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Dan O'Brien

@bydanobrien

Plays, poems, prose http://danobrien.org

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22.08.2023
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Latest posts by Dan O'Brien @bydanobrien

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A new poem for my brother in @poetrylondon.bsky.social โ€” with thanks to editor Niall Campbell ๐Ÿ™๐Ÿป poetrylondon.co.uk

04.03.2026 14:51 ๐Ÿ‘ 5 ๐Ÿ” 1 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
Statement from Rep. Ilhan Omar on Trumpโ€™s Illegal War on Iran

โ€œPresident Trump is unilaterally dragging this nation into an illegal and unjustified war with Iran without congressional authorization, without a clear objective, and without any imminent threat to the United States. This is a reckless abuse of power that puts both innocent civilians and American lives on the line for a conflict the American people do not want. 

โ€œAs someone who has survived the horrors of war, I know that bombs do not build peace or create stability. Military strikes will not make us safer; they will inflame tensions and push the region further into chaos. When we abandon diplomacy, we choose destruction.

Statement from Rep. Ilhan Omar on Trumpโ€™s Illegal War on Iran โ€œPresident Trump is unilaterally dragging this nation into an illegal and unjustified war with Iran without congressional authorization, without a clear objective, and without any imminent threat to the United States. This is a reckless abuse of power that puts both innocent civilians and American lives on the line for a conflict the American people do not want. โ€œAs someone who has survived the horrors of war, I know that bombs do not build peace or create stability. Military strikes will not make us safer; they will inflame tensions and push the region further into chaos. When we abandon diplomacy, we choose destruction.

โ€œWe know who will bear the cost of this decision: innocent civilians caught in the crossfire and our young service members sent into harmโ€™s way. This is the devastating human toll of another regime-change war. Already, children and families are paying with their lives. There is no moral or strategic justification for this bloodshed.

โ€œThe American people are exhausted by endless wars built on false promises and paid for with American and foreign lives. Congress must reassert its constitutional authority. We must vote immediately on the War Powers resolution authored by Reps. Ro Khanna and Thomas Massie. This unlawful operation must end immediately."

โ€œWe know who will bear the cost of this decision: innocent civilians caught in the crossfire and our young service members sent into harmโ€™s way. This is the devastating human toll of another regime-change war. Already, children and families are paying with their lives. There is no moral or strategic justification for this bloodshed. โ€œThe American people are exhausted by endless wars built on false promises and paid for with American and foreign lives. Congress must reassert its constitutional authority. We must vote immediately on the War Powers resolution authored by Reps. Ro Khanna and Thomas Massie. This unlawful operation must end immediately."

28.02.2026 15:13 ๐Ÿ‘ 1262 ๐Ÿ” 398 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 28 ๐Ÿ“Œ 14
Two poems in America Magazine

Two poems in America Magazine

In print. Two for my brother. With thanks to Joe Hoover & America Magazine ๐Ÿ™๐Ÿป

26.02.2026 14:51 ๐Ÿ‘ 3 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Donate to Support for Nano Taggartโ€™s Recovery, organized by Shari Zollinger On February 2, 2026, Nano experienced a brain bleed and a major stroke, leading toโ€ฆ Shari Zollinger needs your support for Support for Nano Taggartโ€™s Recovery

Please help Nano Tagg & Natalie Young (of Sugar House Review) through this incredibly difficult time if you can gofund.me/e134b5acb @sugarhousereview.bsky.social

24.02.2026 17:26 ๐Ÿ‘ 1 ๐Ÿ” 1 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Dermot Healy's "Collected Plays" Dan Oโ€™Brien (From Scarsdale: A Childhood, True Story: A Trilogy) joins Vince Francone (A Book No One Wants) and Chad to discuss Dermot Healyโ€™s Collected Plays. After discussing Healyโ€™s life and other ...

Chat w/ Chad & Vince about Dermot Healy's plays: fearlessly inventive language and theatricality, yet tied to the voice and experience of those he wrote about. The wit and poetry is pure him, and pure Irish. Mining the @dalkeyarchive.bsky.social podcast: dalkeyarchive.substack.com/p/dermot-hea...

