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Daniel Duggan

@danieldugganwriter.bsky.social
212 followers 89 following 81 posts

Pushcart nominated, published writer pouring words in the Scottish Borders

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Daniel Duggan @danieldugganwriter.bsky.social · 05/08/2026
I gauge my girth by a method that requires no ruler. If I suck in my hull bottom belly, and still can’t see the flaccidness of my spam javelin, I need to sidestep cake until I stop wanting to take stale bread sticks to my Mr Greedy eyes. #poetry
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Daniel Duggan @danieldugganwriter.bsky.social · 21/07/2026
I brought #Odyssey and the Illiad from a book and Mythos drinks machine on the main street in Perissa, Santorini, when I was there just after I finished high school in the 90s. Since then, I haven't managed to remain sedimentary or sedentary.
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Daniel Duggan @danieldugganwriter.bsky.social · 20/07/2026
I brought #Odyssey and the Illiad from a book and Mythos drinks machine on the main street in Perissa, Santorini, when I was there just after I finished high school in the 90s. Since then, I haven't managed to remain sedimentary or sedentary
Odyssey 

My incendiary tongue, a Swift wing, unable to be pressed like a dandelion 
between the pages of a hefty book.

I'll tell you of my debauchery, 
of my inability to be still, 
of the lust-tide in my blood
for leaving home, even though 
I’ve just returned, years 
later than grief can cling.

Tie me to the mast again, 
so I might be tempted,
and watch me endure beyond 
the fate assigned to me.

Daniel Duggan
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Daniel Duggan @danieldugganwriter.bsky.social · 10/07/2026
A #poem called Talking Shit.
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Victoria Spires @victoriaspires.bsky.social · 02/06/2026
Another fantastic @iamb.uk lineup! 😎
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Helen Mort @helenmort.bsky.social · 27/05/2026
🎉 🥳 Arvon PLUS in September with me, Declan Ryan and Sarah Howe. Two experienced editors and…er, me! Who fancies joining us? The course includes extra days to write at the end, unique to the ‘Arvon plus’ format. www.arvon.org/writing-cour...
arvon.org
Residential Arvon Plus: Poetry | Arvon
Sometimes finding inspiration isn’t the biggest challenge: it’s moulding your poems into the best shape, the best form, the best sequence or collection once you have the raw material. What makes a gre...
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Helen Mort @helenmort.bsky.social · 20/05/2026
open.substack.com/pub/helenmor...
open.substack.com
Heron on the stroke ward
What hides inside things we do not know how to listen to?
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Daniel Duggan @danieldugganwriter.bsky.social · 10/05/2026
I buy two coffees some days. #poetry
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The Broken Spine (SUBS OPEN) @thebrokenspine.co.uk · 12/04/2026
Introducing the first group of #Wave3 poets who will take it further: @bethosmond.bsky.social @danieldugganwriter.bsky.social @vespertine4.bsky.social @dbodepudi.bsky.social @fionaswriting.bsky.social This is a serious line-up. #TheWhiskeyTree #Wave3
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Daniel Duggan @danieldugganwriter.bsky.social · 24/03/2026
Blushing ginger mode engaged, you are always so kind. The programme is such a captivating listen.. reminded me of a line in your poem Lil's last word... '...with its lighthouse stare. I opened my mouth and I was ransacked by its glare."
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Daniel Duggan @danieldugganwriter.bsky.social · 24/03/2026
She throws salt mills #poetry
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Daniel Duggan @danieldugganwriter.bsky.social · 24/03/2026
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/... You know you have half an hour to spare... go listen to @helenmort.bsky.social exploring how light is housed. It's lyrical and you can feel how the coast hugs its slender guardians.
bbc.co.uk
Artworks - The Last Sweeping Beams - BBC Sounds
Helen Mort explores the allure of the lighthouse as their sweeping beams are modernised.
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Daniel Duggan @danieldugganwriter.bsky.social · 22/02/2026
Scare the bejesus out of me #poetry
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Helen Mort @helenmort.bsky.social · 18/02/2026
It was wonderful to do this ‘listening chair’ for Elizabeth Alker recently and talk about John Grant but - more importantly - this episode of Unclassified features musical gorgeousness from Sheffield…. www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
bbc.co.uk
Unclassified - Helen Mort's Listening Chair - BBC Sounds
Elizabeth Alker invites poet Helen Mort to pick a track that transports her
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Corinna Board @corinnaboard.bsky.social · 18/02/2026
Link in bio, would love to see you there! 🌱
Zoom launch invitation on a beige background with a botanical illustration of giant fescue grass.
Text reads:

