This morning on the River Suir, Ireland. The rising sun glows on a dandelion head. Yellow brassicas brighten the path. A copper beech glows amongst the fresh greens. There is the blue dart of a kingfisher from an overhanging branch as two cormorants swim mid river, necks like submarine periscopes.
Early river stroll. Low sun flutters through fresh greenery. A song thrush sings against a chorus of wrens. Trees branches wave at passing clouds. Dandelion heads mark time. A surprised otter at the riverbank. A statuesque heron watches over everything.
Wonderful display of bluebells scenting the air in the local award winning Merrilocks Park in Blundellsands.
A unique 'collective' reading with six Longbarrow poets in Sheffield tomorrow evening (Tuesday 21 April). Hope to see you there.
Blue skies and sunshine down at Crosby beach today. Silvery sands sparkle in the light. A stiff breeze keeps temperatures down but is good kite flying weather. #IronMenCrosby
Ash heaps, Thorpe Marsh Power Station, South Yorkshire, April 2025.
Join us on Tuesday for Habitation: poems on the theme of land/class/nature with Angelina D’Roza, Steve Ely, Pete Green, Rob Hindle, Chris Jones, Fay Musselwhite.
Tue 21 April
The Harlequin, 108 Nursery St, Sheffield, S3 8GG
Free entry, all welcome. Book here:
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/habitation...
My friend and neighbour Saul Leslie isn’t on social media. His debut novel is out soon, the launch is at @waterstoneslpl.bsky.social on 21 April. It’s called A Working Title I Want To Change. It’s brilliant. He’s in conversation with @davidhering.bsky.social
www.waterstones.com/events/saul-...
Last week I was lucky a venue I wanted to visit was closed - I ended up here instead. Yes, it's a lovely view of Porth Neigwl, Hell's Mouth, North Wales, but watch as the cottage is revealed - you are seeing where poet @rsthomaspoet.bsky.social & his artist wife Elsi Eldridge lived in retirement.
Ash heaps, Thorpe Marsh Power Station, South Yorkshire, April 2025.
Habitation: a collective reading on the theme of 'land, class, nature' with Angelina D’Roza, Steve Ely, Pete Green, Rob Hindle, Chris Jones, Fay Musselwhite.
Tuesday 21 April
The Harlequin, 108 Nursery St, Sheffield, S3 8GG
Free entry, all welcome. Book here:
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/habitation...
Rain clouds are forming over the Welsh hills but here on Crosby beach the sun has been shining, the sea silvered with light and up in the blue sky over the beach skylarks are singing. The first time I have heard them this year. #IronMenCrosby
(Poem) A WHOLE CIVILIZATION WILL DIE TONIGHT My son needs lunch, and I have to put his backpack together, but a whole civilization will die tonight, so I’m wondering if they’ve closed their schools. Like, a snow day, maybe, except instead of snow it’s “keep your children home so if you die, you die together” — Instead of “we’ll open back up once the plows have cleared” it’s “we don’t know if we’ll be here tomorrow, so hold your babies tight.” It’s just “talk,” I’m told, which I’ve been told before. “It’s how the president makes his deals.” But I’ve never heard anyone talk about other human beings this way, and I’m not certain I can look my son in the eyes If we all agree to stomach it one more time. A civilization will die tonight, but as I zip up his backpack and kiss him off to school I think: If this Is what we call leadership then I’m not entirely sure ours isn’t already dead. Michael F. DuBois
Someone should read this into the congressional record.
After Storm Dave and a recent high tide, today the wet sands of Crosby beach were a mirror to the clouds racing across blue sky. The air filled with the roar of the white capped waves and the cry of gulls sweeping past. #IronMenCrosby
How lovely, and really quite astonishing. Book tourism in action. Recent visitors to my neighbour's BnB came to stay because they'd read Windswept! And others stopped her on the road to ask about it.
Thank you to everyone who has bought, gifted, recommended & written about this wee book.
I love writing these letters to Kirsteen. Happy reading everyone 🤗
The last light before the clocks changed. A wintery feel as a cold wind drives foaming spray capped waves across Crosby beach. Rain laden clouds gather over the sea, just allowing the sun to set before blotting out the light with a grey curtain of rain. #IronMenCrosby
A reminder that postal charges are increasing from 7 April, which makes this a particularly good week to order books from us
A dramatic sunset, the last before the clocks go forward to summer time. But it was nothing like summer down at Crosby beach tonight as a strong NW wind chilled the air, whipped up the incoming tide and drove squalls of rain and hail across the scene. #IronMenCrosby
A partial view of the Longbarrow Press stall at PAGES artists book fair, Leeds, with half a dozen hardbacks on stands in the foreground
You can find the Longbarrow Press stall at the States of Independence one-day festival and book fair in Leicester on Saturday 28 March (alongside Five Leaves, Shearsman, intergraphia, and more). The Atrium, Hugh Aston Building, The Newarke, Leicester LE2 7BY. 10am-4pm, all welcome, admission free.
A lovely response to the Sacred Memory Bank exhibition here from Chris Shepherd, author of the wonderful 'Anfield Road', one of the best books going about Liverpool in my humble opinion. The exhibition closes tomorrow so get your skates on!
anfieldroadstory.com/last-couple-...
This is a great read.
Ten Longbarrow hardbacks, spines facing out.
You can find Longbarrow Press at the following book fairs in the coming weeks:
States of Independence, Leicester, Saturday 28 March
Free Verse: Poetry Book Fair, London, Saturday 25 April
Book Market, SIBFest, Sheffield, Sunday 26 April
Free, all welcome. Further info:
longbarrowpress.com/events/
That Spring feeling as warm sunlight filters through the branches. The woodland glows with a carpet of yellow daffodils and the light greens of new leaf buds appearing on the trees.
Yesterday, as evening fell on Crosby beach the last light of day coloured the clouds above the emptying sands with an impressionist brush of many colours. The streaked clouds glowed orange then deep pink and tones of crimson. A stunning end to a spring day. #IronMenCrosby
As a brilliant spring day drew to a close and the busy beach quietened, the sun lowered into clouds along the western horizon marking the eve of the eqilux. On Wednesday the hours of daylight and night will be equal ahead of the Spring Equinox. #IronMenCrosby
A beautiful spring like day here in Alexandra Park, Crosby. Blossom is bright against the blue sky, daffodils are swaying in the breeze, bright pale greens of new leaves are emerging on bushes and clumps of bright Scilla Luciliae, Lucile’s Glory of the Snow are bright blue patches across the lawns.
Almost cloudless skies and wet sands shimmering under the bright sunlight of this spring like day on Crosby beach, the wind from the south and warmer. Out at the water’s edge oystercatchers are calling, the air full of their plaintive piping. #IronMenCrosby
There’s only two weeks left to visit the Sacred Memory Bank at the wonderful Kirkby Gallery So if you’re thinking of going, get going!
bsky.app/profile/wild...
Signs of spring. Catkins on the twisted willow and tiny pink crowns on the leaf buds.
Clear skies and shimmering sands at Crosby beach this afternoon. Almost spring like apart from the chill wind taking the heat out of the sun. #IronMenCrosby
A cold evening, the light blue, a strong NW wind cutting across Crosby beach. Just a hint of warmth from the glow of the setting sun as it shines through a distant gap in the fast moving clouds. #IronMenCrosby
