stewart carswell (he/him)

Captain Haddock looking very frazzled, saying, “What a week, huh?” Tintin leans into the frame and says, “Captain, it’s Wednesday.” Snowy aka Milou is very excited about the drink he has found. Viñeta de Tintin El capitán Haddock, sentado a una mesa y con aspecto de estar agotado, dice: "¡Menuda semana, ¿eh?". Tintín, a su derecha, le dice: "Capitán, es miércoles". A la izquierda, Milú mira muy contento la bebida que está en la mesa.

Photo of Something in Nothing book cover by Zoe Brooks on a wooden table

Photo close up of a Dipper image on a postage stamp

Book post is the best post, and bonus points for having a dipper on the stamp. Can't wait to get stuck in to the new collection from @zoebrooks.bsky.social Something in Nothing, exploring classic fairy tales with a modern twist. There's still time to register for the online launch on 31st March

Submissions are OPEN until midnight UK time on Sunday 8th February.

atriumpoetry.com/submission-g...

Screenshot of an erasure poem created from a poetry rejection email: Dear Stewart, your poems have no home here.

first rejection of the year

#erasurepoems

The Fig Tree - Issue 12 with Featured Poet Stewart Carswell

Some good poetry news to start the year, and 3 poems published today in The Fig Tree. Thank you to @timfellows.bsky.social for publishing them. Go check it out if you like poems about stars, swans, and the destruction of bronze age villages.
figtreepoetry.substack.com/p/the-fig-tr...

The Fig Tree - Issue 12 with Featured Poet Stewart Carswell

Some good poetry news to start the year, and 3 poems published today in The Fig Tree. Thank you to @timfellows.bsky.social for publishing them. Go check it out if you like poems about stars, swans, and the destruction of bronze age villages.
figtreepoetry.substack.com/p/the-fig-tr...

'He was more proud
than my dream credits him and he was less sad
than whiskey might make him seem.'

bloody love Richard Hugo, no matter the day of the week

I’m delighted to announce that my debut poetry collection, ‘The Way the Water Held Me’, will be published by The Emma Press in the Spring. Available to pre-order now!

Tomorrow night! Come along if you want some poetry

Photo of a car bumper sticker saying "I like my coffee like my sabbath".

...on a Sunday

13th November 2025 CHELTENHAM FCH Campus, University of Gloucestershire, Cheltenham, GL50 4AZ, 5:45PM Reading with Hannah Lowe. Free entry. 5:45PM 13th November. Book now: rmiddleton1@glos.ac.uk

Catch me next week reading some poems over in Cheltenham. delighted to be reading with Hannah Lowe at University of Gloucestershire on 13th November 5.45PM. Free entry.

Poster for FW Harvey society event Saturday 1st November 2025 10.30am - 3.00pm Minsterworth: influence on FW Harvey's writing. Event is at Minsterworth Village Hall, Main Road, Minsterworth. GL2 8JH. Free event

Looking forward to this event on Saturday, when I'll be taking part in a panel discussion on poetry, landscape, and a certain forest.

The F.W. Harvey Society's annual event takes place at Minsterworth Village Hall this year, and focuses on the influence of Minsterworth on Harvey's writing.

Photo of me reading some poems at Gloucester cathedral

Group photo of all the poets who read at the event

Photo of East window at Gloucester cathedral

Photo of Gloucester cathedral Tower exterior at night

Great night last night at Gloucester Cathedral at their Evening of Remembrance Poetry, reading some of my own poems on the theme, plus a couple by FW Harvey. It was great to hear moving and inspirational poetry from a wide range of voices last night.

Photo close up of a printed poem, with pencil handwritten comment of "A dauntingly complex title"

I've never had a poem title been called "dauntingly complex" before!

(but kudos to the editor for the comments and quick submission response ❤)

Photo of some ancient beech trees growing on a rocky outcrop in the woods. The sun is behind the trees.

