Dougie Herd
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dougieherd.bsky.social
Dougie Herd
@dougieherd.bsky.social
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dougieherd.bsky.social
'The Ruins Of Time'. Another poem from Something That Comes Close, my first collection. A tad melancholic, I suppose. Because sometimes we are. Read it on Substack dougieherd.substack.com/p/the-ruins-... or my blog www.dougieherd.com/post/the-rui... You can buy the whole book online.
Two Currawong feathers, one large and one small, side by side. And a small, speckled eggshell with its top shorn off.
October 7, 2025 at 11:52 PM
dougieherd.bsky.social
Artists talking about art ... as artists do. Spike Deane
in conversation with Jeff Koons. Follow Spike on Substack for more glassy news. August in the Glass studio open.substack.com/pub/spikeabe...
August in the Glass studio
Jeff Koons pays a visit
open.substack.com
September 6, 2025 at 7:26 AM
dougieherd.bsky.social
An old man stares into wormholes
The Einstein-Rosen Bridge we all possess (if we choose to use it): if we want a better future, we must not repeat mistakes from the past. Lessons from old witch hunts. On Substack dougieherd.substack.com/p/an-old-man... or Blog www.dougieherd.com/post/an-old-...
Image representing the theoretical possibility to precisely manipulate a two-dimensional shape into something wholly new structure with changed basic characteristics. A piece of softly lit tissue paper folded in an origami fashion appears simultaneously as the back of an envelope, a folded restaurant napkin and a lotus flower bloom with a golden light at its centre.
September 4, 2025 at 7:59 AM
dougieherd.bsky.social
A writer's life. Here's my latest rabbit hole: it leads to the Devil, witches flying on sieves, judicial killing of thousands of innocent women and the point of origin of ... "you can kiss my arse." Who knew? Read here open.substack.com/pub/dougiehe... or here www.dougieherd.com/post/the-dev...
Black and white woodcut print. The Devil stands in profile with his bare bottom exposed to a group of Satanic worshippers. All but one are women. The Devil has a goat's head, the naked body of a man, small gryphon wings on his back, and the tale of a rat. A woman kneels behind the Devil preparing to kiss his arse.
August 14, 2025 at 6:13 AM
dougieherd.bsky.social
I sent my first book to #ScottishPoetryLibrary. Asked their internal panel that reviews self-published poetry to consider adding mine to its catalogue. I learned today they did. I'm chuffed. Thank you. Read a poem on dougieherd.substack.com/publish/home... or blog www.dougieherd.com/post/who-s-he
Dougie's poetry book -- blue texture cover -- on a flower bed of marigolds in a friend's garden
July 30, 2025 at 9:38 AM
dougieherd.bsky.social
Blog post: Spike Deane's glass art goddess Aine meets the ruler of our universe. www.dougieherd.com/post/peacefu...
Peaceful Co-existence
Spike Deane's glass art goddess Aine meets the ruler of our universe
www.dougieherd.com
July 12, 2025 at 5:11 AM
dougieherd.bsky.social
The latest stunning work from renowned glass artist Spike Deane? No ... the perfect circle of ice from the garden 'bird bath' in sunny Canberra. -4° overnight and still frozen at half past eleven Saturday morning. Tropical Downunder.
A six inch diameter circle of ice held aloft in Spike Deane's hands. The rust colour pin oak leaves are trapped in the ice
June 21, 2025 at 2:17 AM
dougieherd.bsky.social
Last of my poems, for a while, from Something That Comes Close, my debut collection. 'An Inconvenient Roundabout'. This one is a bit longer than others. But not too long. I was 17 at the time (which was not yesterday). Sometimes, though, it feels like yesterday.
www.dougieherd.com/post/an-inco...
Two Currawong feathers -- one large, one small -- side by side. At the mid-point of each feather, where black meets white, a small speckled egg shell rests. The top of the egg has been broken off and is nowhere to be seen.
