Bill Manhire
@pacificraft.bsky.social
Socially inept but likes to sing in front of strangers. Wow published by THWUP in NZ http://teherengawakapress.co.nz/wow/ & Carcanet https://www.carcanet.co.uk/9781800170049/wow/ in the UK.
Toitū Te Tiriti!
Toitū Te Tiriti!
Pinned
Bill Manhire
@pacificraft.bsky.social
· Nov 28
.
My Final Poem
Someone rides a bicycle through a cemetery,
then in and out of my poem.
Why would anyone do that?
I was expecting a dark horseman,
not a clown on a bicycle.
.
Reposted by Bill Manhire
On 12 February next year, ahead of the 2026 NZ General Election, we will be releasing another book by the prolific Sir Geoffrey Palmer, following his bestselling 2025 title How to Save Democracy in Aotearoa New Zealand.
teherengawakapress.co.nz/products/par...
teherengawakapress.co.nz/products/par...
November 27, 2025 at 4:30 AM
On 12 February next year, ahead of the 2026 NZ General Election, we will be releasing another book by the prolific Sir Geoffrey Palmer, following his bestselling 2025 title How to Save Democracy in Aotearoa New Zealand.
teherengawakapress.co.nz/products/par...
teherengawakapress.co.nz/products/par...
Reposted by Bill Manhire
“The old Irishman taking his pig to market.”
One of several novel banana-based creations found in “Quaint Dessert Dishes”, an article from a 1911 issue of American Homes and Gardens: https://publicdomainreview.org/collection/quaint-desserts/ #thanksgiving
One of several novel banana-based creations found in “Quaint Dessert Dishes”, an article from a 1911 issue of American Homes and Gardens: https://publicdomainreview.org/collection/quaint-desserts/ #thanksgiving
November 26, 2025 at 8:46 PM
“The old Irishman taking his pig to market.”
One of several novel banana-based creations found in “Quaint Dessert Dishes”, an article from a 1911 issue of American Homes and Gardens: https://publicdomainreview.org/collection/quaint-desserts/ #thanksgiving
One of several novel banana-based creations found in “Quaint Dessert Dishes”, an article from a 1911 issue of American Homes and Gardens: https://publicdomainreview.org/collection/quaint-desserts/ #thanksgiving
Reposted by Bill Manhire
A special event tonight, and a special new Poet Laureate nzpoetryshelf.com/2025/11/27/p...
Poetry Shelf celebrates Aotearoa’s new Poet Laureate: Robert Sullivan
This evening, on 27 November, the National Library is celebrating 60 years of the Library with a ‘Laureates line up’ — a rare gathering of nearly all living New Zealand Poets Laureate. …
nzpoetryshelf.com
November 26, 2025 at 7:44 PM
A special event tonight, and a special new Poet Laureate nzpoetryshelf.com/2025/11/27/p...
Reposted by Bill Manhire
A lovely (and funny) anecdote out of Ronald Johnson’s 1976 Vort interview, conducted by Barry Alpert (reprinted in _Ronald Johnson: Life and Works_ (National Poetry Foundation, 2008)). I would love to read a collection of the letters exchanged between Ian Hamilton Finlay and Johnson.
November 26, 2025 at 1:53 PM
A lovely (and funny) anecdote out of Ronald Johnson’s 1976 Vort interview, conducted by Barry Alpert (reprinted in _Ronald Johnson: Life and Works_ (National Poetry Foundation, 2008)). I would love to read a collection of the letters exchanged between Ian Hamilton Finlay and Johnson.
Reposted by Bill Manhire
Read what Carcanet's Managing Director, Michael Schmidt had to say about 'ChatGPT and the modern poet' in a recent article published in BookBrunch:
www.bookbrunch.co.uk/page/free-ar...
www.bookbrunch.co.uk/page/free-ar...
ChatGPT and the modern poet
BookBrunch - The publishing trade's daily news magazine
www.bookbrunch.co.uk
November 26, 2025 at 4:00 PM
Read what Carcanet's Managing Director, Michael Schmidt had to say about 'ChatGPT and the modern poet' in a recent article published in BookBrunch:
www.bookbrunch.co.uk/page/free-ar...
www.bookbrunch.co.uk/page/free-ar...
