Julie Gardner
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juliebird.bsky.social
Julie Gardner
@juliebird.bsky.social
PhD student (NTU), poet, retired primary-school teacher. Avoiding bucket lists. My poetry pamphlet 'Remembering' published by @fiveleavesbooks.bsky.social September 2024.
Is there anyone here who is interested in poetry and auto theory? I'm doing a critical / creative PhD and sometimes I feel a bit isolated.
May 24, 2025 at 8:08 PM
Nottingham Stanza met yesterday and celebrated the life of Benjamin Zephaniah. We watched him performing some of his poems, read out our favourites and had some really interesting conversations about poetry.
May 11, 2025 at 7:51 AM
Nottingham Stanza met yesterday to discuss Fiona Moore's wonderful book, 'Okapi'. It's one long poem (just over 50 pages) and it is extraordinary. You have to concentrate and take it slowly but it is so beautifully crafted and very moving. I want everyone to read it.
April 13, 2025 at 4:38 PM
If everyone who followed me bought my poetry pamphlet, I'd be a best seller. A woman can dream.
April 3, 2025 at 10:44 AM
I'm still a bit baffled by Bluesky. I keep getting new followers but hardly any of them make contact. I'm guessing they're not following me for my wit and wisdom.
March 16, 2025 at 5:03 PM
Sometimes I think that everybody is writing but nobody is reading. (Although at the moment I'm reading a lot and writing quite a lot too - (and deleting nearly as much!)
February 20, 2025 at 8:08 PM
Nottingham Stanza met today to discuss Ian Duhig's 'An Arbitrary Light Bulb.' You have to put in some work to appreciate a lot of these poems - but the general consensus was they're worth the effort.
February 8, 2025 at 3:38 PM
Reposted by Julie Gardner
Today, Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde boldly called out Donald Trump for his hatred and bigotry at the National Cathedral Prayer Service. Now, the GOP is attacking her for speaking truth to power.

REPOST if you stand with Bishop Budde against Trump!
January 21, 2025 at 7:30 PM
Today the Nottingham Stanza group meet to read and talk about John Burnside's last collection 'Ruin, Blossom'.
January 11, 2025 at 8:41 AM
I've been pretty quiet on here so I'm (pleasantly) surprised, to keep getting followers and slightly baffled to be honest. I'd like to interact a bit more so if you see this, say hello.
January 10, 2025 at 2:11 PM
Second attempt at making Welsh cakes was a disaster. I have decided life is too short to make Welsh cakes.
January 6, 2025 at 9:09 AM
Grandchild in a laundry basket
December 16, 2024 at 5:44 PM
A few people have sent me messages on this platform. I only respond to messages from people I actually know.
December 8, 2024 at 8:57 AM
My Welsh mother, who died when I was still a teenager, made the best Welsh cakes. I have often bought them but today is the first time I tried actually making them. They look like Welsh cakes - and they're edible. That's all I'm saying.
December 7, 2024 at 7:10 PM
Reposted by Julie Gardner
I keep trying to write something eloquent and just being tired.
History matters. Philosophy matters. Languages and literature matter. Indigenous studies matter. Arts and humanities and social sciences matter. All of them.

Signed,
a physicist
December 4, 2024 at 9:23 AM
Cat on a coat
November 29, 2024 at 7:37 PM
I know I should submit more often to have any hope of getting more poems published - but it's discouraging when you're promised a response in 2 to 3 weeks and 6 weeks later, despite a polite reminder, there's nothing to report.
November 26, 2024 at 10:22 PM
Cat in a backpack
November 23, 2024 at 10:08 PM
Cat in box
November 23, 2024 at 2:46 PM
I love that so many writers and poets seem to be gathering - it gives me hope in what seems like a very scary world. Tonight I saw a wonderful production of The Magic Flute and it made me think about how important the arts are.
November 22, 2024 at 10:33 PM
Finding the warm places.
November 20, 2024 at 5:32 PM
I've found (and been found by) so many poets here. After just over a week I'm feeling very positive.
November 20, 2024 at 8:23 AM
Another cat picture.
November 19, 2024 at 7:57 PM
If a magazine says they will respond to submissions in 2 - 3 weeks and to contact them if you haven't heard - and so after three weeks you contact them and a week later you still haven't heard, what would you do?
November 19, 2024 at 6:11 PM