Susan Robertson
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snullr.bsky.social
Susan Robertson
@snullr.bsky.social
830 followers 570 following 380 posts
Borderline Luddite. Sometimes writes.
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snullr.bsky.social
Michael Goodfellow's chapbook Cleft is gorgeous.
The front of a beige, tall rectangular chapbook on a dark wood background. The left side features an etching of a snakemouth orchid. The title, Cleft, and the author's name, Michael Goodfellow, are printed in the upper left hand corner. The back of a beige, tall rectangular chapbook on a dark wood background. The right side features an etching of a snakemouth orchid. The title page of a chapbook. A mirrored image of a snakemouth orchid is printed in dark ink on the top of a beige sheet of paper. The title, Cleft, is printed, also in dark ink, in block letters underneath, and under that the author's name, Michael Goodfellow, in italics. The author has initialled the bottom. One page of a long poem printed on beige paper. Three text reads: Cleft stone, then the eel then the room within water it happened before then he used another name a stream bed, stone heaved it happened by rivers places I would never see bog fern, granite, pebbles, dark soil below also meant inside
October 22, 2025 at 1:56 AM
snullr.bsky.social
For @tomsnarsky.bsky.social 's #smallpoemsunday one from @roblucastaylor.bsky.social 's Weather.
A three line poem that reads screen door-- one hundred sunrises in the baby's palm
October 5, 2025 at 5:32 PM
snullr.bsky.social
One of my favourites by Jean Valentine #smallpoemsunday
The image of a poem by Jean Valentine that reads Mare and Newborn Foal When you die there will be bales of hay heaped high in space mean while with my tongue I draw the black straw out of you mean while with your tongue you draw the black straw out of me
September 14, 2025 at 4:36 PM
snullr.bsky.social
Two poems for #smallpoemsunday, one by Charles Simic (the master!) and one from my Baseline Press chapbook.

@tomsnarsky.bsky.social
A poem by Charles Simic titled Poem: Every morning I forget how it is. I watch smoke mount In great strides above the city. I belong to no one. Then, I remember my shoes, How I have to put them on, How bending over to tie then up I will look into the earth. A poem by me titled 6:00 A M The cat mewls outside the bedroom. A robin-- or is it a cardinal?--won't stop calling. You once asked your mother if life had a purpose. The cat's paw darts under the door.
August 31, 2025 at 5:50 PM
snullr.bsky.social
Come help Dagne Forrest and me celebrate our Baseline Press chapbooks along with special guest @nancyhuggett.bsky.social. Saturday, September 20, 2:00 p.m. at the Sunnyside Library, 1049 Bank St., Ottawa.
A poster announcing a Baseline Press chapbook launch on Saturday, September 20, 2:00 p.m. at the Sunnyside Library, 1049 Bank St., Ottawa. The top third of the poster contains the location and time information in white letters against a teal field. The bottom third contains headshots of the authors arranged in horizontal row: Dagne Forrest first, then guest reader Nancy Huggett, and Susan Robertson. The authors’ names are printed above their photos.
August 27, 2025 at 1:26 PM
snullr.bsky.social
Love this by Steven Heighton from the preface to his “Selected Poems 1893-2020.”
From the start, the part of my mind that conceives real poems (as opposed to the ego that forces fakes) seems to have worked to subvert my tendency to overthink and over-explain the world. It has recruited me into the role of stenographer to my nightmind; it has nudged me towards difficult, hence usefully estranging, languages and the act of translation—which, like dreams, demotes the bossy, noisy ego, since translators must submit and apprentice themselves to the source text and labour in service to it.
July 8, 2025 at 5:41 PM
snullr.bsky.social
Baseline Press has sold out of my chapbook but I still have a few copies. Let me know if you want one.
A capture of a Baseline Press web page of a tall, narrow, blue-grey chapbook. So I Go is centered near the top in black block letters. Susan Robertson is printed underneath and under that an image of three swallows in flight. This chapbook rests on top of two other copies which are opened, one to the front flyleaf, the other to a poem. Sold Out is printed block white letters against black in the top right corner.
