Helen Laycock

This poem was inspired by the true story of Tahlequah, an Orca mother, who carried her dead baby for 17 days, for thousands of miles... evidence that animals do experience #grief. Shared today for #twentyforecopoetry Published in 'ELEMENTAL'. #poetry #Orca #Blueskypoets #poetsofBlueky #SkyPoets

I want to give a SPECIAL MENTION to @matthewmcsmith.bsky.social who has contributed so many wonderful poems since he initiated #fragmentsfriday but as host has never given himself a placing. So here is a top tier spot for your brilliant #poetry, with huge thanks, too, for all you do for us.

Yes, don't forget to tag me or I might miss your piece. I already have a (very long) shortlist! How will I ever choose just three!!!

Our judge for the top three this week on #fragmentsfriday Recipient of the 2026 Kathryn Bevis Memorial Prize, Helen Laycock’s poetry has also been nominated for the Pushcart Prize (x4) plus the Best of the Net (x4). She has two collections coming out in 2027. @helenlaycock.bsky.social

I can’t believe the year I’m having! Enormous thanks to @paulwritespoems.bsky.social and huge congratulations to my wonderful poet friends! 🥳🥳🥳

Oh. My. Gosh. Thank you, once again, for choosing my piece, @matthewmcsmith.bsky.social An absolute honour to find myself here again. 🥰 #poetry #poetrycommunity

‘Gift of Venus’, a brand new #poetry collection by @guinevereclarkpoet.bsky.social, comes highly recommended. 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 Honest and authentic, it will make a lasting impact. Keep an eye out for its imminent publication with @blackboughpoetry.bsky.social

Quite some time ago, my lovely poet/publisher friend @rfredekenter.bsky.social accepted a #filmpoem from me for his 'Disenchantment' series. I quite forgot about it, but today it has been published. It's called 'Sinking Below the Waterline'. Huge ❤️to Robert. icefloepress.net/2026/10/12/s... #poetry

1st place 🥇 #fragmentsfriday #poetry @helenlaycock.bsky.social Helen Laycock 🏆

Beyond thrilled to get 3rd & 4th Best of the Net nominations from @fullhouselitmag.bsky.social for ‘Heavenly Bodies’ & @blackboughpoetry.bsky.social for ‘After the Hunt’. Enormous thanks to @leiabutler.bsky.social & @matthewmcsmith.bsky.social Congratulations to all nominees! 🥳 #poetry

HUGE congratulations to @carmellapoetry.bsky.social on her #poetry collection ‘The Amygdala Safari’, and thank you so much, Carmella, for inviting me to be part of the launch! Truly honoured. 🥰

Honestly not in it for a placing; it’s just so inspirational to take part, but always a bonus and always delighted to have a piece recognised. ❤️ Thank you so much, @matthewmcsmith.bsky.social & @blackboughpoetry.bsky.social And congratulations to all the winners! 🏆

What a great day. Poets know how to have fun! 🥳🥳🥳

Huge congratulations to Polly Oliver on the launch of her debut collection. ❤️ This is going to be a wonderful event! 🌟

One of the high points for me in #poetry! @blackboughpoetry.bsky.social takes brilliant care of its poets. 🥰

A wonderful collection. Get a copy!

Delighted to announce that I have won the Kathryn Bevis Memorial Prize for #poetry. This is an incredible honour and wholly unexpected.

Delighted to have another #micropoem in the #fragmentsfriday spotlight at @blackboughpoetry.bsky.social Huge congratulations to the winners and to all those highly commended. 👏👏👏

What lovely news this Saturday morning! 🥰 Thank you to the wonderful @matthewmcsmith.bsky.social!

How very kind of you, Carmella! Honoured to be listed among such lovely poets. Thank you so much. ❤️

What a lovely surprise! ❤️

Really excited to share the news that my poetry collection ‘REVERIE’ has been selected from over 200 manuscripts to be published by The Poetry Lighthouse in 2027. 🥳 #poetry #publication

Delighted to be invited. ❤️ Hope to see you there for a fab evening of #poetry!

What an honour to have a #fragmentsfriday #micropoem chosen once again as one of the top three! 🥳 Thank you to @matthewmcsmith.bsky.social and Elizabeth Fevyer.

#fragmentsfriday is so much fun to do, and to have had my piece selected as a winner is the icing on the cake! 🥰 A fab initiative by @matthewmcsmith.bsky.social, editor of @blackboughpoetry.bsky.social

What a lovely surprise! 🥰

For the theme #prophecy on #TopTweetTuesday, here’s my poem ‘Burning Sage’. I seem to be on a roll with witchy/wise woman poems at the moment! 🖤🧙‍♀️🖤 Thank you to @matthewmcsmith.bsky.social for hosting. #poetry #poetrycommunity #blueskypoets #skypoets #poetsofbluesky #witch

And, finally, delighted that my poem ‘I Am Storm’ found a home at The Poetry Lighthouse! ✨ #poetry #poetrylovers #poetrycommunity #skypoets #blueskypoets #poetsofbluesky www.thepoetrylighthouse.com/poems/i-am-s...

