Mike O’Brien

@zoomburst

Sixty odd years old - Sixty Odd Press zoomburst.substack.com sixtyoddpoets.substack.com

1.046 Folgt1.351 Follower1.873 Posts

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Mike O’Brien@zoomburst· 12d

There's been some great #PoemsAbout #LastTrain this week. The journeys home, the memories, the history. I have enjoyed reading them all... A few have gone with the disappointment that there are not as many trains and lines as there used to be. I'm one of those

Mike O’Brien@zoomburst· 12d

a clear view of the fate that awaits us - it reminds me of this book.. I bought it at a book festival about five years ago. The the elderly writer cancelled his talk - he was ill... Just looked him up - he's 92, and still not boarded that bus.

Mike O’Brien@zoomburst· 17d

Merci beaucoup @alinaetc.bsky.social J'adore ma carte postale!

Its me - looking at a postcard from France with three ballet dances on it, standing at a bar.

Mike O’Brien@zoomburst· 19d

#poemsabout #BadHabits An interesting challenge this week... let's go visit a dusty old classroom in the 1970s

No... it isn't true... I made the whole story up... (apart from the twitching cheek of a teacher reputed to have been a prisoner of war in Japan)

Mike O’Brien@zoomburst· 19d

Aha!

A young Roger Waldron holding an outsize lightbulb

Mike O’Brien@zoomburst· 23d

Its back - by Popular Demand - This time at Mexborough Library - Join me to find out about Charles Dickens' double life, and his visit to Doncaster, with more than horse racing on his mind.

Charles Dickens outside a Doncaster Pub, where he stayed in 1857 - I will be giving a talk about it in Mexborough Library this Friday!

Mike O’Brien@zoomburst· 26d

#PoemsAbout #ExitWounds

I’m in hospital again! Not as badly off as the guy in the poem. Raised heartbeat. Hoping they don’t keep me in.

Mike O’Brien@zoomburst· Jul 10

#PoemsAbout #PowerCuts My wife thinks that I am packing a suitcase to get ready for a holiday... I'll do it in a minute.

Who does he think he is? William Carlos bloody Williams, or what? cupboard under the stairs. For God's sake!

Mike O’Brien@zoomburst· Jul 3

Heres a well travelled and oft rejected poem... #PoemsAbout #CheapMotels

This Travelodge poem has been rejected by The Rumpus, Acumen, and Northern Gravy. Rightly so! I have tweaked it a bit but, I don't hold out a lot of hope for it. Still... Onwards and upwards!

Mike O’Brien@zoomburst· Jul 3

Its not a competition, or submissions call , just a bit of fun, but I might well ask the writers of some of the ones that I enjoy if I can use them in a Sixty Odd Poets page later in the month. If there's any response I might do another in August. sixtyoddpoets.substack.com #Poetry #OddChallenge

A blackboard with a poetry challenge on it - "Write a poem in the future tense"

Mike O’Brien@zoomburst· Jun 21

#PoemsAbout #OutAfterMidnight Im late to the party, and there have been so many good things happening. My mind turns to another party, many years ago. youtu.be/-14L7wDwuGc

A party at my grandmas house. probably about the time when people were mostly listening to the Beatles.

Mike O’Brien@zoomburst· Jun 17

My #poetry reading at the Bawtry festival was a success (even though I say it myself) I managed two forty minute sets of poetry, anecdotes and chatter which was well received. No one walked out in disgust, and I managed to sell a few books. Anyone want to book me? (seriously - I have the bug now.)

Hastily cobbled together publicity material attempting to make me look human and approachable - which I actually am, although sometimes its hard to discern from other images that I have put out.

Seriously though. I would love to do a set at your arts centre, library or small theatre. it needn't be the full 2x40 minutes, and I'm happy to support anyone else. And I won't ask for a shitload of money either. As long as I don't end up out of pocket re expenses, and have the opportunity to tout a few books, I'll be happy.

Mike O’Brien@zoomburst· Jun 16

As long as we don't go back to the one where the tiger forgot to put his teeth in.

Mike O’Brien@zoomburst· Jun 12

#PoemsAbout #WrongBody What can I say?

A poem pointing out that the older we get, the wronger our bodies become.

Mike O’Brien@zoomburst· Jun 8

Every world tour has to start somewhere. My #poetry one kicks off at Bawtry Library next week - I just need to organise a few more dates...

A poster for a talk by a devilishly handsome gentleman at the Bawtry Community Library on the 16th of June. It gives a phone number for "signing up" I dare say there will be room for one or two people who turn up on the day.

