Black Bough Poetry

‘These poems do not terrify though…’ George Sandifer-Smith on Polly Oliver’s ‘Edges of Our Days’, a #poetry book for the summer and for 2026. www.blackboughpoetry.com/polly-oliver... #swansea #Gower #poetry #poetic #Mumbles @pollyoliverwales.bsky.social

‘Justice’ #poetry #judgment #sin #evil #justice

“The moments in Saraswati’s poems are tender, and the spaces, dreamy, idyllic. This is poetry of deep roots, and strong wings.” - Mani Rao, author of So That You Know (Harper Collins, 2025) @maniraopoem.bsky.social Get @saraswatinagpal.bsky.social #poetry collection at shorturl.at/eQh5G

Mythology and folklore are part of the delicate weave of Rachel Deering’s poetry. Get her poetry collection now. www.blackboughpoetry.com/rachel-deering #poetry #nature #englishpoetry @racheldeering.bsky.social

🚨 Impressions alert ~ Richard Burton reading ‘Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds’ 💎 #richardburton #thebeatles #impressions #poetry #beatles

Poetic impressions alert 🚨 Ted Hughes vs Sylvia Plath reading Dr Seuss’s ‘Green Eggs and Ham’. Enjoy! #plath #poetry #tedhughes #spokenword

#fragmentsfriday #halloween #spooky #poetry @hool415.bsky.social

Read this month’s Poetic Voice yet? The excellent @annestgwilym.bsky.social shares pieces from Contemplation of Roses and an insight into her poetry journey and craft - grab a cuppa, settle in and click the link in OP 🥀 #poetry

Uncomfortable? This could be a contender for most depressing poem of the year. You’re welcome 😂 #poetry #poet #poetic #poetsofbluesky

Joint 1st 🥇 #fragmentsfriday Ashley Linkletter, as chosen by @helenlaycock.bsky.social our guest judge 🏆

Joint 1st 🥇 #fragmentsfriday @jmmedeiros.bsky.social as chosen by @helenlaycock.bsky.social our guest judge 🏆

Joint 2nd 🥈 #fragmentsfriday @paulwritespoems.bsky.social 🌙 as chosen by @helenlaycock.bsky.social our guest judge

Joint 2nd 🥈 #fragmentsfriday Suzanne Davies 🌙 as chosen by @helenlaycock.bsky.social our guest judge

Joint 3rd 🥉 #fragmentsfriday @andyperrincycling.bsky.social 🧛‍♀️ as chosen by @helenlaycock.bsky.social our guest judge

Joint 3rd 🥉 #fragmentsfriday Daniel Duggan 🧛‍♀️ as chosen by @helenlaycock.bsky.social our guest judge

#fragmentsfriday @helenlaycock.bsky.social @blackboughpoetry.bsky.social

Yes, don't forget to tag me or I might miss your piece. I already have a (very long) shortlist! How will I ever choose just three!!!

Hello #fragmentsfriday poets @helenlaycock.bsky.social @blackboughpoetry.bsky.social Here’s ’Intrusive Thoughts’

A Thanksgiving leftover for today’s #FragmentsFriday hosted by special guest @helenlaycock.bsky.social for @blackboughpoetry.bsky.social. #Micropoem #Turkey #Traditions #CanadianPoet

#fragmentfriday #poetry #writing

Hi👋all #FragmentsFriday poets. Hi & SPECIAL THANKS 🙏💚 to @matthewmcsmith.bsky.social, @blackboughpoetry.bsky.social & to Guest Judge @helenlaycock.bsky.social 🙏💚 I'm happy to share my #micropoem: How Well The Leaves Die THANKS for sharing your #Poetry, & #PoetryCommunity🙏💚

Morning! Here is my #fragmentsfriday Thanks @blackboughpoetry.bsky.social @matthewmcsmith.bsky.social and guest judge @helenlaycock.bsky.social Have a wonderful Friday. #poetry #micropoetry #18words

It’s Friday again! That was quick. I have a busy day ahead so for #fragmentsfriday this is A Waiting Game. @helenlaycock.bsky.social @matthewmcsmith.bsky.social @blackboughpoetry.bsky.social

It's #FragmentsFridayi once again. The great @helenlaycock.bsky.social is judging. Many thanks to @matthewmcsmith.bsky.social for this wonderful venue and @blackboughpoetry.bsky.social. I hope you enjoy my effort. #Poetry #PoetryCommunity #MicroPoetry

#fragmentsfriday @blackboughpoetry.bsky.social Thanks for this great initiative. Here is my offering @helenlaycock.bsky.social called ‘universal commission’; Juice might as well come up against a sluice. Who needs petrol? That blood of dead ages. Cleanse! - Stephen Paul Wren