‘Rhythm’ is the second poem to have appeared at The Poetry Lighthouse last week. ✨ #poetry #poetrylovers #poetrycommunity #skypoets #blueskypoets #poetsofbluesky www.thepoetrylighthouse.com/poems/rhythm

Here’s the first of three poems published recently at The Poetry Lighthouse. ✨ #poetry #poetrylovers #poetrycommunity #skypoets #blueskypoets #poetsofbluesky www.thepoetrylighthouse.com/poems/lightb...

Such a lovely surprise! 🥰 Big thanks to @blackboughpoetry.bsky.social #micropoetry #poetry #poetrychallenge

Really useful example and notes from @matthewmcsmith.bsky.social about what to avoid in the quest to create quality #poetry. Seeing language being used in a completely fresh way is definitely what makes me sit up and notice a poem. If I’ve seen it before, I don’t want to see it again! 🤓

To bring up a child from a stranger’s womb makes a very special #mother. This is my 18-word poem for #fragmentsfriday with thanks to @matthewmcsmith.bsky.social @blackboughpoetry.bsky.social #poetry #micropoetry #skypoets #poetsofbluesky #poetrychallenge #poetrycommunity #poetrylovers

Every Friday, @blackboughpoetry.bsky.social have a #poetry challenge on social media to write a piece in 18 words or fewer. The tag is #fragmentsfriday for those who wish to participate. This is my poem. 💙💙💙 #poetsofbluesky #skypoets #blueskypoets #micropoetry #poetrycommunity #poetrylovers

Thrilled to share the poem just published by @fullhouselitmag.bsky.social ‘HEAVENLY BODIES’ Do read the beautiful #poetry in the journal and enjoy the accompanying audio versions too. www.fullhouseliterary.com/issue-1-2026 #poetsofbluesky #skypoets #blueskypoets #poetrycommunity #poetrylovers

Absolutely thrilled that my poem ‘Heavenly Bodies’ has been published in Issue 1 of @fullhouselitmag.bsky.social, 2026, alongside a host of wonderful #poetry. Look out, too, for the #audio version! 🎧 #litmag #publication #poetrycommunity #blueskypoets #skypoets #poetsofbluesky

For my fourth and final #writing-related post this week, here’s a piece for @tomsnarsky.bsky.social and #smallpoemsunday ‘HEAVY BIRD’ #poetry #poetrycommunity #poetrylovers #swan

Really enjoying this new #poetry prompt hosted by @blackboughpoetry.bsky.social, challenging us to write a condensed poem of 18 words or fewer. Here's my piece for week 3 of #fragmentsfriday #blueskypoets #skypoets #poetsofbluesky #micropoetry #poetrychallenge #poetrycommunity #poetrylovers

Delighted that another of my stories has found a home at @darkwinterlitmag.bsky.social Thank you so much to editor Suzanne. 🖤🖤🖤

Our third #fragmentsfriday tomorrow and who will take the crown following @helenlaycock.bsky.social @hool415.bsky.social and @jidebadmus.bsky.social 👑 One of those #poets again or a newbie? #poetry #writing

Looking forward to introducing the gentlemen of Lincoln Jubilee Probus Club to my Feisty Females, after lunch at The Lincoln Hotel today #Probus #U3A #Speaker #medieval #writing #histfic #Lincolnshire

A brilliantly sizzling #TedHughes tribute poem by fellow host of #TopTweetTuesday, @matthewmcsmith.bsky.social 🔥🔥🔥

I have the pleasure this morning of being joint host of #TopTweetTuesday over on X alongside @matthewmcsmith.bsky.social Poets are invited to write on #SylviaPlath or #TedHughes. This is my poem. #poetry #poetsofbluesky #blueskypoets #skypoets #poetrychallenge #poetrycommunity

Hosting the #TedHughes inspired poems on TopTweetTuesday on Twitter nxt week is @matthewmcsmith.bsky.social ‘I’m not looking for cribbed, derivate poems of Hughes. I am looking for gritty, tactile, sensory poems focused on spirit of place and the minutiae of flora and fauna. Above all, intensity!’

Hosting the #SylviaPlath inspired poems on next week’s TopTweetTuesday on Twitter is meteoric talent @helenlaycock.bsky.social ‘Rather than word-swap with Plath’s imagery, get to the heart of emotion/mood which drives your piece and trust your unique voice and language.’ 👆 👆 👆

Our poem of last week on new #poetry platform #fragmentsfriday 🥂 ‘gazing across tidal ghostlace’ @helenlaycock.bsky.social #moon #tide #love

In this introduction to ❤️ 'RAPTURE' ❤️ I go into a little detail about the #lovepoetry you will find #betweenthecovers 'The intensity of rapture so flawlessly caught' ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B... helenlaycock.wixsite.com/marbleintocl... #ValentinesDay2026 #love #poetry