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j r

@osageorange.bsky.social
373 followers 413 following 118 posts

low-rent ‘merican beat scribbler

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j r @osageorange.bsky.social · 9h
For whom the shoe fits #PoemsAbout #Rot #Poetry @thebrokenspine.co.uk
voyeur destroyer

what 
you’re sniffing for

ain’t a search
for beauty 
or truth

is it

but to feed 
the rot,

satisfy a sickness

is it not
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j r @osageorange.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
A Spanish-language contribution (with English translation) for this week's #PoemsAbout theme #Strays @thebrokenspine.co.uk Inspired by a passing encounter years ago in Cartagena, Colombia - nicknamed “La Heroica” and site of what is widely regarded as the British Empire’s greatest naval disaster.
el heroico 

dentro de las murallas
de la ciudad 

cojeando 
la puerta del reloj

y la vendedora
declaró
qué mediohombre

este perro de raza,
callejero

tuerto y cojo,
ay

como 
blas de lezo
the heroic

inside the
city walls

limping 
the clock tower gate

and the street vendor
declared
what a half-man

this noble breed,
a stray

one-eyed and lame
ay,

like
blas de lezo
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j r @osageorange.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
Greetings, a contribution for this week's #PoemsAbout theme #FaultLines - thanks to @thebrokenspine.co.uk for hosting #poetry
the king and i 

we, 
etcetera

while he invokes

emergency powers,
etcetera 

for whatnot 

and so on,
etcetera
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j r @osageorange.bsky.social · 29/08/2026
Super-late for last week’s #PoemsAbout #DeepCuts prompt but here’s another #UnintentionalTanka stolen from Jack Kerouac’s On The Road 🐸 #Poetry @thebrokenspine.co.uk @alanparrywriter.co.uk
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j r @osageorange.bsky.social · 21/08/2026
Greetings, and a happy Friday to everyone. For #PoemsAbout #DeepCuts thought I might share a piece titled “bloodworks” published last spring with @rfpress.bsky.social Many thanks to @thebrokenspine.co.uk @alanparrywriter.co.uk roifaineantarchive.wixsite.com/rf-arc-hive/...
roifaineantarchive.wixsite.com
"bloodworks" by J. R. Wilkerson
how does it look,from a distanceas i flail at thisnuisance of mosquitosfrom my car to the clinic,as they wave me onat the front deskto the jungle roomyou see,they know me herebut this ain’t gracelandt...
372
j r @osageorange.bsky.social · 15/08/2026
Having a little fun with #PoemsAbout #MainStage prompt. When the world’s not making sense I like to apply classic American literature to Japanese-style poetry. A piece stolen from East of Eden 🐸 #UnintentionalTanka #SteinbeckSenryu #Poetry @thebrokenspine.co.uk @alanparrywriter.co.uk
do you take pride in your hurt

does it make you 

seem large and 
tragic 

well, 
think about it

maybe
you're playing 
a part 

on a great stage 
with only 

yourself as 
audience
3121
j r @osageorange.bsky.social · 14/08/2026
boots and pants and boots and pants
Techno car wash
000
j r @osageorange.bsky.social · 14/08/2026
A happy Friday to everyone. I might have posted a rough version of this piece months ago on a different prompt, am dragging the ukulele player back out for #PoemsAbout #MainStage #Poetry Many thanks to @thebrokenspine.co.uk @alanparrywriter.co.uk
afraid of changing

some punk
is 
playing

landslide
on ukulele

side stage
this date night—

just countin’ our 
tab

thinking 

you’ve no right
like 
none at all
3101
j r @osageorange.bsky.social · 09/08/2026
All set for #Halloween
Groucho glasses
010
j r @osageorange.bsky.social · 07/08/2026
Unintentional #Tanka from A Moveable Feast 🐸 #HemingwayHaiku #Poetry
whoever you are waiting for

