Hattie McDaniel Arrives at the Coconut GroveBy Rita Dovelate, in aqua and ermine, gardeniasscaling her left sleeve in a spasm of scent,her gloves white, her...Social CommentariesPopular CultureRace & EthnicityHistory & PoliticsRelationshipsFriends & EnemiesActivitiesJobs & WorkingArts & SciencesPhotography & FilmTechniquesConsonance + 5 more
The City in Which I Love YouBy Li-Young LeeAnd when, in the city in which I love you,even my most excellent song goes unanswered,and I mount the...LoveDesire & PassionSocial CommentariesCities & Urban LifeRelationshipsMen & WomenTechniquesImageryMetaphorPassion + 3 more
Deep Water TrawlingBy Jorie GrahamThe blades like irises turning very fast to see you completely—steel-blue then red where the cut occurs...NatureSeas, Rivers, & StreamsSocial CommentariesLivingLife ChoicesThe MindDoubt & ContemplationActivitiesTravels & JourneysArts & SciencesSciencesStanza FormsMixedTechniquesImageryMetaphorTypes/ModesProse Poem + 11 more
The CovenantBy Brenda HillmanHaving stopped using dolphins to locate explosives in the Cold Warthey had 30 leftover dolphins.An officer...NatureAnimalsLivingMarriage & CompanionshipMidlifeTime & BrevityTechniquesImageryMetaphor + 2 more
Breakers ["And then, rained down"]By Raúl ZuritaAnd then rained down from ferocious cloudsour empty pupils heard the suspended breakersbeat while down...LoveDesire & PassionRomantic LoveNatureSeas, Rivers, & StreamsTechniquesImagerySimilePassion + 2 more
I Don‘t Like PoetryBy Joshua SeigalI don’t like similes.Every time I try to think of onemy brain feels like a vast, empty desert;my eyes...Arts & SciencesHumor & SatirePoetry & PoetsTechniquesAlliterationMetaphorSimileChildren (0-13)
Twentieth Amanita OdeBy Peter O’LearyIn a windthe lake's scissoring surfaceand the Sun's vernal glarethe gulls cut to curlsin their turns...NatureLandscapes & PastoralsSeas, Rivers, & StreamsStanza FormsMixedMetersFree VerseTechniquesImageryTypes/ModesOde + 4 more
Meditations in an EmergencyBy Cameron Awkward-RichI wake up & it breaks my heart. I draw the blinds & the thrill of rain breaks my heart. I go outside...Social CommentariesLivingSorrow & GrievingTechniquesImageryTypes/ModesProse PoemMelancholy & Despair
p1Wulf ond EadwacerBy Unknown Lēodum is mīnum swylce him mon lāc gife; willað hȳ hine āþecgan gif hē on þrēat cymeð. Ungelīc is ū...LoveBreak-ups & Vexed LoveUnrequited LoveMythology & FolkloreFairy-tales & LegendsTechniquesAlliteration
Ultimately Everything Becomes BoringBy Sri ChinmoyUltimately everything Becomes boring.Even great miracles Become boring.Even the tremendous powers of...ReligionFaith & DoubtGod & the DivineThe SpiritualThe MindDoubt & ContemplationVerse FormsSonnetMetersFree VerseTechniquesImageryRefrain + 6 more
Cyrus & the SnakesBy Ada LimónMy brother holds a snake by its head. The whole length of the snake is the length of my brother’s body...NatureAnimalsLivingComing of AgeLife ChoicesYouthThe MindMemory & NostalgiaRelationshipsFamily & AncestorsStanza FormsCoupletMetersFree VerseTechniquesImageryMetaphor + 10 more
Calling Things What They AreBy Ada LimónI pass the feeder and yell, Grackle party! And then an hour later I yell, Mourning dove afterparty! (I call the feeder the...LoveHeartache & LossRomantic LoveNatureAnimalsLivingComing of AgeMidlifeThe MindMemory & NostalgiaTime & BrevityRelationshipsMen & WomenMetersFree VerseTechniquesConfessionalImageryMetaphorSimileTypes/ModesProse PoemJoy & Contentment + 16 more
The Magnificent FrigatebirdBy Ada LimónIs it okay to begin with the obvious? I am full of stones— is it okay not to look out this window, but...LoveDesire & PassionNatureAnimalsSeas, Rivers, & StreamsActivitiesTravels & JourneysStanza FormsCoupletMetersFree VerseTechniquesMetaphorSimileJoy & Contentment + 8 more
TotemBy R. L. SwihartThe young man says, “Alan can do anything he wants”“Not fly,” I sayThe young man returns a puzzled look...LivingComing of AgeThe MindDoubt & ContemplationArts & SciencesReading & BooksStanza FormsMixedMetersFree VerseTechniquesImagery + 5 more
GratitudeBy Cornelius EadyI’m here to tell you an old story. ThisAppears to be my work. I live in the world,Walk the streets of...Social CommentariesClassRace & EthnicityLivingLife ChoicesThe MindRelationshipsFamily & AncestorsActivitiesSchool & LearningArts & SciencesPoetry & PoetsMetersFree VerseTechniquesAnaphoraConfessionalMetaphorAngerGratitude + 13 more
I’m a Fool to Love YouBy Cornelius EadySome folks will tell you the blues is a woman,Some type of supernatural creature.My mother would tell...LoveBreak-ups & Vexed LoveRealistic & ComplicatedSocial CommentariesGender & SexualityRace & EthnicityLivingMarriage & CompanionshipRelationshipsFamily & AncestorsMen & WomenArts & SciencesMusicMetersFree VerseTechniquesImageryMetaphor + 11 more
ApocalypseBy Sri ChinmoyWithin, without the cosmos wide am I;In joyful sweep I loose forth and draw back all.A birthless, deathless...LoveDesire & PassionNatureStars, Planets, HeavensReligionThe SpiritualStanza FormsQuatrainMetersBlank VerseTechniquesImageryPassion + 6 more
Sound of Wave in Channel: 7.21By Stephen Ratcliffelight coming into fog against invisible top of ridge, blue jay on redwood fence in foreground, sound...NatureAnimalsLandscapes & PastoralsStanza FormsMixedMetersFree VerseTechniquesImageryTypes/ModesPastoral + 4 more
Mrs. Butterworth, Uncle Ben & Aunt JemimaBy Frank X. Walker...walk into a bar in America. Butterworth says, I’m being repackaged. Ben says, I’m being rebranded...Social CommentariesPopular CultureRace & EthnicityHistory & PoliticsRelationshipsFamily & AncestorsActivitiesEating & DrinkingStanza FormsMixedMetersFree VerseTechniquesAllusionImageryMetaphor + 9 more
A river slipsBy Cole Swensena river slips in shifting leaves sifting. a river sifts and falls to pieces in which not seen (this ...NatureLandscapes & PastoralsSeas, Rivers, & StreamsLivingTime & BrevityVerse FormsMetersFree VerseTechniquesImageryTypes/ModesPastoral + 5 more