Dave Kurley
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badvibrations62.bsky.social
Dave Kurley
@badvibrations62.bsky.social
830 followers 1.5K following 670 posts
Poet, writer, photographer. All my own work. All my own photos. All my own teeth, too. No DMs, please - unless I know you personally.

First book of poems: ‘Irritating the Silver Lining’ - available to order online.

Visit my website: www.davekurley.net
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badvibrations62.bsky.social
Dave Kurley @badvibrations62.bsky.social · 4d
First blog of the year: January's been a busy month so far...

www.davekurley.net/blogstuff/ne...

#blog #writing #wordplaywritersclub #portugal #alllanguageswelcome
New Year, New Stuff! — Stuff by Dave Kurley
…I mean, it’s all very well, spending your time sweating over getting the words in the right order on the page - but what about when you have to present it to your friends and peers? Or to a crowd of ...
www.davekurley.net
badvibrations62.bsky.social
First blog of the year: January's been a busy month so far...

www.davekurley.net/blogstuff/ne...

#blog #writing #wordplaywritersclub #portugal #alllanguageswelcome
New Year, New Stuff! — Stuff by Dave Kurley
…I mean, it’s all very well, spending your time sweating over getting the words in the right order on the page - but what about when you have to present it to your friends and peers? Or to a crowd of ...
www.davekurley.net
January 20, 2026 at 12:21 AM
badvibrations62.bsky.social
Well, this is a wonderful surprise! A massive thank you to @thewombwellrainbow.bsky.social for including me in this anthology!

#poetry #poems #notadvent #notnewyear #poetrycommunity #blueskypoets
January 17, 2026 at 8:12 AM
Reposted by Dave Kurley
thewombwellrainbow.bsky.social
For @alanparrywriter.co.uk @thebrokenspine.co.uk #PoemsAbout #Static
Silence (From "A World Where" 2) is forbidden. All must talk in their sleep. Learn to talk over one another and listen at the same time. Any silence means imprisonment. Babies are encouraged from birth to scream. Writing is seen as a form of silence so everything is read aloud, traffic signs, shopfronts, TV and radio are talked over the top of all the time. Songs are sung constantly. There is no two minute silence as a sign of respect for the dead. It is disrespectful not to talk at the graveside, And in church, during a sermon or any speeches. Hecklers are encouraged. Everyone has a voice that must be heard. Everyone must listen and respond immediately.
January 9, 2026 at 7:50 AM
Reposted by Dave Kurley
zoomburst.substack.com
#PoemsAbout #Static
Holidays When I was small, we took our holidays in a static caravan at the coast I would fall asleep listening to imagined voices in the radio silence As outside, creatures of the night prowled in a field of static The darkness illuminated by the white noise of the North Sea At dawn, a metal gas canister wheezed as my dad turned on the stove to boil a kettle which hissed and whistled to a gradual climax Tea made with boiled egg water is good for bones and teeth And blackened toast, thinly spread with margarine, fortifies the blood
January 9, 2026 at 9:11 AM
Reposted by Dave Kurley
merrildsmith.bsky.social
Good morning! It's great to be back to #PoemsAbout #Static.
Thank you to @alanparrywriter.co.uk and @thebrokenspine.co.uk .
Poem: Laundered In the arid, winter-dark a thousand sparks fly, looking for a conductor, any could cause a conflagration-- infinite possibilities (to breathe free) imagine if we could (stop shooting) wash and rinse in sun-streams and moon-rivers, apply a fabric sheet layered with feathers from a galactic phoenix to tumble us dry, to soothe the static, to leave us scented with hope as we rise.
January 9, 2026 at 11:34 AM
badvibrations62.bsky.social
Last blog of the year - @zoomburst.substack.com's New Year post is live, with a whole bunch of poems musing on the passage of old into new, including Handover by yours truly!

www.davekurley.net/blogstuff/cl...

