John Looker
@johnlooker.bsky.social
Poems in the anthology of the 25th Austin International Poetry Festival, the anthology of NZ’s Caselberg international competition. Journals incl Magma, Poetry Salzburg, Artemis (USA). Books by Bennison Books.
Lives in SE England. johnlooker.wordpress.com/
Lives in SE England. johnlooker.wordpress.com/
Pinned
The Night of the Land Crabs
This poem has just been ‘Highly Commended’. But is it a nature poem? Or a people poem? Or something else? ” … whoever they are, with their duplicitous sideways gait and wearing their bo…
johnlooker.wordpress.com
One month ago this poem was Highly Commended by Daljit Nagra But is it a nature poem? A people poem? Or what?
” … whoever they are, with their duplicitous sideways gait
and wearing their bones outside,
they prompt us to gasp at life, at Life in spate …”
johnlooker.wordpress.com/2026/01/07/t...
” … whoever they are, with their duplicitous sideways gait
and wearing their bones outside,
they prompt us to gasp at life, at Life in spate …”
johnlooker.wordpress.com/2026/01/07/t...
Reposted by John Looker
Je vous laisse réfléchir là-dessus
February 11, 2026 at 7:14 AM
Je vous laisse réfléchir là-dessus
My word, this poem certainly resonates! It’s mysterious and haunting. I loved reading it (3 times).
I see elsewhere that you’re hoping for more debate about poetry on BlueSky. So here goes: to my ear this is more prose than poem. It would make a powerful short story or flash fiction. But that’s ok.
I see elsewhere that you’re hoping for more debate about poetry on BlueSky. So here goes: to my ear this is more prose than poem. It would make a powerful short story or flash fiction. But that’s ok.
February 10, 2026 at 2:16 PM
My word, this poem certainly resonates! It’s mysterious and haunting. I loved reading it (3 times).
I see elsewhere that you’re hoping for more debate about poetry on BlueSky. So here goes: to my ear this is more prose than poem. It would make a powerful short story or flash fiction. But that’s ok.
I see elsewhere that you’re hoping for more debate about poetry on BlueSky. So here goes: to my ear this is more prose than poem. It would make a powerful short story or flash fiction. But that’s ok.
Reposted by John Looker
I'm going to Liguria with friends for a long weekend. A little research tells me we're staying in the gulf of spezia nicknamed Bay of Poets....the name stems from the inspiration that the area has had on poets Lawrence, Shelley, Bryon. Well I did not know that!
February 10, 2026 at 8:01 AM
I'm going to Liguria with friends for a long weekend. A little research tells me we're staying in the gulf of spezia nicknamed Bay of Poets....the name stems from the inspiration that the area has had on poets Lawrence, Shelley, Bryon. Well I did not know that!
I remember this UA Fanthorpe poem. It made a strong impression on me when I first came across it – made me reassess my prejudices. I shall read your article later.
February 9, 2026 at 8:28 AM
I remember this UA Fanthorpe poem. It made a strong impression on me when I first came across it – made me reassess my prejudices. I shall read your article later.
As you might expect, there’s a wealth of variety in this anthology: sentiment, pathos, humour, the lot.
Well, the Egyptians knew a thing or two about cats so I suppose we should not be surprised.
#poetry #cats
Well, the Egyptians knew a thing or two about cats so I suppose we should not be surprised.
#poetry #cats
To my surprise I wrote a poem about a cat (well, not only about a cat). And to my even greater surprise it was accepted for an anthology.
“We do good, we do ill,
but O.F.B. — as I recall — just lived.
Until we, we took that fatal step …”
#poetry #cats
johnlooker.wordpress.com/2026/02/08/o...
“We do good, we do ill,
but O.F.B. — as I recall — just lived.
Until we, we took that fatal step …”
#poetry #cats
johnlooker.wordpress.com/2026/02/08/o...
Old Fleabag
No, I don’t write poems about cats. Well, maybe just once. And maybe that one poem has found its way into an anthology … Yes, the fleas were a shared burden but we learnt how to help. Other than th…
johnlooker.wordpress.com
February 8, 2026 at 6:58 PM
Sounds good to me.
February 8, 2026 at 5:04 PM
Sounds good to me.
Reposted by John Looker
Coming up tomorrow on the new podcast episode of #HoPWaG, we look at Arnauld and Jansenism, and why this intense religious movement is associated with Cartesianism.
February 7, 2026 at 6:09 PM
Coming up tomorrow on the new podcast episode of #HoPWaG, we look at Arnauld and Jansenism, and why this intense religious movement is associated with Cartesianism.
