Ben Wilkinson
@benwilko85.bsky.social
Writer, poet, “refreshingly honest” critic, tutor. Poems: Way More Than Luck (2018), Same Difference (Seren Books 2022). Criticism: Don Paterson (LUP 2021). Writing has appeared in Guardian, New Statesman, Spectator, TLS, etc. Lifelong Red. Likes a jog.
Football is like life: we meet with both triumph and disaster. True character is about treating both the same, with class and dignity.
This new-look team will be special. Patience. Some folks need to check themselves, remember who we are, and who our boys lost over the summer.
This new-look team will be special. Patience. Some folks need to check themselves, remember who we are, and who our boys lost over the summer.
October 19, 2025 at 5:51 PM
Football is like life: we meet with both triumph and disaster. True character is about treating both the same, with class and dignity.
This new-look team will be special. Patience. Some folks need to check themselves, remember who we are, and who our boys lost over the summer.
This new-look team will be special. Patience. Some folks need to check themselves, remember who we are, and who our boys lost over the summer.
This #WorldMentalHealthDay, a poem that metaphorises one of the many guises in which depression might manifest itself.
‘The Bull’ features in my second collection of poems, 𝑆𝑎𝑚𝑒 𝐷𝑖𝑓𝑓𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒 (Seren Books, 2022).
#MentalHealthMatters
‘The Bull’ features in my second collection of poems, 𝑆𝑎𝑚𝑒 𝐷𝑖𝑓𝑓𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒 (Seren Books, 2022).
#MentalHealthMatters
October 10, 2025 at 10:54 AM
This #WorldMentalHealthDay, a poem that metaphorises one of the many guises in which depression might manifest itself.
‘The Bull’ features in my second collection of poems, 𝑆𝑎𝑚𝑒 𝐷𝑖𝑓𝑓𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒 (Seren Books, 2022).
#MentalHealthMatters
‘The Bull’ features in my second collection of poems, 𝑆𝑎𝑚𝑒 𝐷𝑖𝑓𝑓𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒 (Seren Books, 2022).
#MentalHealthMatters
Alan Carr just casually giving Toad of Toad Hall disguised as a washerwoman, escaping gaol in the Wind in the Willows. O Traitors, you’ve only gone and done it again.
#CelebrityTraitors
#CelebrityTraitors
October 9, 2025 at 6:45 AM
Alan Carr just casually giving Toad of Toad Hall disguised as a washerwoman, escaping gaol in the Wind in the Willows. O Traitors, you’ve only gone and done it again.
#CelebrityTraitors
#CelebrityTraitors
Ah yes, Tony Blair: a political figure famed for his grinning diplomacy, and not at all for war crimes in horrific Anglo-American pseudo-religious crusades. Trump says he’s a good guy, the best. I’m reminded of this furiously perfect sonnet by Don Paterson, which conjures Blair in Stalinist mode.
September 30, 2025 at 8:15 PM
Ah yes, Tony Blair: a political figure famed for his grinning diplomacy, and not at all for war crimes in horrific Anglo-American pseudo-religious crusades. Trump says he’s a good guy, the best. I’m reminded of this furiously perfect sonnet by Don Paterson, which conjures Blair in Stalinist mode.
As for many poets uneasy in their class consciousness, Tony Harrison’s brilliant controversial long poem V. (1985) blew me away when I first read it. But his short lyrics were sharp, wise, and deeply moving, too, cut from lived life. Saddened to hear the great man has passed. RIP.
September 27, 2025 at 11:43 AM
As for many poets uneasy in their class consciousness, Tony Harrison’s brilliant controversial long poem V. (1985) blew me away when I first read it. But his short lyrics were sharp, wise, and deeply moving, too, cut from lived life. Saddened to hear the great man has passed. RIP.
Put it on the banned list with shards, gossamer, and petrichor. Immediately.
September 22, 2025 at 12:16 PM
Put it on the banned list with shards, gossamer, and petrichor. Immediately.
On #SuicidePreventionDay, here’s my poem ‘The Signal Box’. Twice in my life I’ve been to that darkest place of suicidal thoughts; it affects so many, and still kills far too many. But suicide is preventable— with caring interventions and reduced mental health stigma. Talking saves lives.
September 10, 2025 at 1:45 PM
On #SuicidePreventionDay, here’s my poem ‘The Signal Box’. Twice in my life I’ve been to that darkest place of suicidal thoughts; it affects so many, and still kills far too many. But suicide is preventable— with caring interventions and reduced mental health stigma. Talking saves lives.
