Nostr notes by Brian Bilston

Today’s poem is called ‘Crow’s Day Off’. ...

2026-04-03T07:52:11Z

Today’s poem is called ‘Crow’s Day Off’.

Today’s poem is called ‘Late Twentieth-Century Techno-Funk ...

2026-04-02T08:20:00Z

Today’s poem is called ‘Late Twentieth-Century Techno-Funk Wake-Up Call’.

Today’s poem is called ‘How Hard It Is to Be the Moon’. ...

2026-04-01T08:29:35Z

Today’s poem is called ‘How Hard It Is to Be the Moon’.

Today’s poem is about trying to get around the UK by train. ...

2026-03-31T09:41:05Z

Today’s poem is about trying to get around the UK by train. It’s called ‘The Poet Now Standing at Platform 3A’.

https://brianbilston.com/2026/03/31/a-poem-about-my-experience-of-travelling-on-network-rail/

Today’s poem is called ‘Logomachy’. ...

2026-03-30T08:11:12Z

Today’s poem is called ‘Logomachy’.

Advance warning: from tomorrow, I'm going to start sharing a ...

2026-03-29T12:51:42Z

Advance warning: from tomorrow, I'm going to start sharing a poem each day again; so, if you were ever thinking about closing down your social media accounts, now might be a good time.

Dead chuffed to have taken delivery today of advance copies of ...

2026-03-24T14:03:40Z

Dead chuffed to have taken delivery today of advance copies of ‘How to Lay an Egg with a Horse Inside’, which comes out next month.

As ever, Picador have done a fabulous job in bringing my words to the printed page.

Incredibly, it’s my tenth book. I don’t quite know how that has happened.

Thanks to everyone for having indulged me for so long.

On World Poetry Day, here’s a reminder of the power of poetry ...

2026-03-21T08:36:31Z

On World Poetry Day, here’s a reminder of the power of poetry and its potential to change the world.

Here’s one of my more reflective poems, written while waiting ...

2026-03-19T09:47:39Z

Here’s one of my more reflective poems, written while waiting for a train at a provincial railway station.

Pulp poetry. ...

2026-02-27T09:43:18Z

Pulp poetry.

Having a clear out of first lines for poems I shall never write. ...

2026-02-25T09:59:48Z

Having a clear out of first lines for poems I shall never write. Please help yourself to any of these.

I, for one, do not want to have another argument like that again. ...

2026-02-23T09:31:47Z

I, for one, do not want to have another argument like that again.

To mark Valentine’s Day, here is what is believed to be the ...

2026-02-14T08:55:36Z

To mark Valentine’s Day, here is what is believed to be the world’s oldest surviving love poem, written 1.5 million years ago by one of our earliest ancestors, homo unrequitus.

Happy Radio Day to all those who celebrate. ...

2026-02-13T09:08:09Z

Happy Radio Day to all those who celebrate.

Here’s a poem called ‘Talking Down’. ...

2026-02-11T09:33:05Z

Here’s a poem called ‘Talking Down’.

H r ‘ a o m all d ‘O t of hara t r’. ...

2026-02-09T09:21:03Z

H r ‘ a o m all d ‘O t of hara t r’.

Here’s a poem called ‘An Attempt to Write an Abecedarian Poem ...

2026-02-06T09:05:20Z

Here’s a poem called ‘An Attempt to Write an Abecedarian Poem in Praise of the Dictionary’.

Here’s a poem called ‘Message to the 14-Year-Old Me’. ...

2026-02-05T11:12:20Z

Here’s a poem called ‘Message to the 14-Year-Old Me’.

Annual reminder of how many days there are in each month. ...

2026-01-23T10:14:15Z

Annual reminder of how many days there are in each month.

Here’s a short poem about the power of poetry to change the ...

2026-01-18T09:50:16Z

Here’s a short poem about the power of poetry to change the world.

Good luck to anyone starting the year with a new health regime. ...

