What was supposed to be an “author-sitting” stint turned into a Scotland road trip for a young grad student and Jorge Luis Borges.
“30 Poems to Memorize (Before It’s Too Late)” by David Kern
In “30 Poems to Memorize (Before It’s Too Late),” editor David Kern and 13 other contributors remind us of why we love poetry.
Poets and Poems: John Balaban and “Empires”
“Empires” by poet John Balaban mines both human and personal history poetically to ask what creates the idea of the common good.
Poets and Poems: Luci Shaw and “The Generosity”
“The Generosity” by Luci Shaw invites us to consider the eternal in nature, in the life around us, and in our own families.
“Cross of Snow: A Life of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow by Nicholas Basbanes
“Cross of Snow” examines the lives of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and his wife Frances (“Fanny”), noting her significant contributions to his work.
Poetry and Healing: “Waiting for Neruda’s Memoirs” by Laura Boggess
The novella “Waiting for Neruda’s Memoirs” by Laura Boggess tells a story of a woman haunted by voices and healed through the power of poetry.
Poets and Poems: Paul Mariani and “Ordinary Time”
“Ordinary Time” by poet Paul Mariani reminds us of the small and almost forgotten things that make a life, and make a life sacred.
Poets and Poems: Jessica De Guyat and “Fording the Stream”
The poetry collection “Fording the Stream” by British poet Jessica De Guyat is centered in the idea of place, be it Lindisfarne, Iona, or the French Midi.
Poets and Poems: Maurice Manning and “Railsplitter”
In “Railsplitting,” poet Maurice Manning crawls inside the head of Abraham Lincoln, recalling and imagining his life, struggles, and legacy.
Forgotten Classics: “Shakespeare of London” by Marchette Chute
“Shakespeare of London” by Marchette Chute, long out of print, remains one of the best literary biographies of the playwright that we have.
Poets and Poems: Major Jackson and “Holding Company”
The 2010 collection “Holding Company” by Major Jackson leads the eye and mind to a different understanding and a different context.
Poetry as a Way of Ordering Experience: “The Music of Time” by John Burnside
Poetry can be a way to bring meaning and order to one’s life, writes John Burnside in “The Music of Time: Poetry in the Twentieth Century.”
Rethinking the Role of the Poet: Essays by Micah Mattix
“The Soul Is a Stranger in This World” by Micah Mattix takes a refreshing look at familiar contemporary poets—and at the role of poetry itself.
It Was a Marvelous Year: “The Making of Poetry” by Adam Nicholson
In “The Making of Poetry,” Adam Nicolson tells the story of William Wordsworth and Samuel Taylor Coleridge in 1797-98, when they created some of the greatest poetry written in the English language.
Poets and Poems: S.R. Jakobi and “Antiques & Curios”
The 96 poems of “Antiques & Curios” by S.R. Jakobi tell the story of a love affair between an older man and younger woman, one that continues in memory.
Packing Urgency and Story into 10-Minute Plays: “Winter Stars” by Sonia Barkat
In “Winter Stars,” a trio of 10-minute plays, Sonia Barkat uses a few characters and simple narratives to tell powerful stories.
Poets and Poems: Sarah Thomson and “Before It’s Too Late”
“Before It’s Too Late,” the new chapbook by U.K. poet Sarah Thomson, explores the ideas of impermanence and fragility in relationships, locations, and life.
Children’s Book Club: ‘The Poet X’ by Elizabeth Acevedo
For this month’s Children’s Book Club, author Megan Willome discusses the power of spoken word poetry to tell a story in a YA novel by Elizabeth Acevedo.
Poets and Poems: River Dixon and “Left Waiting”
In “Left Waiting: And Other Poems,” River Dixon reaches for words to make sense of what happens in life, to take stock and ask why.
‘The Yellow Wall-Paper’ Book Club: Divinest Sense
Join author Megan Willome as we read a graphic novel of ‘The Yellow Wall-Paper’ using Emily Dickinson’s poem ‘Much Madness is divinest Sense–’ as our guide.