These poems each have a set of guided questions, related videos that allow for deeper investigation, and suggested writing activities. We'll be adding more poems here soon! The Bow What flows through a name, and a name, and a name? fluorine Rita Wong uncovers the poisons in everyday life to teach us about our relationship to the natural world. Planet Earth P.K. Page sings the praises of planet earth through extended metaphor and delightful constraint. Qawanguq with Fox Abigail Chabitnoy’s dreamscape of a poem depicts a coy little fox. The Potato Harvest This lonely poem is about so much more than a bare field. Journey of the Magi One of the three wise men who travelled to Bethlehem upon the birth of Jesus Christ describes his version of the story and the emotional upheaval he experiences from witnessing a miracle that shatters his previous beliefs and way of life. Sometimes a Voice (1) On a hot summer afternoon, Danny jumped off the boathouse roof without thinking of the consequences. An English Speaking Doctor Translates the Concerns of his Patient with Google/Un Docteur Anglophone Traduit Les Inquiétudes De Son Patient Avec Google This bilingual poem expresses the limitations of understanding across languages when experiences become lost in translation. Jesse’s Farm Sadiqa de Meijer reckons with environmental degradation and motherhood in this poem that asks whether showing our children “the beloved world” is enough. The Dead This sonnet considers the fragmented, elusive way the dead resurface in our lives. Full Metal Oji-Cree That’s ok, our robomocassins will outlive you nine times over. Insomnia A dark, playful twist on what someone would do if they could only sleep… from Cross River . Pick Lotus Sometimes a simple wish granted, especially a final one, can change everything. niya A physical encounter with a stranger ignites a fire of emotions about how to express the trauma of settlement and life in a colonial, urban environment. The Tyger In the woods at night, the speaker talks to a magical animal… Two Words: A Wedding bpNichol presents life as a river of ever-changing words and asks us to step in. from Exhibits from the American Water Museum Natalie Diaz mourns the violence committed against the Mojave people (and by extension, Indigenous people across North America) and bodies of water, inextricably connected At the Centre In this poem of a woman in deep repose, her seeds of self-care begin to blossom. A Stone Diary A love poem to a stone takes on deeper, rockier meanings. The Blue Guitar In this glosa poem, P.K. Page strums out questions about being an artist and telling the truth. How Not to Spill Do you hold your hands shut, or do you let everything spill out? From Correspondences Anne Michaels challenges us to find new maps to think about old experiences. Fast Commute Laurie Graham weathers an incongruous ice storm in this poem-excerpt that asks us to pause and understand that we are present here, “and with this understanding to start to hear.” My sister cries the sea In this poem of environmental apocalypse, Mordecai pictures a divided planet as her sister, listening to the voices of plants and fish as they mourn habitat destruction in creole The Fatigue Fatigue is often the first sign something is wrong with one's body. Fatigue looms larger than life in this poem which grapples with meds, family, and coping. The Problem With Being a Box Too Small for Its Contents Misch expounds the unbearable work needed after a breakup: to separate from your lost love and “rejoin yourselves…even when you don’t want to.” I’ve Tasted My Blood In this thunderous poem, the speaker proclaims his rage, anguish, and hope in the face of war and oppression. Laurentian Shield This portrait of a rocky, silent Canadian landscape speaks to the country’s limitations and its potential. One Art When loss feels inevitable, sometimes the only thing to do is write it down… Top The poet remembers a father lost long before his death. Guanahani, 11 This bracing ballad (re)considers the beauty and history of the Caribbean island where Christopher Columbus first landed. Passing into Storm Through an objective lens, this poem, which could be a trailer for a horror movie, describes a white man deliberately walking into a snow storm. To what end? The Fish A dreamy poem diving into oceanic imagery, exploring time and change. I’ll Teach You Cree By sharing with us the untranslatable aspects of Cree culture, Scofield immerses the reader with the sensorial experiences that deepen the bonds of community. What Is Poetry Using only the letters in the title’s question, Holbrook generates a smorgasbord of weird and delightful answers. Someday I’ll Love Ocean Vuong In this tender poem of healing, care and remembrance, Ocean Vuong reaches out to his younger self. Reluctance Even after you’ve jumped all the fences, climbed all the hills, and looked at the world, it can be hard to accept how you feel… from “Road Shoulders” the shoulder of the road gleams with the poet's attention The Bull Moose A moose's final, tortured moments unfold in a series of brutal images. grass In his short, funny poem, Ward Maxwell asks us to step on the grass, saying “it deserves it.” But isn’t that the point of grass? Pagination « First First page ‹ Previous Previous page 1 2 3 4 Next › Next page Last » Last page Language English