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Steve Whitaker

@stevewhitaker1.bsky.social

240 followers 200 following 130 posts

Writer, book reviewer for Yorkshire Times, and grateful national park resident. https://yorkshiretimes.co.uk/

yorkshiretimes.co.uk

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Reposted by Steve Whitaker

Bill Manhire @pacificraft.bsky.social · 2d

.

The small god is still inventing himself

Last week scarlet & pale
then just a hint of blue

always changing
always a little overdue

yesterday he was apples
today mostly apples

.

Steve Whitaker @stevewhitaker1.bsky.social · 4d

Yorkshire Times Poem of the Week: 'Leeds 1975' by Faith Lawrence @poetrybusiness.bsky.social
yorkshiretimes.co.uk/article/Poem...

Poem Of The Week: <i>Leeds 1975</i> By Faith Lawrence

Leeds 1975 This night-day, day-night bus is the first, last, only emissary of the lighted world, the thin-as-care suburb of lino and candlewick.

yorkshiretimes.co.uk

Reposted by Steve Whitaker

Mike Galsworthy @mikegalsworthy.bsky.social · 10d

Bread and Roses – the song of the brave, fortright mill girls of Lancashire and beyond.

Bread and Roses

Bread and Roses – the song of the brave, fortright mill girls of Lancashire and beyond

northwestbylines.co.uk

Steve Whitaker @stevewhitaker1.bsky.social · 10d

Me too, Ben. He was the subject of my doctorate. V. is a tour-de-force and his reading of it a performance masterpiece. We communicated by letter (he didn't do tech.) a little about 15 years ago and he was very warm and encouraging. A great loss to poetry.

Reposted by Steve Whitaker

Ian Duhig @ianduhig.bsky.social · 11d

RIP Tony Harrison. What came to mind when I heard the news was Gail Earnshaw telling me what a wonderful letter she had from him when her husband died. They weren't close friends and nobody would know about Harrison's kind gesture, except Gail, making it the sort of gesture I respect most.

Pic: BBC

Steve Whitaker @stevewhitaker1.bsky.social · 11d

Thanks Ian

Steve Whitaker @stevewhitaker1.bsky.social · 11d

Yorkshire Times Art Review: The Imp of Surrealism - Anthony Earnshaw at Halifax @ianduhig.bsky.social
yorkshiretimes.co.uk/article/The-...

The Imp Of Surrealism: Anthony Earnshaw At Dean Clough

It comes as no surprise to learn that the surrealist artist, Anthony Earnshaw, was a great admirer of Charlie Chaplin, or more particularly, the Chaplin of Modern Times.

yorkshiretimes.co.uk

Reposted by Steve Whitaker

Acyn @acyn.bsky.social · 13d

OBAMA: It's fair to say that 80% of the world's problems involve old men hanging on who are afraid of death and insignificance, and they won't let go. They build pyramids, and they put their names on everything. They get very anxious about it.

Steve Whitaker @stevewhitaker1.bsky.social · 22d

Yorkshire Times Poem of the Week: 'Pastoral' by Ali Lewis
yorkshiretimes.co.uk/article/Poem...

Poem Of The Week: <i>Pastoral</i> By Ali Lewis

Pastoral Three weeks alone and all I can read are these backwoods American poets with their figs and windfall peaches and their one good chair of four legs from which they observe the changing yaw o...

yorkshiretimes.co.uk

Steve Whitaker @stevewhitaker1.bsky.social · 25d

Yorkshire Times Review: Along the River's Lines: 'Hotel Amour' by Deryn Rees-Jones @notjustdancing.bsky.social @serenbooks.bsky.social
yorkshiretimes.co.uk/article/Alon...

