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! A Breakfast for Barbarians Come sit at this mythical table where guests eat the world’s mysteries for breakfast. Letters In this tender poem tracing a lost love, the speaker holds on by letting things go… My Poem Without Me in It Imagining herself removed from her own poem, a poet realizes how poetry gives her the space to create herself. 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. I Feel the Sun This poem articulates the poet’s intense feeling about the sunlight after going through a long winter. Fear of Snakes The life of a snake and the memory of girlhood trauma are told in sinuously entwined language. Where There’s a Wall Both beauty and violence are just on the other side of the wall. i am graffiti This poem vibrates with anger and defiance in the wake of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. An Innocent Little Girl • Favzieh Rahgozar Barlas captures a snapshot of child marriage, its cultural and economic context, and its physical and emotional aftermath. I Lost My Talk How can you speak your deepest truth in a language that doesn’t understand you? Sonoma A dreamlike sense of the uncanny hangs over this poem of an encounter on a coastal highway. A Stone Diary A love poem to a stone takes on deeper, rockier meanings. a good day The poet recalls the day she heard her father would die. My Grandmother Washes Her Feet in the Sink of the Bathroom at Sears A clash of cultures in a department store bathroom showcases pride and power in the towns matrons as well as the space in the middle where the speaker lives At the Centre In this poem of a woman in deep repose, her seeds of self-care begin to blossom. Cold Solace Even after many months in the freezer, a honey cake calls up strong memories. We Wear the Mask We Wear the Mask is a resilient and entrancing tug-of-war with external perceptions of self. dont worry yr hair Having a bad day? This uplifting poem about the power of our inner potential should light a spark. Pale Blue Cover In this nostalgic poem, the speaker reminisces about the author Matt Cohen. The Fish A dreamy poem diving into oceanic imagery, exploring time and change. Picking Up a Dandelion A short and poignant poem, stretching out a brief moment of beauty. 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.” Sonoma A dreamlike sense of the uncanny hangs over this poem of an encounter on a coastal highway. The New Experience Join the speaker on a whirlwind journey towards a surprising realization. Planet Earth P.K. Page sings the praises of planet earth through extended metaphor and delightful constraint. I Am The speaker longs to escape himself and to find freedom from within and without From Correspondences Anne Michaels challenges us to find new maps to think about old experiences. 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? In Flanders Fields The dead summon us to action in this much-beloved poem of war. Editing the Prairie If the prairie was a written story, imagine the rejection letter it might get! April 30, 2014 One spring day, dreading an afternoon appointment that will dredge up all kinds of terrible memories, the speaker of the poem focuses on the natural world around her. 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. Low Tide on Grand Pré The setting sun gives rise to a treasured memory of Grand Pré in this somber, rhythmic poem. I Lost My Talk How can you speak your deepest truth in a language that doesn’t understand you? 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. My Grandmother Washes Her Feet in the Sink of the Bathroom at Sears A clash of cultures in a department store bathroom showcases pride and power in the towns matrons as well as the space in the middle where the speaker lives The Visions of Stone Carrier In this dreamlike piece exploring memory and primogeniture, N. Scott Momaday casts a haunting spell that transports the reader through mystery and reminiscence. Beat! Beat! Drums! With rich bombastic language and Whitman's trademark sprawling lines, this poem rallies troops for war. 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. Vancouver Lights This wartime poem looks out at Vancouver’s nighttime skyline and contemplates humanity. Pagination « First First page ‹ Previous Previous page 1 2 3 4 5 6 Next › Next page Last » Last page Language English