#blog #poetry #writers #HNY #poetrycommunity
Happy New Year? — Stuff by Dave Kurley
Also, a quick reminder: January 5th 6-8pm at The Hub, Alvaiázere is the inaugural meeting of the new branch of the Wordplay Writers Club. If you fancy a couple of hours of messing about with words (...
www.davekurley.net
December 29, 2025 at 11:15 PM
Reposted by Dave Kurley
thewombwellrainbow.bsky.social
The Starbeck Orion issue #14 Not Advent Anthology Day 4 of 25 featuring the poetry of @abigailottley.bsky.social Abigail Ottley
the880.substack.com/p/the-starbe...
The Starbeck Orion issue #14 Not Advent Anthology Day 4 of 25 featuring the poetry of Abigail Ottley
A Feast of Image And Word
the880.substack.com
December 28, 2025 at 7:20 AM
Reposted by Dave Kurley
zoomburst.substack.com
As we approach New Years Eve, #sixtyodd poets would like to offer you some new year #poetry in Out With The Old - In With The New. And as an added bonus for Mary Pickford fans, there is a New Year photograph of her for you to cut out and keep. (although you will have to print it first)
Out With the Old - In With the New
Some thoughts to take into the New Year
sixtyoddpoets.substack.com
December 28, 2025 at 11:03 AM
Reposted by Dave Kurley
thewombwellrainbow.bsky.social
The Starbeck Orion issue #14 Not Advent Anthology Day 2 of 25 featuring the poetry of Andrew Darlington
the880.substack.com/p/the-starbe...
The Starbeck Orion issue #14 Not Advent Anthology Day 2 of 25 featuring the poetry of Andrew Darlington
A Feast Of Word And Image
the880.substack.com
December 26, 2025 at 7:03 AM
Reposted by Dave Kurley
thebrokenspine.co.uk
The poetry community built this award. It was never about me—it was always about funding a career-changing prize for poets. Facilitated by @AlanParry83.bsky.social, but made possible #ByWritersForWriters. Last chance to give. 🔗
A Poetry Award That Puts Poets First – And You Can Make It Happen - The Broken Spine
Poets deserve more than empty prestige. They deserve real recognition, real opportunities, and real support. That is why I am launching The Broken Spine
shorturl.at
December 26, 2025 at 2:14 PM
Reposted by Dave Kurley
thewombwellrainbow.bsky.social
The Starbeck Orion issue #14 Not Advent Anthology Day 3 of 25 featuring the poetry of Mandy McDonald
the880.substack.com/p/the-starbe...
The Starbeck Orion issue #14 Not Advent Anthology Day 3 of 25 featuring the poetry of Mandy McDonald
A Feast Of Word And Image
the880.substack.com
December 27, 2025 at 7:08 AM
Reposted by Dave Kurley
thewombwellrainbow.bsky.social
The Starbeck Orion Issue #14 Not Advent An Anthology. Page 1 of 25 Featured Artworker: Seranya
open.substack.com/pub/the880/p...
The Starbeck Orion Issue #14 Not Advent An Anthology. Page 1 of 25 Featured Artworker: Seranya
A Feast Of Image And Word
open.substack.com
December 25, 2025 at 7:34 AM
badvibrations62.bsky.social
Last blog before Christmas: @zoomburst.substack.com's Dark Side of Christmas is out - and there's one of my poems in there! Have yourself a grim old Christmas...

www.davekurley.net/blogstuff/se...

