poetry

POETRY: “Who Burns for the Perfection of Paper” by Martín Espada

Who Burns for the Perfection of Paper At sixteen, I worked after high school hours at a printing plant that manufactured legal pads: Yellow paper stacked seven feet high and Read More

“The Poet” by Tom Wayman

“The Poet” by Tom Wayman Poem 015 Rights & Access The Poet Loses his position on worksheet or page in textbook May speak much but makes little sense Cannot give Read More

POETRY: “The Bat” by Theodore Roethke

The Bat By day the bat is cousin to the mouse. He likes the attic of an aging house. His fingers make a hat about his head. His pulse beat Read More

POEM: “At the Un-National Monument Along the Canadian Border” by William E. Stafford

At the Un-National Monument Along the Canadian Border This is the field where the battle did not happen, where the unknown soldier did not die. This is the field where Read More

POEM: “Numbers” by Mary Cornish

Numbers I like the generosity of numbers. The way, for example, they are willing to count anything or anyone: two pickles, one door to the room, eight dancers dressed as Read More

POEM: “How Bright It Is” by Brian Turner

How Bright It Is April. And the air dry As the shoulders of a water buffalo. Grasshoppers scratch at the dirt, rub their wings with thin legs flaring out in Read More

POETRY: “Thanks” by Yusef Komunyakaa

Thanks Thanks for the tree between me & a sniper’s bullet. I don’t know what made the grass sway seconds before the Viet Cong raised his soundless rifle. Some voice Read More

POETRY: “Question” by May Swenson

Question Body my house my horse my hound what will I do when you are fallen Where will I sleep How will I ride What will I hunt Where can Read More

POETRY: “The Good Life” by Tracy K. Smith

The Good Life When some people talk about money They speak as if it were a mysterious lover Who went out to buy milk and never Came back, and it Read More

POETRY: “Introduction to Poetry” by Billy Collins

Introduction to Poetry I ask them to take a poem and hold it up to the light like a color slide or press an ear against its hive. I say Read More