Alec Finlay
@alecfinlay.bsky.social
artist and poet; ecological remediation and human recuperation; landscape, tea, limit and creativity; lives by the sea in Edinburgh; mostly sharing a daily poem here.
people who think other
people are a type
are a type
25.XI.25
people are a type
are a type
25.XI.25
November 25, 2025 at 7:31 AM
people who think other
people are a type
are a type
25.XI.25
people are a type
are a type
25.XI.25
We're the equivalent of one hour into a twenty-four hour shift in global populations, as climate breakdown hits, and Trevor Phillips and the Home Secretary already want punitive random deportations. What do they expect people to do in the future, sit and fry in the sun?
Trevor Philips in the Times, calling for a Trump/Miller-style of random deportations based on skin colour.
archive.ph/RlXPj
archive.ph/RlXPj
November 24, 2025 at 10:11 PM
We're the equivalent of one hour into a twenty-four hour shift in global populations, as climate breakdown hits, and Trevor Phillips and the Home Secretary already want punitive random deportations. What do they expect people to do in the future, sit and fry in the sun?
Bruckner
the organist makes
his way home
through the crowd
carrying his wee cushion
24.XI.25
the organist makes
his way home
through the crowd
carrying his wee cushion
24.XI.25
November 24, 2025 at 7:49 AM
Bruckner
the organist makes
his way home
through the crowd
carrying his wee cushion
24.XI.25
the organist makes
his way home
through the crowd
carrying his wee cushion
24.XI.25
Reposted by Alec Finlay
This took courage, and makes me feel very vulnerable, but here I share some insights into how the recent Laika situation played out for me – along with a plea for more compassionate social media engagement. We need reflection, not retribution.
www.thetimes.com/uk/scotland/...
If useful: archive.is
www.thetimes.com/uk/scotland/...
If useful: archive.is
I was the other poet in the Len Pennie row: here’s my story
Sarah Doyle’s poem Laika won high praise but when she queried similarities to it with the poem Good Girl she was caught up in a storm of accusation, denial and online vitriol
www.thetimes.com
November 23, 2025 at 2:22 PM
This took courage, and makes me feel very vulnerable, but here I share some insights into how the recent Laika situation played out for me – along with a plea for more compassionate social media engagement. We need reflection, not retribution.
www.thetimes.com/uk/scotland/...
If useful: archive.is
www.thetimes.com/uk/scotland/...
If useful: archive.is
free metaphor
is the bridge still there
in all this haar?
well, that train is sure
going somewhere
23.XI.25
is the bridge still there
in all this haar?
well, that train is sure
going somewhere
23.XI.25
November 23, 2025 at 9:03 AM
free metaphor
is the bridge still there
in all this haar?
well, that train is sure
going somewhere
23.XI.25
is the bridge still there
in all this haar?
well, that train is sure
going somewhere
23.XI.25
fitba haiku, after Steven Thompson
HE’S DONE HIM!
the arc of the ball
HE’S DONE HIM!
is a thought we’ve all had
HE’S DONE HIM!
become beautifully real
HE’S DONE HIM!
the arc of the ball
HE’S DONE HIM!
is a thought we’ve all had
HE’S DONE HIM!
become beautifully real
November 21, 2025 at 7:15 AM
fitba haiku, after Steven Thompson
HE’S DONE HIM!
the arc of the ball
HE’S DONE HIM!
is a thought we’ve all had
HE’S DONE HIM!
become beautifully real
HE’S DONE HIM!
the arc of the ball
HE’S DONE HIM!
is a thought we’ve all had
HE’S DONE HIM!
become beautifully real
fitba haiku (II), after Alan Spence and Kieran Tierney
pure–
tae good tae be true
kindae hing–
honestly
pure–
tae good tae be true
kindae hing–
honestly
November 19, 2025 at 3:00 PM
fitba haiku (II), after Alan Spence and Kieran Tierney
pure–
tae good tae be true
kindae hing–
honestly
pure–
tae good tae be true
kindae hing–
honestly
fitba haiku
where’s my mum
asks Scott
in that sea of blue
where’s my mum
asks Scott
in that sea of blue
November 19, 2025 at 12:22 PM
fitba haiku
where’s my mum
asks Scott
in that sea of blue
where’s my mum
asks Scott
in that sea of blue
a snow day you say?
what, with no school bus?
with wet gloves? and balaclavas?
and even a carrot between your eyes?
what, with no school bus?
with wet gloves? and balaclavas?
and even a carrot between your eyes?
November 19, 2025 at 9:15 AM
a snow day you say?
what, with no school bus?
with wet gloves? and balaclavas?
and even a carrot between your eyes?
what, with no school bus?
with wet gloves? and balaclavas?
and even a carrot between your eyes?
more let’s agree
let’s agree that in extremis
a hole in the wall can be plugged
with a rolled-up poem
let’s agree how hot the fire has to be
for the cat to roll
let’s agree it was all very dogs and logs
let’s agree parasociality is a leap too far
let’s agree that in extremis
a hole in the wall can be plugged
with a rolled-up poem
let’s agree how hot the fire has to be
for the cat to roll
let’s agree it was all very dogs and logs
let’s agree parasociality is a leap too far
November 19, 2025 at 8:15 AM
more let’s agree
let’s agree that in extremis
a hole in the wall can be plugged
with a rolled-up poem
let’s agree how hot the fire has to be
for the cat to roll
let’s agree it was all very dogs and logs
let’s agree parasociality is a leap too far
let’s agree that in extremis
a hole in the wall can be plugged
with a rolled-up poem
let’s agree how hot the fire has to be
for the cat to roll
let’s agree it was all very dogs and logs
let’s agree parasociality is a leap too far
Reposted by Alec Finlay
The BBC Scotland commentary for Kenny McLean’s halfway line goal is glorious. Stuff of dreams. 🔥
Congratulations #Scotland, see you at the World Cup.
