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alttextpoetry.bsky.social
ALT Text Poet
@alttextpoetry.bsky.social
220 followers 340 following 39 posts
• 76% water
• 22% assorted stardust
• 4% eternal sliver of the one universal consciousness
• All bad at math.

Name's Darren. Find my poetry by clicking the ALT. Find me by clicking here ↙️
@DarreninBelleville.bsky.social
Posts Replies Media Videos
Reposted by ALT Text Poet
davidcsimon.bsky.social
Superb Fairy-wren on my driveway.
#birds
Photo of a small passerine bird standing on a rough driveway with gumnut caps and small patches of moss. It is looking at the viewer and is close enough for a shallow depth of field to be evident. The bird has a cream belly and brown wings, a black head and throat with light blues crown, cheeks, and a light blue strip on its back. It has a long, narrow tail feathers of black and blue, held high. Its eyes and beak are black.
August 21, 2026 at 11:54 PM
Reposted by ALT Text Poet
alttextpoetry.bsky.social
How has it been 10 years already?

Please enjoy my piece that tried to capture the mood 'That Night in Kingston'. It's longer, so part two is below.

#GordDownie #CanadaSky #TheTragicallyHip
08/20/16 (That Night in Kingston) Part 1 A headline in May made a living myth human - even though he had never not been that small delusion lost made the news that day that much harder to take and would soon swell a market square to the size of a nation when a pilgrimage almost three decades long rolled up in a Prevost bus to the front door of Kingston to make a Canuck-ian Mecca out of our old capital for one day in August, and a late-breaking concert on the CBC... So the pulse of a nation stopped while our public broadcaster, God bless her, filled in for our blood as she's done before, in our constricted veins and hurting hearts across this vast geography the transfusion of his words and movements and face smiling or rage, tears, scream and love - mostly love took the rightful place of a nation's plasma for three short hours of a national celebration a conversation in song between itself, and a band and itself again, and at the same time mediated by that same man on his stage a vast stage over nine thousand kilometres wide; the only one who could in the only place he could, and he did it all while dying. While we all stood dying, really - let's not kid about it. Not now. I stood, and closed my eyes and opened my self to a long-reaching sense, a pull a gravity, billowing through the masses there - so tangibly, invisibly there that drew an inexorable connectivity from across this land and filled this city and the collective consciousness of our country that filled one place and made all places Kingston for three short hours and the uncharted territory, like indigenous kanata of a third encore. Fever by the lake, constellations, centuries, and grace too... weeping shamelessly among the 30,000 - letting the whole heady vibe sink in, that was somehow woefully heavy and wonderfully light at the same time -
August 20, 2026 at 4:02 PM
alttextpoetry.bsky.social
How has it been 10 years already?

Please enjoy my piece that tried to capture the mood 'That Night in Kingston'. It's longer, so part two is below.

#GordDownie #CanadaSky #TheTragicallyHip
08/20/16 (That Night in Kingston) Part 1 A headline in May made a living myth human - even though he had never not been that small delusion lost made the news that day that much harder to take and would soon swell a market square to the size of a nation when a pilgrimage almost three decades long rolled up in a Prevost bus to the front door of Kingston to make a Canuck-ian Mecca out of our old capital for one day in August, and a late-breaking concert on the CBC... So the pulse of a nation stopped while our public broadcaster, God bless her, filled in for our blood as she's done before, in our constricted veins and hurting hearts across this vast geography the transfusion of his words and movements and face smiling or rage, tears, scream and love - mostly love took the rightful place of a nation's plasma for three short hours of a national celebration a conversation in song between itself, and a band and itself again, and at the same time mediated by that same man on his stage a vast stage over nine thousand kilometres wide; the only one who could in the only place he could, and he did it all while dying. While we all stood dying, really - let's not kid about it. Not now. I stood, and closed my eyes and opened my self to a long-reaching sense, a pull a gravity, billowing through the masses there - so tangibly, invisibly there that drew an inexorable connectivity from across this land and filled this city and the collective consciousness of our country that filled one place and made all places Kingston for three short hours and the uncharted territory, like indigenous kanata of a third encore. Fever by the lake, constellations, centuries, and grace too... weeping shamelessly among the 30,000 - letting the whole heady vibe sink in, that was somehow woefully heavy and wonderfully light at the same time -
August 20, 2026 at 4:02 PM
alttextpoetry.bsky.social
Grey day all alone with me
Gave my square a little tidy
And my cheeks are shaved right clean
Now a hop in the shower
Inside, not the one falling out
Then simple errands,
Say, quarter-hour -
Then some toast on the couch.

