Ian Brownlie
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ianbrownlie.bsky.social
Ian Brownlie
@ianbrownlie.bsky.social
650 followers 890 following 310 posts
Writer of poetry/fiction for children/adults | Fiction: Times/CH LL | Poems: Dirigible, Tyger Tyger, Little Thoughts, The Toy | SHINE, streetcake, Audi Locus | Pushcart nom '26 | he/him
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Reposted by Ian Brownlie
thebrokenspine.co.uk
Tinsel hides nothing.
This Friday: #PoemsAbout #YouShouldntHave — the gifts that sting, the smiles that lie, the obligation dressed as generosity.
Start Friday. Don’t post early.
Tag #PoemsAbout. Use Alt Text. Prompts every Saturday: shorturl.at/0Xm7A
A Christmas tree dimly lit with warm white fairy lights stands in a dark, moody room. Beneath it, wrapped gifts in muted gold and silver sit untouched. The Broken Spine logo appears top left; "@thebrokenspine.co.uk" sits top right. Bottom right reads: "Read Repost Reply #POEMSABOUT #YOUSHOULDNTHAVE".
December 7, 2025 at 4:00 PM
ianbrownlie.bsky.social
Inspired to write a #Poem by this revolting post on X by *checks notes* the Home Office of a UK Labour government.

#Poetry #PoetryCommunity #WritingCommunity #UKPolitics #Labour #Immigration #Despair
this country britain welcomes migrants who contribute you say to our economy and society rewarding those who give not take high earners you say entrepreneurs you say oh and skilled nhs workers you say too thanks for those crumbs by the way for those alms for the poor give me only economic success economic scheming economic necessity society is no longer a collective dream a fanciful concoction or a progressive march but something high high up and something far far away drifting on invisible waveforms amassing behind clouds and reeking of used banknotes so welcome to britain migrants we’re too soft on you we’re fools to ourselves in this country
December 7, 2025 at 3:47 PM
Reposted by Ian Brownlie
thebrokenspine.co.uk
We made final decisions on our Summer 2025 #Competition & notified all entrants today.

In 2026, we'll publish work by
@ronanmurphymusic.com
@lozzakidwriting.bsky.social
@belrimmer.bsky.social

The standard was phenomenal across the board, but these three truly stood out. Congratulations to all!
kermit the frog is leaning against a railing with the words `` we proud of you '' written on it .
ALT: kermit the frog is leaning against a railing with the words `` we proud of you '' written on it .
media.tenor.com
December 7, 2025 at 2:41 PM
Reposted by Ian Brownlie
gralefrit.bsky.social
It’s the lack of imagination that grinds me down. The inability to see that people could change, or be more than they might at first seem, to understand potential, to look properly at all.

