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Matthew Lafferty @mattlaff.bsky.social · 7d

Apparently it's National Poetry Day in the UK, so here's a poem in progress.

For context, this weaves in some phrases & words from the poems my grandpa wrote for his grandkids' births, and the title "Garden" is a play on his poem "Seed", which was written for his own children.

Poem on, friends.

Garden

To have a child
is to be a child
is to take on gravity
from both ends,
downspirallingdown through time
mutually nurtered
across the silent reach

dawn, into each new morning, into
the patient quiver of a midday breeze,
dusk, yielding to the icy harmonies of night.

Grandparentsounds, bell melodies
from the deepshadow of memory

Enchanted by wounds
we do not yet comprehend
great, gaping days impel us
whispering, blossoming, becoming

We

keep a welcome witness
as roots extend in expectation
as seeds become garden—

put your hands with mine
into the warm rolled soil.

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Matthew Lafferty @mattlaff.bsky.social · 15d

In an autumn of personal sorrow, this poem is burrowing deeper into my heart than usual, which is saying something

eileen chengyin chow @chowleen.bsky.social · Sep 22

One of my favorite poems since childhood, and a poem I share every #autumnequinox.
By the 12thc warrior poet Xin Qiji 辛棄疾, sidelined during peacetime, demoted, drifting through a decade of minor posts in remote lands.
Poetry, then, is that which is left unsaid.
“My, what a cool and lovely autumn.”

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Matthew Lafferty @mattlaff.bsky.social · 17d

Denise Levertov, always

B

To be. To love an other only for being.

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Matthew Lafferty @mattlaff.bsky.social · 21d

In the last couple months, I've bought the collected poems of Czesław Miłosz, two by Denise Levertov, and one by Adrienne Rich, and I am seriously thinking about taking a break from social media until I finish them all

chris-ture from the black lagoon @thecorlew.bsky.social · 21d

hey you yeah you hey I’m talking to ya

read any good poetry lately?

I’m reading @isaacpickell.bsky.social

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Matthew Lafferty @mattlaff.bsky.social · Aug 8

palgorithm > algorithm

Benjamin Dreyer @bcdreyer.social · Aug 7

A friend used the term "palgorithm" to describe his habit of making sure that I see excellent little Instagram reels I might not otherwise see, and I applaud this.

Reposted by Matthew Lafferty

Micah @rincewind.run · Aug 1

starting to think we should give "strange women lying in ponds distributing swords" a chance as a basis for our system of government

150 1K 5K

Reposted by Matthew Lafferty

Kashana @kashana.blacksky.app · Jul 25

Pivot to video was such a curse. Now everything’s like obviously you’d rather watch a 40 minute video than read a sentence.

140 590 3.6K

Reposted by Matthew Lafferty

Ken Tremendous @kentremendous.bsky.social · Jul 18

The #1 way to explain America working properly is by saying “comedians can make fun of he President on TV.” A good way to explain fascism is “the President forces companies to fire those comedians as a condition of allowing them to conduct business.”

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Matthew Lafferty @mattlaff.bsky.social · Jul 17

This is probably gonna sound nuts, but I have an idea for a 2P semi-cooperative physical adaptation/spinoff of... Balatro? So if that sounds like a thought experiment you'd like to partake in, hit me up 🎲✂️

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Matthew Lafferty @mattlaff.bsky.social · Jul 14

Update: I finally did give away my copy today

Nothing quite like poetry so good you simply *must* physically put it in someone else's hands

Matthew Lafferty @mattlaff.bsky.social · May 24

Confession: I did not have it in myself to read Larks that night, and it sat on my desk accusingly for two months, but I just read the whole collection in a single sitting, and I am without words

I may have to give the book away, it's that good

Matthew Lafferty @mattlaff.bsky.social · Feb 24

Out here supporting poet & internet pal @hanvanderhart.bsky.social, and I know what I'll be reading tonight

It's bleak out there, friends, go buy someone's book of poetry/latest album/whatever

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Matthew Lafferty @mattlaff.bsky.social · Jun 10

💯

a man in a black shirt is making a funny face and says `` this '' .

Alt: a man in a black shirt is making a funny face and says `` this '' .

media.tenor.com

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Matthew Lafferty @mattlaff.bsky.social · May 24

Confession: I did not have it in myself to read Larks that night, and it sat on my desk accusingly for two months, but I just read the whole collection in a single sitting, and I am without words

I may have to give the book away, it's that good

Matthew Lafferty @mattlaff.bsky.social · Feb 24

Out here supporting poet & internet pal @hanvanderhart.bsky.social, and I know what I'll be reading tonight

It's bleak out there, friends, go buy someone's book of poetry/latest album/whatever

Partial image of the cover of "Larks", Han's latest book of poems

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Matthew Lafferty @mattlaff.bsky.social · May 19

I swear I was going to make this joke in December

Rusty Foster @rusty.todayintabs.com · May 19

Have you ever been like “oh I’ll do that in a minute” and then eight months go by?

1

Matthew Lafferty @mattlaff.bsky.social · May 19

Attention is the universe folding out of and back into itself, we are only the eyes

Breezie @breeze420.bsky.social · May 19

"The moment one gives close attention to any thing, even a blade of grass it becomes a mysterious, awesome, indescribably magnificent world in itself." -Henry Miller

3

Matthew Lafferty @mattlaff.bsky.social · May 19

Oh my gosh, I legitimately just snorted, that is *incredible*

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Matthew Lafferty @mattlaff.bsky.social · May 19

How DO you always have such a wonderful poem for the moment, my goodness

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Matthew Lafferty @mattlaff.bsky.social · May 19

It never ceases to amaze me how kids, as ridiculous they can be, are able to just say The Real Thing like that

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Matthew Lafferty @mattlaff.bsky.social · May 18

I'll admit I do not immediately know what that means, but that's just one reason I'm grateful to know and & interact with you: now I get to go look it up and learn things :)

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Matthew Lafferty @mattlaff.bsky.social · May 18

Hey, we're birthday neighbors--I turn 43 tomorrow!

As ever, I am glad for your voice. The happiest of days to you, friend!

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Reposted by Matthew Lafferty

Laura Cooney *Motherbunnet* on sale @lozzawriting.bsky.social · May 12

This is absolutely terrific and what I needed to see right now. More of this type of thing.

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Matthew Lafferty @mattlaff.bsky.social · May 10

Just saw Saint Motel at House of Blues Cleveland, because our 17yo is a fan, and it was legitimately a great show, definitely would recommend

Saint Motel on stage performing at House of Blues Cleveland

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Matthew Lafferty @mattlaff.bsky.social · May 8

*again* no less

Matthew Lafferty @mattlaff.bsky.social · May 8

This is the thing I will never get over: literally everyone has had Trump pegged accurately *forever*

He has only ever been a two-bit grifter, and explicitly so

And yet, here we are

Robert Hernandez @webjournalist.bsky.social · May 6

Sesame Street had him pegged back in 1988.

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Matthew Lafferty @mattlaff.bsky.social · May 8

It made me Very Happy today to learn that I'll get to watch at least some of Foundation S3 with my most sci-fi nerd kid before they leave for college

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Matthew Lafferty @mattlaff.bsky.social · May 4

The replies 😍

Eric Michael Garcia @ericmgarcia.bsky.social · May 4

Screw "never meeting your heroes." What were some times you met your heroes and they were super cool?