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Rick Dove

@rickdove.bsky.social

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Rick Dove @rickdove.bsky.social · Jan 19

Time for another introductory post, I think (Welcome, new defectors).

I am a progressive poet and activist based in London, with publications and performances going back nearly ten years.

A selection of which can be found via the link in my bio.

Art is work, and The Great Work is for us all.

A selection of book spines (collections and anthologies that contain writing by Rick Dove). Visible spines (from Top to Bottom):

Tales From The Other Box - Rick Dove
Supervillain Origin Story - Rick Dove
Joy//US: Poems of Queer Joy - Arachne Press
Devastation Sons - Broken Sleep Books
Where We Find Ourselves - Arachne Press
Hair Raising Anthology - Nine Pens
Spaces of Significance - Broken Sleep Books/Off The Chest
Masculinity: An Anthology of Modern Voices - Broken Sleep Books
London Spoken Word Anthology - Gug Press
The Girl From Niue - Black in White

A sepia portrait of Ursula K Le Guin with an extract from an acceptance speech…

"We live in capitalism. Its power seems inescapable. So did the divine right of kings. Any human power can be resisted and changed by human beings. Resistance and change often begin in art, and very often in our art, the art of words."
- URSULA K. LE GUIN
1929-2018

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Squid Horse Comics (he/him) @molluscdimension.bsky.social · 17d

Disabled voices 🎤🌶️ Writer panel: @lucywebster.bsky.social @jamierhale.bsky.social chaired by @lalahsimone.bsky.social @jpseabright.bsky.social & Eff-able Poets: @marbledmayhem.bsky.social @rickdove.bsky.social Chloe Clarke & Claire Sosienski Smith at @queercircle.bsky.social #queer #disabled #poetry

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derek guy @dieworkwear.bsky.social · Aug 6

love this new york times clip. they recently did a story about how sesame street's set has changed over the years, along with our urban politics.

IG nytimes

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JP Seabright @jpseabright.bsky.social · May 9

I love this sitting down ‘action shot’ taken by Kirsty Catherell at the wonderful Enrich Festival two weeks ago.

A fantastic event, and a treat to share the stage with @agparker.bsky.social & @rickdove.bsky.social for a cheeky preview of the queer crip erotic poetry of @eff-able.bsky.social 💜

A white-skinned middle-aged female-presenting person wearing blue jeans, pink tshirt and black shirt sitting on a red throne talking into a microphone

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Rick Dove @rickdove.bsky.social · Apr 27

Katy Perry like a firework
on the rolling news
my mind going berserk
with “Whitey on the Moon”

Rick Dove @rickdove.bsky.social · Apr 27

This was such a fun day, including an impromptu panel Q&A which proved to me once again the vital role that representation plays. Will say more at some point later, but this whole day was so affirming. Thank you, JP, George, and Enrich.

eff-able anthology @eff-able.bsky.social · Apr 27

Your effable editors had a fabulous time at the Enrich Festival yesterday previewing our effable poems with Featured Poet @rickdove.bsky.social
Hot stuff! 🔥🥵😈💜

Sign reading Effable Poetry 18+
Poems will contain references to sex, ableism, queerness, disability and will include some swear words

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Rick Dove @rickdove.bsky.social · Apr 23

Still smarting about the fact that my local library platformed a vocal and abusive TERF during their LBGT history month event.

This country, ugh.

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Photoonist @photoonist.bsky.social · Apr 22

Mike Godwin has declared an exception to Godwin's Law:
www.commondreams.org/news/godwins...

Creator of Godwin's Law Says It's OK—and Necessary—to Compare Trump to Hitler | Common Dreams

"Those of us who hope to preserve our democratic institutions need to underscore the resemblance before we enter the twilight of American democracy."

www.commondreams.org

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Rick Dove @rickdove.bsky.social · Apr 11

Bit over Meta as a whole but am going to try and cling on. As a last gasp, Hail Mary, I will be promoting my Instagram a bit more. Maybe see you over there?

www.instagram.com/rickdove

Welcome back to Instagram. Sign in to check out what your friends, family & interests have been capturing & sharing around the world.

www.instagram.com

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Frances Ryan @francesryan.bsky.social · Apr 9

I’m excited (and slightly nauseous) to say The Guardian is launching Who Wants Normal? into the world with two exclusive extracts from today.

This is the most personal thing I’ve ever written but is for anyone going through a tough time with their health. www.theguardian.com/world/2025/a...

‘I’m still sick. I’m still disabled. But I’m proud of my body’: Frances Ryan’s manifesto for disabled women

Women with disabilities are the biggest minority group in the world, but are still shut out of society. In an extract from her new book, the writer reveals how that is changing – and what more needs t...

www.theguardian.com

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Rick Dove @rickdove.bsky.social · Apr 2

While I don’t expect to post many poems during #NaPoWriMo, know that I am working, and I am feeling positive about what is coming so far.

