Matthew Stewart
@roguestrands.bsky.social
Weaving ways through poetry. Second full collection, ‘Whatever You Do, Just Don’t’, a Poetry Society Book of the Year 2023, available from HappenStance Press.
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Matthew Stewart
@roguestrands.bsky.social
· Dec 15
As parents, we're supposed to remember the first time we did stuff with our kids, but the last time is equally as significant, if not more.
This poem is from Whatever You Do, Just Don't (HappenStance Press, 2023), my second full collection...
This poem is from Whatever You Do, Just Don't (HappenStance Press, 2023), my second full collection...
Reposted by Matthew Stewart
This is a poem of loss, taken from Whatever You Do, Just Don't (HappenStance Press, 2023)...
February 5, 2025 at 5:57 PM
This is a poem of loss, taken from Whatever You Do, Just Don't (HappenStance Press, 2023)...
Reposted by Matthew Stewart
What's it like to return to your home town years after leaving?
This poem from Whatever You Do, Just Don't finds that nothing's changed. But then everything's changed too...
This poem from Whatever You Do, Just Don't finds that nothing's changed. But then everything's changed too...
November 2, 2025 at 11:13 AM
What's it like to return to your home town years after leaving?
This poem from Whatever You Do, Just Don't finds that nothing's changed. But then everything's changed too...
This poem from Whatever You Do, Just Don't finds that nothing's changed. But then everything's changed too...
Reposted by Matthew Stewart
As parents, we're supposed to remember the first time we did stuff with our kids, but the last time is equally as significant, if not more.
This poem is from Whatever You Do, Just Don't (HappenStance Press, 2023), my second full collection...
This poem is from Whatever You Do, Just Don't (HappenStance Press, 2023), my second full collection...
December 15, 2024 at 11:24 AM
As parents, we're supposed to remember the first time we did stuff with our kids, but the last time is equally as significant, if not more.
This poem is from Whatever You Do, Just Don't (HappenStance Press, 2023), my second full collection...
This poem is from Whatever You Do, Just Don't (HappenStance Press, 2023), my second full collection...
Reposted by Matthew Stewart
When work is so hectic that I have no time to think about poetry, at least I know from experience this is the moment my poetic subconscious goes into overdrive...
November 11, 2025 at 10:31 PM
When work is so hectic that I have no time to think about poetry, at least I know from experience this is the moment my poetic subconscious goes into overdrive...
Reposted by Matthew Stewart
With courage and decisiveness, there's an opportunity for the government to flip the BBC crisis on its head and turn it into an opportunity, bringing the country together via a siege mentality against external forces.
Problem is that courage and decisiveness aren't the government's main traits.
Problem is that courage and decisiveness aren't the government's main traits.
November 12, 2025 at 8:48 AM
With courage and decisiveness, there's an opportunity for the government to flip the BBC crisis on its head and turn it into an opportunity, bringing the country together via a siege mentality against external forces.
Problem is that courage and decisiveness aren't the government's main traits.
Problem is that courage and decisiveness aren't the government's main traits.
With courage and decisiveness, there's an opportunity for the government to flip the BBC crisis on its head and turn it into an opportunity, bringing the country together via a siege mentality against external forces.
Problem is that courage and decisiveness aren't the government's main traits.
Problem is that courage and decisiveness aren't the government's main traits.
November 12, 2025 at 8:48 AM
With courage and decisiveness, there's an opportunity for the government to flip the BBC crisis on its head and turn it into an opportunity, bringing the country together via a siege mentality against external forces.
Problem is that courage and decisiveness aren't the government's main traits.
Problem is that courage and decisiveness aren't the government's main traits.
Reposted by Matthew Stewart
Magma have announced they're becoming the latest print-based U.K. poetry journal to ask poets to pay to play, introducing submission fees from now on.
November 10, 2025 at 10:32 PM
Magma have announced they're becoming the latest print-based U.K. poetry journal to ask poets to pay to play, introducing submission fees from now on.
When work is so hectic that I have no time to think about poetry, at least I know from experience this is the moment my poetic subconscious goes into overdrive...
November 11, 2025 at 10:31 PM
When work is so hectic that I have no time to think about poetry, at least I know from experience this is the moment my poetic subconscious goes into overdrive...
Reposted by Matthew Stewart
The emotional significance of objects sends ripples through our lives, which is why this is often my final poem when I give a reading.
It's taken from my second full collection, Whatever You Don't, Just Don't. If you fancy a signed copy, drop me a DM and I'll sort one out for you...
