Henry Wadsworth Longfellow climbed the stairs of the Old North Church tower in Boston in April, 1860; the result was America’s best-known patriotic poem.
“The Whole Harmonium: The Life of Wallace Stevens” by Paul Mariani
In “The Whole Harmonium,” biographer and poet Paul Mariani tells the story of Wallace Stevens, poet, philosopher, insurance executive, and family man.
Poets and Poems: Mischa Willett and “Phases”
Filled with flashes of deep insight, “Phases” by poet Mischa Willett covers subjects as diverse as classical antiquity and old girlfriends.
A Small Volume of Essays, A Larger World of Poetry
A book of essays first published in 1916 provides a window into poetry and its practitioners, as well as how poetry was taught in classrooms.
Top 10 Dip Into Poetry Lines
We enjoy a daily sharing over Every Day Poems on Twitter, inviting you to dip into poetry with us. Check our our favorite 10 lines from the last few months.
The Pulitzer Prize for Poetry: “Olio” by Tyehimba Jess
The Pulitzer Prize-winning poetry collection “Olio” by Tyehimba Jess bends poetry our of its familiar groove to tell a story few Americans know.
The Walt Whitman Award: “Afterland” by Mai Der Vang
In “Afterland,” winner of the Walt Whitman Award, poet Mai Der Vang explores what happened to the Hmong people after the Vietnam War.
Poets and Poems: Denise Riley and “Say Something Back”
“Say Something Back” by British poet Denise Riley considers the ways we do and don’t communicate, almost a plea to listen and hear each other.
Poets and Poems: Barbara Crooker and “Les Fauves”
“Les Fauves,” the newest collection of poetry by Barbara Crooker, is inspired by the paintings of the Fauvism movement, especially those of Henri Matisse.
Poets and Poems: Dave Malone and “You Know the Ones”
Dave Malone may write about his beloved Missouri Ozarks, but the poems he writes are universal, and about family, friends, and geography.
National Poetry Month Dare: Commit ‘The Stolen Child’ by W. B. Yeats
Join us in our National Poetry Month Dare as we memorize “The Stolen Child” by W. B. Yeats, complete with printable Faery Badges.
Art and Poetry: “A Wider Landscape” by Donald Wilkinson
The paintings of artist Donald Wilkinson evoke the landscape and poetry of William Wordsworth, so much so that landscape and poetry become one.
Poets and Poems: Bernard O’Donoghue and “The Seasons of Cullen Church”
“The Seasons of Cullen Church” by Bernard O’Donoghue is moving and soul-searching, an exploration of the memories that make a life.
Poets and Poems: Kate Tempest and “Let Them Eat Chaos”
“Let Them Eat Chaos” by Kate Tempest is a long poem written to be read aloud, and it blows up the boundaries between poetry and performance.
“Mariner: A Voyage with Samuel Taylor Coleridge” by Malcolm Guite
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.
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.
Poets and Poems: Kathryn Nuernberger and “The End of Pink”
James Laughlin Award winner “The End of Pink” by Kathryn Nuernberger is a wild, exuberant poetry collection, sitting there at the frontier of imagination.
The Writing Life: Paterson’s Blank Page
In the film Paterson, Charity Singleton Craig finds the routine of doing the same thing in the same place day after day forms a canvas on which to create.