Emma Lee
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emmalee1.bsky.social
Emma Lee
@emmalee1.bsky.social
1.9K followers 1.2K following 1.1K posts
Poet, reviewer, short story writer based in Leicester, UK. No DMs unless I know you IRL.
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emmalee1.bsky.social
Delighted to receive Southlight issue 38 with 2 of my poems (first stanza of one in the image below):
Cover of Southlight issue 38 Autumn/Winter 2025/26 with a collage of a swift, plus the first stanza of Emma Lee’s poem The Hollied House At one time it was an ordinary house on a typical street, the kind a family might grow up in, where a child might feel safe and valued. But then a bird planted a wild holly seed and it grew with thick green leaves.
October 22, 2025 at 11:23 AM
emmalee1.bsky.social
Delighted to receive issue 101 of Poetry Scotland with my poem Skin was an uncomfortable to inhabit.
Poetry Scotland masthead with the title of my poem showing.
October 18, 2025 at 2:11 PM
emmalee1.bsky.social
Delightful little grump, also known as Honey, celebrating 19 years with us by catching the autumn sun. Originally a rescue, she turns 21 this month.
Calico cat sleeping in a large flowerpot in front of an established jasmine plant.
October 5, 2025 at 12:09 PM
emmalee1.bsky.social
Lovely morning at the Mary Linwood Exhibition @leicestermuseums.bsky.social and afternoon at Leicester Writers' Club garden party with thanks to Terri for hosting.
Close up of tortoiseshell cat rendered in freehand embroidery by Mary Linwood.
September 14, 2025 at 5:10 PM
emmalee1.bsky.social
Delighted my finalist poem Spring follows Winter was awarded 3rd Olace in the Snow Leopard Conservancy Competition with thanks to the judges
3rd place certificate with image of a snow leopard
September 6, 2025 at 5:41 PM
emmalee1.bsky.social
Thanks to Carers UK for sending my copy of the competition anthology with my shortlisted poem “The Jug and Cedar Tree” plus a certificate.
(poem deliberately blurred out but image shows title and poet’s name).
Certificate from Carers UK for their Poetry Competition 2025 confirming “The Jug and the Cedar Tree” was shortlisted, along with a competition anthology with a cover image of a woman in an anorak standing next to a man in an anorak in a wheelchair on a beach at the water’s edge. The image is black and white except for the carer whose anorak is red. Both wear party hats.
September 1, 2025 at 10:53 AM
emmalee1.bsky.social
Delighted my poem "Spring follows Winter" is a finalist in the Snow Leopard Conservancy Poetry Competition (final results in September).
Snow Leopard Conservancy Certificate stating "Emma Lee Your poem 'Spring Follows Winter' has been chosen as a Finalist in the 2025 Artwork & Poetry Contest, 'Interwoven Destiny - Protecting Snow Leopards To Protect the planet'" with an image of a snow leopard and mountain range.
August 24, 2025 at 8:32 AM
emmalee1.bsky.social
#WorldEmbroideryDay
Blackwork embroidery of a woman figure skater in a lay back spin. She has dark brown hair pulled back in a bun, wears a dress in different shades of grey and skin-tone tights and boots.
July 30, 2025 at 10:39 AM
emmalee1.bsky.social
Delighted my poem "A Fracture in the Matrilinear" is included in issue 13 of the Livina Press with thanks to the editor.
www.amazon.com/Livina-Press...
List of poets in Livina Press issue 13, Sarah Das Gupta, May Garner, Daniel Lockeridge, Rebecca Agauas, Devon Webb, Gill McInerney, Rae R, Diane Webster, Steven Green, Saad Ali, Oghenetejiri Egheneji, Vaghawan Ojha, Emma Lee, Glenis Moore, Joseph Blythe, Yuu Ikeda, Sastry Karra, Rachel Turney, Jeff Gallagher.
July 30, 2025 at 10:37 AM
emmalee1.bsky.social
Bring Me Gold Launch Saturday 28th June 2-4 pm
Sign up link: Eventbrite
www.eventbrite.com/e/bring-me-g...
Text: "Dhalia Books is pleased to present its charity poetry anthology featuring There are always cockroaches Emma Lee All book proceeds to MAP (medical aid for Palestinians)" on a blue background plus cover image of green background with black, white and red birds in flight with title "Bring Me Gold: Fifty poems for Palestine".
June 7, 2025 at 2:51 PM
emmalee1.bsky.social
Fabulous to read at Leicester's Guildhall earlier today
The Mayor's Parlour oak wood panelling and ornate fireplace over 600 years old. In front of fire is a mic stand and chair.
May 10, 2025 at 4:45 PM
emmalee1.bsky.social
Pleased my copy of Body arrived with my poem “Just Before the Blue Hour” with thanks to the editors at Rough Diamond.
Cover image of The Body an anthology of poetry
May 3, 2025 at 1:19 PM
emmalee1.bsky.social
Delighted to get my copy of The Fig Tree with my poem “A Moonlit Daughter” among some excellent company with thanks to the editor.
