David Morley
@profdavidmorley.bsky.social
Professor at Warwick Uni, Poet at Carcanet, Ted Hughes Award for The Invisible Gift, PBS Choice for FURY, Forward Prize finalist, Writer of The Cambridge Introduction to Creative Writing, Fellow Royal Society of Literature,Thought Fox.
Pinned
David Morley
@profdavidmorley.bsky.social
· Nov 14
'Beethoven's Yellowhammer' by David Morley | Original poem | The TLS
“dzi-dzi-dzi-dzi” – call of a Yellowhammer Some birds sing the notes of their names like the Hoopoe and Tinkling Cisticola; or clamour and chatter like the Kittiwake or Chachalaca. Some ask you to tak...
www.the-tls.co.uk
Releasing the flock into blue sky after the cage closed around Twitter. Let's begin with Beethoven's Yellowhammer.
www.the-tls.co.uk/literature/o...
www.the-tls.co.uk/literature/o...
Let the mind take its photograph
Of the bright scene, something to wear
Against the heart in the long cold.
from 'A Day in Autumn' by R.S. Thomas
Of the bright scene, something to wear
Against the heart in the long cold.
from 'A Day in Autumn' by R.S. Thomas
November 11, 2025 at 3:40 PM
Let the mind take its photograph
Of the bright scene, something to wear
Against the heart in the long cold.
from 'A Day in Autumn' by R.S. Thomas
Of the bright scene, something to wear
Against the heart in the long cold.
from 'A Day in Autumn' by R.S. Thomas
Reposted by David Morley
Brilliant to hear our poets @profdavidmorley.bsky.social and Sinéad Morrissey on BBC Radio 4's The Verb on Sunday, discussing some of their recent Carcanet work.
To listen to the recording:🎧⬇️
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
To listen to the recording:🎧⬇️
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
BBC Radio 4 - The Verb, Poetry by Tony Harrison, US Poet Laureate Arthur Sze, Sinéad Morrissey, David Morley, and Daniel Sluman
Ian McMillan's guests are Sinéad Morrissey, David Morley, Arthur Sze and Daniel Sluman.
www.bbc.co.uk
October 20, 2025 at 10:47 AM
Brilliant to hear our poets @profdavidmorley.bsky.social and Sinéad Morrissey on BBC Radio 4's The Verb on Sunday, discussing some of their recent Carcanet work.
To listen to the recording:🎧⬇️
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
To listen to the recording:🎧⬇️
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
Reposted by David Morley
Tune in today at 5.10pm to hear Carcanet poets @profdavidmorley.bsky.social and Sinéad Morrissey on BBC Radio 4's 'The Verb' where they will be discussing some of their recent work.
Listen here:🎧⬇️
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
Listen here:🎧⬇️
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
BBC Radio 4 - The Verb, Poetry by Tony Harrison, US Poet Laureate Arthur Sze, Sinéad Morrissey, David Morley, and Daniel Sluman
Ian McMillan's guests are Sinéad Morrissey, David Morley, Arthur Sze and Daniel Sluman.
www.bbc.co.uk
October 19, 2025 at 1:30 PM
Tune in today at 5.10pm to hear Carcanet poets @profdavidmorley.bsky.social and Sinéad Morrissey on BBC Radio 4's 'The Verb' where they will be discussing some of their recent work.
Listen here:🎧⬇️
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
Listen here:🎧⬇️
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
The jay's larder's ajar.
October 15, 2025 at 1:34 PM
The jay's larder's ajar.
Crab-apples spilled from the back of the lorry of autumn.
October 15, 2025 at 1:24 PM
Crab-apples spilled from the back of the lorry of autumn.
A Frostian moment in a Warwickshire forest.
October 15, 2025 at 1:19 PM
A Frostian moment in a Warwickshire forest.
Today is Ada Lovelace Day, a celebration of women in science, technology, engineering and maths. I’m proud to share my poem 'Ada Lovelace' and a sonnet to Caroline Herschel, published in the London Review of Books.
www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...
www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...
David Morley · From ‘Seven Women Scientists’
www.lrb.co.uk
October 14, 2025 at 12:15 PM
Today is Ada Lovelace Day, a celebration of women in science, technology, engineering and maths. I’m proud to share my poem 'Ada Lovelace' and a sonnet to Caroline Herschel, published in the London Review of Books.
www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...
www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...
