In “Mariner: A Voyage with Samuel Taylor Coleridge,” Malcolm Guite tells the story of the poet’s life through the words and themes of his most famous poem.
Poets and Poems: Angela Alaimo O’Donnell and “Still Pilgrim”
“Still Pilgrim” by poet Angela Alaimo O’Donnell tells us that both the major events of our lives and the everyday are but steps in a pilgrimage.
2016 National Book Award Winner: “The Performance of Becoming Human” by Daniel Borzutzky
“The Performance of Becoming Human” by Daniel Borzutzky won the National Book Award for Poetry, and its 18 poems confront political and social issues.
“The Children of Hurin” and “The Lay of Aotrou & Itroun” by J.R.R. Tolkien
Before “The Hobbit” and “The Lord of the Rings,” there were “The Children of Hurin” and “The Lay of Aotrou & Itroun” by J.R.R. Tolkien.
T.S. Eliot Prize: “Jackself” by Jacob Polley
Jacob Polley’s poetry collection “Jackself” won the T.S. Eliot Poetry Prize for 2016, and it’s a work filled with folklore, childhood, and imagination.
Poetic Voices: Sandee Gertz Umbach and Lori Lamothe
Collections by Sandee Gertz Umbach and Lori Lamothe demonstrate how poets shape their words and images to communicate what inspires them.
“David Copperfield”: Why Charles Dickens Has Endured
“Pickwick Papers” explains why Charles Dickens first became popular, but “David Copperfield” demonstrates why Dickens has endured.
Reading Together: Rita Dove’s ‘Thomas and Beulah’
Megan Willome’s reading of Rita Dove’s Thomas and Beulah is a reminder that sometimes the moments that change us most aren’t the ones that make the news.
Poets and Poems: John Sibley Williams and “Disinheritance”
“Disinheritance” by John Sibley Williams is a beautiful, moving collection of poems dealing with grief, both real and imagined.
Poetic Asides: Norman Nicholson and Frank Stanford
Reading poetry can lead to the discovery of other poets and their poetry, such as what happened when other poets led to Norman Nicholson and Frank Stanford.
A Window into Poetry and Change with Jane Hirshfield
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.
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.
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.
What the Book Needs: Creating The Joy of Poetry – Part 4
Megan Willome ends her 4-part series about creating The Joy of Poetry with a simple admonition for writers: be open to what your book needs.
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.
R Is for Rewriting: Creating The Joy of Poetry – Part 3
As Megan Willome approaches the task of rewriting The Joy of Poetry, she finds a different rhythm to her work.
What to Do with the Elephants: Creating The Joy of Poetry – Part 2
In Megan Willome’s second installment about writing The Joy of Poetry, she wrestles with the problem of not one, but two elephants in the room.
10 Great Ideas to Create Your Dream Reading Nook
Gather your books, a comfy blanket and a cup of tea. Andy Hayes has 10 great ideas to inspire you to create your dream reading nook.
On Being Asked: Creating The Joy of Poetry – Part 1
When people ask Megan Willome why she wrote The Joy of Poetry, they are usually shocked when she tells them: “I was asked to.”