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inksweatandtears.co.uk
Ink Sweat & Tears
@inksweatandtears.co.uk
510 followers 210 following 360 posts
Online poetry magazine posting daily. We publish & review poetry, prose, filmpoems, word & image and print publish as IS&T Press. Editing internships. Posts by Sairah Ahsan & Kate Birch.
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inksweatandtears.co.uk
Clara Howell's 'The Basement' holds us on the moment of anticipation.

Read it here: inksweatandtears.co.uk/clara-howell/

#InkSweatAndTears #FeaturedPoem #FruitPoem
Photograph of peaches. Text over photograph reads: a halved peach breathes then rots from the inside out. Text in the top left reads: The Basement. Text in the bottom right reads: Clara Howell
December 9, 2025 at 9:45 AM
inksweatandtears.co.uk
As we head towards the glitter and glitz, let's take one last look back at November. Will you choose Mariam Saidan, Taḋg Paul / @tigger.ie, Antony Owen, Andy Humphrey, Tamara Evans / cadicarterbrown.bsky.social or Mallika Bhaumik as your #PickoftheMonth?

#InkSweatandTears #FeaturedPoetry
To right: Image of late November trees with the leaves on the ground. VOTE icon Text: IS&T November 2025 Pick of the Month Mariam Saidan Taḋg Paul Antony Owen Andy Humphrey Tamara Evans Mallika Bhaumik
December 8, 2025 at 4:02 PM
inksweatandtears.co.uk
Luigi Coppola's 'Prometheus Burns Down The Last Bar Of The Pub Crawl' describes a night of camaraderie spent with the Titan who brought mankind flame.

Read it here: inksweatandtears.co.uk/luigi-coppola

#InkSweatAndTears #GreekMythology #FeaturedPoem
Silhouette of a crow against a full and orange moon. Text over photograph reads: the flameless, oil-clogged heater simmering like a plague. Top left text reads: Prometheus Burns down the last bar of the pub crawl. Bottom right text reads: Luigi Coppola (c)
December 8, 2025 at 10:00 AM
Reposted by Ink Sweat & Tears
woz012poetry.bsky.social
Fantastic poem from Ash - was a pleasure to see early drafts of this, and now looks magnificent in publication with the outstanding @inksweatandtears.co.uk
inksweatandtears.co.uk Ink Sweat & Tears @inksweatandtears.co.uk · 10d
Ash Bowden's 'Composting' introduces magic and conspiracy to the ordinary scene of a compost bin. @ashbowpoet.bsky.social

Read it here: inksweatandtears.co.uk/ash-bowden

#Composting #FeaturedPoem #InkSweatandTears
Photograph of purple and pink worms. Text overlayed over photograph reads: stinking and silent as an ancient earthen vat. Top left text reads: Composting. Bottom right text reads: Ash Bowden (c)
December 8, 2025 at 9:07 AM
inksweatandtears.co.uk
Jon Wesick's 'A Fistful of Cake' is a playful reimagining of the Western, which preserves the genre's melodrama. @wesickjon.bsky.social

Read it here: inksweatandtears.co.uk/jon-wesick/

#InkSweatAndTears #FeaturedPoem #Cowboys
Photograph of three horses riding out of a cloud of dust, one mounted by a cowboy. Text overlayed on photograph reads: the camera narrows on cakeslingers' squints. Top left text reads: A fistful of cake. Bottom left text reads: Jon Wesick (C)
December 7, 2025 at 10:20 AM
inksweatandtears.co.uk
Paula R. Hilton's 'Eating Apple Pie with Louisa May Alcott' is a comedy of desire and memory.

Read it here: inksweatandtears.co.uk/paula-r-hilt...

#InkSweatAndTears #Poetry #LouisaMayAlcott
Image of an elaborate knife slicing through a pastry crust. Text: Eating Apple Pie with Louisa May Alcott you wasted wishes on trivialities —dessert and necromancy Paula R. Hilton copyright
December 6, 2025 at 10:00 AM
inksweatandtears.co.uk
In Lee Campbell's 'ONE DAY', hope builds and builds, embodied by pistachios, for future happiness.

Watch it here: inksweatandtears.co.uk/lee-campbell/

#FilmPoem #InkSweatAndTears
December 5, 2025 at 4:55 PM
Reposted by Ink Sweat & Tears
bonnerr.bsky.social
This a beautiful poem by Alice Huntley, sensuous and evocative!
inksweatandtears.co.uk Ink Sweat & Tears @inksweatandtears.co.uk · 4d
Alice Huntley's 'The tenderness of beans' is an intimate and sensual reflection on shelling beans from a pod, which evokes a tenderness usually reserved for infants.

Read it here: inksweatandtears.co.uk/alice-huntle...

