Alan Parry He/Him

@alanparrywriter.co.uk

4080 Followers 2540 Following

Independent Writer Spoken-Word Artist EiC @thebrokenspine.co.uk Workshop Facilitator Podcast & Events Host #PromoteIndieLit

A small yellow metal shipping container with the word "KING" printed in large black letters across the side sits on a soft mustard-yellow blanket. Along one edge are smaller printed words reading "Mediterranean Shipping Co." The background is softly blurred, featuring colourful floral wallpaper with birds, butterflies, and tropical leaves, creating a warm contrast between the industrial-style storage box and the vibrant décor.
A black background image displaying a fragmentary poem in white text. The title at the top reads “Toilet Wall Warning”. Below, the poem appears in four separated sections: “protect yoursel’ from yens” “do not tempt wit’ promises” “repress until it kills” “there are possess— ions to jaw” The typography is large, minimalist, and left-aligned, with deliberate line breaks and a dash splitting the word “possessions.”
Close-up of a fresh red tattoo on Mrs P showing two interlinked, hand-drawn hearts on skin. The ink is glossy and slightly raised. A tattoo artist’s purple-gloved hands are visible below, resting on protective paper marked with red and purple ink. The heart design is inspired by Vivienne Westwood’s heart-shaped handbag.
Dave Hill's Slade 2025 line-up
A black background displays a white serif-font poem titled “With a Lover (after Love And Affection – Joan Armatrading).” The poem is arranged in short, staggered lines with large vertical spacing. It reads: “we could say anything do anything start a war or a religion with our hands play with firebugs small mercies dress shop in shared heat & borrowed fabrics with Charlie’s girls anything really rock really roll really reel i am open to persuasion”
I was afraid that if I kept that light on in my brain all I would notice is that I’m mostly triggered all or most of the time. I’m so serious. The train triggers me, the walk to the train, the unwanted eye contact, the way my body behaves when I notice that I’m being noticed. I figure when someone like me is hyper in tune with their trigger light, it’s tantamount to a gazelle in the Serengeti — the feeling that something is always coming to eat you.
A small, fluffy white dog with long, slightly tousled fur lies on a striped carpet. The dog faces slightly to the left, wearing a small collar with a blue tag. A red lead rests on the floor near its paws.
A black-and-white portrait of two adults against a dark background. On the left is a person with short, wavy hair, glasses, and a moustache, smiling softly. On the right is a person with shoulder-length hair, wearing subtle makeup and a necklace, looking calmly toward the camera. Both are dressed in dark clothing, and the lighting highlights their faces against the black backdrop.
A poem titled I Want appears in black text on a white background. The poem reads: I Want you pulling at the edges of me i want us to forget our names i want to see videos of you tying yourself in knots i want your red flowers pinching my breath i want senseless talk & you playing goofy with me i want your leg against mine i want your hand at the back of my neck feeling the pulse i want your head on my chest— asleep i want you thinking of me all day
Batch of homemade double chocolate cookies
A meme parodying the “distracted boyfriend” image shows a man with the face of Red Dwarf character Cat turning to admire Wilma Flintstone, while his shocked girlfriend, Betty Rubble, looks at him disapprovingly.
Black and grey tattoo on the inner left wrist showing a banner wrapped around small flowers. The banner reads “STILL KICKIN’” in bold, capital letters. The design has a traditional style, symbolising resilience and survival.
I’m standing on top of Miller’s Bridge, looking straight into the camera. My face shows the enormous emotional pain I’m feeling — my eyes are heavy, my mouth tight with tension. The wind tugs at my hair against the pale, overcast sky, capturing a moment of raw vulnerability.
I stand indoors facing the camera, wearing glasses, a black long-sleeved top, black skinny jeans, and black boots. I have short dark hair and a moustache, with my hands in my pockets. The setting features striped carpet flooring, floral wallpaper on one wall, and a white door behind me. Two pet bowls are visible on the floor beside me.
A white bowl filled with a hot, dark red fruit mixture—some berries—sits on a soft orange fabric surface. Steam rises from the bowl, and a spoon rests inside. Nearby are some papers and part of an electronic device, with a small yellow notepad visible in the background.
A selfie taken on a bus showing me in glasses and a dark jacket smiling slightly in the foreground, with my daughter in glasses and headphones behind me, smiling while holding a small white fluffy dog. Bright daylight comes through the window behind them.
A man wearing a dark corduroy cap, glasses, and a blue shirt, facing the camera against a dark background. He has a neat moustache, but no beard, appearing freshly clean-shaven. The lighting is warm and soft, highlighting his face and expression.
Text of the poem reads: Softcore Mirrors (after The Honeymoon — Juno Calypso) steam & grout— lomo pink skin pushed against aubergine tiles eyeliner flakes riding suds like moths flashbulb faith & flesh collapsed
Black background with white serif text. The poem is titled 34. Thicc in italics. The poem reads: the air is thicc & this poem is thicc with white space T H I C C this sub is thicc with this dom thicc with you & thicc with me & we are thicc with each other // this top this bottom are thicc with light this room sticky with want
A hand holds a small zippered case containing seven magnetic stress balls in black, purple, and lilac tones. Each ball has a unique textured surface, including smooth ridges, dimples, and spiky patterns, designed for tactile stimulation and stress relief.
Southport Rugby Club pitch with white goalposts standing tall on green grass, bordered by red brick walls and suburban houses under a grey sky.
