Warren Mortimer
@woz012poetry.bsky.social
Poet & Critic
Read my pamphlet Fruit Knife Autopsy here: https://greenbottlepress.com/product/fruit-knife-autopsy-by-warren-mortimer/
Read my pamphlet Fruit Knife Autopsy here: https://greenbottlepress.com/product/fruit-knife-autopsy-by-warren-mortimer/
Every month I forget I'm subscribed to @faberbooks.bsky.social (the best father's day gift!) - which means that every month opens with a glorious surprise. I can see why this one's shortlisted for the T. S. Eliot Prize - Tom Paulin reinvents himself unimaginably well after a decade of silence
November 7, 2025 at 10:38 AM
Every month I forget I'm subscribed to @faberbooks.bsky.social (the best father's day gift!) - which means that every month opens with a glorious surprise. I can see why this one's shortlisted for the T. S. Eliot Prize - Tom Paulin reinvents himself unimaginably well after a decade of silence
This one means a lot. My poem 'centurion' is included in the latest edition of the immaculate Poetry Scotland. I wrote it in memory of my mate, Lewis, who passed away not so long ago. Lewis - sorry we never finished our game, rest assured I'm keeping it alive.
October 28, 2025 at 2:24 PM
This one means a lot. My poem 'centurion' is included in the latest edition of the immaculate Poetry Scotland. I wrote it in memory of my mate, Lewis, who passed away not so long ago. Lewis - sorry we never finished our game, rest assured I'm keeping it alive.
Having a banging birthday with this beautiful book! Heaney, the greatest of all time. @faberbooks.bsky.social
October 26, 2025 at 4:14 PM
Having a banging birthday with this beautiful book! Heaney, the greatest of all time. @faberbooks.bsky.social
Proper honoured to attend Lancaster University's Comedy School workshop. I've always loved comedy as a means of escapism, but Keith Palmer MBE proved to me just how indispensable laughter, self-confidence and improvisation are in all aspects of my work and life. Can't recommend this one enough.
October 17, 2025 at 2:45 PM
Proper honoured to attend Lancaster University's Comedy School workshop. I've always loved comedy as a means of escapism, but Keith Palmer MBE proved to me just how indispensable laughter, self-confidence and improvisation are in all aspects of my work and life. Can't recommend this one enough.
Putting off my primary preoccupation (poetry), I prepared a pumpkin pie. Unpredictably proud of this pulp-filled pocket of pastry.
October 16, 2025 at 2:10 PM
Putting off my primary preoccupation (poetry), I prepared a pumpkin pie. Unpredictably proud of this pulp-filled pocket of pastry.
What a top-tier journal. You can tell how slick Lighthouse is just from the front cover. I'm delighted to have my poem 'rosetta' included in the latest issue. This goes out to anyone who's just got their kid to nod off, only to howl in pain by treading on a square of duplo. @julwe1.bsky.social
October 6, 2025 at 3:59 PM
What a top-tier journal. You can tell how slick Lighthouse is just from the front cover. I'm delighted to have my poem 'rosetta' included in the latest issue. This goes out to anyone who's just got their kid to nod off, only to howl in pain by treading on a square of duplo. @julwe1.bsky.social
THE DEED IS DONE! Just in the nick of time, I've finished my 30 books in 30 days challenge. I will now only be seen to read teen fan-fiction and Beano comics.
Day 30 of #30booksin30days. Here's my 3 word review of Moy Sand and Gravel by Paul Muldoon:
Paul Muldoon, innit.
Day 30 of #30booksin30days. Here's my 3 word review of Moy Sand and Gravel by Paul Muldoon:
Paul Muldoon, innit.
September 30, 2025 at 9:08 PM
THE DEED IS DONE! Just in the nick of time, I've finished my 30 books in 30 days challenge. I will now only be seen to read teen fan-fiction and Beano comics.
Day 30 of #30booksin30days. Here's my 3 word review of Moy Sand and Gravel by Paul Muldoon:
Paul Muldoon, innit.
