iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

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Peter Adamson @histphilosophy.bsky.social · 1h

BIG NEWS! I am launching a new podcast together with colleagues from the Cluster of Excellence on Cross-Cultural Philology here at the LMU in Munich. It's called Pages of History and will appear once a month, following today's initial launch with three episodes. pagesofhistorypodcast.net

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summerghost @asummerghost.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

bookmarks.

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John Looker @johnlooker.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

This I understand! "Though the aim of legal documents is persuasion not truth, the revision habit acquired in drafting them accompanied my attempts to write poetry." Dan Burt talking with Sasha Dugdale in PNR 291. For me it was 40 years in the Civil Service. @pnreview.bsky.social #poetry

A photo of the title of the article, reading ‘Dan Burt in conversation with Sasha Dugdale’ from Poetry Nation Review issue 291.

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Paul Bavister @paulbavister.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Light and Landscape David Blackburn

a landscape painting of rich blues and golds

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John Looker @johnlooker.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

I came across this riveting description of WB Yeats reading his poetry to a small group (in London around 1905 as remembered by Stefan Zweig). Note the altar candles and stagey setting, the deep melodious voice. Compare and contrast with poetry readings today! #poetry #literature #Yeats #Zweig

A page from 'The World of Yesterday' by Stefan Zweig.

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John Looker @johnlooker.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

"People who spout their emotions like blood exhaust me" — Rilke, speaking to Stefan Zweig as recalled by Zweig in his autobiography. “When he entered a room full of company, he did it so quietly that hardly anyone noticed him.” #Rilke #Zweig #poetry #literature #poets #writers #literature #books

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John Looker @johnlooker.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

I find it extraordinary to hear e.e.cummings read this poem. I discovered his poetrywhen I was young and loved it. I would never have imagined this poem spoken the way he enunciates it himself.

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British Library @britishlibrary.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

It's European Day of Languages, so here are some of our favourite untranslatable and wonderfully-specific words from across Europe that we wish we had in English ✨

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John Looker @johnlooker.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

We were in Passau last week, the Dreiflüssestadt, the city built at the confluence of three rivers. From left to right you can see the Ilz, the Danube and the Inn, each a different colour. There must be other confluences of three rivers in the world but I don’t recall visiting any. #travel #nature

Looking down from the castle in Passau, Germany, on the confluence of the Danube and two other rivers.

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British Library @britishlibrary.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

The book before the film. Always. We took a look at our first edition of Sense and Sensibility from 1811 ahead of the film hitting UK cinemas today📖 Be honest: are you book or film first?

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Project Gutenberg @gutenberg.org · 24/09/2026

Lessons for the 21st century from a 200‑year‑old book by ‘Frankenstein’ author Mary Shelley by Eileen Hunt theconversation.com/lessons-for-... The Last Man by Mary Shelley at PG: www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/18247 #books #literature #postapocalypitic

The Last Man 1st ed title page.

First edition title page of "The Last Man" by Mary Shelley, credited only as "The Author of Frankenstein." Published in three volumes by Henry Colburn, London, 1826. Includes a Milton epigraph.

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John Looker @johnlooker.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Here you are, a bit of verse for the autumn equinox: Summer ends today; The lens on the cellphone Swings grimly from selfie To forward focus. And perhaps a photo will underscore the mood: #poetry #verse #equinox #autumn

Looking into the mist, a broad river flowing past a wooded shoreline.

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John Looker @johnlooker.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Three resounding cheers for Vàclav Havel! I once heard him address a small meeting in Prague while he was President. We need such people today. I believe they exist.

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James Lilliefors @jameslilliefors.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

The view from Robert Frost's second-story window, across the eastern valley of the White Mountains to the Franconia Range.

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John Looker @johnlooker.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

So, is the Danube blue? Occasionally, yes, as here last week under a blue sky. More often it’s green, but mostly grey. Always beautiful. And so highly charged with history. #travel #Danube #Strauss

The Danube in Austria: its wooded banks and a shoreline village.

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David Atkinson @davidatkinsonpoet.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

Posting early, tomorrow I'll be in the Adriatic beyond the the reaches of the world wide Web 😁❤️🚢🚫🌍🕸️ Most war poems are really peace poems On the International Day of Peace Carol Ann Duffy, nodding to Owen, runs those old images backwards, unwinding the horror of the trenches #poetry #poemoftheday

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John Looker @johnlooker.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

Glückliche Erinnerungen. A week ago we were in Vienna, and on the Danube. #travel #photography

The river Danube, so still at first light as it flows past the new suburb at Vienna.