The reason for not posting is purely practical (as posts count as publication for some, and while I love y’all, I wasted some good work that way years back).

Reposted by Rick Dove

Smooth Dunk @smoothdunk2.bsky.social · Apr 1

Edgy Internet Guy™ (2025)

4 panel comic

Panel 1:
Purple Guy and Red Guy. Red Guy is pointing to his phone saying: My jokes are racist as fuck and I don’t give a shittt. lmfao

Panel 2:
Red Guy: Hope you don’t find my edgy humour too offensive lol

Panel 3:
Purple Guy: I made a joke about a dead billionaire

Panel 4:
Red Guy, absolutely livid: I’m tellin

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Nikita Gill @nikitagill.bsky.social · Mar 22

A much needed reminder.

From poetryisnotaluxury on Instagram.

NO ONE WAY WORKS, it will take all of us shoving at the thing from all sides to bring it down.

Diane di Prima

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Farrukh @implausibleblog.bsky.social · Mar 19

Gareth Southgate, "Young men are suffering"

"They're feeling isolated"

"They're grappling with their masculinity and with their broader place in society"

"The culture we create today will shape the kind of men that we inherit tomorrow"

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Brian Bilston @brianbilston.bsky.social · Mar 21

Happy World Poetry Day to all who celebrate. If you’re interested in writing poetry yourself, I hope this poem will be of some use.

Ten Rules for Aspiring Poets

1. Poetry does not have to rhyme.
Well, at least not all the time always.

2. Metaphors can lend a poem power
(but mixing them isn’t good).
Should they start to fly in all directions,
nip them in the bud.

3. Focus and concentration
are important skills to hone.
Close the door. Turn off the wi-fi.
Don’t get distracted by your ph

4. Avoid clichés like the plague.

5. Don’t write stuff that’s a bit vague.

6. The use of unnecessarily long words
may result in reader alienation.
Curb your sesquipedalianism
to obviate any obfuscation.

7. Always proof-read you’re work.
Accuracy can be it’s own reward!
And remember that the penis
mightier than the sword.

8. Check haiku closely
for lines which have too few
or too many syllables.

9. Never ever follow rules.

Brian Bilston

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Rick Dove @rickdove.bsky.social · Mar 21

Sharing on #WorldPoetryDay, because why not (TBF the official ticket page just went live, so this is the first opportunity it's pure luck it's today... Anyway)

My next #poetry feature will be at the always warm and welcoming Everything Poetry 7th April. Tix:

www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/everything...

Everything Poetry Night

Join us for a night filled with all things poetry - from spoken word to open mic sessions, let's celebrate the beauty of words together!

www.eventbrite.co.uk

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Matt Abbott 🍉 @mattabbottpoet.com · Mar 21

It's World Poetry Day! Here's an article that I wrote for the UN to celebrate this year 🌍

Poetry’s increasing importance and relevance in 2025 - UN Today

By and for international civil servants, UN Today brings to staff, diplomats, and the wider international Geneva community an introspective analysis of what affects our life and work in Geneva and how...

untoday.org

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Tim Kiely @timkiely1.bsky.social · Mar 19

💚 proud of the way my party keeps growing - a compelling Green vision of a fairer, saner and more liveable world is badly needed right now. Will you help us make it happen?

join.greenparty.org.uk

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Rick Dove @rickdove.bsky.social · Mar 19

Random thought: what if this whole thing is about making Long Covid a condition you “could and should have been working with” so that LC claims don’t become the Infected Blood Scandal of the 2030s…

“Look at what they *Never* mention, if you want to see hidden intention…”

Rick Dove @rickdove.bsky.social · Mar 18

PIP is

Can you look after yourself?

Can you get around?

To make it fit for purpose for what’s proposed it now has to include:

Can you work in this environment?

Does your treatment cause inaccessibility?

Anything else means life limiting chronic illness and deleterious treatments are ignored.

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Rick Dove @rickdove.bsky.social · Mar 18

Dear @faisalislam.bsky.social

The “best medicine” is not “a job”

The best medicine is MEDICINE

That is all.

Yours,

A disabled and chronically ill viewer who used to respect you.

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Rick Dove @rickdove.bsky.social · Mar 17

In between playing Whack-a-Troll with ableists on the internet I was lucky enough, and honoured to be interviewed by a fellow poet about process for a Substack. I said words, they are here (Thank you, Elspeth) #Poetry #PoetsLife #ProTip

neurodivergentnotesonwriting.substack.com/p/i-think-it...