A seasonal short for #fragmentsfriday As ever, a huge thanks to @matthewmcsmith.bsky.social & @blackboughpoetry.bsky.social for giving the platform and to @helenlaycock.bsky.social for overseeing. Looking forward to reading all the other contributions

How is it Friday again, already!? Well, have another #FragmentsFriday, @blackboughpoetry.bsky.social @matthewmcsmith.bsky.social @helenlaycock.bsky.social #Poetry #PoetryCommunity #MicroPoetry #PoliticalPoetry

Happy #fragmentsfriday everyone here's Small Change inspired by the paintings of Hopper. Thanks to @blackboughpoetry.bsky.social & @matthewmcsmith.bsky.social for the opportunity to share my poetry & to this week's judge @helenlaycock.bsky.social for stepping up to the plate for such a tough job.

The Car Man Twisting, leaping, turning! Muscles clench, grip, reach for the engine grease of love. For #fragmentsfriday from @blackboughpoetry.bsky.social #vsspoem #poet #poetrycommunity

This week’s #FragmentsFriday, inspired by wild Cornish waves and the spectacle of the sea at dawn. Thank you to @blackboughpoetry.bsky.social and @matthewmcsmith.bsky.social, and to special guest host @helenlaycock.bsky.social 🙏

Our guest judge today on #fragmentsfriday is award winning writer Helen Laycock @helenlaycock.bsky.social Post one startling micropoem with the above tags! 18 words max

Aberfan

I'm a newbie to #toptweettuesday but I love trying to improve my #imagist writing ability. The prompt #revelation I bit the bruise got rid of it first the texture gave the taste though more or less the same @matthewmcsmith.bsky.social @blackboughpoetry.bsky.social

A new short offering written for TTT on themes of "journey", "edge" and "revelation". 'Instead of milkweed, a monarch clings to the windshield' Thank you @matthewmcsmith.bsky.social for the inspiration 🤍 @blackboughpoetry.bsky.social #imagist #poetrycommunity #poetry

This week’s #TopTweetTuesday, inspired by the prompts journey, edge and revelation, considers the debt of pleasure when someone lives with an invisible illness – and what remains after an evening spent in language. Thank you to @matthewmcsmith.bsky.social and @blackboughpoetry.bsky.social

‘A voice as silver ellipses’ … A poem inspired by the prompt word ‘revelation’ for TopTweetTuesday on Twitter A little haunting…

An acceptance for a #poem rejected a few times before. This one is for my trans friend Paula - rest in sequins. ✨ Out next month. Can’t wait to see this in print. #transally #translivesmatter🏳️‍⚧️ #translivesmatter🌈✊

Our judge for the top three this week on #fragmentsfriday Recipient of the 2026 Kathryn Bevis Memorial Prize, Helen Laycock’s poetry has also been nominated for the Pushcart Prize (x4) plus the Best of the Net (x4). She has two collections coming out in 2027. @helenlaycock.bsky.social

We love a bit of secrecy in the poetry community. Two #poems coming out soon!

My involvement with Kurt Cobain #smallpoemsunday #nirvana #nirvanafans

It’s years since I had a copy of this mighty, moody work ‘Remains of Elmet’ and I’ve been looking for another copy since someone borrowed it and it was not returned. Most seem to be about £40 or £50 but I got this today for a tenner in Swansea. #TedHughes #poetry #elmet

Oh. My. Gosh. Thank you, once again, for choosing my piece, @matthewmcsmith.bsky.social An absolute honour to find myself here again. 🥰 #poetry #poetrycommunity

1st place 🥇 #fragmentsfriday 🔥 🙏 😇 @helenlaycock.bsky.social #poetry

2nd place 🥈 Julian Cason @hool415.bsky.social #fragmentsfriday #poetry

Joint 3rd place 🥉 @paulwritespoems.bsky.social #fragmentsfriday #poetry

Joint 3rd 🥉 #fragmentsfriday - @saraswatinagpal.bsky.social #poetry

A wee bitty late for #FragmentsFriday from @blackboughpoetry.bsky.social but I started this a few days ago and couldn’t find an ending. Still unhappy, but posting it anyway 🤷🏼‍♀️

#fragmentsfriday #poetry #poem #poet #poetic

A very special thankyou to @helenlaycock.bsky.social for providing such a beautiful and supportive new testimonial for my upcoming book Gift of Venus (& a professional proofread). So close to publication now, with @blackboughpoetry.bsky.social Readings in Swansea from Oct 21st 📖🎤🩷 #poetry #book