#NotAltTextPoetry
#micropoetry
July 21, 2026 at 5:42 PM
alttextpoetry.bsky.social
And it's all free of charge! 😃
alttextpoetry.bsky.social ALT Text Poet @alttextpoetry.bsky.social · May 29
Hey if anyone digs #poetry and #writing, would you please consider following me? I'd really like to up my readership.

Thank you!
July 1, 2026 at 3:29 PM
alttextpoetry.bsky.social
I should have asked to purchase this photo for my solstice-poem image. So beautiful....

bsky.app/profile/altt...
ariaa.bsky.social Ariaa® @ariaa.bsky.social · Jun 22
Another shot from yesterday at Stonehenge. unfortunately the poster Ethereal Earth never names the photographers.
June 22, 2026 at 8:19 PM
Reposted by ALT Text Poet
alttextpoetry.bsky.social
Hey if anyone digs #poetry and #writing, would you please consider following me? I'd really like to up my readership.

Thank you!
May 29, 2026 at 2:30 AM
alttextpoetry.bsky.social
Please enjoy my summer #solstice #poem - and enjoy this special day! ☀️
The Solstice-hiker's Guide to Archaeoastronomy (With Contextual Commentary and Postscript) It began today in the land down under at Wurdi Youang, an egg-shaped wonder of piled and arranged old basalt stones laid down in rows 10,000 years ago whose lines show to a startling degree where today's sunset and horizon will meet. Then moving on, in a land of sand and sun three small pyramids threw shadows at one that had slid south on it's face as far as they'll go so that only one little pyramid shadow was shown... And as it sets this eve, to touch distant dunes the sun will travel exactly between the two Great Pyramids of Khafre and Khufu. In Europe today, as the sun rolled round it aligned perfectly with rings and mounds laid down by long lost cultures that used carved stones and natural structures to mark this day, and a few others more that have entered into our modern lore though the one that holds the most legend; The ring at Salisbury called Stonehenge And across the ocean wide did run today's blossoming solstice dawn this ever-rolling golden power (speeding, equatorially, a thousand miles per hour) streams and gleams on land again on this new coast, now North American Arriving today in Ohio A snake's mounded curves might mark the glow of a bright supernova that blew whose light was seen for two weeks through both night and day a millennium ago (Cont in Part2) P2 (created the crab nebula, wouldn't you know) The largest earthen effigy snake that we have found at any sake and guess where this snake faces? Exactly the point t'which today's sun paces. Then a little East & a long way south A stone monument reveals the truth that here lies the final resting place of the sun's most northerly trace high on the mountain, in Machu Picchu in a solar temple rests the light in situ a perfectly aligned sunset phenomena whose name Intiwatana when the conversion to english is done Translates to 'the hitching post of the sun' And a little South & a long way East Ancient islanders performed colossal feats and carved almost a thousand Moai whose old stone-faces stare far away but one there is who has a gaze that's pointed to that certain place where the sun will soon today be ending & this statue Huri A Urenga will watch it sink to that point on the sea as he has done this day for centuries. And now here we are while today's light fades but we're living in another age of technologies and fantasies and comforting multiplicities that the ancients couldn't ever conceive And I wonder sometimes, would they trade the wisdom & the works like these they made & knowing a natural calendar that beats the one of ours by far would they trade that for what now has meaning? I wonder sometimes just what we're missing and sometimes find myself just wishing for such a vividness of living technicolor connections to everything Just imagine what ancient humans were dreaming when night was black and the sky was gleaming And that they knew; they KNEW that star gave rise to every living thing - Well now the solar solstice day is halfway through for it's one trillion, six hundred billionth or so time And I hope I've entertained or even educated some of you with this globe-trotting summer solstice rhyme And I guess this kind of adds to these works of the ancients too, 'cause this is the only day this poem is true. — but I'd still prefer a Stonehenge any time!
June 21, 2026 at 6:53 PM
alttextpoetry.bsky.social
Heading to Chef Chris' house in Prince Edward County in a little bit - to recod some poetry readings! Can't wait to have them available. Maybe an audio book version??
June 18, 2026 at 2:41 PM
alttextpoetry.bsky.social
Hey if anyone digs #poetry and #writing, would you please consider following me? I'd really like to up my readership.

