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Hilary Watson poet

@poetryhilary.bsky.social
163 followers 253 following 77 posts

Poet, dog lover, feminist. Editor at Bending The Arc. www.hilarywatson.co.uk. First collection 'Menagerie Street' out now from Seren Books. Available at www.serenbooks.com/book/menagerie-s…

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Hilary Watson poet @poetryhilary.bsky.social · 29/07/2026
Beloved reader Roxy is very excited to read her copy of Menagerie Street #StaffieLove
Staffie Roxy, a brown older girl looking eager eyed at the camera in her basket with my poetry book Menagerie Street resting against her forepaw.
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Hilary Watson poet @poetryhilary.bsky.social · 22/07/2026
Today's the day! #MenagerieStreet is officially out today from @serenbooks.bsky.social Copies available here www.serenbooks.com/book/menager...
Holding up a copy of my poetry book menagerie street in the museum in cardiff. There is a giant sun exhibition in the foyer and the cafe chairs and tables in the foreground.
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Hilary Watson poet @poetryhilary.bsky.social · 24/06/2026
Thrilled that my box of #MenagerieStreet arrived. Publication day 22 July, preorders landing on doormats already! www.serenbooks.com/book/menager...
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Rue Baldry @ruebaldry.bsky.social · 24/06/2026
Menagerie Street just came through my letterbox! It’s the debut solo poetry collection by the wonderful Hilary Watson whose poetry has been delighting me for over ten years. So glad to hold this and can’t wait to read it! @poetryhilary.bsky.social @serenbooks.bsky.social
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Rupert Read @rupertread.bsky.social · 22/06/2026
"The future is already arriving; what we sometimes lack is the courage to imagine it clearly." Read my research-based attempt to imagine a global future. It starts seven years from now but some of it will be familiar, especially at the moment. bendingthearcmagazine.substack.com/p/a-climate-...
bendingthearcmagazine.substack.com
A Climate Majority Scenario by Prof. Rupert Read
Feature from #1 Thrutopian, Professor Rupert Read, who coined the phrase and inspired the movement
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Hilary Watson poet @poetryhilary.bsky.social · 16/06/2026
I'm absolutely loving Dwell. Really gripping stuff from the opening page. 🏵🌱🌈🪏
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Hilary Watson poet @poetryhilary.bsky.social · 02/06/2026
Really pleased that my first full collection is being published by @serenbooks.bsky.social and will be out next month. More details and preorders on the Seren website: www.serenbooks.com/book/menager... #MenagerieStreet #Thrutopia #Thrutopoetry
Menagerie Street by Hilary Watson - publishing 22 July 2026. My first collection - a cat is claw out peering out of a house door, welcoming you in.
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Hilary Watson poet @poetryhilary.bsky.social · 02/06/2026
I've had this on preorder for a while. Exciting that publication day is on the way. It's going to be a cracking read!
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Seren Books @serenbooks.bsky.social · 02/06/2026
‘Menagerie Street’ by @poetryhilary.bsky.social is a striking debut inspired by Thrutopia. With wit, tenderness and hope, she asks how we live, love and act together, offering poems that are by turns funny, unsettling and quietly exhilarating. Publishing 22 July www.serenbooks.com/book/menager...
This cover shows a photo of a cat clawing at the camera through the letterbox of a pink door. The text reads: Menagerie Street, Hilary Watson
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Hilary Watson poet @poetryhilary.bsky.social · 09/05/2026
In today's Saturday Roundup of #BendingTheArcMagazine Edition 3 we have wonderful poetry artwork by @shotscarecrow.bsky.social Thanks to everyone who contributed to this Edition, and to those who submitted to our open call 💚 . bendingthearcmagazine.substack.com/p/final-satu... #Thrutopia #Moths
Moth visual poem by Jon Stone. It says 'Brimstone Moth: Opisthograptis luteolata'. The rest of the writing is in the shape of a moth and says 'Dear S., I have kept just one dull gem of your scent. Sealed it in a ring. Where I keep that ring I could not say.'
