Benjamin Charles Reed
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Benjamin Charles Reed
@b-c-reed.bsky.social
94 followers 54 following 240 posts
Poetry from the musings of a Deaf writer.
Original poems. ✍🏻️
Early Thirties
From England, In Scotland

Instagram: @deaf.poet
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b-c-reed.bsky.social
Repost for the evening crowd

#Poetry #PoetsOnBluesky #Poems #WritingCommunity
December 7, 2025 at 6:15 PM
b-c-reed.bsky.social
A new short poem from myself.

'Apricity'

#Poetry #WritingCommunity #PoetsOnBluesky #Poem
Slow morning light revealed beauty, where winter had frozen the dew to allow it to stay a while… to see the sky shift to arctic blue from its obsidian darkness. Still grass brushed with velvet frost, rooftop icicles soon to be gone. Hoarfrost coated on boughs and leaves melted under the red robin’s song greeting the amber apricity.
December 7, 2025 at 8:17 AM
b-c-reed.bsky.social
Resharing my latest poem about deafness!

#Poetry #Poems #PoetsOnBluesky #WritingCommunity
b-c-reed.bsky.social Benjamin Charles Reed @b-c-reed.bsky.social · 28d
It's been a minute, so here's a new poem.

Silence in the Cabin.

#PoetsOnBluesky #Poem #Poems #WritingCommunity #Deafness
They tell me they’re jealous of my hearing aids, ‘cause with a switch I can sink into nothing. Told it’s a luxury, that I’m lucky, but they just want to drown out some things. Some things that drive them mad. But if I bask in this “God given silence”, I miss the call of some beautiful things. The patter of rain and slapping flutter of the slick ink blackbird wings heading to shelter in shedding trees. The trickling of a stream as the snow melts and the crunching of it under my boot. The crackling of the fire as I tire and awaken to the early owl hoot to start the day with bubbling water turned black. The whistle sneaking through the cabin door as clouds crumble together to form their storm. Above, piling snow makes the creaking grow, I sit in the last moments, warm… and then finally, nothing.
November 20, 2025 at 8:18 PM
b-c-reed.bsky.social
It's been a minute, so here's a new poem.

Silence in the Cabin.

#PoetsOnBluesky #Poem #Poems #WritingCommunity #Deafness
They tell me they’re jealous of my hearing aids, ‘cause with a switch I can sink into nothing. Told it’s a luxury, that I’m lucky, but they just want to drown out some things. Some things that drive them mad. But if I bask in this “God given silence”, I miss the call of some beautiful things. The patter of rain and slapping flutter of the slick ink blackbird wings heading to shelter in shedding trees. The trickling of a stream as the snow melts and the crunching of it under my boot. The crackling of the fire as I tire and awaken to the early owl hoot to start the day with bubbling water turned black. The whistle sneaking through the cabin door as clouds crumble together to form their storm. Above, piling snow makes the creaking grow, I sit in the last moments, warm… and then finally, nothing.
November 18, 2025 at 2:15 PM
b-c-reed.bsky.social
My plans to publish a poetry collection will now take place next year. It's pretty much done 👀

I'll spend the time in between building and growing my online presence finally... I don't like the sound of it but... Sometimes a community is nice

#Poetry #PoetsOnBluesky #WritingCommunity
October 22, 2025 at 11:53 AM
b-c-reed.bsky.social
Adding poems. Formatting. Chapbook collection is finally getting further.

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Blurred image of a Word document showing fragments of poems being formatted.
October 13, 2025 at 6:08 AM
b-c-reed.bsky.social
I post my poems on Instagram, so if you're an Instagram user, here's my latest; 'SmoKther'.

www.instagram.com/p/DOIUW8UCA0...

#Poetry #Poems #PoetsOnBluesky #WritingCommunity
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October 9, 2025 at 6:53 AM
b-c-reed.bsky.social
Resharing a thread on making social media poetry accessible.

#Poetry #Poems #PoetsOnBluesky #WritingCommunity
b-c-reed.bsky.social Benjamin Charles Reed @b-c-reed.bsky.social · Dec 1
Hello!

I'm a deaf writer / poet who wears hearing aids, and have a background in accessibility.

Thought I'd utilise that here by creating a short thread on ways you can make your poetry accessible to those with disabilities.



#PoetryCommunity #WritingCommunity #Poems #PoetsOnBluesky
October 4, 2025 at 8:02 AM
b-c-reed.bsky.social
A short one from me, walking through the rain.

I'm too busy masking my stress and emotions
that Morning decided to paint my mood
with rain-dipped brushes on crinkled slabs

#Poetry #PoetsOnBluesky #WritingCommunity
Wet city slabs reflect passing buses and a grey sky.
October 1, 2025 at 6:20 AM
b-c-reed.bsky.social
I forgot that Simon Armitage's new collection is out soon and due to be delivered. Next week is going to be exciting!

#PoetsOnBluesky #WritingCommunity #Poetry
September 20, 2025 at 7:18 AM
b-c-reed.bsky.social
Resharing a recent poem!

#Poetry #WritingCommunity #Poems #PoetsOnBluesky
b-c-reed.bsky.social Benjamin Charles Reed @b-c-reed.bsky.social · Sep 3
Took a break from working on my book to finish up a poem draft I'd left on the side.

