“The Banished Immortal” by Ha Jin tells the story of Li Bai, considered China’s greatest poet, in an account drawn largely from his poetry.
Ocean as Metaphor: “The Crossing Over” by Jen Karetnick
“The Crossing Over,” the new poetry collection by Jen Karetnick, uses the ocean as metaphor, offering its bounty but demanding its sacrifices.
Smiles, Laughter & Joys: What Joy Feels Like Poetry Prompt
Join author Callie Feyen as she talks with kindergarteners about being frustrated and watches as they head toward joy, balloons in hand.
“Robert Graves” – A Biography of a War Poet by Jean Moorcroft Wilson
Jean Moorcroft Wilson’s new biography of war poet Robert Graves allows the reader to walk in his shoes and understand his poetry and his odd personal life.
Smiles, Laughter & Joys: Reading Treasure Prompt
Join author Callie Feyen, a bunch of pirates, and a great group of kindergarteners and first graders as they hunt for treasure found in stories. Then write your own treasure poem!
Top Ten Poetic Picks
Ghost apples, Oscars for books, the poetry of disengagement and the first lines of things. It’s a new edition of the long lost Top 10 Poetic Picks.
The T.S. Eliot Prize: “Three Poems” by Hannah Sullivan
The language of “Three Poems” by Hannah Sullivan, the 2018 T.S. Eliot Prize winner, is sharp, clear, and devoid of ambiguity. And it is indeed three poems.
Poets and Poems: Benjamin Myers and “Black Sunday”
In “Black Sunday,” Benjamin Myers uses poetry to explore and illustrate what happened to the people and the land during the Dust Bowl of the 1930s.
Writing, Paper & Quills: Ode to a Planner Prompt
Whether you are a planner or prefer to fly by the seat of your pants, author Callie Feyen has some thoughts on the practice and poetry of keeping a planner.
Poets and Poems: David Bottoms and “Otherworld, Underworld, Prayer Porch”
The poems of “Otherworld, Underworld, Prayer Porch” by David Bottoms reach back to the people and stories that shape our minds and hearts.
Tweetspeak Poetry Party, Part 2: Skywoman Braids Sweetgrass
“Braiding Sweetgrass” by Robin Wall Kimmerer provided the prompts for Tweetspeak Poetry’s recent poetry party on Twitter. These are the final five poems.
Tweetspeak Poetry Party: Skywoman Braids Sweetgrass
Tweetspeak Poetry’s recent poetry party on Twitter resulted in ten poems about Skywoman, braiding sweetgrass, trees, and a gift.
Poets and Poems: Aisha Sharif and “To Keep from Undressing”
The poems of “To Keep from Undressing” by Aisha Sharif tell the powerful story of a black woman and her Muslim faith in America.
National Book Award for Poetry: “Indecency” by Justin Phillip Reed
The poems of the 2018 National Book Award for Poetry Winner “Indecency” by Justin Phillip Reed are as haunting as the streets they come from.
Gratitude Poetry Prompt: Mystery of Marriage
Author Callie Feyen looks to explain twenty years of marriage as a mysterious – albeit lovely – poem.
It’s Poetry at Work Day — Discovering the Poetry of Gratitude
Today is 2019 Poetry at Work Day, with a tale of how a book of poetry led to one of the writer’s best work projects — and to gratitude for the work.
By Heart: “Let Evening Come” + New Frost “Stopping by Woods” Challenge
The nights are short and sometimes the holidays are hard. Find comfort in this month’s By Heart column, in which we wrap up our memorization of Jane Kenyon’s “Let Evening Come.”
Poets and Poems: James Matthew Wilson and “The Hanging God”
The poems of “The Hanging God” by James Matthew Wilson present an irresistible urge, almost a compulsion, to reread them to find new layers of meaning.
Poetry Prompt: Thankful Acrostics When Poetry Feels Like It’s Gone
Callie Feyen believed she’d lost the poetry of teaching, but Megan Willome showed her that poetry (and teaching) hadn’t lost *her.*
Poets and Poems: Matt Duggan and “A Season in Another World”
“A Season in Another World” by British poet Matt Duggan takes us on a journey steeped in legend, myth, fable, and fairy tale.