The Moth Magazine
@themothmagazine.bsky.social
International art & lit magazine. One of the world's biggest prizes for a poem. Short story, nature writing & art prizes. Also: @thecaterpillarmag
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Hello Bluesky #WritingCommunity! We're the home of The Moth Magazine, an iconic Irish printed art & lit magazine, and The Moth Poetry Prize, one of the world's biggest prizes for a single poem. Plus annual short story and nature writing prizes, and much more...
❛ There should be someone to talk to. But because such a person is not there in our life, that’s why we need to paint.
Artist Yoshitomo Nara, born #OTD in 1959.
Artist Yoshitomo Nara, born #OTD in 1959.
January 5, 2026 at 9:18 PM
❛ There should be someone to talk to. But because such a person is not there in our life, that’s why we need to paint.
Artist Yoshitomo Nara, born #OTD in 1959.
Artist Yoshitomo Nara, born #OTD in 1959.
❛ We ate / apples until winter. Were you / expecting snow? And now / there's falling in all their graves
Taylor Supplee's poem 'Vanishing', from Issue 31 ❄️ #MothArchives
Taylor Supplee's poem 'Vanishing', from Issue 31 ❄️ #MothArchives
January 4, 2026 at 6:54 PM
❛ We ate / apples until winter. Were you / expecting snow? And now / there's falling in all their graves
Taylor Supplee's poem 'Vanishing', from Issue 31 ❄️ #MothArchives
Taylor Supplee's poem 'Vanishing', from Issue 31 ❄️ #MothArchives
New year's resolution to work on your writing or try something new?
Why not check out our interviews with the likes of Sally Rooney, Simon Armitage, Evie Wyld, Helen Oyeyemi, Colm Toibin, and Eimear McBride for inspiration...
✨ bit.ly/pastmoths
Why not check out our interviews with the likes of Sally Rooney, Simon Armitage, Evie Wyld, Helen Oyeyemi, Colm Toibin, and Eimear McBride for inspiration...
✨ bit.ly/pastmoths
January 3, 2026 at 7:59 PM
New year's resolution to work on your writing or try something new?
Why not check out our interviews with the likes of Sally Rooney, Simon Armitage, Evie Wyld, Helen Oyeyemi, Colm Toibin, and Eimear McBride for inspiration...
✨ bit.ly/pastmoths
Why not check out our interviews with the likes of Sally Rooney, Simon Armitage, Evie Wyld, Helen Oyeyemi, Colm Toibin, and Eimear McBride for inspiration...
✨ bit.ly/pastmoths
Burning the old year with this fab poem by Naomi Shihab Nye and welcoming in the first weekend of 2026. 🎆
January 2, 2026 at 7:59 PM
Burning the old year with this fab poem by Naomi Shihab Nye and welcoming in the first weekend of 2026. 🎆
Final chance – one of the world's biggest prizes for a single poem closes midnight, your time, wherever you are! 🌟
€11,000 in prizes up for grabs. Judged by Ishion Hutchinson.
bit.ly/mothpoetry25
€11,000 in prizes up for grabs. Judged by Ishion Hutchinson.
bit.ly/mothpoetry25
December 31, 2025 at 12:25 PM
Final chance – one of the world's biggest prizes for a single poem closes midnight, your time, wherever you are! 🌟
€11,000 in prizes up for grabs. Judged by Ishion Hutchinson.
bit.ly/mothpoetry25
€11,000 in prizes up for grabs. Judged by Ishion Hutchinson.
bit.ly/mothpoetry25
Still writing? Not long to go!
This year's Moth Poetry Prize closes TOMORROW – midnight, your time, wherever you are.
Don't miss your chance to win a share of €11,000.
✏️ bit.ly/mothpoetry25
(Painting by Federico Zandomeneghi)
This year's Moth Poetry Prize closes TOMORROW – midnight, your time, wherever you are.
Don't miss your chance to win a share of €11,000.
✏️ bit.ly/mothpoetry25
(Painting by Federico Zandomeneghi)
December 30, 2025 at 6:15 PM
Still writing? Not long to go!