Thank you!
May 29, 2026 at 2:30 AM
alttextpoetry.bsky.social
Poetry night at #Kafana downtown #Belleville! I'll be reading the piece I posted yesterday.
A poster advertising an open mic poetry night the last Thursday of every month, starting at 6pm, downtown Belleville.
May 28, 2026 at 8:43 PM
alttextpoetry.bsky.social
#Whipoorwill #CanadaSky #Nature #Camping #Poem #Poetry #Canada #Ontario #Backcountry #Kawartha

There. Now maybe some people will read it! 🍁🏕
alttextpoetry.bsky.social ALT Text Poet @alttextpoetry.bsky.social · May 28
Fresh off the presses and a night in the backcountry. Please enjoy "A Backcountry Song of Sleep Loss," by clicking the alt!
There we were Upon the lake The stars poked out As it got late The sun slipped down under the earth And a silence fell Until... the chirps. It was quite pretty At the first A call that came out in a burst And then it went again And again. A quiet - and then, again, again! "Is that still the whipoor-whill?" You asked I nodded, "still." His cry is constant and quite shrill I wonder will it get its fill I wonder will it ever chill? Ceaselessly from down the lake What a cacophony this bird makes! It is already half past ten And with every stop it starts again! Now oh my God is that another Whipoor-whilling from the northward? Now two of them are on this lake Will this raucousness abate? Just go to her or go to him Anything to stop this din Unless and when you're both together You make a sound that is no better But if you snuggle keep it quiet And if you don't just stop this riot Some time of and two and then - Oh my lord I hear a third! What is with these stupid birds? You're a near-endangered species But I am pondering a thesis That most of you are just here hiding On this yonder lake where I lay awake And crying While a vile chorus fills the night And - what is this - could I be right? Is that now the fourth whipoor-whill Calling on our very island's hill?! And as I toss round in my tent The air itself is nearly rent By never ending chorus whistle Of a rowdy gang of whipoor-whill-ils And finally as the hours wee and just before the dawn I hear to find at my surprise - The whipoor-calls have gone. Oh I bet those little feathered creeps Tired by incessant cheeps Are surely enjoying some dreamy sleep That I got so little of! And so at six I wakened Bleary-eyed to sunshine And left the lake at half past 9, to the sleeping whipoor gang But I'll tell you something And I don't mind saying I did a very ape-thing - and I screamed the entire time!
May 28, 2026 at 2:02 AM
alttextpoetry.bsky.social
Fresh off the presses and a night in the backcountry. Please enjoy "A Backcountry Song of Sleep Loss," by clicking the alt!
There we were Upon the lake The stars poked out As it got late The sun slipped down under the earth And a silence fell Until... the chirps. It was quite pretty At the first A call that came out in a burst And then it went again And again. A quiet - and then, again, again! "Is that still the whipoor-whill?" You asked I nodded, "still." His cry is constant and quite shrill I wonder will it get its fill I wonder will it ever chill? Ceaselessly from down the lake What a cacophony this bird makes! It is already half past ten And with every stop it starts again! Now oh my God is that another Whipoor-whilling from the northward? Now two of them are on this lake Will this raucousness abate? Just go to her or go to him Anything to stop this din Unless and when you're both together You make a sound that is no better But if you snuggle keep it quiet And if you don't just stop this riot Some time of and two and then - Oh my lord I hear a third! What is with these stupid birds? You're a near-endangered species But I am pondering a thesis That most of you are just here hiding On this yonder lake where I lay awake And crying While a vile chorus fills the night And - what is this - could I be right? Is that now the fourth whipoor-whill Calling on our very island's hill?! And as I toss round in my tent The air itself is nearly rent By never ending chorus whistle Of a rowdy gang of whipoor-whill-ils And finally as the hours wee and just before the dawn I hear to find at my surprise - The whipoor-calls have gone. Oh I bet those little feathered creeps Tired by incessant cheeps Are surely enjoying some dreamy sleep That I got so little of! And so at six I wakened Bleary-eyed to sunshine And left the lake at half past 9, to the sleeping whipoor gang But I'll tell you something And I don't mind saying I did a very ape-thing - and I screamed the entire time!
May 28, 2026 at 12:41 AM
alttextpoetry.bsky.social
Oh this is delicious...
slumflower.bsky.social 八瀬🌻🎸 @slumflower.bsky.social · May 15
Lapis and Lazuli are actually such beautiful names for twins
May 15, 2026 at 1:40 AM
Reposted by ALT Text Poet
memphisbelle1114.bsky.social
I want to announce that I have recovered. After nearly 8 years of hardly reading at all, I read AN ENTIRE BOOK last night. I'M SO BACK.

