Ian Duhig
@ianduhig.bsky.social
'An Arbitrary Light Bulb' the Poetry Book Society Winter 2024 Choice: "some of the most moving, restrained, memorable and technically adroit poetry of our times" --- TLS, 3/25
"No, I don't know who he is either but he's handy for drying towels."
from The Book of Hours of Jean de Montauban."
from The Book of Hours of Jean de Montauban."
November 26, 2025 at 7:03 AM
"No, I don't know who he is either but he's handy for drying towels."
from The Book of Hours of Jean de Montauban."
from The Book of Hours of Jean de Montauban."
Cecil Sharp, founder of the English folk-song revival, pictured overhearing a gardener sing the line "Next folk-musicologist bothering me gets 'is poxy brains dashed out with this 'ere crate!"
Artist: Martin Aitchison
Artist: Martin Aitchison
November 25, 2025 at 3:05 PM
Cecil Sharp, founder of the English folk-song revival, pictured overhearing a gardener sing the line "Next folk-musicologist bothering me gets 'is poxy brains dashed out with this 'ere crate!"
Artist: Martin Aitchison
Artist: Martin Aitchison
#happybirthdaylaurencesterne
Few know that his achievements may include saving Walter Benjamin's life: this from Eilenberger's 'The Time of the Magicians', p281.
Few know that his achievements may include saving Walter Benjamin's life: this from Eilenberger's 'The Time of the Magicians', p281.
November 24, 2025 at 5:56 PM
#happybirthdaylaurencesterne
Few know that his achievements may include saving Walter Benjamin's life: this from Eilenberger's 'The Time of the Magicians', p281.
Few know that his achievements may include saving Walter Benjamin's life: this from Eilenberger's 'The Time of the Magicians', p281.
Most of my days at the moment, virtually to the exclusion of all else, are taken up with reading entries for the National Poetry Competition.
Many are very good indeed and more take me to new places in my imagination but it does mean the view from my life's front window now looks like this.
Many are very good indeed and more take me to new places in my imagination but it does mean the view from my life's front window now looks like this.
November 23, 2025 at 3:19 PM
Most of my days at the moment, virtually to the exclusion of all else, are taken up with reading entries for the National Poetry Competition.
Many are very good indeed and more take me to new places in my imagination but it does mean the view from my life's front window now looks like this.
Many are very good indeed and more take me to new places in my imagination but it does mean the view from my life's front window now looks like this.
After his victory over Aleister Crowley in their Golden Dawn power struggle, Yeats commissioned a new Tarot card from Pamela Colman Smith to be slipped into decks when Croowley asked for a reading.
November 22, 2025 at 7:00 PM
After his victory over Aleister Crowley in their Golden Dawn power struggle, Yeats commissioned a new Tarot card from Pamela Colman Smith to be slipped into decks when Croowley asked for a reading.
Reposted by Ian Duhig
Glen Baxter (who exhibited at Shandy Hall earlier this year) has interview on Earlier with Jools Holland on BBC Radio 3 at 12.00 - 13.00 this Saturday 22nd Nov #glenbaxter #cartoons #surrealism #joolsholland @ianduhig.bsky.social @constantgardener.bsky.social @internationaltimes.bsky.social
November 20, 2025 at 7:10 PM
Glen Baxter (who exhibited at Shandy Hall earlier this year) has interview on Earlier with Jools Holland on BBC Radio 3 at 12.00 - 13.00 this Saturday 22nd Nov #glenbaxter #cartoons #surrealism #joolsholland @ianduhig.bsky.social @constantgardener.bsky.social @internationaltimes.bsky.social
I had a Saturday job around here but now I remember it more from the show I heard about where, when Earth was illuminated in the cosmic dome, somebody started booing.
Postcard via Bill Melhuish
Postcard via Bill Melhuish
November 19, 2025 at 7:25 AM
I had a Saturday job around here but now I remember it more from the show I heard about where, when Earth was illuminated in the cosmic dome, somebody started booing.
Postcard via Bill Melhuish
Postcard via Bill Melhuish
Also great coverage in the Daily Mail for 'Beo Faoin bhFód' (Buried Alive), airing on November 26 on TG4,
www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article...
www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article...