This year's Moth Poetry Prize closes TOMORROW – midnight, your time, wherever you are.
Don't miss your chance to win a share of €11,000.
✏️ bit.ly/mothpoetry25
(Painting by Federico Zandomeneghi)
This year's Moth Poetry Prize closes TOMORROW – midnight, your time, wherever you are.
Don't miss your chance to win a share of €11,000.
✏️ bit.ly/mothpoetry25
(Painting by Federico Zandomeneghi)
❛ For the sake of a single poem, you must see many cities, many people and Things, you must understand animals, must feel how birds fly, and know the gesture which small flowers make when they open in the morning.
Poet Rainer Maria Rilke, who died #OTD in 1926.
Poet Rainer Maria Rilke, who died #OTD in 1926.
December 29, 2025 at 6:03 PM
❛ For the sake of a single poem, you must see many cities, many people and Things, you must understand animals, must feel how birds fly, and know the gesture which small flowers make when they open in the morning.
Poet Rainer Maria Rilke, who died #OTD in 1926.
Poet Rainer Maria Rilke, who died #OTD in 1926.
⏰ THREE DAYS LEFT TO ENTER ⏰
The Moth Poetry Prize closes for entries on 31 December!
Twelve prizes in total – one overall prize of €6,000, 3 prizes of €1,000 for the shortlisted poets and a further 8 prizes of €250 for commended poems...
🌟 bit.ly/mothpoetry25
The Moth Poetry Prize closes for entries on 31 December!
Twelve prizes in total – one overall prize of €6,000, 3 prizes of €1,000 for the shortlisted poets and a further 8 prizes of €250 for commended poems...
🌟 bit.ly/mothpoetry25
December 28, 2025 at 6:23 PM
⏰ THREE DAYS LEFT TO ENTER ⏰
The Moth Poetry Prize closes for entries on 31 December!
Twelve prizes in total – one overall prize of €6,000, 3 prizes of €1,000 for the shortlisted poets and a further 8 prizes of €250 for commended poems...
🌟 bit.ly/mothpoetry25
The Moth Poetry Prize closes for entries on 31 December!
Twelve prizes in total – one overall prize of €6,000, 3 prizes of €1,000 for the shortlisted poets and a further 8 prizes of €250 for commended poems...
🌟 bit.ly/mothpoetry25
Out of offices still on? From Issue 7, 'Father and Son, 2010' by Billy Childish 🌨️
December 27, 2025 at 7:10 PM
Out of offices still on? From Issue 7, 'Father and Son, 2010' by Billy Childish 🌨️
Do you have a favourite festive poem? Share it in the comments so others can enjoy it.
We'll start with a perfect betwixtmas poem – for the post-holidays days – from Jane Kenyon... 🎄
We'll start with a perfect betwixtmas poem – for the post-holidays days – from Jane Kenyon... 🎄
December 26, 2025 at 5:56 PM
Do you have a favourite festive poem? Share it in the comments so others can enjoy it.
We'll start with a perfect betwixtmas poem – for the post-holidays days – from Jane Kenyon... 🎄
We'll start with a perfect betwixtmas poem – for the post-holidays days – from Jane Kenyon... 🎄
One week to go! ⏰ Don't miss your chance to win a share of this year's €11,000 Moth Poetry Prize pot...
🌟 1st PRIZE €6,000
🌟 3 RUNNER-UP PRIZES OF €1,000
🌟 8 COMMENDED PRIZES OF €250
Closing 31 December.
Rules and entry this way: bit.ly/mothpoetry25
🌟 1st PRIZE €6,000
🌟 3 RUNNER-UP PRIZES OF €1,000
🌟 8 COMMENDED PRIZES OF €250
Closing 31 December.
Rules and entry this way: bit.ly/mothpoetry25
December 24, 2025 at 1:28 PM
One week to go! ⏰ Don't miss your chance to win a share of this year's €11,000 Moth Poetry Prize pot...
🌟 1st PRIZE €6,000
🌟 3 RUNNER-UP PRIZES OF €1,000
🌟 8 COMMENDED PRIZES OF €250
Closing 31 December.
