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Paul Brookes

@thewombwellrainbow.bsky.social

1.9K followers 830 following 4.1K posts

Shop asst. Poet and interviewer. Work broadcast on BBC Radio Three, The Verb. Edits The Wombwell Rainbow. #PromoteIndieLit Recent work: "The Dude Work,' Sherwood Handcrafted Press, 2024. Forthcoming: "The Drey Skin", "In Your Mouth"

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Paul Brookes @thewombwellrainbow.bsky.social · 4h

Hi @dragonslayerma.bsky.socia Fidel and your glorious #promptcombo #SimplePleasures. My second is from my collection "Othernesses":

Therapy

Listen, soft crash of my waves alter your brain patterns, feel my sand exfoliate, your skin as my unevenness makes floor walk harder, works your calves and thighs. A state

of meditation lulls, slows your heart beat, deepens your breath. My blue sky and sun shoot up your bodies feel good drugs, my heat and negative ions ensure reboot.

I massage the vagus nerve in your neck, enough for all this to happen. Watch fish in rockpools provide aquariums check your stress, rejuvenate a hug and kiss.

I'm health resort, recommunion, refresher, renewer, good reunion.

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Paul Brookes @thewombwellrainbow.bsky.social · 3m

Wow! Thank you, Jan.

Reposted by Paul Brookes

Jan Peters - Solivagant Wisdom @janpsolivagant.bsky.social · 5m

🙏🌊🏆

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Paul Brookes @thewombwellrainbow.bsky.social · 2h

Nature's massage.

Reposted by Paul Brookes

Fidel Walsh @dragonslayerma.bsky.social · 2h

Totally agree, even in winter!

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Paul Brookes @thewombwellrainbow.bsky.social · 2h

Thank you, Fidel. Seaside is a great place to go barefoot on sand.

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Fidel Walsh @dragonslayerma.bsky.social · 2h

Oh, my, Paul. I closed my eyes, I felt every piece of that massage! Wow, thank you. I feel renewed now with these vital #SimplePleasures . Excellent write & #PromptCombo thanks you❤️
As I think will everyone who reads it.

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Paul Brookes @thewombwellrainbow.bsky.social · 2h

Thank you, Dave.

Reposted by Paul Brookes

Dave Ashley @daveashleypoet.bsky.social · 2h

that's a cracking sonnet Paul. I love the changes of tempo in it, and just the imagery ... I mean from tea (I am now thirsty) to ornaments (I still want a cuppa)

Bloody nice writing

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graveyard dirt @upfromsumdirt.bsky.social · 4h

happy day of official recognition, little guy...

THE SHOES OF THE FISHERMAN'S WIFE • poems • upfromsumdirt

available from @kentuckypress.bsky.social - or (hopefully) everywhere books are sold.

photo of blue hardback book with orangish, goldish illustrations of a mermaid with a leopard on the front. the book sits on a desk with an assortment of stuff on it, lime an orange notebook, a blue sharpie, and a bottle of black.

photo was taken at about 3am. why isnt the poster asleep?!?

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Paul Brookes @thewombwellrainbow.bsky.social · 4h

Hi @dragonslayerma.bsky.socia Fidel and your glorious #promptcombo #SimplePleasures. My second is from my collection "Othernesses":

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Reposted by Paul Brookes

poemakontsa @poemakontsa.bsky.social · 19h

The Red Poppy
Louise Glück (in memoriam)

Did you
permit yourselves
to open once, who would never
open again? Because in truth
I am speaking now
the way you do. I speak
because I am shattered

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Reposted by Paul Brookes

Frog and Toad Bot @frogandtoadbot.bsky.social · 1d

That night when Toad went to bed he thought the biggest thoughts that he could think.

Toad thought about giant sunflowers. He thought about tall oak trees. He thought about high mountains covered with snow.

A glimpse into Toad's mind as he sleeps. He dreams of mountains, giant trees, and sunflowers.

From "The Hat"
In *Days with Frog and Toad*

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Paul Brookes @thewombwellrainbow.bsky.social · 22h

Totally agree.

Reposted by Paul Brookes

Fidel Walsh @dragonslayerma.bsky.social · 23h

It's a lovely thing to sit over a cuppa & have the chats.

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Paul Brookes @thewombwellrainbow.bsky.social · 23h

Thank you, Paul.

Reposted by Paul Brookes

Paul Connolly @thepaulconnolly.bsky.social · 23h

A paean to tea. ☕️ 👏👏👏

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Paul Brookes @thewombwellrainbow.bsky.social · 1d

Thank you, Emily. The ivory tusks of the elephants my dad brought back for his mam and dad were an introduction to the British Empire for me as a sixties child.

Reposted by Paul Brookes

Emily Tee @emteepoetry.bsky.social · 1d

I always enjoy your poems Paul but this is particularly fine! It also makes me remember the carved elephants we had when I was growing up courtesy of an aunt and uncle, and he was in the merchant navy too.

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Paul Brookes @thewombwellrainbow.bsky.social · 1d

Thank you, Fidel. Often called a very English pleasure.

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Reposted by Paul Brookes

Fidel Walsh @dragonslayerma.bsky.social · 1d

One of the most #SimplePleasures the cuppa🫖, which comes at a hard toll for others, tho. I like mine in the bone china.
Another outstanding storytelling of yours, Paul. #PromptCombo thanks you❤️

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Paul Brookes @thewombwellrainbow.bsky.social · 1d

Hi @dragonslayerma.bsky.social Fidel. Thank you for the great ##promptcombo #SimplePleasures. My first is from my collection "These Random Acts of Wildness", (Glass Head Press, 2023)

I Make A Cuppa

Some say it is better with a warmed pot, or with tea leaves through a strainer held over a bone China cup. A specialist shop had a bud float in my clear cup unfurled

before my eyes. Expensive and rare sight.

Indulgent, like days of Imperial splendour when women tea harvester's plight long hours, low pay, working was very real.

My dad national service merchantman mariner kept his life in the loft stored in old tea chests, plywood box, steel battaned edges. Brought home carved elephants for the sideboard.

We collect the wild as ornamental. Domesticate, put on a pedestal

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Paul Brookes @thewombwellrainbow.bsky.social · 1d

Thank you, Helen.

Reposted by Paul Brookes

Helen Laycock @helenlaycock.bsky.social · 1d

In six lines, there is a wonderful turnaround, culminating in that reassuring recognition, ‘Took me years to learn I defeat myself’.

I love how this comes about via a memory, as though, even no longer here, the late sister’s influence still has a positive effect.

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Paul Brookes @thewombwellrainbow.bsky.social · 1d

You may enjoy others too:
amzn.eu/d/7RSH0ZU

Othernesses (Poetry from Jane's Studio Press): Amazon.co.uk: Brookes, Paul, Cornwell, Jane, MacGregor, Andy: 9781739323103: Books

Buy Othernesses (Poetry from Jane's Studio Press) by Brookes, Paul, Cornwell, Jane, MacGregor, Andy (ISBN: 9781739323103) from Amazon's Book Store. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible or...

amzn.eu

Paul Brookes @thewombwellrainbow.bsky.social · 1d

❤️