Very grateful to have been offered Arts Council England funding to develop my creative practice towards a sustained work of narrative nonfiction. Running For My Life will be a meditative, discursive memoir that explores distance running, mental health, literature and creativity.
August 3, 2025 at 8:16 PM
Very grateful to have been offered Arts Council England funding to develop my creative practice towards a sustained work of narrative nonfiction. Running For My Life will be a meditative, discursive memoir that explores distance running, mental health, literature and creativity.
The Lionesses have again proven an inspiration to the entire nation. Such joy and resilience, collective spirit and sheer determination. To achieve one of the pinnacles of your sport in back to back tournaments. If you’re not full of admiration for this group, check for a pulse. ❤️
July 28, 2025 at 8:41 AM
The Lionesses have again proven an inspiration to the entire nation. Such joy and resilience, collective spirit and sheer determination. To achieve one of the pinnacles of your sport in back to back tournaments. If you’re not full of admiration for this group, check for a pulse. ❤️
Football without Agyemang is nothing.
July 23, 2025 at 1:23 PM
Football without Agyemang is nothing.
It seems my essay for @northseapoets.bsky.social on the state of poetry reviewing made @thetls.bsky.social’s NB column this week. Crumbs.
July 10, 2025 at 1:34 PM
It seems my essay for @northseapoets.bsky.social on the state of poetry reviewing made @thetls.bsky.social’s NB column this week. Crumbs.
“These are the days when no words will do.”
‘Complicit’, first published in @thespectator1828.bsky.social (20 April 2024).
‘Complicit’, first published in @thespectator1828.bsky.social (20 April 2024).
July 8, 2025 at 1:54 PM
“These are the days when no words will do.”
‘Complicit’, first published in @thespectator1828.bsky.social (20 April 2024).
‘Complicit’, first published in @thespectator1828.bsky.social (20 April 2024).
Such tragic news. I’ll never forget seeing Diogo Jota score a brilliant brace at Anfield against the Saints in 2021/22. A wonderful footballer, taken far too soon. Deepest sympathies with his family, friends, and team mates. 💔💔💔
July 3, 2025 at 9:37 AM
Such tragic news. I’ll never forget seeing Diogo Jota score a brilliant brace at Anfield against the Saints in 2021/22. A wonderful footballer, taken far too soon. Deepest sympathies with his family, friends, and team mates. 💔💔💔
“Forget the risible rise of the hot take / then, poets who play politics, mistake / strength of feeling for technique.”
A couple of new poems in this week’s @thespectator1828.bsky.social, including this little number.
A couple of new poems in this week’s @thespectator1828.bsky.social, including this little number.
May 8, 2025 at 12:27 PM
“Forget the risible rise of the hot take / then, poets who play politics, mistake / strength of feeling for technique.”
A couple of new poems in this week’s @thespectator1828.bsky.social, including this little number.
A couple of new poems in this week’s @thespectator1828.bsky.social, including this little number.
Despite the populist pretence that poetry is the ‘honest’ expression of personality or identity, it remains an art form, the miraculous conjured from nothing more than words. A little poem of mine in the latest issue of Poetry London.
April 2, 2025 at 12:48 PM
Despite the populist pretence that poetry is the ‘honest’ expression of personality or identity, it remains an art form, the miraculous conjured from nothing more than words. A little poem of mine in the latest issue of Poetry London.
I’ve always felt that poetry magazines, at their best, can be the absolute lifeblood of the art, and this very special issue of Poetry London is a great example— so many wonderful poems. Top work from the talented Niall Campbell in curating an issue of memorable, crafted, and often moving poetry.
March 20, 2025 at 3:58 PM
I’ve always felt that poetry magazines, at their best, can be the absolute lifeblood of the art, and this very special issue of Poetry London is a great example— so many wonderful poems. Top work from the talented Niall Campbell in curating an issue of memorable, crafted, and often moving poetry.
‘She knows I am not a bad person, just troubled.
She knows the wick is burning.’ 🕯️
I’ve loved this unassuming, exact poem ever since I first read it nearly two decades ago. The author, Frances Leviston, once described it as ‘a secular humanist crie de coeur’. From Public Dream (Picador, 2007) 📘
She knows the wick is burning.’ 🕯️
I’ve loved this unassuming, exact poem ever since I first read it nearly two decades ago. The author, Frances Leviston, once described it as ‘a secular humanist crie de coeur’. From Public Dream (Picador, 2007) 📘
January 22, 2025 at 7:50 PM
‘She knows I am not a bad person, just troubled.