#blog #poems #poets #poetry #poetrycommunity #krampus #seasonsgratings
Season’s gratings… — Stuff by Dave Kurley
…wherever you are, whatever deity you may or may not believe in, do your best to be nice to each other. At least until the Monopoly board comes out.
www.davekurley.net
December 22, 2025 at 11:02 PM
Reposted by Dave Kurley
zoomburst.substack.com
Cheer up! This time next week it'll all be over! In the meantime try and get into the mood with some #Christmas #sixtyodd #poetry. Merry Christmas darlin' - Wherever you are...
The Dark Side of Christmas
Festive wickedness from some of Sixty Odd's favourite Poets
sixtyoddpoets.substack.com
December 21, 2025 at 11:03 AM
Reposted by Dave Kurley
johnchmura.bsky.social
#PoemsAbout #Money
@thebrokenspine.co.uk
I will put a reading in the comments.
MATTRESS MONEY He lost her soon as she found the mattress money. It was nothing he did ‘cause he never did nothing, nothing but moonshine. Life in them days was harder than week old biscuits at the Mount Holly Jail. He was a scab and she was the gnawed fingernail picking at it. They was vinegar and oil and funky dregs like cheap Italian dressing. He was a shortleaf pine, and she was a swamp azalea. She left on the solstice but frankly it did not feel shorter or longer than their other crappy days.
December 19, 2025 at 8:17 AM
Reposted by Dave Kurley
zoomburst.substack.com
#PoemsAbout #Money
Your Money or Your Life He’s standing before me, Face much too close to mine And although he hasn’t actually uttered the words That’s the implication That’s the stark choice I pause to weigh it up Do I face his arrogant demands? Or do I face the consequences of defying him? I look him in the eye My decision is inevitable really I choose life He can stuff his stupid job I walk out of the office without a backward glance
December 19, 2025 at 8:39 AM
Reposted by Dave Kurley
thewombwellrainbow.bsky.social
Merry Christmas to all. For
@alanparrywriter.co.uk @thebrokenspine.co.uk #PoemsAbout #Money:
A Homeliness She walks in front of buses. Says her son is dead. Her son sits outside supermarkets asking for money. Customers buy him a coffee or a sandwich, or loose change. With money he has begged he buys a pack of rizlas for his upper. and walks home to his mam who thinks he is dead so walks in front of buses.
December 19, 2025 at 1:06 PM
badvibrations62.bsky.social
#PoemsAbout #Money

Here's a grim tale - thanks, as ever, to @alanparrywriter.co.uk at @thebrokenspine.co.uk for continued inspiration!

#poem #poetry #poetrycommunity
A screenshot of my poem, split into two parts (cos it's long) on Apple Notes. In the background is a desktop photo of a section of the Great Wall of China, all misty and mysterious. A Lifetime of Credit I received a credit card In the post - never applied for it Often they’re the most Exciting packages to get The ones you don’t expect Viva, it was called, and the Tagline on its posh little Matt black envelope was: ‘A lifetime of credit. Spend it wisely.’ Which, of course I didn’t I mean A lifetime of credit? What could possibly go wrong? New telly? Check. Solar panels? Check. Holiday in the Maldives? New work suit? New car? Check, check and check. All supermarketswept up In seven short days Spending a lifetime of credit But whose lifetime? Well My parents were the first to go Within days of each other It was tragic and there were Tears and it was sudden and Unexpected But I gave them such a send-off A double funeral. Unusual. And the wake was the talk Of several towns - free bars Across the county: of course All courtesy of my flexible friend Then my wife was found dead In bed, after a short illness And sadly we never managed To enjoy the Maldives together So to get over my grief I took my daughter instead And she drowned while snorkelling Over a coral reef I had to close my account Tried phoning Viva My call was important to them But remained unanswered Got lost in the dense foliage The bewildering branches Of their call tree So I took a pair of scissors To my Viva card Cut my line of credit It bled, my blood Bled me dry © Dave Kurley 2025
December 19, 2025 at 10:46 AM
badvibrations62.bsky.social
More blogstuff: if you're in the vicinity of Alvaiázere in the New Year, why not pop to The Hub on the High Street, where @jimdempsey.bsky.social and I will be opening a new chapter of Wordplay Writers Club...

