Aaron Kent

PREORDER, @godzillakent.bsky.social: Aaron Kent’s Collected Világos is a sprawling, genre-resistant archive of poetic experimentation, written under the pseudonym U. G. Világos between 2015 and 2025. www.brokensleepbooks.com/product-page...

I was on BBC Radio Wales this morning to discuss the impact of PTSD, on behalf of @mindcymru.bsky.social. After bouts of PTSD due to my military service, and then later my stroke, I shared what it feels like, what the signs are, and avenues of support. I'm on at 42:40: www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

When conservative poetry critics read a poem presented as a sonnet which doesn't strictly adhere to the traditional sonnet form.

Oh, so you like poetry? Name every poem.

'and whoever walks a furlong without sympathy walks to his own funeral' — Walt Whitman

On 16th May, I'll be at The Mental Health & Wellbeing Show in Cardiff sharing my story in support of a campaign between Stroke & @mindcharity.bsky.social to highlight the mental health issues stroke survivors face & the need for better services. Say hello if you're around! mhwshow.co.uk/aron-kent/

The late, great Geoff Hattersley.

I am so overwhelmed and delighted to finally be able to reveal that my National Poetry Competition (@poetrysociety.bsky.social) entry was NOT successful!

You can lead a horse to water, but a pencil must be lead.

Here's a poem I had published in Red Poets last year. I think it's one of my favourite titles for a poem.

Two great bits from Danny Dyer here. Both absolute gold.

Me: I like all genres of poetry, really. Also me:

Whenever I speak up about being working-class in the arts, or share my experiences, I always get some classplaining back. People who aren't working-class keen to tell me how I should feel or tell me they're middle-class but have 'struggled with money' in the past www.theguardian.com/culture/2025...

'Songwriters stir up a living tradition, poets make flowers grow in air.' — Glyn Maxwell, 'On Poetry'

I've been playing bass for about 20 years, but have never had the opportunity to play double bass, so imagine my delight upon finding one in the music department at work!

You're supposed to be honoured and delighted 'just to be nominated' for awards, but when you're working class you can't afford to be happy missing out on a cash prize. The money means more than the recognition. We can't pay the water bill with recognition.

The desire to write grows with writing. — Desiderius Erasmus

Opening Line is the culmination of all the work I've done running Broken Sleep Books. This sums up everything I've wanted to achieve, which is to ensure poetry is available and accessible to all, regardless of the barriers that are too often imposed. www.brokensleepbooks.com/product-page...

Petition to rename swordfish 'tunacorn'

Absolutely delighted to return home to post from the brilliant @jeremyover.bsky.social, containing his astounding new book 'Fourth & Walnut'. Jeremy is a wonderful person and poet, and this book, out next month with @carcanet.bsky.social, is Jeremy at his best.

I've been a diehard Chelsea fan my entire life, but have never been able to afford to go to Stamford Bridge. Emma got tickets for us to watch Chelsea Vs Wolves today, so here I am decked out with my new Chelsea scarf, and chatting with Wayne Bridge.

Me editing Me editing a friend's poem my own poem

It's that time of the year again, where I write the previous year and scribble over it, failing to learn my lesson for another good 5 months.

The Poetry Wales award, judged by Jeremy Dixon, closes 17/02/2025 at midnight GMT. First prize = a course at Tŷ Newydd or a stay at their writing retreat cottage. Entry: £5/poem or free for magazine subscribers & low-income households. @poetrywales.bsky.social www.poetrywales.co.uk/award

Great article by @godzillakent.bsky.social over at The Bookseller. Small presses are the grassroots. They are the birthplace of great writing and great writers and capture something the big presses will never be able to. The big presses need to make space. www.thebookseller.com/comment/what...

I have a piece up for The Bookseller today, in which I consider how major publishers can create space for the small presses that keep the literary scene afloat. www.thebookseller.com/comment/what...

Delighted to have a poem in the new @poetrysociety.bsky.social Poetry Review. With immense love to @rachaelboast.bsky.social for choosing it.

