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Harry Man

@harrymanonbluesky

Poet, Translator | RLF Reading Round Fellow | Tutor, Oxford University | Stephen Spender, UNESCO Bridges of Struga & Northern Writers 🏆 | Opinions own, etc. www.manmadebooks.co.uk || https://linktr.ee/harrymanoninstagram

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Posts 16.11.2024
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Latest posts by Harry Man @harrymanonbluesky

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I like this poem of loss and detail by Jennifer Wong from her @ninearchespress.bsky.social collection Light Year. ‘A life so loved and rented…’

08.02.2026 10:27 👍 131 🔁 24 💬 4 📌 0

A splendid collection @ninearchespress.bsky.social @jennywcreative.bsky.social

08.02.2026 14:58 👍 8 🔁 3 💬 1 📌 0
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A wonderful poem reading from Cherry Blossom at Nightbreak by @betarish.bsky.social. Here we mark Martin Luther King's 1967 journey to Newcastle in 'On board the Tynesider'. Come into "the realm of hope."

Line up your copy of this "seductive and sublime" book: ninearchespress.com/publications...

10.02.2026 10:40 👍 2 🔁 2 💬 0 📌 0
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Let's look ahead to brighter days, sign-up for our TRIPLE ONLINE LAUNCH on Tuesday 21st April, 7pm featuring #poetry from @jennywcreative.bsky.social @betarish.bsky.social and @kymdeyn.bsky.social as they celebrate these wonderful new books.
Pay what you can: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/triple-onl...

12.02.2026 13:17 👍 9 🔁 5 💬 0 📌 1
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Calling all writers! Check out the Writers Day on Saturday 7 March organised by The Writers Workshop in Sheffield. Info below

09.02.2026 10:47 👍 8 🔁 5 💬 0 📌 1
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Delighted to share 'Tending' a #poem from LIGHT YEAR, our first book of the New Year.
Written and read by @jennywcreative.bsky.social
Line up your copy of this "luminous, intimate" #poetry collection now: ninearchespress.com/publications...

26.01.2026 13:54 👍 8 🔁 4 💬 0 📌 1
A promotional poster for ‘Hearth 2026’, a one-day micro-festival at Gladstone’s Library. The event is on Saturday 31st January from 10:30am to 7:30pm. Ticket prices are listed as £110 for a full day and £60 for a half day. Featured authors are Sarah Perry, Harry Man, Dan Kaszeta, and Glenn Malkin. The poster describes four authors giving four talks, ending with a Q&A. The lower half shows an orange-tinted vintage photograph of a person lying on a fur rug reading by firelight, with the words ‘Gather round Hearth’. Gladstone’s Library’s logo appears on the right side. A banner at the bottom reads: ‘Book your tickets now | gladstoneslibrary.org’.

A promotional poster for ‘Hearth 2026’, a one-day micro-festival at Gladstone’s Library. The event is on Saturday 31st January from 10:30am to 7:30pm. Ticket prices are listed as £110 for a full day and £60 for a half day. Featured authors are Sarah Perry, Harry Man, Dan Kaszeta, and Glenn Malkin. The poster describes four authors giving four talks, ending with a Q&A. The lower half shows an orange-tinted vintage photograph of a person lying on a fur rug reading by firelight, with the words ‘Gather round Hearth’. Gladstone’s Library’s logo appears on the right side. A banner at the bottom reads: ‘Book your tickets now | gladstoneslibrary.org’.

A poster for ‘Hearth 2026’. The schedule lists: • 10:30–11:30 — ‘Death of an Ordinary Man: Sarah Perry talks to Louisa Yates’ • 12:00–13:00 — ‘Popular Song with Harry Man’ • 13:00–14:30 — Lunch at Food for Thought • 14:30–15:30 — ‘What is Ukraine and who are Ukrainians?’ with Dan Kaszeta • 16:00–17:00 — ‘Binding the Booker Prize’ with Glenn Malkin • 17:30–18:30 — Hearth Q&A with all four speakers • 18:30 — Dinner at Food for Thought A banner along the bottom reads: ‘Book your tickets now | gladstoneslibrary.org’. The design includes yellow accents and a ‘Festival’ tag in the top-left corner.

