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johnadlam.bsky.social
John Adlam 🌈🌍
@johnadlam.bsky.social
730 followers 630 following 1.3K posts
groups 🔄 activist research ✍ #welcometheboats ⛵ #antiracistpractice ✊ #traumanotpd ❌ Gaia theory 🌍 psychosocial studies 📚 practices of equality 🤝 open mic poetry 🎤 Bob Dylan 🎸 Brixton 🧡 https://barrelblog.org https://open.substack.com/pub/johnadlampoems
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johnadlam.bsky.social
John Adlam 🌈🌍 @johnadlam.bsky.social · 6d
I reposted this on Substack this morning - it was published in Snow lit rev 15.16 last month (weblink to the Journal is in the Substack post)
johnadlampoems.substack.com/p/in-the-eve...
In the event of fog
Why would you dream of a tangerine sun in September? One morning you’ll rise and plunge to a moment of caesura – a lurch of your world’s axis – an invisible hand, wresting the wheel from your slackeni...
johnadlampoems.substack.com
Reposted by John Adlam 🌈🌍
dustpoetry.bsky.social
Our NEW ISSUE featuring 30 remarkable new poems and stunning cover art by printmaker Molly Lemon is LIVE.

You can read it all here: www.dustpoetry.co.uk/issues/categ...

We hope you enjoy this issue and look forward to hearing what you think 🧡✨
Issue 15, Dear World
www.dustpoetry.co.uk
November 22, 2025 at 8:59 AM
Reposted by John Adlam 🌈🌍
rock-rex.bsky.social
It's apparently another of those pointless Days - this time, World Philosophy Day. So here are some clerihews.

"Potted Philosophers".

#poem #poetry #skypoets #blueskypoets #poetrycommunity #writingcommunity #clerihews #philosophers
Pythagoras asseverated That the spirit transmigrated, Leaving the body by a route obscene (That’s why he never ate a bean). * * * Socrates, condemned to die, Ignored his friends’ advice to fly; If I ever end up in such a scrape I’ll be less moral and escape. * * * In brutish nastiness began, Wrote Thomas Hobbes, the life of Man; Not so, said Rousseau, Man grew so. * * * René Descartes Was a man of parts; One part was heir to a thousand ills, The other haunts academia still. * * * Baruch Spinoza, all his life, Shunned evil habits, sin, and strife. Jean-Jacques Rousseau though, it seems, Went to the opposite extreme. * * * By the punctuality that Kant observed Folk set their clocks in Königsberg, Which is odd considering Kant’s position That time’s but a form of intuition. * * * John Stuart Mill’s dad Educated the lad; Although this served to toughen up his brain He later read Wordsworth, and softened it again. * * * Gilbert Ryle Always wore a happy smile When suffering from depression (A systematically misleading expression). * * * In metaphysics Wittgenstein Great depths plumbed and great heights climbed; I’d follow in the former and the latter If he hadn’t thrown down the bloody ladder. * * * ‘Warnock’ claims A double fame: Geoffrey is the guy’s name, Mary is the Dame’s.
November 20, 2025 at 3:35 PM
johnadlam.bsky.social
Thank you for these, @victoriaspires.bsky.social - here are a couple of mine, with particular apologies to Ludwig Wittgenstein, who would have furiously refuted this once-fashionable take on his great book (for him, the metaphysics was where it was at) - no doubt Hegel would also be wincing....🥰
November 20, 2025 at 5:30 PM
johnadlam.bsky.social
I reposted this on Substack this morning - it was published in Snow lit rev 15.16 last month (weblink to the Journal is in the Substack post)
johnadlampoems.substack.com/p/in-the-eve...
In the event of fog
Why would you dream of a tangerine sun in September? One morning you’ll rise and plunge to a moment of caesura – a lurch of your world’s axis – an invisible hand, wresting the wheel from your slackeni...
johnadlampoems.substack.com
November 19, 2025 at 12:52 PM
johnadlam.bsky.social
I am thrilled to the moon and back again to find my poem 'Still life' included in this list (for August 2026). Such a wonderful and inspiring publication and project. Thank you so much! @afterpoetry.com @markantonyowen.com
afterpoetry.com 𝐀𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐫... 𝐏𝐨𝐞𝐦𝐬 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐫𝐭 @afterpoetry.com · 10d
**CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL!!**

Today, @afterpoetry.com reveals which poems it will publish throughout 2026.

Picking 17 poets from more than 130 submissions was no easy task – so well done to all who made it through selection.