Happy World Bird Migration Day
RINGING SWALLOWS
Swallows clip the lake for a sip of water,
or kerfuffle their feathers as they dip for a bathe.
They stipple ellipses across the surface like a skimming stone.
None skitter the water except by glitch or error
nor overwinter under its ice-barred door.
RINGING SWALLOWS
Swallows clip the lake for a sip of water,
or kerfuffle their feathers as they dip for a bathe.
They stipple ellipses across the surface like a skimming stone.
None skitter the water except by glitch or error
nor overwinter under its ice-barred door.
October 11, 2025 at 5:42 PM
Happy World Bird Migration Day
RINGING SWALLOWS
Swallows clip the lake for a sip of water,
or kerfuffle their feathers as they dip for a bathe.
They stipple ellipses across the surface like a skimming stone.
None skitter the water except by glitch or error
nor overwinter under its ice-barred door.
RINGING SWALLOWS
Swallows clip the lake for a sip of water,
or kerfuffle their feathers as they dip for a bathe.
They stipple ellipses across the surface like a skimming stone.
None skitter the water except by glitch or error
nor overwinter under its ice-barred door.
🎙️ The Verb, BBC Radio 4 19 Oct, 17:10
David Morley & Sinéad Morrissey join Ian McMillan to chat birdsong, RS Thomas, Tony Harrison, stammering, and a gobful of pebbles. Featuring Daniel Sluman (Versus Versus) & Arthur Sze, new U.S. Poet Laureate.
🔗 bbc.co.uk/programmes/m002l236
#TheVerb #Carcanet
David Morley & Sinéad Morrissey join Ian McMillan to chat birdsong, RS Thomas, Tony Harrison, stammering, and a gobful of pebbles. Featuring Daniel Sluman (Versus Versus) & Arthur Sze, new U.S. Poet Laureate.
🔗 bbc.co.uk/programmes/m002l236
#TheVerb #Carcanet
BBC Radio 4 - The Verb, 19/10/2025
Ian McMillan's guests include Sinéad Morrissey and David Morley.
bbc.co.uk
October 8, 2025 at 10:22 AM
🎙️ The Verb, BBC Radio 4 19 Oct, 17:10
David Morley & Sinéad Morrissey join Ian McMillan to chat birdsong, RS Thomas, Tony Harrison, stammering, and a gobful of pebbles. Featuring Daniel Sluman (Versus Versus) & Arthur Sze, new U.S. Poet Laureate.
🔗 bbc.co.uk/programmes/m002l236
#TheVerb #Carcanet
David Morley & Sinéad Morrissey join Ian McMillan to chat birdsong, RS Thomas, Tony Harrison, stammering, and a gobful of pebbles. Featuring Daniel Sluman (Versus Versus) & Arthur Sze, new U.S. Poet Laureate.
🔗 bbc.co.uk/programmes/m002l236
#TheVerb #Carcanet
Bumbarrel, Hedge Mumruffin, Poke Pudding,
Huggen-Muffin, Juffit, Jack-in-a-Bottle,
Feather Poke, Hedge Jug, Prinpriddle,
Ragamuffin, Billy-featherpoke, Puddneypoke,
Bellringer, Nimble Tailor, French Pie,
Long Pod, Bush Oven, and Miller’s Thumb.
I tucked them in this box before they woke.
Huggen-Muffin, Juffit, Jack-in-a-Bottle,
Feather Poke, Hedge Jug, Prinpriddle,
Ragamuffin, Billy-featherpoke, Puddneypoke,
Bellringer, Nimble Tailor, French Pie,
Long Pod, Bush Oven, and Miller’s Thumb.
I tucked them in this box before they woke.
We're delighted to see so many of our poets featured in the 2026 Forward Book of Poetry!💐
Included from Carcanet are: Catherine-Esther Cowie, @profdavidmorley.bsky.social, Fawzia Muradali Kane and Rebecca Watts.
Congratulations to all four of our poets, and all the other poets included!
Included from Carcanet are: Catherine-Esther Cowie, @profdavidmorley.bsky.social, Fawzia Muradali Kane and Rebecca Watts.
Congratulations to all four of our poets, and all the other poets included!
October 3, 2025 at 6:22 PM
Bumbarrel, Hedge Mumruffin, Poke Pudding,
Huggen-Muffin, Juffit, Jack-in-a-Bottle,
Feather Poke, Hedge Jug, Prinpriddle,
Ragamuffin, Billy-featherpoke, Puddneypoke,
Bellringer, Nimble Tailor, French Pie,
Long Pod, Bush Oven, and Miller’s Thumb.
