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 knowing Connie Fife cryptically combines land and body in this poem exploring connection to place and past. Mantra of No Return It is possible to travel home when one has never been there. This poem does. Community Garden Seeking to escape internet trolls the speaker turns her eye to the garden The Bull Moose A moose's final, tortured moments unfold in a series of brutal images. 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 Salmon Courage Deep bravery can emerge amid clashing familial hopes and truths. M. NourbeSe Philip shows us how. My Papa’s Waltz The poet writes a complex poem about his relationship with his father. Two Hours on the Train In this deceptively simple poem, a poet on a journey transcends time. 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… The Tyger In the woods at night, the speaker talks to a magical animal… The Powwow at the End of the World Sherman Alexie slams the environmental destruction of settler-colonialism as we travel on an upstream course towards the powwow at the end of the world. Autobiography of My Hungers A poem that explores private desire and longing, and the pain of homophobia. 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 Bull Moose A moose's final, tortured moments unfold in a series of brutal images. dont worry yr hair Having a bad day? This uplifting poem about the power of our inner potential should light a spark. I’ve Tasted My Blood In this thunderous poem, the speaker proclaims his rage, anguish, and hope in the face of war and oppression. Common Magic Do you ever wonder how anything gets done when we’re all swirling in our own galaxies of thought and experience? This poem does too. 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? Northern Light A poem about belonging when one doesn't feel like they are completely at home Fear of Snakes The life of a snake and the memory of girlhood trauma are told in sinuously entwined language. Parable of the Eagle In this poem, an unlikely guest in the form of an eagle finds itself in a farmer’s hen house, resulting in an unexpected ending. from “Road Shoulders” the shoulder of the road gleams with the poet's attention Money A museum coin collection prompts a reflection on the captivating nature of currency. Let the Ponies Out In this poem, a dramatic monologue, the speaker implores their father to do something both real and more real in its imagining. 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? How Not to Spill Do you hold your hands shut, or do you let everything spill out? Modestine A woman writes a tender poem about her dad’s struggle with dementia. Beat! Beat! Drums! With rich bombastic language and Whitman's trademark sprawling lines, this poem rallies troops for war. Application Form Identity is elusive. Maybe it doesn’t exist at all. 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. Buen Esqueleto With its allusions and repetitions, “Buen Esqueleto” speaks powerfully on behalf of families caught in the contemporary U.S. border conflict. Planet Earth P.K. Page sings the praises of planet earth through extended metaphor and delightful constraint. Homage to the Mineral of the Onion (I) Could a vegetable be the antidote to war? This poem thinks so. fluorine Rita Wong uncovers the poisons in everyday life to teach us about our relationship to the natural world. from Cross River . Pick Lotus Sometimes a simple wish granted, especially a final one, can change everything. Guanahani, 11 This bracing ballad (re)considers the beauty and history of the Caribbean island where Christopher Columbus first landed. We Wear the Mask We Wear the Mask is a resilient and entrancing tug-of-war with external perceptions of self. 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. 1992 Sometimes a scent or a site or a taste can sweep you up into the past. This finely honed narrative poem knows what that’s like. Dulce et Decorum Est Wilfred Owen brilliantly uses rhyme and meter in this brutal poem about a poison gas attack during WWI. Pagination « First First page ‹ Previous Previous page 1 2 3 4 5 6 Next › Next page Last » Last page Language English