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traceyherd-rio.bsky.social
Poet (Bloodaxe Books) & snake mum. 🐍 Prolific. 3 books in 30 years. Last one - Not in this World, 2015. ❤️ old films 1920s - 60s (Elizabeth Hartman), 50s & 60s music &, er, Showaddywaddy & Mud. Thornton Wilder, Tennessee Williams, Roberto Bolano, Plath...
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From 4 years ago. I must learn to relax.

A spill of yew like Christ’s blood in the snow; and somewhere in the hedge, just yards away, a fleck of presence waiting to be born… —John Burnside, “Nativity” published in RUIN, BLOSSOM (Penguin 2024) #Christmas #poetry www.penguin.co.uk/books/456120...

An #Otwituary for #PlaySchool presenter #JulieStevens Here’s a house; here’s a door. Here’s a woman; now no more. Here’s the hour; here’s the day. Here’s a game; let’s all play. Here’s a child; watch him grow. Here’s his life; let him go.

A young Elizabeth Hartman appeared in small theatre productions of Thornton Wilder's Our Town, & Tennessee William's The Glass Menagerie. I can't read either without her at my shoulder. The following quote could have come from the latter - vulnerable,shy, an apologetic half smile as she vanished ❤️

Divided loyalties for The Saltire Poetry Book of the Year between Marjorie Lofti's The Wrong Person to Ask & John Burnside's Rain, Blossom, but I've loved John Burnside's work since the 1990s & was saddened by his early death. It's a fitting tribute to one of the finest poets of his generation ❤️

The "film tie-in" edition from 6 decades ago. I had to buy it.

I love this, via @rachaelboast.bsky.social, fine advice for all poets from WS Graham

Beyond thrilled that The Wrong Person to Ask is shortlisted for the Saltire Prize Poetry Book of the Year with these giants!

John Burnside (poetry) and Carl MacDougall (non-fiction) have both been nominated posthumously for the Saltire Book Awards 2024. I couldn't post the link from The Bookseller but it seemed worthy of a mention. They were both very fine writers.

I bought this book when I was a teenager and I had underlined just one sentence. 4 years ago I reread it after a bereavement which left me reeling, and almost 40 years later I finally understood it completely.

My friend's cat Jasper who can hear a blister pack of pills being opened from 50 yards away. If there's nothing immediately on offer, he'll just have a wee look in the bag from the chemist...

Today we are delighted to publish new books by Marie Howe, Philip Gross & David Constantine. Find out more about all three titles and order copies on our website: bloodaxebooks.com/ecs/new_titl...

That's another bucket ticked off my list (Jasper)

With Licorice and Rio. Licorice passed away in 2020. Rio (on the right) is the current boss ❤️