A poster for ‘Hearth 2026’. The schedule lists: • 10:30–11:30 — ‘Death of an Ordinary Man: Sarah Perry talks to Louisa Yates’ • 12:00–13:00 — ‘Popular Song with Harry Man’ • 13:00–14:30 — Lunch at Food for Thought • 14:30–15:30 — ‘What is Ukraine and who are Ukrainians?’ with Dan Kaszeta • 16:00–17:00 — ‘Binding the Booker Prize’ with Glenn Malkin • 17:30–18:30 — Hearth Q&A with all four speakers • 18:30 — Dinner at Food for Thought A banner along the bottom reads: ‘Book your tickets now | gladstoneslibrary.org’. The design includes yellow accents and a ‘Festival’ tag in the top-left corner.

📣Final tickets!📣
📆Sat 31 Jan
🕐10.30AM-7.30PM
📍Gladstone's Library
🎟️3 all-day and 5 morning tickets remain
🎤Four talks, closing with a Q&A. Listen, talk, and eat together
🍴Lunch, dinner, tea and coffee included
🛏️20% discount on accommodation
Our website➡️Events to book

@harrymanonbluesky.bsky.social

23.01.2026 16:21 👍 8 🔁 2 💬 0 📌 2
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I’m chairing this event with Christy Ducker and Bob Beagrie on 7th February as we chat about inspiration and dig into the RLF’s archive. Free to attend and tickets available here: tinyurl.com/55zzkfda

01.01.2026 19:10 👍 2 🔁 2 💬 0 📌 0
A poster with a purple background featuring legendary ski jumping athlete Noriaki Kasai in his trademark yellow helmet. The text reads “Noriaki with Endre Ruset and Harry Man. 15th March. StAnza Festival in person and online. bit.ly/noritickets”. At the bottom there are logos for the event partners Tees Valley Combined Authority, the Norwegian Embassy, Norwegian Literature Abroad and Oxford University.

A poster with a purple background featuring legendary ski jumping athlete Noriaki Kasai in his trademark yellow helmet. The text reads “Noriaki with Endre Ruset and Harry Man. 15th March. StAnza Festival in person and online. bit.ly/noritickets”. At the bottom there are logos for the event partners Tees Valley Combined Authority, the Norwegian Embassy, Norwegian Literature Abroad and Oxford University.

Endre Ruset and I will be presenting Noriaki live at StAnza Poetry Festival on 15th March. We’ll be talking translation, the mysteries and histories of ski jumping and more. Join us in person or online: www.bit.ly/noritickets

22.01.2026 07:39 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
clip from StAnza poetry festival programme. Poetry centre stage: Marie Howe and Sarah Howe. 18.30-20.15 Byre theatre. In person, online, BSL interpreted and hearing loop.

clip from StAnza poetry festival programme. Poetry centre stage: Marie Howe and Sarah Howe. 18.30-20.15 Byre theatre. In person, online, BSL interpreted and hearing loop.

Massively excited for StAnza 2026. I'm doing an online workshop on Sat. 14th on finding community in and through poems but mostly I'm excited to be staying in fife for 5 days to be audience to amazing poets like Carl Phillips and this double bill with Sarah Howe and Marie Howe. HOWE cool is that?

14.01.2026 19:31 👍 13 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 0
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StAnza has just launched their 2026 programme, and it's a corker!

We're delighted to once again be partnering with them for the St. Andrews Heat of our Loud Poets Slam Series, plus a performance poetry workshop.

Check out the programme: stanzapoetry.org/festival/sta...

