A large pointing hand, made out of notebook paper, is juxtaposed against a blue sky.
Essay
By Leonora Simonovis

When I stop outside the fringes of the huge canopy, I let the tree know about my presence before making contact by closing my eyes and whispering words—hola, ¿puedo acercarme? hello, can I approach? 

Poem

poetry-magazine

Heartbeats

By Melvin Dixon
Work out. Ten laps.
Chin ups. Look good.

Steam room. Dress warm.
Call home. Fresh air....

Poem of the day

poetry-magazineThe Art of Unselfing

By Safiya Sinclair
The mind’s black kettle hisses its wild
exigencies at every turn: The hour before the coffee
                               and the hour after...
Read More
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I’m almost always lying
In a
poem
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— Dorothea Lasky
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After tonight, what’s left of you is you moving into my
dream
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— Zhang Xian, tr. by Shangyang Fang
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Once I learned I could have the last word
I couldn’t stop having
it.
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— Brittany Cavallaro
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Diné bizaad is a language of patience and cunning. It is quiet, in the distance, like a coming
storm.
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— Jake Skeets

The Poetry Foundation recognizes the power of words to transform lives. We work to amplify poetry and celebrate poets by fostering spaces for all to create, experience, and share poetry.

Featured Poets

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Alice Notley

1945—2025
Alice Notley was one of America’s greatest poets. She wrote across narrative and epic and genre-bending…. Read More
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