Cover image of The Fig Tree with bird's nest on a branch and figs covering my poem "A Moonlit Daughter".
May 3, 2025 at 1:17 PM
emmalee1.bsky.social
Delighted to get my copy of Mingled Voices 9 winning and shortlisted poems from the Proverse Poetry Competition where my "All Gardens Carry a Whiff of Decay" was shortlisted.
Book cover for Mingled Voices 9 anthology of winning and shortlisted poems plus image of first stanza of "All Gardens Carry a Whiff of Decay" (the band Stray Kids at the Met Gala fundraiser, theme sleeping beauties: reawakening fashion, for the Metropolian's Museum of Costume), "It was supposed to be a big deal./ A fourteen-house flight. Eight band/ members on the paparazzi runway./ Photographers crouch in worn jeans./ Tell the women to smile, but play/ along with getting their best side./ Still need invites to the next event/ as they live pay check to pay check."
April 24, 2025 at 11:08 AM
emmalee1.bsky.social
Delighted to receive my copy of Bring Me Gold with one of my poems with thanks to Dahlia Books
Poem There are always cockroaches with extract "sin evaporates/ an additional layer of brine / seabirds flap and laugh // from piles of rubble / a hungry child's sharp cry / joy ripples relief" Book with green cover and black and red birds in flight with title Bring Me Gold Fifty Poems for Palestine.
March 29, 2025 at 1:09 PM
emmalee1.bsky.social
Some photos from this morning's walk through the village:
March 1, 2025 at 3:43 PM
emmalee1.bsky.social
Delighted to get my copy of AEOS with my flash "Carrying a Torch".
Cover image of AEOS features a painting of man in a black jacket wearing a multi-coloured scarf. Underneath an image of the opening paragraph of Carrying a Torch by Emma Lee, The aroma of cleansing safe lingered. Max wondered if he'd done enough as he sat cross-legged on the laminate floor in his new apartment. Finally he'd got the money together to leave her.
February 21, 2025 at 11:38 AM
emmalee1.bsky.social
My poem "When Passengers take hold of the Steering Wheel" will be in the forthcoming anthology "Glow: City at Night" forthcoming from @brokenspinearts.bsky.social
Blurry photo of a lit city street at light with text #Glow #CityAtNight, my work is being published, coming April 2025 and the Broken Spine Logo.
February 17, 2025 at 12:20 PM
emmalee1.bsky.social
I will be one of the poets reading at this event at Leicester's Guildhall on 10 May. Doors open 11.30am for a 12pm start. Tickets at eventbrite:
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/performanc...
Event Poster performance poetry, artistic expression & storytelling showcase, The Mayor's Parlour at Leicester Guildhall, Guildhall Lane LE1 5FQ Saturday 10 May 2025, doors 11.30, start midday. Exciting performances and headline acts waiting for you. Contact marynikoloff@gmail.com, tickets from eventbrite. Event in support of Macmillan Cancer Support. Adults £15, Children £7.
February 5, 2025 at 11:37 AM
emmalee1.bsky.social
My copy of "Reels: Cinematic Poetry" from @brokenspinearts.bsky.social arrived with my poem "Shade thrown at a Thursday's Child".
www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0DPB7286...
Cover image for "Reels: Cinematic Poetry" shows a silhouette of a human figure falling into a film reel. Plus two lines from the poem "Shade Thrown at a Thursday's Child", "He turns the corner to his workplace, mind's eye on choreography, mind's voice..."
December 3, 2024 at 12:16 PM
emmalee1.bsky.social
Delighted to see my ghazal "Finding my Soundtrack" in the current issue of Eastern Structures with thanks to the editor.
Image shows cover of Eastern Structures, a large desert rock with a statue of a human figure carved into it. Plus an image of the first two stanzas of my ghazal: "Friends split: pop or rock, l'm left wanting something true to me. I had to find music with meaning, something true to me. In my car, Nico's 'unlistenable album, often cited as inspiration, rebel. I'm humming, something true to me." (poem continues in the magazine).
November 27, 2024 at 12:03 PM
emmalee1.bsky.social
Lovely time to day at the Choice & Precious Work exhibition of historical embroidered samplers at Witney Antiques today (no photos were allowed inside the exhibition).
Exterior of Witney Antiques - two storey building with shop front built in Cotswold Stone. Book accompanying the exhibition with details and pictures of the samplers
October 26, 2024 at 3:55 PM
emmalee1.bsky.social
I got a certificate:
Certificate from Bluesky celebrating 10m users, I'm user 740,217 having joined in August 2023.
September 17, 2024 at 10:39 AM
emmalee1.bsky.social
Apparently it was World Embroidery Day on 30 July. Here's one of mine, a figure skater in a layback spin done in blackwork.
Figure skater in a layback spin wearing a skating dress in different grey colours done in blackwork embroidery.
July 31, 2024 at 10:34 AM
emmalee1.bsky.social
Please normalise not filming at poetry gigs without the performer's permission. Adding a couple of points to Vanessa Kisuule's thread (transcript of images of tweets follows):
July 19, 2024 at 11:21 AM