Nostr notes by Brian Bilston

Having one of those days today. ...

2026-09-29T09:17:02Z

Having one of those days today.

Most of the other shows look like they will come close to selling ...

2026-09-23T09:59:56Z

In reply to nevent1q…5727
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Most of the other shows look like they will come close to selling out – although if you do live near Bude, Cardiff, Glasgow, Malton, Stamford, Sunderland or Ulverston, please do spread the word as people seem to like my poetry less in those places. And who could blame them.

Stirling, Helmsley & Pocklington are the latest shows to sell ...

2026-09-23T09:59:10Z

In reply to nevent1q…h4e7
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Stirling, Helmsley & Pocklington are the latest shows to sell out – and there are very few tickets remaining for Bristol, Exeter, Bakewell, Chorley, Cardigan, Guildford, Stroud and London

Info on all the shows this autumn can be found here: https://brianbilston.com/events/

My autumn tour starts today. Sadly, it may be the last grand ...

2026-09-23T09:54:51Z

My autumn tour starts today. Sadly, it may be the last grand outing for this notebook, which has survived floods, famine, pestilence & someone trying to make off with it after a gig in Brighton.

Hopefully it will make it to Monmouth today, followed by Aberystwyth, Cardigan, Winchester & Guildford.

Autumn poem just dropped. ...

2026-09-23T07:51:05Z

Autumn poem just dropped.

Here’s a poem about one of my cat’s poems. It’s called ...

2026-09-15T08:48:52Z

Here’s a poem about one of my cat’s poems. It’s called “On ‘,,,;;pppppp’[[[[[[[[[[[[;’;////////////////////////3,’”.

Today’s poem is called ‘Poem, Revised Draft’. ...

2026-09-13T08:51:23Z

Today’s poem is called ‘Poem, Revised Draft’.

Oh no! I think there are other tickets left through other ...

2026-09-12T09:33:42Z

In reply to nevent1q…c0q3
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Oh no! I think there are other tickets left through other sellers: https://tickets.ents24.com/event/brian-bilston-how-to-lay-an-egg/union-chapel/3562166?inf=ab-b

From next week, I'll be off on tour - with [gulp] 45 shows ...

2026-09-12T09:17:27Z

From next week, I'll be off on tour - with [gulp] 45 shows this autumn.

Many are close to selling out: Cardigan, Guildford, Croydon, Norwich, Manchester, Stroud, Stirling, Leeds, Exeter, Newark, Bakewell, Chorley, Liverpool, Bristol, London.

Hope to see some of you when I'm out and about. (1/2)

Today’s poem is called ‘You Can’t Judge a Book’. ...

2026-09-12T08:45:06Z

Today’s poem is called ‘You Can’t Judge a Book’.

Today’s offering is an attempt to write a poem in real time ...

2026-09-11T08:22:42Z

Today’s offering is an attempt to write a poem in real time while on a train journey.

Today’s poem is called ‘In the Departure Lounge’. ...

2026-09-10T08:27:06Z

Today’s poem is called ‘In the Departure Lounge’.

Today’s poem is called ‘Love Excels’. ...

2026-09-08T08:56:54Z

Today’s poem is called ‘Love Excels’.

Today’s poem is called ‘The Grammar Police’. ...

2026-09-07T08:21:28Z

Today’s poem is called ‘The Grammar Police’.

People of Wales … I will be with you shortly to read some ...

2026-09-05T09:15:34Z

People of Wales … I will be with you shortly to read some poems, starting with Monmouth on 23rd of this month. Then I’m off to Aberystwyth and Cardigan, before heading back again in December with a trip to Cardiff.

Hope to see some of you on my travels.

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

Today’s poem is called ‘Not Her Cup of Tea’. ...

2026-09-05T08:01:29Z

Today’s poem is called ‘Not Her Cup of Tea’.

Today’s poem is called ‘Bags’. ...

2026-09-04T08:38:09Z

Today’s poem is called ‘Bags’.

Today’s poem is called ‘Fall’. ...

2026-09-03T08:48:39Z

In reply to nevent1q…u4le
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Today’s poem is called ‘Fall’.

Today’s poem is called ‘Love is a Skin’. ...

2026-09-02T09:11:32Z

Today’s poem is called ‘Love is a Skin’.

Ten years ago, ‘You Took the Last Bus Home’ was published. It ...

2026-09-01T09:35:15Z

Ten years ago, ‘You Took the Last Bus Home’ was published. It was my first collection of poetry and incredibly, it’s still going strong. To celebrate the anniversary, I thought I’d share a poem from it every day this month, starting with the title poem.

Just under two weeks to go before my #edfringe debut and here’s ...

2026-08-11T09:06:44Z

Just under two weeks to go before my #edfringe debut and here’s a fab poster designed by the brilliant @ninaffle to advertise the show.

It would be great to see you there.

Tickets here: https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/brian-bilston-how-to-lay-an-egg-with-a-horse-inside

It’s paperback publication day for my collection of poems about ...

2026-08-06T10:30:50Z

It’s paperback publication day for my collection of poems about pets, Let Sleeping Cats Lie.