Mædwe online launch -
Tuesday 3rd March, 7.30pm.
Hosted by Victoria Spires.
With guest readers Vasiliki Albedo, Sophia Argyris, Tom Branfoot and Victoria Spires.
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Daniel Duggan @danieldugganwriter.bsky.social · 14/02/2026
For #ValentinesDay this is called Half up, Half down.
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Daniel Duggan @danieldugganwriter.bsky.social · 08/02/2026
The moon that pulls mountains by their hair. #poetry
Poem
I lie awake in the slumber dark
with feathered thorn moths
on the pleated ledges
of my eyelids
I thought pulling out my eyeballs
and pushing starlight into
the voids would
change me.
I'm just the same,
and so are you.
You'll go on being the fucking
moon that pulls mountains
by their hair.
Daniel Duggan
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Daniel Duggan @danieldugganwriter.bsky.social · 08/02/2026
I have to get a bloody mind! I do like a murder mystery, so I'm halfway there!
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Daniel Duggan @danieldugganwriter.bsky.social · 08/02/2026
What got you past that hurdle?
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Daniel Duggan @danieldugganwriter.bsky.social · 08/02/2026
I know, I know, nods head, then shakes head at my own imposter syndrome
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Daniel Duggan @danieldugganwriter.bsky.social · 08/02/2026
If I ever draw bravery and air my pamphlet, I want your honest thoughts @victoriaspires.bsky.social
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Victoria Spires @victoriaspires.bsky.social · 08/02/2026
Reviewing @louisepoetical.bsky.social 's The How in the World over at @blackboughpoetry.bsky.social 📚
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Daniel Duggan @danieldugganwriter.bsky.social · 03/02/2026
The slant of your shoulders #poetry
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Daniel Duggan @danieldugganwriter.bsky.social · 01/02/2026
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Daniel Duggan @danieldugganwriter.bsky.social · 01/02/2026
For #Imbolc The light is getting dressed again.
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Sarah Raybould @sarahraybould.bsky.social · 19/01/2026
Sharing my film poem published by @inksweatandtears.co.uk for their 12 days of Christmas project. #filmpoem #poetry
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Daniel Duggan @danieldugganwriter.bsky.social · 18/01/2026
Grief is a trail of smudges. #poetry
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Daniel Duggan @danieldugganwriter.bsky.social · 07/01/2026
I couldn't wait ... The first episode featuring Glencoe is superb. As always, intriguing and jaw-dropping finds.
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Daniel Duggan @danieldugganwriter.bsky.social · 07/01/2026
Coin under a sheet of paper. #poetry
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Roger Hare @hareontherun.bsky.social · 07/01/2026
I didn't know Simon Armitage has a new series of his 'Shed' podcast up-&-running. Great first episode with Frank Skinner & looking forward to the others 🤗
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Daniel Duggan @danieldugganwriter.bsky.social · 06/01/2026
The light is rising. #poetry
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Daniel Duggan @danieldugganwriter.bsky.social · 05/01/2026
I've been tomb cold all day, mainly because I'm still wearing shorts to work in the forest #poetry
Poem

I'm hugging the radiator 
like an old friend who's 
turned up out of the blue 
for a catch up. 

I'm going to be here 
a while as no one
knows my address, 

and it's fucking cold.

I miss getting letters,

like 
proper 
handwritten 
letters, 

and hugs, 
I miss the crush
of longing on my ribs.

