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.
Top 10 Poems by Invitation
Have you tried our 5-day poetry prompt mini-series? We’re featuring 10 of our favorite community contributions based on prompts from How to Write a Poem.
Poets and Poems: Leon Stokesbury and “You Are Here”
“You Are Here” by Leon Stokesbury combines new poems and previously published poems to provide insight, emotion, and even humor.
Jen Karetnick: Pondering the Often Invisible
In two new poetry collections, poet Jen Karetnick asks us to consider the reality behind what is often invisible, be it illness or climate change.
More than a Broken Hallelujah: Leonard Cohen
Songwriter Leonard Cohen is also a poet, and in “Songs and Poems, ” he mixes song lyrics with poetry, suggesting there’s little difference.
Top 10 Best Science Poems
Is it possible that without science there might be no poetry? Or could the opposite be true? Test the hypothesis with 10 best science poems.
Coloring Page Poems: The Tide Rises, the Tide Falls by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Our coloring page poems series brings the fun stress relief of coloring pages and poetry together, today with Longfellow’s “The Tide Rises, The Tide Falls.”
A Mistake Becomes a Discovery: John Holmes
A wrong shipment by Amazon turned into a discovery of poet John Holmes (1904-1962), who wrote his own poetry and encouraged other poets.
Top 10 Best Tea Poems
Tea and poetry go together like sand and surf, like wine and cheese, like Bogey and Bacall. Or is it the other way around? Enjoy these 10 best tea poems…
Reading ‘Spoon River Anthology’ for the Third Time
“Spoon River Anthology” is one of the great works of American literature, and reading it a third time yields new insights.
Norman Nicholson: Poetry of Landscape and the Environment
British poet Norman Nicholson deserves to be remembered for his beautiful poems of the Cumbrian and western Lake District landscape.
Finding Edna and Winifred in the Antique Shop
For 75 cents, Glynn Young purchases a book of poems by Edna St. Vincent Millay and considers both the poet and the woman who wrote her name on the inside cover.