Mike O’Brien@zoomburst· Jun 3

In the absence of a #PoemsAbout this week, I am going to suggest an #OddFriday of #PoemsOn #OpportunityKnocks. I don't want to tread on the toes of @alanparrywriter.co.uk - so I am more than happy to take this down if he has something up his sleeve. I just want to have my regular read this Friday.

Write a poem on the theme of Opportunity Knocks - for Friday Morning - Don't post before Friday Morning. If there is a #PoemsAbout prompt, please disregard this and do that one

Mike O’Brien@zoomburst· May 30

Ohh crikey, its a tough call this week... #PoemsAbout #EarnTheRight

a clever clogs poem that attempts to make a virtue of its own inadequacy

Mike O’Brien@zoomburst· May 23

Cooom onnnn youuuu ridiculous old man who went straight to the Turkish Barber and asked for an Ollie McBurnie #HCAFC

Ollie McBurnie after scoring the goal that took Hull City into the premiership.

Mike O’Brien@zoomburst· May 22

And here we are! Another Friday, Another poem :) #PoemsAbout #BearingWitness.

A poem written from the point of view of an ex-Jehova's witness. I know that they haven't done much door knocking since covid. Now I see them congregated around magazine stands of Watchtowers in small groups on high streets, chatting happily with one another, and hardly bothering to interact with non believers. Makes for an easier life for them and me, but I sort of miss them.

Mike O’Brien@zoomburst· May 21

I wanted to be in a band like this. They all had special powers and their commander would contact them mid gig via a small TV screen in the end of one of the guitars.

The Impossibles. A 60s Hanna Barbera cartoon featuring a pop group with crime busting secret identities. My favourite was Multi man on the left there. He could instantly multiply himself to overwhelm an enemy. What a philosophical conundrum. How would that work out practically? “My name is Legion for we are many”

Mike O’Brien@zoomburst· May 12

It's all happening tonight! (12th May) LOL! (Live on Line). Roger Waldron reading from his book "Notes from Various Settees" With an Open Mic too. Sign up for this free event! It all kicks off at 7pm BST. #poetry #OpenMic @throwawayreg.bsky.social bit.ly/SetteeNotes

Mike O’Brien@zoomburst· May 10

I might as well post it #PoemsAbout #NamesNotNumbers

A poem on the theme of names not numbers, which blends ideas from a couple of counting songs. If you know them, perhaps you can sing them? I found it satisfying to do just that/ And therein lies my satisfaction with the poem - it nudged me towards the songs.

Mike O’Brien@zoomburst· May 1

#PoemsAbout #AftertheSirens Here's my concoction. Its a bit of a sequel to an old one - (bit.ly/3Rd5HOg if you are at all interested) - but perhaps a tiny bit more romantic. Thanks to all who read

A poem in which an old seadog reflects on his career and looks to a calmer future.

Mike O’Brien@zoomburst· Apr 29

Wish me luck.I’m giving a talk in #Doncaster this evening. On #Dickens

Poster for my talk on Dickens’ 1857 visit to Doncaster

Mike O’Brien@zoomburst· Apr 24

Here's a piece for #PoemsAbout #singalloss. Hiya @alanparrywriter.co.uk

an odd little piece of blank verse imagining why we don't really know what happens when we die.
Strangely enough I resisted the temptation to namecheck Doris Stokes

Mike O’Brien@zoomburst· Apr 24

thats a very poignant picture Roger. And whilst I'm here let me direct readers to our little venture bit.ly/SetteeNotes

The surface of the table next to Roger Waldron's settee

Mike O’Brien@zoomburst· Apr 17

#poemsabout #gravity

A short poem hinging on the fact that levity is an antonym for gravity.

Mike O’Brien@zoomburst· Apr 13

I'm packed up and I'm off on the 51 mile odyssey to Leeds to participate in the Leeds Song Festival #LS26, reading #poetry, which has been set to music by Joanna Ward and realised in art form by Hannah Guy. With a soprano & a classical pianist on board, its the most cultured band I've ever been in.

poster for Leeds Song Poets and Composers Forum 2026... I'll be there - will you?

Mike O’Brien@zoomburst· Apr 10

#PoemsAbout #EdgeOfKnowing

A poem about tuning in, using a radio or television receiver, or a mushroom.

Mike O’Brien@zoomburst· Apr 7

An early image of John Motson looking for a half time snack.