What is a memory? A 96-year-old woman and a small boy are searching for the answer. Author Callie Feyen searches for poetry in what they find.
When Your Phone Dies: “A Hurricane in My Head” by Matt Abbott
In “A Hurricane in My Head,” Poet Matt Abbott has a suggestion for what to do when your young teen’s phone dies.
Robert Hudson Explains the House Fly — and Poetry
In “The Poet and the Fly,” Robert Hudson considers seven poets and how they used the common house fly to develop their themes.
Poets and Poems: Susan Richardson and “Things My Mother Left Behind”
In “Things My Mother Left Behind,” poet Susan Richardson tells the story of her loss of sight and progression to darkness.
Poetry Prompt: Do Something You Love And Tell About It
What would you do if your teacher gave you this assignment: Do something you love and then tell about it? Join author Callie Feyen as she and her daughters try to complete the task.
Forgotten Classics: “The Tell-Tale Heart” by Julian Symons
“The Tell-Tale Heart” by Julian Symons, first published 42 years ago, remains the best biography of Edgar Allan Poe.
Poetry Prompt: Consider the Pumpkin Vine
What happens when you take sadness and joy on a walk through a pumpkin patch? Callie Feyen leads a poetry prompt using a poem by Uncle Mose.
Paul Brookes – A Poetry Champion Who Writes Poetry
Paul Brookes not only writes poetry; he is also a champion for poetry, recognizing and celebrating poets worldwide.
Taking a Scottish Road Trip with Jorge Luis Borges
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.
Poetry Prompt: Wise Teachers
Wise teachers can be found in unexpected places, like gym parking lots. Join us for a poetry prompt about the people who help us find wisdom.
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.
Words, Music, Voice: Justin Hamm and “Federico Garcia Lorca Blues”
The album “Federico Garcia Lorca Blues” by Justin Hamm combines poetry, music, and voice to create an almost perfect poetic experience.
Poets and Poems: Jane Kenyon and “Best Poems”
“The Best Poems of Jane Kenyon” provides a wonderful introduction to the full range of her accomplishments as a poet.
Poetry Prompt: Dor
The word dor invites us to embrace loneliness rather than overcome it. This week Callie Feyen has a poetry prompt about accepting our aches.
‘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.
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.
Poetry Prompt: Seeing Stars
Have you ever received a gift you didn’t know you needed? Join Callie Feyen on a summer night of seeing stars and learning to let go.
“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.