June 19, 2025 at 1:13 AM
dougieherd.bsky.social
We do not need these little boys toys of war. They are not about defence. They are first-strike tools that take us back to the fallacy of Mutually Assured Destruction. That's not a moral defence posture. #NoNukes #NotNowNotEver #auspol www.theguardian.com/world/2025/j...
Aukus will cost Australia $368bn. What if there was a better, cheaper defence strategy?
As questions swirl around the nuclear submarine deal, some strategists are pushing for an alternative, ‘echidna’ policy that focuses less on offensive capability
www.theguardian.com
June 15, 2025 at 12:15 AM
dougieherd.bsky.social
Couldn't happen to two more un-deserving little rich kid frat boys. Like Animal House but without the jokes. Once upon a time this was the most powerful nation on Earth (often not in a good way). Let's hope decent Americans get their country back soon. www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Musk calls for Trump to be impeached as extraordinary feud escalates
Former adviser taunts president over links to Epstein while Trump threatens to cancel contracts for Musk companies
www.theguardian.com
June 5, 2025 at 11:46 PM
dougieherd.bsky.social
Read one of my poems. From 'Part Five: WAVING' of #SomethingThatComesClose, my debut published collection. Available to buy in paperback from Amazon Books, and as an eBook on Kindle, Kobo or Booktopia. www.dougieherd.com/post/can-you...
Five reddish brown chickens with bright yellow feet and beaks, some pecking at the ground. The belt of Orion is visible in the early morning sky behind them.
May 29, 2025 at 3:53 AM
dougieherd.bsky.social
Read 'Existentialism For Beginners' -- a short poem from 'Part Four: FOOLISH THINGS' of my first book #SomethingThatComesClose. www.dougieherd.com/post/existen...
Existentialism For Beginners
A poem from my first book, Something That Comes Close. Illustration by Spike Deane.
www.dougieherd.com
May 15, 2025 at 2:48 AM
dougieherd.bsky.social
Read 'Capercaillie' -- a short poem from Part Three: ENCOUNTERS of my book #SomethingThatComesClose. Illustrations by Spike. On my blog here dougieherd.com/post/caperca...
Drawing of a Capercaillie, a large Grouse-like bird native to Scotland. Predominantly black feathers but with vibrant colours in some places (as described in the poem).
May 2, 2025 at 12:07 AM
dougieherd.bsky.social
Read 'Have You Not Heard?' -- a short poem from Part Two: PLACE of my book #SomethingThatComesClose. On my blog here: www.dougieherd.com/post/have-yo...
Have You Not Heard?
A poem from my first book, Something That Comes Close. Illustration by Spike.
www.dougieherd.com
April 17, 2025 at 3:33 AM
dougieherd.bsky.social
This is a good idea which I've supported. #BondiToBronte #Rollercoaster #Accessible Sign the petition. chng.it/RTYmjWtzYz
Sign the Petition
Make the Bondi to Bronte Coastal Walk Accessible to All
chng.it
April 7, 2025 at 2:56 AM
dougieherd.bsky.social
Read 'Skating With Angels' -- a short poem from PULSE (part one of my book #SomethingThatComesClose). On my blog here: www.dougieherd.com/post/skating...
Skating With Angels
A poem by Dougie Herd from his first book, Something That Comes Close.
www.dougieherd.com
April 2, 2025 at 10:15 PM
dougieherd.bsky.social
So, this greeted me today. My friend Trevor (Artistic Co-Director of Bright Umbrella Theatre Co, Belfast) received my book then sent back this message: Trevor reading the title poem of the book, #SomethingThatComesClose (On Amazon & Kobo). I am as happy as the proverbial ...
March 29, 2025 at 4:11 AM
dougieherd.bsky.social
The idea being put about by nervous politicians looking for votes that a reformed, well-designed, rights-based #NDIS somehow imperils Australia's national security & defence capability is #StupidityOnAStick #auspol
Diamond shaped, yellow traffic warning sign with the words "STUPIDITY AHEAD" atop a pole with a somewhat cloudy deep blue sky in the background.
