Andy Williamson
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andywilliamson.com
Andy Williamson
@andywilliamson.com
2.5K followers 2.4K following 1.1K posts
Writer, poet, creative thinker & architect for democracy / Sgrìobhadair, bàrd, neach-smaoineachaidh cruthachail agus ailtire airson deamocrasaidh | Aotearoa & Isle of Skye | urbanbadgercollective.com http://andywilliamson.com
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andywilliamson.com
A wee poem about what the land remembers (and we too often forget to hear) for #PromptCombo #subtext. Thanks @victoriaspires.bsky.social for a tricky prompt and apologies for not being brave enough to tackle the terza rima! #poems #poetry #writingcommunity #decolonisation
Knowing what does the land know that it dares not speak aloud there are names here those who come late cannot understand they tell stories of the past and of gods of mountains and seas listen there are whispers deep in the lochs
January 19, 2026 at 12:00 PM
andywilliamson.com
Here's a little offering for #PoemsAbout #Timeslips. Thanks @alanparrywriter.co.uk / @thebrokenspine.co.uk and of course all the contributors; bit busy with work today so will dip in to read others! #poems #poetry #writingcommunity
If only I met you once an early summer day when our mutual friend extinguished the lightning spark many years later I don’t remember your name and yet regret lingers
January 16, 2026 at 10:56 AM
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A bit of a change from my usual for this week's #promptcombo #TakingItUpStairs, but it felt timely. Thanks to Ben Okri and George Orwell for the ideas and, of course, Paul @thewombwellrainbow.bsky.social for the great prompt! #poems #poetry #PoetsAreDangerous
Poets are dangerous dangerous when they tell the truth dangerous when they tell us lies we shoot the poets to keep you safe do not believe what your eyes can see what your ears tell you is not true we alone make the truth take it upstairs if you want the real answer there is no place for those who question we started with the poets soon we will come for you
January 12, 2026 at 9:21 AM
andywilliamson.com
Here's something I wrote earlier for #poemsabout #static. Happy new year everyone and thanks as always to @alanparrywriter.co.uk @thebrokenspine.co.uk for the great prompt! #poems #poetry
Static my father did his best adrift with two small boys the photographs her wedding dress in the wardrobe jewellery still in the drawer her presence everywhere yet nowhere dissolving did he open that box to wonder what might have been they had known each other since they were children static replaces her fading signal
January 9, 2026 at 9:19 AM
andywilliamson.com
There's been a fair bit of snow this week...
Snow covered road in Sleat, Isle of Skye
January 7, 2026 at 9:51 AM
andywilliamson.com
Thanks @dragonslayerma.bsky.social for the first #promptcombo of the year - #nightfall is a great choice. Bit slow getting up to working speed today but here's a quick poem to wish everyone a happy new year #poetry #poems
The wolf moon in the crisp of winter’s night ice-cracked star-studded I took my chances on a girl beyond my means walked you home down lanes and alleys through seasons across continents again the wolf moon rises nightfall returns and you you are gone
January 5, 2026 at 3:37 PM
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Wishing you all a very merry Christmas and a peaceful, safe and fun new year! Here's a picture of the Christmas Day fire, lit with last year's tree...
Wood stove burning, lit with last year's Christmas tree
December 25, 2025 at 12:52 PM
andywilliamson.com
Sunrise, Christmas Eve (9.15am)… looking across the Sound of Sleat towards Mallaig
Sun rising across the Sound of Sleat on Christmas Eve
December 24, 2025 at 9:16 AM
andywilliamson.com
Thought I'd share a poem, written earlier this year for an academic project on #censorship of thought and ideas. Seems a timely subject for this #redacted age #poems #poetry
In the beginning there was [REDACTED] “you’ve got a week” his client told him
 “I want light and firmament”
 surely, he meant filament
 God created light the client wanted dry land
 and land that’s not so dry
 God called this “the sea”
 making plants for the dry parts he added animals because they were fun “no dinosaurs” the client was adamant but he wanted people against his judgement God made them he did this last of all knowing from experience things could go awry what he forgot to do what the client didn’t ask for what would have saved the day was [REDACTED]
December 20, 2025 at 12:47 PM
andywilliamson.com
A quick write for #poemsabout #money: greed destroyed our communities in the first clearances, now the same greed takes our houses for trophies and holiday homes! Thanks @alanparrywriter.co.uk @thebrokenspine.co.uk. Off to the school church service and will check in with others later! #poems #poetry
# Oidhche nan seachd suipearan days are short now at the sun-stop of winter celebrate the night of seven suppers the shiellings are empty shells dark houses wait for summer this island a memory a postcard
December 19, 2025 at 9:29 AM
andywilliamson.com
Thanks @hool415.bsky.social for this week's #promptcombo; #dilemmas/decisions has ironically had me choosing between two poems! I chose this wee one as it's appropriate for the season! #poems #poetry
Midwinter you are travelling south leaving me to morning's dark and the night that falls too soon the days grow cold so far away will you turn north again
December 16, 2025 at 9:53 AM
andywilliamson.com
I managed a quick #fridaypoem for this week's #poemsabout #youshouldnthave prompt between meetings! Thanks @alanparrywriter.co.uk & @thebrokenspine.co.uk for yet another challenging prompt!