Congratulations #Scotland, see you at the World Cup.
November 18, 2025 at 10:00 PM
The BBC Scotland commentary for Kenny McLean’s halfway line goal is glorious. Stuff of dreams. 🔥
Congratulations #Scotland, see you at the World Cup.
Congratulations #Scotland, see you at the World Cup.
Reposted by Alec Finlay
A Broken Sleep review special now live on my blog
@alecfinlay.bsky.social @brokensleepbooks.bsky.social @alkinsel.bsky.social @lauratheis.bsky.social #poetry
ellipticalmovements.wordpress.com/2025/11/18/r...
@alecfinlay.bsky.social @brokensleepbooks.bsky.social @alkinsel.bsky.social @lauratheis.bsky.social #poetry
ellipticalmovements.wordpress.com/2025/11/18/r...
ellipticalmovements.wordpress.com
November 18, 2025 at 2:47 PM
A Broken Sleep review special now live on my blog
@alecfinlay.bsky.social @brokensleepbooks.bsky.social @alkinsel.bsky.social @lauratheis.bsky.social #poetry
ellipticalmovements.wordpress.com/2025/11/18/r...
@alecfinlay.bsky.social @brokensleepbooks.bsky.social @alkinsel.bsky.social @lauratheis.bsky.social #poetry
ellipticalmovements.wordpress.com/2025/11/18/r...
Reposted by Alec Finlay
outrageous move by @waterstones.bsky.social
Please share this as widely as you can, tag your local indies too, and help us get the word about about this news.
We know and appreciate how much help we have had for you over the years and we’re sorry to have to ask you for more.
We’re here and we aren’t going anywhere.
(2/2)
We know and appreciate how much help we have had for you over the years and we’re sorry to have to ask you for more.
We’re here and we aren’t going anywhere.
(2/2)
November 18, 2025 at 1:42 PM
outrageous move by @waterstones.bsky.social
There are dark forces in society and, in continuation with our existing policy, as a government we are committed to giving in to them.
November 18, 2025 at 9:13 AM
There are dark forces in society and, in continuation with our existing policy, as a government we are committed to giving in to them.
lexicon
ordinary, I keep saying it,
she says, not saying she’s not,
so, I try to translate, saying
the y means the same as joy–
it’s like when you say normal,
I say, isn’t that ordinary?
when what we both mean
is love, like this, everyday
18.XI.25
ordinary, I keep saying it,
she says, not saying she’s not,
so, I try to translate, saying
the y means the same as joy–
it’s like when you say normal,
I say, isn’t that ordinary?
when what we both mean
is love, like this, everyday
18.XI.25
November 18, 2025 at 7:28 AM
lexicon
ordinary, I keep saying it,
she says, not saying she’s not,
so, I try to translate, saying
the y means the same as joy–
it’s like when you say normal,
I say, isn’t that ordinary?
when what we both mean
is love, like this, everyday
18.XI.25
ordinary, I keep saying it,
she says, not saying she’s not,
so, I try to translate, saying
the y means the same as joy–
it’s like when you say normal,
I say, isn’t that ordinary?
when what we both mean
is love, like this, everyday
18.XI.25
Reposted by Alec Finlay
Madness when ministers don’t know their own policies. This temporary protection even applies to those who arrive via the newly created legal routes.
Alex Norris just said on Today the temporary protection is just for those who arrive illegally. That is not his policy.
But the policy of reassessment at 30 months will apply to those on controlled, legal routes (for 10 years, not 20 years)
But the policy of reassessment at 30 months will apply to those on controlled, legal routes (for 10 years, not 20 years)
November 17, 2025 at 8:26 AM
Madness when ministers don’t know their own policies. This temporary protection even applies to those who arrive via the newly created legal routes.
the leaves always last
longer than you think
and take longer than
you want to come back
17.XI.25
longer than you think
and take longer than
you want to come back
17.XI.25
November 17, 2025 at 8:06 AM
the leaves always last
longer than you think
and take longer than
you want to come back
17.XI.25
longer than you think
and take longer than
you want to come back
17.XI.25
Reposted by Alec Finlay
Hey Labour
Remember the majority of voters who believe in treating people decently and not stealing from those who've endured months and years of hardship fleeing war and persecution to seek a place of safety?
We're still over here 👋
Remember the majority of voters who believe in treating people decently and not stealing from those who've endured months and years of hardship fleeing war and persecution to seek a place of safety?
We're still over here 👋
November 17, 2025 at 7:49 AM
Hey Labour
Remember the majority of voters who believe in treating people decently and not stealing from those who've endured months and years of hardship fleeing war and persecution to seek a place of safety?
We're still over here 👋
Remember the majority of voters who believe in treating people decently and not stealing from those who've endured months and years of hardship fleeing war and persecution to seek a place of safety?
We're still over here 👋
Reposted by Alec Finlay
@billymills.bsky.social - Ron Padgett's Very Collected Poems - allenginsberg.org/.../s-16-ron...
November 16, 2025 at 3:22 AM
@billymills.bsky.social - Ron Padgett's Very Collected Poems - allenginsberg.org/.../s-16-ron...
if you know thorns
then you will
choose thorns
until you grow
through the thorns
into the light
then you will
choose thorns
until you grow
through the thorns
into the light
November 16, 2025 at 8:45 AM
if you know thorns
then you will
choose thorns
until you grow
through the thorns
into the light
then you will
choose thorns
until you grow
through the thorns
into the light