#Booksky
May 14, 2026 at 11:56 PM
alttextpoetry.bsky.social
Good Grey Day Curtains tell Without show Open and behold - Good grey day. Not that straight bright Clear day light That cloudless Was made for less To wash to see Bathe in a way High def star lamp Cut lines sharp And squint.. But ah, this glorious diffuse! Butterflies maybe Fine enough I don't need their chaos Birds and breeze sure Light and ease Possibilities, bah - just imagine! Fluffy white clouds Are too sillyserious Before crack blue behind Swooshing by all fine - for babies maybe! Who need such soft and squish Nah, too bright Too hallmark post card pretty Cheap novel ending Badly written love scene No think Too pink Verdant green ain't got a thing On slate sky falling Chumps, chids, and half-wits "Gorsh, a sunny day!" Have it. Gimme that wet staccato Jamming out my roof Honesty for me Of Earth taking her shower Mud is richer than Bezos, Believe it And gold and silver shine, sure But good grey is greater; Inspires and equalizes Evens and eases Atmospheric covers pulled up Light-scatter sheened sidewalk Rain-splatter painted A thousand mirrors a street To gleam interior Of sight and light That comes from elsewhere Drinking down Life-spell overcast To grow what's must to make For you lovers of A sunny day bauble.
May 15, 2026 at 12:10 AM
alttextpoetry.bsky.social
#Micropoetry #Poem #Poetry

S'morning I hopped, bed-to-up
Dropped the curtain down, "sup?"
Another curtain! white sheet sheen -
The eastend beyond could not be seen
Escaped a gasp - not very loud
Somehow I woke inside a cloud!
Wiped my eyes like a skunk-hit dog -
The city - souped in thickly fog...
April 16, 2026 at 7:39 PM
alttextpoetry.bsky.social
Here's a piece from a couple years back to, I dunno, maybe make the cold a little better? 'Praise Winter!' - click the alt for the poetry.

#Poetry #Poem #PoetrySky
Praise Winter! Ah, sweet frozen sleetsnow falling! So speak of my fragility! blow spears of shredded cicles - glaze the world in icy whiteness 'cross the bricks and mortar surety of our crystal snowflake weakness to show how thin our modest comforts are with coldest arctic airs; and wreak your howling vengeance on our humbleness laid bare as you scream in whitewinds wending that our lives you could be ending should we stray into your frozen fury more than minutes-briefly, without our fleece-lined, zippered gortex. You command and you receive our vilest respect When your bitter ice-lined message with our very bones does intersect and I glory in the wonder of your winter-whistle blast that speaks of all the souls you stole in your season's kingdom past I cherish every frozen shard that patters on my face I value every frigid hammerblast of your freezing arctic mace For you speak in a simple, violent honesty that puts the grandness of humanity and all the arrogance of our supposed mastery in it's rightful place.
December 17, 2025 at 12:54 PM
alttextpoetry.bsky.social
I presented this at a Krampusfest show downtown with Bad Tractor as musical backdrop. Please enjoy 'Conceit for the True Christmas GOAT.'

