Chris Sewart

As parents, we're supposed to remember the first time we did stuff with our kids, but the last time is equally as significant, if not more.

This poem is from Whatever You Do, Just Don't (HappenStance Press, 2023), my second full collection...

Chris Sewart, a man wearing glasses and a "Larkin 100" t-shirt, holding his arms crossed over his chest. He is stood in front of a bookcase crammed full of old books.

Our Festival Poet, Chris Sewart, is writing 3 new poems in the run-up to the festival, with thanks to support from the Philip Larkin Society.

Chris recently appeared on the Society's podcast, so listen here to find out more: youtu.be/R39qRhBPe24?...

@chriswriting.bsky.social @plsoc.bsky.social

Here's a great opportunity for a young writer: East Riding Young Poet Laureate (age 18 -25).
Closing date 21st November.
downloads.eastriding.org.uk/culture/libr...

YouTube video by The Philip Larkin Society MCMXIV

On this Remembrance Day. ‘Never such innocence again’

youtu.be/8Ovbrl2P6a8?...

You hear right👍

Maybe never(ley)!

Really looking forward to your show in Beverley in 2026 @stage4beverley.bsky.social and hoping for a Beverley limerick or two!
Tickets at www.stage4beverley.com

Tour Poems Worcester: 12th November (limerick)   There was a young writer from Worcester who hoped to pen a blockborcester. But ten pints of lager put paid to his saga and five lines was all he could morcester.   Nottingham: 13th November (haiku)   Tied up in Notts with East Midlands dominatrix and her three line whip.  

Swansea: 14th November (acrostic)   Surprisingly lacking in actual swans Welsh (very) Actress Catherine Zeta-Jones was born here Not sure what to put for this one Something else beginning with S Errm … Another thing about Swansea Bristol: 15th November (cinquain)   Bristol … Saturday next – Music and poetry. Tickets are still available. Please come. Brian Bilston

I’m back on the road with The Catenary Wires this Wednesday so I thought I’d write a short poem in celebration of each place we’ll be heading to this week: Worcester, Nottingham, Swansea and Bristol.

Tickets available here: brianbilston.com/events/

A great evening at the Stage 4 Beverley taster event at East Riding Theatre featuring singer-songwriter Danny Bradley and poet Chris Sewart. We are delighted to be supporting Chris as Festival Poet at this fantastic festival in February 2026

A fantastic evening, thanks to all that came along and 'participated' in The Wombles poem! Tickets for the February Festival are at www.stage4beverley.com @stage4beverley.bsky.social

Looking forward to tonight's 'Sold Out' show at East Riding Theatre. My set might just include a Larkin poem @plsoc.bsky.social and lots of new music themed poems and an updated 'Stage 4 Beverley Blues' @stage4beverley.bsky.social

If you are heading over to the University of Hull campus today you will see this eye catching signage advertising our conference in March 2026. If you are interested in taking part as a speaker, please message us and we will send you the call for papers.

Photo of Beverley Community Choir singing together.

At our next festival, we've got not one but TWO singing workshops lined up for you! Whether you fancy learning some harmonies with Beverley Community Choir, or giving some shanties a go with Saltburn Smugglers, we'd love to hear you raising your voices.

Find out more: stage4beverley.com/line-up/

Photos of Danny Bradley (a man wearing glasses and a checked shirt, holding a guitar) and Chris Sewart (a man wearing glasses and a t-shirt, stood in front of a tree). There is text which says 'Stage4Beverley Appetiser, Danny Bradley (featuring) Chris Sewart, East Riding Theatre Cafe Bar, Saturday 8th November 7.30pm'

Our Appetiser event at East Riding Theatre is coming up on Saturday, and we’ve only got a handful of tickets left! With music from Danny Bradley and poetry from @chriswriting.bsky.social, it’s sure to be a night to remember.

Book your tickets here:
stage4beverley.com/whats-on/sta...

Looking forward to appearing at the Stage 4 Beverley Appetiser on Saturday 8th November. More information and tickets at www.stage4beverley.com
See you there!

