Martin Kennedy Yates
@martinkennedyyates.bsky.social
530 followers 460 following 78 posts
Writer - Artist - Tutor I make things with words, paints & stuff. Winner of Broken Spine Chapbook Comp 2024 - debut poetry pamphlet out now - DM me for signed copy. Poems in Rialto, Stand, Poetry Wales, Magma, Butcher's Dog, Finished Creatures & others.
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martinkennedyyates.bsky.social
I'm so excited to say "This Wilderness & Other Concerns" is released today. You can buy it from The Broken Spine website, or order a signed copy with original handcrafted bookmark with bonus poem direct from me - just drop me a DM. 😎
@thebrokenspine.co.uk #poetry #poetrylovers #poetrycommunity
martinkennedyyates.bsky.social
Posted this for Top Tweet Tuesday over on X on the theme #mystical - feeling those Celtic vibes on the Dyfi estuary this morning.
martinkennedyyates.bsky.social
Big thanks to all of you who bought my book in the first month. Hope you've been enjoying it.
If you'd like to get your hands on a copy, either use the Amazon link below or DM me for a signed copy plus a handcrafted bookmark with bonus poem. For more info...
thebrokenspine.co.uk/2025/08/17/r...
martinkennedyyates.bsky.social
@thebrokenspine.co.uk - great news of a BOTN nomination for my essay on the Scousenlish poems 🤗
martinkennedyyates.bsky.social
How exciting to get a #BestOfTheNet nomination for my essay exploring the creation of my 'Scousenlish' poems & their relationship to the alliterative form of 'Sir Gawain and the Green Knight' - follow link for more - alliteration.net/poets/martin...
Thank you @rhunedhel.bsky.social for the love 🥰
martinkennedyyates.bsky.social
Friends, fam and poetry pals lend me your ears. Happy #nationalpoetryday on the theme of #play ❤️
Hope you enjoy 'Let Us Play' - my cheeky, playful, rule-breaking nonet, inspired by this week's prompt on Top Tweet Tuesday over on X
For more on the nonet... www.masterclass.com/articles/how...
martinkennedyyates.bsky.social
Absolutely, just the start!!! "This Wilderness & Other Concerns" has been out for just over 3 weeks - lots of copies are out in the world. I've had some lovely feedback & done the first of many gigs IRL and read a few snippets online. If you want to get a copy or book me for an event, just DM me😎
thebrokenspine.co.uk
End of month, but just the start. Thanks to everyone who's made this launch matter.
@martinkennedyyates.bsky.social #ThisWilderness
www.amazon.co.uk/Wil...
Book cover of This Wilderness & Other Concerns by Martin Kennedy Yates, published by The Broken Spine. The cover artwork depicts an urban canal or waterway running between old brick and industrial buildings, with graffiti on one wall and a dark, moody atmosphere. A quote from writer and poet Jonathan Davidson reads: “These poems are a pleasure both to encounter and to read.”
martinkennedyyates.bsky.social
Well, that went well. I totally enjoyed performing the whole of "This Wilderness" to an audience tonight - all 23 minutes of it - the rhythm & flow, the drift & shift through the scenes and scenarios felt amazing - got some great feedback from the audience and sold a few copies of the book. 🤗
martinkennedyyates.bsky.social
I'm excited to be getting out and about with my prize-winning debut collection. Details of more gigs to follow. But it all kicks off tonight at half-seven in my hometown, at The Albionn in Stone Street. If you're local, do come along tonight, if you can. It would be lovely to see you! 😍
Reposted by Martin Kennedy Yates
martinkennedyyates.bsky.social
I'm excited to be getting out and about with my prize-winning debut collection. Details of more gigs to follow. But it all kicks off tonight at half-seven in my hometown, at The Albionn in Stone Street. If you're local, do come along tonight, if you can. It would be lovely to see you! 😍
martinkennedyyates.bsky.social
I'm excited to be getting out and about with my prize-winning debut collection. Details of more gigs to follow. But it all kicks off tonight at half-seven in my hometown, at The Albionn in Stone Street. If you're local, do come along tonight, if you can. It would be lovely to see you! 😍
Reposted by Martin Kennedy Yates
thebrokenspine.co.uk
Bought it? Loved it? Say so. Tag us. Share your favourite line. Let’s show the world why poetry still matters.
@martinkennedyyates.bsky.social #ThisWilderness
www.amazon.co.uk/Wil...
Book cover of This Wilderness & Other Concerns by Martin Kennedy Yates, published by The Broken Spine. The cover artwork depicts an urban canal or waterway running between old brick and industrial buildings, with graffiti on one wall and a dark, moody atmosphere. A quote from writer and poet Jonathan Davidson reads: “These poems are a pleasure both to encounter and to read.”
martinkennedyyates.bsky.social
As winner of the Broken Spine Chapbook Competition in 2024, my debut poetry book, "This Wilderness & Other Concerns" is out now. It's in 3 sections & fuses various forms and styles. It's both direct & lyrical, gritty & compassionate, specific & universal. Want to know more? bsky.app/profile/mart...
Reposted by Martin Kennedy Yates
drnaturegirl.debbiemross.co.uk
Weekend #poetry post from @martinkennedyyates.bsky.social and @thebrokenspine.co.uk Delicious and delightful. Can’t wait to tuck in!