Just click the alt!

#AltTextPoetry #Poetry #Krampus #Christmas
Imagine for a minute You're a creature that is in it Just to clobber all the worst of all the kids Get a club and make'em hobble Just a little for their trouble While all the love goes to the man in red Like a trip on amanita Of reindeer through aurora Flying across the sky to bring the gifts He's slippin' slyly down the chimneys While you're kickin little Jimmies He gets all the glory, better story — you get sticks That you crack across the legs Of snarky little Pegs Hack at knees of the Jacks and Steves that shun their chores While he snacks on milk and cookies You're out there smacking bullies Whack a swatch across a shoulder, make'em sore! His red suit and polished boots - A fine filigree for fools! You've got fur and cloven hooves and crooked horns In lieu of his smiling visage You strike a pose that's purely savage A figure roundly ridiculed and scorned His laugh a warm benevolence Your duty, doling violence He's the happy hallowed saint of holidays But for some moral justice You are just the consequence The devil that collects what devils pay... So to heck with jolly old Nick You're the OG paygan prick! We should get you into malls like all the Santas! In this late day and age there's many deserve your rage Get in line all snotty scoundrels — time for Krampus!
December 16, 2025 at 4:26 PM
alttextpoetry.bsky.social
Happy #WorldPoetryDay! I know I've been AWOL for AWHILE, but I'm coming back today to bring you some verse from all over! Let's start in Canada!
March 21, 2025 at 12:23 PM
alttextpoetry.bsky.social
I'm going to try to publish a piece every Saturday. Especially since I've abandoned all billionaire-media. (I often posted directly to Facebook, like I would have this, especially).

Please enjoy 'A Tarnishing of Silver':
Image for ALT shows five silver spoons, with the last one heavily tarnished. A Tarnishing of Silver I mentioned you at work When asked about the first Time I felt the universe collapse So quoted them that line From halfway back in time Of a memory of a sharing, safe and wrapped. And so they asked to see you And I made a beeline here to Show the beauty in the smile I used to trace And that's when I discovered Our Facebook friendship overed: A perfect stranger only found your face. And it really doesn't matter It's stupid that it matters But an old and precious shattered As a melancholy settled into place... Sometimes I wish I wasn't me But rather cloud or sparkling sea Instead of skin and memory Unencumbered by a history Or the tarnishing of a silvery.
February 1, 2025 at 7:16 PM
alttextpoetry.bsky.social
Please enjoy this piece from 2021; "Cavelight". Just click the ALT in the image to read the poem!

#poetry #poem #AltText #AltTextPoet #Cave
Cavelight Somewhere there's a cave Deep and dark Cold and damp Roamed by eyeless things In scurry and crawl And on the furthest wall On a certain day But only if the leaves far above behave And clouds abstain For just a few short minutes A beam slides in, Washing darkness into dim In a tiny finger of glinting light To warm a spot the size of a dime For just a few moments' time, Just a few times a decade, And it Knows what I can't describe.
December 12, 2024 at 6:04 PM
Reposted by ALT Text Poet
sarkastiklover.bsky.social
Reposting this one because the original lacked alt-text.

BROKEN LANDS

#art #digitalart #illustration #scifiart
An illustration of a guy with a metallic arm and a sword of the big ass variety and his companion, a small, glowing, winged cat, standing on top of a dead God's skull, overlooking a vast alien desert. In the distance you can see a broken moon, and a celestial being rising.
November 20, 2024 at 10:11 PM
Reposted by ALT Text Poet
neerzlu.bsky.social
Still been adding new artists to this starter pack! We are up to 81 artists! If you are an artist that would like to be added to the pack, please just leave a comment! No AI art allowed.
#art #artists #promosky #starterpack

go.bsky.app/DGRYv32
December 10, 2024 at 5:18 PM
alttextpoetry.bsky.social
Awake and bored
Of all the words
And all the things
Within my reach
Don't want to sleep
Can't stay awake
Like fuel no fire
Like forest no lake.
#micropoetry #NonAltTextPoet?!
December 12, 2024 at 6:59 AM