'succinct, modest, affecting portrait of a good but constrained life'
Huge Congratulations to Stephen Chappell whose poem 'At the Barbers' is the IS&T #PickoftheMonth for February. To revisit the poem and for more voters' comments, go to inksweatandtears.co.uk/february-202...
#InkSweatAndTears
Two images of frost on a window and on trees as background. Text: IS&T FEBRUARY 2026 PICK OF THE MONTH Tim Brookes Stephen Chapell May Garner Louella Lester Rob A. Mackenzie Surmaya Talyarkhan. Bottom right: VOTE decal.
πππ IS&T's February #PickoftheMonth? Choose from Tim Brookes, Stephen Chapell, May Garner, Louella Lester, Rob A. Mackenzie or Surmaya Talyarkhan. πππ
inksweatandtears.co.uk/february-202...
#InkSweatAndTears
We are getting ready to announce our shortlist for IS&T's February #PickoftheMonth in a few hours time. In the meantime you can listen to Samantha Carr / @samc4rr.bsky.social read January's winning 'Unexploded Bombs' on the site now. inksweatandtears.co.uk/january-2026...
#InkSweatAndTears
To the right: Graphic of white and red blood cells To the left: Faint image of blood splatter superimposed with the following text: Congratulations (red italics) SAMANTHA CARR Unexploded Bombs IS&T JANUARY 2026 PICK OF THE MONTH
'A very striking and thought provoking piece of work.'
Warm congratulations to @samc4rr.bsky.social whose poem 'Unexploded Bombs' is the IS&T #PickoftheMonth for January 2026. To revisit the poem and for more voters' comments, please go to inksweatandtears.co.uk/january-2026....
#InkSweatandTears
To the right: Image of sky in dark greys with a hint of yellow orange light 3/4 of the way down. Pale yellow stamp saying VOTE in dark grey. Text to the left: IS&T January 2026 Pick of the Month Helen Akers Samantha Carr Antony Dunn Myra Schneider Zumwalt Jessica Mookherjee reviews 'Grey Time' by Julia Webb
Right out of January and into its #PickoftheMonth vote! Will you choose poems from Helen Akers, @samc4rr.bsky.social, Antony Dunn, Myra Schneider, Zumwalt, or @jessmookherjee.bsky.social's review of 'Grey Time' by @julwe1.bsky.social.
inksweatandtears.co.uk/january-2026...
#InkSweatandTears #Vote
Image (to the right) of red berries on a bare branch against a blue sky and snow on the ground. With a VOTE stamp bottom right. Text: IS&T December Pick of the Month * Toby Cotton *Michelle Diaz *John Greening *Paula R. Hilton *Usha Kishore *Fiona Larkin
It's time to choose the last IS&T Pick of the Month for 2025. Will December's be Toby Cotton, @michelleadiaz.bsky.social, @greeningpoet.bsky.social, Paula R. Hilton, Usha Kishore or @fionalarkin.bsky.social. More at inksweatandtears.co.uk/december-202...
#InkSweatandTears #PickoftheMonth
To right: Image of late November trees with the leaves on the ground. VOTE icon Text: IS&T November 2025 Pick of the Month Mariam Saidan TaαΈg Paul Antony Owen Andy Humphrey Tamara Evans Mallika Bhaumik
As we head towards the glitter and glitz, let's take one last look back at November. Will you choose Mariam Saidan, TaαΈg Paul / @tigger.ie, Antony Owen, Andy Humphrey, Tamara Evans / cadicarterbrown.bsky.social or Mallika Bhaumik as your #PickoftheMonth?
#InkSweatandTears #FeaturedPoetry
Image to the right of feet doing a back flip kick of a football. Text: Congratulations (banner) Tadhg Carey Pivotal IS&T's October 2025 Pick of the Month
'Beautiful, subtle merging of that moment of sporting destiny and the creative process'
Huge Congrats to @tadhgcarey.bsky.social whose poem 'Pivotal' is our #PickoftheMonth for Oct 2025. To revisit the poem & for more voters' comments go to inksweatandtears.co.uk/october-2025...