Rules and entry this way: bit.ly/mothpoetry25
🌟 1st PRIZE €6,000
🌟 3 RUNNER-UP PRIZES OF €1,000
🌟 8 COMMENDED PRIZES OF €250
Closing 31 December.
Rules and entry this way: bit.ly/mothpoetry25
❛ I suppose we can finally stop talking / about the plastic pineapple / your mum bought for me / last Christmas.
Where else would you find a poem about 'Homes Under the Hammer'? From Issue 34. 🍍
Where else would you find a poem about 'Homes Under the Hammer'? From Issue 34. 🍍
December 23, 2025 at 6:54 PM
❛ I suppose we can finally stop talking / about the plastic pineapple / your mum bought for me / last Christmas.
Where else would you find a poem about 'Homes Under the Hammer'? From Issue 34. 🍍
Where else would you find a poem about 'Homes Under the Hammer'? From Issue 34. 🍍
December 22, 2025 at 7:08 PM
From the Moth Archives, Clare Elsaesser's 'Bird in Hand' (Issue 16) 🐦⬛ #ThrowbackThursday
December 18, 2025 at 6:48 PM
From the Moth Archives, Clare Elsaesser's 'Bird in Hand' (Issue 16) 🐦⬛ #ThrowbackThursday
🚨 2 weeks to go! 🚨
Don't miss your chance to enter this year's Moth Poetry Prize for the chance to win a share of this year's €11,000 prize pot.
Not long until entries close for another year...
bit.ly/mothpoetry24
Don't miss your chance to enter this year's Moth Poetry Prize for the chance to win a share of this year's €11,000 prize pot.
Not long until entries close for another year...
bit.ly/mothpoetry24
December 17, 2025 at 11:47 PM
🚨 2 weeks to go! 🚨
Don't miss your chance to enter this year's Moth Poetry Prize for the chance to win a share of this year's €11,000 prize pot.
Not long until entries close for another year...
bit.ly/mothpoetry24
Don't miss your chance to enter this year's Moth Poetry Prize for the chance to win a share of this year's €11,000 prize pot.
Not long until entries close for another year...
bit.ly/mothpoetry24
The theme of this week's Moth Studios Challenge is of course Christmas! Complete your work within 2 hours and submit it from 9-11pm on Tuesday evening to The Moth Studios (via Facebook DM).
This will be the last challenge of 2025.
🎨 Fred Yates
This will be the last challenge of 2025.
🎨 Fred Yates
December 15, 2025 at 7:32 PM
The theme of this week's Moth Studios Challenge is of course Christmas! Complete your work within 2 hours and submit it from 9-11pm on Tuesday evening to The Moth Studios (via Facebook DM).
This will be the last challenge of 2025.
🎨 Fred Yates
This will be the last challenge of 2025.
🎨 Fred Yates
❛ The very nicest thing about being a writer is that you can afford to indulge yourself endlessly with oddness, and nobody can really do anything about it, as long as you keep writing and kind of using it up, as it were.
Shirley Jackson, born #OTD in 1916.
Shirley Jackson, born #OTD in 1916.
December 14, 2025 at 7:10 PM
❛ The very nicest thing about being a writer is that you can afford to indulge yourself endlessly with oddness, and nobody can really do anything about it, as long as you keep writing and kind of using it up, as it were.
Shirley Jackson, born #OTD in 1916.
Shirley Jackson, born #OTD in 1916.
We're thrilled to be announcing this year's winners of The Moth Nature Writing Prize - as chosen by Mark Cocker!
This year's first prize goes to Nils Röper, who grew up in rural Northern Germany, near the former Iron Curtain, for his prose piece 'Lost Range'.
This year's first prize goes to Nils Röper, who grew up in rural Northern Germany, near the former Iron Curtain, for his prose piece 'Lost Range'.
December 12, 2025 at 11:21 AM
We're thrilled to be announcing this year's winners of The Moth Nature Writing Prize - as chosen by Mark Cocker!
