David Birch

My pleasure!

My pleasure ..

My goodness, this is shocking (and far from indulgent). Brilliant build-up and ending

Evening @hool415.bsky.social and #PromptCombo #visitor friends. Here is a shockingly indulgent piece about an unwanted visitor. Sorry it’s a long one!

Love the way the form and language reflect the erratic movements of the bird 👏

"Visitor" (& "Corvid")

from "Contact Light" (Alien Buddha Press) available from Amazon

#poem #poetry #skypoets #blueskypoets #poetsofbluesky #poetrycommunity #writingcommunity #contactlight #alienbuddhapress #promptcombo #visitor
@alienbuddhapress.bsky.social

Gentle, witty and utterly relatable!

A poem by Debbie Ross Taken By Surprise Swipe the dust, grab the laundry pile, shut the door to the kitchen pile up, smooth down the sofa thrown, check the mirror in the hall for signs of discomposure - You've got visitors at the door.

For this week’s #PromptCombo from poety maestro @hool415.bsky.social here’s my daft wee offering for #visitors

Thank you so much, Jude!

Thank you, Carolyn - much appreciated!

Thank you so much, Sue - that really is much appreciated!

Many thanks, Stefano!

My pleasure - this was such an engaging read, Sue

This is beautiful - it has a Thomas Hardy feel about it

Dear @hool415.bsky.social and #PromptCombo #Visitor,
#poetry #mysticverse,

This poem is for a friend in Durham, who reminded me why I write —
that meaning lives in the smallest words, and we should never give up seeking our voice.
For all of us who keep supporting one another.

Thanks - I've known this place since childhood. Its so atmospheric

Much appreciated, Jan!

Thanks so much for this, Julian. Very kind!

No apology needed! Sometimes repeats just fit the brief

One for the #promptcombo offered by @hool415.bsky.social - this week on the theme of #visitor - #blueskypoets ##poetsofbluesky

A Lincoln Imp Tell you why I'm motionless here, grinning down at you. Satan let us out to play. Mate and I sat on a church spire twisting it. Chesterfield never had better days. Next we blew through that door. Tripped up Bishop. So serious. In the Angel Choir broke chairs and tables till angel out a hymn book told us to stop, so I lobbed stones at bloke while mate scarpers to Grimsby, where angel catches him, smacks his arse, turns him to stone as he did to me. At least mate can waggle his smacked arse at visitors I'm alone. Need a bit of fun in this God given place packed full of all praying and hymning.

Morning @hool415.bsky.social Ju. Here's my first response to your marvellous #promptcombo #visitor. It's from my ImpSpired collection "As Folktaleteller." Have a great week:

#promptcombo #visitor
@hool415.bsky.social

My goodness, this hits hard. A compelling reflection on that diconnected period between death and remembrance

Before the Wake After У гроба (“Beside the Bier”, 1904) by Russian Symbolist poet, Innokenty Annensky (1855-1909) Mirrors gleam whitely in an Apartment swept and clean. Stately as a steed under a Fly sheet stands the grand piano. During visiting hours yesterday, Death left the doors wide open. Time has long ceased to be Torn off the calendar - but Parlour, kitchen, bedroom Clocks tick on regardless. Hushed in the corner: Fool’s pig-bladder of an oxygen bag, Blue-lipped cannula - Eyeless, agog at the final agony. In a funk-trance of disgust, I peel back the shroud - As if I were Certifying the death. Horror - then Bewilderment: Is Being’s mystery Already at home in the Vacated sanctuary of a Face so alien? Free adaptation from the Russian: ©Jan Peters/Solivagant Wisdom, 2025

©Jan Peters/Solivagant Wisdom, 2007 Highly contrasted black-and-white image of sculpted marble on a tomb at Pere Lachaise cemetery in Paris.

🙏 to @hool415.bsky.social as #PromptCombo #visitor host

#adaptation / #photography: ©Jan Peters/Solivagant Wisdom, 2025/2007

#poem #RussianPoetry #Symbolism #spooktober #Death #PoetryInTranslation #PereLachaise #Shroud

It's the irrepressible @hool415.bsky.social hosting #promptcombo this week, and the theme is #visitor. As ever, you have all week to respond ☺️

Morning Jules @hool415.bsky.social #promptcombo #visitor
an one one from my poetry blog

baitthelines.blogspot.com

"I think they just knew about Mum"! Absolutely brilliant, Sue

For #PromptCombo #Visitor with most-nominated-ever host @hool415.bsky.social a poem I don't think I've posted before (Ju will know), which only got its temporary title this morning, and is, for me, remarkably long. Will catch up with others later.

This is a great start to #PromptCombo week from our fabulous host, Ju. His theme for us wordsmiths is #visitor . Use the hastags & tag @hool415.bsky.social to get involved ❤️📖

Many thanks @hool415.bsky.social for a great #PromptCombo #Visitor. Here's a something from a few years back about visiting my Mum in her final weeks