It's taken from my second full collection, Whatever You Don't, Just Don't. If you fancy a signed copy, drop me a DM and I'll sort one out for you...
July 20, 2025 at 7:02 PM
The emotional significance of objects sends ripples through our lives, which is why this is often my final poem when I give a reading.
It's taken from my second full collection, Whatever You Don't, Just Don't. If you fancy a signed copy, drop me a DM and I'll sort one out for you...
It's taken from my second full collection, Whatever You Don't, Just Don't. If you fancy a signed copy, drop me a DM and I'll sort one out for you...
Reposted by Matthew Stewart
All poetry (and writing in general) must surely be classed as political, given that it poses innate and implicit questions about the role of the individual.
Once the poet recognises, embraces, and applies this concept, everything changes. Or at least it has done for me!
Once the poet recognises, embraces, and applies this concept, everything changes. Or at least it has done for me!
November 8, 2025 at 10:12 AM
All poetry (and writing in general) must surely be classed as political, given that it poses innate and implicit questions about the role of the individual.
Once the poet recognises, embraces, and applies this concept, everything changes. Or at least it has done for me!
Once the poet recognises, embraces, and applies this concept, everything changes. Or at least it has done for me!
Magma have announced they're becoming the latest print-based U.K. poetry journal to ask poets to pay to play, introducing submission fees from now on.
November 10, 2025 at 10:32 PM
Magma have announced they're becoming the latest print-based U.K. poetry journal to ask poets to pay to play, introducing submission fees from now on.
Reposted by Matthew Stewart
Following John Lucas' recent death, Shoestring Press are to close. Inevitable, but still a blow...
November 10, 2025 at 10:56 AM
Following John Lucas' recent death, Shoestring Press are to close. Inevitable, but still a blow...
Following John Lucas' recent death, Shoestring Press are to close. Inevitable, but still a blow...
November 10, 2025 at 10:56 AM
Following John Lucas' recent death, Shoestring Press are to close. Inevitable, but still a blow...
Reposted by Matthew Stewart
If you fancy a copy, just drop me a DM and I'll sort one out for you (U.K., mainland Europe, Canada and Oceania)...
November 2, 2025 at 1:43 PM
If you fancy a copy, just drop me a DM and I'll sort one out for you (U.K., mainland Europe, Canada and Oceania)...
Reposted by Matthew Stewart
Copy by copy, every hard-earned sale of a poetry collection is an act of trust, a contract between the poet and the reader that reaches far beyond cash. This is why I refuse to shy away from reminding you about Whatever You Do, Just Don't.
Drop me a DM and I'll sort out your signed copy for you...
Drop me a DM and I'll sort out your signed copy for you...
August 20, 2025 at 9:33 PM
Copy by copy, every hard-earned sale of a poetry collection is an act of trust, a contract between the poet and the reader that reaches far beyond cash. This is why I refuse to shy away from reminding you about Whatever You Do, Just Don't.
Drop me a DM and I'll sort out your signed copy for you...
Drop me a DM and I'll sort out your signed copy for you...
Reposted by Matthew Stewart
Poets, if they're lucky, end up having signature poems. But they don't choose them for themselves.
Instead, certain poems take on lives of their own once they're published. The Last Carry is one such example. When I first posted it here, I didn't have a clue it would reach so many people...
Instead, certain poems take on lives of their own once they're published. The Last Carry is one such example. When I first posted it here, I didn't have a clue it would reach so many people...
As parents, we're supposed to remember the first time we did stuff with our kids, but the last time is equally as significant, if not more.
This poem is from Whatever You Do, Just Don't (HappenStance Press, 2023), my second full collection...
This poem is from Whatever You Do, Just Don't (HappenStance Press, 2023), my second full collection...
September 27, 2025 at 9:42 PM
Poets, if they're lucky, end up having signature poems. But they don't choose them for themselves.
Instead, certain poems take on lives of their own once they're published. The Last Carry is one such example. When I first posted it here, I didn't have a clue it would reach so many people...
Instead, certain poems take on lives of their own once they're published. The Last Carry is one such example. When I first posted it here, I didn't have a clue it would reach so many people...
Reposted by Matthew Stewart
This poem from Whatever You Do, Just Don't is for anybody who's had to clear a house, who's found objects that must have had significance for someone no longer here to tell their story....
