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Laura McKee

@lauramckee.bsky.social

1.3K followers 940 following 970 posts

She/her poetry: The Poetry Review, fourteen poems, Propel. A winner in Cafe Writers Competition, Guernsey Lit. Shortlisted in Bridport, Rialto Nature & Place. Pamphlet take care of your hooves darling Against the Grain Press. Wild flowers and photography.

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Laura McKee @lauramckee.bsky.social · 5h

'Half my mind is still in Gaza': Evacuated teacher begins studies in UK www.bbc.com/news/article...

'Half my mind is still in Gaza': Evacuated teacher begins studies in UK

Sanaa el-Azab is one of 58 people who have been evacuated from Gaza to study at universities in the UK on scholarships.

www.bbc.com

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Cian McCarthy @arealmofwonder.bsky.social · 16h

Escape into...

'The Wild Swans at Coole'
by William Butler Yeats

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Laura McKee @lauramckee.bsky.social · 23h

Ha, yes I am totes vengeful.

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chloelewis.bsky.social @chloelewis.bsky.social · 2d

Having worked on a few abuse cases, one pattern is an abuser will try to create a situation where the rules are whatever they say the rules are, + try to make the person or people they're abusing so confused they no longer know what is + isn't real. A useful lens for politics perhaps?

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Laura McKee @lauramckee.bsky.social · 1d

Me after my Rialto poetry rejection.

(She's got, she's got a way)
(She's got a way, she's got a way)
(She got, she got a way)
(She got away, she got away, hey, hey)
She's got, she's got a way She's got a way, she's got a way, hey, hey
And she got, she got away She got away, she got away, hey, hey

Laura McKee @lauramckee.bsky.social · 2d

Walking on acorns. 🐿️💚🤎

Laura McKee @lauramckee.bsky.social · 2d

littlevillagehq.org/donate-stuff...

Urgent winter clothing appeal for baby banks www.bbc.com/news/article...

London baby banks appeal for urgent donations ahead of winter

Baby banks in London say supplies are running low due to more families facing increased financial pressures.

www.bbc.com

Laura McKee @lauramckee.bsky.social · 2d

Well let's face it Starmer has believed that everything has been "a matter for the Israeli government".

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Charlotte Lydia Riley @lottelydia.bsky.social · 2d

it literally isn’t though

Adam Bienkov @adambienkov.bsky.social · 2d

Keir Starmer’s spokesman asked about Israel detaining British citizens who were on the Gaza aid flotilla, while in international waters, replies that it is a “matter for the Israeli Government”

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Laura McKee @lauramckee.bsky.social · 3d

Having a squint at TS Eliot Prize submission conditions I can’t see a submission cost except for the hidden cost of the provision of 25 promo copies being required. So why is the shortlist still so often limited to big name poetry publishers?

Laura McKee @lauramckee.bsky.social · 3d

My only offer for this week's #WildflowerHour is this Himalayan balsam on a sunny Tuesday afternoon, by the river. It was surrounded by red dragonflies in pairs. A few days later, all gone, no idea if the winds blew it away or it had been eradicated by an efficient team of invasive plant bashers.

Bright pink wildflower by the river, Himalayan balsam.

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Paul T. Levin @paultlevin.bsky.social · 4d

““They dragged little Greta [Thunberg] by her hair before our eyes, beat her, and forced her to kiss the Israeli flag. They did everything imaginable to her, as a warning to others,” the Turkish activist ErsinÇelik, a participant in the Sumud flotilla, told Anadolu news agency.”+

Israel accused of detaining Greta Thunberg in infested cell and making her hold flags

Activist tells Swedish officials she has been subjected to harsh treatment, including insufficient food and water

www.theguardian.com

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Out-Spoken Press @outspokenpress.bsky.social · 6d

Are you a writer of Arab heritage with a poetry MS?