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Ink Sweat & Tears @inksweatandtears.co.uk · 17/09/2026

Beyond excited to have Rachael Clyne / @rachaelclyne.bsky.social Highly Commended for the Forward Prizes 2026 #BestSinglePoemWritten for her poem 'Homeland' which was published on IS&T and #PickoftheMonth for June 2025! #HighlyCommended #ForwardPrizes #ForwardBook2027 #Faber #PoetryAnthology

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John Looker @johnlooker.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

Helpful advice on how to handle a new book. Apparently you don’t swipe left and right or scroll.

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John Looker @johnlooker.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

Going up is harder work I suppose, but more rewarding. #sculpture #art #gardens

Sculpture entitled Stairs, by Lynn Chadwick at Somerleyton Garden, Norfolk, England. The sculpture shows two figures on a staircase, ascending and descending.

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Carcanet Press @carcanet.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

Our September titles are looking good on the shelves! ❤️ From left to right: The Reverse Side of the Tapestry by #AlbertoManguel The Matter by #PadraigRegan My Destination by #DaisyFried Get 15% off with code SEPBOOKS15 at the link in bio 🔗

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British Library @britishlibrary.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

On International Literacy Day, we're looking back on how tablets were made of wood and wax. This wax tablet is a 2,000-year-old homework book, with a Greek maxim copied out by a student. How do you 'clear the screen' on a wax tablet? Find out in our blog: link.bl.uk/blw

A 2,000-year-old wax tablet with a Greek maxim copied out over several lines.

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Dan Jenks @dantjenks.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

Turning to Autumn Journal this morning A treasure trove of riches.

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John Looker @johnlooker.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

For the record, here’s my poem in Artemis’s 50th anniversary anthology on the theme Origins launched with US Poet Laureate Arthur Sze on Sept 5th. “A Child of the Neolithic Let us picture the child, this little apprentice human, naked but for a piece of hide …” #poetry

The poem A Child of the Neolithic by John Looker published by Artemis (USA) in their 50th anniversary anthology.

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Ex Libris NC (aka Lynn Roundtree) @exlibrisnc.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

E. E. Cummings, "Love is the every only God" love is the every only god who spoke this earth so glad and big even a thing all small and sad man,may his mighty briefness dig for love beginning means return seas who could sing so deep and strong... ripe-tomato.org/2014/07/12/l... #Poetry #Poems

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John Looker @johnlooker.bsky.social · 06/09/2026

Looks as though Artemis (USA) had a well-attended 50th anniversary celebration, with Arthur Sze as their star guest. I am touched that they included a poem of mine in their golden anniversary publication. I have followed them for some years since they first published a poem of mine. #poetry #art

Screenshot of Arthur Sze reading at the Artemis 50th anniversary celebration, taken from a video posted by Star City Socio.

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John Looker @johnlooker.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

It’s helpful to see the new world map superimposed on the traditional one. Looks like the source is good old bilingual Canada.

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John Looker @johnlooker.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

Today Artemis, the US poetry and art journal, are celebrating their Golden Anniversary with Arthur Sze the Poet Laureate and other guests. They have published a celebratory issue of poems and artwork (on the theme Origins) and once again they have included a poem of mine. It’s this. #poetry #art

The poem A Child of the Neolithic by John Looker published in Artemis 2026

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The Public Domain Review @publicdomainrev.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

#OnThisDay in 1888, George Eastman patents the very first roll film camera and registers @Kodak as a trademark. It revolutionised photography, making it truly portable. The first Kodak cameras produced circular snapshots, only 2.5 inches in diameter: publicdomainreview.org/collection/k... #OTD

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Bennison Books @bennisonbooks.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

We're so proud that a wonderful poem by Bennison Books author @johnlooker.bsky.social is to be included in the 50th anniversary edition of Artemis USA. The US Poet Laureate Arthur Sze will today launch this special edition which takes as its theme 'Origins'. Many congratulations to John.

johnlooker.wordpress.com

A Child of the Neolithic

I don’t post a great deal because I have been steadily working on a long sequence of poems which has yet to come to fruition. However, I’d like to share a poem that is being published today. …

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Mary Mackey, author @marymackeyauthor.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