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Hilary Watson poet @poetryhilary.bsky.social · 08/05/2026
A Visionary Road Map: book review from Karen Elias of 'Eco-Spirituality in the 21st Century: Revisioning Nature, Community, and Connection for a Better Tomorrow' by Dana O’Driscoll and Nate Summers. bendingthearcmagazine.substack.com/p/a-visionar... #Thrutopia #BendingTheArcMagazine
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Hilary Watson poet @poetryhilary.bsky.social · 08/05/2026
We'll Meet You There is co-editor Alice Willitts, Ilse Pedler & my #ThrutoPoetry collection. Absolutely thrilled that after selling out its first run i's back in stock at Dialect Books. Read more about the pamphlet in today's #BendingTheArcMagazine bendingthearcmagazine.substack.com/p/well-meet-...
bendingthearcmagazine.substack.com
We'll Meet You There - Thrutopoetry Launched!
Bending The Arc co-editors Alice, Hilary and Ilse bring you the world's first thrutopoetry pamphlet
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Hilary Watson poet @poetryhilary.bsky.social · 07/05/2026
Today's brilliant thrutopian story comes from Ruth Rosenhek: Remember Where the Raspberries Grow bendingthearcmagazine.substack.com/p/remember-w... #ThrutoFiction #BendingTheArcMagazine
bendingthearcmagazine.substack.com
Remember Where the Raspberries Grow
Short Story by Ruth Rosenhek
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Hilary Watson poet @poetryhilary.bsky.social · 05/05/2026
Today's wonderful post features #Thrutofiction from Édi Longwave, & Michelle Silvestri, and an everyday action from BTA's very own Ilse @michelle-silvestri.bsky.social #BendingTheArcMagazine #Thrutipia #EverydayAction bendingthearcmagazine.substack.com/p/the-future...
Seeds in a cupped palm. the text says 'The Future Stars with a Seed: Fiction from Edi Longwave and Michelle Silverstri, plus an Everyday action from co-editor Ilse Pedler
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Hilary Watson poet @poetryhilary.bsky.social · 05/05/2026
What if Cardiff was a National Park City... yes please! Wonderful reflections from Benjamin Geeson-Brown in today's #BendingTheArcMagazine bendingthearcmagazine.substack.com/p/a-national... #NationalParkCity #Thrutopia #ThrivingFuture #Caerdydd #Cardiff
bendingthearcmagazine.substack.com
A National Park on Your Doorstep
Feature by Benjamin Geeson-Brown
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Hilary Watson poet @poetryhilary.bsky.social · 04/05/2026
Today's #BendingTheArcMagazine A Time Traveller and a Poet Do a Ridiculous Thing. Of Course They Do! Interview with Rob Hopkins & Alice Willitts @robintransition.bsky.social bendingthearcmagazine.substack.com/p/a-time-tra... #Thrutopia #FutureCities #ThrivingCambridge
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A Time Traveller and a Poet Do a Ridiculous Thing. Of Course They Do!
Interview with Rob Hopkins
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Hilary Watson poet @poetryhilary.bsky.social · 30/04/2026
#BendingTheArcMagazine: Today's feature on creating ‘The Climate-Conscious Writers Handbook’ comes from Wren James: bendingthearcmagazine.substack.com/p/creating-t... #thrutopia #ClimateWritingHandbook
bendingthearcmagazine.substack.com
Creating ‘The Climate-Conscious Writers Handbook’
Feature by Wren James
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Hilary Watson poet @poetryhilary.bsky.social · 30/04/2026
The swifts have arrived in Cardiff. Welcome home friends!! Croeso nôl!!
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Hilary Watson poet @poetryhilary.bsky.social · 29/04/2026
Another cracking #BendingTheArcMagazine post today - A Climate Majority Scenario: feature by @rupertread.bsky.social bendingthearcmagazine.substack.com/p/a-climate-... #thrutopia
bendingthearcmagazine.substack.com
A Climate Majority Scenario by Prof. Rupert Read
Feature from #1 Thrutopian, Professor Rupert Read, who coined the phrase and inspired the movement
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Hilary Watson poet @poetryhilary.bsky.social · 28/04/2026
Today's fabulous poetry post from #BendingTheArcMagazine comes from @katrinanaomipoet.bsky.social & Sarah Mnatzaganian #thrutopoetry #ThrivingFutures
Wall flower in front of a red brick wall. Text: Because We Can - Without Feeling Sad - 3 poems from Katrina Naomi and Sarah Mnatzaganian
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Hannah Bourne-Taylor *Author*Bird Campaigner @hannahbournetaylor.bsky.social · 26/04/2026
BREAKING NEWS!!!!!!! ***THE SWIFTS ARE BACK!!!*** WELCOME HOMMMEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Have you seen any? #uglycrying #birds #swifts #theyreback #BreakingNews BEST NEWS OF THE YEAR! BEST DAY OF THE YEAR!!!!!!!!!
