Dr Karen Downs-Barton SoA
@karendownsbarton.bsky.social
Minx (@chattobooks), Didicoy (@poetrybusiness), Elise Dillsworth agency, I am a mentor, Creative Future steering committee, @kcl.ac.uk, workshop leader Shakespeare and Race. Proudly working class and neurodiverse. #PoetsOnBluesky #MinxOnTheRoad
Yola and I were the first through the door of Bert’s Books this morning because my order of Rhian Elizabeth’s book ‘maybe I’ll call Gillian anderson’ had arrived. Yay and Woo-Hoo! @brokensleepbooks.bsky.social @bertsbooks.bsky.social
June 22, 2025 at 12:49 PM
Yola and I were the first through the door of Bert’s Books this morning because my order of Rhian Elizabeth’s book ‘maybe I’ll call Gillian anderson’ had arrived. Yay and Woo-Hoo! @brokensleepbooks.bsky.social @bertsbooks.bsky.social
Spotted today in Bert’s Books, Minx was snuggling between E.E. Cummings and T.S.Elliot. She couldn’t have been in better company. Of course, I signed her. @bertsbooks.bsky.social @penguinukbooks.bsky.social #Chatto&Windus #writingfromthemargins #poetsagram #poetsandwriters
June 11, 2025 at 12:35 PM
Spotted today in Bert’s Books, Minx was snuggling between E.E. Cummings and T.S.Elliot. She couldn’t have been in better company. Of course, I signed her. @bertsbooks.bsky.social @penguinukbooks.bsky.social #Chatto&Windus #writingfromthemargins #poetsagram #poetsandwriters
I’m delighted to share these lovely words about my forthcoming book, Minx, by Lemn Sissay. @penguinbooks.bsky.social #PoetsOfBluesky #workingclasspoets #poets #booklaunch
February 12, 2025 at 1:46 PM
I’m delighted to share these lovely words about my forthcoming book, Minx, by Lemn Sissay. @penguinbooks.bsky.social #PoetsOfBluesky #workingclasspoets #poets #booklaunch
Four years ago I was reading a poetry book when this photograph of myself and my sister Faye floated out from between its pages. I thought it had been lost forever. Wishing you all such serendipitous moments when you’re reading. #poetsonbluesky #poetsmuse #MinxOnTheRoad #childrenincare #penguinbooks
December 15, 2024 at 3:55 PM
Four years ago I was reading a poetry book when this photograph of myself and my sister Faye floated out from between its pages. I thought it had been lost forever. Wishing you all such serendipitous moments when you’re reading. #poetsonbluesky #poetsmuse #MinxOnTheRoad #childrenincare #penguinbooks
Spending a few days with family in #Devon. Tonight I’m in #Chagford and the view from my window is rather Christmasy and lovely. #Christmas #poetsmuse #MinxOnTheRoad #poetsonbluesky #writerscommunity
December 13, 2024 at 6:09 PM
Spending a few days with family in #Devon. Tonight I’m in #Chagford and the view from my window is rather Christmasy and lovely. #Christmas #poetsmuse #MinxOnTheRoad #poetsonbluesky #writerscommunity
Thursday was somewhat eventful in #camden at the Jazz Cafe for the #tanhaicollective LP launch. #jazz #cherrybellini #perfectpizza #tempura #artichoke
December 7, 2024 at 3:48 PM
Thursday was somewhat eventful in #camden at the Jazz Cafe for the #tanhaicollective LP launch. #jazz #cherrybellini #perfectpizza #tempura #artichoke
I’m so delighted to receive my copy of Kin, an anthology of poetry, stories, and art by women from Romani, Traveller, and nomadic communities. Nestled in there amongst all the fantastic work are three poems of my own loving their neighbours. #OpresRoma #poetsmuse #Poetsonbluesky
December 5, 2024 at 10:24 AM
I’m so delighted to receive my copy of Kin, an anthology of poetry, stories, and art by women from Romani, Traveller, and nomadic communities. Nestled in there amongst all the fantastic work are three poems of my own loving their neighbours. #OpresRoma #poetsmuse #Poetsonbluesky
After last night’s poetry reading (with harpist interludes!) I returned to prepare an overnight #sourdough bread. No kneading. No second rise. No fuss. But plenty of lopsided flavour. #LazyBaker #poetsmuse #healthyliving
November 28, 2024 at 10:33 AM
After last night’s poetry reading (with harpist interludes!) I returned to prepare an overnight #sourdough bread. No kneading. No second rise. No fuss. But plenty of lopsided flavour. #LazyBaker #poetsmuse #healthyliving
The end of a week of fruitfulness is a bowl of fruit salad. #kiwis #persimmon #apples #cherries and a liberal sprinkling of #seeds. Healthy if you overlook the grated #chocolate and #doublecream.
November 24, 2024 at 9:32 PM
The end of a week of fruitfulness is a bowl of fruit salad. #kiwis #persimmon #apples #cherries and a liberal sprinkling of #seeds. Healthy if you overlook the grated #chocolate and #doublecream.
