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Nairn Kennedy

@nairnkennedy.bsky.social
189 followers 51 following 48 posts

Former lecturer at Leeds Beckett now living life as an emerging poet. Examples at nairnkennedypoet.co.uk

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Ian Duhig @ianduhig.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
This Is Just To Say I have eaten the poems that were in your typewriter and which you were probably saving for National Poetry Day Forgive me they were delicious so sweet and so bold #NationalPoetryDay
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Nairn Kennedy @nairnkennedy.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
Congratulations, Nicky!
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The Poetry Society @poetrysociety.org.uk · 24/09/2026
The Autumn 2026 issue of The Poetry Review (116:3) is out now featuring new poetry from Grace Nichols, Fiona Benson, Nick Laird, Selima Hill, Jack Underwood, Rashed Aqrabawi, Oli Hazzard and many others. Check out the full contents at the link in ou bio.
The cover of the Autumn 2026 issue of the Poetry Review, featuring artwork called 'Park Dogs and Air Raid' by Rosie Wylie.
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The Poetry Business @poetrybusiness.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
Our 2027 Pamphlet Competition and 40th Anniversary Collection Competition are now both open! Judged by Andrew McMillan and Imtiaz Dharker, respectively. Deadline 4 November 2026. More details on our website: poetrybusiness.co.uk/competitions/
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Nairn Kennedy @nairnkennedy.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
One of my Lithops is in flower...
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Carole Bromley @carolebromley.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
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Ian Duhig @ianduhig.bsky.social · 31/08/2026
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The Poetry Society @poetrysociety.org.uk · 26/08/2026
Are you a Poetry Society member who is also part of a Stanza? The Stanza Poetry Competition closes for entries at 11.59 pm BST this Sunday (30th August)! Enter here: poetrysociety.org.uk/membership/poetry-society-stanzas/competition/
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Carole Bromley @carolebromley.bsky.social · 16/08/2026
Thank you @brianmosespoet.bsky.social
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Nine Arches Press @ninearchespress.bsky.social · 11/08/2026
Have you got your ticket for next week's ONLINE LAUNCH of PRIMERS? Thursday 20th August, 7pm BST Don't worry if it clashes, all ticketholders get a recording link to watch afterwards. Sign up here, pay what you can: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/primers-on...
eventbrite.co.uk
Primers Online Launch: Carl Alexandersson, Rachel Jeffcoat & Olivia Tuck
Celebrating our latest Primers book, Volume Eight, featuring poems by Carl Alexandersson, Rachel Jeffcoat & Olivia Tuck
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Ink Sweat & Tears @inksweatandtears.co.uk · 03/08/2026
All we have to make art are our eyes, @nairnkennedy.bsky.social reminds us with 'Portrait' that all we need to do see. Read it here: inksweatandtears.co.uk/nairn-kenned... #InkSweatandTears #Poetry #Portrait
Image: a woman holding a photo frame tinted blue surrounded by a light blue border. 

Text: Portrait 

You notice the nose: webbed veins spritzed
with little flicks of red, purple blotches
daubed with a palette-knife, broken ends
where blood-vessels gave up the ghost