Daniel Duggan
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Alice Roberts @profaliceroberts.bsky.social · 05/01/2026
I was so delighted to join Dan, James and Andy for this edition of Fish! podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/n...
podcasts.apple.com
No Such Thing As Pudsey's Passport
Podcast Episode · No Such Thing As A Fish · 01/01/2026 · 56m
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Victoria Spires @victoriaspires.bsky.social · 04/01/2026
Sharing this little-read (by me) poem from my @salopress.bsky.social pamphlet Soi-même, in honour of last night's #SuperWolfMoon.
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Daniel Duggan @danieldugganwriter.bsky.social · 05/01/2026
I always want the tree to stay up until the end of my birthday on the 7th, so it looked more tinsel bound while I celebrated 🍾
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Daniel Duggan @danieldugganwriter.bsky.social · 02/01/2026
They scream sap as they fall. #nature
Poem
Too many forests
sit alone, with no one
to listen when they need
an arm around the
shoulder during winter. 

The birds are too busy
badmouthing the impenetrability
of the frost licked ground
to lend an ear,

so I'm here in the woods,
because I know what happens
if people throw a deaf one,
and yes, they do make a sound
when they fall. They scream
as their sap slips into the underland. 

Daniel Duggan
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Victoria Spires @victoriaspires.bsky.social · 28/12/2025
Hello from deepest Lincolnshire. Happy #smallpoemsunday. Two spoils. One by me, one by Cavafy (spoils of my Christmas book haul).
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Daniel Duggan @danieldugganwriter.bsky.social · 26/12/2025
The memories are in there, under a thumb pressing, but not releasing the pause button, like a fingerprint cataract. Their old favourite programmes run, circling, poking fun, reminding them that they had fun.
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Robert Macfarlane @robgmacfarlane.bsky.social · 23/12/2025
Hell of a title & last line, Daniel
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Daniel Duggan @danieldugganwriter.bsky.social · 22/12/2025
On the #Solstice I've written this piece called A Dying Star Inside My Mouth. The thin veil will thicken from now. This day always prods me... It brings @robgmacfarlane.bsky.social to mind, because in turn he makes me think of Susan Cooper's book The Dark Is Rising.
Poem


On this hardly here day,
when the sun crawled by
on its hands and knees

I want magic 

that stoops low like that. 
I'm laid out on the landing 
between flights, waiting 
to see a ghost.

I fall asleep right there,
my garnet eyes, blind
to your waif light as 
you slip past.

You walk your veil fingers,
across my waxing lips.

I slow wake hours later
in the dark and it feels 
as if you have pushed 
a dying star inside my mouth.

Daniel Duggan
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Daniel Duggan @danieldugganwriter.bsky.social · 09/12/2025
Be yourself #poetry #poem #poet
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Daniel Duggan @danieldugganwriter.bsky.social · 03/12/2025
The graffiti finds you
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Daniel Duggan @danieldugganwriter.bsky.social · 03/12/2025
This piece is called I can't look at you #poetry
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Daniel Duggan @danieldugganwriter.bsky.social · 03/12/2025
Do you hunt it out? Did you used to have your own tag? 😃
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Daniel Duggan @danieldugganwriter.bsky.social · 03/12/2025
You found graffiti!
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Alice Roberts @profaliceroberts.bsky.social · 07/11/2025
Domination is now available as an audiobook - read by me! books.apple.com/gb/audiobook...
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Daniel Duggan @danieldugganwriter.bsky.social · 04/11/2025
Bashing dementedly against table legs... Vic, your work stops my exhale.
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Daniel Duggan @danieldugganwriter.bsky.social · 15/10/2025
Thumb Stars by Daniel Duggan #poetry
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Daniel Duggan @danieldugganwriter.bsky.social · 12/10/2025
Love is lumpy #poetry
Poem
There's a collection
of scraggy mountain ranges
beneath my skin

mapping the pulled triggers
and kite lifts of my feelings

It's all blood knots 
and banged up 
lumps,

They mark 
my attempts at love,

and I aim to die,
resembling a poorly
stirred bowl of porridge.

Daniel Duggan
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Victoria Spires @victoriaspires.bsky.social · 22/09/2025
#poetsofbluesky #promptcombo #poemsabout Hope you don't mind a polite shout-out for this zoom event happening soon! Would love to see many of you there to hear these fantastic poets. DM me for zoom link x
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