She knows the wick is burning.’ 🕯️
I’ve loved this unassuming, exact poem ever since I first read it nearly two decades ago. The author, Frances Leviston, once described it as ‘a secular humanist crie de coeur’. From Public Dream (Picador, 2007) 📘
She knows the wick is burning.’ 🕯️
I’ve loved this unassuming, exact poem ever since I first read it nearly two decades ago. The author, Frances Leviston, once described it as ‘a secular humanist crie de coeur’. From Public Dream (Picador, 2007) 📘
Little does Anna know how dangerous a game she is playing with her appalling spelling 🤣
#TheTraitors #TheTraitorsUK
#TheTraitors #TheTraitorsUK
January 15, 2025 at 10:09 PM
Little does Anna know how dangerous a game she is playing with her appalling spelling 🤣
#TheTraitors #TheTraitorsUK
#TheTraitors #TheTraitorsUK
Strange to think this brilliant, astute, quietly terrifying novel was published over half a century ago. In its unpicking of the madness of the world and the world of madness, it remains sadly all too relevant to our often dehumanising times. A book that brought me strange comfort in a dark hour.
January 15, 2025 at 7:38 PM
Strange to think this brilliant, astute, quietly terrifying novel was published over half a century ago. In its unpicking of the madness of the world and the world of madness, it remains sadly all too relevant to our often dehumanising times. A book that brought me strange comfort in a dark hour.
Shuffling into 2025 be like: past my prime, a tad bruised, but still got it. Happy new year, and up the Reds! 🔴
December 31, 2024 at 12:07 PM
Shuffling into 2025 be like: past my prime, a tad bruised, but still got it. Happy new year, and up the Reds! 🔴
Holding aloft a single flame. An end of year poem, first published in the 2022/23 winter issue of 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘗𝘰𝘦𝘵𝘳𝘺 𝘙𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸 ✨
December 21, 2024 at 12:30 PM
Holding aloft a single flame. An end of year poem, first published in the 2022/23 winter issue of 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘗𝘰𝘦𝘵𝘳𝘺 𝘙𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸 ✨
Tha’s wrong Spelling Bee, tha knows.
November 21, 2024 at 4:17 PM
Tha’s wrong Spelling Bee, tha knows.
RIP Prezza. Hate to paraphrase Blair, but he’s right: you stayed true to your working-class roots in recognising it as a class by default, understanding ordinary folks’ aspirations. Honest, even blunt, and genuinely concerned about improving the everyman’s lot, we could do with a few more like you.
November 21, 2024 at 9:01 AM
RIP Prezza. Hate to paraphrase Blair, but he’s right: you stayed true to your working-class roots in recognising it as a class by default, understanding ordinary folks’ aspirations. Honest, even blunt, and genuinely concerned about improving the everyman’s lot, we could do with a few more like you.
Sixty years since his death, to me Louis MacNeice remains one of the absolute greats.
‘Wolves’ is one of my desert island poems. Here’s a piece I wrote a while back, about the poems I couldn’t live without.
thefridaypoem.com/ben-wilkinso...
‘Wolves’ is one of my desert island poems. Here’s a piece I wrote a while back, about the poems I couldn’t live without.
thefridaypoem.com/ben-wilkinso...
November 20, 2024 at 4:37 PM
Sixty years since his death, to me Louis MacNeice remains one of the absolute greats.
‘Wolves’ is one of my desert island poems. Here’s a piece I wrote a while back, about the poems I couldn’t live without.
thefridaypoem.com/ben-wilkinso...
‘Wolves’ is one of my desert island poems. Here’s a piece I wrote a while back, about the poems I couldn’t live without.
thefridaypoem.com/ben-wilkinso...
22 Grand Slam titles and 14 French Opens. Rafa Nadal has been absolutely unreal, and has brought joy to tennis fans everywhere. What a career. I wrote this poem back in 2017 🎾💥
November 19, 2024 at 1:40 PM
22 Grand Slam titles and 14 French Opens. Rafa Nadal has been absolutely unreal, and has brought joy to tennis fans everywhere. What a career. I wrote this poem back in 2017 🎾💥