Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Sarah Wallis

@wordweave.bsky.social

320 followers 290 following 130 posts

Poet Seabird Island @boatsagainstmag UK: https://rb.gy/tra0bq / US: https://rb.gy/9hlhwt www.iambapoet.com/wave/23-sarah-wallis Frazzled Lit BOTN Nom - https://tinyurl.com/mry5pw8d UNESCO Fellowship Writer in Res, Skara Library, Gothenburg, Sweden

rb.gy

Posts Media Videos Starter Packs

Pinned

Sarah Wallis @wordweave.bsky.social · Dec 31

So lovely to be included in the Best Scottish poems list by the Scottish Poetry Library, go have a look and a listen, the recording is at page end -
www.scottishpoetrylibrary.org.uk/poem/iona-in...

Iona in Lacrimis

The saints are crying in the wind, can't you hear them?Only the cries of the wing borne sing out,oystercatcher, skylark, ploverand corncrake. This too may be an answer.The saints are letting their tea...

www.scottishpoetrylibrary.org.uk

3 1 22

Sarah Wallis @wordweave.bsky.social · 2d

Many thanks to Boats Against the Current & ed McKenna Deen for publishing Of Lighthouses and Dock Lights - a Gatsby poem in the centenary year! boatsagainstthecurrent.org/poetry/of-li...

of lighthouses & dock lights — boats against the current

a poem by Sarah Wallis

boatsagainstthecurrent.org

Reposted by Sarah Wallis

Epistemic Literary- Read Issue 6: Nostalgia now! @epistemiclit.bsky.social · 2d

Ok you all took Sunday off — but it’s Monday now, so let’s see some subs!

Poetry, CNF, Fiction, and Visual Art on theme #INTEGRITY

1 3 7

Sarah Wallis @wordweave.bsky.social · 2d

Congratulations all, so well deserved! 🎇 👏 🥳

Reposted by Sarah Wallis

𝒊𝒂𝒎𝒃 ~ 𝒑𝒐𝒆𝒕𝒓𝒚 𝒔𝒆𝒆𝒏 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒅 @iambapoet.com · 3d

**PUSHCART PRIZE NOMINEES ANNOUNCED**

Please join @iambapoet.com in congratulating Theresa Donnelly, Kerry Trautman, Rishika Williams, @jahshabby.bsky.social, @victoriaspires.bsky.social and @johnglenday.bsky.social on their nominations for the next edition of the @pushcartprize.bsky.social.

Promotional poster announcing the six nominees for the 51st edition of The Pushcart Prize, as chosen by the editor of online poetry quarterly iamb.

6 10 28

Reposted by Sarah Wallis

David Hayden @seventydys.bsky.social · 7d

Nothing ever absolutely has to happen

Matt Rasmussen, ‘Chekhov’s Gun’

CHEKHOV'S GUN
Nothing ever absolutely has to happen. The gun doesn't have to be fired. When our hero sits
on the edge of his bed contemplating the pistol on his nightstand, you have to believe he might
not use it. Then the theatre is sunk in blackness.
The audience is a log waiting to be split open. The faint
scuff of feet. Objects are picked up, shuffled away.
Other things are put down. Based on the hushed sounds
you guess: a bed, some walls, a dresser. You feel everything shift. You sense yourself being picked up,
set down. A cone of light cracks overhead. The audience's eyes flicker toward you like droplets of water.

6 32

Reposted by Sarah Wallis

Dust Poetry @dustpoetry.bsky.social · 7d

✨Happy National Poetry Day!✨

We’re working our way through submissions for the next issue, which is out next month. In the meantime, you can read every single issue of Dust for free here: www.dustpoetry.co.uk

5 17

Reposted by Sarah Wallis

Corinna Board @corinnaboard.bsky.social · 7d

Some lovely news! ❤️❤️❤️

The Braag | Press & Journal @thebraag.bsky.social · 7d

Delighted that the work we've been publishing in our micro-journal, Carmen et Error, is getting the recognition it deserves! @corinnaboard.bsky.social's brilliant poem 'A dunnock's prayer' was highly commended in this year's Forward Prizes!