Thank you Bennison Books. Modesty has now deserted me and this morning have posted the poem!
February 8, 2026 at 9:01 AM
Thank you Bennison Books. Modesty has now deserted me and this morning have posted the poem!
To my surprise I wrote a poem about a cat (well, not only about a cat). And to my even greater surprise it was accepted for an anthology.
“We do good, we do ill,
but O.F.B. — as I recall — just lived.
Until we, we took that fatal step …”
#poetry #cats
johnlooker.wordpress.com/2026/02/08/o...
“We do good, we do ill,
but O.F.B. — as I recall — just lived.
Until we, we took that fatal step …”
#poetry #cats
johnlooker.wordpress.com/2026/02/08/o...
Old Fleabag
No, I don’t write poems about cats. Well, maybe just once. And maybe that one poem has found its way into an anthology … Yes, the fleas were a shared burden but we learnt how to help. Other than th…
johnlooker.wordpress.com
February 8, 2026 at 8:54 AM
To my surprise I wrote a poem about a cat (well, not only about a cat). And to my even greater surprise it was accepted for an anthology.
“We do good, we do ill,
but O.F.B. — as I recall — just lived.
Until we, we took that fatal step …”
#poetry #cats
johnlooker.wordpress.com/2026/02/08/o...
“We do good, we do ill,
but O.F.B. — as I recall — just lived.
Until we, we took that fatal step …”
#poetry #cats
johnlooker.wordpress.com/2026/02/08/o...
I have a feeling this is a book of poetry that will please a lot of readers!
The beautiful front cover of our latest anthology...The Cat Poetry Book.
This poetry anthology features the work of so many amazing writers 😍 Available internationally from Amazon #poetry #poetrycommunity #WritingCommunity
This poetry anthology features the work of so many amazing writers 😍 Available internationally from Amazon #poetry #poetrycommunity #WritingCommunity
February 7, 2026 at 3:27 PM
I have a feeling this is a book of poetry that will please a lot of readers!
Reposted by John Looker
That’s not a crossbeam. This is a crossbeam!
17 Jan 2026
Murchison Gap Lookout
Reedy Creek, Victoria
#photography #trees
17 Jan 2026
Murchison Gap Lookout
Reedy Creek, Victoria
#photography #trees
February 7, 2026 at 10:59 AM
That’s not a crossbeam. This is a crossbeam!
17 Jan 2026
Murchison Gap Lookout
Reedy Creek, Victoria
#photography #trees
17 Jan 2026
Murchison Gap Lookout
Reedy Creek, Victoria
#photography #trees
Then I shall read your poem – I’ve just ordered a copy!
February 7, 2026 at 3:22 PM
Then I shall read your poem – I’ve just ordered a copy!
One month ago this poem was Highly Commended by Daljit Nagra But is it a nature poem? A people poem? Or what?
” … whoever they are, with their duplicitous sideways gait
and wearing their bones outside,
they prompt us to gasp at life, at Life in spate …”
johnlooker.wordpress.com/2026/01/07/t...
” … whoever they are, with their duplicitous sideways gait
and wearing their bones outside,
they prompt us to gasp at life, at Life in spate …”
johnlooker.wordpress.com/2026/01/07/t...
The Night of the Land Crabs
This poem has just been ‘Highly Commended’. But is it a nature poem? Or a people poem? Or something else? ” … whoever they are, with their duplicitous sideways gait and wearing their bo…
johnlooker.wordpress.com
February 7, 2026 at 2:25 PM
One month ago this poem was Highly Commended by Daljit Nagra But is it a nature poem? A people poem? Or what?
” … whoever they are, with their duplicitous sideways gait
and wearing their bones outside,
they prompt us to gasp at life, at Life in spate …”
johnlooker.wordpress.com/2026/01/07/t...
” … whoever they are, with their duplicitous sideways gait
and wearing their bones outside,
they prompt us to gasp at life, at Life in spate …”
johnlooker.wordpress.com/2026/01/07/t...
Reposted by John Looker
Jhumpa Lahiri's short story A Temporary Matter is a masterclass in the form. Brilliantly written and deeply moving. (From her Pulitzer Prize-winning collection, Interpreter of Maladies.)
“The goal isn’t to be happy with my voice. What I want is simply to have one.” —Jhumpa Lahiri
Jhumpa Lahiri, The Art of Fiction No. 262
“I seldom know where I’m headed, but if the story is meant to be, you cross over to the other side—you’re inside it, and there’s an engine.”
buff.ly
February 6, 2026 at 9:32 AM
Jhumpa Lahiri's short story A Temporary Matter is a masterclass in the form. Brilliantly written and deeply moving. (From her Pulitzer Prize-winning collection, Interpreter of Maladies.)