Reposted by Bill Manhire
Reposted by Bill Manhire
Delighted to announce that fiction writer (and member of award-winning arts collective Mataaho) Terri Te Tau (Ngāti Kahungunu, Rangitāne ki Wairarapa) will be our Te Herenga Waka—VUW / Creative New Zealand Emerging Māori Writer in Residence for 2026! www.wgtn.ac.nz/modernletter...
Terri Te Tau named as 2026 Emerging Māori Writer in Residence | Te Pūtahi Tuhi Auaha o Te Ao / International Institute of Modern Letters | Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington
Fiction writer and artist Terri Te Tau (Ngāti Kahungunu, Rangitāne ki Wairarapa) has been appointed as the Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington International Institute of Modern Letters (...
www.wgtn.ac.nz
November 26, 2025 at 4:28 AM
Delighted to announce that fiction writer (and member of award-winning arts collective Mataaho) Terri Te Tau (Ngāti Kahungunu, Rangitāne ki Wairarapa) will be our Te Herenga Waka—VUW / Creative New Zealand Emerging Māori Writer in Residence for 2026! www.wgtn.ac.nz/modernletter...
Reposted by Bill Manhire
The @scottpolar.bsky.social are looking for a librarian. This is a rare opportunity! Work with (probably) the world's largest dedicated polar library alongside archive and museum colleagues. The dream 😍
📜
📜
Librarian
The Library of the Scott Polar Research Institute is one of the most comprehensive collections of published polar information in the world. This highly specialist reference collection, which attracts
www.cam.ac.uk
November 25, 2025 at 8:45 PM
The @scottpolar.bsky.social are looking for a librarian. This is a rare opportunity! Work with (probably) the world's largest dedicated polar library alongside archive and museum colleagues. The dream 😍
📜
📜
Reposted by Bill Manhire
There is a milk tanker in Southland done up like a cheese roll. For real
November 25, 2025 at 9:39 AM
There is a milk tanker in Southland done up like a cheese roll. For real
Reposted by Bill Manhire
I wish I didn’t have to share this. But the BBC has decided to censor my first Reith Lecture.
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
November 25, 2025 at 9:26 AM
I wish I didn’t have to share this. But the BBC has decided to censor my first Reith Lecture.
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
Reposted by Bill Manhire
Happy Birthday to the legendary Billy Connolly who turns 83 today, and who from a young age realised the importance of #Libraries.
'When I was an unhappy little boy, going to the library changed my life. It may even have saved it.'
Happy Birthday Big Yin. 🎉🎂🌟❤️
'When I was an unhappy little boy, going to the library changed my life. It may even have saved it.'
Happy Birthday Big Yin. 🎉🎂🌟❤️
November 24, 2025 at 1:33 PM
Happy Birthday to the legendary Billy Connolly who turns 83 today, and who from a young age realised the importance of #Libraries.
'When I was an unhappy little boy, going to the library changed my life. It may even have saved it.'
Happy Birthday Big Yin. 🎉🎂🌟❤️
'When I was an unhappy little boy, going to the library changed my life. It may even have saved it.'
Happy Birthday Big Yin. 🎉🎂🌟❤️
Reposted by Bill Manhire
Now for some sports news...
(this week's cartoon for @theguardian.com books pages)
(this week's cartoon for @theguardian.com books pages)
November 24, 2025 at 2:14 PM
Now for some sports news...
(this week's cartoon for @theguardian.com books pages)
(this week's cartoon for @theguardian.com books pages)
Reposted by Bill Manhire
“I’m not a serious thinker. I’m a writer: that’s very different. I think a writer’s intelligence has to be alive, has to be incomplete. It has to carry contradiction. It has to be sort of haphazard and amateur.”
- Benjamín Labatut
- Benjamín Labatut
November 23, 2025 at 10:02 PM
“I’m not a serious thinker. I’m a writer: that’s very different. I think a writer’s intelligence has to be alive, has to be incomplete. It has to carry contradiction. It has to be sort of haphazard and amateur.”