Happy Halloween from the Tiny in All That Air team, including Maggie the sprocker. Please head over to the podcast for an exploration of one of Larkin's less well known poems.

Haiku Horrorscopes   Aries    That decision not to believe in poltergeists comes back to haunt you.   Taurus You are invited to a skeleton party but meet nobody.   Gemini Weary from worry, you feel wary of werewolves and their whereabouts.   Cancer Murderer at large. Eat your cornflakes with caution. Cereal Killer.   Leo The world is a blur. You wish you hadn’t been Bourne. Possessed by Damons.   Aquarius Evil ghostwriter forces you to read his book – Life of Michael Gove.   Virgo You let a vampire into work. Boss furious. Get it in the neck.   Libra The worst day ever. Chased by flesh-eating zombies. Meet Nigel Farage.   Scorpio Your luck starts to change There’s someone new in your life – dark handsome strangler.   Sagitarrius Island invites you to be their guest of honour at wicker craft fair.   Capricorn Aargh! You’re buried alive with your phone but you don’t know the Wi-Fi password. Pisces Morrissey’s ghost calls and he’s massive – some ghouls are bigger than others. Brian Bilston

Given that it’s Halloween, here are some haiku horrorscopes.

Tiny In All That Air Books Podcast · Every two months · This is the podcast for anyone who is interested in Philip Larkin. We will bring you new insights into Larkin's life and writing by talking to people with fascinatin...

Great to be a guest on the Tiny In All That Air podcast @plsoc.bsky.social Talking all things Larkin, writing workshops, and the music and spoken word performances at the Stage 4 Beverley Festival in February @stage4beverley.bsky.social

Tickets at: stage4beverley.com
share.google/4WSVZQtT0ZVk...

Tiny In All That Air Books Podcast · Every two months · This is the podcast for anyone who is interested in Philip Larkin. We will bring you new insights into Larkin's life and writing by talking to people with fascinatin...

New episode out today, a gentle ramble through all things PLS with Lyn Lockwood and @chriswriting.bsky.social
Tiny In All That Air - Podcast - Apple Podcasts share.google/4WSVZQtT0ZVk...

Choose Bookshops...

Never Judge a Bookshop by its Cover   It may call itself a bookshop, but don’t be fooled by that. There may be books in the window, on the tables and shelves, but really, it’s a travel agent selling all-immersive holidays, weekend breaks, first-class tickets to other worlds, with a low carbon footprint. It’s a pharmacy as well, dispensing medicines, pick-me-ups, balms: if symptoms persist, please consult your local bookseller; it’s a tailor’s, offering a made-to-measure service to achieve the perfect fit;   and a hardware store, with a range of empowering tools to fix you up, recharge your batteries, switch on lightbulbs. Its walls are lined with treasure as precious as any jeweller’s, and twice as bright. Spines shine gold, silver, sapphire, emerald;   there are diamonds amongst them. It’s a garden centre, a place where ideas get planted and a thousand stories bloom, and a greengrocer, selling fresh, locally-sourced produce, as vital as your five-a-day and more readily consumed.

It’s a multiscreen cinema. Peek behind the curtain of each jacket and you’ll find a movie waiting silently to begin. A stationer’s supplying notepads, reams of paper, with the words conveniently filled in   to save you both the time and bother. A wholefood store and a fast-food joint. A cosy haven from the cold. A friendly, family restaurant: Today’s special will revive a flagging spirit and restore a lagging soul.   It’s a tourist information centre equipped with maps and helpful guides to steer us on our way. A busy square in which a whole town gathers or just a place to hold the world at bay   for a few untroubled stolen minutes. It’s itself, and yet it’s something larger, a universe so vast you could spend ten thousand lifetimes there – it may call itself a bookshop, but don’t be fooled by that. Brian Bilston

It’s Bookshop Day so here’s a poem in celebration of all those amazing bookshops out there.

This will get a revamp for 2026!

Fantastic! 😊

Looking forward to this. As Philip Larkin said, 'I can live a week without poetry but not a day without jazz'.