Day 30 of #30booksin30days. Here's my 3 word review of Moy Sand and Gravel by Paul Muldoon:
Paul Muldoon, innit.
Day 29 of #30booksin30days. Here's my 30 word review of Black Country by Liz Berry:
Hands up – I’m not the biggest fan of dialect-driven collections. That said, here it’s not only fitting, but exceptionally crafted. The 'Stone' poem is in another league – one to memorise.
Hands up – I’m not the biggest fan of dialect-driven collections. That said, here it’s not only fitting, but exceptionally crafted. The 'Stone' poem is in another league – one to memorise.
September 29, 2025 at 2:17 PM
Day 29 of #30booksin30days. Here's my 30 word review of Black Country by Liz Berry:
Hands up – I’m not the biggest fan of dialect-driven collections. That said, here it’s not only fitting, but exceptionally crafted. The 'Stone' poem is in another league – one to memorise.
Hands up – I’m not the biggest fan of dialect-driven collections. That said, here it’s not only fitting, but exceptionally crafted. The 'Stone' poem is in another league – one to memorise.
Day 28 of #30booksin30days. Here's my 30 word review of Blueprint by Iulia David:
There’s often a discrepancy between a debut pamphlet and a full collection, but here it’s impossible to find anything less than promise and perfection, all wrapped up in excellent conceits.
There’s often a discrepancy between a debut pamphlet and a full collection, but here it’s impossible to find anything less than promise and perfection, all wrapped up in excellent conceits.
September 28, 2025 at 7:39 PM
Day 28 of #30booksin30days. Here's my 30 word review of Blueprint by Iulia David:
There’s often a discrepancy between a debut pamphlet and a full collection, but here it’s impossible to find anything less than promise and perfection, all wrapped up in excellent conceits.
There’s often a discrepancy between a debut pamphlet and a full collection, but here it’s impossible to find anything less than promise and perfection, all wrapped up in excellent conceits.
Day 27 of #30booksin30days. Here's my 30 word review of Spindrift by Vona Groarke:
Was lucky enough to read this on Morecambe front – kept trying to track the spindrift off the waves. Alas, I haven't the eye for such delicate intelligence as found here.
Was lucky enough to read this on Morecambe front – kept trying to track the spindrift off the waves. Alas, I haven't the eye for such delicate intelligence as found here.
September 27, 2025 at 6:52 AM
Day 27 of #30booksin30days. Here's my 30 word review of Spindrift by Vona Groarke:
Was lucky enough to read this on Morecambe front – kept trying to track the spindrift off the waves. Alas, I haven't the eye for such delicate intelligence as found here.
Was lucky enough to read this on Morecambe front – kept trying to track the spindrift off the waves. Alas, I haven't the eye for such delicate intelligence as found here.
Day 26 of #30booksin30days. Here's my 30 word review of @carcanet.bsky.social's Milky Way Bar by Bill Manhire:
Dry as a desert - and it's one I'd be happy to get lost in forever. This is where simplicity meet surrealism meets sorrow meets serenity. Long poems felt short.
Dry as a desert - and it's one I'd be happy to get lost in forever. This is where simplicity meet surrealism meets sorrow meets serenity. Long poems felt short.
September 26, 2025 at 2:56 PM
Day 26 of #30booksin30days. Here's my 30 word review of @carcanet.bsky.social's Milky Way Bar by Bill Manhire:
Dry as a desert - and it's one I'd be happy to get lost in forever. This is where simplicity meet surrealism meets sorrow meets serenity. Long poems felt short.
Dry as a desert - and it's one I'd be happy to get lost in forever. This is where simplicity meet surrealism meets sorrow meets serenity. Long poems felt short.
Day 25 of #30booksin30days. Here's my review of @pavilionpoetry.bsky.social's Nowhere Nearer by Alice Miller:
Every poet since Auden has brought out an Icarus poem, but this collection includes what's surely one of the most moving. Speaks to Miller’s expert control over expectation and revelation.