Nairn Kennedy
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Nairn Kennedy @nairnkennedy.bsky.social · 03/08/2026
Thanks to @helenivory.bsky.social and colleagues at @inksweatandtears.co.uk for publishing my poem "Portrait" today at inksweatandtears.co.uk/nairn-kenned... !
inksweatandtears.co.uk
Nairn Kennedy | Ink Sweat and Tears
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Nairn Kennedy @nairnkennedy.bsky.social · 03/08/2026
Thank you, @inksweatandtears.co.uk , for publishing my poem "Portrait" in today's issue at inksweatandtears.co.uk/nairn-kenned...
inksweatandtears.co.uk
Nairn Kennedy | Ink Sweat and Tears
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Ink Sweat & Tears @inksweatandtears.co.uk · 27/06/2026
What moves Stephen Keeler's speaker in 'How to get here' is writing the cityscape and how maps can forge connections of friendship and love. Read it here: inksweatandtears.co.uk/stephen-keel... #InkSweatandTears #Poem #Submissions #Cityscape #Cartography
A drawn map. Title: How to get here. Quotes: 'Among the joys of love was when we got our first apartment on a boulevard' and 'above the trams and tree tops and the wires that cut the street like tangram puzzles and' Poet: Stephen Keeler.
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Nairn Kennedy @nairnkennedy.bsky.social · 20/06/2026
Congratulations, @nickykippax.bsky.social on making the Forward Prize @forwardprizes.bsky.social longlist for single poems!
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Ian Duhig @ianduhig.bsky.social · 13/06/2026
The traffic lights at Leeds Station are delaying its completion because the contractors used a green man that is a Neopagan nature figure, This means bees offer it honey, birds their eggs and travellers crossing the road here inexplicably break into Morris dances.
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Nairn Kennedy @nairnkennedy.bsky.social · 13/06/2026
When it all gets too much, take a deep breath and remember Dog Zen.
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Nairn Kennedy @nairnkennedy.bsky.social · 03/06/2026
Many congratulations to @rcurzon.bsky.social for being the winner of the Rialto @rialtopoetry.bsky.social Nature and Place Competion!
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The Poetry Society @poetrysociety.org.uk · 19/05/2026
Reminder! Next week two incredible writers will be taking over The Poetry Café for an evening of discussion, reflection, and insight into the work of writing poetry and writing memoir. Tickets are still available for this conversation between award-winning writers Blake Morrison and Sinéad Morrisey!
A blue square with a white banner along the top reading Poetry and Memoir: Blake Morrison and Sinead Morrissey. There are two circular images of Blake Morrison and Sinead Morrissey in the top right and bottom left hand corners respectively. In the middle is a circular image of a location marker. Next to this is the location, The Poetry Cafe. In the bottom right hand corner is a red spiky circle reading 'Tickets available in our bio!' The text a bottom reads Tuesday 26 May 2026, 7:00pm - 8:30 pm, £6-£8.' "Text in the top left circle reads an evening of readings and discussion exploring poetry and memoir with award-winning writers Blake Morrison and Sinéad Morrissey, revealing how different ways of truth-telling play out between the two forms".
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Nairn Kennedy @nairnkennedy.bsky.social · 14/05/2026
Don't forget the Bridport Prize for poetry closes 31st May! @bridportprize.bsky.social
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Nairn Kennedy @nairnkennedy.bsky.social · 06/05/2026
Congratulations, Rachel Curzon @rcurzon.bsky.social for getting onto the shortlist and good luck for the final results!
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Nairn Kennedy @nairnkennedy.bsky.social · 05/05/2026
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/there-you-... Patrick Lodge's new collection launches in York on the 5th of June.
eventbrite.co.uk
There You Are: Launch and Reading with Patrick Lodge and Guests
Join Yorkshire poet Patrick Lodge at the launch of 'There You Are', his fourth poetry collection with Valley Press
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Carole Bromley @carolebromley.bsky.social · 04/05/2026
Another fantastic group of poems. Thank you for including one of mine @brianmosespoet.bsky.social
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Ian Duhig @ianduhig.bsky.social · 30/04/2026
On my very-enjoyable visit to Poets & Players last Saturday I read some bird poems including this one about the joy of hearing aids for listening to them.


Still, Not
I have found a new enjoyment for my free time: lying in the grass. – Kafka, Diaries 1916

My hearing aids perch 
  over my ears’ bass clefs,
plastic and metal wings, 
   breath marks giving me 

tinny pause to hear lost highs,
   bird music as light metal: 
waxwing silver bells, bars 
   of goldcrest; steel swift

cries sickling sea-blue sky 
   for aeroplankton. I cut 
through thick wood below
   where blackcaps flute,

a thrush practises scales
   but I’m flat. My ear bud 
tendrils burrow in wormholes
   for the song of the earth,   

roots music, ground bass, 
   focus sharpened by a stone 
I lie on. Not yet stone deaf.
   Still, not yet stone dead.

On my very-enjoyable visit to Poets & Players last Saturday I read some bird poems including this one about the joy of hearing aids for listening to them.
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The Poetry Society @poetrysociety.org.uk · 27/04/2026
This is your reminder to enter our members' competition by midnight on Wednesday! Judged by Hannah Copley, this competition is on the theme of "concrete", and offers you the chance to win publication in Poetry News, along with exclusive prizes.
A light purple square. Along the top there is a pale yellow banner reading Members' Poetry Competition in black. Under this title and to the left is text which read 'Submit up to 2 poems, unpublished, maximum of 40 lines'. Beneath this is an image of Hannah Copley, who is judging the competition, in a diamond shape. Beneath this is text which reads 'Enter by Submittable' and 'Exclusively for members of The Poetry Society'. Along the right hand side of the image are three pale yellow diamonds featuring text which reads 'Theme: Concrete', 'Closes 11:59 p.m on 29 April 2026', and 'Enter for the chance to win publication and a host of prizes!'
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Nairn Kennedy @nairnkennedy.bsky.social · 27/04/2026
Very few people know tbat Larkin actually wrote "They tuck you up your mum and dad"
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The Poetry Society @poetrysociety.org.uk · 26/04/2026
Aged 14-17? Join us on Thursday, 7 May at 5 pm BST for an online Zoom session where The Poetry Society's education team will introduce you to the Foyle Young Poets of the Year Award and you'll hear from one of the judges and a former winner. Book a place at bit.ly/FoyleLaunch26
A white poster with silhouettes of a keyboard, a pen and a spiralbound notebook in the background. Text reads:

The Poetry Society

Foyle Young Poets Award Online Launch featuring John McAuliffe, 2026 judge and Aanya Jain, Foyle winner 2025. 