2026-01-12T08:51:19Z

Good luck to anyone starting the year with a new health regime. Here’s how mine always goes.

Here’s a poem called ‘My Unbearable Politeness of Being’. ...

2026-01-10T09:17:00Z

Here’s a poem called ‘My Unbearable Politeness of Being’.

This, please. ...

2026-01-08T14:38:10Z

This, please.

This poem is dedicated to anyone heading back into work and ...

2026-01-05T08:19:07Z

This poem is dedicated to anyone heading back into work and having to endure dull conversation about what they got up to during the Christmas holidays.

I’ve just taken delivery of this rather smashing proof copy of ...

2026-01-02T15:50:33Z

I’ve just taken delivery of this rather smashing proof copy of my next book: How to Lay an Egg with a Horse Inside.

I’ll be heading off on a UK tour with the book this autumn. A full list of where I’ll be this year is here: https://brianbilston.com/events/

Hope to see some of you later in the year.

Poem with a subliminal message. ...

2026-01-01T10:38:04Z

Poem with a subliminal message.

This year was also the year in which I failed to write a new ...

2025-12-31T10:23:18Z

This year was also the year in which I failed to write a new end-of-the-year poem.

Hope you have a wonderful Christmas, no matter how you choose to ...

2025-12-24T14:51:03Z

Hope you have a wonderful Christmas, no matter how you choose to spend it.

Here’s a poem called ‘Christmas without you is’. ...

2025-12-23T10:29:18Z

Here’s a poem called ‘Christmas without you is’.

This is called ‘A Short Poem Concerning the Proximity of Chris ...

2025-12-21T08:19:29Z

This is called ‘A Short Poem Concerning the Proximity of Chris Rea to Home as He Drives Back for Christmas’.

I’m reading some Christmas poems tonight on The Adverb on BBC ...

2025-12-19T10:16:00Z

I’m reading some Christmas poems tonight on The Adverb on BBC Radio 4.

But don’t let that put you off, there’s a fabulous line-up of other guests: Jackie Kay, John Hegley and Sam Lee, expertly compered by Testament.

It’ll be on the BBC Sounds app once it’s aired.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m002nl2w

This is called ‘Twenty Modern-Day Proverbs’. ...

2025-12-19T09:08:10Z

This is called ‘Twenty Modern-Day Proverbs’.

These are a few of my favourite words … ...

2025-12-17T12:55:07Z

These are a few of my favourite words …

I got visited by three ghosts last night, who were all experts in ...

2025-12-14T08:17:55Z

I got visited by three ghosts last night, who were all experts in English grammar.

Here’s a poem called ‘An Invention of Collective Nouns’. ...

2025-12-13T08:06:07Z

Here’s a poem called ‘An Invention of Collective Nouns’.

Here’s a poem which has become trapped in a vicious circus (and ...

2025-12-10T10:47:05Z

Here’s a poem which has become trapped in a vicious circus (and other phrases of a similar elk).

Annual reminder to water your Christmas tree poems … ...

2025-12-07T10:51:36Z

Annual reminder to water your Christmas tree poems …

This poem is dedicated to anyone making a start on their advent ...

2025-12-01T08:04:53Z

This poem is dedicated to anyone making a start on their advent calendar today.

It’s World Philosophy Day today so here’s a poem in ...

2025-11-20T11:02:53Z

It’s World Philosophy Day today so here’s a poem in celebration of that.

I’m back on the road with The Catenary Wires this Wednesday so ...

2025-11-10T10:38:23Z

I’m back on the road with The Catenary Wires this Wednesday so I thought I’d write a short poem in celebration of each place we’ll be heading to this week: Worcester, Nottingham, Swansea and Bristol.

Tickets available here: https://brianbilston.com/events/

Given that it’s Halloween, here are some haiku horrorscopes. ...

2025-10-31T10:33:01Z

Given that it’s Halloween, here are some haiku horrorscopes.