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Hilary Watson poet @poetryhilary.bsky.social · 28/04/2026
In today's #BendingTheArcMagazine post, enjoy an interview with theatre maker Hannah Mulder on her thrutopian adventures: bendingthearcmagazine.substack.com/p/unstoppabl... #BendingTheArc #PositiveFuturePlays #ThrutoDrama
Photo of a woman and man in a play sitting next to each other. Text says: Unstoppable... a beginner's guide to making an (im)possibly glorious future. Interview with theatre-maker, Hannah Mulder
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Hilary Watson poet @poetryhilary.bsky.social · 27/04/2026
Wow, just came across Maggie Aderin's article in the Guardian about #dyslexic thinking, and took her advice to check out the film 'What is Dyslexia' 🤯 whatisdyslexia.org More of this please, including celebration of dyslexic thinkers! #WhatIsDyslexiaFilm www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
whatisdyslexia.org
Watch the full short film ‘What Is Dyslexia?’
A brilliant new film from @MadeByDyslexia to help get it to the top of every search, so when dyslexic kids and parents search ‘What is dyslexia?’ they can glimpse their bright and incredible futures.
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Hilary Watson poet @poetryhilary.bsky.social · 26/04/2026
Catch up on Friday's #BendingTheArcMagazine, a memoir extract 'Salmon Totem' by @helenmoorepoet.bsky.social #Thrutopia #ThrutopianMagazine bendingthearcmagazine.substack.com/p/salmon-totem
Salmon swimming. Text: Salmon Totem - memoir extract by Helen Moore
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Hilary Watson poet @poetryhilary.bsky.social · 23/04/2026
Today from #BendingTheArcMagazine, we have a #ThrutopianStory by Carrie Starbuck & Artwork by Maisa Mreiwed bendingthearcmagazine.substack.com/p/the-rising #Thrutopia #ThrutopianMagazine
Gorgeous intricate design with lots of organic patterns. Side profile of a person with rosy cheeks. Text: The Rising story by Carrie Starbuck with artwork by Maisa Mreiwed. By the third year, nobody called it a disaster anymore. 

BendingTheArcMagazine.Substack.Com
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Hilary Watson poet @poetryhilary.bsky.social · 22/04/2026
🥳So excited to share Edition 3, our seedlings to a thriving future in #BendingTheArcMagazine, launching on #EarthDay. Subscribe & get every post to your email or app. Today's fantastic poems come from @clairecollison.bsky.social & Kara Barlow: bendingthearcmagazine.substack.com/p/3df10ed1-5...
Photo of Tree roots on a path. Text: Speak! In Emerald Conversation. 3 Poems from Claire Collison and Kara Barlow
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Hilary Watson poet @poetryhilary.bsky.social · 15/04/2026
Edition 3 of #BendingTheArcMagazine is getting ready to spring forth on 22 April, ready for Earth Day. Can't wait to find out what's in store? Wait no longer, click through to our latest blog for a sneak peek: bendingthearcmagazine.substack.com/p/were-back-...
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We're Back with Time Travel for Self-seeders
Contents for Bending The Arc Edition Three
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Hilary Watson poet @poetryhilary.bsky.social · 19/03/2026
Bursts of Yellow for Yellow Day aka publication day for #We'llMeetYouThere #thrutopoetry #thrutopia #springsunshine
Gorgeous Yellow tulips and daffodils blooming in the sun in my garden today
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Hilary Watson poet @poetryhilary.bsky.social · 18/03/2026
Very much looking forward to our online launch tomorrow at 18.30-19.30 GMT. Still time to sign up www.dialect.org.uk/events/diale...
Three grinning poets - all white women with rosy cheeks - holding a very yellow book We'll Meet You There. Hilary Watson, Alice Willitts and Ilse Pedler in front of a wall that sats Theatre By The Lake, which is in Keswick.
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Seren Books @serenbooks.bsky.social · 16/03/2026
Happy Publication Day to @pollyrowena.bsky.social whose new collection ‘Emergency Dream’ is available from today! Exploring the inextricability of Climate Justice & Disability Justice, these poems seek light in dark times, fuelled equally by joy, despair & rage www.serenbooks.com/book/emergen...
