Andy Williamson
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andywilliamson.com
Andy Williamson
@andywilliamson.com
2.4K followers 2.4K following 1K posts
Writer, poet, creative thinker & architect for democracy / Sgrìobhadair, bàrd, neach-smaoineachaidh cruthachail agus ailtire airson deamocrasaidh | Aotearoa & Isle of Skye | urbanbadgercollective.com http://andywilliamson.com
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Andy Williamson @andywilliamson.com · Nov 14
Excited that my new #poetry collection, 'Through salt-heavy seas' is out! This book marks a milestone for me, so I'm delighted to see it in print! DM me if you'd like to review it!

Get it here: www.lulu.com/shop/andrew-...

#writingcommunity #poems #scottishpoetry #PublishingScotland #booksy
Through salt-heavy seas
Through salt-heavy seas navigates the emotional geography of displacement and belonging, weaving together the coastlines of Aotearoa New Zealand, the Scottish Highlands and Islands, and the mountains ...
www.lulu.com
andywilliamson.com
Wishing you all a very merry Christmas and a peaceful, safe and fun new year! Here's a picture of the Christmas Day fire, lit with last year's tree...
Wood stove burning, lit with last year's Christmas tree
December 25, 2025 at 12:52 PM
andywilliamson.com
Sunrise, Christmas Eve (9.15am)… looking across the Sound of Sleat towards Mallaig
Sun rising across the Sound of Sleat on Christmas Eve
December 24, 2025 at 9:16 AM
andywilliamson.com
A huge thank you to all who have liked and written such lovely comments on my #PoemsAbout and #PromptCombo poems this year, and to those who have shared their work too. It's great to feel part of a warm, supportive community of such amazing poets! Here's to more good writing next year! #poetry
December 22, 2025 at 12:42 PM
andywilliamson.com
Thought I'd share a poem, written earlier this year for an academic project on #censorship of thought and ideas. Seems a timely subject for this #redacted age #poems #poetry
In the beginning there was [REDACTED] “you’ve got a week” his client told him
 “I want light and firmament”
 surely, he meant filament
 God created light the client wanted dry land
 and land that’s not so dry
 God called this “the sea”
 making plants for the dry parts he added animals because they were fun “no dinosaurs” the client was adamant but he wanted people against his judgement God made them he did this last of all knowing from experience things could go awry what he forgot to do what the client didn’t ask for what would have saved the day was [REDACTED]
December 20, 2025 at 12:47 PM
andywilliamson.com
A quick write for #poemsabout #money: greed destroyed our communities in the first clearances, now the same greed takes our houses for trophies and holiday homes! Thanks @alanparrywriter.co.uk @thebrokenspine.co.uk. Off to the school church service and will check in with others later! #poems #poetry
# Oidhche nan seachd suipearan days are short now at the sun-stop of winter celebrate the night of seven suppers the shiellings are empty shells dark houses wait for summer this island a memory a postcard
December 19, 2025 at 9:29 AM
andywilliamson.com
Here's an interview I did with @popvoxfdn.bsky.social Modern Parliament substack talking about parliamentary AI and the new IPU Maturity Framework modparl.substack.com/p/ai-in-parl...
AI in Parliaments is a Journey, Not a Switch
A conversation with Andy Williamson, Senior Researcher at the IPU Centre for Innovation in Parliament and one of the architects of the Maturity Framework for AI in Parliaments
modparl.substack.com
December 18, 2025 at 4:40 PM
Reposted by Andy Williamson
markantonyowen.com
Who's joining me, not-so-mystery guest @victoriaspires.bsky.social, host @matthewmcsmith.bsky.social and a ... er ... host of other talented types at tonight's @blackboughpoetry.bsky.social open mic? I'm bringing a Christmas vibe – albeit a typically dark one.