Alt text: I’m standing indoors in front of a closed door, wearing a black-and-white checkered shirt tucked into black trousers with a belt and brown shoes. I’ve got short curly hair, glasses, and a beard. The room has patterned wallpaper on one side, striped carpet underfoot, and a couple of pet bowls on the floor behind me.
A scene from Monty Python and the Holy Grail. A knight in chainmail and helmet stands on a stone wall looking down. White subtitles at the bottom of the image read: “Your mother shouts at hotels / And your father painted roundabouts.”
A man in a red and black checkered shirt sits at a wooden table in a cosy pub, holding a large pint of beer close to his face. He peers over the top of his glasses with a steady, direct stare at the camera. Tattoos are visible on his forearms, including one with a heart and banner reading “Rock n Roll.” Behind him, a model sailing ship rests on a shelf against a teal wall decorated with fairy lights and plants.
A graphic with a rainbow flag background featuring wavy stripes of red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple against a pink border. White text overlaid reads: “#Pride is important because somewhere out there is a confused teenager who still thinks maybe being dead is better than being gay and that’s not okay.”
A hand holding a copy of I’m Mostly Here to Enjoy Myself: One Woman’s Pursuit of Pleasure in Paris by Glynnis MacNicol. The cover features a cropped classical-style painting of a reclining woman, overlaid with large, bright yellow typography for the title and author’s name.
A very fluffy ginger-and-white cat sits outside in the grass, tilting its head back with its mouth wide open as if dramatically singing. Above the photo, a caption reads: “What song is this cat singing.” Below it, another line says: “This is important don’t think about it just first one to pop in your head.”
Homemade bread rolls!
Morkie puppy out wandering about the garden in the rain
Four-photo collage showing the process of getting a Tom Petty–inspired tattoo. Top left: forearm resting in a tattoo studio before inking. Top centre: purple stencil on the outer forearm, showing a cracked heart, Flying V guitar, and banner reading “ROCK ’n’ ROLL” with the script “Anything that’s” above. Top right: completed tattoo in colour — a red and black heart, green and yellow banner, rainbow-striped guitar neck, and lyric script. Bottom: paper stencil drawing of the design on a wooden surface.
Mozzarella, pesto and tomato sandwich with rocket and a little squeeze of balsamic glaze.
A black background with white text. The poem reads: "whip you child dance within the lines smile for Jesus mouth his fingers with your teeth your father plays dominoes he calls you he holds you aloft lion cub"
Homemade garlic naan bread on foil beside skewers of Mrs P’s grilled kebab, both laid out on a wooden counter.
Lentil and spin dahl.
Bag of frozen crushed ginger cubes
Packet of paper pups dog shaped origami
A meme combining two tweets. The first, from user @Vaughanilla_, says: “Me telling Willy Wonka how many people won golden tickets.” Below it is a screenshot of a tweet from Andrew Tate’s account, reading: “Its not only Charlie. Theres a list.” The humor comes from Tate’s phrasing being applied to the story of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
Black-and-white close-up of me with short wavy hair, glasses, and a beard, wearing a zip-up top. I am looking slightly down at the camera with a serious expression, sunlight casting shadows across my face.
(white background, poem in black text): Text reads: “white flowers— dropped into spider bark opal in her palm tourmaline on her tongue swagger— gravel shift a laugh— caught in chains a full figure— revealed” From jerks
Sourdough starter has broken free
Me pre haircut as a big hairy bastard. Long shoulder length hair, unkempt
A collage of four bold, graphic posters in a pop art style. Top left: glossy red lips biting the lower lip on a black-and-white chequerboard background. Top right: orange background with retro wavy stripes in cream, blue, brown, and yellow framing black text that reads “Resilience is Funky.” Bottom left: black background bordered with red and yellow stripes, featuring white bold text “POWER TO THE LEARNER.” Bottom right: light grey textured background with a large red and blue lightning bolt above black text “YOU CAN BE HEROES.”
A phone note titled #WednesdayWIPs contains a poem draft by Alan Parry, titled Maldita Vida. The poem recalls intimacy, memory, and defiance, opening with “i remember / when we swam together / like pink / & pine paint / fucked without shame.” It shifts between visceral and surreal imagery: “wrestling bison,” “tear open / this cage with my teeth,” “i am mad like bees,” and “like a star collapsing.” The refrain of remembered love and sex recurs, while lines like “maldita vida / i will not be eulogised / this life / is enough” close the piece with raw acceptance. The tone is confessional, defiant, and elegiac.
A grid of eighty screenshots showing poems written by different poets for this week’s #PoemsAbout prompt. Each square contains text in varied fonts, styles, and backgrounds, representing the wide range of responses from the community.
A small fluffy white Morkie with slightly tousled fur and light brown ears lounges on a bed in low morning light, half-squinting as if just waking up.
Golden-brown cauliflower cheese pie baked in crisp filo pastry, with a bubbling cheese topping and flaky edges, resting on a baking tray.
A typed draft poem in free verse. It begins: “Chords beat a retreat / Thighs tighten / I’m smashing the cage.” Other lines include: “Tire tracks through birds on the bypass,” “Write & cross out her name over and over,” and “All you can do is wait / Until you can rip off your shirt & scream.” Refrains of “wait” recur throughout, with imagery of justice, apologies, rain, gold, and the turning of hands. The poem feels raw, restless, and unfinished.
Robin Williams as Jack