Man buried alive for 61 days hoped to make a fortune but made nothing
On February 21, supporters and TV crews lined the streets of Kilburn, the centre of London 's Irish community, as a coffin measuring just 6ft 3in by 2ft 6in was paraded like a celebrity.
www.dailymail.co.uk
November 18, 2025 at 7:14 PM
Also great coverage in the Daily Mail for 'Beo Faoin bhFód' (Buried Alive), airing on November 26 on TG4,
www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article...
www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article...
This ms is Paris, BN fr. 146 of the Roman de Fauvel showing his wedding with Vainglory. The disapproving mob below are playing the first written charivari in European music. Part of it also formed the cover of my book 'The Speed of Dark', which included my adaptations of texts for singing.
November 18, 2025 at 11:46 AM
This ms is Paris, BN fr. 146 of the Roman de Fauvel showing his wedding with Vainglory. The disapproving mob below are playing the first written charivari in European music. Part of it also formed the cover of my book 'The Speed of Dark', which included my adaptations of texts for singing.
Reposted by Ian Duhig
The first issue of the Chartist newspaper, the Northern Star, appeared #OnThisDay 18 November 1837. Without it, Chartism would have been a far weaker thing.
www.chartistancestors.co.uk/northern-sta...
www.chartistancestors.co.uk/northern-sta...
November 18, 2025 at 7:27 AM
The first issue of the Chartist newspaper, the Northern Star, appeared #OnThisDay 18 November 1837. Without it, Chartism would have been a far weaker thing.
www.chartistancestors.co.uk/northern-sta...
www.chartistancestors.co.uk/northern-sta...
Great coverage of in today's Guardian of the Irish-language TV station TG4's film titled Beo Faoin bhFód (Buried Alive) to which I contribute my memories of Mick Meaney's record-breaking stunt: www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
Incredible story of Irish labourer buried alive in coffin for 61 days told in new documentary
Mick Meaney made global headlines when he beat world record in 1968, but returned to Ireland penniless
www.theguardian.com
November 17, 2025 at 5:15 PM
Great coverage of in today's Guardian of the Irish-language TV station TG4's film titled Beo Faoin bhFód (Buried Alive) to which I contribute my memories of Mick Meaney's record-breaking stunt: www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
It was all going so swimmingly until the poetry workshop leader suggested alliterative verse was dead.
November 16, 2025 at 7:12 PM
It was all going so swimmingly until the poetry workshop leader suggested alliterative verse was dead.
"This is a Browning Hi-Power, single-action, semi-automatic pistol available in 9 × 19 mm Parabellum and .40 S&W calibres. It is the hand gun Dame Julian of Norwich would have used. I too am proficient in its use. Today is Sunday. Be holy or watch your step."
November 16, 2025 at 8:07 AM
"This is a Browning Hi-Power, single-action, semi-automatic pistol available in 9 × 19 mm Parabellum and .40 S&W calibres. It is the hand gun Dame Julian of Norwich would have used. I too am proficient in its use. Today is Sunday. Be holy or watch your step."
' . . . I smoked untipped till my lungs crackled
like Lucozade wrappers. After his Leeds reading,
I offered MacCaig a Silk Cut. “Thank you but no:
those are just a very expensive way of breathing.”
from 'Gaspers' in 'An Arbitrary Light Bulb'
Can't track down photographer
like Lucozade wrappers. After his Leeds reading,
I offered MacCaig a Silk Cut. “Thank you but no:
those are just a very expensive way of breathing.”
from 'Gaspers' in 'An Arbitrary Light Bulb'
Can't track down photographer
November 15, 2025 at 7:19 AM
' . . . I smoked untipped till my lungs crackled
like Lucozade wrappers. After his Leeds reading,
I offered MacCaig a Silk Cut. “Thank you but no:
those are just a very expensive way of breathing.”
from 'Gaspers' in 'An Arbitrary Light Bulb'
Can't track down photographer
like Lucozade wrappers. After his Leeds reading,
I offered MacCaig a Silk Cut. “Thank you but no:
those are just a very expensive way of breathing.”
from 'Gaspers' in 'An Arbitrary Light Bulb'
Can't track down photographer
"I'll be glad when somebody invents the damn scabbard!"
November 14, 2025 at 7:00 AM
"I'll be glad when somebody invents the damn scabbard!"