23.02.2026 18:00 ๐Ÿ‘ 1 ๐Ÿ” 1 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Acre author @bydanobrien.bsky.social is returning faculty this summer at @sewaneewriters.bsky.social! Apply, apply! ๐Ÿ–Š๏ธ๐Ÿ“š

20.02.2026 00:45 ๐Ÿ‘ 3 ๐Ÿ” 1 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Applications through March 1 โœ๏ธ

19.02.2026 22:42 ๐Ÿ‘ 2 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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CB editions February newsletter - it's been a bad month - as archived on the blog: sonofabook.blogspot.com/2026/02/cbe-...

17.02.2026 19:04 ๐Ÿ‘ 6 ๐Ÿ” 4 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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The outsider who writes from within โ€“ The Friday Poem Matthew Stewart looks at the work of Michael Laskey - The outsider who writes from within

Congratulations to Michael Laskey who was awarded the King's Medal For Poetry at the weekend. Here's a fine appraisal of his work by Matthew Stewart @roguestrands.bsky.social

thefridaypoem.com/michael-lask...

17.02.2026 15:08 ๐Ÿ‘ 23 ๐Ÿ” 4 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Another from America Magazine for my brother, on the 40th anniversary of his first suicide attempt, and what may be the third anniversary of his suicide. Thinking of him and all those who struggle with depression.

13.02.2026 18:38 ๐Ÿ‘ 3 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Thanks so much, Penny. Iโ€™m so sorry for your loss

12.02.2026 20:24 ๐Ÿ‘ 1 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Harrowing When I was half- way between life and death I woke

A poem for my late brother in the January issue of America Magazine โ€” with my thanks to editor Joe Hoover ๐Ÿ™๐Ÿป www.americamagazine.org/poetry/2025/...

12.02.2026 17:17 ๐Ÿ‘ 6 ๐Ÿ” 1 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Every photo from Minneapolis looks like this. Cops decked out with guns and full tac gear facing off against people in bathrobes, parkas, and sweatpants armed only with whistles and cell phones.

Yet every verified MAGA chode on X dutifully calls it a riot or violent insurrection.

11.02.2026 23:50 ๐Ÿ‘ 13563 ๐Ÿ” 4809 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 244 ๐Ÿ“Œ 275
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โ€˜Absolute hellโ€™: Irishman with valid US work permit held by Ice since September Seamus Culleton has been in a detention facility in Texas for nearly five months despite having no criminal record

And here is my story: โ€˜Absolute hellโ€™: Irishman with valid US work permit held by Ice since September

www.irishtimes.com/world/us/202...

09.02.2026 09:21 ๐Ÿ‘ 1823 ๐Ÿ” 887 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 53 ๐Ÿ“Œ 183
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Bad Bunny, Lady Gaga, & Ricky Martin repping ALL of the AMERICAS! Best Super Bowl halftime performanceโ€ฆmaybe ever! ๐Ÿ’™ ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ ๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ ๐Ÿ‡ง๐Ÿ‡ฟ ๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡น ๐Ÿ‡ญ๐Ÿ‡ณ ๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ป ๐Ÿ‡ณ๐Ÿ‡ฎ ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ท ๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฆ ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ฌ ๐Ÿ‡ง๐Ÿ‡ธ ๐Ÿ‡ง๐Ÿ‡ง ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡บ ๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ฒ ๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ด ๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ฉ ๐Ÿ‡ญ๐Ÿ‡น ๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ฒ ๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ณ ๐Ÿ‡ฑ๐Ÿ‡จ ๐Ÿ‡ป๐Ÿ‡จ ๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡น ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ท ๐Ÿ‡ง๐Ÿ‡ด ๐Ÿ‡ง๐Ÿ‡ท ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฑ ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ด ๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡จ ๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡พ ๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡พ ๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ช ๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ท ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡พ ๐Ÿ‡ป๐Ÿ‡ช

09.02.2026 01:47 ๐Ÿ‘ 145 ๐Ÿ” 31 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 3 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Sir Ian McKellen performing a monologue from Shakespeareโ€™s Sir Thomas More on the Stephen Colbert show. Never have I heard this monologue performed with such a keen sense of prescience. Nor have I ever been in this exact historical moment.TY Sir Ian, for reaching us once again.
#Pinks #ProudBlue

05.02.2026 11:50 ๐Ÿ‘ 32284 ๐Ÿ” 13859 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 589 ๐Ÿ“Œ 1595
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here in free on demand new play reading: Australian playwright Sunny Drake's fiery comedy of catastrophe APOCALYPSE: A LOVE STORY. online at @lorteltheatre.bsky.social . (runs through Feb 16)

