Alec Finlay
@alecfinlay.bsky.social
artist and poet; ecological remediation and human recuperation; landscape, tea, limit and creativity; lives by the sea in Edinburgh; mostly sharing a daily poem here.
The time of year to share 'Light is a Right' , a manifesto for (and by) people who experience SAD and a vulnerability to low winter light. I worked with Hayden Lorimer, Hester Parr, and Shawn Bodden to create a poster, book, and free digital book.
November 27, 2025 at 7:58 AM
The time of year to share 'Light is a Right' , a manifesto for (and by) people who experience SAD and a vulnerability to low winter light. I worked with Hayden Lorimer, Hester Parr, and Shawn Bodden to create a poster, book, and free digital book.
the young architect
draws stairs in her sleep
ascending to the heaven
of a rational building
27.XI.25
draws stairs in her sleep
ascending to the heaven
of a rational building
27.XI.25
November 27, 2025 at 7:29 AM
the young architect
draws stairs in her sleep
ascending to the heaven
of a rational building
27.XI.25
draws stairs in her sleep
ascending to the heaven
of a rational building
27.XI.25
Reposted by Alec Finlay
Q20 #LocalHero quiz
#LocalHero quiz
Q20. How did Andrew spell out the name of the gentleman coming from America to see Mac?
Q20. How did Andrew spell out the name of the gentleman coming from America to see Mac?
November 26, 2025 at 7:51 PM
Q20 #LocalHero quiz
Reposted by Alec Finlay
Sitcom where Lammy and Limmy swap places
November 26, 2025 at 7:53 PM
Sitcom where Lammy and Limmy swap places
Reposted by Alec Finlay
This is a lovely thing.
It's a tad down to the wire, I know, but I'm thrilled to say that I'm running the Poetry Advent Calendar again this year -- sign up by donating to @msf.ca and receive a poem every day from 1 to 24 December: book.benefacthq.com?id=poetry-ad...
November 26, 2025 at 7:29 PM
This is a lovely thing.
Reposted by Alec Finlay
When I first came up with this idea back in 2023, I told myself that if the Poetry Advent Calendar could raise £500 for MSF, I'd be more than chuffed - this year, we've surpassed that in the first 90 minutes of the advent calendar going live! Huge thanks to everyone who's donated and shared so far ❤️
It's a tad down to the wire, I know, but I'm thrilled to say that I'm running the Poetry Advent Calendar again this year -- sign up by donating to @msf.ca and receive a poem every day from 1 to 24 December: book.benefacthq.com?id=poetry-ad...
November 26, 2025 at 4:57 PM
When I first came up with this idea back in 2023, I told myself that if the Poetry Advent Calendar could raise £500 for MSF, I'd be more than chuffed - this year, we've surpassed that in the first 90 minutes of the advent calendar going live! Huge thanks to everyone who's donated and shared so far ❤️
I'll never understand how a city with sunrises like this didn't vote for independence.
November 26, 2025 at 8:06 AM
I'll never understand how a city with sunrises like this didn't vote for independence.
she's right up with events
says tomorrow's the day
the treasurer makes
her big speech
26.XI.25
says tomorrow's the day
the treasurer makes
her big speech
26.XI.25
November 26, 2025 at 8:05 AM
she's right up with events
says tomorrow's the day
the treasurer makes
her big speech
26.XI.25
says tomorrow's the day
the treasurer makes
her big speech
26.XI.25
people who think other
people are a type
are a type
25.XI.25
people are a type
are a type
25.XI.25
November 25, 2025 at 7:31 AM
people who think other
people are a type
are a type
25.XI.25
people are a type
are a type
25.XI.25
We're the equivalent of one hour into a twenty-four hour shift in global populations, as climate breakdown hits, and Trevor Phillips and the Home Secretary already want punitive random deportations. What do they expect people to do in the future, sit and fry in the sun?
Trevor Philips in the Times, calling for a Trump/Miller-style of random deportations based on skin colour.
archive.ph/RlXPj
archive.ph/RlXPj
November 24, 2025 at 10:11 PM
We're the equivalent of one hour into a twenty-four hour shift in global populations, as climate breakdown hits, and Trevor Phillips and the Home Secretary already want punitive random deportations. What do they expect people to do in the future, sit and fry in the sun?
Bruckner
the organist makes
his way home
through the crowd
carrying his wee cushion
24.XI.25
the organist makes
his way home
through the crowd
carrying his wee cushion
24.XI.25
November 24, 2025 at 7:49 AM
Bruckner
the organist makes
his way home
through the crowd
carrying his wee cushion
24.XI.25
the organist makes
his way home
through the crowd
carrying his wee cushion
24.XI.25
Reposted by Alec Finlay
This took courage, and makes me feel very vulnerable, but here I share some insights into how the recent Laika situation played out for me – along with a plea for more compassionate social media engagement. We need reflection, not retribution.
www.thetimes.com/uk/scotland/...
If useful: archive.is
www.thetimes.com/uk/scotland/...
If useful: archive.is
I was the other poet in the Len Pennie row: here’s my story
Sarah Doyle’s poem Laika won high praise but when she queried similarities to it with the poem Good Girl she was caught up in a storm of accusation, denial and online vitriol
www.thetimes.com
November 23, 2025 at 2:22 PM
This took courage, and makes me feel very vulnerable, but here I share some insights into how the recent Laika situation played out for me – along with a plea for more compassionate social media engagement. We need reflection, not retribution.
www.thetimes.com/uk/scotland/...