Available for a mere £7.99 from a bookshop near you. Thats about a bob per poem in old money.

https://uk.bookshop.org/a/295/9781035050574

Today is Venn Day, in celebration of the mathematician John Venn, ...

2026-08-04T09:30:29Z

Today is Venn Day, in celebration of the mathematician John Venn, born on this day in 1834. To commemorate the occasion, here’s a poem in the form of a Venn Diagram.

Today is World Refugee Day. Here’s a poem called ...

2026-06-20T08:00:04Z

Today is World Refugee Day. Here’s a poem called ‘Refugees’.

Here’s a poem called ‘What Don Corleone Did Next’. ...

2026-05-27T08:33:55Z

Here’s a poem called ‘What Don Corleone Did Next’. #worldotterday

The poemwriting is not goingwell today. ...

2026-05-25T09:02:40Z

The poemwriting is not goingwell today.

Very pleased to share with you the result of a recent commission ...

2026-05-22T09:09:58Z

Very pleased to share with you the result of a recent commission I received from Good Housekeeping magazine to write an erotic poem for its readers.

A poem for World Bee Day. ...

2026-05-20T08:32:38Z

A poem for World Bee Day.

Sometimes the poems I write aren’t the ones I intend to write. ...

2026-05-18T08:10:00Z

Sometimes the poems I write aren’t the ones I intend to write.

Here’s a poem called ‘Life of a Naturalist’. ...

2026-05-08T08:49:40Z

Here’s a poem called ‘Life of a Naturalist’.

Given that it’s May 4th, I suppose I should give this its ...

2026-05-04T08:19:24Z

Given that it’s May 4th, I suppose I should give this its annual airing.

Today’s poem is called ‘Why You Should Never Ever Follow Your ...

2026-04-27T07:53:38Z

Today’s poem is called ‘Why You Should Never Ever Follow Your Dreams’.

Today’s poem is called ‘Wild Weekend’. ...

2026-04-26T08:32:03Z

Today’s poem is called ‘Wild Weekend’.

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

2026-04-25T07:36:34Z

Today’s poem is called ‘Anniversary’.

Today’s poem is called ‘Billionaire in a Midlife Crisis’. ...

2026-04-24T08:40:45Z

Today’s poem is called ‘Billionaire in a Midlife Crisis’.

Today’s poem is called ‘Word Crunching’. ...

2026-04-23T08:19:08Z

Today’s poem is called ‘Word Crunching’.

Today’s poem is called ‘An Invention of Collective Nouns’. ...

2026-04-22T08:23:42Z

Today’s poem is called ‘An Invention of Collective Nouns’.

Today’s poem is called ‘Index of Poems I Shall Never ...

2026-04-21T08:37:20Z

Today’s poem is called ‘Index of Poems I Shall Never Write’.

Today’s poem is called ‘Utterly Betrayed’. ...

2026-04-18T07:32:07Z

Today’s poem is called ‘Utterly Betrayed’.

It’s International Haiku Day apparently and so for today’s ...

2026-04-17T08:08:17Z

It’s International Haiku Day apparently and so for today’s poetry offering, here are a few assorted haiku.

Today’s poem is called ‘Requiem for Whoever’. It’s one of ...

2026-04-16T07:34:52Z

Today’s poem is called ‘Requiem for Whoever’.

It’s one of my more tender, thoughtful poems, as I attempt to gain a small share of the lucrative funeral poetry market.

Today’s poem is called ‘On Tender Hooks’. ...

2026-04-15T09:08:13Z

Today’s poem is called ‘On Tender Hooks’.

Today’s poem is called ‘Job Interview with a Cat’. ...

2026-04-14T08:16:13Z

Today’s poem is called ‘Job Interview with a Cat’.

Today’s poem is called ‘Monday is a State of Mind’. ...

2026-04-13T07:54:14Z

Today’s poem is called ‘Monday is a State of Mind’.

Today’s poem is called ‘The Power of a Homophone’. ...

2026-04-12T08:06:11Z

Today’s poem is called ‘The Power of a Homophone’.

Today’s poem is called ‘I Did Not Tell Death Where I ...

2026-04-11T08:06:45Z

Today’s poem is called ‘I Did Not Tell Death Where I Lived’.

Today’s poem is called ‘Acrostic Poetry: The Benefits’. ...

2026-04-10T08:55:39Z

Today’s poem is called ‘Acrostic Poetry: The Benefits’.

Today’s poem is called ‘This is One of Those Poems without ...

2026-04-09T08:23:43Z

Today’s poem is called ‘This is One of Those Poems without any Rhymes’.

Today’s poem is called ‘No Body’s Perfect’. ...

2026-04-08T08:02:24Z

Today’s poem is called ‘No Body’s Perfect’.

Today’s poem is called ‘The Day My Dog Spontaneously ...

2026-04-06T07:28:56Z

Today’s poem is called ‘The Day My Dog Spontaneously Combusted’.

Today’s poem is called ‘Slow Puncture’. ...

2026-04-05T08:51:22Z

Today’s poem is called ‘Slow Puncture’.

Today’s poem is called ‘Add to Basket’. ...

2026-04-04T07:34:27Z

Today’s poem is called ‘Add to Basket’.

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’.