Today’s Halloween poem is called ‘Come, take this hand in ...

2025-10-30T09:39:34Z

Today’s Halloween poem is called ‘Come, take this hand in yours’.

Today’s Halloween-based poem is called ‘Pumpkin’. ...

2025-10-29T10:01:52Z

Today’s Halloween-based poem is called ‘Pumpkin’.

With Halloween approaching, I thought I’d share a few ...

2025-10-28T09:38:15Z

With Halloween approaching, I thought I’d share a few spine-chilling poems.

Today’s is called ‘The Heebie Bee Gees’.

Happy World Pasta Day to all those who celebrate. ...

2025-10-25T08:28:37Z

Happy World Pasta Day to all those who celebrate.

Some news! I have a new book coming in April: ‘How to Lay an ...

2025-10-17T09:15:33Z

Some news! I have a new book coming in April: ‘How to Lay an Egg with a Horse Inside’.

It has 100+ new poems, and also serves as a guide to reading, writing & enjoying poetry.

An EXCLUSIVE signed edition is available through indie bookshops, with a bonus poem. Pre-order at https://bio.to/howtolayaneggwithahorseinside

It’s Bookshop Day so here’s a poem in celebration of all ...

2025-10-11T07:14:51Z

It’s Bookshop Day so here’s a poem in celebration of all those amazing bookshops out there.

Here’s another poem for National Poetry Day. This one is called ...

2025-10-02T11:33:18Z

Here’s another poem for National Poetry Day. This one is called ‘A Brief History of Modern Art in Poetry’.

Happy National Poetry Day to all those who celebrate. This ...

2025-10-02T09:05:15Z

Happy National Poetry Day to all those who celebrate.

This year’s theme is ‘play’ so here’s a poem which plays with some letters. It’s called ‘The Problem of Writing Poems in the Shape of Deciduous Trees’.

I’m reading some poems at Marlborough Literature Festival ...

2025-09-26T11:06:27Z

I’m reading some poems at Marlborough Literature Festival tomorrow. A few tickets remain - if you fancy snaffling one, they’re available here:

https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/marlboroughlitfest/brian-bilston-poetry/e-kzkrke

It’s UK publication day for ‘A Poem for Every Question’, my ...

2025-09-25T08:37:58Z

It’s UK publication day for ‘A Poem for Every Question’, my new collection of poems for children, illustrated by the brilliant Joe Berger.

It should be available through your local bookshop. Alternatively, here’s a page with links to some online booksellers: https://harpercollins.co.uk/products/a-poem-for-every-question-brian-bilston?variant=55115733893499

Here’s a poem called ‘English Roundabouts’. ...

2025-09-15T07:59:24Z

Here’s a poem called ‘English Roundabouts’.

This poem is dedicated to all those who see fit to correct my ...

2025-09-08T08:57:26Z

This poem is dedicated to all those who see fit to correct my grammar and spelling on here. It’s called ‘Pedents’.

Here’s a short poem called ‘On Falling for a ...

2025-09-04T08:22:29Z

Here’s a short poem called ‘On Falling for a Meteorologist’.

September is here and I’m out and about again in various guises ...

2025-09-01T16:00:44Z

September is here and I’m out and about again in various guises …

On 12th, it’s an evening of poetry and music with The Catenary Wires at the Ramsgate Music Hall. It’s our first gig together. There’s only 50 tickets left so grab them while you can.

On 21st and 25th respectively, I’ll be at Linghams Bookshop in Heswall and Blackwell’s Bookshop in Oxford with Joe Berger. I’ll be reading some poems from our new book ‘A Poem for Every Question’ and Joe will be doing some of his clever drawings.

It’s publication day for the new edition of my first poetry ...

2025-08-21T09:20:53Z

It’s publication day for the new edition of my first poetry collection, ‘You Took the Last Bus Home’.