#InkSweatandTears #PoemOfTheDay #Gardening
Closeup photograph of peas nestled in a pod. Text overlayed on image reads: you began nestled in darkness. Text in top left reads: the tenderness of beans. Text in bottom right reads: Alice Huntley (C)
December 5, 2025 at 10:46 AM
inksweatandtears.co.uk
Alice Huntley's 'The tenderness of beans' is an intimate and sensual reflection on shelling beans from a pod, which evokes a tenderness usually reserved for infants.

Read it here: inksweatandtears.co.uk/alice-huntle...

#InkSweatandTears #PoemOfTheDay #Gardening
Closeup photograph of peas nestled in a pod. Text overlayed on image reads: you began nestled in darkness. Text in top left reads: the tenderness of beans. Text in bottom right reads: Alice Huntley (C)
December 5, 2025 at 10:20 AM
inksweatandtears.co.uk
Rhonda Melanson's 'Holy Ground' meditates on gardening, particularly the more spiritual fruits of labour and earth.

Read it here: inksweatandtears.co.uk/rhonda-melan...

#InkSweatandTears #Gardening #NatureWriting
Photograph of picked strawberries. Text overlayed on photograph reads: Extracted their baby knowledge considered their plucked sacrifice. Top left text reads: Holy Ground. Bottom right text reads: Rhonda Melanson (c)
December 4, 2025 at 1:16 PM
inksweatandtears.co.uk
Clive Donovan's 'Three Winds' explores space and the emotive, even transformative, force of nature.

Read it here: inksweatandtears.co.uk/clive-donova...

#FeaturedPoem #InkSweatandTears #NaturePoetry
December 3, 2025 at 10:00 AM
Reposted by Ink Sweat & Tears
dreadingslam.bsky.social
Congratulation to Dreading #Slam #poet Garry Ackroyde for having his poem “Cracks in the Concrete” published in @inksweatandtears.co.uk
#writer #poetrymagazine
December 2, 2025 at 7:41 PM
inksweatandtears.co.uk
Gary Akroyde's 'Cracks in the Concrete' looks at urban scenery with the intent of finding beauty in the mundane and dirty.

Read it here: inksweatandtears.co.uk/gary-akroyde/

#InkSweatandTears #UrbanNature #Poetry
Photograph of yellow dandelions bedded in a crack in the concrete. Text overlayed on photograph reads: we frisked the dirty water for dazzling orange carp. Top left text reads: Cracks in the concrete. Bottom right text reads : gary akroyde copyright
December 2, 2025 at 10:15 AM
inksweatandtears.co.uk
Revisiting 'Reconnaître', exquisite Word & Image from Helen Pletts and Romit Berger originally published on IS&T in November 2017 and this time accompanied by a fine translation by Ma Yongbo. @mayongbo.bsky.social

inksweatandtears.co.uk/helen-pletts...

#InkSweatandTears #WordandImage #Translation
Central image of a young girl dancing under the stars with a bird (corncrake) dancing next to her. Just visible in the sky the text: 'I use the skills of the corncrake tonight. / I need to remember in the hatchling hour, that I was here, –' Outer text: (Top) Reconnaître (Below) Word & Image / Translation from Helen Pletts, Romit Berger, Ma Yongbo 马永波
December 1, 2025 at 4:30 PM
inksweatandtears.co.uk
Borrowing its title from the PhD of Brian May, Nathan Curnow's 'A Survey of Radial Velocities in the Zodiacal Dust Cloud' marries the wonder and vertigo of scientific discovery with that of music making.

inksweatandtears.co.uk/nathan-curnow/

#InkSweatandTears #SciencePoetry #BrianMayQueen
Photograph of a stadium concert bathed in golden light. Text overlayed on photograph reads: a riff generates a reaction an equation must be neat. Top left text reads: a survey of radial velocities in the zodiacal dust cloud. Bottom right text reads: Nathan Curnow (c)
December 1, 2025 at 11:00 AM
inksweatandtears.co.uk
Mic drop! Heading into December, we look back at our winning September and October Picks. You can now hear Clara-Læïla Laudette read 'The purpose' at inksweatandtears.co.uk/september-20... and we've a fine recording of @tadhgcarey.bsky.social's 'Pivotal' here inksweatandtears.co.uk/october-2025...
Graphic of a black mic on a yellow background.
November 30, 2025 at 6:06 PM
Reposted by Ink Sweat & Tears
paulwritespoems.bsky.social
So thrilled to have Midnight Swingball out there in the world with @inksweatandtears.co.uk 🤩
inksweatandtears.co.uk Ink Sweat & Tears @inksweatandtears.co.uk · 9d
Paul Short's 'Midnight Swingball' captures the vertigo and shape of the restless unease before sleep arrives. @paulwritespoems.bsky.social

Read it here: inksweatandtears.co.uk/paul-short/

#Insomnia #InkSweatandTears #Poetry
Photograph of the moon in a pitch black night sky. Text overlayed on photograph reads: the creak-scratch of snoutswoons. Text in top left corner reads: Midnight Swingball. Text in bottom right reads: Paul Short (C)
November 30, 2025 at 10:58 AM
inksweatandtears.co.uk
Paul Short's 'Midnight Swingball' captures the vertigo and shape of the restless unease before sleep arrives. @paulwritespoems.bsky.social