Every poet since Auden has brought out an Icarus poem, but this collection includes what's surely one of the most moving. Speaks to Miller’s expert control over expectation and revelation.
September 25, 2025 at 7:46 PM
Day 25 of #30booksin30days. Here's my review of @pavilionpoetry.bsky.social's Nowhere Nearer by Alice Miller:
Every poet since Auden has brought out an Icarus poem, but this collection includes what's surely one of the most moving. Speaks to Miller’s expert control over expectation and revelation.
Every poet since Auden has brought out an Icarus poem, but this collection includes what's surely one of the most moving. Speaks to Miller’s expert control over expectation and revelation.
Day 24 of #30booksin30days. Here's my review of @faberbooks.bsky.social's Dancing in Odessa by @ilyakaminsky.bsky.social:
No better feeling than smiling shut a book, feeling you've only scratched the surface. Utterly tender and powerful in equal parts. The music of displacement. The dance of exile.
No better feeling than smiling shut a book, feeling you've only scratched the surface. Utterly tender and powerful in equal parts. The music of displacement. The dance of exile.
September 24, 2025 at 7:52 PM
Day 24 of #30booksin30days. Here's my review of @faberbooks.bsky.social's Dancing in Odessa by @ilyakaminsky.bsky.social:
No better feeling than smiling shut a book, feeling you've only scratched the surface. Utterly tender and powerful in equal parts. The music of displacement. The dance of exile.
No better feeling than smiling shut a book, feeling you've only scratched the surface. Utterly tender and powerful in equal parts. The music of displacement. The dance of exile.
Day 23 of #30booksin30days. Here's my 30 word review of @bloodaxebooks.bsky.social's That Old-Time Religion by Peter Didsbury:
One major thing I learnt: you can take the reader wherever you like (on holiday with Satan, even) so long as you acknowledge they exist and treat them with reverence.
One major thing I learnt: you can take the reader wherever you like (on holiday with Satan, even) so long as you acknowledge they exist and treat them with reverence.
September 23, 2025 at 3:37 PM
Day 23 of #30booksin30days. Here's my 30 word review of @bloodaxebooks.bsky.social's That Old-Time Religion by Peter Didsbury:
One major thing I learnt: you can take the reader wherever you like (on holiday with Satan, even) so long as you acknowledge they exist and treat them with reverence.
One major thing I learnt: you can take the reader wherever you like (on holiday with Satan, even) so long as you acknowledge they exist and treat them with reverence.
Little late in the month, but here's my September-themed poem as featured recently in The Frogmore Papers. Steals gracelessly from Hemingway, but what you gonna do?
September 23, 2025 at 12:42 PM
Little late in the month, but here's my September-themed poem as featured recently in The Frogmore Papers. Steals gracelessly from Hemingway, but what you gonna do?
Day 22 of #30booksin30days. Here's my 30 word review of The Tip of My Tongue by Robert Crawford:
An homage to Scots. Acutely strikes between play and sincerity. From the opening poem, the scale of joy and uplift is made clear - tell you what, it's refreshing as heck!
An homage to Scots. Acutely strikes between play and sincerity. From the opening poem, the scale of joy and uplift is made clear - tell you what, it's refreshing as heck!
September 22, 2025 at 3:05 PM
Day 22 of #30booksin30days. Here's my 30 word review of The Tip of My Tongue by Robert Crawford:
An homage to Scots. Acutely strikes between play and sincerity. From the opening poem, the scale of joy and uplift is made clear - tell you what, it's refreshing as heck!
An homage to Scots. Acutely strikes between play and sincerity. From the opening poem, the scale of joy and uplift is made clear - tell you what, it's refreshing as heck!
Day 21 of #30booksin30days. Here's my 30 word review of @faberbooks.bsky.social's New Cemetery by Simon Armitage:
Visiting the poet in his shed is like following Marcus Aurelius to the edge of civilised land to witness him win round the enemy by producing sheer ingots of gold.