A copy of Emergency Dream laid out against a blue and gold background
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Hilary Watson poet @poetryhilary.bsky.social · 14/03/2026
The problem of utopias spelled out #Thrutopia #PositiveFuturesDetective
A pint of beer with utopia in small letters (who knows why) and Hell in capital letters (it's Helles lager). Just a little thrutopia joke hiding in the everyday
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Hilary Watson poet @poetryhilary.bsky.social · 12/03/2026
Sometimes the doors to the future blast open right in front of you #WelcomeTo2030 #Thrutopia. Looking forward to reading at Brewery Arts later in Kendal. Kick off: 1930. www.breweryarts.co.uk/event/brewer...
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Hilary Watson poet @poetryhilary.bsky.social · 10/03/2026
The blossom. The glorious blossom!!!
A gorgeous blossoming tree with white flowersClose up of beautiful white flowers from blossoming tree
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Hilary Watson poet @poetryhilary.bsky.social · 09/03/2026
Publication date for my beautiful collaborative poetry collection *We'll Meet You There* from @dialectwriters.bsky.social is upon us. The online launch is 19 March - 18.30-19.30 😊 www.dialect.org.uk/events/diale... #thrutopia #thrutopoetry #HopefulFutures
Me - white woman with midlength brown hair smiling outside in a very yellow top and two tone teal checked shirt. I match my book, is the thing. Very yellow book - We'll Meet You There, by Ilse Pedler, Hilary Watson and Alice Willitts
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Hilary Watson poet @poetryhilary.bsky.social · 25/02/2026
There's still time to sign up for our in person workshop - www.wordsbythewater.com/events Friday 13 March 2026 3.30-5pm circle gallery £12.
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Hilary Watson poet @poetryhilary.bsky.social · 25/02/2026
Join us at #WordsByTheWater festival for a poetry workshop www.wordsbythewater.com/events Friday 13 March 2026 3.30-5pm circle gallery £12.
Poster: Words by the Water Festival Poetry Workshop: active optimism & hope through guided writing exercises with Bending The Arc Magazine editors Hilary Watson, Alice Willitts, Ilse Pedler. Your voice and vision can shape the future. In this workshop we'll teach you about the concept of thrutopia and a way of writing about a future that is thriving, desirable and possible. Save your spot. www.wordsbythewater.com/events Friday 13 March 2026 3.30-5pm circle gallery £12.
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Hilary Watson poet @poetryhilary.bsky.social · 23/02/2026
If anyone is in Cumbria in mid March, do come & enjoy a trip into positive futures through this poetry workshop at Words In The Water festival ✨️ www.theatrebythelake.com/event/ilse-p...
theatrebythelake.com
Ilse Pedler, Hilary Watson and Alice Willitts: Thrutopia: Writing the Future - Theatre by the Lake
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Hilary Watson poet @poetryhilary.bsky.social · 16/02/2026
Keep them coming, beautiful iris no. 2 in this year's bulb lasagne
Beautiful purple iris flowing in a pot where lots of tulips and other bulbs are bursting through
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Hilary Watson poet @poetryhilary.bsky.social · 16/02/2026
Exciting to have Natalie Diaz in Bristol tomorrow!!
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Hilary Watson poet @poetryhilary.bsky.social · 14/02/2026
Spring is springing! Welcome, gorgeous iris after today's rare and fabulous sunshine
Gorgeous dark purple iris with orange white and black spots that look like lovely beetles
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Hilary Watson poet @poetryhilary.bsky.social · 03/02/2026
A few more details for the workshop here, and full details ~ www.dialect.org.uk/coursesworks...
This poster is about the exciting workshop series from me (Hilary Watson), Alice Willitts and Ilse Pedler (we're Bending The Arc magazine editors, all pictured. It says 'join thrutopia poets. Workshop series. Part 1 - online learning - Feb 28 9.30 to 10.30 GMT. The basics of writing liveable futures, imagination exercies and writing prompts. Part 2 - study pack - between workshops, write your own poems using our study pack full of everything we've learnt through practice. includes prompts and new poetic forms. Part 3 - online sharing - March 14th at 9.30 till 11am GMT. Share your drafts for live feedback from Bending The Arc editors in a supportive space. It finishes with leave with confidence to write thrutopian poems that editors will love. Save your spot. https://bit.ly/thrutopa. Logos for Bending The Arc and Dialect press.
