In 1922, everything changed in literature, as James Joyce’s “Ulysses” and T.S. Eliot’s “The Waste Land” brought modernism to fiction and poetry.
Adopting Poetry (Texas) and Reaching for the Stars
From Poetry, a little town in Texas, to a star named Poetry in the Centaur constellation, we’re finding (and creating) poetry in place (and in space). Come name a star for poetry.
Poe, Rilke, and Our Black Cat
This Halloween, your black cat can be the instrument of vengeance in the Poe story, or the amber-eyed feline in the poem by Rilke. Or it can be like Kiddy.
Poets and Poems: Luke Kennard and “Cain”
In “Cain: Poems,” British poet Luke Kennard has brought the biblical character of Cain into contemporary life, with funny and poignant results.
Make a Conscious Decision: It’s Random Acts of Poetry Day!
Today is Random Acts of Poetry Day. Make a conscious decision to share a little random poetry in your world today. We could all use such an act of kindness.
The Mythic and Heroic: “The Song of Hiawatha” by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
“The Song of Hiawatha” by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow is a beautiful story about a heroic leader who loses what he holds most dear.
Poets and Poems: John Latham and “From Professor Murasaki’s Notebooks”
The poems of “From Professor Murasaki’s Notebooks” by John Latham linger in the mind, and in the heart, long after the reading is done.
The First Poetry for Children: “Divine Emblems” by John Bunyan
In 1686, the English Puritan minister and writer John Bunyan published what we know today as “Divine Emblems,” the first book of poetry for children.
The Poetry of the Visiting Card: Miss Jennie Todt meets Catherina Gerhard
A visiting card in an 1899 edition of “Longfellow’s Complete Poems” leads to stories of German immigrants, St. Louis history, and even beer.
“Housman Country: Into the Heart of England”
Peter Parker, in “Housman Country: Into the Heart of England,” explains why “A Shropshire Lad” became one of the most popular poetry books of the 20th century.
Childhood, Poetry, and History: “The Courtship of Miles Standish”
Reading “The Courtship of Miles Standish” by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow brings memories of childhood, poetry, and history.
Honoring Gwendolyn Brooks: The Golden Shovel Anthology
“The Golden Shovel Anthology” has been published by the University of Arkansas Press to honor poet Gwendolyn Brooks, with a new poetic form.
Poetic Voices: Scott Owens and David Chorlton
Poets Scott Owens and David Chorlton might rightfully be call “poets of the land” But the lands they immerse themselves in are very different.
Committing Prufrock: Taking a Stand Against Forgetfulness
Sandra Heska King concludes her Committing Prufrock poetry dare with the completion of memorization of The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock.
Poets and Poems: Jeremiah Webster and “After So Many Fires”
“After So Many Fires” by poet Jeremiah Webster brings us into a different landscape different from many contemporary collections – a landscape of hope.
Spending Take Your Poet to Work Day In and Out of Pocket
We celebrated our 5th annual Take Your Poet to Work Day this week. Check out all the fun places our favorite poets hung out!
Poetry on the Brain: It’s Take Your Poet to Work Day!
It’s Take Your Poet to Work Day! Not surprisingly, we’ve got poetry on the brain today.
The Poem as Modern Myth: “Evangeline” by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
“Evangeline” by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow resurrected an almost forgotten event in Canadian and American history and helped shaped a regional people.
Share the Fun of Take Your Poet to Work Day with our New Poster
It’s almost Take Your Poet to Work Day! Share the fun of this annual celebration in your workplace with our new printable poster.
A Legend in Iran: The Poems of Shamseddin Hafez
Shamseddin Hafez, a contemporary of Chaucer, is still considered the greatest poet of Iran, and even taxi drivers sing his ghazals.