Visiting the poet in his shed is like following Marcus Aurelius to the edge of civilised land to witness him win round the enemy by producing sheer ingots of gold.
September 21, 2025 at 8:39 PM
Day 21 of #30booksin30days. Here's my 30 word review of @faberbooks.bsky.social's New Cemetery by Simon Armitage:
Visiting the poet in his shed is like following Marcus Aurelius to the edge of civilised land to witness him win round the enemy by producing sheer ingots of gold.
Visiting the poet in his shed is like following Marcus Aurelius to the edge of civilised land to witness him win round the enemy by producing sheer ingots of gold.
Day 20 of #30booksin30days. Here's my 30 word review of A Shorter Life by Alan Jenkins:
Usually dread long poems (by that I mean over 14 lines) but here’s the real deal. We talk 'confessional' no end, yet these reveal the sex life of the soul.
Usually dread long poems (by that I mean over 14 lines) but here’s the real deal. We talk 'confessional' no end, yet these reveal the sex life of the soul.
September 20, 2025 at 7:25 PM
Day 20 of #30booksin30days. Here's my 30 word review of A Shorter Life by Alan Jenkins:
Usually dread long poems (by that I mean over 14 lines) but here’s the real deal. We talk 'confessional' no end, yet these reveal the sex life of the soul.
Usually dread long poems (by that I mean over 14 lines) but here’s the real deal. We talk 'confessional' no end, yet these reveal the sex life of the soul.
Day 19 of #30booksin30days. Here's my 30 word review of @faberbooks.bsky.social's Look We Have Coming to Dover by Daljit Nagra:
Realised its power when I reached the poem that questions the collection's existence. Modern classic, arguably more than ever. First in a while I’ve read twice in one day.
Realised its power when I reached the poem that questions the collection's existence. Modern classic, arguably more than ever. First in a while I’ve read twice in one day.
September 19, 2025 at 2:57 PM
Day 19 of #30booksin30days. Here's my 30 word review of @faberbooks.bsky.social's Look We Have Coming to Dover by Daljit Nagra:
Realised its power when I reached the poem that questions the collection's existence. Modern classic, arguably more than ever. First in a while I’ve read twice in one day.
Realised its power when I reached the poem that questions the collection's existence. Modern classic, arguably more than ever. First in a while I’ve read twice in one day.
Day 18 of #30booksin30days. Here's my 30 word review of Bloodaxe Books's Life Mask by Jackie Kay:
As unpretentious and sincere as you get, and a reminder that nothing is lost for it. I bought every breakup poem. Heartbreak intersects gracefully with ideas of culture, race.
As unpretentious and sincere as you get, and a reminder that nothing is lost for it. I bought every breakup poem. Heartbreak intersects gracefully with ideas of culture, race.
September 18, 2025 at 7:10 PM
Day 18 of #30booksin30days. Here's my 30 word review of Bloodaxe Books's Life Mask by Jackie Kay:
As unpretentious and sincere as you get, and a reminder that nothing is lost for it. I bought every breakup poem. Heartbreak intersects gracefully with ideas of culture, race.
As unpretentious and sincere as you get, and a reminder that nothing is lost for it. I bought every breakup poem. Heartbreak intersects gracefully with ideas of culture, race.
Day 17 of #30booksin30days. Here's my 30-word review of Fools For Love And Salt: Poems by the Foyle Young Poets of the Year 2011:
The future is safe. Or it was 14 years ago, when these poems were written by folks under 18. Seriously, I'd read nothing outside the AQA Anthology at that age.
The future is safe. Or it was 14 years ago, when these poems were written by folks under 18. Seriously, I'd read nothing outside the AQA Anthology at that age.
September 17, 2025 at 1:34 PM
Day 17 of #30booksin30days. Here's my 30-word review of Fools For Love And Salt: Poems by the Foyle Young Poets of the Year 2011:
The future is safe. Or it was 14 years ago, when these poems were written by folks under 18. Seriously, I'd read nothing outside the AQA Anthology at that age.