See you there?

bit.ly/BlackBoughPo...
Black Bough Open Mic - 18th December
Join us for our popular open mics where you can road-test your poems. 3 poems each!
bit.ly
December 18, 2025 at 12:00 PM
andywilliamson.com
Thanks @hool415.bsky.social for this week's #promptcombo; #dilemmas/decisions has ironically had me choosing between two poems! I chose this wee one as it's appropriate for the season! #poems #poetry
Midwinter you are travelling south leaving me to morning's dark and the night that falls too soon the days grow cold so far away will you turn north again
December 16, 2025 at 9:53 AM
Reposted by Andy Williamson
hool415.bsky.social
Hullo @rfsmith.bsky.social @dragonslayerma.bsky.social @thewombwellrainbow.bsky.social @victoriaspires.bsky.social All welcome, tag me @hool415.bsky.social and use as well #promptcombo #dilemmas/decisions **TILL 5pm FRIDAY!!**
(NB The four-legged one is doing ok currently with some
new meds…)🤞
Dilemmas/Decisions Most I find easy: avoiding that reliably keen, slightly asthmatic, tipsy-secretary at the office party; or giving up on God, even after much knee-work on my own part and despite this once dutiful fan’s cold and lengthy stage-door loitering. I hug so often my decade-old dog, already a great retriever of chronic disease, I don’t know if this overwhelming love will ever contort enough to… some days I feel like a liberal U.S. prison governor: working breezily, trying to be ignorant of the stayed machinery forever my wretched and wholehearted responsibility.
December 14, 2025 at 9:03 PM
andywilliamson.com
I managed a quick #fridaypoem for this week's #poemsabout #youshouldnthave prompt between meetings! Thanks @alanparrywriter.co.uk & @thebrokenspine.co.uk for yet another challenging prompt!

#poetrycommunity #poems #poets #christmas #poetsofbluesky
Christmas with your mother the tree has tinsel the lights are up the air is thick with broken promises a book, I say thanks, I say a look, you see both wary tip-toeing around the turkey (another dry old bird) heading for the wine (the only way to cope) the day will soon be over (relief as we drive away)
December 12, 2025 at 12:05 PM
Reposted by Andy Williamson
thebrokenspine.co.uk
Tomorrow: #PoemsAbout #Imps
Unleash your tricksters. Write what hides behind holiday cheer.
Chaos in small doses. Or full-blown curse.
Tag it. Use Alt Text. Post from Friday.
Saturday prompts hit inboxes: shorturl.at/0Xm7A
Same dark Krampus figure dominates the image, its form caught in firelight. Its curled horns and glowing eyes are central. The Broken Spine logo is top left, "@thebrokenspine.co.uk" top right, and the bottom right text reads: "Read Repost Reply #POEMSABOUT #IMPS".
December 4, 2025 at 6:04 PM
andywilliamson.com
Well, I really struggled with this weeks #poemsabout prompt, #imps. Nice one @alanparrywriter.co.uk @thebrokenspine.co.uk for that, really had me working hard. Well done everyone who managed something, I think I might have gone a bit off piste, as it were 😂 #poems #poetry
Hillman Imp When I was young, a mate bought a car with the engine at the back. To drive it straight, you put a bag of potatoes, or a paving slab, in the boot. Which, of course, was at the front. It leaked water, let in the rain. Always overheated, despite the water cooling.
December 5, 2025 at 11:35 AM
andywilliamson.com
Well, the Spotify wrappy-up-thingy shows two things. 1. My efforts to purge the 7-year old from my account have had limited success; and 2. his tastes have shifted very much from Bluey to Scottish trad and pipes 😂🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿
December 4, 2025 at 11:55 AM
Reposted by Andy Williamson
blackboughpoetry.bsky.social
Our hardback Christmas and Winter anthology adorning the Christmas tree.

Packed with festive, poetic gems!

www.blackboughpoetry.com/news
December 3, 2025 at 8:04 AM
andywilliamson.com
Here's a fabulous list of poetry to buy for Christmas (or any other day of the year, tbh)!
paulwritespoems.bsky.social Paul @paulwritespoems.bsky.social · 28d
Well, here we are. The very first edition of The Book Bag Christmas List. Created in part by your recommendations. This week there's the list, opportunities, news and some festive fun and goodies. Grab yourself a drink and settle in this might take a while. Feel free to share with ...
The Book Bag Christmas Gift Guide 2025
Welcome one and all to The Book Bag Christmas Gift List 2025. How has your week been? Are you feeling festive yet? I’ve compiled this list based on reader suggestions and some personal favourites of mine to give some gift inspiration for the festive season. Another reason was to share and support your favourite poets and presses by buying books. So, to tenuously misquote one of my favourite Christmas songs, let’s step into this extensive Christmas Gift list. I’ll also drop in a festive playlist and some more festive goodies. I ho ho hope you enjoy…
paulwritespoems.com
December 1, 2025 at 4:21 PM
andywilliamson.com
Here's a poem from my new collection. I think it works for @victoriaspires.bsky.social excellent #promptcombo #ThisPoem