Are you in? Here's where to find out ...

afterpoetry.com/index/poems/...
All Poems | 2026 | After... Poems inspired by other art
See the full index of ekphrastic poems published by After... in 2026
www.afterpoetry.com
November 18, 2025 at 5:28 PM
johnadlam.bsky.social
#LiftToTheSky
@thebrokenspine.co.uk
Today it must be @thepaulconnolly.bsky.social who lately joined the illustrious ranks of @zoomburst.substack.com 's 'Sixty Odd Poets (and counting!)' substack.com/home/post/p-... and blew us all away at the @blackboughpoetry.bsky.social open mic on Wednesday...👏
November 17, 2025 at 9:26 AM
Reposted by John Adlam 🌈🌍
bethosmond.bsky.social
It’s #worldprematurityday today so I’m sharing my poem from @hogriverpress.bsky.social #poemsabout #poetsonbluesky
Spaced Out Poem from Hog River Press Journal about mothers in the NICU
November 17, 2025 at 7:52 AM
johnadlam.bsky.social
Can't wait to find out how this goes! 🥰
rosannamcglone.bsky.social Rosanna McGlone @rosannamcglone.bsky.social · 14d
Really looking forward to exploring the haibun form tonight with @johnadlam.bsky.social 's poignant Lares and Penates & @maureenthorson.bsky.social 's equally moving Time Traveller's Haibun: 1989. (Sorry for rubbish pic.) #poetry #poetrycommunity #form #haibun
Text of two haibun with overarching shadow of hand holding mobile somewhat spoiling it!
November 11, 2025 at 7:07 PM
johnadlam.bsky.social
@thebrokenspine.co.uk
Today I #LiftToTheSky The Book of Bogs, edited by Anna Chilvers and @clareshawpoet.bsky.social - which I am proud to have helped crowdfund. It's gorgeous & important in equal measure - deep layers of poetry and prose to warm our winters 🙏❤️
www.littletoller.co.uk/shop/books/l...
The Book of Bogs
This new anthology from over forty writers, including Robert Macfarlane, Amy Liptrot, Alys Fowler and Patti Smith explores peatlands and bogs, and argues for their importance.
www.littletoller.co.uk
November 10, 2025 at 10:53 AM
johnadlam.bsky.social
www.justgiving.com/campaign/moh...

Please support this essential work of my comrades at @ourmoh.bsky.social
Our Winter Appeal 2025
We are raising £15,000 in this year's Winter Appeal, can you help? Rough sleeping has risen 91% since 2021 and all forms of homelessness are at record highs in London. We are raising money for essen...
www.justgiving.com
November 5, 2025 at 1:16 PM
Reposted by John Adlam 🌈🌍
atriumpoetry.bsky.social
The Law of Conservation of Mass, according to Marie Antoinette – Victoria Spires @victoriaspires.bsky.social

atriumpoetry.com/2025/11/04/t...
The Law of Conservation of Mass, according to Marie Antoinette – Victoria Spires
The Law of Conservation of Mass, according to Marie Antoinette . . Victoria Spires is published in Berlin Lit & The London Magazine. She has been commended/shortlisted in: Ledbury, TPW Prize, A…
atriumpoetry.com
November 4, 2025 at 8:12 AM
johnadlam.bsky.social
...shrubbery...❤️❤️
throwawayreg.bsky.social roger waldron @throwawayreg.bsky.social · 25d
morning Friday here’s my little “throwaway” poem for #PoemsAbout #Blood and thanks to
@alanparrywriter.co.uk
@thebrokenspine.co.uk
#poets #poetry
and thank you for stopping here and reading 🙋‍♂️
have a great weekend everyone everywhere 🚶🏽‍➡️🚮
October 31, 2025 at 10:13 AM
johnadlam.bsky.social
#WednesdayWIPs
@thebrokenspine.co.uk
@alanparrywriter.co.uk
Spent some time yesterday revising two poems that hadn't quite been working, then open mic with Survivors' Poetry, and now I seem somehow to be headed West:

"Somewhere between Amarillo and Tucumcari / a State Trooper pulls me over..." 🤔🤷
October 29, 2025 at 12:21 PM
Reposted by John Adlam 🌈🌍
victoriaspires.bsky.social
Hey #promptcombo crew 👋🏼

Thanks to @thewombwellrainbow.bsky.social for hosting last week. This week's prompt is #DreamLogic.