Not-rich people aren’t a burden for a country. They’re an opportunity, if you don’t just try and crush them.
jonkingh.bsky.social Jonathan Kingham @jonkingh.bsky.social · 23h
This is so disgusting.
December 7, 2025 at 9:12 AM
Reposted by Ian Brownlie
johnchmura.bsky.social
#PoemsAbout #Imps #Resist @thebrokenspine.co.uk
I will put a reel in the comments
YOU’RE A MEAN ONE, MR. TRUMP It was already Halloween everyday in the States, senile, sadistic dictator, Jerk O’Lantern painted face, hellfire glowing through his jealous eye holes, but now that it’s safe to say Merry Christmas again the stone cold crypto miser body snatches the Grinch, MAGA hatted anti-Santa strapping fake antlers on his little Johnson, whipping the bedraggled pet to pull his stolen sleigh, piled high with contraband, East wing rubble, twenty-eight Barbies, hungry children’s empty plates, stuffed soybean silos, broken families in separate cages, jobs, jobs reports, healthcare, ceasefires, issues nobody knew were so complicated, international trust, diplomas, nurses, vaccine syringes, cancer, loyalty oaths, habeas corpus, the rule of law, the rules of engagement, SSECRETARY Smegma’s fog of war, and good will toward women. Merry fucking Christmas, America.
December 5, 2025 at 5:26 AM
Reposted by Ian Brownlie
throwawayreg.bsky.social
Morning Friday
here’s my little “throwaway” poem for
#PoemsAbout #Imp and this poem is about somebody’s nostrils
thank you @alanparrywriter.co.uk
@thebrokenspine.co.uk have a great weekend everyone everywhere
#poems #poetry #nostrils 🚶🏼‍♂️‍➡️
December 5, 2025 at 7:22 AM
ianbrownlie.bsky.social
I was going to skip #PoemsAbout this week as I feel festively-rushed and wasn't engaging with the prompt. Then I had a free moment at work and pondered writing about something else and just calling it an #Imp. Then I went and tied it back in anyway.
@alanparrywriter.co.uk
@thebrokenspine.co.uk
a rose by any other name the imp is such a perfect flower the king of floral porns and yet, beneath that blushing bower lurks a spike-strip of sly thorns
December 5, 2025 at 10:10 AM
Reposted by Ian Brownlie
northernjim.bsky.social
The Dirigible Balloon poetry submission window will open on Monday December 1st and close on Sunday December 14th.
The guidelines are on the website. This is an open call with no theme. We're looking for poems to entertain and intrigue children. We are a global poetry platform.
#PoetryForChildren 🎈
a colorful hot air balloon flies over a mountain range at sunset
ALT: a colorful hot air balloon flies over a mountain range at sunset
media.tenor.com
November 24, 2025 at 6:28 AM
ianbrownlie.bsky.social
My 'harvest' was incredibly dull, so I'll post about my #SpotifyWrapped to diversify a little. Apparently my listening age was 87. While I did listen to a fair amount of Jaques Brel, and Sondheim musicals & Mingus/Coltrane jazz skewed things...87?!? Impressive given my Top Artist was Stray Kids.
Screenshot of my Spotify Wrapped listening age. 87. Eighty-seven! Unbelievable.
December 3, 2025 at 4:21 PM
Reposted by Ian Brownlie
shinepoetry.bsky.social
SHINE is honored to be included in this new list of book recs from @paulwritespoems.bsky.social Check out the full list here:
paulwritespoems.com/2025/11/30/t...

#poetrycommunity
The Book Bag Christmas Gift Guide 2025
Welcome one and all to The Book Bag Christmas Gift List 2025. How has your week been? Are you feeling festive yet? I’ve compiled this list based on reader suggestions and some personal favourites o…
paulwritespoems.com
December 2, 2025 at 5:04 PM
ianbrownlie.bsky.social
Yes, I did watch The Sound of Music recently, how could you tell?
@thetoypress.bsky.social #WordOfTheWeek #Dough
#WritingCommunity #WritingForChildren #PoetryCommunity #PoetryForKids #KidLit #WordPrompt
Dough-Ray-Mii Dough, some bread, some sourdough bread Ray, had Georgia on his mind Mii, an avatar’s big head Fart, it comes from your behind Sow, some seeds to spread about La, is half of a friend of Po Tee, a shirt with Homer’s shout That will bring us back to Doh!
December 2, 2025 at 10:22 AM
Reposted by Ian Brownlie
thetoypress.bsky.social
Happy 1st December! Here is your #wordoftheweek!

#writingcommunity #writingforchildren #writingprompt #poetryforkids #poetryforchildren #poetrycommunity
December 1, 2025 at 8:27 AM
Reposted by Ian Brownlie
victoriaspires.bsky.social
Thank you @thewombwellrainbow.bsky.social for last week's prompt! This week I'm hosting #PromptCombo & the prompt is #ThisPoem. You can interpret that however you wish, but I dare you to try something a little different 😇 All welcome to join, replies until Friday.
December 1, 2025 at 6:51 AM
Reposted by Ian Brownlie
rburrows.bsky.social
Morning poets! There is a break in the slimy trail of mollusc poetry to bring you one about fenugreek! 😊 I’ll leave it to you to decide whether it fits the prompt or not! Happy Friday!
#PoemsAbout #NoFuture @alanparrywriter.co.uk @thebrokenspine.co.uk #poetry
November 28, 2025 at 6:49 AM
Reposted by Ian Brownlie
sueimnw.bsky.social
For #PoemsAbout #NoFuture with thanks to @alanparrywriter.co.uk @thebrokenspine.co.uk and all poets participating.
November 28, 2025 at 7:14 AM
ianbrownlie.bsky.social
My brain couldn't get past the sex pistols for this one.
#PoemsAbout #NoFuture
@alanparrywriter.co.uk
@thebrokenspine.co.uk
punked in 1977 the sex pistols sang about there being no future were they just getting ahead of themselves or is the no future the one we are currently living through
November 28, 2025 at 7:53 AM
ianbrownlie.bsky.social
Lots of kinds of #Cycle to choose from for @thetoypress.bsky.social's #WordOfTheWeek. So I didn't.