Forward Prize 2026 Highly Commended Congratulations to Corinna Board!
For
‘A dunnock’s prayer’, published in Issue 9.0 Carmen et Error

A dunnock’s prayer
by Corinna Board

O wingless wun,
god o’ smæl bridds,
spære my nest,
my fīf blue eggs.
Bright sky-keeper,
bringer o’ frost,
maker o’ hip an haw,
can ye hear my
tseep tseep tseep
in the hecg?
I sing for ye
in the blackthorn
an the dogrose,
in the hazel
an the rowan.
I, this tyne spearwa
so smæl in yur hand.

7 8 25

Sarah Wallis @wordweave.bsky.social · 7d

Congratulations Corinna, fab news! 🎇

1 1

Sarah Wallis @wordweave.bsky.social · 7d

An acceptance from Boats Against the Current to celebrate National Poetry Day & as I can't share that one just yet here is Fire Eater's Cough @frazzledlit.bsky.social which they have kindly nominated for BOTN 🙏 www.frazzledlit.com/p/poetry-by-...

Poetry by Sarah Wallis

Fire Eater's Cough

www.frazzledlit.com

1 1 1

Reposted by Sarah Wallis

Dust Poetry @dustpoetry.bsky.social · 8d

Delighted✨ to announce✨ Dust’s ✨Best of the Net✨ nominations:

Paul Short, Laundry Day
Amy L. King, Fade
Laura Theis, Do You Really Think I Look Like An Old Crone?
Ryan O’Neill, LDR
Holly Magill, Cheese in a budget hotel room
Antonia Kearton, Sanico

Congratulations to the nominees! 🥳✨

1 5 18

Reposted by Sarah Wallis

Frazzled Lit *Opens 1st October* @frazzledlit.bsky.social · 11d

We open on Wednesday 1st October for free submissions in, Prose, CNF and Flash Fiction. So what are we looking for? Laura @lozzawriting.bsky.social riffs a little on just that in relation to Poetry in this post below. Take a look!

www.frazzledlit.com/p/hurt-us-a-...

Hurt us a little

In which Laura riffs on what we look for in poetry submissions

www.frazzledlit.com

4 5

Sarah Wallis @wordweave.bsky.social · 8d

Went to a brilliant drawing workshop this morning, hosted at the local library Lots of people popping in and out too, good to see.

Sarah Wallis @wordweave.bsky.social · 8d

Congratulations to all nominees & thank you @frazzledlit.bsky.social - must go re-visit these pieces!

Frazzled Lit *Opens 1st October* @frazzledlit.bsky.social · 8d

We are delighted to announce the @frazzledlit.bsky.social nominations for #BOTN 2026! It's a real honour to get to choose these pieces, so a big THANK YOU to all of our contributors!

www.frazzledlit.com/p/best-of-th...

Best Of The Net 2026 Nominations

Announcing our selections

www.frazzledlit.com

1 2

Sarah Wallis @wordweave.bsky.social · 8d

Thanks so much @frazzledlit.bsky.social - surprised and delighted over here! 🙀😻

1 2

Sarah Wallis @wordweave.bsky.social · 9d

That's great Julian, love @eatthestorms.com they are good people!

1 1 1

Sarah Wallis @wordweave.bsky.social · 12d

Obsessions with Bears and Sea potatoes...

𝒊𝒂𝒎𝒃 ~ 𝒑𝒐𝒆𝒕𝒓𝒚 𝒔𝒆𝒆𝒏 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒅 @iambapoet.com · 17d

' ... the anonymous artist had patience
and knowledge and an obsession
with bears, catching a glint of amber fire ... '

iambapoet.com/wave/23-sara...