Photo looking down a dark forest track, with a gate silhouetted. Behind the gate is a green forest track.

Photo of a short twisty oak tree in a forest covered in moss.

Photo looking down a long straight track in a forest. This used to be a railway line.

Farewell Cambridgeshire, hello Forest! The long-promised house move has (finally) happened, and I'm now back home in the Forest of Dean. Here's some pictures from today of why I moved and what it's like here. DM or email me for more info.

Bruce Springsteen - Born in the U.S.A. (Electric Nebraska - Official Audio) YouTube video by BruceSpringsteenVEVO

Listen to the previously-unreleased version of "Born in the U.S.A." from the "Electric Nebraska" sessions, now available to stream: brucespringsteen.lnk.to/BITUSAElectr...

"It was kinda like punk rockabilly. We were trying to bring 'Nebraska' into the electric world."

Photo of a river, lined with trees, with a rainbow in the field on the far side.

rainbows on the riverside

Photo of some strips of cut up paper with lines of poetry on them, on a table next to some red scissors.

writing a poem

When is a door not a door?

When it's j'adore

Image: Young woman in yellow coat walking away from camera through autumn leaves on the ground and next to a large stream. Text: the colour of I notice her because she doesn't have a dog in an afternoon of dog-walkers Cindy Botha©

Botha takes us with them as they are initially struck and later, further surprised, by a woman in a brilliant yellow coat. Exploring longing and beauty among other things, this image rich poem shines.
Read it here: inksweatandtears.co.uk/cindy-botha-5/

#InkSweatandTears #PoetryCommunity #Submission

Close up photo of a Lagavulin bottle label, saying "Time takes out the fire but leaves in the warmth"

Photo of a Lagavulin whisky bottle label. Somewhere on it reads "Time takes out the fire but leaves in the warmth"

Life lessons from a bottle of whisky

Time takes out the fire
but leaves in the warmth.

Photo of a Footpath Closed sign blocking off an alleyway, with two Pedestrians diversion signs with arrows pointing in opposite directions

choose your own adventure diversion

Photo of a nervous looking poet in a white shirt standing behind a microphone reading some poems. Zoom in on the image and you might be able to make out the post-it note set list on the front

Photo of poet behind a microphone, taken from a distance so you can see the backs and shoulders of the attentive audience members.

I had a great night at CB1 Poetry last night! There was a good turn out, and it was great to do some Forest poems as well as test out some newer ones. Thanks to Angus, Trish and the team for keeping the show on the road, and thank you to Alice for the photos.

Poster for CB1 poetry on 3rd August, Town and Gown venue in Cambridge

Delighted to be the guest poet at CB1 Poetry open mic in Cambridge this Sunday. Come along to hear me read poems about forests, rivers, and missing constellations. Last chance for Cambridge(shire) folk to hear me for a while as I'll be moving soon.

Sunday 3rd August, Town and Gown, Cambridge 18:30

I'm going to be reading some poems tomorrow in Cambridge at CB1 Poetry. Come along to hear poems about forests, rivers, and missing constellations. Plus open mic if you fancy taking part facebook.com/events/s/cb1...

Hello @finishedpoetry.bsky.social ! Give them a follow, and "trespass" into their inbox with you Trespass-themed submissions

Poster for CB1 poetry on 3rd August, Town and Gown venue in Cambridge

Delighted to be the guest poet at CB1 Poetry open mic in Cambridge this Sunday. Come along to hear me read poems about forests, rivers, and missing constellations. Last chance for Cambridge(shire) folk to hear me for a while as I'll be moving soon.

Sunday 3rd August, Town and Gown, Cambridge 18:30

Israel blocking aid from Gaza is creating ‘chaos and death’, say humanitarian groups Letter signed by agencies including Doctors Without Borders condemns Israeli military attacks on Palestinians

'The statement quoted an aid worker in Gaza who said: “Children tell their parents they want to go to heaven, because at least heaven has food.”'

www.theguardian.com/world/2025/j...