Optimist: the cup is half full. Pessimist: the cup is half empty. Glasgow property developer: the cup has suffered irreparable water damage and must be demolished immediately out of concern for public safety and replaced with student flats.

Caution advised ...

“You’ve got to ask yourself one question: ‘Do I feel lucky?’ Well, do ya’…monk?” - 15th century, Forteresse de la for, Valenciennes, BM, 0244 (234)

Whenever someone doubts whether art really is for life, show them this ...

I first set foot in the working world 35 years ago today: a seasonal job in a warehouse for a branch of Boots the Chemist. It was meant to end after just three months – my last day, in fact, coming in February 1999. Almost a decade of earning a pittance. Of learning about life.

In case you missed Elizabeth Loudon 💙's #ekphrastic poem last night, over at After... Poems inspired by other art ...

I think Gretchen Filart 🇵🇭 is being way too hard on herself. RT if you agree.

A glimmer of hope in the darkness this morning. Just need to stay afloat for three more weeks. Will have to get inventive ...

A hot tub feels like a luxurious sexy purchase at the time, but you very quickly realise what you have actually bought yourself is endless chemistry homework

Been with O2 a long time – 12 years or longer. That ends on Friday when I move to EE via spusu_uk. Because when your incumbent carrier wants between £21 and £26 a month for 1GB-5GB of data, and a challenger brand offers 40GB for a tenner (plus 5G – at last), it's a no-brainer.

Ten days to go until ... iambapoet.com/wave/19

The power of the #poetrycommunity.

That feeling when you can hear the rain getting heavier outside but you're about to step into the shower and you just pray you'll be washed and dressed quickly enough to get downstairs and prevent your garage from flooding – resulting, possibly, in the need for another shower.

Another plug for Elizabeth Loudon 💙's #ekphrastic poem over at After... Poems inspired by other art, which seems to have stirred up some strong emotions among those of you who've read it. Not seen it yet? Make a little time for it today ...

This is witchcraft, surely?

New poem in The The New Statesman by poet Graham Mort. bit.ly/3TixcEu

Thoughtful piece for The @Guardian by @zoesqwilliams.bsky.social on whether or not it's right for left-leaning folk to continue using Twitter. bit.ly/3Th5o3s

Feeling for Becky today. She's having a shitty, chaotic day at work.

No word of a lie, Maria Popova's Maria Popova must be one of THE most valuable places on the whole internet. That it's all, entirely, her own work – no one else behind the scenes to help out – just serves to underline what a truly remarkable resource it is. Long may it exist.

Your afternoon poem comes today from the new issue of 32poems – a poem with a heart-breaking yet enigmatic ending. Here's Matthew Buckley Smith's 'The Soft Black Stars' ... bit.ly/3Xyi3Be