15.01.2026 17:57 👍 7 🔁 2 💬 0 📌 0
After a Few Beers, My Uncle Asks Me How for Uncle Tommy do you write a poem? It's like laying bricks, I say. You put down one word, then another, and after a while you've made this path. Bullshit, my uncle says. Tell me the truth. The trick, I say, is the bricks can be anything. A window, the moon, even snow. Snow, my uncle says. I remember when I was stationed in Germany in the 80’s. There was this huge field outside the base. It was the kind of cold that yanks your balls up into your stomach, so much snow you'd smoke a little hash and forget the planet you were on was earth. I was on guard duty. Some civilian on a snowmobile raced out of the woods and rocketed across the field, waves of powder foaming up around him. I remember I shouted: Hey Man! Hey man you're trespassing! But he didn't hear. I didn't hear the gun fire, but when he fell off I knew why. And the snowmobile growling like some animal. I ask my uncle, If you could catch the bullet, if you could turn the bullet into anything else, what would you pick? My uncle takes a long drink. Shit man, he says. Maybe a bird? And it appears: a little white bird in his hands, its wingtips freckled with red. What do you feed the bird? I ask, and, like a piece of bread, my uncle tears a corner off the field. The bird pecks it from his palms. How did we get here? my uncle asks, but there's so much snow, we can’t see the path. Before us, a dark wood. You hear that? my uncle asks. And I do. Something's in there. Something ancient, growling.

After a Few Beers, My Uncle Asks Me How for Uncle Tommy do you write a poem? It's like laying bricks, I say. You put down one word, then another, and after a while you've made this path. Bullshit, my uncle says. Tell me the truth. The trick, I say, is the bricks can be anything. A window, the moon, even snow. Snow, my uncle says. I remember when I was stationed in Germany in the 80’s. There was this huge field outside the base. It was the kind of cold that yanks your balls up into your stomach, so much snow you'd smoke a little hash and forget the planet you were on was earth. I was on guard duty. Some civilian on a snowmobile raced out of the woods and rocketed across the field, waves of powder foaming up around him. I remember I shouted: Hey Man! Hey man you're trespassing! But he didn't hear. I didn't hear the gun fire, but when he fell off I knew why. And the snowmobile growling like some animal. I ask my uncle, If you could catch the bullet, if you could turn the bullet into anything else, what would you pick? My uncle takes a long drink. Shit man, he says. Maybe a bird? And it appears: a little white bird in his hands, its wingtips freckled with red. What do you feed the bird? I ask, and, like a piece of bread, my uncle tears a corner off the field. The bird pecks it from his palms. How did we get here? my uncle asks, but there's so much snow, we can’t see the path. Before us, a dark wood. You hear that? my uncle asks. And I do. Something's in there. Something ancient, growling.

Second page of the poem in the journal; the entire poem is in the previous image and here: After a Few Beers, My Uncle Asks Me How for Uncle Tommy do you write a poem? It's like laying bricks, I say. You put down one word, then another, and after a while you've made this path. Bullshit, my uncle says. Tell me the truth. The trick, I say, is the bricks can be anything. A window, the moon, even snow. Snow, my uncle says. I remember when I was stationed in Germany in the 80’s. There was this huge field outside the base. It was the kind of cold that yanks your balls up into your stomach, so much snow you'd smoke a little hash and forget the planet you were on was earth. I was on guard duty. Some civilian on a snowmobile raced out of the woods and rocketed across the field, waves of powder foaming up around him. I remember I shouted: Hey Man! Hey man you're trespassing! But he didn't hear. I didn't hear the gun fire, but when he fell off I knew why. And the snowmobile growling like some animal. I ask my uncle, If you could catch the bullet, if you could turn the bullet into anything else, what would you pick? My uncle takes a long drink. Shit man, he says. Maybe a bird? And it appears: a little white bird in his hands, its wingtips freckled with red. What do you feed the bird? I ask, and, like a piece of bread, my uncle tears a corner off the field. The bird pecks it from his palms. How did we get here? my uncle asks, but there's so much snow, we can’t see the path. Before us, a dark wood. You hear that? my uncle asks. And I do. Something's in there. Something ancient, growling.