Tag me & use the #. Replies will be a little sporadic initially, but I know the community will be out in force, supporting each other as ever ☺️
October 27, 2025 at 7:02 AM
johnadlam.bsky.social
These were truly exceptional readings by @thepaulconnolly.bsky.social yesterday evening 👏👏👏
thepaulconnolly.bsky.social Paul Connolly @thepaulconnolly.bsky.social · 29d
Brilliant @blackboughpoetry.bsky.social open mic last night with featured poet @saraswatinagpal.bsky.social & great MC @matthewmcsmith.bsky.social I'll put my poems & recordings in the thread👇 This one is Branscombe Coast, published by @indigodreamspub.bsky.social in The Dawntreader #poetrycommunity
October 27, 2025 at 10:00 AM
Reposted by John Adlam 🌈🌍
blackboughpoetry.bsky.social
@saraswatinagpal.bsky.social at our #poetry #spokenword #openmic last night!
October 27, 2025 at 8:02 AM
johnadlam.bsky.social
open.spotify.com/track/5MIjLr...
"And when you kissed Robert Mitchum / Gee, but I thought you'd never catch him"
#PoemsAbout #BurnForTheCamera
@thebrokenspine.co.uk
I didn't really click at all with this week's prompt and therefore especially impressed with all that you all have made of it! 🙏❤️🙏
New Age - Full Length Version; 2015 Remaster
open.spotify.com
October 24, 2025 at 2:32 PM
johnadlam.bsky.social
www.ticketsource.co.uk/whats-on/oxf...
www.ticketsource.co.uk
October 23, 2025 at 10:45 PM
johnadlam.bsky.social
Oh dear a very quiet day for #WednesdayWIPs @thebrokenspine.co.uk
I have been kicking around something outdoorsy with trees and that, and getting ready meantime for this evening's webinar from @northseapoets.bsky.social on 'Writing with Bishop' 🥰
October 22, 2025 at 6:33 PM
johnadlam.bsky.social
I wholly forgot #LiftToTheSky last week! I meant to and now do raise up the learned and irrepressible @zoomburst.substack.com, capo of the long-running Sixty Odd Poets, who did a fab gig at the Colony Room, downstairs at Ziggy Green, Saturday before last. A joy to behold! 🙏❤️
@thebrokenspine.co.uk
October 20, 2025 at 12:04 PM
johnadlam.bsky.social
This is *fantastic*, do listen to the recording ❤️
frankhudson.bsky.social Frank Hudson @frankhudson.bsky.social · Oct 17
#PoemsAbout #BreakTheMould I know most folks post new work of their own, but here's a 50-year-old poem written by my late wife Renée Robbins in her youth that I just rediscovered this Fall. Link to my fresh performance of it here: frankhudson.org/2025/10/14/i...
In Another Language By Renée Robbins, circa 1975-77 Crab in snowbank – plastic waves tattered claws – residue of an earlier life I call my own now left by the road. Where could I free you in this land of demarcated fluid and ice? A bathtub lacks salt, but I drift there as if a wind blew another flood to wipe out contracts and families nations and genders a Finno-Ugaric world with one word for both sexes one mind for the self and those I love and ten claws to speed into buoyant lift.
October 17, 2025 at 5:22 PM
johnadlam.bsky.social
This might even be my all-time favourite of yours, Roger...❤️
throwawayreg.bsky.social roger waldron @throwawayreg.bsky.social · Oct 17
afternoon Friday hope you’re well
here’s my little “throwaway” poem
for #PoemsAbout #BreaktheMould
and thanks once again Alan 🙋‍♂️
@alanparrywriter.co.uk
@thebrokenspine.co.uk
#poetsonBlueSky
#WritingCommunity
enjoy your weekend everyone everywhere 🚶🏽‍➡️
October 17, 2025 at 2:08 PM
Reposted by John Adlam 🌈🌍
sueimnw.bsky.social
For this week's #PoemsAbout #BreakTheMould with thanks to host @alanparrywriter.co.uk @thebrokenspine.co.uk and everyone taking part.
October 17, 2025 at 5:56 AM
johnadlam.bsky.social
#PoemsAbout #BreakTheMould
@thebrokenspine.co.uk @karenpgonzalez.bsky.social @alanparrywriter.co.uk
"I reckon I broke the mould": this older poem of mine, first published in @asylummagazine.bsky.social, is right on theme. Also here with brief commentary:🙏 johnadlampoems.substack.com/p/the-death-...
The death of Diogenes Many a dogged mile I’ve marched, and for this? None of you droogs strayed so far from the fold. It’s death and death only: piece of piss, come to think of it, what with (truth be told!) my dodgy knees, and nothing much left in the tank. Something’s amiss, if all that gets me barrelling down the road is crystal meth of a morning. Hellfire and hyperkinesis: my kind of a roll! Now I’m a touch too old for battery, theft – or vagabondage. Still, vis à vis the powers that be, I reckon I broke the mould: never been one for shibboleths or slogans, or shotgun shamings. Lately it’s the abyss which beckons. I’ll lift up my cup at the threshold, leave you bereft in the blink of a fucking instant. You’ll not dis or dismiss me again! I’m paroled: one deft move, I’m dusted and done, and you all can kiss my raggedy arse goodbye. Nothing for it but to hold my breath –
October 17, 2025 at 8:08 AM
johnadlam.bsky.social
#WednesdayWIPs
@thebrokenspine.co.uk
Did an unusual thing y'day, scribbled something on the tube in memoriam Lou Reed, read it right away, in roughly v.2 form, at the Survivor Poetry open mic. Felt like it landed well, now fine tuning. Title was wrong: not 'Me and Lou', natch, but 'Lou and I'...🥰
October 15, 2025 at 12:27 PM