I tucked them in this box before they woke.
Huggen-Muffin, Juffit, Jack-in-a-Bottle,
Feather Poke, Hedge Jug, Prinpriddle,
Ragamuffin, Billy-featherpoke, Puddneypoke,
Bellringer, Nimble Tailor, French Pie,
Long Pod, Bush Oven, and Miller’s Thumb.
I tucked them in this box before they woke.
Wrapping up BBC Radio 4's The Verb with Sinead Morrissey and Ian McMillan. We stole a 5Live Studio. Happy National Poetry Day.
October 2, 2025 at 4:52 PM
Wrapping up BBC Radio 4's The Verb with Sinead Morrissey and Ian McMillan. We stole a 5Live Studio. Happy National Poetry Day.
Off to BBC Media City to record The Verb with Ian McMillan, Sinead Morrissey and Fiona Benson. Happy National Poetry Day!
October 2, 2025 at 8:22 AM
Off to BBC Media City to record The Verb with Ian McMillan, Sinead Morrissey and Fiona Benson. Happy National Poetry Day!
Then it's the kumquat fruit expresses best
how days have darkness round them like a rind,
life has a skin of death that keeps its zest.
'A Kumquat for John Keats'
Tony Harrison R.I.P.
how days have darkness round them like a rind,
life has a skin of death that keeps its zest.
'A Kumquat for John Keats'
Tony Harrison R.I.P.
September 28, 2025 at 6:04 PM
Then it's the kumquat fruit expresses best
how days have darkness round them like a rind,
life has a skin of death that keeps its zest.
'A Kumquat for John Keats'
Tony Harrison R.I.P.
how days have darkness round them like a rind,
life has a skin of death that keeps its zest.
'A Kumquat for John Keats'
Tony Harrison R.I.P.
Mr Cogito's imagination
has the motion of a pendulum
it crosses with precision
from suffering to suffering
there is no place in it
for the artificial fires of poetry
he would like to remain faithful
to uncertain clarity
Zbigniew Herbert
has the motion of a pendulum
it crosses with precision
from suffering to suffering
there is no place in it
for the artificial fires of poetry
he would like to remain faithful
to uncertain clarity
Zbigniew Herbert
September 12, 2025 at 11:51 PM
Mr Cogito's imagination
has the motion of a pendulum
it crosses with precision
from suffering to suffering
there is no place in it
for the artificial fires of poetry
he would like to remain faithful
to uncertain clarity
Zbigniew Herbert
has the motion of a pendulum
it crosses with precision
from suffering to suffering
there is no place in it
for the artificial fires of poetry
he would like to remain faithful
to uncertain clarity
Zbigniew Herbert
Tonight, with foxes! wordsworth.org.uk/blog/events/...
wordsworth.org.uk
September 10, 2025 at 4:53 PM
Tonight, with foxes! wordsworth.org.uk/blog/events/...
Reposted by David Morley
This Wednesday at 7.30pm, join David Morley online where he will be reading and discussing his recent publication 'Passion', at an event organised by Wordsworth Grasmere. @profdavidmorley.bsky.social
More information here:⬇️
www.carcanet.co.uk/events/passi...
More information here:⬇️
www.carcanet.co.uk/events/passi...
Passion by David Morley: Wordsworth Grasmere Online Event - Carcanet Press
Join David Morley at an online event organised by Wordsworth Grasmere. On Wednesday 10th September, David will read from his latest collection Passion
www.carcanet.co.uk
September 8, 2025 at 3:30 PM
This Wednesday at 7.30pm, join David Morley online where he will be reading and discussing his recent publication 'Passion', at an event organised by Wordsworth Grasmere. @profdavidmorley.bsky.social
More information here:⬇️
www.carcanet.co.uk/events/passi...
More information here:⬇️
www.carcanet.co.uk/events/passi...
‘Speech thaws into life’ – read Rebecca Tamás on how Passion celebrates Romany language, resilience, and our intimacy with the natural world www.theguardian.com/books/2025/a...
The best recent poetry – review roundup
Passion by David Morley; Versus Versus edited by Rachael Boast; So What by Frederick Seidel; In the Hollow of the Wave by Nina Mingya Powles; Transfigurations by Jay Wright
www.theguardian.com
September 2, 2025 at 2:28 PM
‘Speech thaws into life’ – read Rebecca Tamás on how Passion celebrates Romany language, resilience, and our intimacy with the natural world www.theguardian.com/books/2025/a...