Second page of the poem in the journal; the entire poem is in the previous image and here: After a Few Beers, My Uncle Asks Me How for Uncle Tommy do you write a poem? It's like laying bricks, I say. You put down one word, then another, and after a while you've made this path. Bullshit, my uncle says. Tell me the truth. The trick, I say, is the bricks can be anything. A window, the moon, even snow. Snow, my uncle says. I remember when I was stationed in Germany in the 80’s. There was this huge field outside the base. It was the kind of cold that yanks your balls up into your stomach, so much snow you'd smoke a little hash and forget the planet you were on was earth. I was on guard duty. Some civilian on a snowmobile raced out of the woods and rocketed across the field, waves of powder foaming up around him. I remember I shouted: Hey Man! Hey man you're trespassing! But he didn't hear. I didn't hear the gun fire, but when he fell off I knew why. And the snowmobile growling like some animal. I ask my uncle, If you could catch the bullet, if you could turn the bullet into anything else, what would you pick? My uncle takes a long drink. Shit man, he says. Maybe a bird? And it appears: a little white bird in his hands, its wingtips freckled with red. What do you feed the bird? I ask, and, like a piece of bread, my uncle tears a corner off the field. The bird pecks it from his palms. How did we get here? my uncle asks, but there's so much snow, we can’t see the path. Before us, a dark wood. You hear that? my uncle asks. And I do. Something's in there. Something ancient, growling.

Cover of the 2026 Winter Edition of The Southern Review featuring a blue-black background with a woman’s long white hair

Cover of the 2026 Winter Edition of The Southern Review featuring a blue-black background with a woman’s long white hair

Really, really happy to have a new poem in one of the first literary journals I ever read as a teen trying to find poems in the world. Here’s “After A Few Beers, My Uncle Asks Me How” in The Southern Review.

13.01.2026 14:48 👍 153 🔁 38 💬 19 📌 13
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I’m chairing this event with Christy Ducker and Bob Beagrie on 7th February as we chat about inspiration and dig into the RLF’s archive. Free to attend and tickets available here: tinyurl.com/55zzkfda

01.01.2026 19:10 👍 2 🔁 2 💬 0 📌 0

I have been looking for a more contemporary translation of St. John of the Cross (Teresa of Ávila's partner in the reform of the Carmelite order in 16th century Spain). Now, I've found one by @marrrtha.bsky.social 💙📚 Ordering today from my local bookstore. Thanks @thepaulconnolly.bsky.social.

01.01.2026 18:11 👍 5 🔁 2 💬 0 📌 0
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Residential Writing Course: Poetry | Arvon ‘and it’s starting again, the longing that begins, and begins, and begins.’ Kim Addonizio Join award-winning writers Caroline Bird and Romalyn Ante in the depths of winter for an energising and playf...

If you fancy ‘thawing creative blocks’ in the new year and writing a flurry of new poems, I’ll be tutoring this residential with the wonderful Romalyn Ante (plus guest speaker Kostya Tsolakis!) from 26th-31st Jan. Join us! ❄️⁦‪⁦‪⁦‪⁦‪ @romalynante3.bsky.social @kostyatsolakis.bsky.social ‬⁩

17.12.2025 12:27 👍 9 🔁 4 💬 0 📌 0
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BBC Radio 4 - The Poetry Detective, Doomscrolling Vanessa Kisuule unearths poems that offer us insight into the issues that ail us most.

The Poetry Detective with Vanessa Kisuule is back 4pm today @BBCRadio4 looking for poems that can help us think through the things we wrestle with. Today: Doomscrolling. With help from @carolinebirduk.bsky.social among others. Producer Ellie Richold www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...

09.12.2025 12:50 👍 11 🔁 4 💬 0 📌 0
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SPOTLIGHT #poetry book - Popular Song by Harry Man @harrymanonbluesky.bsky.social - full of wonder and melody, a jukebox of poems.

'It’s a giant, wondrous exclamation mark of a book.’ – @betarish.bsky.social

Now in our seasonal sale, just £7.99
ninearchespress.com/shop

04.12.2025 09:07 👍 5 🔁 3 💬 0 📌 0
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Five RLF poets - Anna Woodford, Jo Clement, Christy Ducker, Harry Man & Degna Stone have created poems now on display at Longbenton Metro station.

