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Reposted by David Birch

Paul Brookes

@thewombwellrainbow.bsky.social

For #poemsabout #NoFuture @thebrokenspine.co.uk @alanparrywriter.co.uk. This is one of my very first sonnets. It's from my collection "Wolf Eye," Red Ceilings Press:

A Tagged Bark

Shall I compare tall skyscrapers to trees,
Pavement to a woodland walk,
Crowns of leaves to wafted washing on the line,
Bird calls to mobile tones and talk
Skitter of squirrels to patter of business shoeshine
Gusted branches to snapped windscreen wipers,
Fall of blossom to a passing girls intoxicating air,
Gust itself to air displaced by cars and lorries,
Tummelling streams to rush of sewers underground,
Hearts carved in bark to graffiti tags on brick walls,
Streets are forests in disguise, veins in fallen leaves
An urban map, a portable satnav.
Thus, romanticise an urban sprawl,
a polluted world before its fall.

November 28, 2025 at 8:30 AM

Reposted by David Birch

Bernard Pearson

@bernp.bsky.social

As always very grateful to @thebrokenspine.co.uk and @alanparrywriter.co.uk for hosting #PoemsAbout #NoFuture here's one from me

Nothing will come of Nothing

The ghost priest that had been ordered by Prospero
Arrived as the sun collapsed and the girl who sang
Like a honey bell, levered herself into some kind of dress
As a silver snake sneaking back into it’s still warm skin.
Just as something went bump in the day
As it did every day, like a school bell
Telling you that particular lesson was over
and someone would be along later
to collect the bodies and your homework.
Sleep now, for when you awaken
The dreams will come again,
seeping like magma
Through the cracks and seams in your façade,
Like tunes from Someone else’s
Half erased, musical score.

© Bernard Pearson

November 28, 2025 at 8:53 AM

Reposted by David Birch

roger waldron

@throwawayreg.bsky.social

Morning Friday 🙋‍♂️
here’s my little “throwaway”
poem for #PoemsAbout #NoFuture
and thank to @alanparrywriter.co.uk
& @thebrokenspine.co.uk
#poetry #poems
#WritingCommunity
here’s hoping everyone everywhere
has lovely weekend 🚶🏼‍♂️‍➡️🚶🏻‍♀️

November 28, 2025 at 8:54 AM

Reposted by David Birch

Peter Devonald

@pdevonald.bsky.social

Delighted our wonderful book - Social Possibilities: Poetic Voices of Hope - is Finalist in the American Writing Awards

Huge thanks to the editors. I have three poems in this great collection: A Beginning, Sanctified, A Liar Who Always Speaks The Truth

#poetry

www.amazon.co.uk/Social-Possi...

November 28, 2025 at 9:13 AM

Reposted by David Birch

Geoffrey Aitken

@8cakey.bsky.social

#PoemsAbout #NoFuture, my thanks always to
@alanparrywriter.co.uk @thebrokenspine.co.uk
and participating poets

softly

no future.

denying
tomorrow,
won’t happen.

our children
have plans.

imagine,
no future
without children.
unviable 💓

November 28, 2025 at 9:21 AM

David Birch

@davidbirch.bsky.social

See the new Tipton Times for the latest news and upcoming events in our beautiful #EastDevon village

Tipton Times @tiptontimes.bsky.social · 1d

Our December/January edition is now available online at tiptontimes.org.uk and will be delivered to local households over the next few days. If you're not local to Tipton you can download it from our website or have it emailed to you on request from [email protected]

November 27, 2025 at 10:10 AM

Reposted by David Birch

Paul Connolly

@thepaulconnolly.bsky.social

This starter pack for the #poetrycommunity of #PoetsonBlueSky associated with #Prompts includes @victoriaspires.bsky.social @thewombwellrainbow.bsky.social @rfsmith.bsky.social @dragonslayerma.bsky.social @hool415.bsky.social @derickijohnson.bsky.social & many more. Please follow & repost if you can

November 25, 2025 at 8:56 AM

Reposted by David Birch

Paul Connolly

@thepaulconnolly.bsky.social

A starter pack of #Poets seeking a publisher for their collections. @bethbpoet.bsky.social @pdevonald.bsky.social @benedictan.bsky.social @owlnsquirrels1111.bsky.social and many more. Please follow and repost if you can #poetsonbluesky #poetrycommunity

November 25, 2025 at 8:56 AM

Reposted by David Birch

Marion Ashton

@marionashton.bsky.social

Here's an offering for #PromptCombo #OnRoofs for Paul @thewombwellrainbow.bsky.social Look forward to reading the other poems.

