Em Gray

Found some exciting books by the bins. Here are some of their more and less proficient illustrations. I especially love the 'wild cat' from behind, as if only ever glimpsed leaving.

“When you want to see something clearly, do not shine too much light on it, do not exile all the shadows from its surface. Our duty—when faced with a true mystery—is not to explain it but to deepen it, to transform it into a greater mystery.”

-- Lucian Blaga

Thank you! This is lovely to hear.

Poem by Em Gray titled 'Slow', that reads; The sloth is standing like a toddler imploring to be held. A man lifts her from her armpits. It takes some scrolling through the hearts and bless yous to learn this arms-up stance is to appear larger and to communicate STEP BACK (if one so round-faced and mossy were permitted to yell). There's debate as to where the sloth was heading – if she had, in fact, come from the verge where she's been placed, and if, before this intervention, the aisle of that late-sunned track was just where she needed to be. It is difficult for some to relate to such a creeping peristalsis, to one for whom the world so vertiginously spins her toes have evolved to hold on – she who would not answer, busy but sing of clouds, the slow piñatas of figs.

My #poem 'Slow' and accompanying interview are in Modron magazine today, amongst lovely company, including a thoughtful and timely editorial.

modronmagazine.com/more-than-hu...

Ooh, un-discard!

Thank you so much dear Sarah! x

Thinking there should be a world day of 'finding a #poet on social media and sending them a message of gratitude and appreciation for a poem they have written'. I have many in mind, and have only told a few.

I have a new sad and angry #poem with Black Iris Poetry's 'poetry of breaking news' on instagram today, in response to the UK's possible plan to confiscate jewellery and other belongings from asylum seekers to pay for 'processing costs'.

www.instagram.com/p/DRmfvV6jZwd/

I was the other poet in the Len Pennie row: here’s my story Sarah Doyle’s poem Laika won high praise but when she queried similarities to it with the poem Good Girl she was caught up in a storm of accusation, denial and online vitriol

This took courage, and makes me feel very vulnerable, but here I share some insights into how the recent Laika situation played out for me – along with a plea for more compassionate social media engagement. We need reflection, not retribution.
www.thetimes.com/uk/scotland/...
If useful: archive.is

I so love Poppy Cockburn's poem from @perversemag.bsky.social - the cheery last line (like 'how are you?'/ 'Good thanks' exchanges when this isn't how one is feeling) versus the longing (I think?) of what precedes. I never watched Twin Peaks, but don't feel I needed to for this poem to resonate.

Thank you so much for sharing this, Corinna! ❤️

Failing that, I would accept as much flexibility

The last frontier of empathy: why we still struggle to see ourselves as animals | Megan Mayhew Bergman Champions of exceptionalism say humans hold a unique moral status. Yet there’s only one species recklessly destroying the planet it needs to survive

A brilliant article - well worth a read.

Lovely to have my lightbulb #poem out in the world today. Thank you, @perversemag.bsky.social 💡. Do check out the issue, and the archive - lots of gems.

and from sweet Nick too!

I'd heard of a rare #squirrel a couple of times on local Facebook groups...and found him today - isn't he beautiful!

ah fantastic news! Congratulations - hope there was a little mossy celebratory dance 💚

thank you so much!

Thank you so much to you both for choosing UFO - and to @hollyannepoet.bsky.social for the spelling keen eye, and your patient emails 💚

UFO – Em Gray UFO . . Em Gray is a neurodivergent poet living in Brighton, UK. She has been highly commended by the Forward Prize, shortlisted for the Creative Future Writers’ Award and has won second priz…

My little UFO poem has found the perfect home with @atriumpoetry.bsky.social today - thank you so much to @clairewalkerpoetry.bsky.social for her patient checking of how-to-spell-teletubby too!

atriumpoetry.com/2025/09/30/u...

I feel there's a poem here :-)

Thank you for reading and sharing today's poem -
brassband by @niaandthepoems.bsky.social

1st October is the start of the annual #pheasant shooting season. I wrote this unpraise poem with these poor birds in mind. If you have a moment, please consider signing this @animalaid.org.uk petition to end the shooting of birds in the UK -

action.animalaid.org.uk/page/135232/...

Maggie Millner: “Is Mary Oliver Embarrassing?” A reckoning with Mary Oliver’s reputation as an unserious poet explores how her best work has been misunderstood.

'These days, the only poems that really embarrass me are the ones that refuse to wrestle in some way with their own smallness and contingency—to acknowledge that a page of poetry is not the same kind of place as a town hall or a war zone or a protest or a poll site.'

yalereview.org/article/mill...

How to Save a Dog For nearly a year, a motley crew scoured New Orleans for a shaggy white mutt named Scrim.

Such a moving read - how a small, lost dog resonates and captivates...

www.newyorker.com/news/the-wee...

Welcome!

Photo of a red fox kit who is about 2-3 months old. They have their adult coloured coat and their eyes have darkened now to a dark amber. They are sitting amongst grass with some buttercups growing, and is looking to the left and in profile. They look watchful but calm.

This year's 2 cubs I watch from my window are growing beautifully, and now have their adult coats and eye colours. What a serene looking face this little one has 🧡

We celebrate the bull, believed to have escaped from an abattoir, that ran loose in Birmingham, yet almost everyone participates in the cruel and grisly trade in body parts which keeps abattoirs in business.

obscure and relatable at the same time. May the dreams resolve.