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johnadlam.bsky.social
John Adlam 🌈🌍
@johnadlam.bsky.social
720 followers 630 following 1.3K posts
groups 🔄 activist research ✍ #welcometheboats ⛵ #antiracistpractice ✊ #traumanotpd ❌ Gaia theory 🌍 psychosocial studies 📚 practices of equality 🤝 open mic poetry 🎤 Bob Dylan 🎸 Brixton 🧡 https://barrelblog.org https://open.substack.com/pub/johnadlampoems
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johnadlam.bsky.social
John Adlam 🌈🌍 @johnadlam.bsky.social · 25d
#PoemsAbout #BreakTheMould
@thebrokenspine.co.uk @karenpgonzalez.bsky.social @alanparrywriter.co.uk
"I reckon I broke the mould": this older poem of mine, first published in @asylummagazine.bsky.social, is right on theme. Also here with brief commentary:🙏 johnadlampoems.substack.com/p/the-death-...
The death of Diogenes Many a dogged mile I’ve marched, and for this? None of you droogs strayed so far from the fold. It’s death and death only: piece of piss, come to think of it, what with (truth be told!) my dodgy knees, and nothing much left in the tank. Something’s amiss, if all that gets me barrelling down the road is crystal meth of a morning. Hellfire and hyperkinesis: my kind of a roll! Now I’m a touch too old for battery, theft – or vagabondage. Still, vis à vis the powers that be, I reckon I broke the mould: never been one for shibboleths or slogans, or shotgun shamings. Lately it’s the abyss which beckons. I’ll lift up my cup at the threshold, leave you bereft in the blink of a fucking instant. You’ll not dis or dismiss me again! I’m paroled: one deft move, I’m dusted and done, and you all can kiss my raggedy arse goodbye. Nothing for it but to hold my breath –
johnadlam.bsky.social
@thebrokenspine.co.uk
Today I #LiftToTheSky The Book of Bogs, edited by Anna Chilvers and @clareshawpoet.bsky.social - which I am proud to have helped crowdfund. It's gorgeous & important in equal measure - deep layers of poetry and prose to warm our winters 🙏❤️
www.littletoller.co.uk/shop/books/l...
The Book of Bogs
This new anthology from over forty writers, including Robert Macfarlane, Amy Liptrot, Alys Fowler and Patti Smith explores peatlands and bogs, and argues for their importance.
www.littletoller.co.uk
November 10, 2025 at 10:53 AM
johnadlam.bsky.social
www.justgiving.com/campaign/moh...

Please support this essential work of my comrades at @ourmoh.bsky.social
Our Winter Appeal 2025
We are raising £15,000 in this year's Winter Appeal, can you help? Rough sleeping has risen 91% since 2021 and all forms of homelessness are at record highs in London. We are raising money for essen...
www.justgiving.com
November 5, 2025 at 1:16 PM
Reposted by John Adlam 🌈🌍
atriumpoetry.bsky.social
The Law of Conservation of Mass, according to Marie Antoinette – Victoria Spires @victoriaspires.bsky.social

atriumpoetry.com/2025/11/04/t...
The Law of Conservation of Mass, according to Marie Antoinette – Victoria Spires
The Law of Conservation of Mass, according to Marie Antoinette . . Victoria Spires is published in Berlin Lit & The London Magazine. She has been commended/shortlisted in: Ledbury, TPW Prize, A…
atriumpoetry.com
November 4, 2025 at 8:12 AM
johnadlam.bsky.social
...shrubbery...❤️❤️
throwawayreg.bsky.social roger waldron @throwawayreg.bsky.social · 11d
morning Friday here’s my little “throwaway” poem for #PoemsAbout #Blood and thanks to
@alanparrywriter.co.uk
@thebrokenspine.co.uk
#poets #poetry
and thank you for stopping here and reading 🙋‍♂️
have a great weekend everyone everywhere 🚶🏽‍➡️🚮
October 31, 2025 at 10:13 AM
johnadlam.bsky.social
#WednesdayWIPs
@thebrokenspine.co.uk
@alanparrywriter.co.uk
Spent some time yesterday revising two poems that hadn't quite been working, then open mic with Survivors' Poetry, and now I seem somehow to be headed West:

"Somewhere between Amarillo and Tucumcari / a State Trooper pulls me over..." 🤔🤷
October 29, 2025 at 12:21 PM
Reposted by John Adlam 🌈🌍
victoriaspires.bsky.social
Hey #promptcombo crew 👋🏼

Thanks to @thewombwellrainbow.bsky.social for hosting last week. This week's prompt is #DreamLogic.

