Author | Lightnews

S. Preston Duncan

@sprestonduncan.bsky.social

1.4K followers 3.4K following 1.7K posts

Writer of #poetry and occasionally other things. Author of Blood Alluvium (Parlyaree Press). Leathercrafter. INELDA-trained death doula. Richmond, Virginia. #RVA sprestonduncan.com

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S. Preston Duncan @sprestonduncan.bsky.social · Dec 28

Sometimes I remember I'm supposed to be promoting this thing. I'm proud of it. If you're into incantatory grief poetry, given to the rushed wallowing of modernity, or find yourself searching for the fragile stillness between trauma and music, you might like it.
sprestonduncan.com
#poetrybook

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S. Preston Duncan @sprestonduncan.bsky.social · 3h

Every time I rewatch the series, and it's been... oh, about 10 times now (minus A Year in the Life), I find something else Rory was wrong about.

It's been a steady fall from grace during which nothing different has happened.

S. Preston Duncan @sprestonduncan.bsky.social · 3h

I still haven't read Rand, and am feeling suddenly grateful I didn't get into Gilmore Girls until 8ish years ago.

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S. Preston Duncan @sprestonduncan.bsky.social · 3h

I have tired of theological debates surrounding hypothetical morality. Dwelling in the minutiae, the semantics, the abstract academia of ancient scriptures while the world reaches a cold fever pitch of godless inhumanity is an act of faithlessness: you have failed to find divinity in your fellow man

Reposted by S. Preston Duncan

Jon M. Sweeney @jonmsweeney.bsky.social · 6h

Today, in the cold almost-November soil, we planted a cherry tree and a peach tree. It's about hope.

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S. Preston Duncan @sprestonduncan.bsky.social · 7h

I know the books say to be fruitful and multiply, but if you look at the reality of pregnancy, childbirth, postpartum, etc, it really seems like God is saying something more like, "Carefully consider whether you want to do this. Be absolutely sure."

S. Preston Duncan @sprestonduncan.bsky.social · 12h

A year ago today we landed in Edinburgh. Our first time in Scotland. It was dark outside and the roads around the city were infuriating, but we made it to Kinghorn (a small town on the Firth of Forth) for the night. The soundtrack: Gnoss, Rura, and Siobhan Miller.

A winding hill road leading down to the Firth of Forth in Kinghorn, Scotland

S. Preston Duncan @sprestonduncan.bsky.social · 1d

Seeing the footage from this year's Macnas parade and apparently I went on the one bad year they've ever had.

S. Preston Duncan @sprestonduncan.bsky.social · 1d

States need to stop remitting all funds to the federal government.

Reposted by S. Preston Duncan

Robert Reich @rbreich.bsky.social · 1d

It's not about what this country can or can’t afford. It’s about priorities. [Cartoon by Jesse Duquette]

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S. Preston Duncan @sprestonduncan.bsky.social · 1d

But will the Epstein files fit in the ballroom?

Reposted by S. Preston Duncan

onion person @junlper.beer · 1d

one of the most deeply infuriating aspects of american politics is close to half of americans would love if 20% of the country starved to death

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S. Preston Duncan @sprestonduncan.bsky.social · 1d

I do like pumpkin spice lattes. But I have just made myself a white chocolate latte with pumpkin butter and... I can't even.

S. Preston Duncan @sprestonduncan.bsky.social · 2d

My wife baked a lemon cake for our anniversary and I was attempting to imitate Paul Hollywood (I don't do accents well).

Wife: Thank you, weirdly Scottish Paul.
Me: Yes, Paul Hollyrood at your service.

She didn't laugh. Peak dad joke and no laugh.

Reposted by S. Preston Duncan

Dr. Jack Brown @drjackbrown.bsky.social · 3d

"You that never done nothin'
but build to destroy,
You play with my world,
like it's your little toy."

Bob Dylan

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S. Preston Duncan @sprestonduncan.bsky.social · 2d

It's the anniversary of an absolutely perfect wedding. People say you don't get to enjoy your own wedding. We did.

Fan for life of Tigh Phaidi in Tuar Mhic Éadaigh, Co. Mayo. They made everything easy and beautiful and delicious.

A couple stands in front of the red door of Paddy's Thatch Bar in Tuar Mhic éadaigh, Co. Mayo, Ireland after being wed. She wears a white and green dress. He wears an earth toned Harris Tweed suit. There are plants hanging from red windows.

Sunset on Lough Mask behind Tigh Phaidi in late October, 2024

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S. Preston Duncan @sprestonduncan.bsky.social · 2d

In all sincerity though, the phrase isn't instructional, it's a claim to legitimacy. A way of saying "hey, we're widely distributed and therefore must be worth your time."

S. Preston Duncan @sprestonduncan.bsky.social · 2d

Honestly I don't really trust people know how anything works these days

S. Preston Duncan @sprestonduncan.bsky.social · 2d

This looks exactly like a fake version of my cat.

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S. Preston Duncan @sprestonduncan.bsky.social · 3d

He might have retired. It was owned by his family but he ran it. He has a brain injury and lives some 40 minutes away, so it's a bit of a commute.

I don't know him well and he probably doesn't remember me at all, but he's the kind of person you just don't forget.

youtu.be/MIO8JMdsc5g?...

Celebrating Resilience: Kieran Cullen's Journey from Brain Haemorrhage Survivor to Author

YouTube video by Sligo LEADER Partnership

youtu.be

S. Preston Duncan @sprestonduncan.bsky.social · 3d

If it's a little red fronted shop next to The Bush, that's the one. Not really an outlet, but called one. Just curious. Kieran's a wonderful poet and I hope he's doing well

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Reposted by S. Preston Duncan

Han VanderHart @hanvanderhart.bsky.social · 3d

refuse to hustle, to be hurried, to be rushed, to decide, coerced, to be persuaded against your gut feelings—will be snail, morning slug on window, slow spider, dream sloth covered in moss, pregnant and uncomfortable pause, delay, the biggest and slowest breath in and out. it can all wait, darling.

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S. Preston Duncan @sprestonduncan.bsky.social · 3d

Is Kieran's woollen outlet still there?

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S. Preston Duncan @sprestonduncan.bsky.social · 3d

Example: I would absolutely fight to the death to protect my family. But I cannot imagine a situation in which I wouldn't also feel a deep sense of remorse for having to end a life, regardless of the situation.

The cold, chest pounding, vindictive mantra of justification is not justification at all

S. Preston Duncan @sprestonduncan.bsky.social · 3d

Justification is a low bar, and people who shape their entire worldview around what they can justify are waving bright red flags. More often than not, what they actually have is an excuse, and one they were seeking out in advance. Especially if there's no emotional complexity behind it

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S. Preston Duncan @sprestonduncan.bsky.social · 3d

This is important. If you believe everyone is essentially evil, it's not a matter of goodness prevailing. It's a matter of dominance and self-preservation. All is justified to that end. Morality is a semantic tool to justify predation. Everyone who is Other is Enemy. Anyone can become Other.

S. Preston Duncan @sprestonduncan.bsky.social · 3d

MAGA is the belief that people are essentially and irredeemably evil.

The modern American Democrat believes that evil is necessary and evil people must be accommodated.

Hope this helps.

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