Thurs 7 May, 5-6 pm BST

Book at bit.ly/FoyleLaunch26 

Logos at the bottom of the page read: Foyle Foundation and Supported using public funding by Arts Council England.
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Nairn Kennedy @nairnkennedy.bsky.social · 27/03/2026
Congratulations to @carolebromley.bsky.social and Stephen Keeler, both of the York Stanza group, for being longlisted in this year's National Poetry Competition!
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Nairn Kennedy @nairnkennedy.bsky.social · 13/03/2026
Just one of those Moments of Being today.
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Nairn Kennedy @nairnkennedy.bsky.social · 09/03/2026
Really sad to see the former Forsyth's building in Glasgow completely destroyed. I used to walk past it every day.
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The London Magazine @thelondonmagazine.bsky.social · 06/03/2026
There's only one week to go before submissions close for this year’s Poetry Prize. Entry link and further details here: thelondonmagazine.org/the-london-m...
thelondonmagazine.org
The London Magazine Poetry Prize 2026 - The London Magazine
The London Magazine Poetry Prize 2026, judged by poets Isabelle Baafi, Dean Browne and Luke Kennard. Entries close March 13th.
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Rob Miles @robmilespoetry.bsky.social · 06/03/2026
First sighting of the new @candlestickpress.bsky.social Ten Poems about Owls, at the preview eve of the brand new @poetrypharmacy.bsky.social in York.
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Candlestick Press @candlestickpress.bsky.social · 22/02/2026
New and available now! TEN POEMS ABOUT OWLS Poems by Niall Campbell, Daniel Webster Davis, Emily Dickinson, Victoria Gatehouse, Ian Humphreys, Gregory Leadbetter, Rob Miles, Angela Readman, AE Stallings and Edward Thomas. www.candlestickpress.co.uk/pamphlet/ten...
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The Poetry Business @poetrybusiness.bsky.social · 03/02/2026
Submissions now open for The North! Deadline end of February. The North 72 is The Library Issue, so, as well as your poems, we're looking for short prose pieces about, or featuring, libraries. All library-themed work welcome! Send us your work: poetrybusiness.co.uk/about-the-po...
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Carole Bromley @carolebromley.bsky.social · 09/02/2026
thewritingschool.co.uk/red-shoes-bl...
thewritingschool.co.uk
Red shoes, blue shoes......writing children's poetry workshop with Carole Bromley
Red shoes, blue shoes...Rhyme, rhythm, repetition; come and dive into the poet’s toolbox on this fun day of writing and reading and talking about poems for children with Carole Bromley, and leave with...
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Candlestick Press @candlestickpress.bsky.social · 11/02/2026
It’s not too late! We have love, kisses, chocolate, flowers AND poems for your beloved this Valentine’s Day ❤️ ❤️❤️❤️Say it with a Candlestick! 😘
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Nairn Kennedy @nairnkennedy.bsky.social · 25/01/2026
Just in case you haven't spotted it, @poetrybusiness.bsky.social The North is now open for submissions on thr theme of libraries.
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Nairn Kennedy @nairnkennedy.bsky.social · 25/01/2026
There may be hope yet...
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Graeme Richardson @ravoon.bsky.social · 23/01/2026
Rachel Curzon is consistently good, I think -
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Nairn Kennedy @nairnkennedy.bsky.social · 12/01/2026
The Guernsey Poems on the Move competition closes on January 15th! There's still time if you want to see your poem on the buses. poemsonthemove.com
poemsonthemove.com
Guernsey 
International 
Poetry
 Competition
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Nine Arches Press @ninearchespress.bsky.social · 21/12/2025
Join an @arvonfoundation online #poetry writing day course led by Jane Commane. Discovering Poetic Form - A whistlestop tour from the traditional to the contemporary. Friday February 20th, 2026, from 10am t.co/nxEjCCf13n
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Nairn Kennedy @nairnkennedy.bsky.social · 15/12/2025
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Nairn Kennedy @nairnkennedy.bsky.social · 05/12/2025
It's one of those mornings again.
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ALCS @alcs.co.uk · 25/11/2025
ALCS pays money for visual contributions to magazines and articles, and this amount continues to grow year on year. Make sure you claim before 31 December to be included in next year's payments. Find out more here: www.alcs.co.uk/how-it-works...
A chart that shows "Visual arts payments over time" as of September 2025. 2023 = £329k, 2024 = £333k, 2025 = £365k
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Nairn Kennedy @nairnkennedy.bsky.social · 22/11/2025
Closing tomorrow!
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Ian Duhig @ianduhig.bsky.social · 16/11/2025
It was all going so swimmingly until the poetry workshop leader suggested alliterative verse was dead.
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Nairn Kennedy @nairnkennedy.bsky.social · 15/11/2025
Very happy to have a poem chosen by the Poetry Archive as one of their 2025 winners! poetryarchive.org/poem/poetry-...
poetryarchive.org
Poetry Archive Now Wordview 2025: The Dictator Expounds on the Cultivation of Fruit Trees - Poetry Archive
Before they take you on as gardener, cultivate the trees with care, seek their support, eat the fruit they give, drink the juice to make you strong. When you get the job, patrol the orchard, wave the ...
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Nairn Kennedy @nairnkennedy.bsky.social · 07/11/2025
Nice poem, Carole.
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