October 28, 2025 at 6:48 PM
This poem from Whatever You Do, Just Don't is for anybody who's had to clear a house, who's found objects that must have had significance for someone no longer here to tell their story....
Reposted by Matthew Stewart
I only want a single pair of hands to stretch my spine and open me at last...
September 21, 2025 at 11:07 AM
I only want a single pair of hands to stretch my spine and open me at last...
Reposted by Matthew Stewart
Morning! Sunny fall day here in London, which is always a November blessing. I’m finishing up two books. Outstanding poetry by @roguestrands.bsky.social, ‘Whatever you do, just don’t’. A a delightful Christmas comedy by @caimhmc.bsky.social, ‘Ring the Bells’.
November 9, 2025 at 10:01 AM
Morning! Sunny fall day here in London, which is always a November blessing. I’m finishing up two books. Outstanding poetry by @roguestrands.bsky.social, ‘Whatever you do, just don’t’. A a delightful Christmas comedy by @caimhmc.bsky.social, ‘Ring the Bells’.
All poetry (and writing in general) must surely be classed as political, given that it poses innate and implicit questions about the role of the individual.
Once the poet recognises, embraces, and applies this concept, everything changes. Or at least it has done for me!
Once the poet recognises, embraces, and applies this concept, everything changes. Or at least it has done for me!
November 8, 2025 at 10:12 AM
All poetry (and writing in general) must surely be classed as political, given that it poses innate and implicit questions about the role of the individual.
Once the poet recognises, embraces, and applies this concept, everything changes. Or at least it has done for me!
Once the poet recognises, embraces, and applies this concept, everything changes. Or at least it has done for me!
Reposted by Matthew Stewart
The launch of Whatever You Do, Just Don't. Two years ago today. A terrific night and a packed house...
November 7, 2025 at 4:33 PM
The launch of Whatever You Do, Just Don't. Two years ago today. A terrific night and a packed house...
The launch of Whatever You Do, Just Don't. Two years ago today. A terrific night and a packed house...
November 7, 2025 at 4:33 PM
The launch of Whatever You Do, Just Don't. Two years ago today. A terrific night and a packed house...
Reposted by Matthew Stewart
As someone who doesn’t often visit where I grew up, but always has feelings when I do, this poem strikes deep.
What's it like to return to your home town years after leaving?
This poem from Whatever You Do, Just Don't finds that nothing's changed. But then everything's changed too...
This poem from Whatever You Do, Just Don't finds that nothing's changed. But then everything's changed too...
November 6, 2025 at 9:59 PM
As someone who doesn’t often visit where I grew up, but always has feelings when I do, this poem strikes deep.
Reposted by Matthew Stewart
About a month ago, Alice Roberts (@profaliceroberts.bsky.social), the famous broadcaster, author and academic, shared my poem, ‘The Last Carry’, on Bluesky. It jumped from 650 to 850 likes in a day. Dozens of people followed me. Was any of this relevant or lasting? Was it just a momentary hit...?
Rogue Strands reflects on the power of celebrity to promote poetry and enable it to find a wider readership from beyond the bubble...
roguestrands.blogspot.com/2025/11/the-...
roguestrands.blogspot.com/2025/11/the-...
The Power of Celebrity
About a month ago, Alice Roberts, the famous broadcaster, author and academic, shared my poem, ‘Th e Last Carry ’ , on Bluesky. It jumped fr...
roguestrands.blogspot.com
November 4, 2025 at 11:01 AM
About a month ago, Alice Roberts (@profaliceroberts.bsky.social), the famous broadcaster, author and academic, shared my poem, ‘The Last Carry’, on Bluesky. It jumped from 650 to 850 likes in a day. Dozens of people followed me. Was any of this relevant or lasting? Was it just a momentary hit...?
Reposted by Matthew Stewart
Rogue Strands reflects on the power of celebrity to promote poetry and enable it to find a wider readership from beyond the bubble...
roguestrands.blogspot.com/2025/11/the-...
roguestrands.blogspot.com/2025/11/the-...
The Power of Celebrity
About a month ago, Alice Roberts, the famous broadcaster, author and academic, shared my poem, ‘Th e Last Carry ’ , on Bluesky. It jumped fr...
roguestrands.blogspot.com
November 4, 2025 at 10:58 AM
Rogue Strands reflects on the power of celebrity to promote poetry and enable it to find a wider readership from beyond the bubble...
roguestrands.blogspot.com/2025/11/the-...
roguestrands.blogspot.com/2025/11/the-...