This year's first prize goes to Nils Röper, who grew up in rural Northern Germany, near the former Iron Curtain, for his prose piece 'Lost Range'.
This year's first prize goes to Nils Röper, who grew up in rural Northern Germany, near the former Iron Curtain, for his prose piece 'Lost Range'.
❛ If I read a book and it makes my whole body so cold no fire can warm me, I know that is poetry. If I feel physically as if the top of my head were taken off, I know that is poetry. These are the only ways I know it. Is there any other way?
Emily Dickinson, born #OTD in 1830
Emily Dickinson, born #OTD in 1830
December 10, 2025 at 6:51 PM
❛ If I read a book and it makes my whole body so cold no fire can warm me, I know that is poetry. If I feel physically as if the top of my head were taken off, I know that is poetry. These are the only ways I know it. Is there any other way?
Emily Dickinson, born #OTD in 1830
Emily Dickinson, born #OTD in 1830
Talking process with poet Sharon Olds, from our interview which originally appeared in Issue 40 of The Moth...
🦋 #MothArchives
🦋 #MothArchives
December 9, 2025 at 9:03 PM
Talking process with poet Sharon Olds, from our interview which originally appeared in Issue 40 of The Moth...
🦋 #MothArchives
🦋 #MothArchives
This week's Moth Studios Challenge is to produce a painting/drawing which features a bridge. The work must be completed within two hours and submitted from 9-11pm on Tuesday evening to The Moth Studios (by private message on FB).
Open to everyone – good luck!
🎨 Leon Kossoff
Open to everyone – good luck!
🎨 Leon Kossoff
December 8, 2025 at 9:39 PM
This week's Moth Studios Challenge is to produce a painting/drawing which features a bridge. The work must be completed within two hours and submitted from 9-11pm on Tuesday evening to The Moth Studios (by private message on FB).
Open to everyone – good luck!
🎨 Leon Kossoff
Open to everyone – good luck!
🎨 Leon Kossoff
❛ This much you can say for any grave, / it's landlocked.
The late Steve Heighton's 'Christmas Work Detail, Samos', which was shortlisted for The Moth Poetry Prize in 2019.
The late Steve Heighton's 'Christmas Work Detail, Samos', which was shortlisted for The Moth Poetry Prize in 2019.
December 7, 2025 at 8:40 PM
❛ This much you can say for any grave, / it's landlocked.
The late Steve Heighton's 'Christmas Work Detail, Samos', which was shortlisted for The Moth Poetry Prize in 2019.
The late Steve Heighton's 'Christmas Work Detail, Samos', which was shortlisted for The Moth Poetry Prize in 2019.
❛ I write entirely to find out what I'm thinking, what I'm looking at, what I see and what it means. What I want and what I fear.
Joan Didion, born #OTD in 1934.
Joan Didion, born #OTD in 1934.
December 5, 2025 at 6:39 PM
❛ I write entirely to find out what I'm thinking, what I'm looking at, what I see and what it means. What I want and what I fear.
Joan Didion, born #OTD in 1934.
Joan Didion, born #OTD in 1934.
❛ One of my secret instructions to myself as a poet is: “Whatever you do, don’t be boring." – Anne Sexton
4 weeks to go until entries close for this year's Moth Poetry Prize.
Don't miss out on your chance to win a share of our massive €11,000 prize pot!
🌟 bit.ly/mothpoetry25
4 weeks to go until entries close for this year's Moth Poetry Prize.
Don't miss out on your chance to win a share of our massive €11,000 prize pot!
🌟 bit.ly/mothpoetry25
December 4, 2025 at 7:25 PM
❛ One of my secret instructions to myself as a poet is: “Whatever you do, don’t be boring." – Anne Sexton
4 weeks to go until entries close for this year's Moth Poetry Prize.
Don't miss out on your chance to win a share of our massive €11,000 prize pot!
🌟 bit.ly/mothpoetry25
4 weeks to go until entries close for this year's Moth Poetry Prize.
Don't miss out on your chance to win a share of our massive €11,000 prize pot!
🌟 bit.ly/mothpoetry25