Reposted by David Morley
Join David Morley online on Wednesday 10th September at 7.30pm where he will be reading and discussing his recent publication 'Passion', at an event organised by Wordsworth Grasmere. @profdavidmorley.bsky.social
More information here:⬇️
www.carcanet.co.uk/events/passi...
More information here:⬇️
www.carcanet.co.uk/events/passi...
Passion by David Morley: Wordsworth Grasmere Online Event - Carcanet Press
Join David Morley at an online event organised by Wordsworth Grasmere. On Wednesday 10th September, David will read from his latest collection Passion
www.carcanet.co.uk
September 2, 2025 at 12:30 PM
Join David Morley online on Wednesday 10th September at 7.30pm where he will be reading and discussing his recent publication 'Passion', at an event organised by Wordsworth Grasmere. @profdavidmorley.bsky.social
More information here:⬇️
www.carcanet.co.uk/events/passi...
More information here:⬇️
www.carcanet.co.uk/events/passi...
Sometimes I need to remind myself.
August 28, 2025 at 6:33 PM
Sometimes I need to remind myself.
Reposted by David Morley
'When I died, I woke
to a skylark song'...
'Passion' is alive with birds (except the shearwater,its 'stomach full of plastic'). Its poems note
'The crowns of trees do not touch each other'.
'I like to think they do this out of love'.
@profdavidmorley.bsky.social , 'Passion', @carcanet.bsky.social
to a skylark song'...
'Passion' is alive with birds (except the shearwater,its 'stomach full of plastic'). Its poems note
'The crowns of trees do not touch each other'.
'I like to think they do this out of love'.
@profdavidmorley.bsky.social , 'Passion', @carcanet.bsky.social
August 26, 2025 at 1:25 PM
'When I died, I woke
to a skylark song'...
'Passion' is alive with birds (except the shearwater,its 'stomach full of plastic'). Its poems note
'The crowns of trees do not touch each other'.
'I like to think they do this out of love'.
@profdavidmorley.bsky.social , 'Passion', @carcanet.bsky.social
to a skylark song'...
'Passion' is alive with birds (except the shearwater,its 'stomach full of plastic'). Its poems note
'The crowns of trees do not touch each other'.
'I like to think they do this out of love'.
@profdavidmorley.bsky.social , 'Passion', @carcanet.bsky.social
A night of poetry in flight—Romani, science, birdsong, and your own bird-poems at the open mic online at Wordsworth Grasmere. wordsworth.org.uk/blog/events/... @carcanet.bsky.social
'Go to the poets, they will speak to thee': David Morley - Wordsworth Grasmere
Curated and hosted by poet Kim Moore, our online contemporary poetry reading series continues throughout 2025. We will be listening...
wordsworth.org.uk
August 20, 2025 at 5:03 PM
A night of poetry in flight—Romani, science, birdsong, and your own bird-poems at the open mic online at Wordsworth Grasmere. wordsworth.org.uk/blog/events/... @carcanet.bsky.social
Reposted by David Morley
August 19, 2025 at 1:51 PM
It is a privilege to see Passion acknowledged by @johnclegg37.bsky.social in the @londonreviewbookshop.co.uk this week. His choice of ‘The Shyness of the Crown’ as poem of the year (so far!) is genuinely appreciated. Thank you, John and @lrb.co.uk! www.londonreviewbookshop.co.uk/booklists/jo...
July 10, 2025 at 5:00 PM
It is a privilege to see Passion acknowledged by @johnclegg37.bsky.social in the @londonreviewbookshop.co.uk this week. His choice of ‘The Shyness of the Crown’ as poem of the year (so far!) is genuinely appreciated. Thank you, John and @lrb.co.uk! www.londonreviewbookshop.co.uk/booklists/jo...
A short bird-interrupted film about why passion has a place in poetry.
youtu.be/5Y2BRnwNiXA
youtu.be/5Y2BRnwNiXA
Meet the Author: David Morley Discusses Passion
YouTube video by Carcanet Press
youtu.be
June 19, 2025 at 3:40 PM
A short bird-interrupted film about why passion has a place in poetry.
youtu.be/5Y2BRnwNiXA
youtu.be/5Y2BRnwNiXA