It’s been unavailable for nine months, following the demise of its original publisher, Unbound. I’m so delighted that Picador stepped into the breach to bring out this shiny new edition.

Hopefully it’s now back on the shelves of most bookshops – and is available to order online from the usual places.

https://www.panmacmillan.com/authors/brian-bilston/you-took-the-last-bus-home/9781035086634

I left today’s poem on the train so this will have to do ...

2025-08-21T08:45:22Z

I left today’s poem on the train so this will have to do instead.

Today’s poem is called ‘How Much I Dislike the Daily Mail’. ...

2025-08-20T09:08:36Z

Today’s poem is called ‘How Much I Dislike the Daily Mail’.

Here’s a poem called ‘Roger’s Thesaurus’. ...

2025-08-19T09:20:35Z

Here’s a poem called ‘Roger’s Thesaurus’.

To celebrate the publication of a new edition of ‘You Took the ...

2025-08-18T09:41:51Z

To celebrate the publication of a new edition of ‘You Took the Last Bus Home’ later this week, I’m going to share a poem each day from it. This one is called ‘Jessica Fletcher Investigates’.

In other news, today is Bad Poetry Day apparently.

BORING PROMOTIONAL POST I’ve got two books coming out this ...

2025-08-15T11:51:04Z

**BORING PROMOTIONAL POST**

I’ve got two books coming out this year.

Next week sees a new edition of my first poetry collection, You Took the Last Bus Home. It’s got a lovely new cover and a few poems have been revised.

I’ll be reading from it on my tour with The Catenary Wires this autumn.

1/3

There now follows a short public information film containing ...

2025-08-15T10:03:22Z

There now follows a short public information film containing particulars of Brian Bilston and The Catenary Wires' autumn tour.

https://youtu.be/kzJQPPr2FzE?si=DmvuiWQBKCoPe3uS

Happy National Relaxation Day to all those who celebrate. ...

2025-08-15T06:34:24Z

Happy National Relaxation Day to all those who celebrate.

Here’s a poem called ‘Neither Rhyme nor Reason’. ...

2025-08-12T12:54:36Z

Here’s a poem called ‘Neither Rhyme nor Reason’.

Tickets are on sale now for our autumn tour. There will be ...

2025-08-07T08:59:38Z

Tickets are on sale now for our autumn tour.

There will be poetry! There will be music! There will be merch!

There will also be seats (for those of you who want to sit down).

More info here: https://brianbilston.com/events/

The mathematician John Venn was born on this day in 1834. To ...

2025-08-04T09:26:54Z

The mathematician John Venn was born on this day in 1834. To commemorate the occasion, here’s a poem in the form of a Venn diagram.

I took delivery yesterday of some advance copies of the gorgeous ...

2025-07-29T09:30:46Z

I took delivery yesterday of some advance copies of the gorgeous new edition of ‘You Took the Last Bus Home’.

In celebration of that, here’s the title poem.

Happy Spoonerism Day to all those who belly crate. ...

2025-07-22T07:51:48Z

Happy Spoonerism Day to all those who belly crate.

Here’s a new poem called ‘Wild Weekend’. ...

2025-07-20T09:04:29Z

Here’s a new poem called ‘Wild Weekend’.

I’ve got a new book coming out in September: A Poem for Every ...

2025-07-18T14:08:11Z

I’ve got a new book coming out in September: A Poem for Every Question. It’s a collection of poems for children, illustrated by the brilliant Joe Berger. It looks beautiful and here’s a video to prove it.

A short passive-aggressive poem, written on an aeroplane. ...

2025-07-18T10:32:21Z

A short passive-aggressive poem, written on an aeroplane.

IN THE PARK In the park, the tall trees are waving in the morning ...

2025-07-16T09:07:47Z

IN THE PARK

In the park,
the tall trees are waving
in the morning breeze.

I wave back
only to realize they are waving
at the person behind me.

I’m delighted to be reading some poems at Marlborough LitFest ...

