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Alison Manning

@alisonmanning.bsky.social

It's finally the right time for my autumn poem, which has been soaring unseasonable on The Dirigible Balloon since January. #Autumn #AutumnVibes #Poetry #poem dirigibleballoon.org/poem/Autumn2

The Dirigible Balloon. Poetry for Children. Autumn. Autumn Ought to come Automatically And it does. Every year The leaves On the trees Change colour and Fall. Alison Manning.

November 7, 2025 at 12:14 PM

Alison Manning

@alisonmanning.bsky.social

Here's a poem for all those struggling with their cookers today... #PoetsofBlueSky #PoetsonBlueSky #poetry #Autumn

October 26, 2025 at 7:27 AM

Alison Manning

@alisonmanning.bsky.social

You can hear me rambling about writing on the radio tonight.

Me looking started in a garden with tagline "BBC, I'm getting features on upload"

July 3, 2025 at 4:58 PM

Alison Manning

@alisonmanning.bsky.social

Delighted that two of my new poems, "Spot" and "Strawberry Moon" are flying up on The #DirigibleBalloon.https://dirigibleballoon.org/poem/Strawberry-Moon #PoetsofBlueSky #PoetsonBluesky #Poet

June 17, 2025 at 8:57 PM

Alison Manning

@alisonmanning.bsky.social

I was challenged to write a Venn Diagram poem recently. Who can guess which book I imagined the book group discussing? And which section would you be in?

A Venn Diagram poem called Disagreement at the Book Group

June 7, 2025 at 8:39 PM

Alison Manning

@alisonmanning.bsky.social

This week so far: I've sold out of my books on a stall,attended a Writers' group, rehearsal and workshop, participated in an online charity book launch, and am preparing for a poetry theatre performance and a mini Literary festival I've organised at the weekend- feeling like a proper writer! #writer

May 8, 2025 at 10:28 PM

Alison Manning

@alisonmanning.bsky.social

This poem is inspired by thinking about what qualifications you need to be one of the most powerful people in the world, with great power comes great responsibility.
Oh, you can point a finger, that's fine, that's all you need... #PoetsofBlueSky #BlueSkyPoetry #PoetsofBlueSky #TheLastStraw

You don't rule by an iron fist

So much as your pointing finger

Constantly extended

To accuse or reprove

To claim or dictate.

Is this all you need

To exercise your power

The only qualification

For the job?

Your pointing finger

Wagged scoldingly

At a war torn leader

Accusing him of ingratitude

Like a naughty child.

Your pointing finger

Wiggled at immigrants

Banishing them

Imprisoning those,

Though innocent,

With tattoos you don't like the look of.

Your pointing finger

Shaken at places

You wish to take:

Panama,

Greenland,

And Gaza

To turn into the Miiddle Eastern riviera,

Of all things.

Your pointing finger

Waved at positions,

At people in posts

You no longer require

Waggled at whole departments

You wish to abolish.

You pointing finger

Picks on penguins
Charging tariffs for islands
Where only they live.

Your pointing finger

Brandished at paper straws,

Annoying you by

Going soft in your drinks,

Allegedly,

Like a tantrumming child,

Bringing back plastic

At great cost.

The last straw.

Your pointing finger

Has swayed enough.

It's time

The points were switched

The tables turned

The roles reversed

The scales tipped

And someone

Pointed a finger

Back at you

And declared

"You're fired!". Alison Manning

April 7, 2025 at 3:46 PM

Alison Manning

@alisonmanning.bsky.social

You can find my translation of Dresden poet Patrick Wilden's excellent sonnet about Coventry ringroad in the latest Peeping Tom Zine. #PoetsofBluesky #Translation #Dresden #Coventry

March 25, 2025 at 11:43 PM

Alison Manning

@alisonmanning.bsky.social

Excited to have some of my poetry firmly on the map! This map: worldintowords.humap.site/map/browse #PoetsOfBluesky #Poetry #PoetryMap

The World Into Words – Poetry Map

worldintowords.humap.site

March 8, 2025 at 10:26 PM

Alison Manning

@alisonmanning.bsky.social

For anyone fed up with winter (though it should be getting warmer very soon) you can switch to a different season through one of my poems on the Dirigible Balloon: dirigibleballoon.org/poem/Autumn2. #PoetsonBlueSky #DirigibleBalloon #EndofWinter #Autumn

Dirigible Balloon - Poetry for Children

dirigibleballoon.org

February 19, 2025 at 7:34 PM

Alison Manning

@alisonmanning.bsky.social

Now I'm old...

A photo of me, feeling old on my big birthday, wearing purple with a red hat that doesn't go....

February 12, 2025 at 11:52 PM

Alison Manning

@alisonmanning.bsky.social

I was surprised and delighted to receive an achievement award at my Writers' Group tonight! #Award #Writing #PoetsofBluesky

Alison being presented with a trophy by the chair of the Writers' group.

February 11, 2025 at 11:05 PM

Alison Manning

@alisonmanning.bsky.social

It was sad to see the LTB (an amazing local community arts venue) close last week, so I wrote a blog about it. alisonsatuma.medium.com/farewell-to-... #CommunityArts #Arts #Community

Farewell to the LTB- So Long and Thanks for all the Creative Opportunities

I visited the LTB for the final time this week for the grand giveaway of random things they had left- tantalisingly advertised as “fabric…

alisonsatuma.medium.com

January 14, 2025 at 5:34 PM

Alison Manning

@alisonmanning.bsky.social

Really excited to announce I have three poems launched on The Dirigible Balloon, a lovely children's poetry site. Thanks to @northernjim.bsky.social dirigibleballoon.org
#DirigibleBalloon #PoetryForChildren #Poetry #PoetsonBlueSky

January 10, 2025 at 8:23 PM

Alison Manning

@alisonmanning.bsky.social

Anyone else struggling going back to work/school?? #Backtowork #BacktoSchool #PoetsofBlueSky #PoetsonBlueSky

Keeping the Beat First day back at work
After the holidays
I pack a lebkuchen heart
Into my lunch box,
A little reminder
Keeping the beat
Of cheery Christmas
Not two weeks gone
But sinking so far back
In our memories.

I nearly forget to eat it.
Then find it again
And slowly munch
Savouring this small memento
Of sweetness
And love. Alison Manning

January 9, 2025 at 10:32 AM

Alison Manning

@alisonmanning.bsky.social

I've had a New Year email from my publisher to say I sold NO copies of my children's book online last year. So, if you'd like to help me get off to a better start this year find out more: www.amazon.co.uk/World-Withou... #books #authors #HappyNewYear2025 #booksonbluesky

World Without Endless Sheep

Buy World Without Endless Sheep by Manning, Alison (ISBN: 9781789967531) from Amazon's Book Store. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.

www.amazon.co.uk

January 1, 2025 at 12:07 PM

Alison Manning

@alisonmanning.bsky.social

Here is a poem celebrating this hopefully chilled but possibly slightly disorientating time between Christmas and New Year. #PoetsonBluesky

December 28, 2024 at 3:42 PM

Alison Manning

@alisonmanning.bsky.social

I wrote a festive poem about typos! Happy Christmas everyone! #PoetsonBlueSky

December 19, 2024 at 12:54 PM

Alison Manning

@alisonmanning.bsky.social

#PoetsonBlueSky, especially UK based ones, are there any exciting things coming up to submit to. I just failed at the last hurdle of a poetry opportunity (or came second, whichever way you like to look at it! 😀) and need some new challenges to work towards. Ideas please! #PoetsofBlueSky

November 27, 2024 at 12:05 AM