #booksky

'The Mayday Diaries' is a tender and multi-layered collection from @robinhoughton.bsky.social, both 'raw' and 'caring'. Read @matriches.bsky.social's review here: inksweatandtears.co.uk/in-praise-of... #InkSweatandTears #Reviews

In 'Fancy etymology for a vacant lot', B. Anne Adriaens' speaker seems to marvel then revel in the twisty sometimes tricky nature of language and meaning. Read it here: inksweatandtears.co.uk/b-anne-adria... #InkSweatandTears #Poetry #Submission