I appear in a new RG4 film about Mick Meaney, having written about him in my last book, a hero to my generation in Kilburn. Yesterday our zoom about a Kilburn showing coincided with the Irish Post piece below.
There was sadness when I said what a great song Shane MacGowan could have made for Mick.
There was sadness when I said what a great song Shane MacGowan could have made for Mick.
November 13, 2025 at 5:28 PM
I appear in a new RG4 film about Mick Meaney, having written about him in my last book, a hero to my generation in Kilburn. Yesterday our zoom about a Kilburn showing coincided with the Irish Post piece below.
There was sadness when I said what a great song Shane MacGowan could have made for Mick.
There was sadness when I said what a great song Shane MacGowan could have made for Mick.
Honoured to have a couple of poems in the brilliant new @aftershockpoetry with its starry roster. There's some weird old lore about yellowhammers. Swifts were considered 'devil birds' because of their screams but I don't know what grave sin these small birds committed to be regarded in this way.
November 12, 2025 at 1:29 PM
Honoured to have a couple of poems in the brilliant new @aftershockpoetry with its starry roster. There's some weird old lore about yellowhammers. Swifts were considered 'devil birds' because of their screams but I don't know what grave sin these small birds committed to be regarded in this way.
In the old days, working-class eating places messed with people's minds by advertising upside-down peas
November 11, 2025 at 6:46 AM
In the old days, working-class eating places messed with people's minds by advertising upside-down peas
Chris Wood and I will be returning to Scarborough to talk about his Grimm paintings and my accompanying poetry. I wrote about them for Goldmark Gallery placing the Grimms in a context including 'Simplius Simplicissimus' of 1668, a guess. Here's proof:
allthatsinteresting.com/brothers-gri...
allthatsinteresting.com/brothers-gri...
Researchers Uncover 27 Long-Lost Books That Belonged To The Brothers Grimm At A College Library In Poland
The Brothers Grimm used the books to research their famous fairy tales.
allthatsinteresting.com
November 10, 2025 at 6:05 AM
Chris Wood and I will be returning to Scarborough to talk about his Grimm paintings and my accompanying poetry. I wrote about them for Goldmark Gallery placing the Grimms in a context including 'Simplius Simplicissimus' of 1668, a guess. Here's proof:
allthatsinteresting.com/brothers-gri...
allthatsinteresting.com/brothers-gri...
When you suddenly realise you've been saying hello to all the villagers without changing back into human form.
November 9, 2025 at 1:05 PM
When you suddenly realise you've been saying hello to all the villagers without changing back into human form.
Extreme Unction is the funniest of the Catholic sacraments
November 9, 2025 at 7:26 AM
Extreme Unction is the funniest of the Catholic sacraments
I have a poem about Mick in my last book but in this film am interviewed about my memories. It's on TG4 on next Wednesday, November 26 at 9.30pm. Alas, only my friends living in Ireland will be able to watch it then but we're looking into UK screenings.
www.irishpost.com/entertainmen...
www.irishpost.com/entertainmen...
Why an Irishman living in London buried himself alive | The Irish Post
A NEW documentary tells the fascinating story of an Irishman living in London who buried himself ...
www.irishpost.com
November 7, 2025 at 12:14 PM
I have a poem about Mick in my last book but in this film am interviewed about my memories. It's on TG4 on next Wednesday, November 26 at 9.30pm. Alas, only my friends living in Ireland will be able to watch it then but we're looking into UK screenings.
www.irishpost.com/entertainmen...
www.irishpost.com/entertainmen...
he Poets' Version of Beckett: Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail worse. No matter. Try again. Fail far worse still. Try again. Fail beyond your imagination's ability to comprehend the scale of possible failures open to you . . .' (contd p.94)
November 7, 2025 at 7:06 AM
he Poets' Version of Beckett: Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail worse. No matter. Try again. Fail far worse still. Try again. Fail beyond your imagination's ability to comprehend the scale of possible failures open to you . . .' (contd p.94)
Happy Birthday Tristram Shandy!
Here's his meme about choosing the punctuation for his 'Life & Opinions'.
Here's his meme about choosing the punctuation for his 'Life & Opinions'.
November 5, 2025 at 12:36 PM
Happy Birthday Tristram Shandy!
Here's his meme about choosing the punctuation for his 'Life & Opinions'.
Here's his meme about choosing the punctuation for his 'Life & Opinions'.