Larkin hated us working-class, and that's why he's still so revered, because he exemplifies the canon in which only the white, male, middle-classes are included. 'I want to see them starving, The so-called working class. Their wages weekly halving, Their women stewing grass.' - Philip Larkin

Back in 2016-2017 I used to write for those free movie preview magazines you get in cinemas. I worked in a cinema at the time and could write them while the film was playing. I made it my mission to mention Godzilla in every piece I wrote. Here are some examples.

Stuart is an absolutely sublime poet, and these are 2 genuinely brilliant poems. Chef's kiss.

New painting I finished today before my good friend, the surrealist artist John Welson, came round for a coffee and a chat. I've been enamoured by the works of the late, great Canadian artist Jack Bush recently.

13 times I've made this joke now. I'm generally the only person in my family who stays awake at midnight as the kids and my wife Emma are long asleep, and I do so purely to make this joke.

If the poetry society bans me for insisting on including the moon in every poem then I will face God and walk backwards into hell

It is I, Arrom. A new misspelling of my name to add to the list.

Here on the west coast of Wales, Storm Darragh has ripped one of our trees out of the ground.

This is supposed to be the part where I say how honoured I am to have made the shortlist for the Jerwood, but instead I feel shame, embarrassment, and a sense that I let people down by not winning. I'm working at shaking that feeling, but it persists. rsliterature.org/rsl-204th-bi...

Delighted to have an extract from a new, longer poem up for @perversemag.bsky.social today. You can read it, and the other poems from great poets, here: perverse.substack.com/p/perverse-8j

From the local Facebook group where a misspelling of the word 'figurine' has led to some confusion

Bought a Mezze Salad from Pret a Manger, purely because it was one of very few gluten free items by the train station, but I can't figure out what this symbol on the box means? At first I thought it meant pineapple, but it contains no pineapple. Any ideas?

Last few tickets available! Come & hang out with @godzillakent.bsky.social Fran Lock, Lalah-Simone Springer and myself at the National Poetry Library next Weds Dec 4th. Details below! 👇 www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whats-on/spe... #poetsonbluesky #poets #poetry

My wife, Emma, made me this absolutely glorious Edgar Allan Poe inspired shirt and I adore it almost as much as I adore her.

Spotted this beautiful bird watching us make breakfast this morning.

I'm giving a seminar at the Principality Stadium next May for the Mental Health & Wellbeing Show. If you're in the area and want to hear me chat about the importance of mental health care for stroke survivors, do come along! mhwshow.co.uk/mhw-seminars...

SUBMISSIONS CALL: We are open for submissions of poetry pamphlets (up to 40 pages). Email: Include a short biography, brief synopsis, & poetic influences. Subject Line: Poetry pamphlet Submission - [Name], [Title] Full details & guidelines: brokensleepbooks.com/submissions

Most recently, I co-edited the gorgeous volume DEVASTATION SONGS with @godzillakent.bsky.social! It's burtsing with great poems and stories about kaiju. Available here (£9.99): www.brokensleepbooks.com/product-page...

London people! On December 4th I'll be taking part in a reading / panel discussion on working class poetics at the National Poetry Library Hosted by @godzillakent.bsky.social & featuring Lalah Simone Springer + Fran Lock Tickets below! 👇 #PoetsonBlueSky www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whats-on/spe...

Delighted to be discussing how to get published as part of the literary agents and publishers panel for Writers and Artists, and Open University on 5th December. Sign up deets below: www.writersandartists.co.uk/events-and-c...

'there is a fig tree taller than you in Indiana, it will make you gasp. / It might make you want to stay alive even' This from Ross Gay's poem 'A Catalog of Unabashed Gratitude' stays with me more than any other poem. It has both soothed & saved me. Keen to read others' favourite lines of poetry.

I'm hosting a live reading and discussion on working-class creativity for the National Poetry Library at Southbank Centre on 4th December at 20:00. With @stumcpherson.bsky.social, Lalah-Simone Springer, and Fran Lock. Come along, let's chat working-class! www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whats-on/spe...