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.
Thanksgiving Poem: The Pumpkin by John Greenleaf Whittier
Give thanks for “the vines of the gourd and the rich melon run” with a Thanksgiving poem, The Pumpkin by John Greenleaf Whittier.
Eating & Drinking Poems: Savoring Succotash
Is succotash something to be suffered or savored? Laura Lynn Brown offers a warm reflection on the dish, with a savory succotash poem and Thanksgiving recipes.
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.
Poetry Dare: How to Commit Prufrock
Sandra Heska King introduces her plan to commit Prufrock (to memory) and introduces our Barista Badges so you can join the fun and celebrate your progress.
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.
Confessions of Poetry
Charity Singleton Craig goes out with a plan to spread poetry around her community and is thwarted by 20 scurrying chipmunks.
William Wordsworth: “The Prelude” and the Poetry of Revision
Some 24 manuscripts, dated from 1798 to 1839, exist for “The Prelude, ” the autobiographical poem by William Wordsworth; they show the poetry of revision.
Committing Prufrock: A New Poetry Dare
Sandra Heska King gets nabbed while under cover in the poet’s protection program and agrees to commit Prufrock in the latest Poetry Dare scheme.
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.
How to Write an Acrostic Poem Infographic
Our new infographic will teach you how to write an acrostic poem and have you writing poetry soup for every meal.
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.
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.
Random Sample: A Wrap-Up of Random Acts of Poetry Day
Our celebration of Random Acts of Poetry Day was full of random poetic expressions popping up everywhere from cupcakes to the courthouse.
It’s Random Acts of Poetry Day!
It’s Random Acts of Poetry Day, a day devoted to painting poetry in the public square. Share some poetry with your world (and make it better).
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.
Get Ready for Poetry on Two Sides of the Pond with Fun Shareable Graphics
Get ready for next week’s Poetry on Two Sides of the Pond with fun shareable graphics to celebrate Britain’s National Poetry Day and our Random Acts of Poetry Day.
Help Us Celebrate National Poetry Day on Oct. 6!
Tweetspeak Poetry is collaborating with Britain’s Forward Arts Foundation to help celebrate National Poetry Day UK on Oct. 6.
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.