2025-07-11T10:24:38Z

I’m delighted to be reading some poems at Marlborough LitFest in Wiltshire on 27th September.

Tickets have gone on sale today. More info here: https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/marlboroughlitfest/brian-bilston-poetry/e-kzkrke

Sounds Made by Humans - an album of my poetry put to music by the ...

2025-07-10T11:56:17Z

Sounds Made by Humans - an album of my poetry put to music by the fabulous Catenary Wires – is now up on Spotify and other streaming platforms.

https://open.spotify.com/artist/7aYKuyGAtDPXN8j46QYm2W?si=xcDqObPlQE2EkaeCdU4WUw

“A contender for album of the year.” Backseat Mafia

“An instant cult classic. 5/5” Louder Than War

And now for today’s climate forecast … ...

2025-07-10T09:24:49Z

And now for today’s climate forecast …

I'm delighted to be reading some poems at this year's ...

2025-07-09T13:45:46Z

I'm delighted to be reading some poems at this year's Bewdley Festival in Worcestershire - St George's Hall, Saturday 11th October. Tickets have just gone on sale.

If you're nearby and fancy coming along, there's more info here:
https://events.bewdleyfestival.org.uk/index.php?cPath=17

I’m coming back to Ireland this October to read some poems in ...

2025-07-01T11:33:51Z

I’m coming back to Ireland this October to read some poems in what is set to be my most extensive tour there yet*:

17th: BELFAST
18th: DUBLIN
19th: LIMERICK
20th: DERRY

Tickets here: https://brianbilston.com/events/

Book now to guarantee disappointment.

A big thanks to everyone who came along to the Glastonbury’s ...

2025-07-01T11:03:27Z

A big thanks to everyone who came along to the Glastonbury’s Poetry & Words tent to hear me read a few poems. That was a lot of hot, sticky fun.

I’ll be reading poems at a few more festivals over the summer and into the autumn:

26 July: Latitude, Suffolk
16 Aug: Beautiful Days, Devon
23 Aug: Words and Music, Kent
24 Sep: Festival of Words, Jersey
27 Sep: Marlborough Literary Festival
11 Oct: Bewdley Festival

More info here: https://brianbilston.com/events/

Hope to meet some of you at one of these.

I’m off to read some poems at Glastonbury this weekend. I’ll ...

2025-06-26T09:41:23Z

I’m off to read some poems at Glastonbury this weekend. I’ll be on the Poetry & Words stage on Saturday, just before 5pm.

It’s been a while since I’ve been to a festival - here’s the line up from the last one I went to.

Huge congratulations to Colette Hiller for winning this year’s ...

2025-06-21T10:12:15Z

Huge congratulations to Colette Hiller for winning this year’s CLiPPA, the CLPE Children’s Poetry Prize with her brilliant book, ‘Colossal Words for Kids’.

Well done, too, to all my fellow shortlisted poets, the shadowing schools who performed our poems so brilliantly, and all the judges, members of CLPE and the fantastic audience which made yesterday’s event at the National Theatre such a joy. What an amazing day.

It’s Independent Bookshop Week. Here’s a poem about one of ...

2025-06-19T10:11:41Z

It’s Independent Bookshop Week. Here’s a poem about one of the many reasons why indie bookshops are so brilliant.

#indiebookshopweek

Here’s another poem from ‘You Took the Last Bus Home’, and ...

2025-06-12T09:32:02Z

Here’s another poem from ‘You Took the Last Bus Home’, and one of my more enigmatic offerings: it’s called ‘Frisbee’.

Sorry about that.

2025-06-11T14:33:12Z

In reply to nevent1q…f7ge
_________________________

Sorry about that.

Here’s a poem called ‘Bags’. ...

2025-06-11T09:44:26Z

Here’s a poem called ‘Bags’.

A few people have been asking about my first poetry collection, ...