Poems on the Metro is a collaboration between the RLF and Tyne and Wear Metro and this work will be on view to enjoy until the end of the year.

19.11.2025 18:22 👍 4 🔁 3 💬 1 📌 0
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Tomorrow! I’ll be performing at Soho Poly alongside the poetry-forces-of-nature that are Joelle Taylor and Will Harris. Tickets here: sohopoly.co.uk/events/soho-po…. Hosted and curated by the brilliant Hannah Copley @hannahcopley.bsky.social

03.12.2025 08:58 👍 12 🔁 3 💬 0 📌 0

If you’d like to stay with us during Hearth, you can book your accommodation now and receive 20% off! Go to our website and click 'Rest' to book or call us on +44 (0)1244 532350.
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22.11.2025 12:00 👍 4 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 0

The Library’s ever-popular one-day micro festival is back for another year, this time with Sarah Perry, Harry Man, Dan Kaszeta and Glenn Malkin! Four authors, four talks, closing with a Q&A where all four authors talk life and books. We listen, talk, and eat together.
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22.11.2025 12:00 👍 12 🔁 4 💬 1 📌 0
A promotional poster for ‘Hearth 2026’, a one-day micro-festival at Gladstone’s Library. The event is on Saturday 31st January from 10:30am to 7:30pm. Ticket prices are listed as £110 for a full day and £60 for a half day. Featured authors are Sarah Perry, Harry Man, Dan Kaszeta, and Glenn Malkin. The poster describes four authors giving four talks, ending with a Q&A. The lower half shows an orange-tinted vintage photograph of a person lying on a fur rug reading by firelight, with the words ‘Gather round Hearth’. Gladstone’s Library’s logo appears on the right side. A banner at the bottom reads: ‘Book your tickets now | gladstoneslibrary.org’.

A promotional poster for ‘Hearth 2026’, a one-day micro-festival at Gladstone’s Library. The event is on Saturday 31st January from 10:30am to 7:30pm. Ticket prices are listed as £110 for a full day and £60 for a half day. Featured authors are Sarah Perry, Harry Man, Dan Kaszeta, and Glenn Malkin. The poster describes four authors giving four talks, ending with a Q&A. The lower half shows an orange-tinted vintage photograph of a person lying on a fur rug reading by firelight, with the words ‘Gather round Hearth’. Gladstone’s Library’s logo appears on the right side. A banner at the bottom reads: ‘Book your tickets now | gladstoneslibrary.org’.

A poster for ‘Hearth 2026’. The schedule lists: • 10:30–11:30 — ‘Death of an Ordinary Man: Sarah Perry talks to Louisa Yates’ • 12:00–13:00 — ‘Popular Song with Harry Man’ • 13:00–14:30 — Lunch at Food for Thought • 14:30–15:30 — ‘What is Ukraine and who are Ukrainians?’ with Dan Kaszeta • 16:00–17:00 — ‘Binding the Booker Prize’ with Glenn Malkin • 17:30–18:30 — Hearth Q&A with all four speakers • 18:30 — Dinner at Food for Thought A banner along the bottom reads: ‘Book your tickets now | gladstoneslibrary.org’. The design includes yellow accents and a ‘Festival’ tag in the top-left corner.

A poster for ‘Hearth 2026’. The schedule lists: • 10:30–11:30 — ‘Death of an Ordinary Man: Sarah Perry talks to Louisa Yates’ • 12:00–13:00 — ‘Popular Song with Harry Man’ • 13:00–14:30 — Lunch at Food for Thought • 14:30–15:30 — ‘What is Ukraine and who are Ukrainians?’ with Dan Kaszeta • 16:00–17:00 — ‘Binding the Booker Prize’ with Glenn Malkin • 17:30–18:30 — Hearth Q&A with all four speakers • 18:30 — Dinner at Food for Thought A banner along the bottom reads: ‘Book your tickets now | gladstoneslibrary.org’. The design includes yellow accents and a ‘Festival’ tag in the top-left corner.