Today my fruitfulness is courtesy of the colours green and purple. Marinated aubergines (technically fruit 🤣) with tahini sauce and smashed spiced avocado (also technically a fruit 😇) with purple potatoes and broad beans. #healthyliving #poetsmuse #poetscancook #poetsofbsky #itscoldoutside
November 23, 2024 at 6:42 PM
Today my fruitfulness is courtesy of the colours green and purple. Marinated aubergines (technically fruit 🤣) with tahini sauce and smashed spiced avocado (also technically a fruit 😇) with purple potatoes and broad beans. #healthyliving #poetsmuse #poetscancook #poetsofbsky #itscoldoutside
Today the fruitfulness comes from the joys of a butternut squash soup with cranberry sourdough croutons followed by kiwi. #poetsmuse #fruit #autumn #kiwi #squash
November 21, 2024 at 6:30 PM
Today the fruitfulness comes from the joys of a butternut squash soup with cranberry sourdough croutons followed by kiwi. #poetsmuse #fruit #autumn #kiwi #squash
So excited! My publisher has just added the front cover of my new book to my authors page. #penguinbooks #chattobooks #poetsmuse #poetsofbluesky #poetrycommunity
November 21, 2024 at 3:59 PM
So excited! My publisher has just added the front cover of my new book to my authors page. #penguinbooks #chattobooks #poetsmuse #poetsofbluesky #poetrycommunity
Another day of fruitfulness courtesy of mango salad. (Yes, it also has a gloriously sunny yellow pepper in it too). #poetsmuse #poetsonbsky #healthyliving #fruit #romanicooking
November 20, 2024 at 2:43 PM
Another day of fruitfulness courtesy of mango salad. (Yes, it also has a gloriously sunny yellow pepper in it too). #poetsmuse #poetsonbsky #healthyliving #fruit #romanicooking
Day 2 of a week cramming more fruit in my diet. Today it’s pear, fig, and blue cheese sourdough pizza. Scrummy and not a faff to make. #sourdough #poetsmuse #healthyliving
November 19, 2024 at 4:39 PM
Day 2 of a week cramming more fruit in my diet. Today it’s pear, fig, and blue cheese sourdough pizza. Scrummy and not a faff to make. #sourdough #poetsmuse #healthyliving
In an effort to fill my week with exciting fruit I picked up these little gems. My friend thought they looked like lumps of chocolate, Bash thought they were armadillos, I thought they were interesting but not fab. #weirdfruit #poetsprocrastinate #zoehealthstudy #seasonaleating
November 18, 2024 at 11:01 AM
In an effort to fill my week with exciting fruit I picked up these little gems. My friend thought they looked like lumps of chocolate, Bash thought they were armadillos, I thought they were interesting but not fab. #weirdfruit #poetsprocrastinate #zoehealthstudy #seasonaleating
Autumn mornings eschew straight lines and softens footsteps with decaying leaf carpets. @revrachelmann.bsky.social #BristolCityFarmCafe #gingersoup
November 17, 2024 at 1:47 PM
Autumn mornings eschew straight lines and softens footsteps with decaying leaf carpets. @revrachelmann.bsky.social #BristolCityFarmCafe #gingersoup
All power to women with wild locks! I spotted this enigmatic offering by the river Ray. An offering to St Julia of Carthage, a call for help, a greeting, or testing the theory of the sound of one hand clapping?
November 17, 2024 at 1:26 PM
All power to women with wild locks! I spotted this enigmatic offering by the river Ray. An offering to St Julia of Carthage, a call for help, a greeting, or testing the theory of the sound of one hand clapping?
And let’s face it, C-3PO has a rather cute profile picture pose how could one resist!!!
November 16, 2024 at 9:31 PM
And let’s face it, C-3PO has a rather cute profile picture pose how could one resist!!!
One of the bonuses of the cold nights drawing in is leaving sourdough mixture tucked up by dying embers and finding it risen by morning. Hello cranberry and walnut loaf. Come to mamma! #poetsmuse #sourdough #GoodHouseKeeping #foraging
November 14, 2024 at 2:00 PM
One of the bonuses of the cold nights drawing in is leaving sourdough mixture tucked up by dying embers and finding it risen by morning. Hello cranberry and walnut loaf. Come to mamma! #poetsmuse #sourdough #GoodHouseKeeping #foraging
This morning I had my usual 4mile track around the local part of the Wilts and Bucks canal. Art. Company. Nature. What could be better?!?! Oh yes, knowing I’m soon to leave X marks the spot for this much better e-space.
November 13, 2024 at 9:28 PM
This morning I had my usual 4mile track around the local part of the Wilts and Bucks canal. Art. Company. Nature. What could be better?!?! Oh yes, knowing I’m soon to leave X marks the spot for this much better e-space.
It was a really interesting program Helen with a good mix. I laughed out loud at several points and wrote notes at others. Ruth was my academic supervisor and it was a treat to hear her read from her latest book.
November 13, 2024 at 3:34 PM
It was a really interesting program Helen with a good mix. I laughed out loud at several points and wrote notes at others. Ruth was my academic supervisor and it was a treat to hear her read from her latest book.