Welcome to the Ink Sweat & Tears Poetry Archive
This archive is formed from all the posts from that original Ink Sweat & Tears website, it now consists of everything we have published up to the end of 2019. IS&T was founded by Salt author Charles Christian in 2007 as a platform for new poetry and short prose, and experimental work in digital media. Charles ran the site single-handedly, publishing new work every day till 2010, when now sole editor, poet and artist Helen Ivory came on board as Deputy Editor. The Ink Sweat & Tears website continues to run and can be found here.
You can either click on the poems below which run from most recent to oldest, or you can search for particular poem or poet, there is also a list of all the categories to click through. From Prose & Poetry to Words and Images, Haibun, Tanka, Haiku & Haiga, in addition we have all of the Poems of the month and Poetry picks, old blogs and news, award nominated, reviews and interviews.
Please do take a look.
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Prose and poetry
Poems and prose published on the website from start to finish.
John Osborne is counting ladybirds
Ladybirds"There are so few clouds in the sky I could fit them all in my pocket" you said to me lying on the hammock in our garden but I ignored you assuming you had heatstroke or were tipsy...
Colin Cross is drinking to forget
Three short poems by regular IS&T contributor Colin Cross...DRINK TO FORGETI can't sayI drink to forgetbecauseI always rememberdrinkingevenif everything elseis a blank# # # # #NOTHINGnothing...
New flash fiction by Cath Barton
Catching the light I saw Joan Crawford last night. She was the ringmaster at the circus. Yes, for real, not like in that film.Me and Effie were walking down Mid Street when I saw the...
Lizzy Dening is at the hospital with Jackie Wilson
Jackie WilsonAfter a certain pointit’s too late to walk into a movie.When you’ve missed the set-up,the love interest, the plot complications.If you’re in the line for popcorn,when it’s your own life...
New flash fiction by Mark Reep
Better DaysThe painters had taken off the switchcovers. I looked in the silverware drawer. No knives. A big kid in coveralls stood in the doorway unscrewing a long handle from a...
Ben Wilkinson is on Montale's Balcony
The Balconyafter Eugenio MontaleRemember those nights I’d linger belowas you stood in the stars and we’d talkof leaving, as if auditioning for the partof Romeo and fluffing my lines as usual?Now on...
Helen Mort is carrying on
The LovesickWritten in response to the Carry On film 'Follow That Camel!'We're just like Bo and Nocker in a 1960s film; two mugs drawn in by something like a belly-dancer's tasselled...
Geoff Stevens says TFI Friday
Yes, bad timing, this should really be used tomorrow...FFRIDAY Fuck she saidno hot waterFuck she saidone earring rollingbeneath the bedFuck she saidit’s half past eightI’ll be lateFuck she...
Melissa Lee-Houghton says she's yours
She’s YoursOne version is that you went to prison, and nobody knowing why only makes it all the more glamorousto a seven year old with a giddy imagination.Out picking daisies and dandelion...
Andrea Porter on trying not to be seen
Dementia Perpetua(i.m M.A.P)If you keep looking down they can’t see you. I don’t want to catch their eye again. It’s like playing Peep-O with a baby, if they can’t see your face it’s as if you...
Poetry Picks
Our favourite poems and ‘best of’ chosen from each month between 2007 and 2019
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Haibun, Tanka, Haiku, & Haiga
Haibun, Tanka, Haiku, & Haiga reviously published on the website.
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12 Days of Christmas
All the poems from our regular 12 days of Christmas feature.
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Words & Images
Words with images previously published on the website.
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Blogs and news
Blogs and archived news from 2007 to 2020.
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Reviews
Archived reviews from 2007 to 2020.
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Interviews
Archived interviews from 2007 to 2020.
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