Reposted by John Looker
Sir Ian McKellen performing a monologue from Shakespeare’s Sir Thomas More on the Stephen Colbert show. Never have I heard this monologue performed with such a keen sense of prescience. Nor have I ever been in this exact historical moment.TY Sir Ian, for reaching us once again.
#Pinks #ProudBlue
#Pinks #ProudBlue
February 5, 2026 at 1:25 PM
Oui, c'est très émouvant. Félicitations Ian McKellen – et William Shakespeare!
February 5, 2026 at 6:01 PM
Oui, c'est très émouvant. Félicitations Ian McKellen – et William Shakespeare!
I found these podcasts recently and immediately discovered a couple of wholly absorbing conversations about poetry’s richer seams.
Have you listened to our podcasts? They are all available on our site – click the link in our bio
#podcasts
#podcasts
February 5, 2026 at 5:48 PM
I found these podcasts recently and immediately discovered a couple of wholly absorbing conversations about poetry’s richer seams.
I enjoyed this short poem – atmospheric, teasing. And it sounds good too (try to pretend that you don’t object to poetry that rhymes).
February 3, 2026 at 8:46 AM
I enjoyed this short poem – atmospheric, teasing. And it sounds good too (try to pretend that you don’t object to poetry that rhymes).
Reposted by John Looker
I really like this from the preface to Helen Vendler’s Inhabit the Poem’:
The intrinsic drama of lyric poetry is constituted by the constant volatility of consciousness as well as by its occasional stabilization.’
The intrinsic drama of lyric poetry is constituted by the constant volatility of consciousness as well as by its occasional stabilization.’
February 2, 2026 at 5:07 PM
I really like this from the preface to Helen Vendler’s Inhabit the Poem’:
The intrinsic drama of lyric poetry is constituted by the constant volatility of consciousness as well as by its occasional stabilization.’
The intrinsic drama of lyric poetry is constituted by the constant volatility of consciousness as well as by its occasional stabilization.’
Reposted by John Looker
My mother liked to use the word frantumaglia – bits and pieces of uncertain origin which rattle around in your head, not always comfortably. ~ Elena Ferrante
“I don’t think anyone really knows how a story takes shape. When it’s done you try to explain how it happened, but every effort, at least in my case, is insufficient.” —Elena Ferrante buff.ly/3qFLXGm
Elena Ferrante, The Art of Fiction No. 228
“As a girl—twelve, thirteen years old—I was absolutely certain that a good book had to have a man as its hero, and that depressed me.”
buff.ly
February 2, 2026 at 8:44 AM
My mother liked to use the word frantumaglia – bits and pieces of uncertain origin which rattle around in your head, not always comfortably. ~ Elena Ferrante
Reposted by John Looker
Please do share this.
Federal judge has ordered the release of Liam Ramos (the bunny hat boy) and his father. A brief and rather remarkable order. Clearly written to be shared widely, so please do. storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
January 31, 2026 at 10:24 PM
Please do share this.
Reposted by John Looker
New pome: www.the-tls.com/literature/o...
Good Friday Letter
I sit here at the table looking outOver the island on Good FridayAs the pine tree heaves into my view,And the sea speaks its synonyms for blue, And below, the little churchWhere later we will follow t...
www.the-tls.com
January 28, 2026 at 9:38 PM
New pome: www.the-tls.com/literature/o...
That is HUGE ! And said to be the largest Neolithic settlement in the British Isles.
January 27, 2026 at 4:08 PM
That is HUGE ! And said to be the largest Neolithic settlement in the British Isles.
Reposted by John Looker
Watercolour by Winifred Deane, painted January 1967 in the art therapy studio at Netherne hospital in Surrey where she was compelled to live.
No biographical information is currently known to us about her, but a small number of her surviving works form part of The Adamson Collection.
No biographical information is currently known to us about her, but a small number of her surviving works form part of The Adamson Collection.
January 27, 2026 at 9:21 AM
Watercolour by Winifred Deane, painted January 1967 in the art therapy studio at Netherne hospital in Surrey where she was compelled to live.
No biographical information is currently known to us about her, but a small number of her surviving works form part of The Adamson Collection.
No biographical information is currently known to us about her, but a small number of her surviving works form part of The Adamson Collection.
Such a delicate and precise drawing! I’ve just noticed that the blue outline is an amphora, which pours out all the green plant tendrils.
January 27, 2026 at 10:06 AM
Such a delicate and precise drawing! I’ve just noticed that the blue outline is an amphora, which pours out all the green plant tendrils.