and if i never 

see you again, 
i thought 

you belong
to me 

and all paris 
belongs to me 

and i belong 
to 

this notebook
and this 
pencil
032
j r @osageorange.bsky.social · 06/08/2026
(waving at crane operator wearing a Prolonging The Magic t-shirt) #Cake
010
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C. Oulens @owlnsquirrels1111.bsky.social · 02/08/2026
Delighted that my poem “I had a” is published in Full House Literary @fullhouselitmag.bsky.social alongside an excellent group of poets and artists. Thanks to the amazing head editor Leia Butler @leiabutler.bsky.social & editor Lowena Olver. A draft appeared on #poemsabout #poetrycommunity #Oulens …
fullhouseliterary.com
I had a by C. Oulens — Full House Literary
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j r @osageorange.bsky.social · 27/07/2026
Big thanks 🙏🏻 to the editors @rfpress.bsky.social for giving “wizards” a home for Issue 98 ✨
Image of Edinburgh Castle with grandstand.
281
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Roi Fainéant Press SUBS ARE OPEN, BAYBEE! @rfpress.bsky.social · 26/07/2026
AYO! Guess what day it is? We're going back to a simpler time. Tell the uncle who wears his flip phone in a belt holster. www.roifaineantpress.com/blog #WritingCommunity
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Roi Fainéant Press SUBS ARE OPEN, BAYBEE! @rfpress.bsky.social · 24/07/2026
Today’s poetry jam features the anaphoric poem, “come along fellow wizards” by J. R. Wilkerson @osageorange.bsky.social inspired by a tour on The Potter Trail in Edinburgh. It’s lovely, it’s nostalgic, it’s joyful and you can read it on Sunday 7/26.
WE'RE WALKING, WE'RE WALKING THIS GRAVEYARD AND I'M YOUR CONDUCTOR
1102
j r @osageorange.bsky.social · 18/07/2026
Very pleased to be a contributor to the latest edition of The Twin Bill with my poem “ballad of the saint louis browns,” something of an ode to my father’s first baseball love. thetwinbill.com
thetwinbill.com
The Twin Bill The Twin Bill
Baseball lit!
032
j r @osageorange.bsky.social · 11/07/2026
salt salt salt
020
j r @osageorange.bsky.social · 16/06/2026
My latest, a lil wrasslin’ senryu with @onefallreview.bsky.social
042
j r @osageorange.bsky.social · 16/06/2026
working this corner of social media
020
j r @osageorange.bsky.social · 28/04/2026
To a slightly lesser extent, Larry Mullen’s drum kit from the Rattle and Hum sessions at Sun Studio - no offense Larry we still love ya #sunstudio #u2
030
j r @osageorange.bsky.social · 28/04/2026
Oh hey just the original Shure Unidyne 55 at Sun Studio that Elvis recorded “That’s All Right” on in addition to his earliest recordings - likewise used by Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Roy Orbison, Car Perkins, etc. but nothin’ to see here move along
030
j r @osageorange.bsky.social · 21/04/2026
Dropping by the Carnegie MOA and something tells me I need to get back to work
000
j r @osageorange.bsky.social · 04/04/2026
Co-starring Mary Magdalene as barkeep
050
j r @osageorange.bsky.social · 03/04/2026
Greetings, some early-April absurdity for #fragmentsfriday. Many thanks to @blackboughpoetry.bsky.social and @matthewmcsmith.bsky.social
061
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j r @osageorange.bsky.social · 20/12/2025
Enjoying the new #RitesandTrials anthology from @thebrokenspine.co.uk and I’m chuffed to have a lil piece here from my wayward youth. So many great writers here!.
071
j r @osageorange.bsky.social · 20/03/2026
This just in: virtual serf throws a tomato (thanks to @dadakuku.bsky.social)
dadakuku.bsky.social
dadakuku (@dadakuku.bsky.social)
Life is short and weird, poetry should be too 🙃 EIC: petrock.bsky.social Submit at dadakuku.com
060
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dadakuku @dadakuku.bsky.social · 26/02/2026
A new verse from returning contributor J. R. Wilkerson: 𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝗰𝗿𝘂𝘁𝗰𝗵 got my spine got these thumbs got this family phone plan — J. R. Wilkerson
dadakuku.com
orange crutch
got my spinegot these thumbsgot this family phone plan — J. R. Wilkerson
0111
Reposted by j r
ɐʇǝǝɹʎs @phantomsspleen.bsky.social · 22/02/2026
Photo of a poem I wrote. It was a timed exercise set for me by a MH support worker.

Text:

5 mins #3

Sad songs. Sad little bird.