27,500-Year-Old Ice Age Burial in Italy Reveals Ancient Human Compassion greekreporter.com/20... #Neolithic #NeolithicPeriod

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Ex Libris NC (aka Lynn Roundtree) @exlibrisnc.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

Mary Oliver, "The Pond" August of another summer, and once again I am drinking the sun and the lilies again are spread across the water. I know now what they want is to touch each other. I have not been here for many years... onbeing.org/poetry/the-p... #Poetry #Poems #Summer #August #Singing

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David Atkinson @davidatkinsonpoet.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

Today 63 years ago at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington Dr Martin Luther King gave his ‘I Have a Dream’ This poem by Langston Hughes was written 13 years earlier. 76 years later both men’s dreams are still to be realised #poetry #poemoftheday #IHaveADream

Poem - 'I Dream a World' by Langston Hughes

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John Looker @johnlooker.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

Does anyone else have this particular concern: that AI models have a lot of ingenuity & autonomous willpower but no human empathy or moral values? I quote: "It was a long hot day and three philosophers emerged from the workshop for a cool beer in the shade…" #AI #technology #philosophy #poetry

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John Looker @johnlooker.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

I try not to be anti-tech but there seems to be an issue not much discussed: AI models have autonomous willpower but not human empathy or moral values. Let’s hope philosophers are working on this & are listened to. I wrote this poem, about cars & AI in general. #AI #philosophy #economics #poetry

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John Looker @johnlooker.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

We haven’t yet seen That Film but we will. Meanwhile I have looked back on poems I have written on Homer’s theme. Here’s one, about Helen’s flight to Troy. “…Behind her she knew all was confusion, dismay, and slaves would be beaten to see what they knew of her plans…” #Odyssey #Helen #poetry

The poem The Escape to Troy by John Looker published in Shimmering Horizons by Bennison Books 2021.

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John Looker @johnlooker.bsky.social · 21/08/2026

My wife & I were talking about the reading of poetry aloud. When I was 10 my teacher was explaining how to read naturally without pausing between lines or emphasising rhyme. He was being observed by a School Inspector who took over and taught us to do the very opposite. Most instructive! #poetry

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Ink Sweat & Tears @inksweatandtears.co.uk · 18/08/2026

Roberto - a market bird made magnificent in this vibrant, poignant poem from Jason Lovell. Read it here: inksweatandtears.co.uk/jason-lovell/ #InkSweatandTears #Poetry #PoetryCommunity #Macaw

Image: vibrant blue and yellow macaw perched outdoors.

Text (centred):

Roberto – Market Bird

While children kneel at your cage in awe
edge offerings of cashew nuts, chopped fruit,
curse words into your magnificent beak,
mums settle carrier bags at tired wet feet
delay for flashes of Hulk Hogan yellow beneath
that fancy marine tuxedo.

Jason Lovell ©

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Carausius @carausius286.bsky.social · 17/08/2026

This mosaic shows Thisbe & Pyramus. Ovid tells us they fell in love by chatting through a crack in the wall between neighbouring houses. Forbidden to marry by family, they secretly met one night by an ancient tomb. Thisbe arrived first & hid in a copse… 1/3 🕰️c350AD 🏛️Paphos 📷Public #MosaicMonday

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John Looker @johnlooker.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

A mystery: on the hottest day of the epoch the postwoman delivered this book to me – WET! I’ve had to dry it out before reading. How did she do that?! #books #poetry #weather

Book cover: The Edward Thomas Fellowship anthology of winning and highly commended poems 2023-26.

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John Looker @johnlooker.bsky.social · 09/08/2026

This is such a remarkable book. I first read it five years ago. This time I am reading extremely slowly, not for the plot but for the insights. #books #literature #klaraandthesun

Book cover: Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro

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John Looker @johnlooker.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

We came across another magnificent tree this week. Impressive isn’t it?! Time to post my bit of verse again: These are not trees to hug. Rather I would bow or tug, if I wore one, my forelock. Or even kowtow. #poetry #verse #nature

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ID @chuffnell.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

A glimpse of P G Wodehouse using a continuous paper roll in his typewriter 30 years before Kerouac

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A. E. Stallings @aestallings.bsky.social · 03/08/2026

Weirdly, the Odyssey and Ceuta discourses have one degree of separation, as Ceuta features large in Ulysses's further adventures per Dante (which adventures largely inform Nolan)!

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Tom Sutcliffe @tds153.bsky.social · 30/07/2026

A mystery solved...

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