A photo of a poetry book and a bookmark. The book is dark blue in colour and has a painting of a wet city street with partial buildings visible an a wall on the right with graffiti. Text as follows

Martin Kennedy Yates
This Wilderness 8c Other Concerns
'These poems are a pleasure both to encounter and to read.'
- Jonathan Davidson, writer and poet
Reposted by Martin Kennedy Yates
rhonagreene.bsky.social
Today’s post arrived at the speed of light⚡️

‘This Wilderness & Other Concerns’
@martinkennedyyates.bsky.social
published @thebrokenspine.co.uk💫
martinkennedyyates.bsky.social
That's great, Rhona. Glad it crossed the so-called border with such ease!!! Hope you enjoy exploring it. And if you can afford the time, do let me know what you think. What works and resonates with you, what doesn't so much. I respect your judgement, so it's all helpful for my progress as a writer.
martinkennedyyates.bsky.social
Those books and bookmarks are getting out and about. You got yours yet? Drop me a DM for a signed copy with handcrafted bookmark. To whet your appetite and get a flavour of the book try this short article on @thebrokenspine.co.uk's website: thebrokenspine.co.uk/2025/08/17/r...
Reposted by Martin Kennedy Yates
thebrokenspine.co.uk
Every order counts. You’re helping a poet’s voice cut through the noise. You’ve made this real.
@martinkennedyyates.bsky.social #ThisWilderness
www.amazon.co.uk/Wil...
Book cover of This Wilderness & Other Concerns by Martin Kennedy Yates, published by The Broken Spine. The cover artwork depicts an urban canal or waterway running between old brick and industrial buildings, with graffiti on one wall and a dark, moody atmosphere. A quote from writer and poet Jonathan Davidson reads: “These poems are a pleasure both to encounter and to read.”
martinkennedyyates.bsky.social
My debut poetry book's been out for a week. Lots have gone out into the world - thank you everyone. You can still order a signed copy with lovely handmade bookmark - just drop me a DM. Rick Sanders says it's "a compelling collection" that will draw you in from the start, so treat yourself today 😎
thebrokenspine.co.uk
🖋️ Rick Sanders: “Martin’s collection drew me in from the very start. A compelling collection.”
It has to be the saddest graffiti I’ve ever seen… all it says is simply this: I loved you x.
🗓️ Sept 5. #ThisWildernessAndOtherConcerns
📡 @martinkennedyyates.bsky.social
Graphic promoting This Wilderness & Other Concerns. A handwritten note reads:
"@martinkennedyyates.bsky.social
Advance Praise
This Wilderness & Other Concerns
'I am a sucker for form poetry and Martin’s collection drew me in from the very start. A compelling collection.'
— Rick Sanders"
Bright green background with dynamic white scribbles. Urban canal scenes with graffiti and derelict buildings frame the graphic. The Broken Spine logo appears in the top corner.
martinkennedyyates.bsky.social
This snippet is from the #tseliot -inspired poem in my new #poetry book which is set in #Birmingham
You can order a signed copy, with free handcrafted bookmark with a bonus poem, from me - just drop me a DM to ask more😊 And here's an article about it... thebrokenspine.co.uk/2025/08/17/r...
martinkennedyyates.bsky.social
My author copies have arrived & are looking amazing: the superbly-designed bookjacket with its classy matte finish; the generously-sized, natural white, pages that allow the poems to breathe; the whole look & layout are just perfect. Thank you, Alan Parry & @thebrokenspine.co.uk for a great job! 😎
martinkennedyyates.bsky.social
Hey, thank you, Karen. I'm so chuffed with the book and the amazing job Alan has done in pulling it together so brilliantly. Having entered the chapbook comp over a year ago, it is very exciting to so it come to fruition. 😎👍
martinkennedyyates.bsky.social
I'm so excited to say "This Wilderness & Other Concerns" is released today. You can buy it from The Broken Spine website, or order a signed copy with original handcrafted bookmark with bonus poem direct from me - just drop me a DM. 😎
@thebrokenspine.co.uk #poetry #poetrylovers #poetrycommunity
martinkennedyyates.bsky.social
If you like poems that are quite raw at times, yet intricately crafted, you might like mine! I'm chuffed that JD's endorsement below highlights the artistry of my work. My debut chapbook is out with @thebrokenspine.co.uk tomorrow. You can order a signed copy with original bookmark - just DM me. 😎
thebrokenspine.co.uk
📖 Jonathan Davidson: “Yates follows a tradition… historically significant but demands real craft as well as art.”
There’s redemption in this place for the discarded, the disregarded.
🗓️ Sept 5. #ThisWildernessAndOtherConcerns
📡 @martinkennedyyates.bsky.social
Graphic featuring praise for This Wilderness & Other Concerns. A note-style layout reads:
"@martinkennedyyates.bsky.social
Advance Praise
This Wilderness & Other Concerns
'Yates follows a tradition of practice that is historically significant but demands real craft as well as art.'
— Jonathan Davidson"
Bold blue background with expressive white scribbles. Photos of canal-side urban decay and post-industrial greenery add grit and atmosphere. The Broken Spine logo sits top right.
martinkennedyyates.bsky.social
I know. Sorry, mate... it's embarrassing to say the least 😞
martinkennedyyates.bsky.social
wannabe poets, footballers, whatevers... all wandering lonely as clouds, I guess 😶‍🌫️