Lift To The Sky a sleek bird lifts and soars effortlessly seeking and circling searching for prey— death rains down from the sky bombs missiles hurtle down— humanity demolished by war as souls take flight lift to the sky— needless loss
Hello poets & @thebrokenspine.co.uk
— For this week's #LiftToTheSky
(good cape weather)
by #WesJordans
(a new mix of familiar emotions)
“the mind complains, complains, complains, and tries to untangle the / uncomplicated”
#Poetry
A black-and-white photograph of seabirds flying above a calm sea. Gentle waves roll toward the shore beneath a pale sky. In the centre of the image, handwritten-style text reads “#LIFTTOTHESKY,” with “@thebrokenspine.co.uk” beneath it. The Broken Spine fountain pen logo appears in the top right corner.
#LiftToTheSky is a reminder that reading is relational.
Lift the work that moved you, not the work that flatters you.
Black-and-white graphic of a vintage typewriter seen from above. Torn paper strips sit in the typewriter reading “£1200 RAISED” and “WIN CASH” in bold lettering. Below, the hashtags “#TheBrokenSpineAward” and “#ByPoetsForPoets” are printed. The overall style is gritty, high-contrast, and zine-like.
Our prize matters as much as any other poetry prize.
Which is to say: it doesn’t.
But it was built honestly and together — and that’s enough.
#TheBrokenSpineAward #ByPoetsForPoets #PoemsAbout #LiftToTheSky
Three fabulous poems from the brilliant Linda M. Crate 👏
#poem #poems #poetry #lifttothesky
Black-and-white graphic of a vintage typewriter seen from above. Torn paper strips sit in the typewriter reading “£1200 RAISED” and “WIN CASH” in bold lettering. Below, the hashtags “#TheBrokenSpineAward” and “#ByPoetsForPoets” are printed. The overall style is gritty, high-contrast, and zine-like.
This prize exists because we decided to make it — and you decided to help.
That’s the only legitimacy we care about.
Everything else is theatre.
#TheBrokenSpineAward #ByPoetsForPoets #PoemsAbout #LiftToTheSky
Hello poets & @thebrokenspine.co.uk
— For this week's #LiftToTheSky
Blue Horses by #MaryOliver
What a delight to imagine, stepping into a painting, and then stepping into a painting with Mary Oliver
#Poetry #ElphrasticPoetry
www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
"I live in a folk song" 💚
Fascinating premise, a conversation between father & son. It captures the tenacity & individualism of that generation, and generational conflicts in any era. The defiance is powerful! A refusal to participate in outdated structures.
@carmellapoetry.bsky.social
#LiftToTheSky
#lifttothesky new to our community @mgrowth720.bsky.social
who is pumping out some heartfelt and beautiful work! Check it out
What an extraordinarily kind thing Carmella. Thank you. And as I am sure Peter, Julie, Evie and the two Johns will agree, you deserve a #lifttothesky, if not a #lifttothehighestvaultoftheempyrean in return
My #LiftToTheSky this week is @madp03t.bsky.social. His fiction as well as his poetry displays a sharp wit that cuts into what it means to experience the absurd tragi-comedy we call life. Check his work out and enjoy. Best wishes 🤗
#writercommunity #poetrycommunity #writers #poets
Black-and-white graphic of a vintage typewriter seen from above. Torn paper strips sit in the typewriter reading “£1200 RAISED” and “WIN CASH” in bold lettering. Below, the hashtags “#TheBrokenSpineAward” and “#ByPoetsForPoets” are printed. The overall style is gritty, high-contrast, and zine-like.
We didn’t wait for permission.
We didn’t wait for funding bodies.
We made a prize to prove they’re no more meaningful than ours — and you backed it.
#TheBrokenSpineAward #ByPoetsForPoets #PoemsAbout #LiftToTheSky
There's some awesome people I'd like to #LiftToTheSky today! I do know a lot of cool people, so it can be hard to choose.
@ottersediting.com is amazing! They're on heck of an editor and just all around awesome!
@nocturnalxlight.bsky.social is also really, really cool!
Check 'em out!
Today's #LiftToTheSky goes to this poem by @taylorbyas.bsky.social. The sense data and concrete details pulled me in while the arc of emotions resonates in the way you want a poem to do. 💜
@thebrokenspine.co.uk @alanparrywriter.co.uk
poets.org/poem/i-begin...
The cover of Mirko Boncaldo’s poetry pamphlet Subverses from Broken Sleep Books. A yellow background across which, from the right, headlands of green, blue and brown abstraction pour
Mirko Boncaldo’s Subverses, a poetry pamphlet from Broken Sleep Books, edited by Aaron Kent, arrived this morning. That cover alone deserves a #lifttothesky #poetrycommunity @godzillakent.bsky.social @brokensleepbooks.bsky.social
On Sunday, I enjoyed attending one of the most thought-provoking book launches, Paul Brookes' collection, Hedgerow of Voices. Here's a poem & some lovely endorsements from:
@thepaulconnolly.bsky.social
@rhonagreene.bsky.social
#LiftToTheSky
@thewombwellrainbow.bsky.social
@janecornwell.bsky.social
Black-and-white graphic of a vintage typewriter seen from above. Torn paper strips sit in the typewriter reading “£1200 RAISED” and “WIN CASH” in bold lettering. Below, the hashtags “#TheBrokenSpineAward” and “#ByPoetsForPoets” are printed. The overall style is gritty, high-contrast, and zine-like.
