“Last Poems” by Irish poet Thomas Kinsella explores the big, eternal questions that increasingly occupy our minds as we age.
“Hamnet”: Visualizing What Inspired Shakespeare’s “Hamlet”
The novel and play “Hamnet” suggest that Shakespeare may have memorialized his son, who died in 1596, in the play “Hamlet.”
Poets and Poems: Ellie O’Leary and “Breathe Here”
In “Breathe Here,” poet Ellie O’Leary writes of her childhood losses of her mother at age 10 and her father at 18.
Fourth of July: “Concord Hymn” by Ralph Waldo Emerson
Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote “Concord Hymn” for a monument unveiling, introducing one of the most famous lines in American history.
Poets and Poems: Osip Mandelstam and “Tristia”
Russians consider Osip Mandelstam one of the greatest poets; a new translation of “Tristia” helps explain why.
The Gift of the Monarch Butterfly
An unusual gift prompts Dheepa Maturi to think about the tenuous world of the Monarch Butterfly. Come write a poem as you enter this world!
A TS Classic: “The Picture of Dorian Gray” by Oscar Wilde
A new edition of “The Picture of Dorian Gray” by Oscar Wilde, illustrated by Sara Barkat, shows how the story still applies to our own time.
Rediscovering Seneca: Dana Gioia Translates “The Madness of Hercules”
Dana Gioia combines drama, history, poetry and more in his fine translation “Seneca: The Madness of Hercules.”
Poets and Poems: Andrew Frisardi and “The Moon on Elba”
To read “The Moon on Elba” by poet Andrew Frisardi is to experience the light of Italy and the ideal or idea behind the words.
Poets and Poems: Bruce Beasley and “Prayershreds”
After reading the 18 poems of “Prayershreds” by Bruce Beasley, you’ll find yourself, and your poetic head, in a very different place.
Happy Ideas: Poetry Prompt Series
Take a cue from Mary Syzbist and Duchamp. Put a poem together that contains some unexpected Happy Ideas! (Blue velvet shoes, anyone?)
Poets and Poems: James Sale and “StairWell”
In “StairWell,” poet James Sale continues his Dante-like epic poem, a marvel of imagination and insight into postmodernism.
Poetry Prompt: Sherlock Holmes Day!
Today is Sherlock Holmes Day. What better time to write a poem to the sleuth? Or about him. Or about his associate Watson?
Poets and Poems: Catherine Esposito Prescott and “Accidental Garden”
The 42 poems of “Accidental Garden” by Catherine Esposito Prescott consider the eternal question of whether life is planned or accidental.
Poetry Prompt: How To Write A French Poem
Join author Callie Feyen as she explores a few French form poems! And play with how to write a French poem for yourself.
Yes, Edith Wharton was also a poet
Edith Wharton not only wrote fiction and nonfiction; she also wrote poetry, publishing her first collection at age 16.
Poets and Poems: John Sibley Williams and “Skyscrape”
In “Skyscrape,” poet John Sibley Williams reaches for an understanding of the cultural by using the lens of the personal.
Edward Hirsch and “The Heart of American Poetry”
In “The Heart of American Poetry,” Edward Hirsch has written both a personal memoir and a love letter to American poetry.
Art and Poetry Come Together in Fredericksburg, Texas
In the Texas Hill Country city of Fredericksburg, an artist and a poet share an exhibition.
Reading John Greenleaf Whittier, the “Abolitionist Poet”
John Greenleaf Whittier, often called the “Abolitionist Poet,” rose from humble beginnings to become one of the great American poets of the 19th century.