Check out this opportunity open to writers in English located anywhere - win $2000, US & UK publication

Deadline: 15 Oct
Send your MS, share widely >> noemipress.submittable.com

Are you a writer of Arab heritage with a poetry manuscript?
DEADLINE EXTENDED - ENTER BY 15 OCTOBER
$2000 PRIZE
plus
US PUBLICATION
with Noemi Press
and
UK PUBLICATION with Out-Spoken Press
NOEMI
{
GUEST JUDGE:
Farid Matuk
SERIES EDITORS:
Fady Joudah, Hayan Charara
OUT SPOKEN PRESS
Etel Adnan Poetry Prize
For a first or second book by a writer of Arab heritage
NOEMIPRESS.SUBMITTABLE.COM

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Sarah McAnulty, Ph.D. @sarahmackattack.bsky.social · 4d

A physical representation of trying to stay positive in 2025

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Sean Jones KC @seanjones.org · 4d

Proper windy on the seafront -#NorthBerwick

Black Cockapoo in red fleece with fur and ears blown back by heavy wind

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Lomelindi12 @lomelindi12.bsky.social · 4d

The name of our Age

Bottle of balsamic glaze called “Super Dense”

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Laura McKee @lauramckee.bsky.social · 4d

Oh Craig bless you #Strictly

Laura McKee @lauramckee.bsky.social · 5d

you are not alone,
the poem said,
in the dark tunnel.

— October, Louise Glück

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Rose Ruane @regretteruane.bsky.social · 5d

The Egg in the Star, created c.1950s, by Brenda Marshall, in the art therapy studio at Netherne Hospital where she was compelled to live.
This is one of a number of her works in The Adamson Collection featuring recurring motifs of eyes & masks which explore her distress & traumatic family history

Painting on paper crumbling and browning with age, of a white skinned, dark haired person whose intestines are visible, surrounded by other red viscera , contained within an egg shape, surrounded by masks, eyes and colourful jagged tiles

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Laura McKee @lauramckee.bsky.social · 6d

I accidentally styled my despair with matching sun logo mug and pyjamas.

Laura McKee @lauramckee.bsky.social · 6d

For #NationalPoetryDay here is my rejection kindly sent on this day.

Blackout poetry rejection which reads: Dear Laura Sorry to say your not great. try becoming upcoming. With Kind Regards The Editors.

Reposted by Laura McKee

Mo Schoenfeld @moschoenfeld.bsky.social · 6d

Oh, my God, what a #poem.

#poetry

Rattle Poetry @rattlepoetry.bsky.social · 6d

Lonely in the rain,
the spirit is beautiful.

—Jeanie Tomasko

After He Left by Jeanie Tomasko - Rattle: Poetry

When the children were small and sleeping, the night warm and raining,   I would go out to a place […]

www.rattle.com

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Chaucer Doth Tweet @levostregc.bsky.social · 6d

Poetrye ys the technologye of hope.

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Vicki Ziegler @bookgaga.bsky.social · 6d

"Has anyone done that for you, lately
or ever? Come over, torn open the sky
and let the snow fall in the wrong month
to show there's a rip in the face of the world?"

#TodaysPoem #poetry
Rending the Garments by @ronnabloom.bsky.social
In a Riptide (2025 Brick Books) the-wood-lot.ca/2025/09/21/v...

Poetry collection In a Riptide by Ronna Bloom (Brick Books), nestled amidst dried flowers and stalks in a garden

Poem "Rending the Garments" from the poetry collection In a Riptide by Ronna Bloom, held before dried flowers and stalks in a garden

Handwritten transcription of the poem "Rending the Garments" from the poetry collection In a Riptide by Ronna Bloom

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Daniel Hinds @danielghinds.bsky.social · 7d

Poetry Book Giveaway!

To celebrate my debut @brokensleepbooks.bsky.social poetry collection New Famous Phrases being out 6 months I am giving away signed copies (UK only). Like/repost/comment for a chance to win!

Winners announced on National Poetry Day @poetrydayuk.bsky.social #NationalPoetryDay

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