#WritingCommunity #WritingForChildren #PoetryCommunity #PoetryForKids #KidLit #WordPrompt
The Life Cycle of a Poem Motorcycle Riding fast Unicycle Clown flies past Spin cycle Wash with haste Recycle Eco waste Water cycle Land, air, sea News cycle Update me! Batcycle Comic fun Broken cycle My job’s done
November 24, 2025 at 4:41 PM
Reposted by Ian Brownlie
tinytreebooks.bsky.social
🪽✨ Undercover Angel: Crash Landing by @lisajallen.bsky.social is out now!

Join trainee angel Phoebe as she searches for a demon, makes friends (ew!) and tries to survive Year 7 on Earth

Perfect if you love out-of-this-world adventures (and don't like humans): amzn.to/3QmPi6q
Cover of Undercover Angel: Crash Landing on a light blue background.
November 22, 2025 at 11:00 AM
Reposted by Ian Brownlie
paulwritespoems.bsky.social
For #PoemsAbout #DogTags here is ‘Memorial Service’

Will catch up later @thebrokenspine.co.uk
Memorial Service He’s bought medals from eBay. Bought the uniform from Army Surplus. War stories stolen from Hollywood and Pinewood. Burton, Savalas, Caine. At the Cenotaph, He swaps salutes with the wounded, scarred, nervous, whose eyes he can’t hold, but tales he’ll recycle. His legs bolt a rapid one-two retreat at confrontation. In the safety of his home he reloads, more medals— delivered in 4 working days.
November 21, 2025 at 12:29 PM
Reposted by Ian Brownlie
thewombwellrainbow.bsky.social
For #poemsabout #Dogtags @alanparrywriter.co.uk @blackboughpoetry.bsky.social
Dogtags Since the autocracy got in promising more freedom, less immigrants, reduce crime figures we wear Electronic Dogtags. Those who refused were deported. Natives, close friends, the sick and elderly. Surveillance tags used to buy goods and services prices tailored to your job, and where you live. Injected Just above your fifth vertebrae, so removal will break your spine. Links to ai in your phone and Appliances in the home, who decide when you eat, exercise, have sex, your social life. For your own safety, and those of others.
November 21, 2025 at 4:24 PM
ianbrownlie.bsky.social
Short this week, and not particularly sweet.
#DogTags #PoemsAbout #Haiku
@alanparrywriter.co.uk
@thebrokenspine.co.uk
Snow blood-stained and wrapped In a muddle of bodies Metal tags unread
November 21, 2025 at 9:51 AM
Reposted by Ian Brownlie
rburrows.bsky.social
For #smallpoemsunday
#poetry #homophones
November 16, 2025 at 12:00 PM
ianbrownlie.bsky.social
Having a teenage daughter, #ship only has one meaning for me these days.
@thetoypress.bsky.social
#WordOfTheWeek #WritingCommunity #WritingForChildren #PoetryCommunity #PoetryForKids #KidLit #WordPrompt
'I'll show you a ghost ship!' claimed Prue Spooky stuff, so right in my purview But then she said 'Nowt's sublimer Than this picture of Slimer Who I ship with – from Mario – King Boo!'
November 19, 2025 at 9:03 AM
Reposted by Ian Brownlie
jamiesmart.bsky.social
I do not understand authors, broadcasters, voice artists, YouTubers, ANY creative artists using quick and cheap AI for their cover images and not realising: it will be you next.
November 18, 2025 at 8:11 AM
Reposted by Ian Brownlie
shinepoetry.bsky.social
Poetry fans, the 1 YEAR ANNIVERSARY ISSUE of SHINE Quarterly is just around the bend! Stay tuned...

#shinepoetry
#poetrycommunity
#internationalcommunity
SHINE Quarterly Issue 5 promo
November 8, 2025 at 2:02 PM