Along The River's Lines: <i>Hôtel Amour</i> By Deryn Rees-Jones

The cover artwork for Deryn Rees-Jones’s new book of poetic impressionism is fitting: Fidan Nazimqizi’s multi-framed photographic collage, showing a blurred female figure against a backdrop of wallpap...

yorkshiretimes.co.uk

Reposted by Steve Whitaker

Jane @localnotail.bsky.social · Sep 5

On the same day in the Telegraph:

The Telegraph

Rayner tax scandal - £40k tax dodge - Statement

Angela Rayner dodges £40,000 stamp duty

Deputy Prime Minister reduces tax bill for Hove flat by declaring it as her main residence

[Photo: Angela Rayner pictured at the weekend in Hove, where she has just bought a flat Credit: Dan Charity/The Sun on Sunday]

Robert Mendick Chief Reporter. Amy Gibbons Political Correspondent

29 August 2025 8:57am BST

The Telegraph

Money > Property > Second homes

How to avoid tax on your second home

From stamp duty to council tax, shield your wealth from Labour's tightening net

[Photo of houses around a bay - Areas such as Cornwall have added a premium to council tax bills for second homes Credit: iStockphoto]

Fran Ivens Senior Money Writer

29 August 2025 1:21pm BST

Steve Whitaker @stevewhitaker1.bsky.social · Aug 31

You're right, Graeme! Apologies, I'll get it changed.

Steve Whitaker @stevewhitaker1.bsky.social · Aug 31

He was, Imogen....sadly missed.

Steve Whitaker @stevewhitaker1.bsky.social · Aug 30

Yorkshire Times Poem of the Week: 'Machines' by Michael Donaghy
yorkshiretimes.co.uk/article/Poem...

Poem Of The Week: <i>Machines</i> By Michael Donaghy (1955-2005)

Machines Dearest, note how these two are alike: This harpsicord pavane by Purcell And the racer’s twelve-speed bike.

yorkshiretimes.co.uk

Reposted by Steve Whitaker

Ian Duhig @ianduhig.bsky.social · Aug 28

Cruel, but funny

Steve Whitaker @stevewhitaker1.bsky.social · Aug 22

Many thanks, Ian.

Steve Whitaker @stevewhitaker1.bsky.social · Aug 9

Yorkshire Times Poem of the Week: 'The Grocer' by Craig Raine

yorkshiretimes.co.uk/article/Poem...

Poem Of The Week: <i>The Grocer</i> By Craig Raine

The Grocer ‘the Kingdom of God cometh not with observation’ (James Joyce to Lady Gregory) The grocer’s hair is parted like a feather by two swift brushes and a dab of brilliantine.

yorkshiretimes.co.uk

Steve Whitaker @stevewhitaker1.bsky.social · Aug 2

Yorkshire Times Poem of the Week: 'Them animals is disgusting' by Peter Reading

www.yorkshiretimes.co.uk/article/Poem...

Poem Of The Week: <i>'Them Animals Is Disgusting'</i> By Peter Reading (1946-2011)

‘Them animals is disgusting’ In London Zoo is a large flat painted Disneyesque lion sporting a circular hole cut where the face ought to be.

www.yorkshiretimes.co.uk

Reposted by Steve Whitaker

David Wheatley @nemoloris.bsky.social · Jul 26

How on earth did this get left out of The Whitsun Weddings. Among his finest things.

Steve Whitaker @stevewhitaker1.bsky.social · Jul 24

You did....and thank you Josephine. It's very hard to precis Hopkins. Every poem warrants an essay!

Steve Whitaker @stevewhitaker1.bsky.social · Jul 23

....and thanks for your kind words, Josephine. I could have written much more but the real beauty is in the poem.

Steve Whitaker @stevewhitaker1.bsky.social · Jul 23

Yorkshire Times Poem of the Week: 'God's Grandeur' by Gerard Manley Hopkins
yorkshiretimes.co.uk/article/Poem...

Poem Of The Week: <i>God's Grandeur</i> By Gerard Manley Hopkins (1844-1889)

God's Grandeur The world is charged with the grandeur of God.

yorkshiretimes.co.uk

Steve Whitaker @stevewhitaker1.bsky.social · Jul 19

Thank you, Imogen.