Sarah Wallis | wave 23 | iamb ~ poetry seen and heard

Hear poet Sarah Wallis read poems exclusively for iamb. If you like The Poetry Archive, this poetry site is for you.

iambapoet.com

Reposted by Sarah Wallis

The Emma Press @theemmapress.bsky.social · 13d

NEW BOOK ANNOUNCEMENT!! The Emma Press is delighted to announce the acquisition of AARDVARK DAY by former Zoologist Victoria Gatehouse ⭐ 🌷

Publishing May 2026 ☀️ Illustrated by Kate Lucy Foster

🌿 Read the full announcement on our website 🌿

buff.ly/xTeh5qk

Black and white photo of blonde white woman with header The Emma Press acquires debut poetry collection AARDVARK DAY from former Zoologist Victoria Gatehouse

The Emma Press is delighted to announce Aardvark Day, the debut poetry collection by Victoria Gatehouse, an eccentric exploration of fascinating plants and creatures.
“As a poet with a degree in zoology, this debut children's collection brings together two of my greatest passions” - Victoria Gatehouse

As a zoology graduate and nature lover, Victoria shares her expertise and passion through poignant and funny poems on the fairy armadillo, unbelievable mushroom names and instructions on how to be a dragonfly.
Aardvark Day is also filled with interesting facts and figures and is to be fully illustrated by emerging artist Kate Lucy Foster.

Read the full acquisition announcement on our website!
Publishing May 2026

1 2

Sarah Wallis @wordweave.bsky.social · 13d

Of these x10 poems x3 have found publishers – There’s a Strawberry Sandwich in my Future on the Dirigible Balloon website, the sea potato poem at iamb and soon to be published Breakfast TV at Dust for their Dear World issue.

Sarah Wallis @wordweave.bsky.social · 13d

one I cannot recall how it came about but will keep trying to remember then x1 from a found object – a sea potato on the beach, leading to Tiny Stars Sent from the Sea, which you can hear me read on iamb, in wave 23, & the other from a brilliant photograph and a serendipitous opportunity call.

Sarah Wallis @wordweave.bsky.social · 13d

X2 came from new workshop prompts and re-working them over and over

X1 from my reading that sparked a word association game, x1 out of past notes and an opportunity combination that just worked,

Sarah Wallis @wordweave.bsky.social · 13d

Where do poems come from?

That's a question I've been asked recently so I've tracked back the last ten I wrote that I thought might be any good and this is what I found

x3 came from re-edits of past work that I didn’t think were up to much, but are now much better...

Sarah Wallis @wordweave.bsky.social · 13d

A couple of welcome acceptances just came in from on the hop subs, the editors are working late tonight! 👀 📚

Reposted by Sarah Wallis

𝕄𝕒𝕣𝕜 𝔸𝕟𝕥𝕠𝕟𝕪 𝕆𝕨𝕖𝕟 @markantonyowen.com · 13d

POETS. DO. NOT. MISS. THIS!!

Audition SOON for a chance to appear in @iambapoet.com in either 2026 or 2027.

Everything you need to know to join some of poetry's most celebrated names is on the Audition page.

Fewer than 40 spaces available now. You'll need to be quick!

iambapoet.com/audition

Promo poster for auditions for online poetry website iamb. It shows the faces of ten well-respected poets who've appeared in the journal or are scheduled to.

4 4

Sarah Wallis @wordweave.bsky.social · 13d

Had a good lunch did we?! Xxx 😘

Reposted by Sarah Wallis

Dr M. I. Matthews-Schlinzig @whatisaletter.bsky.social · 15d

I wrote 'Breathe through my roots', the first poem I read for @iambapoet.com, shortly before giving birth to our daughter. We had just moved house and I was surrounded by boxes, some of which remain unpacked to this day – unlike the thoughts, memories, and historical facts this poem unpacks.

𝒊𝒂𝒎𝒃 ~ 𝒑𝒐𝒆𝒕𝒓𝒚 𝒔𝒆𝒆𝒏 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒅 @iambapoet.com · 17d

'The world is wondrous, frightful sometimes:
feet, disembodied, stick out under hedges,

canines off-lead bounce towards us fast,
humans are nervous, or calm, open-hearted.'

iambapoet.com/wave/23-mari...

Marie Isabel Matthews-Schlinzig | wave 23 | iamb ~ poetry seen and heard

Hear poet Marie Isabel Matthews-Schlinzig read poems exclusively for iamb. If you like The Poetry Archive, this poetry site is for you.

iambapoet.com

2 2