#InkSweatandTears
Text: IS&T October 2025 Pick of the Month Rushika Wick Oormila Vijayakrishnan Prahlad David A. Lee Sarah James/Leavesley Pratibha Castle Tadhg Carey 'Vote' icon in corner Side banner of maple tree with multi-coloured Autumn leaves.
The October Pick of the Month vote is now live. Will you choose @rushikawick.bsky.social, @oormilaprahlad.bsky.social, David A. Lee, @sarahleavesley.bsky.social, @poet-pratibha1.bsky.social or @tadhgcarey.bsky.social? More at inksweatandtears.co.uk/october-2025...
#InkSweatandTears #PickoftheMonth
We'll be announcing our shortlist for September's #PickoftheMonth in a few hours. In the meantime, you can hear August's winner John Bartlett read his winning poem at inksweatandtears.co.uk/august-2025-...
Image Faint image of lilies coming through the image of clouds and sky of an autumn dusk. Text: Congratulations John Bartlett sclerenchyma The IS&T August 2025 Pick of the Month
'Evocative, descriptive, challenging and uplifting'
Congratulations to John Bartlett whose poem 'sclerenchyma' is the IS&T Pick of the Month for August 2025. To revisit the poem & see more voters' comments go to inksweatandtears.co.uk/august-2025-...
#InkSweatandTears #Poetry #PickoftheMonth
Full August moon in a vivid cloud filled sky at dusk. Text: The IS&T August 2025 Pick of the Month Ben Banyard John Bartlett Cindy Botha Liz Byrne Jeff Gallagher Esha Volvoikar Vote Now
Which poem is your IS&T August 2025 Pick of the Month? Choose from @benbanyard.bsky.social, John Bartlett, Cindy Botha, Liz Byrne, Jeff Gallagher or Esha Volvoikar, and vote at inksweatandtears.co.uk/august-2025-...
#InkSweatandTears #PoetryCommunity #PickoftheMonth
Part image of red apple to the left on a blurred green background Text: The IS&T July 2025 Pick of the Month Paul Chuks Reimagination of Gravity Congratulations (in italics)
'This poem was as unexpected as a story plot! I loved it.'
Huge congratulations to Paul Chuks whose poem 'Reimagination of Gravity' is the #InkSweatandTears #PickoftheMonth for July 2025. To revisit the poem & for more voters' comments go to inksweatandtears.co.uk/july-2025-pi...
Image: half sunflower emerging from left on a blurred green background. Text: Right: Vote (black italics) Left: The IS&T July 2025 Pick of the Month Susana Arrieta Paul Chuks Lola Dekhuijzen John Grey Eithne Longstaff Mark Wyatt
Take a moment and vote for IS&T's July 2025 Pick of the Month. Will you choose Susana Arrieta, Paul Chuks, Lola Dekhuijzen, John Grey, Eithne Longstaff or Mark Wyatt?
More details at inksweatandtears.co.uk/july-2025-pi...
#InkSweatandTears #PickoftheMonth
Partially transparent background: close up of vivid red poppies. Bottom right: stamp saying VOTE Text: The IS&T June 2025 Pick of the Month Rachael Clyne Oz Hardwick Pippa Little Steph Morris Sreeja Naskar McLord Selasi
It's time to choose your Pick of the Month for June 2025. Will you vote for @rachaelclyne.bsky.social, Oz Hardwick, Pippa Little, @herr-morris.bsky.social, Sreeja Naskar or @selasimclord.bsky.social ? More at inksweatandtears.co.uk/june-2025-pi...
#InkSweatandTears #PickoftheMonth
Background: Close up, almost abstract image of windblown carnation petals Text (centred): The IS&T May 2025 Pick of the Month Joseph Blythe Jo Farrant Martin Figura Marissa Glover Mofiyinfoluwa O. Jennie E. Owen with two VOTE icons either side.
What will be your Pick of the Month for May 2025? Will it be a poem from @wooperark.bsky.social, Jo Farrant, @martinfigura.bsky.social, Marissa Glover, Mofiyinfoluwa O. or Jennie E. Owen? Vote now at inksweatandtears.co.uk/may-2025-pic...!
#InkSweatandTears #PickoftheMonth