2025-06-10T11:45:29Z

A few people have been asking about my first poetry collection, You Took the Last Bus Home.

It’s been unavailable for a while but I’m pleased to say that it will shortly be reissued with Picador. A lovely new cover will accompany it - and it’s also available as an audiobook for the first time.

It’s release day for ‘Sounds Made by Humans’, an album of ...

2025-05-09T08:51:46Z

It’s release day for ‘Sounds Made by Humans’, an album of ‘poem songs’ made with the brilliant Catenary Wires.

It’s on vinyl and CD, and can be streamed on Spotify and elsewhere.

We’re really proud of it and are taking it on the road with us in in Nov, for some evenings of music and poetry.

One week today, I’ll be heading off on tour with the brilliant ...

2025-04-24T13:11:46Z

One week today, I’ll be heading off on tour with the brilliant Henry Normal, armed with a bunch of new poems, plus some old ones, too.

If you’re nearby and fancy coming along to a show, you can get tickets here:
https://brianbilston.com/events/

I’m thrilled to announce that my book ‘Let Sleeping Cats ...

2025-04-23T15:08:03Z

I’m thrilled to announce that my book ‘Let Sleeping Cats Lie’, has been shortlisted for the CLiPPA, the UK’s leading award for published poetry for children.

It’s an honour to be on the shortlist with such brilliant poets.

The overall winner will be announced on 20 June at the National Theatre.

To celebrate Shakespeare Day, here’s a poem about being in an ...

2025-04-23T08:48:26Z

To celebrate Shakespeare Day, here’s a poem about being in an exam and panicking that you can’t remember any Shakespeare quotations.

Here’s a poem for Earth Day. It’s called ‘Birdsong’. ...

2025-04-22T09:48:39Z

Here’s a poem for Earth Day. It’s called ‘Birdsong’.

Here’s a poem about the time I went online to buy an Easter egg ...

2025-04-19T09:22:27Z

Here’s a poem about the time I went online to buy an Easter egg and spent an absolute fortune.

It’s International Haiku Poetry Day apparently, so here are a ...

2025-04-17T08:50:25Z

It’s International Haiku Poetry Day apparently, so here are a few haiku with which to start the day.

I’ve been poeming about how my nouns keep conversioning to ...

2025-04-15T10:10:35Z

I’ve been poeming about how my nouns keep conversioning to verbs.

It’s National Pet Day today apparently so here’s a poem about ...

2025-04-11T08:48:55Z

It’s National Pet Day today apparently so here’s a poem about one of my cat’s poems.

It’s called ‘On ‘;..p’[[[[[[[[[[[[[;’;////////////////////////3,’

This is called ‘The Futures aren’t Bright, the Futures are ...

2025-04-04T13:24:15Z

This is called ‘The Futures aren’t Bright, the Futures are Orange’.

Meta have stolen the work of 1000s of writers to train their AI. ...

2025-04-03T13:23:15Z

Meta have stolen the work of 1000s of writers to train their AI. All of my books were included in their illegal action.

Today UK authors are protesting against this theft.

Copyright law is clear: to use a creator’s copyrighted work, you need to get permission and agree payment.

#DoTheWriteThing

Here’s a poem called ‘For Your Own Safety and Protection’. ...

2025-04-03T09:57:43Z

Here’s a poem called ‘For Your Own Safety and Protection’.

In less than a month, I’ll be heading off on tour again with ...

2025-04-02T11:34:21Z

In less than a month, I’ll be heading off on tour again with the brilliant Henry Normal, armed with a bunch of new poems and some old ones, too.

If you’re nearby and fancy coming along, you can get tickets here: https://brianbilston.com/events/

Here’s a poem called ‘Prayer for Uninteresting Times’. ...

2025-04-01T08:28:00Z

Here’s a poem called ‘Prayer for Uninteresting Times’.

Happy World Poetry Day to all who celebrate. If you’re ...

2025-03-21T11:41:02Z

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.