November 24, 2025 at 4:59 PM

Reposted by David Birch

Andy Williamson

@andywilliamson.com

Deadlines, deadlines... urgh! Not much time this morning but can't resist this little poem (based on last week's snow!) for #promptcombo #OnRoofs! Thanks @thewombwellrainbow.bsky.social for the lovely prompt!

Snowstorm

outside all is white
and light
and glistening
thunder overhead
as the snow breaks free
taking the gutters
with it

November 24, 2025 at 11:23 AM

Reposted by David Birch

DrNaturegirl

@drnaturegirl.debbiemross.co.uk

I suppose it might have helped had I used the right hashtag #onroofs instead of the one I chose! 🙄

DrNaturegirl @drnaturegirl.debbiemross.co.uk · 4d

Hello #promptcombo crew Thanks Paul @thewombwellrainbow.bsky.social for this week’s #onrooftops theme. I’m just about to go out, but thought I’d post my wee offering first. Photo by me, Jerusalem rooftops looking towards the Dome of the Rock.

#poetry #poem

$A poem by Debbie Ross entitled, Domes Stars and Steeples text as follows From up here the churches, mosques and synagogues glint in sunlight, perfectly co-existing. Rooftop views can be deceptive. On the ground invisible barriers fracture communities. Nationalism, religion and fear keep people apart. Down in the narrow tangle of alleys and streets we found communities that mixed. A glimmer of hope in a desert of grief.$ A view across mostly flat rooftops - with TV aerials and shade shelters - towards the Dome of the Rock

A view across mostly flat rooftops - with TV aerials and shade shelters - towards the Dome of the Rock

November 25, 2025 at 7:41 AM

Reposted by David Birch

Jude

@jude-brucemoll.bsky.social

Hi Paul @thewombwellrainbow.bsky.social
#onroofs
Just about to start hosting my #wildlifegardening group on pests! Including these lovelies (one I've previously shared)
Will get back to it later. Have a good week.

November 24, 2025 at 1:53 PM

Reposted by David Birch

Helen Laycock

@helenlaycock.bsky.social

Thanks, Paul, for the #promptcombo #OnRoofs
@thewombwellrainbow.bsky.social

Here's my contribution.

#poetry #poetsofbluesky #blueskypoets #skypoets #winter

November 24, 2025 at 12:06 PM

Reposted by David Birch

Rob Galpin

@robgalpin.bsky.social

Just a short one for #PromptCombo #OnRoofs - loads on this week. Hope to catch up with others later. Thanks Paul @thewombwellrainbow.bsky.social
#poem #poetry

Church Roofs
“Your church roof keeps out water and prevents the deterioration of your building and its content.” – Church of England official website

Not, note,
to protect
the heads
and health
of the prayerful.

Lead, copper,
split slate
and nails—

all earthly
protections
arrayed

against
the literal,
heavenly water.

November 24, 2025 at 6:36 PM

Reposted by David Birch

Sue Ibrahim

@sueimnw.bsky.social

For #PromptCombo #OnRoofs with thanks to wonderful host, Paul, @thewombwellrainbow.bsky.social

November 24, 2025 at 10:26 AM

Reposted by David Birch

Francis H Powell writer and poet

@fhpowellwriter.bsky.social

#promptcombo #OnRoofs @thewombwellrainbow.bsky.social

November 24, 2025 at 9:42 AM

Reposted by David Birch

Julian (Hool)

@hool415.bsky.social

Hullo @thewombwellrainbow.bsky.social and to #promptcombo #onroofs
Love the theme, as great as Fidel’s from last week!