March 26, 2025 at 10:56 PM
dougieherd.bsky.social
No Nukes. Not Now. Not Ever. ☮ #auspol www.theguardian.com/news/ng-inte...
Based on the 2025 budget, what could Australia buy for $46bn instead of one nuclear submarine?
Boosting nurses wages, increasing school funding or more tax cuts – here’s what a different fiscal approach could look like
www.theguardian.com
March 25, 2025 at 9:36 PM
dougieherd.bsky.social
Apparently POTUS hates it which makes it the Mona Lisa of bad karma as far as I'm concerned. www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
‘Insecure baby’: Trump draws ridicule after throwing fit over Colorado capitol portrait
Even some Republicans have called president’s public demand to remove the painting ‘petty’
www.theguardian.com
March 24, 2025 at 10:40 PM
dougieherd.bsky.social
There are sports club mascots ... then there is Kingsley, Partick Thistle Football Club mascot. Hanging children upside down for 10 years now. PTFC. Is it any wonder we're the way we are?
@partickthistle.bsky.social
March 24, 2025 at 1:40 AM
dougieherd.bsky.social
First-time author Irrationally happy realising his poetry book will enter catalogue of National Library of Australia (forever). Available to buy on Amazon or Kobo. If you have it, thank you. If you like it please rate/review it to keep our book in sight of Amazon algorithm!! #SomethingThatComesClose
Dougie, in wheelchair, in front of a hedge behind which the National Library of Australia building sits in the mid-distance against a blue sky with light clouds. Paperback book cover (Blue with words Something That Comes Close: Poems by Dougie Herd) rests on top of a yellow A4 form showing words National Library of Australis -- Legal deposit slip)
March 21, 2025 at 2:13 AM
dougieherd.bsky.social
Excellent article. We are everyone and everywhere and always have been. The world is slowly catching up with that fact. www.abc.net.au/news/2025-03...
The actors with disability pushing back on exclusion from theatre
In the media and the arts, representation of people with disability has progressed, but, as actor Hannah Diviney explains, there's still a long way to go. She meets some of the actors pushing represen...
www.abc.net.au
March 21, 2025 at 12:59 AM
dougieherd.bsky.social
In the week since I published my first poetry book people have been posting photos after it arrives in the mail. Thank you. Here's 4 (2 in Aus, 2 in UK). To buy eBook or paperback go to #Amazon or #Kobo. #SomethingThatComesClose #Poetry
Blue, textured front cover of 'Something That Comes Close Poems by Dougie Herd'; my first published book photographed against someone's red tablecloth. Blue, textured front cover of 'Something That Comes Close Poems by Dougie Herd'; my first published book photographed one someone's desk in an office. Blue, textured front cover of 'Something That Comes Close Poems by Dougie Herd'; my first published book photographed on someone's square, latticed coffee table in a house. Blue, textured front cover of 'Something That Comes Close Poems by Dougie Herd'; my first published book photographed held in someone' left hand against an orange background.
March 17, 2025 at 10:29 PM
dougieherd.bsky.social
Trip to the shops on a warm Sunday morning. Essential stop for one fig and one boysenberry pastry plus iced coffee (the artist) and spicey chai latte (the writer) at the local French bakery. It really does have a French baker. Fab-ee (In any language).
Dougie - straw hat on head, white beard outrageously large - rolls down the tree-lined bicycle path in his wheelchair. Short grass on either side of large concrete pavers. Pine tree branches border the photo on either side. A large gum grows next to the high green fence of a suburban house further back up the slope. Spike -- in a red summer frock from Tree of Life -- sits at a small, latticed wooden table outside L"epi French bakery. Spike raises slightly (for the camera) her fresh fig pastry. Dougie's boysenberry pastry sits on a plate on the table closer to the camera.
March 16, 2025 at 7:02 AM