Read it here: inksweatandtears.co.uk/paul-short/

#Insomnia #InkSweatandTears #Poetry
Photograph of the moon in a pitch black night sky. Text overlayed on photograph reads: the creak-scratch of snoutswoons. Text in top left corner reads: Midnight Swingball. Text in bottom right reads: Paul Short (C)
November 30, 2025 at 10:05 AM
Reposted by Ink Sweat & Tears
ashbowpoet.bsky.social
Very excited and grateful to have my poem 'Composting' featured in Ink Sweat & Tears. Check it out in the post below!

#poetry #poem #writingcommunity #writing
inksweatandtears.co.uk Ink Sweat & Tears @inksweatandtears.co.uk · 10d
Ash Bowden's 'Composting' introduces magic and conspiracy to the ordinary scene of a compost bin. @ashbowpoet.bsky.social

Read it here: inksweatandtears.co.uk/ash-bowden

#Composting #FeaturedPoem #InkSweatandTears
Photograph of purple and pink worms. Text overlayed over photograph reads: stinking and silent as an ancient earthen vat. Top left text reads: Composting. Bottom right text reads: Ash Bowden (c)
November 29, 2025 at 2:24 PM
inksweatandtears.co.uk
Ash Bowden's 'Composting' introduces magic and conspiracy to the ordinary scene of a compost bin. @ashbowpoet.bsky.social

Read it here: inksweatandtears.co.uk/ash-bowden

#Composting #FeaturedPoem #InkSweatandTears
Photograph of purple and pink worms. Text overlayed over photograph reads: stinking and silent as an ancient earthen vat. Top left text reads: Composting. Bottom right text reads: Ash Bowden (c)
November 29, 2025 at 10:46 AM
inksweatandtears.co.uk
We have reached our submissions limit for poetry and short prose for this feature but you can still submit word & image and filmpoems to Sairah Ahsan. inksweatandtears.co.uk/submissions/
inksweatandtears.co.uk Ink Sweat & Tears @inksweatandtears.co.uk · 15d
We are now open for Submissions for our annual '12 Days of' feature. @helenivory.bsky.social will be looking at your poetry and short prose, while Sairah Ahsan wants to see your word & image and filmpoems. More at inksweatandtears.co.uk/submissions/

#InkSweatandTears #TwelveDaysofChristmas #Slanted
Background image of snowflake graphics Right banner: gold and red light reflections. Large snowflake graphic upper right. Text: CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS FOR OUR 12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS FEATURE * Poetry * Prose * Filmpoems * Word & Image Submit Now
November 29, 2025 at 10:10 AM
inksweatandtears.co.uk
Mallika Bhaumik's 'In search fo a tawaif's tale (Dilli love)' represents the city as a mosaic of the traditional, inspirational, modern and mundane.

Read it here: inksweatandtears.co.uk/mallika-bhau...

#Poetry #FeaturedPoem #InkSweatandTears
Photograph of overlapping Persian carpets. Overlayed on photograph, text reads: tapestry of time woven haphazardly. Top left text reads: In search of a tawaif's tale (Dilli love). Bottom right text reads: mallika bhaumik (c)
November 28, 2025 at 10:30 AM
inksweatandtears.co.uk
Jena Woodhouse's 'The Kelpie' uses myth and memory to make sense of present-day suffering and illness.

Read it here: inksweatandtears.co.uk/jena-woodhou...

#ChronicIllness #Poetry #InkSweatandTears
Photograph of a field of heather at sunset, interrupted by a large oak tree. Text overlayed on photo reads: the kelpie, known generically as pain, a predator immune to time. Text in top left corner reads: The Kelpie. Text in Bottom right reads: Jena Woodhouse (c)
November 27, 2025 at 10:15 AM
inksweatandtears.co.uk
Kate Bailey's 'Us and Them' satirises a contemporary hostility to our neighbours.

Read it here: inksweatandtears.co.uk/kate-bailey/

#Poetry #InkSweatandTears #FeaturedPoem
Image of a wire fence with a hole in it. Us and Them who break in and sit on the grass Kate Bailey copyright
November 26, 2025 at 11:30 AM
inksweatandtears.co.uk
Ibrar Sami's 'Return' explores the theme of resurgence in both its destructive and constructive iterations.

Read it here: inksweatandtears.co.uk/ibrar-sami

#InkSweatandTears #Poetry #FeaturedPoem
Photograph of warm yellow sunlight filtered through mist in the mountains. Text overlayed on photograph reads: inside the chest of the proletariat the collapsing mist of darkness. Text in top left corner reads: Return. Text in bottom left corner reads: Ibrar Sami (c)
November 25, 2025 at 10:00 AM