Tag me & use the #. Replies will be a little sporadic initially, but I know the community will be out in force, supporting each other as ever ☺️
October 27, 2025 at 7:02 AM
johnadlam.bsky.social
These were truly exceptional readings by @thepaulconnolly.bsky.social yesterday evening 👏👏👏
thepaulconnolly.bsky.social Paul Connolly @thepaulconnolly.bsky.social · 15d
Brilliant @blackboughpoetry.bsky.social open mic last night with featured poet @saraswatinagpal.bsky.social & great MC @matthewmcsmith.bsky.social I'll put my poems & recordings in the thread👇 This one is Branscombe Coast, published by @indigodreamspub.bsky.social in The Dawntreader #poetrycommunity
October 27, 2025 at 10:00 AM
Reposted by John Adlam 🌈🌍
blackboughpoetry.bsky.social
@saraswatinagpal.bsky.social at our #poetry #spokenword #openmic last night!
October 27, 2025 at 8:02 AM
johnadlam.bsky.social
open.spotify.com/track/5MIjLr...
"And when you kissed Robert Mitchum / Gee, but I thought you'd never catch him"
#PoemsAbout #BurnForTheCamera
@thebrokenspine.co.uk
I didn't really click at all with this week's prompt and therefore especially impressed with all that you all have made of it! 🙏❤️🙏
New Age - Full Length Version; 2015 Remaster
open.spotify.com
October 24, 2025 at 2:32 PM
johnadlam.bsky.social
www.ticketsource.co.uk/whats-on/oxf...
www.ticketsource.co.uk
October 23, 2025 at 10:45 PM
johnadlam.bsky.social
Oh dear a very quiet day for #WednesdayWIPs @thebrokenspine.co.uk
I have been kicking around something outdoorsy with trees and that, and getting ready meantime for this evening's webinar from @northseapoets.bsky.social on 'Writing with Bishop' 🥰
October 22, 2025 at 6:33 PM
johnadlam.bsky.social
I wholly forgot #LiftToTheSky last week! I meant to and now do raise up the learned and irrepressible @zoomburst.substack.com, capo of the long-running Sixty Odd Poets, who did a fab gig at the Colony Room, downstairs at Ziggy Green, Saturday before last. A joy to behold! 🙏❤️
@thebrokenspine.co.uk
October 20, 2025 at 12:04 PM
johnadlam.bsky.social
This is *fantastic*, do listen to the recording ❤️
frankhudson.bsky.social Frank Hudson @frankhudson.bsky.social · 24d
#PoemsAbout #BreakTheMould I know most folks post new work of their own, but here's a 50-year-old poem written by my late wife Renée Robbins in her youth that I just rediscovered this Fall. Link to my fresh performance of it here: frankhudson.org/2025/10/14/i...
In Another Language By Renée Robbins, circa 1975-77 Crab in snowbank – plastic waves tattered claws – residue of an earlier life I call my own now left by the road. Where could I free you in this land of demarcated fluid and ice? A bathtub lacks salt, but I drift there as if a wind blew another flood to wipe out contracts and families nations and genders a Finno-Ugaric world with one word for both sexes one mind for the self and those I love and ten claws to speed into buoyant lift.
October 17, 2025 at 5:22 PM
johnadlam.bsky.social
This might even be my all-time favourite of yours, Roger...❤️
throwawayreg.bsky.social roger waldron @throwawayreg.bsky.social · 24d
afternoon Friday hope you’re well
here’s my little “throwaway” poem
for #PoemsAbout #BreaktheMould
and thanks once again Alan 🙋‍♂️
@alanparrywriter.co.uk
@thebrokenspine.co.uk
#poetsonBlueSky
#WritingCommunity
enjoy your weekend everyone everywhere 🚶🏽‍➡️
October 17, 2025 at 2:08 PM
Reposted by John Adlam 🌈🌍
sueimnw.bsky.social
For this week's #PoemsAbout #BreakTheMould with thanks to host @alanparrywriter.co.uk @thebrokenspine.co.uk and everyone taking part.
October 17, 2025 at 5:56 AM
johnadlam.bsky.social
#PoemsAbout #BreakTheMould
@thebrokenspine.co.uk @karenpgonzalez.bsky.social @alanparrywriter.co.uk
"I reckon I broke the mould": this older poem of mine, first published in @asylummagazine.bsky.social, is right on theme. Also here with brief commentary:🙏 johnadlampoems.substack.com/p/the-death-...
The death of Diogenes Many a dogged mile I’ve marched, and for this? None of you droogs strayed so far from the fold. It’s death and death only: piece of piss, come to think of it, what with (truth be told!) my dodgy knees, and nothing much left in the tank. Something’s amiss, if all that gets me barrelling down the road is crystal meth of a morning. Hellfire and hyperkinesis: my kind of a roll! Now I’m a touch too old for battery, theft – or vagabondage. Still, vis à vis the powers that be, I reckon I broke the mould: never been one for shibboleths or slogans, or shotgun shamings. Lately it’s the abyss which beckons. I’ll lift up my cup at the threshold, leave you bereft in the blink of a fucking instant. You’ll not dis or dismiss me again! I’m paroled: one deft move, I’m dusted and done, and you all can kiss my raggedy arse goodbye. Nothing for it but to hold my breath –
October 17, 2025 at 8:08 AM
johnadlam.bsky.social
#WednesdayWIPs
@thebrokenspine.co.uk
Did an unusual thing y'day, scribbled something on the tube in memoriam Lou Reed, read it right away, in roughly v.2 form, at the Survivor Poetry open mic. Felt like it landed well, now fine tuning. Title was wrong: not 'Me and Lou', natch, but 'Lou and I'...🥰
October 15, 2025 at 12:27 PM
johnadlam.bsky.social
Another great evening of open mic with Survivors Poetry at the Harrison in London Kings Cross ❤️❤️
October 14, 2025 at 10:43 PM
johnadlam.bsky.social
Please spread the word to support this important and well-constructed research project 👇👇
elliepsych.bsky.social elliepsych.bsky.social @elliepsych.bsky.social · Oct 8
‼️ 📣PARTICIPANTS NEEDED📣 ‼️
 
