St. Valentine’s Day may be a huge industry today, but it started with an imprisoned priest, a young girl, and a letter in ancient Rome.
Top 10 Best Ship, Sail & Boat Poems
From the drifting of free verse to the mooring of form the sea is just waiting for poetry to sail in. Enjoy ten great poems about ships, sailing, and boats.
Poetic Voices: Susan Lewis and Shanna Powlus Wheeler
Susan Lewis develops a theme of uncertainty in “Heisenberg’s Salon”; Shanna Powlus Wheeler interprets childhood and memory in “Lo & Behold.”
Poets and Poems: Mark Doty and “Deep Lane”
“Deep Lane” by Mark Doty includes nine poems with the title of “Deep Lane, ” and creates a sense of emotional if not physical distance.
Poetic Voices: Sandee Gertz Umbach and Lori Lamothe
Collections by Sandee Gertz Umbach and Lori Lamothe demonstrate how poets shape their words and images to communicate what inspires them.
Reading Together: Rita Dove’s ‘Thomas and Beulah’
Megan Willome’s reading of Rita Dove’s Thomas and Beulah is a reminder that sometimes the moments that change us most aren’t the ones that make the news.
Poets and Poems: John Sibley Williams and “Disinheritance”
“Disinheritance” by John Sibley Williams is a beautiful, moving collection of poems dealing with grief, both real and imagined.
Twitter Party: The Odyssey and The Wooded Isle, Part 2
Part 2 of Tweetspeak’s recent poetry party on Twitter was guided by prompts from “The Odyssey” by Homer, and 10 would-be Homers produced some epic poems.
Twitter Party: The Odyssey and The Wooded Isle, Part 1
“The Odyssey” by Homer provided the prompts for Tweetspeak’s recent poetry party on Twitter, and 10 would-be Homers wrote their own epic poems.
Poets and Poems: Matt Duggan and “Dystopia 38.10”
In “Dystopia 38.10, ” poet Matthew Duggan takes the post-apocalyptic idea of dystopia and vividly applies it to contemporary society.
Poetic Asides: Norman Nicholson and Frank Stanford
Reading poetry can lead to the discovery of other poets and their poetry, such as what happened when other poets led to Norman Nicholson and Frank Stanford.
A Window into Poetry and Change with Jane Hirshfield
In times of great change – political, social, economic – we turn to poetry to make sense of what seems nonsensical, to comfort, to explain, says poet Jane Hirshfield.
Forward Prize for Best First Collection: “Wife” by Tiphanie Yanique
“Wife, ” winner of the Forward Prize for best first collection, challenges our notions of what marriage mean, but ends up reaffirming the idea of commitment.
Thank You Notes: Potatoes, Parsnips, and Other Root Vegetables
Thank You Notes is a monthly prompt that focuses on expressing our thanks to a particular person, place, or thing. This month, we’re crafting thank-you’s to potatoes, parsnips, and other root vegetables.
Forward Prize: “Measures of Expatriation” by Vahni Capildeo
Forward Prize winner Vahni Capildeo and her “Measures of Expatriation” challenge our notions of what a poetry collection is and can be.
William Wordsworth and the Language of the Common Man
Influenced by the American and French revolutions, William Wordsworth wrote poetry that used common language and spoke to feelings and imagination.
Don Paterson: Poet of Light and Dark in Life and in Ourselves
Don Paterson is an important voice in British poetry and letters. He writes of both the light and the dark in life and in ourselves.
4 Spooky Tips for Writing a Halloween Poem
Get ready for the spookiest Halloween yet with these great tips for writing a Halloween poem from Tania Runyan.
Poets and Poems: Frank Stanford and “The Light the Dead See”
Frank Stanford (1948-1978) embodied William Wordsworth’s “The Child is father of the Man” in both his life and his poetry.
Poets and Poems: Mohja Kahf and “Hagar Poems”
In “Hagar Poems, ” poet Mohja Kahf tells and retells the biblical story of Hagar, Abraham, and Sarah, weaving threads between ancient and contemporary times.