#poetrycommunity #poems #poets #christmas #poetsofbluesky
Christmas with your mother the tree has tinsel the lights are up the air is thick with broken promises a book, I say thanks, I say a look, you see both wary tip-toeing around the turkey (another dry old bird) heading for the wine (the only way to cope) the day will soon be over (relief as we drive away)
December 12, 2025 at 12:05 PM
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Well, I really struggled with this weeks #poemsabout prompt, #imps. Nice one @alanparrywriter.co.uk @thebrokenspine.co.uk for that, really had me working hard. Well done everyone who managed something, I think I might have gone a bit off piste, as it were 😂 #poems #poetry
Hillman Imp When I was young, a mate bought a car with the engine at the back. To drive it straight, you put a bag of potatoes, or a paving slab, in the boot. Which, of course, was at the front. It leaked water, let in the rain. Always overheated, despite the water cooling.
December 5, 2025 at 11:35 AM
andywilliamson.com
Here's a poem from my new collection. I think it works for @victoriaspires.bsky.social excellent #promptcombo #ThisPoem

The original is waiting here, in case you'd like a copy 😀 www.lulu.com/shop/andrew-... (you'll also find it on Amazon)
After we have said goodbye I look across as sunshine lights your face already beautiful I am drawn to who you are drawn to your smile I am enveloped by your words something in your eyes registers connects suggests a possibility and yet, yet you are unreachable a memory where love is left to find its own course waiting patiently in the words of a poem on a page in a book that you will open after we have said goodbye
December 1, 2025 at 10:29 AM
andywilliamson.com
Delighted to see the Maturity Framework for AI in Parliaments launch at the AI in Parliaments event in Malaysia, something I've been working on for the last six months! In English here (French and Spanish to follow soon): www.ipu.org/resources/pu...
Cover image of the IPU Maturity Framework for AI in Parliaments
November 29, 2025 at 4:08 PM
andywilliamson.com
Here's my second poem written for #poemsabout #nofuture, thanks @alanparrywriter.co.uk @thebrokenspine.co.uk for the prompt, a bit of a tricky one for me! #poems #poetry
Embankment we follow a strip of darkness where the river hides in a city of light not speaking all has been said past crowds of strangers towards the station you will go west me, east different lines, shadows passing in the tunnel no starlight or fireworks no futures planned the briefest hug then goodbye
November 28, 2025 at 10:16 AM
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A tricky @poemsabout this week, but in the end I wrote two poems for #nofuture. Here's the first, a wee bit tongue-in-cheek, perhaps! Thanks @alanparrywriter.co.uk @thebrokenspine.co.uk #poems #poetry
The poet night after night in dim shadows words form from nothing edit, submit reject
November 28, 2025 at 10:13 AM
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The BigDog says it feels like a Monday... #podenco #sighthound
A podenco dozing on a cushion
November 24, 2025 at 11:56 AM
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Deadlines, deadlines... urgh! Not much time this morning but can't resist this little poem (based on last week's snow!) for #promptcombo #OnRoofs! Thanks @thewombwellrainbow.bsky.social for the lovely prompt!
Snowstorm outside all is white and light and glistening thunder overhead as the snow breaks free taking the gutters with it
November 24, 2025 at 11:23 AM
andywilliamson.com
Maybe a bit off-script for #poemsabout #dogtags but it's what emerged - a quick poem on names and seasons of a relationship. Thanks @alanparrywriter.co.uk & @thebrokenspine.co.uk #poems #poetry
Call me by any name spring sunshine graces your smile birds sing in praise of all the saints as we amble through the market holding hands you call me by any name that means love summer heat warms to our conversation young birds fledge, their nests left behind we run for the bus, not fast enough to catch it you call me by names only we can know autumn comes early, rains close around us the birds will leave for warmer lands as smoke from cosy hearths fills the air you call me in a hushed voice winter is hard, a northerly wind brings snow those who are left search for shelter you are wrapped up against the elements you call me to say goodbye
November 21, 2025 at 9:01 AM
andywilliamson.com
How's the weather where you are? Beautiful, crisp and cold. Plenty of snow (photo is the view from my study window taken just now)
Snow on the mountains of Knoydart seem from Sleat, Isle of Skye
November 20, 2025 at 3:07 PM
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Thanks to @dragonslayerma.bsky.social for the wonderful #promptcombo #northstar. I've taken this to where stars are less certain: Matariki (Pleiades) rise in Aotearoa's mid-winter marking the New Year. Stars in the southern skies aren't fixed like in the north. Think decolonisation of knowledge!
Waiting for Matariki follow your north star to be with me and our lives will change forever but your promises are built on stars I cannot see in southern light here we navigate by clouds and birds alone our skies never static can we learn to wait for Matariki hoping then our planets might align
November 17, 2025 at 11:31 AM
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An lovely afternoon stroll, still ice on the lochan as the sun goes down #lochandubha #isleofskye
Wintery sunset over the lochan Sunset over the moors Cuillin beyond the moor
November 16, 2025 at 5:24 PM
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Cold and crisp morning, lovely day to be out with BigDog #scotland #isleofskye #podenco
Podenco looking into the distance Sheep field view across the Sound of Sleat
November 15, 2025 at 9:48 AM
andywilliamson.com
This old poem always makes me smile. Any excuse to share it again so here's a second poem for this week's #poemsabout #desire #poetry #poems. Thanks @alanparrywriter.co.uk & @thebrokenspine.co.uk
Washing machine soak and a rinse getting everything ready chemicals surging through corroded pipes relaxing the load relieving the tension faster and faster with power and rhythm sheet pressed against sheet centrifugal force tearing them apart their world shudders draining to a whisper until the door opens cycle over
November 14, 2025 at 3:55 PM