03.02.2026 15:53 ๐Ÿ‘ 6 ๐Ÿ” 3 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1 ๐Ÿ“Œ 1

I remember our meeting fondly, Penny. But alas this time I'm visiting the Birmingham in Alabama

02.02.2026 20:23 ๐Ÿ‘ 1 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Visiting Writers' Series: Dan O'Brien

Birmingham โ€” See you next month, on Saint Paddyโ€™s no less โ˜˜๏ธ

calendar.uab.edu/event/dan-ob...

02.02.2026 17:08 ๐Ÿ‘ 1 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

holy shit they finally canceled Shear Madness

01.02.2026 23:49 ๐Ÿ‘ 16 ๐Ÿ” 6 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1 ๐Ÿ“Œ 1
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Operation Trump Rehab After a wave of public revulsion over the Presidentโ€™s immigration crackdown in Minnesota, he offers a familiar playbook: distraction, disinformation, denial, delay.

Trump's awful post about Alex Pretti am confirms this point -- he's not sorry, he's not pivoting, and he'll use the same playbook as ever to survive yet another scandal that would have destroyed any other politician

my new column: www.newyorker.com/news/letter-...

30.01.2026 13:08 ๐Ÿ‘ 1462 ๐Ÿ” 459 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 56 ๐Ÿ“Œ 14

Acre poet @bydanobrien.bsky.social at @kenyonreview.bsky.social! ๐ŸŽ‰๐ŸŽ‰๐ŸŽ‰

29.01.2026 17:23 ๐Ÿ‘ 3 ๐Ÿ” 2 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
Bruce Springsteen - Streets Of Minneapolis (Official Audio)
Bruce Springsteen - Streets Of Minneapolis (Official Audio) YouTube video by Bruce Springsteen

I wrote this song on Saturday, recorded it yesterday and released it to you today in response to the state terror being visited on the city of Minneapolis. Itโ€™s dedicated to the people of Minneapolis, our innocent immigrant neighbors and in memory of Alex Pretti and Renee Good.

Stay free

28.01.2026 17:02 ๐Ÿ‘ 97507 ๐Ÿ” 40894 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 4301 ๐Ÿ“Œ 5365

Truth is / I'm sane: I'm just sad

27.01.2026 23:26 ๐Ÿ‘ 5 ๐Ÿ” 2 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Stream "For My Brother: A Heroic Crown" by Dan O'Brien by The Kenyon Review | Listen online for free on SoundCloud Listen to

I recorded "For My Brother: A Heroic Crown" for The Kenyon Review, if you feel like a listen: soundcloud.com/the-kenyon-r... @kenyonreview.bsky.social

27.01.2026 16:14 ๐Ÿ‘ 3 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 1
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The killing of Alex Pretti is a heartbreaking tragedy. It should also be a wake-up call to every American, regardless of party, that many of our core values as a nation are increasingly under assault.

25.01.2026 17:39 ๐Ÿ‘ 60230 ๐Ÿ” 19558 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 3137 ๐Ÿ“Œ 1541
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Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara: "People have had enough. This is the third shooting in less than 3 weeks. The MPD went the entire year last year recovering about 900 guns from the street, arresting hundreds of violent offenders, and we didn't shoot anyone ... this is not sustainable."

25.01.2026 15:47 ๐Ÿ‘ 50067 ๐Ÿ” 16343 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1160 ๐Ÿ“Œ 633
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It's time to abolish Trumpโ€™s ICE.

24.01.2026 19:26 ๐Ÿ‘ 8900 ๐Ÿ” 2186 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 634 ๐Ÿ“Œ 336
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Sayre: "My background is in international humanitarian response in conflict zones in Yemen, Haiti, Syria, Iraq, and Ukraine. What I've seen here is what I've seen there. A powerful entity violently and intentionally terrorizing people."

24.01.2026 18:06 ๐Ÿ‘ 6293 ๐Ÿ” 2630 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 79 ๐Ÿ“Œ 147

Superb reportage on Minneapolis from one of the all time greats.

23.01.2026 17:15 ๐Ÿ‘ 124 ๐Ÿ” 35 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1 ๐Ÿ“Œ 1