Dawn McLachlan
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deemclachlan.bsky.social
Dawn McLachlan
@deemclachlan.bsky.social
Poet, author, bookseller, allotmenteer, for hire or loan. Won some poetry prizes. Account is stuff from a small rural town in NE Scotland. Seeking publisher
#FridayPoem
She/Her

https://dawnmclachlan.com/
Pinned
Time for another #FridayPoem
January is not really the start of a new year, that’s just a calendar date. Here’s a spell as we enter the winter rest and wait for the sap to rise.
#spellpoem #poetry #poets #poetrycommunity #poemAltText #winterpoems
Reposted by Dawn McLachlan
Hello everybody 👋
The #vss365 prompt for 2 January 2026 is #abstraction.
May your words drip, splatter, and splash—
whether you write poetry or prose—
in a wild, creative frenzy.
January 2, 2026 at 7:00 AM
Time for another #FridayPoem
January is not really the start of a new year, that’s just a calendar date. Here’s a spell as we enter the winter rest and wait for the sap to rise.
#spellpoem #poetry #poets #poetrycommunity #poemAltText #winterpoems
January 2, 2026 at 12:59 PM
Reposted by Dawn McLachlan
Available NOW in all good bookshops!

(The book, not me)

(You know what that was probably clear from context.)
January 2, 2026 at 11:00 AM
Reposted by Dawn McLachlan
Happy New Year to one and all. I'm in the fortunate position of being able to celebrate by pointing out that I (along with several other fine poets) have a piece in Issue 12 of the Fig Tree - out today!

Here's hoping that all of my #poetry friends will have similar & greater successes this year.
The Fig Tree - Issue 12
with Featured Poet Stewart Carswell
figtreepoetry.substack.com
January 1, 2026 at 10:11 AM
Reposted by Dawn McLachlan
Joyful noise,
sprinkled like whispers
from an ancient book.
Blossom falling,
falling from cherry trees,
spring loosening its hold.

Gather it in your arms,
or it might drift away
like migrating birds,
slipping away after summer.

#Solseed joyful_noise
January 1, 2026 at 2:11 PM
Reposted by Dawn McLachlan
Psst.

Hey, come closer.

No, closer.

I have a New Year’s secret for you.

It’s this:

If you care about people you don’t even know, and try to live your life that way, you are absolutely beautiful no matter what you look like.
January 1, 2026 at 8:59 AM
Reposted by Dawn McLachlan
1,157 people have just been announced as receiving honours in the New Year Honours list.

Here’s why Benjamin Zephaniah turned down his OBE (Order of the British Empire) in 2003.
December 31, 2025 at 12:36 PM
I see Matt Lucas got an OBE for playing these characters.

#AltText #LestWeForget
December 30, 2025 at 8:02 AM
Reposted by Dawn McLachlan
Sailor Dune
All Dogs Go To Fremen
The Sound of Usul
Atreides Places
Arrakis Before Dying
Die Hard With a Stillsuit
Spice Like Us
December 29, 2025 at 2:11 PM
Reposted by Dawn McLachlan
Words are canceled due to unforeseen circumstances (we apologize for the inconvenience).

Sometimes I make terrible beauty
that refuses the light
yet gorges itself on darkness.
A cruel little beast of letters and punctuation
that rules my pages.
#poetry
December 29, 2025 at 12:54 AM
Reposted by Dawn McLachlan
There are two venerated, much feared trees on the edge of Barwell Common. Known as Whip Scar and Tangle Knife, they are home to particularly quarrelsome Wood Sprites. To pass between them has a fearsome terror tithe and even if it's paid, you are still likely to hear them spitting curses.
December 26, 2025 at 10:31 AM
December 26, 2025 at 9:53 AM
Reposted by Dawn McLachlan
🎶 Thou needest not have wealthe
To be my love
Thou needest not be coole
To rule above
Ther nys no especial signe Ich have affinitee wyth
Ich nede naught but
thyne extra tyme and thy

[lute riffe]

kysse 🎶
December 25, 2025 at 11:03 PM
Reposted by Dawn McLachlan
Yule-girth [YOOL-gurth]
(n.)
- The general sense of peace and tranquility associated with Christmas.
December 25, 2025 at 12:59 AM
Reposted by Dawn McLachlan
Wishing all followers a very joyful Christmas, and hope the weather wherever you are is better than in this pessimistic illustration.
December 24, 2025 at 5:50 PM
Reposted by Dawn McLachlan
Christmas is about giving—and what better gift than lifting up poets? If you believe in poetry, help us fully fund this award. No ego. No barriers. Just writers supporting writers. Facilitated by @AlanParry83.bsky.social. 🔗
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 22, 2025 at 4:52 PM
Such a great thread musing on this perfect song.
December 23, 2025 at 11:21 PM
Reposted by Dawn McLachlan
Thrilled to have my poem “the output…err…the outcome (well…whatever…if ever) of a therapy
session” in this #Rites&Trials anthology. Huge thanks to EIC Alan Parry @alanparrywriter.co.uk , @thebrokenspine.co.uk
Many wonderful pieces including by Alan Parry, @pdevonald.bsky.social and more…

#Oulens
Also out today, dual launch of festive short fiction and this coming of age poetry #Slimline #Rites&Trials

amzn.eu/d/18qstSC
November 29, 2025 at 5:07 AM
Apparently it’s Jake Paul so I imagine Logan is under the duvet today.
So you’re telling me that in one weekend Logan Paul, Andrew Tate and David Walliams were all knocked out? Wow, when Karma comes for the bullies she really goes for it.
#christmascomesearly
December 21, 2025 at 9:16 AM
So you’re telling me that in one weekend Logan Paul, Andrew Tate and David Walliams were all knocked out? Wow, when Karma comes for the bullies she really goes for it.
#christmascomesearly
December 21, 2025 at 9:06 AM
Reposted by Dawn McLachlan
So nonchalant, so
Devil may care, someone left
You bereft in there.
#emoetry #nonchalant #haiku #senryu #poem #writing #writingcommunity
@mwplovesmusic.bsky.social
@mother-poet.bsky.social
December 21, 2025 at 6:01 AM
I’ve been arguing against the cult of celebrity “authors” for a very long time. Every time I say this I’ve been accused of “snobbery” or “elitism”.
I got so tired of explaining why it’s not that in 2019 I wrote this.
Apologies if some article links are now dead.
dawnmclachlan.com/biogandblogs...
The Empty Shelves — Dawn Mclachlan
On the cult of “celeb” authors
dawnmclachlan.com
December 20, 2025 at 12:20 PM
About fecking time.
Oh really what a surprise said no one
December 19, 2025 at 9:05 PM
December 19, 2025 at 10:50 AM