July 1, 2025 at 6:40 PM
snullr.bsky.social
I’ll be at the Ottawa Small Press Book Fair this Saturday with my Baseline Press chapbook & free Baseline bookmarks. If I get my act together, there will also be cookies. And you can preorder Baseline’s summer titles now.

Saturday, June 21
Tom Brown Arena
141 Bayview Station Rd
Noon-5:00 p.m.
Six Baseline press bookmarks in shades of tan and gray fanned out on a white surface. They read “Everything goes better with poetry,” “Get the door, it’s poetry,” Poetry…unless you hate fun,” When the going gets though, the tough get poetry,” “Have you had your poetry today,” and “Poetry happens here!”
June 16, 2025 at 9:03 PM
snullr.bsky.social
Thrilled to have a poem in @scrivener1980.bsky.social ‘s Summer Feature.
A long, narrow poem, ‘Still Life with Shadows’ by Susan Robertson. Friable soft yellow faded to fawn— three daffodils left to dry in a small brown bottle that once held tincture of rose gifted to you by your niece for anxiety after the news rest on the desk next to your mother’s diary held together with a rubber band.
June 11, 2025 at 1:18 AM
snullr.bsky.social
I’ve been to Perfect Books’ 20% off sale. Have you?
A photo of a hand holding a book with the cover facing forward. The top two thirds of the book is beige with bronze circles of different sizes. The larger ones are just outlined and these overlap slightly. A free smaller circles are filled in. The lower third of the cover is black and has the words “The Penguin Book of Spiritual Verse 110 Poets on the Divine, edited by Kaveh Akbar.” One of the larger outlined circles from the top of the cover spills over into this section which also includes three of the smaller solid circles.
January 24, 2025 at 7:12 PM
snullr.bsky.social
Vertebrata, @mreid.bsky.social's Turret House chapbook, is an astonishing tour of the human vertebrae describing how they support our bodies and sometimes don't.
A picture of the cover Monty Reid's chapbook Vertebrata. A black and white drawing of three vertebrae covers most of the page. The word "vertebrata" runs vertically down the left side. The author's name, Monty Reid, is printed at the bottom. A picture of two poems included in the chapbook. CV3 Articulates at the Luschka joints. Little Germanic teeth subject to degeneration. And the foramen little Latinate windows gradually closing themselves. And the nerves die twitching with their languages. Their little languages. CV4 Severe stenosis as per the MRI This is a poem about the failure of form.
January 22, 2025 at 2:56 AM
snullr.bsky.social
Gobsmacked, honoured and thrilled to have a Baseline chapbook coming in the spring.
Author photos of five people announcing the 2025 Baseline Press lineup. The authors are Susan Robertson, Dagne Forrest, Jasmine Gui, Salma Husain, and Steve McOrmond.
January 7, 2025 at 3:54 PM
snullr.bsky.social
Grateful to @puneetdutt.bsky.social and @ex-puritan.bsky.social for making room for my poem among so many fine writers in the Schism issue.
FOUR TEASPOONS TO ONE QUART I was taught God made us in His image. Let’s mix the bleach— I’m cleaning cupboards. Four teaspoons bleach to one quart water. Many of Gaza’s Medical Workers Have Been Detained or Killed. I was taught God made us in His image. I spritz the outside of a door, circle the sponge. Israeli Strike Kills Dozens at Gaza Shelter. I’m cleaning cupboards. Rinse the sponge, swab the inside; the hinges squeak. ‘They Are Burned Alive’: A Doctor Captures the Toll of War on Gaza’s Children I was taught God made us in His image. The paper lining the shelves should be replaced. At Least 30 Are Reported Killed in Khan Younis in 24 Hours I’m cleaning cupboards. Seven cabinets above, eight below. U.S. Will Allow Delivery of 500-Pound Bombs to Israel, an Official Says. I was taught God made me in His image. I’m cleaning cupboards. Words in italics are all headlines which appeared on The New York Times website during the one-month period from July 11 through August 10, 2024. In order of appearance the links to headlines are: Sankar, Anjana. 2024 August 2. “Many of Gaza’s Medical Workers Have Been Detained or Killed.” The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2024/08/02/world/middleeast/gaza-doctors-medical-workers-israel.html Video by Storyful and Reuters. 2024 August 4. “Israeli Strike Kills Dozens at Gaza Shelter.” The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/video/world/middleeast/100000009610600/israel-strike-gaza-city-shelter.html El-Naggar, Mona and Kerr, Sarah. 2024 August 10. “‘They Are Burned Alive’: A Doctor Captures the Toll of War on Gaza’s Children.” The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2024/08/10/world/middleeast/gaza-al-aqsa-hospital-children.html Sankar, Anjana. 2024 July 24. “At Least 30 Are Reported Killed in Khan Younis in 24 Hours.” The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/25/world/middleeast/israeli-forces-press-forward-in-khan-younis-at-least-30-people-are-reported-killed-in-24-hours.html Boxerman, Aaron. 2024 July 11. “U.S. Will Allow Delivery of 500-Pound Bombs to Israel, an Official Says.” The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/11/world/middleeast/us-israel-bombs.html
November 25, 2024 at 6:51 PM
snullr.bsky.social
Thank you Ottawa Public Library!
