Activity Overview
Episode publication activity over the past year
Alexander: Praise Song for the Day
22 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Praise Song for the Day by Elizabeth Alexander, written and delivered for Barack Obama's first inaug...
Williams: Of History and Hope
21 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Of History and Hope by Miller Williams, written and delivered for Bill Clinton's second inauguration...
Angelou: On the Pulse of Morning
20 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
On the Pulse of Morning by Maya Angelo, written and delivered for Bill Clinton's first inauguration ...
Frost: The Gift Outright
19 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The Gift Outright by Robert Frost. Kennedy gave Frost the option of reciting this poem or a ne...
Frost: Dedication
18 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Dedication by Robert Frost. This poem was written specifically for John F. Kennedy's inauguration, b...
Week 45: Inaugural Poems
17 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Joe Biden will be only the fourth President of the US to have a poem delivered as part of his inaugu...
Glück: Vespers
16 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Vespers by Louise Glück, US Poet Laureate from 2003-2004.
Collins: Cheerios
15 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Cheerios by Bill Collins, US Poet Laureate from 2001 to 2003.
Kunitz: Passing Through
14 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Passing Through by Stanley Kunitz, US Poet Laureate from 2000 to 2001.
Pinsky: Glass
13 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Glass by Robert Pinsky, US Poet Laureate from 1997 to 2000.
Hass: The Failure of Buffalo to Levitate
12 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The Failure of Buffalo to Levitate by Robert Hass, US Poet Laureate from 1995 to 1997.
Dove: Testimonial
11 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Testimonial by Rita Dove, US Poet Laureate from 1993 to 1995.
Week 44: US Poets Laureate, Part II
10 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The second part in our series covering US Poets Laureate, one poem per laureate per day.
Sandburg: Chicago
09 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Chicago by Carl Sandburg
Sandburg: Under the Harvest Moon
08 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Under the Harvest Moon by Carl Sandburg
Sandburg: Fog
07 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Fog by Carl Sandburg, a bonus episode given its length
Sandburg: The Answer
07 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The Answer by Carl Sandburg
Sandburg: Caboose Thoughts
06 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Caboose Thoughts by Carl Sandburg
Sandburg: At a Window
05 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
At a Window by Carl Sandburg
Sandburg: Accomplished Facts
04 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Accomplished Facts by Carl Sandburg
Week 43: Carl Sandburg
03 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
All episodes this week are by the great Midwestern poet Carl Sandburg, born January 6, 1878
Purpura: Resolution
02 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Resolution by Lia Purpura
Merwin: To the New Year
01 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
To the New Year by W. S. Merwin
Shockley: on new year's eve
31 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
on new year's eve by Evie Shockley
Wilcox: The Year
30 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The Year by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
Clare: The Old Year
29 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The Old Year by John Clare
Nye: Burning the Old Year
28 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Burning the Old Year by Naomi Shihab Nye
Week 42: New Year
27 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This week's poems are all in celebration of the new year and New Year's Day holiday. Happy New...
Nesbitt: December 26
26 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
December 26 by Kenn Nesbitt
Church: Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus
25 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In 1897, a girl named Virginia O'Hanlon sent a letter to the editor to the New York Sun asking them ...
Moore: A Visit from St. Nicholas
24 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
A Visit from St. Nicholas by Clement Clarke Moore.
Arthur: Model-Train Display at Christmas in a Shopping Mall Food Court
23 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Model-Train Display at Christmas in a Shopping Mall Food Court by James Arthur.
Rossetti: In the bleak midwinter
22 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In the bleak midwinter by Christina Rossetti.
cummings: [little tree]
21 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
[little tree] by e. e. cummings.
Week 41: Christmas
20 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
A week of poems in celebration of Christmas (and perhaps of Boxing Day, if I can find a poem for it ...
Michelson: Elijah vs. Santa
19 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Elijah vs. Santa by Richard Michelson
Baker: A Hanukkah Prayer for a Time of Darkness
18 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
A Hanukkah Prayer for a Time of Darkness by Marla Baker
Galvin: Letters Spoken in Wind
17 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Letters Spoken in Wind by Rachel Galvin
Repp: Honorary Jew
16 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Honorary Jew by John Repp.
Piercy: Season of Skinny Candles
15 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Season of Skinny Candles by Marge Piercy.
Raskin: The Miracle
14 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The Miracle by Philip M. Raskin
Week 40: Hanukkah
13 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
All the poems this week are about Hanukkah, which started last Thursday and runs through this Friday...
O'Hara: Ave Maria
12 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Ave Maria by Frank O'Hara.
Eady: Charlie Chaplin Impersonates a Poet
11 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Charlie Chaplin Impersonates a Poet by Cornelius Eady.
Swenson: The James Bond Movie
10 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The James Bond Movie by May Swenson.
Ginsberg: The Blue Angel
09 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The Blue Angel by Alan Ginsberg
Salter: Video Blues
08 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Video Blues by Mary Jo Salter
Brown: Silent Film
07 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Silent Film by Kurt Brown
Week 39: Poems about Movies
06 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This week is a twist on last week's theme, with poems about going to the movies, making movies, the ...
Thomas: Do not go gentle into that good night
05 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Do not go gentle into that good night by Dylan Thomas, in Back to School (1986), Dangerous Minds (19...
Blake: The Tyger
04 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The Tyger by William Blake, in The End of the Affair (1955), Blade Runner (1982), and The Secret Lif...
Neruda: And Now You're Mine
03 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
And Now You're Mine by Pablo Neruda, from the soundtrack to Il Postino (1994)
Auden: Funeral Blues
02 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Funeral Blues (aka "Stop all the clocks") by W. H. Auden, in Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994).