The original is waiting here, in case you'd like a copy 😀 www.lulu.com/shop/andrew-... (you'll also find it on Amazon)
After we have said goodbye I look across as sunshine lights your face already beautiful I am drawn to who you are drawn to your smile I am enveloped by your words something in your eyes registers connects suggests a possibility and yet, yet you are unreachable a memory where love is left to find its own course waiting patiently in the words of a poem on a page in a book that you will open after we have said goodbye
December 1, 2025 at 10:29 AM
andywilliamson.com
Delighted to see the Maturity Framework for AI in Parliaments launch at the AI in Parliaments event in Malaysia, something I've been working on for the last six months! In English here (French and Spanish to follow soon): www.ipu.org/resources/pu...
Cover image of the IPU Maturity Framework for AI in Parliaments
November 29, 2025 at 4:08 PM
andywilliamson.com
Here's my second poem written for #poemsabout #nofuture, thanks @alanparrywriter.co.uk @thebrokenspine.co.uk for the prompt, a bit of a tricky one for me! #poems #poetry
Embankment we follow a strip of darkness where the river hides in a city of light not speaking all has been said past crowds of strangers towards the station you will go west me, east different lines, shadows passing in the tunnel no starlight or fireworks no futures planned the briefest hug then goodbye
November 28, 2025 at 10:16 AM
andywilliamson.com
A tricky @poemsabout this week, but in the end I wrote two poems for #nofuture. Here's the first, a wee bit tongue-in-cheek, perhaps! Thanks @alanparrywriter.co.uk @thebrokenspine.co.uk #poems #poetry
The poet night after night in dim shadows words form from nothing edit, submit reject
November 28, 2025 at 10:13 AM
Reposted by Andy Williamson
zoomburst.substack.com
I just read through the #PoemsAbout #dogtag posts from the weekend. some great stuff. I didn't contribute this week. Been busy preparing poetry for the Leeds Song Festival. I've been teamed up with a composer for a performance next April. We were asked to tag it on our social media so heres a tag.
Home - Leeds Song
Filling the city with song since 2004
www.leedssong.com
November 24, 2025 at 10:34 AM
andywilliamson.com
The BigDog says it feels like a Monday... #podenco #sighthound
A podenco dozing on a cushion
November 24, 2025 at 11:56 AM
andywilliamson.com
Deadlines, deadlines... urgh! Not much time this morning but can't resist this little poem (based on last week's snow!) for #promptcombo #OnRoofs! Thanks @thewombwellrainbow.bsky.social for the lovely prompt!
Snowstorm outside all is white and light and glistening thunder overhead as the snow breaks free taking the gutters with it
November 24, 2025 at 11:23 AM
andywilliamson.com
Thanks @paulwritespoems.bsky.social for hosting a great evening!
paulwritespoems.bsky.social Paul @paulwritespoems.bsky.social · Nov 20
Super evening at Write Here, Right Now. Prompts went down well I think and have definitely give me things to work on over winter. Back in Jan 2026
November 22, 2025 at 10:31 AM
Reposted by Andy Williamson
paulwritespoems.bsky.social
For #PoemsAbout #DogTags here is ‘Memorial Service’

Will catch up later @thebrokenspine.co.uk
Memorial Service He’s bought medals from eBay. Bought the uniform from Army Surplus. War stories stolen from Hollywood and Pinewood. Burton, Savalas, Caine. At the Cenotaph, He swaps salutes with the wounded, scarred, nervous, whose eyes he can’t hold, but tales he’ll recycle. His legs bolt a rapid one-two retreat at confrontation. In the safety of his home he reloads, more medals— delivered in 4 working days.
November 21, 2025 at 12:29 PM
andywilliamson.com
Maybe a bit off-script for #poemsabout #dogtags but it's what emerged - a quick poem on names and seasons of a relationship. Thanks @alanparrywriter.co.uk & @thebrokenspine.co.uk #poems #poetry
Call me by any name spring sunshine graces your smile birds sing in praise of all the saints as we amble through the market holding hands you call me by any name that means love summer heat warms to our conversation young birds fledge, their nests left behind we run for the bus, not fast enough to catch it you call me by names only we can know autumn comes early, rains close around us the birds will leave for warmer lands as smoke from cosy hearths fills the air you call me in a hushed voice winter is hard, a northerly wind brings snow those who are left search for shelter you are wrapped up against the elements you call me to say goodbye
November 21, 2025 at 9:01 AM