A pandemic is a perfect time to learn a poem By Heart, especially Derek Mahon’s “Everything Is Going To Be All Right.”
By Heart: ‘A Noiseless Patient Spider’ + New Derek Mahon Challenge
Uncle Walt says spiders and souls have a lot in common. Our By Heart column considers Whitman’s ‘A Noiseless Patient Spider’ and Charlotte.
By Heart: ‘Some One’ + New Walt Whitman Challenge
When a poem knocks, you open. Join Megan Willome as she learns Walter de la Mare’s creepy “Some One” By Heart, just in time for Halloween.
By Heart: ‘To Autumn’ + New Walter de la Mare Challenge
Autumn’s signs may be subtle, but they are there. Join Megan Willome as she learns the end of John Keats’ poem ‘To Autumn’ by heart.
By Heart: ‘The Dandelion’ + New Keats Challenge
The king of August is the dandelion. Join author Megan Willome as she learns Vachel Lindsay’s poem “The Dandelion” by heart.
‘Waiting for Neruda’s Memoirs’ and Literary Citizenship
‘Waiting for Neruda’s Memoirs’ by Laura Boggess shows us how to be a literary citizen in our own little corner of the world. Meet Amy Pinkleberry.
A Ritual to Read to Each Other: Rumi & Mac Miller
Imagine Rumi as a rapper. Or Mac Miller as a mystic. Megan Willome explores the similarities between these two artists in our monthly column, A Ritual to Read to Each Other.
By Heart: ‘I Have Wrapped My Dreams in a Silken Cloth’ + New Vachel Lindsay Challenge
In celebration of Take Your Poet to Work Day, join Megan Willome as she learns Countee Cullen’s “I Have Wrapped My Dreams in a Silken Cloth” by heart.
By Heart: ‘Song of Summer’ + New Countee Cullen Challenge
Savor the summer with author Megan Willome as she learns Margaret Wise Brown’s poem “Song of Summer” By Heart.
By Heart: a blessing poem for the exhausted + new Margaret Wise Brown challenge
Return to your self, dear soul. Join us in learning John O’Donohue’s poem “For One Who Is Exhausted, A Blessing” By Heart.
In the Company of Poets: Basecamp
Two members from Basecamp’s support team share how working in the company of poets helps them do their jobs with empathy and clarity.
Pandemic Journal: An Entry on How We Read Poetry
Author Megan Willome reads poetry during the pandemic and finds new focus by absorbing the loveliness of unexpected words.
By Heart: ‘The Tyger’ + New John O’Donohue Challenge
Join author Megan Willome as she learns William Blake’s ‘The Tyger’ By Heart. And shares a tiger poem by Newbery-winner Nancy Willard too.
Creating an ‘I Love Poetry Moment’: Magic City’s Ashley M. Jones
For National Poetry Month, create an ‘I Love Poetry Moment,’ following the example of Ashley M. Jones and the Magic City Poetry Festival.
By Heart: ‘Dippold the Optician’ and William Blake Challenge
Join author Megan Willome as she learns a little wisdom poetry By Heart—’Dippold the Optician’ from Edgar Lee Masters’ ‘Spoon River Anthology.’
By Heart: “Snow-flakes” + New Edgar Lee Masters Challenge
Join author Megan Willome as she learns Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s ‘Snow-flakes’ By Heart.
By Heart: “The Darkling Thrush” + New Longfellow Challenge
Join author Megan Willome as she learns Thomas Hardy’s ‘The Darkling Thrush’ By Heart. This poem has it all: desolation, Hope, and ecstatic caroling.
Evening Loveliness: poets Jane Kenyon & Sara Teasdale
As evening comes, author Megan Willome looks for wisdom and loveliness in the poetry of Jane Kenyon and Sara Teasdale.
By Heart: “Come, Night” + New Thomas Hardy Challenge
Join author Megan Willome as she learns William Shakespeare’s ‘Come, Night’ from ‘Romeo and Juliet’ By Heart while savoring this season of extra night.
By Heart: “This Is Just To Say” + New Carlos Ashley Challenge
Join author Megan Willome as she learns William Carlos Williams’ “This Is Just To Say” By Heart and talks about plums as a breakfast food.