I held open my hand and you folded like fingers.
I’m still sore about it. Thinking about that time you said “forever forget” and it meant nothing, but fell like a tree inside me.
I wonder if it is ever winter where you are. Like, does it ever snow? Is it a forest, and are you there, with red breasted robins all along your arm, like a postcard?
Or are all your trees blossomed and pink, like the best of all possible springs?
43715
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Roi Fainéant Press SUBS ARE OPEN, BAYBEE! @rfpress.bsky.social · 22/02/2026
Bonjour. The shortest month of the year deserves the smallest and mightiest issue of the year. Tell your local short king. www.roifaineantpress.com/blog #writingcommunity
4248
j r @osageorange.bsky.social · 19/02/2026
Dear beautiful internet people: Not to be overdramatic, but if you ever cared for me at all I beseech you to check out my lil poem “bloodworks” as well as some other amazing scribblers @rfpress.bsky.social this Sunday 2/23. 🩸🦟
051
j r @osageorange.bsky.social · 25/01/2026
For those who observe, from a wintry corner of Virginia: All on that charming coast is no bitter snow and frost, Like the lands of Virginia-ginia, O; There streams for ever flow, and there flowers for ever blow, And alas! I am weary, weary O! - The Slaves Lament #RobertBurns 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿
020
j r @osageorange.bsky.social · 20/12/2025
Enjoying the new #RitesandTrials anthology from @thebrokenspine.co.uk and I’m chuffed to have a lil piece here from my wayward youth. So many great writers here!.
071
Reposted by j r
dadakuku @dadakuku.bsky.social · 23/11/2025
A new verse from returning contributor J. R. Wilkerson: 𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗮 𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗮 𝗳𝗶𝘀𝗵 for a lifetime he’ll remember to take the cannoli — J. R. Wilkerson
dadakuku.com
give a man a fish
for alifetimehe’ll remembertotake thecannoli — J. R. Wilkerson
062
Reposted by j r
dadakuku @dadakuku.bsky.social · 22/10/2025
A new verse from new contributor J. R. Wilkerson: 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴’𝘀 𝗵𝗼𝗿𝘀𝗲𝘀 came ill-equipped in mending the eggman, his goo goo g’joob — J. R. Wilkerson
dadakuku.com
all the king’s horses
came ill-equippedin mendingthe eggman,hisgoo goog’joob — J. R. Wilkerson
083
j r @osageorange.bsky.social · 30/09/2025
Cake still going the distance
030
j r @osageorange.bsky.social · 28/09/2025
Nevermore
030
j r @osageorange.bsky.social · 02/05/2025
A lil Colombian-inspired haiku, previously published with @rfpress.bsky.social 🐸 #PoemsAbout #Green @brokenspinearts.bsky.social @alanparry83.bsky.social
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j r @osageorange.bsky.social · 30/04/2025
This haunting piece from Syreeta Muir colored me like permanent Sharpie. Not for the dry-erase: @brokenspinearts.bsky.social #LiftToTheSky @phantomsspleen.bsky.social roifaineantarchive.wixsite.com/rf-arc-hive/...
roifaineantarchive.wixsite.com
"This love is like the ghost of Schrödinger’s dead cat" by Syreeta Muir
I’m sure my moans could carryacross 4000 miles. More maybe.They go as the crow flies when I thinkyou’re in another woman’s bed.I have my fingers crossedagainst it— the thought of your closed curves,yo...
176
j r @osageorange.bsky.social · 25/04/2025
A little something previously published with @rfpress.bsky.social #PoemsAbout #WolvesAtTheDoor @brokenspinearts.bsky.social @alanparry83.bsky.social
3134
Reposted by j r
Petrana 冰冰 Radulovic (she/her) @petrana.bsky.social · 20/01/2025
Poetry Foundation not fucking around with today's poem of the day www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/89897/...
A screenshot of Maggie Smith's "Good Bones"
Life is short, though I keep this from my children.
Life is short, and I’ve shortened mine
in a thousand delicious, ill-advised ways,
a thousand deliciously ill-advised ways
I’ll keep from my children. The world is at least
fifty percent terrible, and that’s a conservative
estimate, though I keep this from my children.
For every bird there is a stone thrown at a bird.
For every loved child, a child broken, bagged,
sunk in a lake. Life is short and the world
is at least half terrible, and for every kind
stranger, there is one who would break you,
though I keep this from my children. I am trying
to sell them the world. Any decent realtor,
walking you through a real shithole, chirps on
about good bones: This place could be beautiful,
right? You could make this place beautiful.
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