I am currently looking for participants in the UK to take part in my research - Exploring the Workplace Experience of Mental Health Staff Diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), also known as Emotionally Unstable Personality Disorder (EUPD).
 
 #BPD #EUPD
October 13, 2025 at 3:14 PM
Reposted by John Adlam 🌈🌍
thebrokenspine.co.uk
Thanks for tearing it up on last week’s #PoemsAbout. This Friday we shift: #BreakTheMould. Think refusal, escape, iconoclast energy. Start posting Friday—early drops get buried. Use Alt Text. Tag #PoemsAbout to be seen. Sign up for deeper prompts: shorturl.at/0Xm7A
A textured, fragmented sculpture of a human face, broken and worn at the edges, mounted on a white wall. The mask-like face appears calm but eroded, as if decaying or breaking free from its cast. In the top left is The Broken Spine logo shaped like a black fountain pen nib. The website "@thebrokenspine.co.uk" appears in white at the top right. Bold white text at the bottom right reads: "Read Repost Reply #POEMSABOUT #BREAKTHEMOULD".
October 12, 2025 at 9:00 AM
johnadlam.bsky.social
"...Plenty more Fish..." 🐟😁🐟😁🐟
throwawayreg.bsky.social roger waldron @throwawayreg.bsky.social · Oct 10
morning Friday here’s my little “throwaway” poem for #PoemsAbout #ImperfectMe
and a thank you to Alan @alanparrywriter.co.uk
and @thebrokenspine.co.uk
#poetry #PoetryCommunity
#BlueSkyPoets
have a great weekend everyone everywhere 🚶🏼‍➡️
October 10, 2025 at 11:28 AM
johnadlam.bsky.social
For #PoemsAbout #ImperfectMe on #worldmentalhealthday, here's one of mine posted here earlier this year 🤜🤛
@thebrokenspine.co.uk
@alanparrywriter.co.uk
Insecurity alert We can argue the toss over separations and losses, but this much is for sure – I am insecurely attached. Mostly I depend upon your warmth and acclaim to scaffold the edifice of my ramshackle sense of self. But hey – no pressure! It's not like you owe me any special consideration – no need, as such, to frack my mudrock offerings for depth or distinction. I'm not proud – I can do naked and abandoned in the void every bit as easily.
October 10, 2025 at 10:57 AM
johnadlam.bsky.social
#WednesdayWIPs
@thebrokenspine.co.uk

'The Uncertainty of the Poet' by Giorgio de Chirico (part of the open collection at Tate Modern)

Seemed apt for this space! 🥰
October 8, 2025 at 9:52 AM
Reposted by John Adlam 🌈🌍
thebrokenspine.co.uk
#PoemsAbout #ImperfectMe kicks off Friday. Think fractured reflections, messy middles, scars that still speak. Draft, hold, then post from Friday. Use Alt Text. Tag properly or we won’t find it. For inbox prompts every Saturday: shorturl.at/0Xm7A
An ornate antique mirror with a heavily tarnished and speckled surface, reflecting a faint, distorted background. The frame is baroque-style, featuring elaborate gold and black detailing with a sculpted lion's face at the top. In the top left is The Broken Spine logo shaped like a fountain pen nib. The website "@thebrokenspine.co.uk" is written in white at the top right. At the bottom right, bold white text reads: "Read Repost Reply #POEMSABOUT #IMPERFECTME".
October 7, 2025 at 5:54 PM
johnadlam.bsky.social
Oh my there is SO MUCH POETRY in this collection (at the Royal Festival Hall), and SO little time... 😆❤️
October 7, 2025 at 2:04 PM