Joe Williams

Chemistry 21: Elisabeth Sennitt Clough, Jamie Thrasivoulou, and Sc for Scandium | Leeds Inspired Chemistry returns to the Chemic on Friday 26 September, with another night of poetry and spoken word, two brilliant headliners and our usual amazing open mic. This time round our headliners are Forwar...

More #poetry and #spokenword, this Friday at the Chemic Tavern in #Leeds. Featuring Elisabeth Sennitt Clough, @jamiethrasivoulou.bsky.social, and open mic. Come!

www.leedsinspired.co.uk/events/chemi...

I see President Xi Jinping has spent his day in the company of massive weapons.

Thanks everyone who came along on Tuesday. Brilliant sets from @wendypratt.bsky.social and Liz McPherson, and a great open mic too. Thanks for having us, Chapel Allerton Arts Festival!

Joe Williams: Writer, Poet, Performer Visit the post for more.

Just stick your email address in the box at the bottom of this page. joewilliams.co.uk

My new email newsletter is going out later this afternoon. When socials seem to be more full of ads and junk than ever, it's the most reliable way of finding out what I've got going on with writing and events stuff. Sign up on my website if you want to join the list.

There Are Only So Many Ways You Can Write About Fruit anthology launch An evening of performance to launch the long-anticipated anthology, There Are Only So Many Ways You Can Write About Fruit

We're launching this anthology at Heart in Headingley on Friday. Come and join us! Note the ticket price includes a copy of the book. www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/there-are-...

It is of course now later this month, not next month...

I'm hosting a poetry event as part of Chapel Allerton Arts Festival next month. Tuesday 26 August at Brew+Bao on Stainbeck Lane. Headliner will be the wonderful @wendypratt.bsky.social, supported by Liz McPherson, plus an open mic. Come! chapelallerton.org.uk/poetry/

Thanks to everyone for coming along last night! We're back on Friday 26 September, with headliners @jamiethrasivoulou.bsky.social and Elisabeth Sennitt Clough. The optional theme is Sc for Scandium. See you then!

10 days to go!

Chemistry 20: Rosie Garland, Mark & Gill Connors, and Ca for Calcium | Leeds Inspired Chemistry returns to the Chemic on Friday 25 July, with another night of poetry and spoken word, not two but THREE brilliant headliners and our amazing open mic. This time round our headliners are got...

Chemistry is back at the Chemic Tavern in Leeds on the 25th, with @rosiegarlandwriter.bsky.social and a double act appearance from @markconnors.bsky.social and @gillconnors.bsky.social. Plus the usual open mic, and an optional theme of Ca for Calcium. www.leedsinspired.co.uk/events/chemi...

Save the date! I'll be hosting a poetry night at Chapel Allerton Arts Festival, with two guest poets and an open mic. Tuesday 26 August at Brew + Bao on Stainbeck Lane. More details to follow nearer the time, but get it in your diaries now!

I seem to have got a week or two behind with plugging #DoubleDactyl of the Week. So here is a double header from Joe Williams and Sian Lang. Double dactyls – erudite and stretched real tight…

Double Dactyl of the Week Week #132 Shadery bladery,Oscar Pistorius.Was it deliberate?That was the Q. Faced with the evidenceIncontrovertible,Still claimed his innocence.Well, wouldn’t you? (Joe Williams)

Another one of mine in Double Dactyl of the Week, this time on the subject of Oscar Pistorius.

doubledactyls.wordpress.com/2025/06/12/d...

Double Dactyl of the Week Week #132 Shadery bladery,Oscar Pistorius.Was it deliberate?That was the Q. Faced with the evidenceIncontrovertible,Still claimed his innocence.Well, wouldn’t you? (Joe Williams)

Another one of mine in Double Dactyl of the Week, this time on the subject of Oscar Pistorius.

doubledactyls.wordpress.com/2025/06/12/d...

I'm headlining at Grand Plans in Linthwaite today, alongside Neil Clarkson and an open mic. 6pm start at the Sair Inn. Come! www.facebook.com/events/the-s...

The Fig Tree - Coal Mining Issue 2 An anthology of Coal Mining Poems in two parts

I'm pleased to have my poem 'In 1984' included in the second part of the Fig Tree's Coal Mining Anthology. Have a read here. There are plans for a print version to come out at some point too. figtreepoetry.substack.com/p/the-fig-tr...

Thanks everyone for joining us last night for another great event, and thanks especially to Luke and Helen for their brilliant headline sets.

We're back on Friday 25 July with headliners Gill & Mark Connors (as a double act) and Rosie Garland. The optional theme is Ca for Calcium. See you then!

Tonight! See you later at the Chemic Tavern in Leeds.

A screenshot of a poem that reads: "The Worst Match I Ever Saw Notts County v Rochdale, Meadow Lane, '96. Fog draped like a theatre curtain over the halfway line. Behind our goal with pie and peas we watch the action fade away, hoofed into the unknown, dribbled into the mist. Joe Williams joewilliams.co.uk"

I don't know of anyone else who agrees - except for possibly @sarahhehir.bsky.social, who mentioned it in a review in Confluence magazine - but this is my favourite poem in 'The Taking Part'.

Today, I am feeling it.

Looking forward to this!

Chemistry 19: Helen Ivory, Luke Samuel Yates, and K for Potassium | Leeds Inspired Chemistry is back on Friday 30 May, with another night of poetry and spoken word, two brilliant headliners and our amazing open mic. This time round our headliners are renowned Bloodaxe poet Helen Ivo...

Chemistry is back at the end of the month, with headliners @helenivory.bsky.social and Luke Samuel Yates. The optional open mic theme is K for Potassium. Friday 30 May at the Chemic Tavern in Leeds.

www.leedsinspired.co.uk/events/chemi...

An image of the new pope Leo XIV in robes, greeting an audience with his hands raised in the air.

Clerichew #4

Pope Leo
seems OK to me, though
I would have given the job
to Pope Bob.

(Subject to change if it turns out he's actually got really horrible opinions or history.)

#clerihew #pope #isthepopeacatholic

Should have insisted on Pope Bob.

A photograph of snooker referee Desislava Bozhilova overseeing a match at the Crucible Theatre.

Clerihew #95

Desislava Bozhilova
successfully achieved what she strove for.
She was the first female referee
to do the finals of snooker's big three.

#clerihew #snooker #wst #worldsnooker

The Fig Tree - Issue 8 with Featured Poet Joe WIlliams

I was delighted and honoured when @timfellows.bsky.social asked me to be the featured poet in Issue 8 of his poetry zine The Fig Tree. It was published this week, and you can read it here. Nice to see a few of my poetry friends included too! figtreepoetry.substack.com/p/the-fig-tr...

The Fig Tree - Issue 8 with Featured Poet Joe WIlliams

The Fig Tree Issue 8 is out!

In all the excitement of launches and Coal Mining Specials, the original Fig Tree is back with Featured Poet Joe Williams. With thanks to Paul Brough as usual for the stunning artwork.

figtreepoetry.substack.com/p/the-fig-tr...

It is 10 years and 1 day since the first time I got up and did poems in front of an audience.

I honestly didn't know if I would ever do it again.

I did, it turns out.

Clerichew 3

Justin Welby
was archbishop for a spell. He
got himself in a bind
and resigned.

Clerichew 2

Pope Joan,
about whom little is known,
may have been the inspiration
for papal testicular examination.