If useful: archive.is
www.thetimes.com/uk/scotland/...
If useful: archive.is
free metaphor
is the bridge still there
in all this haar?
well, that train is sure
going somewhere
23.XI.25
is the bridge still there
in all this haar?
well, that train is sure
going somewhere
23.XI.25
November 23, 2025 at 9:03 AM
free metaphor
is the bridge still there
in all this haar?
well, that train is sure
going somewhere
23.XI.25
is the bridge still there
in all this haar?
well, that train is sure
going somewhere
23.XI.25
fitba haiku, after Steven Thompson
HE’S DONE HIM!
the arc of the ball
HE’S DONE HIM!
is a thought we’ve all had
HE’S DONE HIM!
become beautifully real
HE’S DONE HIM!
the arc of the ball
HE’S DONE HIM!
is a thought we’ve all had
HE’S DONE HIM!
become beautifully real
November 21, 2025 at 7:15 AM
fitba haiku, after Steven Thompson
HE’S DONE HIM!
the arc of the ball
HE’S DONE HIM!
is a thought we’ve all had
HE’S DONE HIM!
become beautifully real
HE’S DONE HIM!
the arc of the ball
HE’S DONE HIM!
is a thought we’ve all had
HE’S DONE HIM!
become beautifully real
fitba haiku (II), after Alan Spence and Kieran Tierney
pure–
tae good tae be true
kindae hing–
honestly
pure–
tae good tae be true
kindae hing–
honestly
November 19, 2025 at 3:00 PM
fitba haiku (II), after Alan Spence and Kieran Tierney
pure–
tae good tae be true
kindae hing–
honestly
pure–
tae good tae be true
kindae hing–
honestly
fitba haiku
where’s my mum
asks Scott
in that sea of blue
where’s my mum
asks Scott
in that sea of blue
November 19, 2025 at 12:22 PM
fitba haiku
where’s my mum
asks Scott
in that sea of blue
where’s my mum
asks Scott
in that sea of blue
a snow day you say?
what, with no school bus?
with wet gloves? and balaclavas?
and even a carrot between your eyes?
what, with no school bus?
with wet gloves? and balaclavas?
and even a carrot between your eyes?
November 19, 2025 at 9:15 AM
a snow day you say?
what, with no school bus?
with wet gloves? and balaclavas?
and even a carrot between your eyes?
what, with no school bus?
with wet gloves? and balaclavas?
and even a carrot between your eyes?
more let’s agree
let’s agree that in extremis
a hole in the wall can be plugged
with a rolled-up poem
let’s agree how hot the fire has to be
for the cat to roll
let’s agree it was all very dogs and logs
let’s agree parasociality is a leap too far
let’s agree that in extremis
a hole in the wall can be plugged
with a rolled-up poem
let’s agree how hot the fire has to be
for the cat to roll
let’s agree it was all very dogs and logs
let’s agree parasociality is a leap too far
November 19, 2025 at 8:15 AM
more let’s agree
let’s agree that in extremis
a hole in the wall can be plugged
with a rolled-up poem
let’s agree how hot the fire has to be
for the cat to roll
let’s agree it was all very dogs and logs
let’s agree parasociality is a leap too far
let’s agree that in extremis
a hole in the wall can be plugged
with a rolled-up poem
let’s agree how hot the fire has to be
for the cat to roll
let’s agree it was all very dogs and logs
let’s agree parasociality is a leap too far
Reposted by Alec Finlay
The BBC Scotland commentary for Kenny McLean’s halfway line goal is glorious. Stuff of dreams. 🔥
Congratulations #Scotland, see you at the World Cup.
Congratulations #Scotland, see you at the World Cup.
November 18, 2025 at 10:00 PM
The BBC Scotland commentary for Kenny McLean’s halfway line goal is glorious. Stuff of dreams. 🔥
Congratulations #Scotland, see you at the World Cup.
Congratulations #Scotland, see you at the World Cup.
Reposted by Alec Finlay
A Broken Sleep review special now live on my blog
@alecfinlay.bsky.social @brokensleepbooks.bsky.social @alkinsel.bsky.social @lauratheis.bsky.social #poetry
ellipticalmovements.wordpress.com/2025/11/18/r...
@alecfinlay.bsky.social @brokensleepbooks.bsky.social @alkinsel.bsky.social @lauratheis.bsky.social #poetry
ellipticalmovements.wordpress.com/2025/11/18/r...
ellipticalmovements.wordpress.com
November 18, 2025 at 2:47 PM
A Broken Sleep review special now live on my blog
@alecfinlay.bsky.social @brokensleepbooks.bsky.social @alkinsel.bsky.social @lauratheis.bsky.social #poetry
ellipticalmovements.wordpress.com/2025/11/18/r...
@alecfinlay.bsky.social @brokensleepbooks.bsky.social @alkinsel.bsky.social @lauratheis.bsky.social #poetry
ellipticalmovements.wordpress.com/2025/11/18/r...
Reposted by Alec Finlay
outrageous move by @waterstones.bsky.social
Please share this as widely as you can, tag your local indies too, and help us get the word about about this news.
We know and appreciate how much help we have had for you over the years and we’re sorry to have to ask you for more.
We’re here and we aren’t going anywhere.
(2/2)
We know and appreciate how much help we have had for you over the years and we’re sorry to have to ask you for more.
We’re here and we aren’t going anywhere.
(2/2)
November 18, 2025 at 1:42 PM
outrageous move by @waterstones.bsky.social