📣 Tickets now available!📣

📆 Saturday 31st January 2026
🕐 10.30AM-7.30PM
📍 Gladstone's Library
🎟️ Full day, morning and afternoon tickets available at buff.ly/pbuNH4x

@harrymanonbluesky.bsky.social
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22.11.2025 12:00 👍 9 🔁 2 💬 1 📌 1
Writers Christy Ducker, David Mark, and Harry Man seated in front of a Royal Literary Fund banner. Christy and David are listening as Harry reads.

Writers Christy Ducker, David Mark, and Harry Man seated in front of a Royal Literary Fund banner. Christy and David are listening as Harry reads.

Brilliant evening in conversation with the Northern Writers Panel of Christy Ducker, David Mark and @harrymanonbluesky.bsky.social talking about writing and place at Sunderland Libraries' City Library. Thanks to the writers and @royalliteraryfund.bsky.social for this insightful,entertaining session!

08.10.2025 20:08 👍 2 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 0
Three authors smile into the camera. Christy wears a blazer and has shoulder length hair. David Marks wears a flat cap and sports a black and greybeard. Harry Man is in a plaid shirt with fluffy blonde hair. Next to them is the headline, “Northern Writers Panel, Wednesday 8th October 5:30pm”. To book tickets visit www.bit.ly/writersonplace

Three authors smile into the camera. Christy wears a blazer and has shoulder length hair. David Marks wears a flat cap and sports a black and greybeard. Harry Man is in a plaid shirt with fluffy blonde hair. Next to them is the headline, “Northern Writers Panel, Wednesday 8th October 5:30pm”. To book tickets visit www.bit.ly/writersonplace

8th October in Sunderland, I’ll be talking place and the writer with David Mark and Christy Ducker. For more information and tickets visit: www.bit.ly/writersonplace

02.10.2025 16:30 👍 1 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 0
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Jane Goodall, chimpanzee expert and animal rights campaigner, dies age 91 - follow live The primatologist was a

Brave, groundbreaking and extraordinary life: www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c9...

01.10.2025 19:18 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

Excellent humans of Morpeth, this, tonight!

30.09.2025 08:16 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
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Tapestry,cross-stitch bookmarks! Does any kind sewing expert know when these 'templates' became available, please - or how old these might be? Just found in box with 1860s Bible- but I think they're newer.Possibly my grandmother's (died early 1970s) or my aunt's (died early 1960s).Thank you! #sewing

29.09.2025 09:24 👍 6 🔁 1 💬 2 📌 0
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Swan We live on a river in the country, we talk gently and listen easy, we lost our smoky bark and city hiss. You’ll play me the guitar, whilst I knead dough. I make enough bread to ...

"My fingers play with the silver hair at your temples,
you stroke my face and I breathe slowly.
Jigsaw pieces.
We always did fit nicely."

#TodaysPoem #poetry
Swan by @salenagodden.bsky.social (2014 Burning Eye Books, Portishead) www.poetryinternational.com/en/poets-poe...

26.09.2025 15:43 👍 6 🔁 2 💬 0 📌 0
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Tony Harrison, poet and dramatist, dies aged 88 Known for his outspoken politics, the author was acclaimed for work in theatre, opera, film and TV but wanted to be thought of as a poet above all

Quite unreal that Tony Harrison has gone. A poet (as he termed himself) of complete conviction, percussive and passionate and someone who lit the way and made a deeply important and lasting space for others. May he and his legacy go well. www.theguardian.com/books/2025/s...

29.09.2025 09:38 👍 5 🔁 2 💬 0 📌 0
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Do you speak Sylheti? Tamajaght? Klingon? Inside the Festival for Endangered Languages Every two weeks, a language is lost – and by the end of the century, half of the world’s 7,000 tongues could have vanished. We meet the artist using eyeliner and chokeberries to rescue everything from...

Inside the Festival for Endangered Languages:

www.theguardian.com/culture/2025...

28.09.2025 13:30 👍 3 🔁 2 💬 0 📌 0