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.
Search the archive
Prose and poetry
Poems and prose published on the website from start to finish.
Some foreign field by Phuoc-Tan Diep
Some foreign fieldA can of Canada Dry ginger ale lies exposed, torn in half. A tramp sniffs it for booze. It smells of fruit fermenting in wet packs. His boots are rotten, toecaps...
New work – from a new contributor
The Conjuror’s Assistant The conjuror’s assistant who woke up in bed with the conjuror, or thought she did.The conjuror’s assistant who opened her eyes at the wrong moment. The conjuror’s assistant...
462-0614 by Charles Bukowski
• Charles Bukowski (1920-1994) lived and died in LA. He claimed he lost his virginity at the age of 24 to a '300 pound whore' and the inscription on his gravestone reads Don't try. The...
Two angry poems by Marc Ketchem
Two angry poems to two cities To New York: You overheated bitchDrunk on the foul certainty that you're so importantHow many books have you spawned and soldJust to use the money to buy...
New piece by Dave Migman
The myth of the truth is...Poor Dolores, sitting there beneath the assaultprodding and prying for "truth"Did you know the moon faced boy?Did you scent musk of crazy earth?Her eyes rinse, widen,...
Spring Gleaning by Dave Migman
Spring Gleaning Pinos Genil is bloomed out blissdonkeys grazing beneath scentsfolded ducks by languid waterslittle houses perched on rocks There is no hand in mine todayand the sun casts...
New poem by Helen Ivory
WhenHarnessed to the town hall clock,you send seconds like wild horsesloose into the sky.You decide the very moment of birth,how much to fill a glass.Unlocking you will find a killer, a liar, a...
Two poems from Laura Scott
Ink EyesSuppose it was youwho started all of this,your faith and easy swagger as you stood in front of me, words falling like silkfrom your sleeves.What shall I do now –press my palm in your printto...
Gone – by Padrika Tarrant
GoneGoneMy arms clutch silenceI hold sky against my heartSo very empty• Paddy Tarrant is another of our favourite contributors. Her new book Broken Things will be published in September.
Waiting by Phuoc-Tan Diep
Waiting12pmI hate waiting - always have. 1pmMemories are littered with queues springing up ambushing me whilst I rushed for trains and zoo visits in torrential rain marred by people with umbrellas...
Poetry Picks
Our favourite poems and ‘best of’ chosen from each month between 2007 and 2019
No Results Found
The page you requested could not be found. Try refining your search, or use the navigation above to locate the post.
Haibun, Tanka, Haiku, & Haiga
Haibun, Tanka, Haiku, & Haiga reviously published on the website.
No Results Found
The page you requested could not be found. Try refining your search, or use the navigation above to locate the post.
12 Days of Christmas
All the poems from our regular 12 days of Christmas feature.
No Results Found
The page you requested could not be found. Try refining your search, or use the navigation above to locate the post.
Words & Images
Words with images previously published on the website.
No Results Found
The page you requested could not be found. Try refining your search, or use the navigation above to locate the post.
Blogs and news
Blogs and archived news from 2007 to 2020.
No Results Found
The page you requested could not be found. Try refining your search, or use the navigation above to locate the post.
Reviews
Archived reviews from 2007 to 2020.
No Results Found
The page you requested could not be found. Try refining your search, or use the navigation above to locate the post.
Interviews
Archived interviews from 2007 to 2020.
No Results Found
The page you requested could not be found. Try refining your search, or use the navigation above to locate the post.