In “Sometimes I Never Suffered,” poet Shane McCrae uses the historical figure of a mixed-race boy to tell a larger story.
Poets and Poems: David Russell Mosley and “The Green Man”
To read the poems of “The Green Man” by David Russell Mosley is to walk the ancient paths of Nature and faith.
Poets and Poems: Brittney Corrigan and “Daughters”
In “Daughters,” poet Brittney Corrigan has imagined the experience of the daughter of 50 figures of fiction fairy tales, folklore, and myth.
Poets and Poems: Ada Limón and “The Carrying”
In “The Carrying,” poet Ada Limón takes the commonplace and turns it into reflections and meditations that are both personal and universal.
Poetry Prompt: It’s the Setting
What role does setting play in your poetry? Join author Callie Feyen as she explores how setting can be used to move our writing forward.
Poets and Poems: Yrsa Daley-Ward and ‘bone’
The poems of “bone” by Yrsa Daley-Ward create discomfort, jolting the reader into an awareness of a very different and personal experience.
Poets and Poems: Claude McKay and ‘Harlem Shadows’
Almost a century later, the poems of “Harlem Shadows” by Claude McKay remain a statement for recognition, courage, and determination.
Poets and Poems: Dan Rattelle and “The Commonwealth”
In the simple, spare poems of “The Commonwealth,” Dan Rattelle explores the ideas of place and community, taken in their broadest sense.
On Rest, Hammocks, and Wasting a Life With James Wright
What does it mean to waste a life? Melissa Poulin explores James Wright and how, from the hammock’s viewpoint, wasting a life and living fully might be inextricably intertwined.
Poets and Poems: Carl Phillips and “Pale Colors in a Tall Field”
“Pale Colors in a Tall Field” by Carl Phillips invites you into a dream, asking unexpected if important questions.
Poets and Poems: Osip Mandelstam and “Poems”
Osip Mandelstam (1891-1938) was a leading poet in the Silver Age of Russian poetry, until ran afoul of the Stalinist regime.
Poet Laura: The Generosity of a Poem
Can a poem be generous? Our Poet Laura, Laura Boggess, considers the generosity of gifting a poem, whether crafted or curated, to another.
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.
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.
Poetry Prompt: Finding Poetry from Fear
Author Callie Feyen takes a dare to write nature poetry, finding inspiration from daredevil Robert Frost.
Grief, a Leaf, and Haibun Magic
Through a time of grief, Michelle Ortega discovered the haibun, and its interplay with haiku and prose poem forms, offered a place of reflection and healing.
It’s Poem on Your Pillow Day!
Tired after National Poetry Month? Relax with a soft, fluffy pillow and share the joy of poetry. It’s Poem on Your Pillow Day!
Poetry Prompt: What Kind of Quiet?
How many kinds of quiet do you find (and feel) in your day? Join author Callie Feyen as she explores the many kinds of quiet that seep through our days.
Holidays by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow—And Happy Ones, to You!
We send our best wishes to you for the season and the year to come with Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s “Holidays.”
Poets and Poems: Juliette van der Molen and “Anatomy of a Dress”
“Anatomy of a Dress” by poet Juliette Van Dermolen is a short collection of poems that are strong enough not to need the author’s explanation.