- Benjamín Labatut
- Benjamín Labatut
Reposted by Bill Manhire
Derek Mahon, born on this day in 1941
November 23, 2025 at 9:27 PM
Derek Mahon, born on this day in 1941
Reposted by Bill Manhire
Don McGlashan's 2025 Lilburn Lecture is now available to listen to and view. It was an epic and frequently funny journey through McGlashan's life and impressive music career. Check it out 👇👇
www.rnz.co.nz/concert/prog...
www.rnz.co.nz/concert/prog...
Lilburn Lecture 2025: Bodies of Water - Don McGlashan
In his 2025 Lilburn Lecture, New Zealand music icon Don McGlashan talks about how bodies of water have shaped him as an artist and person.
www.rnz.co.nz
November 23, 2025 at 10:34 PM
Don McGlashan's 2025 Lilburn Lecture is now available to listen to and view. It was an epic and frequently funny journey through McGlashan's life and impressive music career. Check it out 👇👇
www.rnz.co.nz/concert/prog...
www.rnz.co.nz/concert/prog...
Reposted by Bill Manhire
a revelation in St Mary’s Church, Whitby
November 22, 2025 at 8:02 PM
a revelation in St Mary’s Church, Whitby
Reposted by Bill Manhire
Almost a year now since I received this absolutely classic burn from the Canadian government.
November 21, 2025 at 9:10 PM
Almost a year now since I received this absolutely classic burn from the Canadian government.
Reposted by Bill Manhire
Imagine hearing this, 500 or a thousand years ago?
November 21, 2025 at 6:20 PM
Imagine hearing this, 500 or a thousand years ago?
Reposted by Bill Manhire
1/12
Jane Austen breaks her silence in celebrity interview!
A thread in celebration of #JaneAusten250
Questions posed by The Age: answers from Jane Austen (as told to Claire Harman), illustration by Chris Riddell, from cover of the audiobook, Jane's Fame.
Jane Austen breaks her silence in celebrity interview!
A thread in celebration of #JaneAusten250
Questions posed by The Age: answers from Jane Austen (as told to Claire Harman), illustration by Chris Riddell, from cover of the audiobook, Jane's Fame.
November 21, 2025 at 11:32 AM
1/12
Jane Austen breaks her silence in celebrity interview!
A thread in celebration of #JaneAusten250
Questions posed by The Age: answers from Jane Austen (as told to Claire Harman), illustration by Chris Riddell, from cover of the audiobook, Jane's Fame.
Jane Austen breaks her silence in celebrity interview!
A thread in celebration of #JaneAusten250
Questions posed by The Age: answers from Jane Austen (as told to Claire Harman), illustration by Chris Riddell, from cover of the audiobook, Jane's Fame.
Reposted by Bill Manhire
Word of the day is ‘quockerwodger’ (19th century): a puppet politician whose strings are pulled entirely by someone else.
November 21, 2025 at 1:21 PM
Word of the day is ‘quockerwodger’ (19th century): a puppet politician whose strings are pulled entirely by someone else.
Reposted by Bill Manhire
This poem (from Brecht to Margarete Steffin) was featured in @mptmagazine.bsky.social 'The Constellation' in 2014 (translated by David Constantine) as part of a feature about the literary collaboration & relationship between Steffin & Brecht.
November 21, 2025 at 1:22 PM
This poem (from Brecht to Margarete Steffin) was featured in @mptmagazine.bsky.social 'The Constellation' in 2014 (translated by David Constantine) as part of a feature about the literary collaboration & relationship between Steffin & Brecht.
Reposted by Bill Manhire
In which a New Zealander writes about a fire likely still burning. From Collected Poems of Bill Manhire, Carcanet Press, 2001. @carcanet.bsky.social @pacificraft.bsky.social
November 21, 2025 at 1:50 PM
In which a New Zealander writes about a fire likely still burning. From Collected Poems of Bill Manhire, Carcanet Press, 2001. @carcanet.bsky.social @pacificraft.bsky.social