The future is safe. Or it was 14 years ago, when these poems were written by folks under 18. Seriously, I'd read nothing outside the AQA Anthology at that age.
Day 16 of #30booksin30days. Here's my short review of Alexa, What Is There to Know about Love?
by @brianbilston.bsky.social
Poetry can be clever, witty, daring, satirical, but it is never funny. Brian challenges the above notion and walks away with absolute kudos. I laughed out loud. A lot.
by @brianbilston.bsky.social
Poetry can be clever, witty, daring, satirical, but it is never funny. Brian challenges the above notion and walks away with absolute kudos. I laughed out loud. A lot.
September 16, 2025 at 7:43 PM
Day 16 of #30booksin30days. Here's my short review of Alexa, What Is There to Know about Love?
by @brianbilston.bsky.social
Poetry can be clever, witty, daring, satirical, but it is never funny. Brian challenges the above notion and walks away with absolute kudos. I laughed out loud. A lot.
by @brianbilston.bsky.social
Poetry can be clever, witty, daring, satirical, but it is never funny. Brian challenges the above notion and walks away with absolute kudos. I laughed out loud. A lot.
Half Way There! Day 15 of #30booksin30days. Here's my 30 word review of A Hundred Doors by Michael Longley:
Flew through this one (bad bird pun but apt given I immediately migrated back to the start for another cycle – will keep this up until I unbaffle the baffling genius.
Flew through this one (bad bird pun but apt given I immediately migrated back to the start for another cycle – will keep this up until I unbaffle the baffling genius.
September 15, 2025 at 3:59 PM
Half Way There! Day 15 of #30booksin30days. Here's my 30 word review of A Hundred Doors by Michael Longley:
Flew through this one (bad bird pun but apt given I immediately migrated back to the start for another cycle – will keep this up until I unbaffle the baffling genius.
Flew through this one (bad bird pun but apt given I immediately migrated back to the start for another cycle – will keep this up until I unbaffle the baffling genius.
Day 14 of #30booksin30days. Here's my review of The Abandoned Settlements by James Sheard:
I'm about to throw some phrases which are overthrown: confessional, intimate, whispering. Oddly enough for such melancholy reflections, I felt a warmth and snugness rippling through these. One for Autumn.
I'm about to throw some phrases which are overthrown: confessional, intimate, whispering. Oddly enough for such melancholy reflections, I felt a warmth and snugness rippling through these. One for Autumn.
September 14, 2025 at 11:24 AM
Day 14 of #30booksin30days. Here's my review of The Abandoned Settlements by James Sheard:
I'm about to throw some phrases which are overthrown: confessional, intimate, whispering. Oddly enough for such melancholy reflections, I felt a warmth and snugness rippling through these. One for Autumn.
I'm about to throw some phrases which are overthrown: confessional, intimate, whispering. Oddly enough for such melancholy reflections, I felt a warmth and snugness rippling through these. One for Autumn.
Day 13 of #30booksin30days. Here's my 30 word review of The Withering Room by Sarah Sibley:
Quietly gothic. Like following a documentary camera through the ghost stricken old world. Pristine control of subtext mixed with a lightness of touch. Draws out the colour of the past.
Quietly gothic. Like following a documentary camera through the ghost stricken old world. Pristine control of subtext mixed with a lightness of touch. Draws out the colour of the past.
September 13, 2025 at 6:39 PM
Day 13 of #30booksin30days. Here's my 30 word review of The Withering Room by Sarah Sibley:
Quietly gothic. Like following a documentary camera through the ghost stricken old world. Pristine control of subtext mixed with a lightness of touch. Draws out the colour of the past.
Quietly gothic. Like following a documentary camera through the ghost stricken old world. Pristine control of subtext mixed with a lightness of touch. Draws out the colour of the past.