Herrick: To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time
01 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time by Robert Herrick, quoted in Dead Poet's Society (1989).
Henley: Invictus
30 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Invictus by William Ernest Henley, as heard in the film Invictus (2009).
Week 38: Poems in Movies
29 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
All the poems this week appear in some form in a movie - either in their entirety, in part, or as th...
Longfellow: The Courtship of Miles Standish, Part 9
28 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The Courtship of Miles Standish, Part 9: The Wedding-Day, by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Longfellow: The Courtship of Miles Standish, Part 8
27 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The Courtship of Miles Standish, Part 8: The Spinning-Wheel, by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Longfellow: The Courtship of Miles Standish, Part 7
27 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The Courtship of Miles Standish, Part 7: The March of Miles Standish, by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Longfellow: The Courtship of Miles Standish, Part 6
26 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The Courtship of Miles Standish, Part 6: Priscilla, by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.
Longfellow: The Courtship of Miles Standish, Part 5
26 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The Courtship of Miles Standish, Part 5: The Sailing of the Mayflower, by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow...
Longfellow: The Courtship of Miles Standish, Part 4
25 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The Courtship of Miles Standish, Part 4: John Alden, by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Longfellow: The Courtship of Miles Standish, Part 3
24 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The Courtship of Miles Standish, Part 3: The Lover's Errand by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Longfellow: The Courtship of Miles Standish, Part 2
23 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The Courtship of Miles Standish, Part 2: Love and Friendship, by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Longfellow: The Courtship of Miles Standish, Part 1
23 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The Courtship of Miles Standish, Part 1: Miles Standish, by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Week 37: The Courtship of Miles Standish
22 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
For Thanksgiving week I'll be reading The Courtship of Miles Standish, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's ...
Achebe: Knowing Robs Us
21 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Knowing Robs Us by Chinua Achebe
Achebe: Biafra, 1969
20 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Biafra, 1969 by Chinua Achebe
Achebe: He Loves Me; He Loves Me Not
19 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
He Loves Me; He Loves Me Not by Chinua Achebe
Achebe: The Nigerian Census
18 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The Nigerian Census by Chinua Achebe
Achebe: Love Song (for Anna)
17 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Love Song (for Anna) by Chinua Achebe
Achebe: A Mother in a Refugee Camp
16 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
A Mother in a Refugee Camp by Chinua Achebe
Week 36: Chinua Achebe
15 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This week will feature poems by Chinua Achebe, the Nigerian writer who would have turned 90 this wee...
Soos: The Blue Fish
14 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Bonus episode! So it turns out in my accounting of states still in play in the US Presidential elect...
Rathburn: A Raft of Grief
14 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
A Raft of Grief by Chelsea Rathburn, the poet laureate of Georgia.
Green: for grandma
13 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
for grandma by Jaki Shelton Green, poet laureate of North Carolina.
Mayson: Our Brother
12 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Our Brother by Trapeta Mayson, the poet laureate of Philadelphia.
Rozga: For a Child on Her Own
11 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
For a Child on Her Own by Margaret "Peggy" Rozga, the poet laureate of Wisconsin.
Lang-Cassera: Quiet Moments
10 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Quiet Moments by Heather Lang-Cassera, the poet laureate of Clark County, Nevada.
Rios: Copper and Oranges
09 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Copper and Oranges by Alberto Rios, the poet laureate of Arizona.
Week 35: "State" Poets Laureate
08 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This week features poems by the current poet laureates of the states where the US presidential elect...
Duhamel: Exquisite Politics
07 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Exquisite Politics by Denise Duhamel
Dargan: A House Divided
06 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
A House Divided by Kyle Dargan.
Nezhukumatathil: One Vote
05 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
One Vote by Aimee Nezhukumatathil. This actually came from a list of poems the Academy of American P...
O'Neil: Old South Meeting House
04 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Old South Meeting House by January Gill O'Neil.
Whitman: Election Day, November, 1884
03 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Election Day, November, 1884 by Walt Whitman.
Rios: A House Called Tomorrow
02 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
A House Called Tomorrow by Alberto Rios.
Week 34: Election Day
01 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
A week of poems for Election Day, from a collection put together by the American Academy of Poets. M...
Poe: The Raven
31 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The Raven by Edgar Allan Poe
Poe: Lenore
30 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Lenore by Edgar Allan Poe
Poe: Annabel Lee
29 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Annabel Lee by Edgar Allan Poe
Poe: The Bells
28 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The Bells by Edgar Allan Poe
Poe: Spirits of the Dead
27 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Spirits of the Dead by Edgar Allen Poe
Poe: The Sleeper
26 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The Sleeper by Edgar Allan Poe
Week 33: Edgar Allan Poe
25 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This week will all be poems from Edgar Allen Poe, just in time for Halloween!
Van Duyn: The Burning of Yellowstone
24 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The Burning of Yellowstone by Mona Van Duyn, US Poet Laureate 1992-1993.
Brodsky: 1 January 1965
23 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
1 January 1965 by Joseph Brodsky, US Poet Laureate 1991-1992. Translation by George L. Kline.
Strand: The Idea
22 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The Idea by Mark Strand, US Poet Laureate 1990-91.
Nemerov: To David, About His Education
21 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
To David, About His Education by Howard Nemerov, US Poet Laureate 1988-1990.
Wilbur: Some Words Inside of Words
20 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Some Words Inside of Words by Richard Wilbur, US Poet Laureate 1987-88.