Ben Nevis

First seen from a petrol forecourt
as perching on top
the next block’s trading estate:
it’s not a good look,
this mountain’s all slouch,
no poised, sky-scratching nib of summit,
but a fist of dull clenched crayons,
though I can just pick out
its small menagerie of pepper-corn birds.

There should be more aloof arrogance here
for I stand at the foot of the roof of the land,
yet this peak is drawn and redrawn
behind net-curtain clouds:
an unexpected shyness
tentatively
peeping
back and forth.

November 24, 2025 at 8:24 AM

Reposted by David Birch

Jan Peters - Solivagant Wisdom

@janpsolivagant.bsky.social

🙏 @thewombwellrainbow.bsky.social #PromptCombo
Out of season & they nest under #eaves, rather than #OnRoofs, but fits, I guess. 😁

#poem: ©Jan Peters/Solivagant Wisdom, 2025

#swifts #swallows #NaturePoem #BirdPoem #poetrycommunity #bskypoetry

Swifts, Swallows

Swifts, swallows: ghostly
Doubles meeting at Whitsun -
Sky god’s full-throated

Season echoing the
Abyss. Forebear tongues and
Sagas revelled in

Whirlpools and swallies,
Devoured by the sweeping,
Churning presences

Glimpsed in sky and sea.

Swifts, swallows: ghostly doubles,
Aerial nomads,

Custodians of
Ancient songlines etched with a
Thumbtack of neurons.

©Jan Peters/Solivagant Wisdom, 2025

November 24, 2025 at 8:56 AM

Reposted by David Birch

Jen Thorne

@jenthorne.bsky.social

I thought I'd try a #Dansa as suggested by @daveashleypoet.bsky.social for this week's
#promptcombo from
@thewombwellrainbow.bsky.social

#OnRoofs

This is an (almost) factual account of some of the conversations I overheard between the two builders who were re-roofing of my house!

You're more likely to fall off a horse than a roof

Yeah mate, I suppose you're right.
Clarkson said it on his tv show.
He's a national treasure, dontcha know.
They should make that bloke a bloody knight.
Yeah mate, I suppose you're right.

They are going to cut down all the trees
And plant flowers instead to get more bees.
I saw it on the news last night.
Yeah mate, I suppose you're right.

Did you see Andy scrapping in the pub with Jack?
I had to keep quiet cuz of my bad back.
If it wasn't for that, I'd've got in on that fight.
Yeah mate, I suppose you're right.

You ought to go have a look on Yahoo
Loads of good stuff on there, and they've got the news too.
I reckon it's a top-notch website.
Yeah mate, I suppose you're right.

I think being a roofer keeps you sane.
The altitude lets more stuff get in your brain.
I think much better when I'm working at height.
Yeah mate, I suppose you're right.

You'm a good listener, I like chatting to you.
Our Brenda stopped listening in 2002.
She says all I do is talk utter shite.
Yeah mate, I suppose she's right.

November 24, 2025 at 9:57 PM

Reposted by David Birch

Dave Ashley

@daveashleypoet.bsky.social

#promptcombo #OnRoofs #poem #madrigal #winter
@thewombwellrainbow.bsky.social

November 24, 2025 at 10:32 PM

David Birch

@davidbirch.bsky.social

Many thanks, Paul @thewombwellrainbow.bsky.social
for your brilliant prompt #OnRoofs, which brought to mind a recent encounter with a former student. Looking forward to reading other responses from #BlueSkyPoets during the course of the week #PromptCombo

November 25, 2025 at 7:20 AM

Reposted by David Birch

Ben Newmark

@bennewmark.bsky.social

#FridayFive is the feeling a sort of maudlin pre Christmas mood.
1. Goodbye England. Laura Marling.
2. A Long December. Counting Crows
3. Winter Valley Song. Fountain of Wayne.
4. Flume. Bon Iver.
5. Pocahontas. Neil Young.

November 21, 2025 at 4:34 PM

Reposted by David Birch

Emily Tee

@emteepoetry.bsky.social

Luckily for me I had written a wee poem about the North Star a short time ago. I just had to find it again! Written to a picture prompt, I hope it works without it too.

Sharing for #PromptCombo #NorthStar

@dragonslayerma.bsky.social