SmoKther (smo-kfur)

#Poetry #PoetryCommunity #PoetsOnBluesky #WritingCommunity #Poem
I recall your motherly words obscured by a weighted white veil, croaking with nicotine shackles as you lighted the next coffin nail. Your bedroom’s creamy embossed walls painted in a smoke brushed tar coat. Ash grey ribbons wisping through sun and clinging and stinging my throat. I watched as you anxiously gnawed rough flesh of your smoke hungry cheek, picked at your fraying cuticles, then tried the patch for two more weeks. But now you make silver clouds outside, cream wallpaper untouched by tar, the weighted white veil blown away and dissipates into fresh air revealing your timid frame that magnifies the gnawing, picking. You still effortlessly roll the next to take part in more smoke sipping.
September 16, 2025 at 12:09 PM
b-c-reed.bsky.social
Just drove in an autumnal rustic sunrise, raindrops covering the window faster than wipers could erase, falling leaves surfing the mist from tyres.
September 10, 2025 at 6:55 AM
b-c-reed.bsky.social
Oh cool, bookmarking here is going to be really nifty!

#WritingCommunity
September 9, 2025 at 4:50 PM
b-c-reed.bsky.social
For the evening crowd

#PoetsOnBluesky #WritingCommunity #Poetry #Writing
b-c-reed.bsky.social Benjamin Charles Reed @b-c-reed.bsky.social · Sep 3
Took a break from working on my book to finish up a poem draft I'd left on the side.

SmoKther (smo-kfur)

#Poetry #PoetryCommunity #PoetsOnBluesky #WritingCommunity #Poem
I recall your motherly words obscured by a weighted white veil, croaking with nicotine shackles as you lighted the next coffin nail. Your bedroom’s creamy embossed walls painted in a smoke brushed tar coat. Ash grey ribbons wisping through sun and clinging and stinging my throat. I watched as you anxiously gnawed rough flesh of your smoke hungry cheek, picked at your fraying cuticles, then tried the patch for two more weeks. But now you make silver clouds outside, cream wallpaper untouched by tar, the weighted white veil blown away and dissipates into fresh air revealing your timid frame that magnifies the gnawing, picking. You still effortlessly roll the next to take part in more smoke sipping.
September 3, 2025 at 7:13 PM
b-c-reed.bsky.social
Took a break from working on my book to finish up a poem draft I'd left on the side.

SmoKther (smo-kfur)

#Poetry #PoetryCommunity #PoetsOnBluesky #WritingCommunity #Poem
I recall your motherly words obscured by a weighted white veil, croaking with nicotine shackles as you lighted the next coffin nail. Your bedroom’s creamy embossed walls painted in a smoke brushed tar coat. Ash grey ribbons wisping through sun and clinging and stinging my throat. I watched as you anxiously gnawed rough flesh of your smoke hungry cheek, picked at your fraying cuticles, then tried the patch for two more weeks. But now you make silver clouds outside, cream wallpaper untouched by tar, the weighted white veil blown away and dissipates into fresh air revealing your timid frame that magnifies the gnawing, picking. You still effortlessly roll the next to take part in more smoke sipping.
September 3, 2025 at 12:02 PM
b-c-reed.bsky.social
Working on a poem

#PoetsOnBluesky #WritingCommunity #Poetry
A blurred poem with this text readable. Your bedroom's creamy embossed walls painted in a smoke brushed tar coat, ash grey ribbons wisping through sun and clinging and stinging my throat. I watched as you anxiously gnawed rough flesh of your smoke hungry cheek,
September 2, 2025 at 11:56 AM
b-c-reed.bsky.social
Autumn's nearing...heck yeah.

#PoetsOnBluesky #WritingCommunity #Poetry
September 1, 2025 at 7:21 PM
b-c-reed.bsky.social
I've been playing 'Tiny Bookshop' and it's adorable.

I'll be waking and writing poetry in the morning, and thinking of that game while doing so. 😭

#WritingCommunity #PoetsOnBluesky
September 1, 2025 at 7:19 PM
b-c-reed.bsky.social
The fun part of reviewing edits to your poems is while the rest of a poem works, a one line edit suggestion has the power to reshape the poem's entire structure.

I say this as someone who just changed the entire structure of one piece...and feel better for it

#WritingCommunity #PoetsOnBluesky
August 28, 2025 at 6:14 AM
b-c-reed.bsky.social
Excited to pick up 'The Quiet Ear' by Raymond Antrobus.

I first stumbled on his 'The Perseverance' not knowing who he was, but seeing deafness referenced. I took it immediately to the till. As someone born with deafness, I can't wait to dive into his new book.

#WritingCommunity #PoetsOnBluesky
August 26, 2025 at 5:40 AM
b-c-reed.bsky.social
Went to work on my poetry book before work. Somehow ended up researching chronograph watches the entire time.

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August 26, 2025 at 5:26 AM
b-c-reed.bsky.social
Forever trying to stop feeling "bad" for not creating social media poems.

But Scotland is getting quite autumny, and I feel my creativity emerging amongst chilly weather. Words are flowing to pages and no longer sticking to my sweat riddled, pollen-coated brain.

#PoetsOnBluesky #WritingCommunity
August 24, 2025 at 8:02 AM
b-c-reed.bsky.social
Had one of those drives home where I thought of the stanza that helps the rest of the poem.

Spent the drive back repeating it over and over, pulled in and made an instant note.

#WritingCommunity #PoetsOnBluesky #Poetry
August 22, 2025 at 4:40 PM
b-c-reed.bsky.social
Train bound. Unwind time.
Train window with a passing view of a misty covered Lake District hills.
August 8, 2025 at 11:31 AM
b-c-reed.bsky.social
Slowly getting through edits. Been busy with life and work that I've been unable to really dedicate time to the edit process. On the side I've also been drafting random non-book poems, but failing to find the motivation to finish them. Exhaustion rules. 😂

But slowly and surely.

#WritingCommunity
Black and white photo of a blurred screen showing two word docs side by side. One with edits.
August 3, 2025 at 10:42 AM