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Hilary Watson poet @poetryhilary.bsky.social · 03/02/2026
Well, this is exciting. There's still time to buy your tickets to our hopeful, Writing The Future workshop - starting on 28th Feb. Full details here: bit.ly/thrutopia ~ with poets and Bending The Arc editors Alice Willitts, Ilse Pedler and me!
Poster for workshop series Writing the Future. Full details here - https://bit.ly/thrutopia. dates for workshop series with study pack 28 Feb and 14 March. Text says: Online poetry workshop with Bending The Arc magazine editors Alice Willitts, Ilse Pedler and Hilary Watson (that's me!). We'll teach you how to activate your optimism and hope through guided writing exercises towards a liveable future. Your voice and vision can shape the future. thrutopia is a new movement for building a future we'd be glad to leave behind. Your poems can guide meaningful change inteh world. Save your spot! With Bending The Arc and Dialect logos.
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Hilary Watson poet @poetryhilary.bsky.social · 02/02/2026
Wonderful to hear @katrinanaomipoet.bsky.social read this evening in Cardiff at a Cardiff University event, alongside open mic from many great writers, including the MA students. #DanceAsIf #WildPersistence #BatteryRocks
Katriona Naomi in a stylist blue outfit sitting on stage in conversation with a long haired Cardiff uni academic Poet Katrina Naomi reading on stage with her poetry collection Battery Rock.
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Hilary Watson poet @poetryhilary.bsky.social · 29/01/2026
Swift bricks in Scotland!! Next up... Wales and England. Come on!
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Hannah Bourne-Taylor *Author*Bird Campaigner @hannahbournetaylor.bsky.social · 27/01/2026
Tears of joy! SCOTLAND HAS JUST PASSED SWIFT BRICKS INTO LAW unanimously! 4 years of asking England & Scotland sorts it in a month led by ACE ⁦‪ MARK RUSKELL MSP‬⁩ ♥️The RELIEF is unreal! Tell England to follow 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿by emailing PlanningPolicyConsultation@communities.gov.uk now!WOOP!
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Katherine Stansfield @kstansfield.bsky.social · 14/01/2026
Fantastic mini poetry writing course here with Dialect Press, created & delivered by my fellow Thrutopians @poetryhilary.bsky.social, Ilse Pedler & Alice Willitts! If you're looking to bring hope into your creative practice, or perhaps re-invigorate your poems, this is for you.
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Hilary Watson poet @poetryhilary.bsky.social · 12/01/2026
Come join us in our workshop Writing the Future and exercising a muscle of hope. #BendingTheArcMagazine poets Alice Willitts, Ilse Pedler & I are running a workshop - course dates Saturday 28 February 2026 09:30 - 11:00 Saturday 14 March 2026 09:30 - 11:00 www.dialect.org.uk/coursesworks...
dialect.org.uk
Writing the Future — Dialect
In this online workshop series, we’ll teach new thrutopian poetry forms and techniques as transformational tools for manifesting futures you would want to leave to future generations. Write poetry whi...
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Hilary Watson poet @poetryhilary.bsky.social · 12/01/2026
At #BendingTheArcMagazine submissions are now open until 1 Feb! Find more info on bendingthearcmagazine.substack.com/p/submission... for what we're looking for. Submissions open: 12 Jan - 1 February 2026. #HopefulFutures #Thrutopia
Submissions window now open... click through on https://bendingthearcmagazine.substack.com/p/submissions-window-now-open for what we're looking for. Submissions open: 12 Jan - 1 February 2026
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RSPB @rspb.bsky.social · 02/07/2025
Did you know? Swifts eat, sleep, drink, mate, & even bathe on the wing...rarely landing except to nest. They can switch off one half of their brain to rest, drink by gliding low over water to take sips, & fly through rain to bathe! 🌧️ #SwiftAwarenessWeek 📽️ @theHALLofEINAR
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Tobias Wilson-Bates @phdhurtbrain.bsky.social · 31/12/2025
Always worth a post
i am running into a new year
By Lucille Clifton

i am running into a new year
and the old years blow back
like a wind
that i catch in my hair
like strong fingers like
all my old promises and
it will be hard to let go
of what i said to myself
about myself
when i was sixteen and
twenty-six and thirty-six
even thirty-six but
i am running into a new year
and i beg what i love and
i leave to forgive me
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