#writing #writers #wordplaywritersclub #newyear #blog #poetry #poetrycommunity
Something’s happening… — Stuff by Dave Kurley
Bem, aqui estão mais algumas novidades: a partir de janeiro, vou abrir uma nova filial do Wordplay Writers Club em Alvaiázere, juntamente com o Jim, um dos membros fundadores do clube e um tipo simpát...
www.davekurley.net
December 17, 2025 at 7:45 AM
Reposted by Dave Kurley
zoomburst.substack.com
#PoemsAbout #Imps A true story...
Old Holborn My Dad had a dead imp In an old tobacco tin He kept it under lock and key In the shed out back My mother wouldn’t allow it in the house He seldom let us see it If we found him working in the shed And pleaded with him for long enough He would prize the lid off the tin Revealing the little wizened creature within Its ribs visible under shrivelled leather skin Yellow teeth peeping between grimaced lips Was it a mouse? No tail Was it a bat? No wings Where did he get it? His grandfather found it Under a sourapple tree No more questions He snapped the lid tight closed Clearing out the shed after he died I found that old tobacco tin I took it home and opened it up To examine the shut fast sunken eyes The clawed fingers The tiny strands of coppery hair Here’s the tin, see I left it open that night On the kitchen table I climbed the stairs to bed, alone And never saw that imp again But sometimes when the house falls silent I hear a scratching and a shuffling And, every now and then A tiny rattling laughter
December 5, 2025 at 9:32 AM
Reposted by Dave Kurley
janedougherty47.bsky.social
Almost every week I think this prompt isn't for me. Then something appears. For #PoemsAbout #Imps @alanparrywriter.co.uk @thebrokenspine.co.uk
December 5, 2025 at 10:14 AM
Reposted by Dave Kurley
paulwritespoems.bsky.social
For #PoemsAbout #Imps here’s my quick take on the prompt. I wanted something fun for the festive season.

This is Elf & Safety

@thebrokenspine.co.uk
@alanparrywriter.co.uk
Elf & Safety This is an urgent public service broadcast: Don’t drink too much imp ale I implore you otherwise you may end up impaled or impotent or even more sinister— impressive. You cannot act with impunity imp ale will make you impetuous and imprudent. Let this message imprint on your mind, implausible as it is. Don’t drink too much imp ale for fear of impishness, impotence and impalement. This emergency broadcast was brought to you by the Council of Elves.
December 5, 2025 at 10:34 AM
badvibrations62.bsky.social
#PoemsAbout #Imps Here's a rewrite of one I wrote a couple of years ago - published in Booklet 6 of The Lockdown Legacy, and included in my wife's Curious Cabinet touring exhibition. Thanks as ever to @alanparrywriter.co.uk for consistent inspiration! @thebrokenspine.co.uk
#poems #poetrycommunity
The background is a photo of the bottom edge of the side of my bed and the darkness underneath. The laminate floor disappears into shadow. It Was Under the Bed It waited It waited for an opportunity It waited for an opportunity at night It waited for an opportunity at night, when the target was visible It waited for an opportunity at night, when the target was visible, having shed her Peppa Pig slippers It waited for an opportunity at night, when the target was visible, having shed her Peppa Pig slippers, to grab her by the ankle It missed It missed the opportunity It missed the opportunity because she was too quick It missed the opportunity because she was too quick, and it groaned with disappointment It caught its breath It caught its breath because she screamed It caught its breath because she screamed: ‘Mommy!’ It caught its breath because she screamed: ‘Mommy! I heard something - it’s under the bed!’ It disappeared But it would be back © Dave Kurley 2022-5
December 5, 2025 at 10:43 AM
badvibrations62.bsky.social
Received my copy of Rites & Trials today. I have two poems in here: Fourth and Everybody Was Kung Fu Fighting - they are alongside some brilliant work by excellent poets - thank you to @alanparrywriter.co.uk for picking my stuff to go with them!

#poems #poetry #anthology #thebrokenspine
Me in my office, with pictures created by my wife behind me, resplendent in my Breton top, happy because I am holding a copy of Rites & Trials in my hand!
December 3, 2025 at 12:10 PM