A picture of two poetry books: Mosab Abu Toha’s “Forest of Noise” and Danez Smith’s “Bluff.”
November 20, 2024 at 3:20 AM
snullr.bsky.social
Thrilled to have a cento in the current issue of Contemporary Verse II.
The cover of the fall issue of Contemporary Verse II featuring a photo of display with an installation. A large painting in shades of beige rests against a wall on the left. On the right is a shelving unit made of thick dowels of blond wood. Under it is a miniature yellow table and two yellow chairs. The first lines of a poem: Kohelet Tells Us There Is Nothing New under the Sun; A Wiser Poet than I Disagrees The Mississippi River empties into the gulf. The lilies break open over the dark water. There are 7,000 living languages. There is wind, there are matches. A ghost sings, a door opens.
November 19, 2024 at 2:54 AM
snullr.bsky.social
What an honour. Thank you @psalteryandlyre.bsky.social and @millietullis.bsky.social. You were a delight to work with.
An image of a poem from “Psaltery & Lyre” Instead of Writing a Poem I visited my friend. We sat in her deck Under the trees drinking coffee. A jay Jared— (I didn’t feel the lack of a poem) then the shrill- sharp notes of a bird we couldn’t name.
September 23, 2024 at 7:20 PM
snullr.bsky.social
Twins! (I love this and the whole series!)
Long, narrow, yellow Opaat Press leaflet titled “Tired, Saturday” by Fawn Parker held by one hand.
September 7, 2024 at 3:06 PM
snullr.bsky.social
They’re so cute! I love them too!
Baby bunny surrounded by green grass
June 4, 2024 at 12:42 AM
snullr.bsky.social
Twins!
May 11, 2024 at 4:24 PM
snullr.bsky.social
The trout lilies are popping in the woods
A trout lily, a yellow spring wildflower with curled star like petals and brown spotted green leaves surrounded by dried fall leaves
April 26, 2024 at 7:46 PM
snullr.bsky.social
Bees!!
Two small bees on purple/blue early spring flowers
April 1, 2024 at 1:45 AM
snullr.bsky.social
I’m ready for the ice storm.
A white cat sleeping in a lap completely covering it. A single human hand behind it holds a copy of Kaveh Akbar’s “Martyr!”
January 24, 2024 at 8:40 PM
snullr.bsky.social
I said it on the other place, I’ll say it here. I love @textcurious.bsky.social ’s “missing matrilineal!” (Can’t post a picture of the cover because it gets labeled “sensitive content.”)
October 2, 2023 at 11:51 AM
snullr.bsky.social
Fall!
An orange, yellow, and red maple leaf on a wet wood deck. It’s fall!
September 22, 2023 at 1:36 AM
snullr.bsky.social
“It doesn’t have to make sense now; it can make sense later on.” Sound advice from Something about John Coltrane in Roger Reeve’s astonishing “Best Barbarian.” It encouraged me to edit out a line I’d edited in for clarity. It can make sense later on.
August 30, 2023 at 2:05 AM