No illusion of permanence.
No myth of transformation.
Just one editor’s taste and money raised by a community that showed up.
That’s real.
#TheBrokenSpineAward #ByPoetsForPoets #PoemsAbout #LiftToTheSky
Black-and-white graphic of a vintage typewriter seen from above. Torn paper strips sit in the typewriter reading “£1200 RAISED” and “WIN CASH” in bold lettering. Below, the hashtags “#TheBrokenSpineAward” and “#ByPoetsForPoets” are printed. The overall style is gritty, high-contrast, and zine-like.
This award won’t crown “the best”.
It’ll crown favourites — like all prizes do.
The difference is we said it out loud and built it together.
#TheBrokenSpineAward #ByPoetsForPoets #PoemsAbout #LiftToTheSky
Black-and-white graphic of a vintage typewriter seen from above. Torn paper strips sit in the typewriter reading “£1200 RAISED” and “WIN CASH” in bold lettering. Below, the hashtags “#TheBrokenSpineAward” and “#ByPoetsForPoets” are printed. The overall style is gritty, high-contrast, and zine-like.
We know this prize doesn’t matter in the grand scheme.
Neither does prestige.
But cash and care do — and you showed both, shoulder to shoulder.
#TheBrokenSpineAward #ByPoetsForPoets #PoemsAbout #LiftToTheSky
Book cover of the international anthology, Contemporary Surrealist and Magical Realist Poetry, edited by Jonas Zdanys, featuring a swirling orange and blue sky, green countryside with a river winding through and a large strangely shaped sculpture towering over the scene.
This week's #LiftToTheSky goes to the anthology Contemporary Surrealist and Magical Realist Poetry edited by Jonas Zdanys. I dip in every morning, excellent way to start the day. I recommend to anyone who likes a good dose of weird! 💜
@thebrokenspine.co.uk @alanparrywriter.co.uk
A black-and-white photograph of seabirds flying above a calm sea. Gentle waves roll toward the shore beneath a pale sky. In the centre of the image, handwritten-style text reads “#LIFTTOTHESKY,” with “@thebrokenspine.co.uk” beneath it. The Broken Spine fountain pen logo appears in the top right corner.
It’s #LiftToTheSky Monday.
Share a poet, press, or project you trust.
Your recommendation matters.
Black-and-white graphic of a vintage typewriter seen from above. Torn paper strips sit in the typewriter reading “£1200 RAISED” and “WIN CASH” in bold lettering. Below, the hashtags “#TheBrokenSpineAward” and “#ByPoetsForPoets” are printed. The overall style is gritty, high-contrast, and zine-like.
Our prize is as arbitrary as any other.
So we skipped the ceremony and kept the honesty.
You helped fund it because you care about poets.
We do too.
#TheBrokenSpineAward #ByPoetsForPoets #PoemsAbout #LiftToTheSky
Black-and-white graphic of a vintage typewriter seen from above. Torn paper strips sit in the typewriter reading “£1200 RAISED” and “WIN CASH” in bold lettering. Below, the hashtags “#TheBrokenSpineAward” and “#ByPoetsForPoets” are printed. The overall style is gritty, high-contrast, and zine-like.
This prize won’t make you famous.
It won’t rewrite your future.
It will say: we liked this work, and here’s money — raised together.
#TheBrokenSpineAward #ByPoetsForPoets #PoemsAbout #LiftToTheSky
For this week’s #LiftToTheSky, here’s a shout out to:
Elemental Things
By Michael Glaser
Stillness
“What can a pen know better / than its own not knowing?”
#poetry #MichaelGlaser
www.goodreads.com/book/show/12...
#lifttothesky one of my favorite people and a big part and supporter of our community @arwashington.bsky.social. I could probably write this every week she is so special. Her writing, art and heart are something that if you are lucky- you get to be a part of
#LiftToTheSky another shout-out to Write & a Pint, from online morning sessions to in-person workshops, the most lovely, welcoming bunch of writers 💖
www.writeandpint.com
Black-and-white graphic of a vintage typewriter seen from above. Torn paper strips sit in the typewriter reading “£1200 RAISED” and “WIN CASH” in bold lettering. Below, the hashtags “#TheBrokenSpineAward” and “#ByPoetsForPoets” are printed. The overall style is gritty, high-contrast, and zine-like.
No authority claimed.
No neutrality pretended.
One editor’s favourites, funded by peers.
You raised the pot with us. That’s the story.
#TheBrokenSpineAward #ByPoetsForPoets #PoemsAbout #LiftToTheSky
For this week’s #LiftToTheSky I’m highlighting the #Poetry Library, #Scotland. A fab resource with the aim of ‘bringing people and poetry together’ check their online resources, visit if in Edinburgh, or borrow books by post. A treasure.
www.scottishpoetrylibrary.org.uk
Discover more than Burns
A black-and-white photograph of seabirds flying above a calm sea. Gentle waves roll toward the shore beneath a pale sky. In the centre of the image, handwritten-style text reads “#LIFTTOTHESKY,” with “@thebrokenspine.co.uk” beneath it. The Broken Spine fountain pen logo appears in the top right corner.
#LiftToTheSky asks a simple question:
Who helped you stay with the work?
Lift them.
